Decorating gingerbread houses is fun anytime of the year, but at Halloween it’s even better – the more mistakes the better…. er, spookier it is! Here’s my way to make a haunted gingerbread house.
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This spooky kitty can actually slink through a closed window — making him the perfect Halloween window decoration.
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Fish for Halloween candy with a fun anchovy headpiece.
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These three little sheep can’t wait to graze on candy. Their “fleece” is wool batting, gathered and sewn to a sleeveless leotard, which is worn over a black long-sleeved shirt and leggings. A cotton hat with floppy felt ears and a dot of face paint complete the costume. For children ages 3 and older.
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Turn glittered stickers into shiny ornaments to hang from a dark, twisted Halloween tree for a creepy centerpiece that will last for years.
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This Halloween party centerpiece — made of tea-dyed eggs and fishing lures — is sure to make guests scream.
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Party guests will shriek with delight as they beat this pinata to reveal a shower of sweets.
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Bat Tissue-Paper Garland
No need to bait your home with bugs to attract a scary swarm of bats like these; all that’s required is tissue paper and a pair of scissors. Cutting the strings of shapes won’t drive you batty, since the paper comes accordion-folded in its package. With black tissue paper you can craft bats, cats, rats, or witches; orange makes great pumpkins; and white is perfect for skulls and ghosts.
Trace or draw desired design across full width of a package of folded tissue paper; we used a cookie cutter as our guide. Cut along the outline, leaving a bit of uncut fold at both sides so figures connect to one another. You’ll end up with several strings of five or six shapes each; tape together for a garland.
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Wipe-Off Stamp Art
Want to cover windows with cobwebs on Halloween but remove them without a trace the next day? Glass cleaner completely erases stamp-pad ink from glass surfaces, so you can safely use sinister stamps — such as bats, skeletons, and witches — to decorate everyday glassware. A candleholder crawling with spiders is particularly creepy. Or cast an eerie glow over dinner with a stamped votive holder at each place.
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Candy Jar Treats
A selection of sunny sweets is even more tempting when displayed in glass containers. Cheerful labels announce the jars’ contents. Encourage guests to help themselves to candies in shades of orange and white — swirly sticks, giant gumballs, squishy jelly pumpkins, yogurt-covered pretzels, and more.
Candy Jar Treats How-To
Print templates onto self-adhesive paper, enlarging as desired; cut out. Affix labels to a variety of glass containers.
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Golden Goddess
Martha is draped in a diaphanous wrap of gauzy silk-organza strips and wears golden leaves in her hair to become a Golden Goddess. For the wrap, you can achieve a similar look with a plain, sheer shawl pinned with the branch brooch we make here. An urn filled with gold-leafed pomegranates and apples and gold-painted leaves helps to set the scene. You can spray the fruit with gold floral paint for much the same effect.
Tools and Materials
3 yards white silk organza (at least 50 inches wide)
Rotary cutter
Quilting ruler
Gold floral spray
Pressed pear leaves
Pressed oak leaves
Floral pips
6-inch branch
28-gauge gold-colored copper wire
1 1/2-inch pin backing
Bobby pins
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Glampire
Tools and Materials
4 1/2 yards black metallic-silk fabric at least 45 inches wide
1 yard fusible web
1/2 yard black wool felt
4 pieces of 20-gauge floral wire (18 inches)
Tailor’s pencil
Fabric glue
1 1/4 yards 3/16-inch black cord trim
1 1/4 yards 3/8-inch black braid trim
8 yards 1/2-inch double-fold black bias tape
Straight pins
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Tin Can Jack-O-Lanterns
Create a new Halloween tradition by punching robotlike faces into cans. Add votive candles, and the heads come to life. Place in window, or stack as a centerpiece. Begin by cleaning empty coffee or soup cans and removing labels. Fill can with water, and freeze. Steady frozen can on a bag of rice, and punch holes with an awl and hammer. Defrost and dry. Paint exterior with oil-based enamel; if holes get blocked, poke with a toothpick.
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Treat Bags for Kids. Make treat bags for kids in the shape of broomsticks, mummies, and pumpkins bursting with delicious contents. Instructions.
