Skip To My Lou » Halloween

Last Minute Halloween Ideas

cindylouh — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 16:56:02 +0000

Witches, bats and goblins! Only three days until Halloween! EEEEK! If you are looking for a few last minute ideas, check out these links. Here are some super simple ideas for snacks, decorating and favors. Hope that you and your family have a fun and spooky Halloween! BOO!

To balance out the sugar rush that comes with Halloween, here is an easy snack that makes veggies fun! Pumpkin Veggie Tray

Aren’t these owls from One Charming Party the cutest? These would be quick and all you need are cupcakes, Oreos and Reeses Pieces! Owl Cupcakes

Who doesn’t love candy corn? These vases from Swell Designer are amazing and would be great on their own or with some fall foliage. How about a branch or two (spray painted black) in each vase? Hang a few bats and you have the perfect Halloween decor. Candy Corn Vases

Here is a fun last minute way to make a festive party favor.Print these cute designs right on a brown lunch sack. Halloween Lunch Sacks

No time to carve a pumpkin? Real Simple has some great ideas. If you would like an elegant look, use metallic spray paint! No Carve Pumpkins

……and if you do have time to carve your own pumpkin, here is a free template to carve your very own Lorax O’ Lantern for Halloween!

Halloween Candy Bar Covers

cindylouh — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 16:00:22 +0000

I had some exciting news this month! My candy bar covers were featured in Woman’s Day!

Woman’s Day asked if I would do a couple of new designs so I added a ghost and a Dracula.

Here are the files if you would like to make some!

Bat Candy Bar Cover PDF

Dracula Candy Bar Cover PDF

Ghost Candy Bar Cover PDF

To make the bat, trace this template onto black construction paper or card stock and cut out. For the Dracula print on purple or green card stock and for ghost, print white card stock and cut out.

Tape the edges of candy bar wrappers to the undersides and tape the bars onto the cutouts. Glue on googly eyes, fold the paper up and fasten with a glue dot or double stick tape so the cover is easy for kids to RIP off.

You might like mini bats which are perfect for classroom treats and are a cinch to cut out on a cutting machine like the Silhouette.

A Silhouette does make quick work of this little project. I use a Mac so I cut them from a PDF. I think if you have a PC you cut from a JPEG, so I have included both versions.

Mini Bat Candy Bar Covers PDF

Miniature Bat Candy Bar Covers JPG

I also have a download for a little greeting that fits inside!

Miniature Bat Candy Bar Greetings

If you decide you would like a Silhouette, they have a special offer for Skip to my Lou readers. The offer is for a Silhouette CAMEO and your choice of starter kit for $299. (Fabric ink, Rhinestone, Heat Transfer, or Vinyl Starter Kits). The code will be valid from now until the 31^st, just use coupon code SKIP at checkout.

Go check out my dear friend Kami of No Biggie. Her fabulous “Spooky Mirror” was in the issue also!

“Boo” Your Neighbor

cindylouh — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 15:52:32 +0000

We love to “Boo” or “Ghost” our friends! Instead of printing copies of the instructions and asking our friends to do the same, we make a container that can travel. This year we made a ghost bag.

All you need is some printable fabric
or if you live on the edge you can make your own.

How to make your own printable fabric

Cut a piece of freezer paper and a piece of white muslin both just shy of 8 1/2″ X 11″.

Place the white muslin on the shiny side of the freezer paper. With iron on cotton setting, iron the muslin to the freezer paper. It just takes a couple of passes with the iron. Flip it over and give it another pass, smoothing out any bubbles.

Printable Ghost Face

Printable Booing Poem

Download the ghost face and poem. Print them onto the fabric. I do think it works best in a printer that feeds from the back and comes out the front (no bending or turning inside the printer). This technique does not work in a copy machine. This is risky business, so only do this if you like to flirt with danger! If you are worried, buy the fabric intended to be printed on and follow the directions on the package. For me, I can’t resist. I love feeling like I conquered my printer!

With right sides together sew around three sides of the ghost. Trim edges.

On one side, open up the seam and stitch about an inch down from the top on each side. This will keep the fabric from unraveling when we send the ribbon through. If you use white thread you won’t see it!

Fold top of bag down about a half inch. Sew all the way around. Do not leave an opening. This will make a pocket to send the ribbon through. We will make the opening in the next step.

Clip the seam open above the stitching line on the side with the stitched down seam.

Place a safety pin on 1/4 inch wide ribbon.

Feed the ribbon through the top pocket on the bag.

Leave the ribbon long, so it can be easily hung on a door knob. All the instructions for how to “boo” are printed right on the bag!

Now we are ready to “Boo!” How about you?

If you don’t sew, just print the poem out and attach to a store bought ghost container.

You might like to see other ideas for “Booing”

How to start the “Boo” in your neighborhood

Printable Ghost Door Hanger for “Booing”

Printable “Booing” Poem

Candy Corn Cake pops {Guest Post}

cindylouh — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 12:00:30 +0000

Hi my name is Joey. I am excited to be guest posting over here at, Skip to my Lou! I started my blog Every Day Should Pop! in early February of this year, so I’ve been at it for almost nine months.

I originally got my inspiration for doing cake pops from Bakerella. But I got the idea for the blog simply because my family loves to celebrate holidays. I wanted to expand on the cake pop idea by incorporating things from each day, and so far we’re having a blast! I hope you enjoy this tutorial and stop by and see me sometime! I have lot’s more to share!

Welcome to my favorite holiday of the year,
Halloween!

In this section I will walk you through the step-by-step process of how to make
Candy Corn Cake Pops.

I will be using white cake, though, as always, you can substitute with any other cake flavor.

Get started by gathering your supplies.
You are going to need:
Lollipop Sticks, Black Food Writing Marker, Black Licorice Pinwheels, Vanilla Candy Melts, Yellow Candy Melts, Orange Candy Melts.

And it’s always a good idea to have toothpicks handy.

Step 1: Using your cake pop recipe of choice, shape the cake ball into a cone with the pointed end as the top and flatten the base.

Step 2: Dip the lollipop stick in your melted yellow candy melts about 1/2 inch.
Step 3: Place that end into the flat base of the pop.
Go about half way.

Step 4: Dip the cake pop into the yellow candy melts.

Step 5: After the pop is completely covered, gently tap the stick on the edge of the bowl to drip off the excess.

Step 6: Let harden for about 5 minutes. Then, dip the top 2/3 of the pop into the orange candy melts.

Step 7: After the top portion is completely covered, gently tap the stick on the edge of the bowl to drip off the excess.

Step 8: Let harden for about 5 minutes. Then, dip the top 1/3 into the vanilla candy melts.

Step 9: After the top portion is completely covered, gently tap the stick on the edge of the bowl to drip off the excess.

Finally, let harden completely, then the sky is the limit!

To attach the black licorice pinwheel arms, cut the licorice to your desired length. Poke a hole in each side of the pop with a toothpick deep enough so the licorice will stay on its own. Insert and form the arms any way you would like.

Grab your black food writing marker and get to work.

Create your own silly, spooky or scary faces!

There is no doubt these pops will be the life of the party!

5 Free Halloween Printables

cindylouh — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 13:41:16 +0000

T.G.I.F.!!! . . . and to celebrate, here are 5 Halloween printables from 5 great websites! So easy to get into the Halloween spirit when you see these creative ideas!

Aren’t these images from Graphics Fairy fabulous? So easy to print on fabric and frame! I would love to have these in the entry hall to greet little goblins on Halloween!

bsidedesign.net has a great Halloween Banner! This would be perfect for a Halloween party!

Oh, my gosh, wait ’til you see these “dreadfully vile Halloween treat labels” from design.wash.rinse.repeat. . . A.M.A.Z.I.N.G.!! Such brilliant designs!

Are you bagging treats or making cupcakes for a classroom? Here are some Halloween printables from printyourparty.com to give your treats a professional look!

If you are looking for cupcake toppers, mimibun.com has some really cute designs for her free Halloween Cupcake Picks.

and I have some free Halloween party circles that can be used on drinking straws or made into cupcake picks!

Enjoy!

Printable Halloween Party Circles

cindylouh — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 16:00:07 +0000

Here is a free Halloween printable to bling out some straws or make cupcake picks with. I think it is the small details that make a party extra special and memorable. These Halloween party circles are a perfect way to make your party festive and set a fun party mood. How do you make a party special? Leave a comment on this post and you will be entered to win one of 15 Halloween Prize Packages (each a $100 value) from Fanta!

Download the printable Halloween party circles and print in color on white card-stock.

Printable Halloween Party Circles PDF

Using a 2 inch scallop circle punch (my very favorite punch), cut out the circles.

Tape the circles to fun striped straws with transparent tape.

Just a few simple steps and a couple of minutes and you have added something really cute to your party!

We will be using the festive drinking straws this Halloween before we go trick or treating. We have invited some families over to have dinner before they head out for candy. This is a great way to fill their stomachs with something good before all that bad!

Now I’m curious to know, what are your favorite Halloween party tips, tricks, and memories? By answering you will be entered to win one of 15 Halloween Prize Packages (each a $100 value) from Fanta!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Fanta. The opinions and text are all mine. Official Contest Rules.

Halloween Cookie Pops Tutorial

cindylouh — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 12:42:41 +0000

If you are looking for a no-bake Halloween treat, here is an idea for Frankenstein Cookie Pops.

Supplies for Frankenstein Cookie Pops

Vienna Fingers Original Cookies

Green Candy Melts

Black Candy Melts

Candy Eyes (1/2 inch or 3/8 inch)

Sucker Sticks

Black Candy Writer

How to make Frankenstein cookie pops

Melt about 1 cup green candy coating discs in a microwave safe bowl. Melt the candy coating for 15 seconds, stir, microwave another 15 seconds, stir, microwave 15 seconds and then continue stirring until all pieces are melted.

Carefully separate cookies. Dip sucker stick into candy coating

Place sucker stick on cookie and place another cookie on top. Place the inside of the cookie facing out for the front so it is smoother. Firmly (but carefully) press cookies together. Allow candy coating to set before proceeding.

Spoon candy coating over cookie, smooth and remove excess with back of the spoon. Allow to dry. Cookies can be placed on wax paper to dry.

Dip top of cookie in black candy coating to make hair.

Place candy writer in a glass filled with hot water. Once candy coating has become liquid inside the tube add details to the cookie pop. Use a dab of the candy coating to attach the eyes.

You can make ghost cookie pops with white candy coating and Nutter Butter Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies!

Halloween Food Ideas

cindylouh — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 12:52:11 +0000

I am totally amazed at the creativity that can be found on the web. It is really great to have so many ideas right at our fingertips.

Five Fabulous Halloween Ideas

I LOVE Amanda from I Am Baker…..she is always doing something amazing! Look at her

Chocolate Spider Web {cake in a jar}

This marble cake sounds super yummy! Aren’t those spiders great! Zoe makes it look easy with her

Halloween Marble Cake Tutorial

Have you ever thought of making homemade poptarts? How cool!

Pumpkin Poptarts

Every October lunch could be festive with all the fun ideas on Cute Food For Kids. These mummy sandwiches are super cute!

Mummy Sandwiches

All the treats don’t have to be sweet. How about a dinner of healthy baked spooky peppers?

Frankenstein Stuffed Peppers

okay I couldn’t stop with five because this Ghost cake is unbelievable!

Costumed Pumpkins

cindylouh — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 13:02:00 +0000

Skip on over to AlphaMom to see how we costumed our pumpkins. Since Halloween is still a couple of weeks away we decided to decorate now, carve later.

If you like to up-cycle, check out how we used cereal boxes to make masks for pumpkins.

It is easy to turn your plastic pumpkin into a cat with this free cat mask template. Load the plastic pumpkin bucket with goodies and “Boo Your Neighbors.”

Spooktacular Suckers

cindylouh — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 05:49:59 +0000

As you know I am totally intrigued with making hard candy lollipops! I am especially into making the suckers opaque! Just a bit of liquid white food coloring does the job. It is the perfect trick for making these ghosts!

Supplies for making Hard Candy Ghost Suckers

Sugar

Light Corn Syrup

1/2 tsp flavoring

food coloring

1/2 tsp liquid white food color

sucker sticks

sucker bags

twist ties

ghost hard candy molds

candy thermometer

candy eyes

How to make Ghost Suckers

Grease inside of molds with shortening or cooking spray. Place molds on flat greased surface. A marble slab or or new cookie sheet works great. If using the metal molds, place clip over tabs and insert sucker stick between tabs.

Combine 1 cup sugar, 1/3 cup white (light) corn syrup, 1/2 cup water in a small sauce pan. Stir mixture over medium heat until sugar is dissolved (about three minutes). Raise temperature to medium high and cook without stirring until mixture reaches 300 (hard crack stage). This takes about 10 minutes depending on your stove.

Once at hard crack stage (300 degrees) remove immediately from heat. Add in 1/2 teaspoon flavoring and about 1 1/2 teaspoons white liquid food color to make the suckers opaque.

Pour mixture into a glass or ceramic pitcher to make filling molds easier. If mixture sets to quickly in can be re-heated in the microwave for 15 seconds.

Fill molds.

Once lollipops have cooled enough to set, remove from molds. Use a tiny dab of candy writer to attach 1/4 inch candy eyes to the ghost.

Boo!

“We’ve collected great class party games, snacks and craft ideas… fun for the whole school year!

If you’re looking for fresh classroom party ideas for the upcoming Halloween or Fall Party, please view and share the VolunteerSpot Classroom Party Guide with contributions from your favorite craft and party bloggers, including ME!”