Holiday Helps

Can you believe it is just July and I am already thinking about Halloween??

 

Bubble bubble Toil & Trouble~

This is my submission for the Trick your Pumpkin contest at Plaid! The rules are simple you must make a pumpkin that is 3 dimensional using plaid products. I decided to make a pumpkin witches cauldron candy bowl! Here it is with tutorial!

Start with a large carvable pumpkin. I used a white one as I thought it would be easier to paint.

If you don't want to cut it yourself find an available husband to help. Mine cut the top off with a rotozip.. quick, easy and painless!

Then I painted the pumpkin black.

Next I cut paper in the shape of potion drips and painted it purple.

Once the paint dried I then applied it to the cauldron using Mod Podge. Then I covered the entire pumpkin with Mod Podge sparkle.

Once the Mod Podge was dry I used scrapbook paper and my trusty Cricut to cut out the words Witches Cauldron Co. I Mod Podged this around a picture of a witch flying on her broom.

Fill the cauldron with the candy of your choice and display!

I am going to display mine with a witchy mirror that I made. My trick or treaters will be able to see themselves as a witch and eat her candy too!

Happy Trick or Treating!

 

Crispy Rice Candy Corn Treats

This recipe uses candy corn.  We have also used reeses pieces for a great bar.  Also, this can be used for many holidays by using candy in holiday colors!
Ingredients:

4 tablespoons butter

1 (10 ounce) bag marshmallows

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon Vanilla

6 cups Crispy Rice Cereal (preferred brand: Kellogg’s Rice Krispies)

1 cup rough chopped candy corns



Directions

Spray a 13x9 glass baking dish and rubber spatula with non stick spray.



In a medium sized sauce pan over low heat, add butter to melt. Once melted add marshmallows, salt, and vanilla. Stir continuously until the marshmallows have reached a smooth consistency. Remove from heat and fold in the cereal and candy corns until completely coated.



Add the mixture to the greased baking dish and smooth out evenly. Allow to cool before cutting into squares.



Servings:

Prep Time:

Cook Time:

Difficulty: Easy

This is from http://www.freshome.com/

Great site for home decor-anytime of the year!

Cozy Fall Decorating

This site has some great decorating ideas for fall!

Autumn Decorating Ideas

Source: countryliving.com

Isn't He Cute!

Prep Time:40 min

Level: Easy


Yield: 20 servings


CloseTimes:Prep40 min Inactive Prep-- Cook-- Total:40 min Recipe Tools:








Ingredients


2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, room temperature, plus 2 (8-ounce) packages whipped cream cheese


4 tablespoons butter, room temperature


1 tablespoon milk


2 cups shredded mixed cheeses, such as cheeses for tacos


Green food coloring


2 large tortilla chips


1 whole pepperoncini pepper


2 pimiento-stuffed olives


1 bell pepper, cut 2 thin strips and 6 small triangles


6 pitted green olives


20 small carrot sticks


3 cups shredded red cabbage


Toothpicks


Assorted crackers


Assorted vegetables


Directions


Place 2 packages of cream cheese, butter, and milk in a mixing bowl, scraping down the sides of the bowl a few times. Beat with an electric mixer until smooth and combined. Add the shredded cheese and mix until well combined. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours, or up to 24 hours.






Remove the chilled cheese mixture from the refrigerator. Place the mixture on a piece of waxed paper and form the cheese ball into a head-like shape. Place 3 pieces of waxed paper around the edges of a serving plate, leaving open space in the center. Place the cheese in the center of the platter so some of it is right on the platter, but the edges are on the waxed paper. This will ensure that the platter does not get dirty while you make your goblin.






In a medium bowl, stir the remaining softened cream cheese until totally smooth. With a spatula, spread the whipped cream cheese over the head. It's O.K. if it's not totally smooth - this will give your goblin spooky skin.






Place a few drops of green food coloring in a small bowl. Add 1 tablespoon of water and mix well. With a pastry brush, paint the tortilla chips with the food coloring until they are the desired color. Set aside to dry for a few minutes.






Once the chips are dry, press them into the sides of the cheese ball to form ears. Skewer the pepperoncini with a toothpick and then attach it to the center of the head to make a nose. Press the pimiento-stuffed olives into the head to form eyes. Use the 2 red bell pepper strips to make eyebrows. Take the pepper triangles and insert them into the holes in the pitted green olives. The green olives will serve as toes, and the red pepper strips will be scary toenails. Once the olives are assembled, press them into the bottom of the head to form the toes.






Press the carrot sticks into the head to form teeth. Leave them sticking out a bit to make scary teeth. It's O.K. if your carrot sticks are different lengths and thicknesses. Hold the head onto the platter with a spatula and gently pull away the waxed paper. Finally, press the cabbage into the top of the head to make hair.






Serve with crackers and assorted vegetables.





Halloween Party Games and Ideas

Here is the best collection of Halloween party games on the net. These party games are tried and tested, as this author spent many years as a cub scout and boy scout leader. And, my wife as a Brownie leader. We have also used many of them at teenage Halloween parties.
For prizes, we suggest penny candy. Try to make sure every kid wins a few pieces. After all, the object is to have fun, not compete against one another.
We recommend small penny candy, so you can give out lots of prizes.
You can use these Halloween party games for other events, too. They make great birthday party games, too. Some may need to be adapted. For example, the pumpkin in Pumpkin Bocce can be replaced with oranges or grapefruit. Use your imagination, and just have fun!

• The Name Game
• Ghost Centration
• Pumpkin Golf
• Pumpkin Bowling
• Penny Pitch
• Ring Around the Pumpkin
• Tic-Tac-Ghost
• Scary Stories
• Pumpkin Bocce
• Other Online Games

Halloween Party Ideas - for big and little kids

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The "Name Game"
This is a warm-up, get to know you game for kids through adults.
All you need is:

• 3x 5 cards
• Marking Pen(medium or wide point)
• Safety Pins

Before the party, print neatly the name of a person or character associated with Halloween onto a 3x5 card.

Use a different name on each card.

Make up enough cards for more than each person invited to the party, especially for kids. This can be such a fun game, that people want to play it more than once.

Upon arriving, use a safety pin to put one card on each guests' back. Do not tell them who is on the card.

Game Objective: To guess who "you" are, the name on your back.

Rules:

1. You can ask only one question of a guest, before moving to another guest to ask a question.
2. Only "Yes" and "No" answers can be given.
3. Laughing, facial expressions, etc are certainly allowed.
4. Look for questions which will quickly narrow the quest such as:
   1. Am I a male(or female)?
   2. Am I a real person(versus fictional character)?
5. If a guest guesses too quickly, give them another name tag.

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Ghost-Centration:

Object of Game: To guess pairs of hidden objects. Like the "Concentration " game.

Preparation:

1. Take twelve post-it notes.
2. Using a crayon or marker, number each post -it note from one to twelve on the front, non-sticky side.
3. On the other side, put on two cards each the words: Ghost, Pumpkin, Witches, Goblins, Treats and scarecrows. Make sure each pair not in numerical order. 
4. You can make up any pairs of names you want.
5. Put the post-its on a wall in two or three rows in numerical order.

Playing the Game:

1. Each player takes a turn asking for two numbers to be turned over.
2. If there is a match, the player wins a piece of candy.
3. The play goes on to the next player whether or not a match is made.

Tip: For older "kids", use more than twelve post-it notes.

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Pumpkin Golf:

Object of Game: Hit the golf ball into a pumpkin.

Preparation:

1. Carve out a pumpkin. Make the mouth extra large.
2. Build a cardboard ramp about one to two feet side from the ground to the bottom of the pumpkin's mouth.
3. You will probably need some support under the cardboard.
4. Tape the ramp to the floor for stability.
5. Mark a starting point a few feet from the start of the ramp. The older the kids, the farther away.

Playing the Game:

1. Each player gets to hit a golf ball three times.
2. Each time the ball goes into the pumpkin, the player wins a piece of candy.

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Pumpkin Bowling:

Object of Game: Knock over the bowling pins. Make a strike or a spare.

Preparation:

1. Select several small pumpkins about four to six inches in diameter. You need extras in case a few split or break.
2. Place plastic (children's set) of bowling pins several feet away on the lawn or floor of the room. 
3. A great alternative to bowling pins are plastic liter bottles. Let the kids decorate them with Halloween objects before the game.

Playing the Game:

1. Measure off several feet.
2. Give each child two tries to knock down the pins.
3. A strike is worth two pieces of candy.
4. A spare is worth one piece of candy.

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Pumpkin Penny Pitch:

Object of Game: To pitch a penny into a pumpkin.

Preparation:

1. Method #1: Carve out a pumpkin (or two,or three) and line the inside with plastic or aluminum foil.
2. Make the top opening big.
3. Method: #2: Use several small plastic pumpkins(Less messy)

Playing the Game:

1. Place the pumpkins a couple feet away.
2. Give each player ten to twenty pennies.
3. Every time a penny goes into the pumpkin, a piece of candy is won.

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Pumpkin Ring Toss:

Object of Game: To toss a ring around a pumpkin.

Preparation:

1. Carve out a one to three pumpkins.
2. Buy or make three or four rings about twice as big around as the pumpkins.
3. If you don't know what to use, try an extra piece of leftover electrical cable and tape together with duct tape. (Scouts use this as a "Reduce, re-use and re-cycle" project)

Playing the Game:

1. Measure back several feet, depending on age group.
2. Give the rings to the player.
3. A piece of candy (or two) is awarded for ringing the pumpkin.
4. You can award one piece of candy for a partial ring and two if the ring is completely around.

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Tic-Tac Ghost:

Object of Game: Get three O's or X's.

Preparation:

1. Use a "Toss Across"game.
2. Tape pieces of candy or small prizes on some of the O's and X's.
3. You can use a paper note stating the prize. Sometimes the prizes are too big to put on the game.

Playing the Game:

1. Each player gets five or six bean bags.
2. Toss the bean bags at the game. There are two ways to win.
3. Win a prize by getting three O's or X's.
4. If the player turns over a prize, they win that prize.

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Scary Stories:

Object of Game: Tell a chilling tale or two.

Preparation: None

Playing the Game:

1. Sit around in a circle in a darkened room, with a flashlight in the middle of the circle. We do not recommend candles, as it can be dangerous with the kids.
2. One player starts the game by saying "Once there was......" and makes one or two sentences. It should relate to and build upon what was previously said.
3. The next person to the right then adds to the story a couple of sentences. Go around the room at least once.
4. Try to make the stories scary or gross.

Tips and Ideas, start with:

Once there was an old man walking through the graveyard.......

Once there was an old lady who look so much like a witch.........

Once there was a shadow.................

Once there was an erie sound that was like...........

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Pumpkin Bocce:

Object of Game: Roll a pumpkin closest to the big pumpkin.

Preparation:

1. Carve out a large pumpkin.
2. Buy several miniature or round sugar pumpkins.

Playing the Game:

1. Place the big, carved out pumpkin several feet away.
2. Give each player a small pumpkin.
3. Each player rolls (No tossing or throwing) their pumpkin and tries to be the closest to the big pumpkin.
4. The player closest wins a prize or piece of candy.
5. Play as many times as you want. (Or until you run out of prizes.

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	Qwiggle Jello Molds- brains, hearts, hands, eyeballs 'n more. They're the rage at Halloween parties. A turkey mold for Thanksgiving or a football mold, perhaps? Buy me Now!

Make your Halloween party a Spooktacular success. Halloween party supplies, carving "stuff", lighting, and all kinds of indoor and outdoor decorations. Shop the net's best Halloween Superstore...... TGN"s Pumpkin Nook!