Day of the Dead Wreath

It's day 4 of the 13 Days of Handmade Halloween and things are getting creepily spooktacular!  Tonya Coleman from Soiree Event Design has a very fabulous Day of the Dead wreath DIY that certainly won't scare away your trick or treaters!

Isn't it fabulous?  I'm in love with all the bright colors and textures.  I am definitely putting this project on my make it list!

While you're here, check out our #13DOHH2017 giveaway!  Oriental Trading Company has provided us with a $75 Gift Card to those following along.  Oriental Trading Company is my go to online store for all my Halloween party goodies so, be sure to enter!

You can enter the giveaway by following our makers here:

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Also, check out our Linky Party to see all the wonderful ideas being shared by our 13 Days of Handmade Halloween Makers!

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DIY Handmade Halloween Skeleton Trick or Treat Bag

Welcome to Day Three of the 13 Days of Handmade Halloween!  Today's crafty project has me singing that song, 'Dem Bones, Dem Bones.....'  I am SO loving this Skeleton Trick or Treat Bag created by the uber fabulous and crafty Jessica (who I secretly refer to in my head as JBR) from Everyday PartyMagazine. 

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Jess always comes up with the most unique and creative ideas....if you don't believe me....please visit her blog and magazine....you will not be disappointed.  I absolutely adore her and she's one of my people! 

While you're here, check out our #13DOHH2017 giveaway!  Oriental Trading Company has provided us with a $75 Gift Card to those following along.  Oriental Trading Company is my go to online store for all my Halloween party goodies so, be sure to enter!

You can enter here by following our makers here:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Also, check out our Linky Party to see all the wonderful ideas being shared by our 13 Days of Handmade Halloween Makers!  

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PomPom Flying Bats

HAPPY OCTOBER! 

Are you just as excited about Halloween as I am?  If you're here - you must be.  Halloween is my favorite time of year - it's no secret.  That's why I host the 13 Days of Handmade Halloween series on my blog EVERY YEAR!  It's just a group of us creative gals, getting together and sharing how to make crafty things with Halloween scare....I mean flair ;)

If you aren't sure what the series is all about check out some of the awesome posts from years past.  In the meantime, I'm kicking things off with a very easy wall decor idea!

You know I'm a pompom making queen.  I can spit these babies out at the drop of a dime.  So, it was only fitting that I share how I made these!  Let's get started

Supplies you will need:

Yarn

PomPom maker

Glittered Foam Sheet

Googly Eyes

Hot Glue

Bat template (you can download and print out here)

Adhesive foam 

To start, trace and cut out your image using the bat template.  

Next, once your bat is cut out, set it aside and start working on making your pompom.  You will only need to make a small size.  I always use a clover pompom maker for my pompoms but there are tons of ways these can be made.  Just search on Google for how to make a pompom.

Once your pompom is made, you can trim and shape the excess yarn to create a well formed pompom - it isn't necessary to do this but, I just like my pompoms a little round.

Next attach your pompom 'body' to the center of the bat allowing the wings and ears to stick out from behind.  You can add the googly eyes at this point.

Finally, add your pompom bats to the wall.  I placed mine on the wall to look as if the bats were flying all willy nilly, as I suppose bats do.  You can anchor the wings into place with an adhesive foam dot to make them look as if they have some movement.

That's that!  I love this idea, these bats are super adorable....you can also hang them to the ceiling if you'd like.  Just make sure to keep a ten end on the pompom ball!

Thanks for stopping by for today's Handmade Halloween project.  Be sure to come back tomorrow to see a fabulous headband project from Tikkido that is 'EY'E'dorable!  Don't forget to check out the giveaway below for a $75 Gift Card from Oriental Trading Company!

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15 Dia de Los Muertos Halloween Decor Must Haves

Disclosure: Thank you to Cost Plus World Market for sponsoring this post. Product and/or compensation was provided to me to share my ideas and tips, however, all opinions are fully my own.  #sponsored #worldmarkettribe #discoverworldmarket

Get ready to celebrate Halloween with a festive Dia de Los Muertos home.  I love the tradition of celebrating loved ones who have passed on.  I know some people are probably put off by that idea, but I'm the type of person who believes that people who I love are always around me in spirit. This celebration is a tradition in many Latin American countries and it's gained quite a bit of commercial popularity in recent years.  I appreciate the color, texture and beauty found in the artistry of this holiday and think there are many ways to revel in all of it's festivity.

So, I was pleased to find that Cost Plus World Market actually has a nice variety of Dia de Los Muertos decorative pieces that stand out from much of what I've seen in other stores.  I always like to head to my local  CostPlus WorldMarket (Pentagon Row – Arlington, VA) to pick up all the home decor things so, I've pieced together a list of must have items from their Los Muertos collection.

To make the Los Muertos design work for the holiday, the key idea is to mix a little Southwestern flair into the decor while celebrating the colorful artistry and symbols used during Dia de Los Muertos.  

I think it's fabulous that wall decor can serve a dual purpose by setting a festive seasonal tone and giving you instant party decor for ready to go Halloween Entertaining!  I love the idea of using  the Sugar Skull Multi-color Banner to swag across a dining room buffet or against a wall for a pop of color.  It just makes a space look festive! The Wood Skulls Wall Decor are my fave!  The Animal Skull painting is a perfect addition to the decor and blends in the Southwestern feel perfectly.

The Wood Dia De Los Muertos Nutcrackers are perfect decorative pieces and the Sugar Skull Candy Bowl is perfect for placing on a side table filled with candy or nuts.  Why not place a few Sugar Skull Pillows on your sofa or chairs for a festive (and cozy) Los Muertos feel?

These Los Muertos Skull Kitchen Towels are EVERYTHING!  Think past their intended purpose and size and cut the artwork out of the whole tea towel, then frame them for instant art!!!  If not, then use them in place of napkins.  The Felted Heart Ornament and Embroidered Skull Ornament would make perfect napkin rings or decor for your place settings.

Because Halloween Decorations and themes can change year to year - (if you're Halloween obsessed like me) - don't invest in themed plates that you have to store away.  Find colorful themed paper plates like these Dia de Los Muertos Plates and dress them up with chargers or larger plates from your everyday plates stock.   I love the look of this Floral Amaya Table Cover that can be used not just for this theme but throughout the seasons.  Blue Glass Goblets would help to anchor the place setting and bring in a lot of blues that are found in the table cover and plates.  

As a great eye catching focal point, give your table some extra love.  The Black Daisy Skull flowers would look perfect arranged around the base of the black iron candelabra.  Fill it in the rest of your arrangement with the Multi-color Peony Flowers for more color and to soften the look and you're good to go!

So, now that you're chock full of ideas for decorating your Halloween home.....check out this amazing offer from Cost Plus World Market

***   HUGE NEWS!!!  ***

Cost Plus World Market is celebrating the season by giving away $4,500 worth of World Market gift cards and teaming up with Quikly to do it!

Sign up now with Quikly and share the campaign with friends and family. If they opt in, you will receive an early notification letting you know when the 67 gift cards and special offers will go up for grabs so you can be ready to act fast. This could be the perfect opportunity for a seasonal shopping spree!

But not to worry -  because the coolest part is that everyone will walk away with something! Sign up now before it’s too late!!!!

So......what is Quikly????

Quikly is all about speed.  It is a platform that rewards you by offering incentives. You have to act fast, fast, fast....gift cards are 'released' to those who are signed up.  There’s no catch, it’s 100% free. Customers are able to sign up here to get notified when the incentives are released to claim.

Once you sign up and opt-in, you’ll receive a secret claim link either via SMS Text Message or Email, depending on your notification preference. When you do, click on it as fast as you can to claim an incentive. Pretty cool, huh???

Halloween is truly my favorite holiday and time of the year.  I can't wait to start decorating my home and you can be sure one of my first stops is going to be at Cost Plus World Market.

Find a Cost Plus World Market near you

SHOP THIS POST

Shop items in this post:

1.  Floral Amaya Table Cover

2.  Blue Glass Goblet

3.  Dia de Los Muertos Plates

4.  Black Iron Candelabra

5.  Multi-color Peony Flowers

6.  Skull flowers

7.  Embroidered Skull Ornament

8.  Los Muertos Skull Kitchen Towels

9.  Felted Heart Ornament

10.  Sugar Skull Multi-color Banner

11.  Animal Skull painting

12.  Wood Skulls Wall Decor

13.  Wood Dia De Los Muertos Nutcrackers

14.  Sugar Skull Candy Bowl

15.    Sugar Skull Pillows

 
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Ooey Gooey Caramel Apples

Today starts off week 3 and day 11 of the 13 Days of Handmade Halloween!  Today, Bethany Gist of Auntie Bea's Bakery is sharing her recipe for making Caramel Apples - YUM!

I am a sucker for a good Caramel Apple!  We are fortunate enough to live in the heart of apple counrty and we have access to the best organic fresh picked apples. As soon as Fall rolls around, we are apple pickin’ and in the kitchen making and decorating our own Caramle Apples.

Today, I’m sharing my family’s favorite Caramel Apple recipe.  I make the caramel and the kids gather all the fun toppings!

Caramel Apples aren’t as hard as you think!  I prefer to make my own caramel.  I love that I can add my own twist on flavors!  Vanilla, coconut extract, cinnamon….all equal total yumminess! Ready to dive in?

Heres’s what you need:

8-12 Apples (depending on size) washed and dried

1/4 cup of Butter

2 cups Granulated Sugar

1 cup of Light Corn Syrup

1 14oz can of Sweetened Condensed Milk

1 tsp of Extract (vanilla, coconut, maple, rum or butterscotch to name a few)

If you decide to add a spice you can add a tsp of cinnamon, pumpkin spice or cloves.

Add all your ingredients except extract and spices to a 2 quart pot.

Cook on a medium-low flame, stirring constantly until bubbling and a candy thermometer reads 250/soft ball stage.  Once it reaches this stage you will add your extract (and spices if desired).  Stir to completely incorporate.

I like to use organic apples because they don't have that waxy film on them.  That film tends to make the caramel slide off.  Make sure your apples are washed and dried and attach your sticks.  You can use heavy paper straws, pop sticks, Popsicle sticks or wooden apple sticks. Now start dipping.  I like to double dip ;)  The more caramel the better!

You will want to add your toppings as soon as you pull the apple out.  My kids picked, peanuts, milk chocolate, orange candy coating, toffee bits, Halloween sprinkles and mini chocolate chips.

After dipping and decorating, place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper to set.

Now here comes the fun part…EATING THEM!  Enjoy!

Thanks, Bethany for sharing this delicious treat - can't wait to make my own!  Looking for more Handmade Halloween treats, view our archives here!

No Sew Spider Pompom Halloween Tote

Here's an easy idea for making a fun tote for your little trick or treater!

I made a no sew tote using a min canvas bag, a black pompom and ribbon.  If you know me, you know I'm not the sewing type.  I will do it in a pinch, but for this project, I hot glued my way to success.

To make the bag you will need:

Mini canvas tote bag
A black pompom (I made mine with yarn, you can purchase large ones online or at a craft store)
Black ribbon
Hot or Fabric Glue

The steps are super easy and it took me under an hour to make.

To start,  cut your ribbon into four 4" and four 1" strips.  I used gingham ribbon for my bag, but you can use satin,

With fabric or hot glue, add a wad of  it to one side of the pompom and attach it to the center of the bag.  I did put a piece of plastic in the inside of my bag so the glue didn't adhere to the backside of the bag.  You can also use a silicone hot glue mat if you have one.

Take your cut strips of ribbon and begin adding them around the pom to form the legs for the spiders.  The smaller strips should be placed at the ends of the longer strips on an angle to form the 'feet' (I know spiders technically don't have feet - but work with me).

Once you've added all the legs, let the glue dry (if you're using fabric glue) overnight.   All that's left is to wait to fill your bag with delicious Halloween goodies!!!!

I love how this bag turned out - and it's very easy for kids to make too and would make a great activity for a Halloween crafting party.  Pompoms are so versatile, you can try an orange pompom and make a pumpkin or add wings to a black one for a bat, a green pompom with a hat cut from black felt would make for a great spooky witch!!!  If you make this project, be sure to leave a comment below and share a link with me OR post it to my Facebook page or tag me on Instagram!  I'd love to see how your project turned out!


Don't forget - I'll be kicking off my 13 Days of Handmade Halloween series on Monday, Oct. 15 with 13 days full of DIY Halloween tutorials from 13 different bloggers!  Be sure to check back each day for a new project!

Announcing the 13 Days of Handmade Halloween 2015

I'm so excited to announce the fourth year of 13 Days of Handmade Halloween series on my blog!!!

This year I'm teaming up with 13 talented blogging friends who will share their own fun handmade Halloween project, idea or craft!  Get ready for a fun time with some fun friends!  I'll get things started on Monday, October 5th and will share a new idea from a different guest blogger everyday (Monday - Friday) until October 21st.  Everything will wrap up on October 22nd when I'll host a pinning party on Pinterest that will be open to anyone who wants to share their own Halloween ideas!

If you've joined this online series in the past, you know that you're getting ideas from some of the most creative bloggers around!  If you aren't following these bloggers you MUST check them out!

Introducing my 13 Days of Handmade Halloween Makers for 2015!

Eye Candy Creative Studio

Painting Paris Pink

The Partiologist

BellaGrey Designs

Sweet Sensations

Creative Designs by Toni

Creativities Galore

Sweet Threads Clothing Co

Fizzy Party 

Auntie Bea's Bakery

Soiree Event Design

Everyday Party Magazine

Get excited!  Get ready!  Mark your calendars and spread the word! #13DOHH2015

Get excited!  Get ready!  Mark your calendars and spread the word! #13DOHH2015

{13 Days of Handmade Halloween} Halloween Altered Treat Bag

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!

It's the last day of our 13 Days of Handmade Halloween series and I'm finishing everything up with this very easy altered paper bag!  I love using brown paper lunch bags for goodie bags for the kids' parties.  Their easy to make and you can never go wrong with them.  I simply use scrapbook paper, glue and stamps to achieve the look.

I used this Halloween stamp set from Oriental Trading, 2-sided scrapbook paper, paper punches, glue dots and dimensionals and ribbon to create my bag. I also had tons of fun stuffers and treats to put inside the bag when it was done.

I measured the width of my bag, in this case 5" and cut my paper a little bit smaller than the width.  I then added a bit of double sided tape and placed it on the bag.  With the remaining scrap that was left, I folded my bag about 1.25' down and attached the paper to the top of the bag for a flap.

Once my paper was attached to the bag, I created my embellishment to decorate the bag.  I love using paper rosette badges and made them for the bags.  I also stamped this cute frog image from the stamp set to create the center for my rosettes. With a large round paper 1.25" punch I cut a circle on orange paper and also used a piece of coordinating paper to create a notched strip to add to my rosette badge.

I put all the pieces together with glue and foam dots and then added them to the bag with glue dots.  I also added a ribbon to the bag as a handle.

This project took me less than 25 minutes to do for just one bag.  If you're making a few of these, I would break down everything into steps, but cutting out all your paper first, then assembling the badge rosettes and then put your bags together.

I hope you enjoyed a peek into my little crafting world, and I hope you and your family have a super spooktacular Halloween!  Thank you to Oriental Trading for sponsoring the items used in the 13 Days of Handmade Halloween Series!

This post is sponsored by Oriental Trading. All Oriental Trading products were received free of charge by the company or PR agency and honest opinions and reviews of the products have been noted.  Others may have a different opinion or experience with the product(s) listed above.  No other type of compensation was received.