Frankenstein Marshmallow Treats

This treat is simple, quick and stunning. Perfect for your Halloween party, it will give kids and adults alike a shiver of fear as well as something tasty for their taste buds.

Things you’ll need:
Large marshmallows
Green candy coating chips
Black gel frosting with a fine tip
Lolly pop sticks
Double boiler
Parchment paper

Things to do:
1. Set the water to boil in the bottom of the double boiler and pour the candy coating chips into the top pot, stirring frequently as they melt.

2. Meanwhile, press a lolly pop stick into one flat end of each marshmallow.

3. Dip each marshmallow into the green coating, rolling it quickly to coat evenly. Tap gently on the side to remove excess coating.
4. Set end down on parchment to dry.

5. Once dry, use the gel frosting to create hair, face, scar and ear plugs to create your monster treats!

DIY Umbrella Decals

It’s fall, which means that, at least where I live, it’s raining. And raining. And raining. Because I do a lot of walking, I also do a lot of umbrella using during these wet days, and I love my big clear dome umbrella. It’s practical and so much more durable than the little fold up versions that I used to tote around. But it’s also a little bit boring. Enter peel and stick vinyl.

Things you need:
Peel and stick vinyl
Scissors
Clear vinyl umbrella

Things to do:
1. Determine what shapes you want on your umbrella and how much of it you want to decorate. Remember that the best part of a clear umbrella is that you can pull it all the way down over you and still see, so don’t block your view!
2. Cut your shapes from the vinyl.

3. Peel off the backing and smooth onto the vinyl of the umbrella, pressing firmly and making sure there are no air bubbles.

4. Open and close your umbrella a few times to make sure the decals fold well with your umbrella.

Burlap Fabric Printed Pillows

Take a little burlap, a dash of paint and some freezer paper and you have what you need to add a bit of fall interest to your living room decor.

Things you’ll need:
Burlap
Black fabric paint
Freezer paper
Iron
Pillow form
Foam brush
Scissors
Sewing machine and notions

Things to do:
1. Cut two squares of burlap the same dimensions as your pillow.
2. Cut one piece of freezer paper the same dimensions of the pillow. Using a stencil or cutting freehand, turn the paper into a stencil of the design of your choice.
3. Laying one of the squares on a covered work surface, iron the paper, shiny side down, onto the burlap using a dry iron.

4. Paint the uncovered surfaces of the fabric, working from the outside in to help keep the paint from seeping under the edges.

5. Peel away the freezer paper and allow the paint to dry.

6. Layer the two pieces of burlap, right sides together, and stitch almost all the way around, with a ½ inch seam allowance leaving a 5 inch space along one side unsewn. *Hint!* Do not leave the opening at a corner! Try to center the opening instead! This will give you sharp, even corners and will make sewing the opening up much easier!
7. Trim the corners almost to the stitch line and turn right side out. Slip your pillow form inside and hand stitch the opening closed.

Fall Felt Leaf Garland

The changing leaves of fall are as beautiful as they are fleeting. The reds and golds and browns are hard to resist and when the leaves are falling fast, bringing a little of that color indoors is a great way to extend the season just a little bit longer.

Things you’ll need:
Felt squares in fall colors
Sewing Machine
Yellow thread
Scissors

Things to do:
1. Cut 3 inch long leaves from the felt, you’ll want about 4 leaves for every foot of garland you need.


2. Load your thread and pull some excess out before inserting the first leaf just in front of the foot of your machine.

3. Begin stitching with a long, straight stitch and feed the leaves in, one at a time, sewing up the center of each and allowing for one or two stitches between each.
4. After the last leaf, pull out some excess thread and cut. Use the thread at the beginning and end of the garland for hanging.

Dipped Pumpkin Marshmallows

These little treats are perfect for your Halloween party! Simple and quick to make, your guests will be wowed at these fun little pumpkin goodies.

Things you’ll need:
Marshmallows
Lollypop sticks
Orange candy coating chips
¼ inch green satin ribbon
Scissors
Double boiler
Parchment or wax paper

Things to do:
1. Set the candy coating to melt in a double boiler over medium high heat.
2. Meanwhile, insert lollypop sticks ¾ of the way into the marshmallows on the flat sides.

3. Spread the wax paper out on a work surface near your stove.
4. Dip the marshmallows up just to the stick in the coating. Tap gently on the side of the pot to get rid of the excess coating and set, stick up, onto the wax paper. Allow the coating to set until hard.

5. Tie 4 inch lengths of ribbon onto the stick just above the “pumpkin” to create a stem.

Raffia Ribbon Mini Broomstick Placecards

If you’re planning a Halloween dinner party but aren’t quiet ready for all out creepy decor, (plaster severed fingers anyone?) these sweet little mini broomsticks will adorn your plates while helping to sort out who’s sitting where. They would also be cute tied in a bunch as a centerpiece or fastened to an outdoor wreath. And if you happen to have a doll-loving child in the house, you can pass them on to them after the holiday. I know my daughter is already begging me for a couple for her dollhouse!

Things you need:
Twigs – about 10″ long and sturdy enough that they have lost their bend
Raffia – you’ll need 5-6 strands per broom
Craft Glue
Scissors
Paper
Pen

Things to do:
1. Before you get started with the brooms, prep your paper by soaking it for a few minutes in some leftover coffee or tea and leaving it out to dry. This will age the paper and give it a more Halloween like appearance.
2. Gather five or so strands of raffia in one hand and, with your fingers slightly splayed out, wrap the raffia around your hand until you reach the other end. Use a scrap or extra piece of raffia to tie it tightly at the top of the loops.

3. Cut the opposite ends of the loops and trim so that they are all the same length. Near the tie, pull the bunch apart slightly and insert the end of your twig. Dot with glue and then pull the bunch of raffia down and around the end of the twig.


4. Using a wider piece of raffia, loop around several times about 1/4″ from the join between the raffia and the twig. Tie tightly and trim the ends.

5. Once your paper is dry, cut small strips and trim the ends to a inverted “v” and write the names of your guests on each. Glue the names in the center of the twig or arrange onto of the raffia bunch. Set your table and get ready for some Halloween fun!

DIY Gloomy and Elegant Lace Spider Web

With its Miss Havisham gloomy/elegant style, this lace spider web is sure to spook up your Halloween decor!

Things you’ll need:
Embroidery hoop
Lace
¼ inch wide black grosgrain ribbon
Plastic spider
Craft Glue
Scissors

Things to do:
1. Stretch the lace over the inner hoop and ease the outer hoop on, tightening both the screw and the fabric as you work.


2. Trim away any excess lace.
3. Glue the ribbon around the outside of the hoop, folding over the ends to prevent fraying.

4. Apply a generous amount of glue to the underside of the spider and press onto the lace. Lay the project flat while the spider dries in place.

DIY Polka Dot Pumpkin

Here’s a fun, even cheerful addition for your Halloween decor!

Things you’ll need:
Dot stickers (smiley face or yard sale dots are perfect!)
Black acrylic paint
Foam Brush
Pumpkin
Painters Tape

Things to do:
1. Evenly distribute the dots around your pumpkin, smoothing them down to make sure that the sticker edges adhere well to the surface.
2. Mask off the stem.
3. Paint three thin coats of paint onto your pumpkin, or until the surface is well covered.
4. Allow the paint to dry thoroughly before peeling away the dots to reveal your polka dotty pumpkin!

“Eye” Box with Googly Eyes

Perfect for that spooky Halloween gift, this “Eye” box is fun and creepy all at the same time!

Things you’ll need:
Googly Eyes of various sizes
Craft Glue
Halloween Paper
Paper Mache Box
Black Paint
Paint Brush

Things to do:
1. Coat the lid of the box, including the sides, in black paint as a backdrop. Allow the paint to dry.

2. Spread the top of the box with a thin layer of glue.

3. Sprinkle eyes onto the glue, making sure they are all right side up. Shift as needed to evenly cover the top. Allow the glue to dry.

4. Cover the bottom half of the box with Halloween paper, cutting the sides to fit and gluing in place.
5. Fit the top onto the box and get ready to give someone a fright!

Monster Teeth Pumpkin

This variation of the jack-o-lantern is a fun and unusual addition to your Halloween decor. Look for soft rubber teeth at costume shops that have enough flex to mold to the shape of the pumpkin.

Things you’ll need:
Small to Medium pumpkin (here we used a faux pumpkin)
Carving knife
Rubber Monster Teeth
Pins
Craft Glue

Things to do:
1. Measure the length of the teeth, straightened slightly, and cut a slightly smaller hole in the pumpkin. It’s better to start small and enlarge than to deal with a too big hole.

2. Once the hole is the right size for the teeth, apply a generous bead of glue to the inside of the teeth and press into place. Use the pins to hold it while the glue dries.


3. Remove the pins and display!

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