It's Time to "Trick or Treat"

 We now have 5 great nephews...how lucky is that?  They are sooo cute, bright, funny, happy, amazing, and each one has a distinct personality  which makes each family gathering extremely entertaining.  I find myself just sitting and watching the fun.  No need for television, or sports....we have our own "show!"  Two of the boys will be turning two soon, so I decided to make each one a "Trick or Treat" pumpkin to use to gather their "loot."  I made the older two boys their  pumpkins a few yeas ago and since they seemed to like them, I decided to make a couple more for the younger boys, Henry and Hudson.

 I bought a couple of false pumpkins from Michael's, and my husband cut off  the tops and lightly sanded the edges.  I added handles, then ....

the fun part...I chose a ghost to paint for Hudson.  Hudson cracks me up...he's funny, doesn't seem to be shy, and always has a smile on his face.  We live a couple of hours away from him; wish we could see more of he and his brother.

Now, sweet Henry.  He is the first of his generation on my side of the family.  He lives four hours away and I haven't seen him in a long time....but I will seem him in 3 days for his birthday party...Yea!!

 Yep, Frankenstein!  My niece told me that Henry insisted that "Good Old Frank"  had to sit at the dinner table with him the day that he arrived in the mail.  I love to hear the boy's reactions to gifts we send. 

I hope Hudson and Henry enjoy "Trick or Treating" with their new "Pumpkins!"  

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Haunted Halloween Cookies

Happy Halloween!  Here are some Halloween cookies to help celebrate the day.  I now have  a nice collection of Halloween cookie cutters, and really had a good time decorating these cookies.  Most of them are Wilton cookie cutters.

I used the following cookie cutters: witch's hat, square, witch's cauldron, ghost, 2 simple circles, witch's broom, witch's shoe, tombstone, and skull/Frankenstein.

I really had fun with the witch's shoe, the black, creepy tree, spider webs, Frankenstein, and the tombstones!

Here's a close up of the shoe, cauldron and that cute little candy corn.  Most of the cookies are sugar cookies, but there are a few chocolate chip cookies; the candy corn, witch's hat, black tree, and Frankenstein.

I really enjoyed making this haunted tree.  I think a whole set of cookies decorated like this would be really interesting; such as a witch flying across a moon, pumpkins on a fence post, etc. 

Here's another close up, this one of a crazy witch's shoe, a pumpkin, tombstone, ghost, and broom.

H

I just love these eyeballs, an idea from www.sweetsugarbelle.com.  She is a truly amazing cookie decorator!

Here's a little Halloween quilt and another kind of witch's hat.

Well, I am now ready for Halloween...let the "Tricker Treating" begin!

Happy, Happy Halloween!

Halloween Costume Collection

As I stated in my last post, I really love Halloween!  I just couldn't wait to make Halloween costumes for my kids, and believe me, I had fun every year!  We always encouraged them to choose who or what they wanted to be.  They usually came up with some pretty unique ideas.  I think we only bought one pre-made costume over the years and that was because my daughter really liked a  unicorn costume that she saw in a catalog.  It was cheaper to buy it than to make it, so we ordered it.  She was thrilled, it was really cute, and I didn't have to figure out how to  attach a horn to her head!  whew!  I have nothing against buying a costume, but after my kids chose what they wanted to be, finding that costume was always pretty hard.  Besides, as I said, I really liked to make them!  I thought I would share a few of the costumes, hope you enjoy them....

My brother-in-law with my daughter.  I think a friend loaned him this great costume, and we joined in for the fun!  The braids were especially fun to make!

When my daughter was really little, we got to choose her costume for her, yea!  Here she is as a flapper....one of my favorite costumes as a kid.  Fringe and make up....bliss!

My daughter (on the left) really liked "Curious George" and wanted to be this cute little monkey for Halloween.  My son, on the right, chose to wear the same costume when he was about 2 years old.  This costume and the pumpkin (last post) were the only two costumes that were worn by both of them.

Here's my little cow girl ...yee-ha!

Here is my daughter as "Dorothy" from the "Wizard of Oz."  I bet there have been a bunch of Dorothys over the years.  The "Ruby Red Slippers" were fun to make...she left a trail of red sequins through the neighborhood!

Again, my son was too little to choose, so I got to make a clown outfit.  I always wanted to make a clown outfit and a scarecrow outfit.  I got to make a clown, isn't he cute?  But, alas, no one ever  wanted to be a scarecrow...

My son as Santa Claus!  He was really excited about his costume, especially once I had the "padding" made!  He "Ho-Ho-Ho'd" all night long!

The evil Captain Hook...he doesn't look too evil, does he!

After our mini vacation to Holland, Michigan, my daughter wanted to be a little Dutch girl, wooden shoes and all!

My daughter wanted to be a "Genie" with all the sparkles.  Since we live in Michigan, we often have to "bundle up" on Halloween night and fit the costumes over these extra clothes to stay warm.  It can be a bit discouraging, especially with costumes that were not meant to have winter boots!  This picture was taken at school where she was able to wear the costume without all the winter "gear."

"Indiana Jones!"  We made a surprise trip to Disney World at the beginning of the school year and my son, who really loves all of the Indiana Jones movies,  got to witness the "Indiana Jones" production at Epcot.  We found the hat and the rest was pretty easy!  I was worried about the whip (a weapon!) so we taped it closed with duct tape.  There was no way that anyone could open it up!

"The Little Mermaid"  This is an example of having to "bundle up" under a costume.  I think she has a few layers under the costume plus winter boots.  Thank goodness we found some sparkly gloves!

My son the "Fisherman."  He even had a few fish hanging from his belt that you can't see.  He really enjoyed this costume.  At the time, he had only fished a couple of times, who knew that he would grow up to really enjoy the sport!

"Cleopatra" We all learned more about the history of Egypt!  When my daughter's friends asked who she was dressed up as and she told them "Cleopatra," the next question was, "Who is that?"  She was ready with a quick history lesson.

"John Quincy Adams"   Apparently, President Adams is a distant relative of our family.  For a class assignment, my son did a book report about President John Q. Adams and then decided to dress up as the president for Halloween.  When he went trick or treating, with his two friends, one dressed as a football player, and the other as a hockey player, he was asked a lot of questions at each house!

"Betsy Ross"  I think this was our "history period."  This dress belonged to my daughter's great aunt.  She loved wearing it!

I don't remember why my son decided to be a Native American...but, as you can see,  I like to add fringe whenever I can!  haha

"Mr. Money Bags" from Monopoly.  A perfect high school costume!

Here is my son, as a college student, in a costume he designed.  I received a phone call asking" I need some pink pajamas!"  My response was, " huh?"  But, as you can see, he really does look like a bottle of "Pepto Bismal."   And the Halloween costume tradition continues...

I hope that you have enjoyed this little Halloween fashion show...I know that I have enjoyed the memories!

Happy Halloween one and all!

Spooktacular Halloween Village

The weather is definitely cooler with a crispness in the air.  The trees are turning magnificent colors...red, gold, rust, orange and all the colors in between, some leaves are falling, making walking a crunchy experience, and best of all the pumpkins are ready to be harvested.   This means that Halloween is just around the corner!!!  Yippee, I just love Halloween...I always have and always will!  My family is well aware of my fondness for fall and for Halloween.  As a kid, I loved to "Trick or Treat," carve my pumpkin, and sort my "loot,"  (candy).  I don't remember eating much of it, but, boy has that changed!  So, over the years, my wicked wonderful children have given me my creepy "Halloween Village."  This collection is made by Studio 56, and is so much fun, spooky!

The village is displayed along our dining room windows, so at night its lights are reflected in the windows.  This makes the village is even scarier!

Halloween Village by Studio 56.

The Haunted Cathedral- home of the "Screeching Nun", a distant cousin of the Singing Nun.

The Haunted Cathedral...lit and unlit

The Schoolhouse- Where little goblinettes learn the three "Rs"-  Reeking, Rioting, and 

Retchmatic!

The  Schoolhouse, lit and unlit

"Dead Creek Mill"-  Where "things" are ground up...don't even ask!  Let's just say that they don't grind grain... it's not fish , but definitely brain food.   (unlit and lit)

The eerie "Windmill"- the sharply honed blades really turn. 

This fellow missed his bus a long, long, time ago...the lamp light actually lights up!

These fellows are lit...literally!  I think I need to add a bar or pub to the village so they have a place to get a re-fill!

I have added fall trees, mainly maples and birch to the scene...along with extraneous pumpkins, gourds, and fallen leaves.

Every small town needs its own water tower, especially one that can advertise its own "Annual Pumpkin Festival!"

Yikes, the tree is alive!  This is one scary tree.  It reminds of the trees from the

"Wizard of Oz." 

Also, every small haunted village needs a witch to create her potions, brews, and concoctions.  Especially if the village doesn't have a pharmacy!  I wonder if she charges a co-pay?  As you can see, the fire lights up, but what you can't see is that she stirs her pot over, and over, and over.

The "Dead End Motel" is for out of town guests, or better yet, out of this world guests.  My husband, my son, and I once stayed in a motel like this.  It was truly a nightmare...one we won't, can't forget.  (and believe me, we want to!)

Yes, there are little boys and ghouls in this town and they definitely need a haunted, old tree house to play in, especially if they need to play "Dead Man's Bluff, Haunt and Seek, or Pin the tail on the Black Cat!"

 I need to think of a name for my village....maybe Verminville, Death Valley, or maybe even 

New Yuck City!

Thank you, my two little "punkins," for my "Spooktacular" Haunted Village.  I love it and I love you!

Hope you all  have a Happy, Haunted, Hairy, and Hellacious Week!