Halloween Party Fun

 

Boo! It’s the time of year, when the ghosts and goblins appear and an added bonus is Thirty-One comes out with some adorable Halloween-themed printables!  So whether you are a room mom, a home schooler, or  just like to have some plan old fun with your kids…. you are going to LOVE these Halloween fun and festive decorations inspired by Thirty One’s fall-exclusive Littles Carry-All Caddies and Icon-Its!

Gather your supplies….

• Printer
• Scissors
• Hole punch
• Ribbon, twine, yarn or string
• Popsicle sticks
• Tape
• Pen or marker
• Optional: glue or glue stick
• Optional: stapler

First up is a Trick-or-Treat (or just some fun holiday decorations) banner…..  Thank you Thirty One for these great ideas…

Choose the printable banner to match your space! Use bats for a crisp, black-and-white color scheme, or go for monsters for your little one’s Halloween celebration with friends! You can also spice up your banner with other phrases like “Boo” or “Happy Halloween” by drawing and cutting out your own letters!  My favorite is the little monster….What about you?

Directions: Print and cut out the letters and enough bats, skeletons or monsters to span your space. Use a hole punch on each printable where marked and thread your letters and characters on twine, yarn or ribbon. To make sure the printables don’t slide around on the string, reinforce holes with tape or staples.

Tip:  Let your little ones choose their favorite character and make a mini-banner to hang over their bedroom door during October.

Are you a make your own costume kind of gal?  I made all of Belinda’s costumes for years.  I remember when funds were tight (the early years of recovery), we were all DUCKS!  Yup!  Yellow sweatshirts & sweatpants with masks made of craft foam.  It was a fun year…  Here are some Lil’ Monster masks (and more!)

So, if you are not a big costume person and want to have some fun with your kids.  You may  enjoy “wearing” this easy and casual look!  Match a bat mask with an all-black outfit or the monster with a cute green shirt for a Halloween “costume” you can easily flip on and off.  I”m thinking of doing one of these for my vendor events in October, which one would you pick?

Directions: Print and cut out your choice of masks. Cut out holes where marked (eyes, mouth, etc.). Then use glue or tape to attach the top portion of the popsicle stick to the side of the mask where marked for your handle.

Tip:  If you’re looking to go the extra mile and keep your hands free all night, or you know the kids will end up needing both hands to grab twice the candy, punch holes on either side of the mask and attach string instead of a popsicle stick. Tie it on and trick or treat away!

I will admit, I am not must on decorating anymore…. what about you?  Do you go all out for Halloween or do you just put the light on to hand out candy?  Here are some easy candle or cup wraps to add a holiday touch to what is already on display at your home.

Cup wraps are a great way to jazz up plain party cups for a Halloween-themed bash! Go with bats for a classic black and white look, or spice things up with colorful monsters and skeletons.

Directions: Print out wraps. For candles, cut along the outside of the rectangle. Wrap around your candle and tape into place. For cups, cut along the dotted lines. Wrap around your cup with the longer edge near the top of the cup and tape into place.

Tip:  Go for candle wraps to create a unique and festive table centerpiece. Add pumpkins, fake spiderwebs or candy for a fun and spooky look that your guests are sure to love.

Are you a mom business owner (even if you are n to a mom, these are fun) Why not hand out some candy bags (with your business card) to the parents as they walk around with the kids.

Whether you are looking to give out something a little different than the same old candy this year or you what to share your business with some parents, why not try these fun tags.  These tags add a little something extra for trick-or-treaters or party goers! These easy printables can help you make sure even the smallest details of your Halloween celebration are special and spooky.

Directions: Print out tags. Use scissors to cut tags out and then hole punch where marked. Use ribbon, twine, yarn, string or a stapler to attach the tags to gift bags of candy. Or, tape an individual piece of candy to each tag.

Tip:  Besides fun decorations, these tags are also useful for categorizing your candy! Use a bat tag to denote nut-free goody bags or a monster to label treats without milk or eggs. This will make it easier for your trick or treaters and their parents to have a sweet night!

Can’t wait to see how you use these AWESOME printables……

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

Printable templates:

Bat templates (PDF)

Monster templates (PDF)

Pumpkin templates (PDF)

Skeleton templates (PDF)

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

Halloween, the time of year when we get to dress in costume and pretend to be someone or something else. I can remember going trick or treating when I as growing up with lots of friends. It was a big deal to dress up and collect as much candy as possible. I wanted it to be a fun time for my daughter, Belinda as well but from an early age, this fun night turned into something totally different. We laugh about it now but I know that it has left an impression on her that caused her to dislike Halloween and “masked” people even now at the ripe age of 26.

Our first trip to Disney, Belinda was about 18 months old. I think my mom and I were more excited then Belinda for her first trip on an airplane AND her first of many Disney trips. In a nutshell, Belinda screamed every time she saw a Disney character come near her. She was happy to see them at a distance but did not want them to be close to her. They were BIG, SCARY creatures. To say the least, there are no pictures of my daughter hugging Mickey.

Every Halloween, Belinda dressed in costume and did the trick or treat thing. We did the mall thing sometimes because Belinda wasn’t a big candy eater and the local mall gave out stickers and other items for the kids. Belinda also managed to always get Edythe, Elsie and I to dress up. I can remember one year – we were all ducks. It was rather comical to see 3 grown adults walking around in all yellow sweats with foam web feet and caps made to look like beaks. No, there are no pictures of that fateful night.

Fast forward again when Belinda was trick or treating with her best friend Jen Loder (Otepka). Halloween in Jen’s neighborhood was a BIG deal. The kids dressed in costumes, the houses were decorated and even the adults got into the spirit of things. It was Belinda’s first year spending the holiday in their neighborhood. Rich dressed in costume, came out of the darkness and scared the kids. Now, he did this every year so most of the kids knew it would be coming sometime during the night. No one bothered to tell Belinda about this Halloween tradition. Rich jumped out from behind a tree shaking his chains and dressed in costume. To say the least, Belinda screamed and ran to Jen’s parents who quickly tried to convince her all was well. Rich apologized but it became the talk of the neighborhood how he had managed to scare her. From then on, when Belinda did Halloween at Jen’s, she was watching for him but she was never ready for him to scare her.

Masked people, large characters and scary/ haunted events were on Belinda’s list of things NOT to do which is funny because she ALWAYS watched the “Nightmare on Elm Street” series at home with my friend April when she was young. Great Halloween memories. What are your favorite Halloween memories growing up or with your children? Share them with us or share pictures of your BEST Halloween costume

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

Let’s Talk Halloween

The National Retail Federation estimates the average person will spend $74 on Halloween this year and the total Halloween spending at $6.9 billion. WOW!  Can you believe that some people started shopping for Halloween costumes in September?  With just a little over 2 weeks to go before the BIG night, here are some tips to make it a safe night filled with fun.

I have some great memories of Belinda at Halloween which I will wait to share until Halloween!  Here’s some tips from: Kids Health, Halloween Safety Guide, and Safe Kids about picking out costumes:

• Choose a light-colored costume because these are easily seen at night. Add reflective tape or glow-in-the-dark tape to the front and back of the costume and to the trick-or-treat bag.
• Only buy a costume that is labeled “flame-retardant.” This means the material won’t burn. If you are making your own costume, use nylon or polyester materials, which are flame-retardant.
• Make sure wigs and beards don’t cover your kids’ eyes, noses, or mouths.
• Kids shouldn’t wear masks — they can make it difficult for them to see and breathe. Instead, use nontoxic face paint or makeup. Have younger kids draw pictures of what they want to look like. Older kids will have fun putting the makeup on themselves. Test the face paint or makeup on your child’s arm or hand before applying to make sure the paint doesn’t irritate the skin.
• Avoid colored or decorative contact lenses, unless they have been prescribed by an eye doctor for your child.
• Avoid over-sized and high-heeled shoes that could cause kids to trip. Make sure the rest of the costume fits well, too, which can help prevent trips and falls.
• Make sure that any props your kids carry, such as wands or swords, are short and flexible.
• You can use a website like SlickDeals.net to search for products or coupons.  SlickDeals has a community of 9 million users who are scouting for the best deals available at any given time.
• Thrift stores are a great place to check for decor and costumes. You can also check out apps or websites like Poshmark and thredUp.  Also check out great dishware and bowls that can be painted or “dressed up” for the holiday. Visit online pinboard, Pinterest, for DIY inspiration.
• Give kids flashlights with new batteries. Kids may also enjoy wearing glow sticks as bracelets or necklaces.

When it comes to Halloween, procrastination can actually pay off. Last year, the price of Hershey’s snack-sized candy bars were slashed in half two days before Halloween.

So, what was YOUR favorite costume or your favorite Halloween memory?  Share it with us for a chance to WIN a Thirty One TREAT.