Jack Skellington Crafts

Halloween is just around the corner and if you are a Disney fan, Jack Skellington probably comes to mind.  We love to watch the "The Nightmare Before Christmas" at our house each October.  It's like a kick-off to the Halloween season! 

If you'd like to include Jack Skellington in your Halloween decorations this year, here are few great ways to do it:

• Jack Skellington Pumpkin Carving Template
• Jack Skellington Door Decoration
• Printable: Jack Skellington

Go all out and have a Jack Skellington party!  The perfect dessert for that party would be Jack Skellington cupcakes!  Find out how to make them by clicking here. 

Have fun, get creative and have a Happy Halloween!

Free Printable Halloween Notes

Halloween is almost here!  For fun I decided to put a Halloween themed note and a Halloween treat in my kids' lunchboxes today.  I found two great links with free printable Halloween notes great for stashing in a lunchbox.  Print them for your kids and add a little personal note to bring a smile to your child's face.

• Halloween Lunchbox Notes from Creative Bubbles
• Halloween Lunchbox Jokes from Decoration Ideas Online

Cut-Out Sugar Cookies

Alton Brown's Sugar Cookies

I recently had a few friends and their families over for a Cookie Decorating Party.  I made all the cookies and the guests brought the toppings (icing, frosting, sprinkles).  It was the day before Halloween so of course the cookies were in the shape of ghosts, cats and pumpkins. 

I wanted to try a new recipe this year because the recipes I used in the past always ended with thin cookies that were too hard.  So I was on the search for some great tasting, thick and chewy sugar cookies that were easy to cut-out into shapes.  After going to several websites and reading tons of reviews I decided on Alton Brown's Sugar Cookie Recipe on foodnetwork.com.  They were delicious and everyone loved them. 

So, if you plan to make holiday cookies to share with friends and neighbors this upcoming season, I highly recommend this recipe!  I know I'll be using it this December.  Enjoy!

Homemade Halloween Party

I found some great party ideas for Halloween online.  So if you plan on having a gathering at your home this Halloween, visit the links below for some great ideas:

Homemade Decorations

1. Ghost Template - I printed this template out on white card stock.  I drew varying eyes and mouths on each ghost with a black sharpie.  Then I cut them out and taped them up around the house.
2. Bat Template - I printed this bat template out on a sheet of white card stock and cut them out to create stencils.  Then I traced the templates onto black card stock with a pencil.  I made a bunch of these bats and taped them on our walls in groups of 5-8.  I put them in flying patterns.  The kids love it!
3. Ghost Balloons - You only need 4 things - a black marker, white balloon, white crepe paper and clear tape.



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Inexpensive Snacks

1. Jack Skellington Cupcakes - As soon as my 7 year old son saw these, he immediately asked for them.  These will be the next thing I bake. 
2. Witches Fingers in Bandages -  Sounds easy enough.  But I would probably try to use crescent rolls.  Cut the dough into strips for the bandages.  Also, if you can find Heinz's green ketchup, that would be fun for the "fingernail" part.
3. Ghost Chips -  I'm not sure I would use all the seasoning suggested when making it for the kids.  A little bit of salt would probably be enough.



Halloween Crafts and Games

1. Halloween Bingo - We did this last year and plan to again this year.  It's super easy to make and the kids had a blast.  Winners received Halloween coloring books for prizes.

   

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2. Lollipop Ghosts -  Super simple, inexpensive and cute! 
3. Spirit Jugs - I hope to do this project this weekend.  We have tons of milk jugs waiting to be taken to the recycling center.  Why not use them one more time.
4. Printable Halloween Games and Activities - FamilyFun.com has lots of fun things to do with your little goblins this Halloween and they are all free to print.

Ghostly Halloween Decorations

Easily make your own ghosts to haunt your house this Halloween.  All you need is:

Supplies

• white balloons
• clear tape
• white crepe paper/streamers
• black permanent marker

Directions

1. Blow up a white balloon and tie off the end.
2. Draw a ghostly face on the balloon with the black marker.
3. Tear white crepe paper into 6-8 strips that are about 10-12 inches long.
4. Using the clear tape, adhere the strips to the bottom of the balloon.
5. Tape your ghosts to walls, ceilings, etc. to create your own haunted house.

*You can also use this technique to make an octopus.  Use purple or blue balloons and crepe paper in place of the white.
*Use helium to help your ghosts float.  After a day or so they will start to float mid-air, making them a little more creepy!

Halloween Crafts and Decorations

Family Fun - Jeepers Creepers Pumpkin

You can never have too many Halloween decorations - at least that's what my kids think.  But, this year it seems Halloween decorations are expensive as ever!  I was happy to find a nice selection at our local Dollar Tree but I didn't find everything the kids and I wanted.  So, I searched the internet to find decorations we can make at home.  Here are the websites I like best for Halloween crafts, decorations and snack ideas:

Links

• Family Fun - Halloween Headquarters
• Halloween Party Ideas
• All You - Easy Halloween Ideas
• Martha Stewart - Halloween Central

Have fun creating a Halloween of your very own.  I hope you and your little ghosts and ghouls have a Happy Halloween!