Halloween Party Time! Crafts and Goodies

If you couldn't already tell, I love Halloween! It's one of my favorite holidays to celebrate with the kids, from preparing their costumes to going around the neighborhood trick or treating. This year Wesley (5) is a vampire, Henry (8) is a ? and Fischer (10) is Charlie Chaplin. Though I don't want to play favorites, I have to say that Fischer's costume just looks great.

Every year we host a Halloween party for the boys and their friends from the neighborhood and school. Here are some of our favorite crafts and recipes for spooky goodies!
Crafts:

1. Glue Ghost

What you'll need:

• White school glue
• Waxed paper
• Wiggle eyes
• Felt, buttons, pom-poms, etc (all optional)

How to make it:

1. Place a piece of waxed paper on a flat surface.
2. Squeeze glue from the bottle into the shape of a ghost.
3. Place wiggle eyes into the glue.
4. If you would like to decorate your ghost, use felt, buttons, pom-poms or whatever you like to add character. We made a simple bow tie from green felt and added mini pom-poms for buttons.
5. Set aside in an out-of-reach area to dry overnight. Note: Expect for them to take all night – and possibly a few hours more – to dry completely.
6. Once dry the ghosts will look like they blend into the waxed paper. Carefully peel them paper and use them as decorations around the house.

2. Egg Carton Spider

What you'll need:

• Black paint
• Paintbrush
• Egg carton
• Scissors
• Awl or small Phillips head screwdriver
• Black pipe cleaners
• Wire cutters
• Wiggle eyes
• Glue

How to make it:

1. Cut the egg carton apart into little cups/sections.
2. Using the awl or screwdriver, make eight holes in the bottom edge of each section for the legs.
3. Paint the egg carton section black. Let dry.
4. Cut the pipe cleaners in half.
5. Push the pipe cleaner in through one side of the section and out the opposite side. Bend down the legs.
6. Repeat for each of the legs.
7. Glue on wiggle eyes.

3. Popcorn Hand - A craft that double as a great giveaway bag!

What you'll need:

• Clear plastic gloves
• Candy corn or Hot Tamales candy
• Popcorn
• Orange and black ribbon
• Plastic spider rings

How to make it:

1. Stuff a piece of candy corn in each finger of the clear plastic glove to resemble fingernails. If you wish, you can use the Hot Tamales candy instead to resemble painted fingernails.
2. Fill it with popcorn (no butter!).
3. Tie it at the wrist with orange and black ribbon.
4. Place a plastic spider ring on one of the fingers.

Easy Party Snack:

This is a simple way to turn the usual nachos into a spooky treat all the kids will love. Just make some nachos how you would normally like them, and then put down a layer of guacamole or salsa in the center, and then with a toothpick use some sour cream to make a spider web.

Have a safe and happy Halloween!