Butterflies are lovely to look at, but it is even more beautiful when your child decides to become one for Halloween. Here are some tips on how to make a homemade butterfly costume. Read the rest of this entry »

Halloween is a great day for kids, but is also one in which caution and safety should be utilized. Here are some tips, some of which have been recommended by the National Safety Council. Read the rest of this entry »

Quick and Easy Trick or Treat Bags When we think of Halloween, we usually think of costumes. Kids (and many adults) put a lot of thought into putting together the perfect one, complete with mask or face paint, wigs, and accessories. The trick or treat bag is often an afterthought. Read the rest of this entry »

Tips for Carving the Perfect Halloween Pumpkin Everyone enjoys jack-o-lanterns at Halloween, but it can be frustrating to carve one. If you haven’t done very many of them, it’s best to start out with a simple design. The traditional jig-jog smile and triangle eyes and nose are pretty easy for anyone to do. Read the rest of this entry »

Halloween Costume: Princess

If you have a young daughter, odds are she will want to dress up as a princess for Halloween. While it may be easy to just go out and purchase a costume, it can be quite expensive in the long run. Making a homemade princess costume for Halloween can be not only affordable, but fun as well.

If you have a pretty pink or white dress, this can be the basis for the outfit. White leotards and a white body suit to wear under the dress are suggested. Adding glitter to the sleeves of the body suit would also be a great idea, not to mention the body suit and leotards would keep your child warm on Halloween. Once you have these basic items, the next thing which has to be addressed is whether your daughter will wear slippers or shoes. White shoes would be appropriate, or if you can find a pair of white slippers and garnish them with glitter; this would be awesome.

Depending on which princess your daughter has chosen, that is, one of the Disney characters such as Cinderella or Snow White, or perhaps a princess she read about in a book, the right accessories will accent the entire wardrobe to create the most enchanting princess of all.

While some princesses wear capes, others wear fur wraps. Whatever is chosen, it can easily be made with fabric. For example, a white cape can be adorned with gold lace around the edges, and a gold jeweled clasp can be utilized to close the front at the neck. A wrap made of fur can be purchased at a fabric store and cut to fit your daughter’s shoulders. You can attach both ends together with either a beautiful piece of jewelry, preferably one with a clasp.

What’s a princess without a tiara? This can easily be made with wire and ribbons. There are star wires available in different colors. Simply measure the child’s head and cut a piece of star wire and form it into a circle. Use the ribbon to wrap around the base of the wire utilizing one or several color ribbons. You can add additional wire to form a three-dimensional tiara as well.

One of the hottest movies which all kids enjoy, is “Pirates of the Caribbean.” Well, it makes sense that your son or daughter may wish to be a pirate for Halloween. These are not only fun costumes to make, but quite easy as well. So let’s make a homemade pirate’s costume! Read the rest of this entry »

Making a scarecrow costume for Halloween is not only fun, but you can allow the creative juices to flow endlessly. This is one easy homemade costume to make. Read the rest of this entry »

Dressing up as a little old lady or little old man can be hysterically funny. These costumes are so easy to make. To dress up as a little old lady, one can utilize an old house dress, a pair of heavy knee-hi stockings, a white wig, glasses, sneakers, a really old-fashioned pocket book, and bobby pins. Read the rest of this entry »

Jack-O-Lantern Face Pancakes

Ingredients: 2 cups all-purpose flour 1 tablespoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 tablespoons sugar 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice 2 eggs 1 3/4 cups milk 3 tablespoons melted butter plus 1 tablespoon for frying 1/2 cup canned pumpkin 1 stick of butter Strawberry syrup

Instructions: In a large bowl blend flour, baking powder, salt, sugar and spice together well. In another large bowl blend eggs. Add milk and stir. Add 3 tablespoons of melted butter and canned pumpkin. Stir until all ingredients are mixed together well. Gradually add dry ingredients to pumpkin mixture. Stir until all dry ingredients are moistened only. Batter will be slightly lumpy. Heat pancake griddle on medium heat to 350 degrees. Test temperature by putting a few drops of water on the griddle. If they bubble your temperature is just right. Place 1 tablespoon of butter on griddle. Pour 1/2 cup of batter on griddle. Cook pancake until bubbles appear on top. Flip and continue cooking until golden brown. To serve place 2-3 pancakes on top of each other. On top pancake take 3 slices of butter cut into triangle shape. Place 2 triangles at top of pancake for the eyes and one in the middle for the nose. Make the pumpkin mouth with strawberry syrup.

Monster Mash Potato Skins

Ingredients: 8 baking potatoes 1 package (16 ounces) shredded mozzarella cheese 4 tablespoons mild salsa or taco sauce Ketchup to decorate

Instructions: Wash and prick baking potatoes. Place directly on rack of a preheated 450 degree oven for approximately 2 hours. Potatoes should feel soft when done. Remove potatoes and cool completely. Slice each potato in half. With a spoon remove most of the soft potato from skin and place in bowl. Be sure to leave a little potato on the skin this will help preserve the skin to refill. Set skins on foil lined cookie sheet. Add shredded mozzarella and the 4 tablespoons of salsa or taco sauce to soft potato in bowl. Mix together well. Spoon potato mixture back into the skins. Add more ketchup to the top of potato to look like dripping blood. Place potatoes back in the oven for 10 minutes or until warm and skins are of desired crispness.

Sweet Goblin Snack

Ingredients: 1/4 cup maple-flavored syrup 2 tablespoon butter or margarine 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon 4 cups Cocoa or Fruity PEBBLES Cereal 1 cup Dry Roasted Peanuts 2 cups Miniature Marshmallows 1 cup candy corn 1 cup candy-coated chocolate pieces

Instructions: Grease a large baking dish. In a microwave safe bowl put maple syrup, cinnamon and butter. Microwave on high for 45 seconds. Remove bowl from microwave and stir until butter is melted. Can microwave an additional 5 seconds if butter is not soft enough. Mix cereal and peanuts together in large bowl. Add to syrup mixture and fold together with rubber spatula making sure all ingredients are covered well. Heat oven to 300 degrees. Place cereal mixture into baking dish being sure to spread out evenly. Place in oven and bake 30 minutes, stirring at 10 minute intervals to make sure cereal mixture cooks evenly. Cool. Once cereal is cool enough to touch, break into pieces in bowl. Be sure the bowl has an air tight lid. Add marshmallows and candies. Place lid on bowl and shake to make sure all ingredients are mixed together. Can be stored at room temperature, in airtight container, for up to 3 days.

Creepy Crawly Fruit Punch

Ingredients: 2 10-oz. pkgs. frozen strawberries, thawed 1 6-oz. can lemonade concentrate, thawed 1 quart ginger ale 2 cups raisins Gummy worms

Instructions: Place thawed strawberries in a food processor. Add thawed lemonade and process until smooth and starts to thicken. Pour liquid in a punchbowl. Add ginger ale and blend together. Add raisins. Mix well to be sure raisins don’t stick together. Place some of the gummy worms in the punch and the rest put around top of punch bowl. Serve with a gummy worm over the side of the cup.

Crispy Halloween Chips

Ingredients: 1 package of large flour tortilla 1/4 cup olive oil Salt, optional Halloween shaped cookie cutters

Instructions:

Place tortilla on a flat surface. Using the cookie cutters, cut each tortilla into your favorite Halloween shapes. Brush olive oil onto both sides of your shape. Place on cookie sheet. Place in broiler. When the shape begins to brown, flip and finish browning the other side. Sprinkle with salt if desired and serve with your favorite dip.

Freaky Edible Eyeballs

Ingredients:

1 box (18.25-ounce) dark chocolate cake mix 1 1/3 cups chocolate milk 1/2 cup canola oil 3 eggs 1 box (3.4-ounce) instant butterscotch pudding 1 1/4 cups milk 1/2 cup smooth peanut butter 1 container (12-ounce) ready-to-spread white frosting Red, black, green, blue and brown decorating gel 24 Halloween paper baking cups

Instructions: Place cake mix in large mixing bowl. Add milk and blend with hand mixture until cake mix is moistened. Add oil and eggs and continue mixing until all ingredients are mixed well. Continue to mix until no lumps appear. Line muffin tins with baking cups. Fill cups 2/3 full of cake batter. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 20 to 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center of cupcake comes out clean. Remove from oven and cool on wire rack. In the meantime take pudding mix and place in bowl and add milk. Mix until pudding is completely dissolved in milk. Add peanut butter and mix well. Mixture should be smooth and slightly thick. Place in refrigerator for 30 minutes or until pudding is set. Once cupcakes are cooled make a small hole from top to bottom of cupcake. Using a pastry bag or large freezer bag with a small hole snipped in one bottom corner place filling into hole in cupcake making sure to only fill 3/4 of the up. Ice cupcakes with ready to spread frosting making sure to go all the way to the edges. In the middle of cupcake using the black gel make small pupil of eye. In a wider circle around pupil use blue, green or brown gel to make the iris color of the eye. Use the red gel to make red veins running from the iris to the edge of cupcake.

Ghoulish Brain Dip

Ingredients:

2 ripe, dark-skinned soft avocados 5 ounces of shredded cheddar cheese 10 sprigs fresh cilantro 4 tablespoons chunky salsa Salt and freshly-ground pepper to taste

Instructions:

Wash and chop cilantro. On a cutting board and using a sharp knife, slice avocados in half. Remove the pits and put aside. Remove the center of avocados with knife and place in a bowl. Mash leaving a few lumps for brain effect. Stir in salsa until well blended. Add cheese and mix well. Place cilantro in the mixture and continue to mix until all ingredients are blended together well. Place pits in dip to keep dip from turning brown. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Remove from refrigerator and discard pits. Add salt and pepper to taste being sure to stir well. Serve with your favorite chips or fresh vegetables.

Trick and Treat Cookies

Ingredients:

6 squares of Premium White Baking Chocolate 2 squares of Semi-Sweet Baking Chocolate Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies Chocolate Sandwich Cookies Chocolate Chip Cookies Vanilla Wafers Red and yellow food coloring Decorating gels Assorted candies Fruit snack rolls Wax paper

Instructions:

Place baking chocolate in separate microwave bowls. Microwave each baking chocolate according to directions on box. Remove bowls from microwave and stir making sure chocolate has completely melted. Spread wax paper out on flat surface to place cookies on once decorated. To make pumpkins place some of the white chocolate in another bowl. Add a one drop of red and yellow food coloring and stir to make white chocolate orange. Ice chocolate sandwich cookies, chocolate chip cookies and vanilla wafers with orange colored chocolate. Place green gel at the top for stem and use candies or gel to make your pumpkin face. To make your ghosts, ice Nutter Butter cookies with white chocolate. Make faces with decorating gel or candies. For bats coat Nutter Butter cookies with dark chocolate. Lay cookie sideways and make eyes and fangs with red decorating gel. To make mummy shaped cookies take Nutter Butter cookies and cover with white chocolate. Wrap fruit rolls around cookie to make the mummy effect. Add eyes with candies or gel.

First up, a brain game. There's a fun game on store shelves where you pick through a rubber "brain" to figure out what's in it. You can create this easily yourself. Make some jello and fill it with a variety of items, like gummy worms and other gummy candies, some small candy and trinkets and other items. Tell the children to root around in the bowl of jello (call it a "brain" if this will get the kids more interested) to figure out what's in it. It's goopy and messy and kids love it. Best yet, color the jello black so it's too dark to see what's inside and it looks more like goopy brain matter (the way kids see it, anyway). Read the rest of this entry »