Happy Halloween! Trick or Treat Idea for a Toddler

For some of us, Halloween is all about candy.  For others, it is about the costumes, parties, decorations, cooler weather, walking the neighborhood and seeing neighbors. The candy is kind of a bonus as you get a little exercise. When you are small, you do not have the chops to be able to even eat candy and you do not understand the rest of the hoopla, either.

Nor do you have long enough legs to do the marathon walking for which veteran trick or treaters pride themselves. And since you have to be in bed by 7:30, you aren't going out to get candy anyway. But, if you have a Gigi (or someone else who sews) who wants you to begin to learn about Trick or Treating, you may get a little Halloween game to play at home. This was designed for a 16-month-old to use until she gets bored.  Or about 3 or 4 minutes at a time.

 Yesterday, I posted about some machine embroidery that I had been doing. That post is here.  While working on those projects I came up with some In-the-Hoop projects of my own design.

These are simple shapes that I embroidered in the hoop. After making the faces in my embroidery software and stitching them out, I put the back piece of fabric on and embroidered most of the way around leaving a gap to add stuffing. Pictured below is the chocolate candy bar.  These are made from felt.  It is a very inexpensive fabric that holds the designs quite well. 

The game is to practice Trick or Treating, so she needed a bag to hold her little play candies.  Here is the design that I stitched on the small tote bag that I made for her.  I hope she will be able to use the bag next year, even if the candies are no longer of interest to her.

This next picture is just because it makes me laugh every time I see it.  Amelia has been into yoga since she could stand.  She is visiting me next week and I can not wait to see what new poses she has mastered!

Lastly, I decided that I need something else to do to keep me busy so I have started a new venture and a new blog.  More to follow in the next day or two.

 Wishing you all a safe and Happy Halloween!
Beverly

Halloween Countdown Magnetic Board - Dyspeptic Acres

Tin pail with magnetic spiders

Magnetic Board Decorated for Halloween Count-up

Spiders on Magnetic Board

On Wall

While I was working on the Countdown to Halloween Activity jar posted here and here, I started thinking about a simpler countdown project.  This is the brainchild I created.

This is one of my favorite home decor items that I have made.  It was easy, and a tiny bit time consuming, but loads of fun. My husband said it really should be called a Halloween Countup rather than a countdown because the spiders are added instead of taken away. Each day a new spider is placed onto the board in numerical order. Here is a video explaining it a little bit further:

However you use it, I hope you have a good time with this project.

"Dyspeptic Acres" Magnet Board for Halloween Countdown

Artiste Cricut Cartridge

Materials and Cricut Cuts:

Red Magnetic Chalkboard

Artbooking Cricut Cartridge

Artistry Cricut Collection

Black Cardstock

Slate Cardstock

Whisper Cardstock

White Daisy Pigment Ink

Embossing Powder

Artiste page 76  Web is Accent 4 - Slate fit to page = 10 3/4

Artiste page 76 Cat is Card Shift - Black 2"

Artiste page 77 Spiders are Accent 4 Shift - Black 1 1/2" (Autofill cuts 42 pieces)

Artiste letters are Caps cut at 2 1/4" 

Artistry page 43 Bats are Shift key - Black 1" cut qty 3

Artistry page 43 Bat border is Background Shift - Black fit to page = 1"

Artbooking page 54 Owl is Border Shift - Slate fit to page = 35 1/2"

Artbooking page 54 Spiders are Overlay Shift keys - Black 6" and 7" 

Artbooking page 55 "Halloween"  is Title Shift - Black fit to page = 12 1/2"

Artbooking page 55 Rat is Overlay Shift - Black 

Artbooking page 71 Big Bat on wall is Icon Shift - Black fit to page = 38 1/2"

Artbooking page 71 Haunted House is Border Shift - Whisper fit to page = 15 1/4"

Little Monsters Stamp Set  C1630 and Etched Alphabet Set A1182 (available after September 1, 2015) stamped with archival black ink. Monsters colored/shaded with watercolor pencils. Alphabet was used to make sign for haunted house on scrap paper.

Thank you for stopping by today!

Bev

Countdown to Halloween with CTMH's Cricut Artistry - Part 2

*** This is the second of a two-part post.  The list of 50 Halloween activites is in the previous post  here. ***

It is really rewarding to make something that your kids enjoy.  My 10 year old thinks it will be fun to select one of the die-cut activity - suggestions I made with the Artistry Cricut cartridge as a countdown to Halloween. She is still at an age that it is ok to think that something is cute and fun, even if her mom had something to do with it.  

If your family isn't into doing the types of activities that were posted on the post immediately preceding this one, maybe they would enjoy having you make the die cuts into little note cards to tuck into their lunch box or place on their pillow.  You could write funny or scary Halloween jokes or quotes.  Or maybe lines from a poem; after a few days, there might be enough lines combined to recite the entire poem.  Or that same idea could be used for a Halloween song, Thriller maybe? Or you could write affirmations. Or inspiring or loving thoughts.  Or make a Halloween Tree and use them as ornaments and skip the word-part altogether.  However you use the Artistry cartridge, I know you will enjoy your creations!

Here is a video that shows a little more detail about the cuts.

The cardstock colors and cuts are as follows:
Artistry Page 43 -  Hlloween key for activity/ornament shapes

• White Daisy ghosts -  @ 3 1/2", 9 will fit on a 12 x 12 page using the autofill function

• Black bats - Shift @ 1" nets a bat with a wingspan just over 3 1/4"

• White Daisy ghost costumes for monsters - Icon 1 Shift @ 3 1/2", 6 will fit on 12 x 12 page, @ 3 1/4" 9 cuts fit on page with autofill

• Hydrangea and Citrus Leaf monsters (under ghost costumes) - Icon 1 @ 3 1/2" and @ 3 1/4" to layer under ghost costume cuts

• Canary or Buttercup pumpkin (bottom layer) of jack-o-lantern - Icon 2 @ 3 1/4", 9 will fit on a 12 x 12 page

• Orange jack-o-lantern face - Icon 2 Shift @ 3 1/4"

• Whisper and White Daisy circles - Shape @ 3 1/2", autofill = 9 cuts on 12 x 12 paper

• Eggplant EEK! - Shape Shift @ 3 1/2"

• Eggplant Bats in circle - Layer @ 3 1/2"

• White Daisy circle that looks sort of like the Underground symbol - Layer Shift @ 3 1/2"

• Eggplant banner bottom layer - Banner @ 3 1/2"

• White Daisy banner top layer - Banner Shift @ 3 1/2"

CTMH Cricut Artistry Jack O Lantern

Artistry Page 43 - Hlloween key for decorative accents

• Black bat border used to go around large vase holding "Halloween Tree" - Background Shift @ 1" which is the same as if using Fit to Page function

Artistry Page 44 - Fall  key for activity/ornament shapes

• Creme brulee pumpkin with stem - Icon 2 @ 3 1/2", 6 cuts using autofill

• Sunset top layer of pumpkin - Icon 2 Shift @ 3 1/2"

Artbooking Page 54 - U key for activity/ornament shapes

• Black spiders - Overlay Shift @ 2" and 3"

Artbooking Page 55 - I key for decorative accents

• Black rat by vase and pumpkin on left - Overlay Shift @ Fit To Page

• Orange Trick or Treat hanging on wall - Title @ 17 1/4" which is what appears on screen when using Fit To Page

Artbooking Page 70  - C key for decorative accents

• Black bird perched on Halloween Tree - Icon @ 50 1/2" which is what appears on screen when using Fit To Page

• Black spider hanging over Trick or Treat sign - Border Shift @ 39" which is what appears on screen when using Fit To Page

Artiste Page 77 - Hallween key for decorative accents

• Black spiders on top of pumpkin jar lid - Accent 4 Shift @ 1 1/2"

I hope that you enjoy this project and make lots of fun memories doing some of the activities.

Thank you so much for visiting!

Beverly

Countdown to Halloween With CTMH's-Cricut Artistry and 50 Fun Family Activities!

*** This is the first of a two-part post.  The video and Artistry measurements will be in the next post. ***

CTMH Artistry Halloween "Ornaments"

It may seem a little strange to post this in August but there is a method to my madness. Really. It isn't just madness! First up, any holiday that by its very existence encourages chocolate consumption in copious amounts is going to rank as one of the top Best Days of the Year. As a Type A Personality, I am required to plan ahead and I don't want to give short shrift to anything that may have something to do with eating yummy things... so it is either a genetic flaw or an unfounded fear of missing out on Hershey's Harvest Miniatures that must have prompted this early Halloween project.  Regardless, I can not help myself. Plus, I want to give you the entire month of September to get your Halloween mojo on. :-)

Halloween marketing has extended the Autumnal Eating Season by several extra weeks because every store has themed candy by mid-September.  Actually, Costco usually has Halloween candy in August but I am trying to avoid the center section of the store until at least the first week of September so I don't know if it is in, yet.  

And since, apparently, this post has become all about me and not so much about Halloween, there is yet another reason for this seemingly early-in-the-season post.  That bit has to do with my forgetfulness, which is getting worse as I age. It occurred to me that if I link recipes to my list of activities posted below, it will be easier for me to find them later! If I remember to look here.

Pumpkin Scones with Crystalized Ginger and Candied Pineapple

Yesterday, I made three practice batches of pumpkin scones with different add-ins. This was a taste-test kind of activity so that I can be prepared to make the 'real ones' in October, based upon which were the best received by my taste-testing-panel.  As I make things or find good references to the items below, I will link them. Check back for updated links.

Rat cut from CTMH's Artbooking Cricut Collection

Here is my list of 50 Activities to help pass the time as we "Countdown To Halloween"

Trick Or Treat Activity Center Vignette

1. Make a popcorn “hand” in a glove with candycorn fingers
2. Bob for apples
3. Carve a pumpkin
4. Make a paperbag monster
5. Make a Halloween card
6. Make a paper plate mask
7. Make and eat apple, marshmallow, peanut butter mouths
8. Make ghosts from tissues
9. Make breadstick or cookie “fingers” with almonds for nails
10. Make a tag for a small gift – such as a caramel apple
11. Make caramel apples
12. Make leaf prints
13. Bind prints into a stick and rubberband book
14. Make frozen banana “ghosts”
15. Make peeled clementines into miniature pumpkins
16. Make pipecleaner spiders
17. Make pumpkin scones - King Arthur recipe here
18. Make Babybel cheese monsters - lots of images here
19. Do temporary tattoos (Martha Stewart has some here) or face painting
20. Do the “Monster Mash” - YouTube to the rescue! 
21. Read a spooky story
22. Tell ghost stories
23. Decorate sugar cookies - favorite chocolate sugar cookie recipe here
24. Design a Halloween Coat of Arms
25. Watch a Halloween movie or show
26. Visit a graveyard – the older, the better
27. Collect pinecones
28. Rake leaves and jump in the pile
29. Have black spaghetti for supper
30. Read The Raven by Edgar Allen Poe
31. Make Pumpkin donut holes or mini donuts - recipe here
32. Make Halloween party favor candy bags
33. Make a Halloween Garland or Banner
34. Make cat and rat (or mouse) black cardstock silhouettes for placing at baseboards
35. Make a spooky gingerbread house
36. Make tootsie pop ghosts or pumpkins
37. Make dough monsters
38. Die cut or cut out bats from different papers for a “specimen” board
39. Make bats for window decorations
40. Make puff paint spiders for windows or walls
41. Make milk jug luminarias
42. Make a spiderweb watercolor resist
43. Make a spiderweb with a marble in a pie tin and white paint on black paper
44. Make mummy cupcakes
45. Make mini donut spiders
46. Make rice krispie treat monsters
47. Make paper ghost favor bags
48. Make shrunken heads from apples
49. Take a neighborhood stroll to see decorations
50. Practice evil cackles and find household items for spooky sound effects

Activity Jar For Halloween

After brainstorming ideas and doing some Google searches I typed up the list of activities. Then I printed the ideas onto regular paper, cut out each item and glued each one to a fun diecut shape from the Artistry Collection. The cute shapes were easy to assemble and fit perfectly in the cute pumpkin jar I bought last year.

Halloween Tree

The plan is that my daughter will choose either an activity (Trick?) or a candy Treat each of the first 30 days of October. If she chooses an activity, then we will take the diecut (which sort of looks like an ornament) and hang it on our old Thanksgiving Tree. Which, I guess, is now a Halloween Tree. Kind of a two-for-one decorating scheme. If you'd like more information about it, the Thanksgiving Tree post from several years ago is here.

In the next post (Part 2) I will give all of the cuts and sizes along with a quick video showing the assembled cuts.

Glass pumpkin candy dish can be found on Amazon.

Thanks for stopping by!
Beverly

Great Halloween Layouts Made by CTMH Using Artbooking

I hope you enjoy the layouts showcased on this video that were created with the new Cricut/CTMH cartridge. This video also shows how to use overlays as templates for sponging background paper to create another dimension to your layouts.  It can be used for cards and any papercrafting project that you wish to add an additional layer of interest, but without the bulk.

Please let me know if you have any questions.
Thank you for stopping by today!
Beverly

Mischief is the name of my DD1's black cat

And also the name of CTMH's new Halloween themed B & T paper.  I love the heavier weight because it is perfect for projects like these!

All items are CTMH except inside is a sticky backed paper pad

 I found some cute Post-It note knockoff pads at Michael's and decided to up the oomph factor.  These are quick, easy and inexpensive to make.  And now they are looking so cute on the desk by my computer!

This is the inside of the "matchbook" type holder for the pads

To make them, measure the width of the pads and cut your paper a smidge wider.  I didn't cut the length of the paper until I figured out how much I would need to go around the back and how much of an overlap that I wanted on the front.  I scored the paper at the top and the bottom to make spines so that the paper would lay flat.  The dimensions of the paper cuts and folds are determined by the size of the pad of paper that will go inside.

The stamped images, Mischief papers, Honey colored button brads and the Complements Rub-Ons are all in the new CTMH Idea Book that goes online on August 1, 2011.

Halloween will be here soon!

These were made with CTMH's Beware stamp set and Bella papers.