Happy Halloween 2011

We had a busy weekend preparing for today's festivities. There was pumpkin carvings, costume final touches, and treat making. Yesterday we were up to our elbows in eyeballs for E's class.

I used Bakerella's recipe for red velvet cake balls.  Her eyeball cake pop instructions are here.  They turned out gorier than I had expected because our edible markers wouldn't work on the candy coating.  I ended up using gel coloring which gave the eyeballs a more grotesque appearance.  Of course, the boys thought this was terrific.

This is E and his friend before heading to school this morning.  E was an Angry Bird Pig and his friend borrowed his M & M costume. They looked great.

 

I decided, last minute, that I'd dress up as one of the Time Warp dancers from The Rocky Horror Picture Show.  Perhaps I'll post a photo on Instagram (you can see my latest pictures on the sidebar of this blog ----->  or Flickr (also on sidebar) later this evening.

I hope you have fun Halloween!  I'd love to hear about your hauntings!

Halloween in our new home || OM [one moment] meetup

 

DIY - Mason Jar, ping pong eyeballs, moss

If you know me or have read this blog for a while, you know I love Halloween.  This year, in our new house, I was faced with a big decorating dilemma (insert sad trombone here).  Our decor worked for our Rhode Island colonial and smaller yard.  We had windows that could feature Mortimer or my lady in waiting, Madge. Our new home has walls of windows and sits pretty far from the road.  We live on a dead end street and really don't get much traffic.  For the most part, I'm decorating for the few kids on our street and for myself.

I began pulling the decorations from boxes.  As I set up our gravestones (most of which we had made several years ago) in the front yard, I realized how minuscule it looked compared to our graveyards from years past. The witch and cauldron were unrecognizable from the street.  Maybe it was time for me to throw in my witch hat.  I don't feel like starting over.  Anyway, it took me years to build up my Halloween collection for our old house.

In my sad Charlie Brown shuffle, I put up some things near our front door for the few trick or treaters I expect from the neighborhood.

 DIY ghost milk jug lanterns  - I want to collect enough to make a very long row of ghosts

When I set up the spotlight on the cemetery, serendipitously, it created huge shadows of the gravestones on the wall of the front of the house.  The silhouettes are so creepy and eerie.  They can be easily be seen from the street.  From now on this is the only decor I need each year!  AND, I can create different vignettes by cutting out spiders/webs, zombies, witches, ghosts, anything each year and hanging them in front of the spot light. I don't have to buy more decor and I can still be creative each year.  And think of the money I'll save! Now that's a moment!

What was your moment this week?

Halloween - by Crafted by Lindy - Fab Finds from Etsy

Top to Bottom, Left to Right

1. 12 Flying Bat Halloween Cupcake Toppers - TheCakesmith

 2. Itsies - Boo Ghost Halloween Charms - TimberGreenWoods

 3. Halloween party photo prop chalkboard on a stick - PaperPolaroid

4. Quite Bewitching Halloween 25' Paper Garland - MaraMay

Top to Bottom, Left to Right

 

5. Halloween Ring - EyeBall Ring - iceblues

6. Candy Snakes 12 Fun Halloween Cake Decor - andiespecialtysweets

7. Baby Halloween Costume Funny Sushi Toddler Costume Onesie - TheWishingElephant

8. HEARTLESS - skeleton necklace - PASSIONandPAISLEY

[Lindy lives in Alberta, Canada, with her husband, son and daughter. Besides blogging, she enjoys running her stationery business and creating new designs for her Etsy shop. You can read her own blog here]

Handmade Halloween Costume Giveaway for the kiddies

GIVEAWAY CLOSED
Congratulations, Crystal!

You all know we are approaching my favorite holiday - Halloween.  I've posted a lot about our decorations, costumes, ghosting, and other festivities in the past.  We lost many of our decorations in the move West but I have a few new ideas "brewing."

I'm itching to make a cute costume.  My boys are older now and either don't go trick or treating or chose to carry bloody hatchets with torn clothes.  Gone are the days of cute, home made costumes.  There was a glimmer of hope this year when Ethan said he wanted to dress up as the grapes from the Fruit of the Looms.  Alas, the light has faded back into something zombie-like.  My nieces and nephews have their costumes all ready, so I'm going to make a costume to give away.  I'll also create a DIY tutorial from the process.

The scoop:
One M & M costume (red - boy; green - girl).  The costume will be similar to the one I made for Ethan a few years ago, however, this time it will come more to the knees.  I will even throw in a new pair of white gloves.

Entry details:  Leave a comment below (or on my Facebook fan page) about your favorite Halloween costume or decoration. (1 entry)

4 Additional entries when you:
1) Tweet about this giveaway. Be sure to include @alamodestuff in your tweet so I can keep track. (1 entry)

2) Blog about this giveaway with a link to the post. (1 entry)

3) Follow this blog (via email, RSS, Google Reader).  If you already follow, let me know. That counts, too. (1 entry)

4) Sign up for my mailing list (1 entry)

**5 possible entries per person.
Please let me know if you've done any of these to ensure you get your extra entries.

One (1) winner will be randomly chosen (through Random.org). Contest ends Wednesday, October 12, at midnight EST.  Winner will be notified by Friday, October 14.  Sorry, but this giveaway is restricted to US and Canada only.

Fall Colours - by Crafted by Lindy - Fab Finds From Etsy

 Top to Bottom, Left to Right

1. Chocolate Wrist Cuff - callmemimi

2. Autumn Wedding Decorations - PrettyTape

3. Autumn photo - sparksoffire

4. Yarn Wreath Felt Handmade Door Decoration - ItzFitz

Top to Bottom, Left to Right

5. Halloween Cupcake flags - Boo - GoAgainstTheGrain

6. autumn leaves - PLAID high waist wool PENCIL SKIRT - sweetcrocodile

7. Vintage Children's Illustrations - StoriesDivinations

8. Fox Spun Cotton Ornament - oldworldprimitives

[Lindy lives in Alberta, Canada, with her husband, son and daughter. Besides blogging, she enjoys running her stationery business and creating new designs for her Etsy shop. You can read her own blog here]

Spooky - by Crafted by Lindy - Fab Finds from Etsy

Top to Bottom, Left to Right

1. Black Cat and Full Moon Halloween Decor - erinf115

2. Halloween Decor, The Mummy and The Raven - BrickHouseStudio

3. Black Cat Lignite Coal Figurine Vintage Halloween Decor - TheVintageLacy

4. Halloween Themed Straws - bbond0520

Top to Bottom, Left to Right

5. Shabby Chic Picture Frames - MountainCoveAntiques

 6. Cute Halloween Decor - loopzart

7. Candy Corn Limited Edition Jar Cakes - tookies

8. A Tiny Bit SPOOKY- Vintage Letterpress Word for Halloween - HandmadeByAlison

[Lindy lives in Alberta, Canada, with her husband, son and daughter. Besides blogging, she enjoys running her stationery business and creating new designs for her Etsy shop. You can read her own blog here]

Home baked vs store bought cookies - OM [one moment] meet up #28

Not as it seems, originally uploaded by alamodestuff.

I've desperately sought the one moment this week when I'd be motivated to decorate for Halloween. It has yet to come. Tonight, whether motivated or not, E and I will get it done. The excitement this year has somehow alluded me.

I volunteered to bring in a "baked treat" to E's Halloween class party yesterday. On Wednesday night, I pulled out the cookie cutters (bat, ghost, pumpkin) and asked E if he wanted to help make frosted sugar cookies. He eagerly accepted and we began prepping. When I mentioned we'd have to run to the store to get some frosting, he immediately put on the brakes.

E: "You go, mom. I'll play."
Me: "Um, no that isn't how this is going to work."
Both: quiet stare
Me: "Do you want me to bake these cookies or buy them from the store?"
E: Laughing and rolling eyes, "I don't care. Just buy them."

Wow, off the hook. My one moment when I was willing to go all out Martha Stewart didn't really matter to my son. Clearly, the pressure was all mine.

Store bought cookies it was and no one cared.

Happy Halloween to all!

How was your week?  Did you have a light bulb moment?  How about a moment that made you really think about why you do what you do?  Share any moment you had whether funny, sad, reflective, etc.  I want to hear all about it!


OM is a weekly meet up that promotes living in the moment.  Whether funny, sad, ridiculous, or banal, looking for these moments can promote balance in our lives.

Share in the blog comments here, on your own blog (and link back below)  or on my Facebook fan  page. If you are on Twitter,  I've started a hash tag - #omMeetup so  that we can converse if we'd like. We'd love to hear your moment this week!

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Hump Day Humor: 5 easy last minute Halloween Costumes

 

This would be super easy to make and wear. T-shirt, fabric paint (free hand or stencil) and chef's hat.

Black eyed peas [source]

Loved this characters on Sesame Street. Great couples costume! Maybe not so "last minute" but could be easy to do.  Think towels, Styrofoam balls, hangers, and pipe cleaners.[source]

 Who can resist a garden gnome?! [source] 

 

Someone in our house should be this! Box, can of spray paint (any color) and bowls.[source]

Easy diy Lady Gaga steak head piece for Halloween

I almost always dress up for Halloween, but each year it seems that I have less time to decorate or make costumes.  As the kids get older, they want more control over their costumes.  Gone are the days of M&Ms, cute mummies and butterfly costumes.  They no longer want me to make their costumes but rather buy them piece by piece at the Halloween shop that pops up each year. This year, I haven't even begun to decorate my house as I've done in years past.  So, an ultra easy costume had to be the way to go!

As I strolled the aisles of my local Target a few weeks ago, I couldn't help but wander through the Halloween section.  I had intended to simply wear my devil horns again this year until I saw an inexpensive blond wig ($4.99).  I have never been a blond before.  Eager to see if I'd indeed have more fun, I purchased the wig not knowing what I'd be.  Then, it came to me...if I slap a piece of meat on my head, I could be Lady Gaga.

Since I wasn't about to wear a real piece of meat on my head, I decided to make a faux meat fascinator.  This cost me all of 90 cents for the three pieces of felt and was extremely easy to make.  If you are naturally blond and on a budget, you can't get an easier costume than this!

What you need:

3 pieces of felt (2 white, 1 red)
glue
scissors
pins
pattern (printable pdf here)
bobby pins

1.  Place your printed pattern onto a piece of white felt, pin, and cut on the outermost line #1.

2.  Remove pins and place the pattern onto the red piece of felt, pin, and cut on line #2.

3.  Remove pins and place the pattern onto the last piece of white felt, pin, and cut on line #3, the t-bone.l

4.  Glue the red felt onto the white felt and the t-bone on top of the red felt.

5.  Punch or poke holes where you'd like to place your bobby pins and secure to your hair or wig.

I added a funky pair of work goggles (from my local hardware store - $2.99) which can be bedazzled, .  You can make this out of any fabric or craft foam.  You can also secure the steak to a headband or clear elastic.   Think bigger and make a giant steak to wear over your clothes or make many and pin them to your entire body.

Now the fun will be in seeing who recognizes the costume right away and who stares at me while scratching their heads.  Are you dressing up for Halloween this weekend?

Printable pdf pattern:  Lady Gaga t-bone stake head piece

Hallow's Eve - posted by Crafted by Lindy - Fab Finds from Etsy

Top to Bottom, Left to Right

1. Gary Ghost - PRINT 8x10 - Halloween scary ghost - Pickled Pumpkin

2. Ghostly Gab Necklace - Juniper Eve

3. Handmade 5x7 photo blank note greeting card - Lindentree Photography

4. Moveable Vampire Fangs - JL67

Top to Bottom, Left to Right

5. Alex Kitty-gurumi - Amigurumi Kitty Cat - Moon's Creations

6. Halloween Bat Paper Garland KIT - House of Clouds

7. Halloween Ghost with Boo Garland - Bloom and Barnacle

8. Sexy Glam Mini Witch Hat for Halloween - BatCakes

[Lindy lives in Alberta, Canada, with her husband, son and new baby girl. Besides blogging, she enjoys running her stationery business and creating new designs for her Etsy shop. You can read her own blog here.]

Hump Day Humor - When reason fails, stick a sign to it

As mentioned in a post last week, on Halloween I enjoy decorating our house. This year, I put one of my dress forms in an upstairs window decorated as a headless bride. The window happens to be outside E's bedroom door. More than once, I heard him say that the mannequin scared him.

When I finally had the time to put her away, this is what I found:

You can see more of our Halloween decor and fun here on flickr.

Happy Halloween!

Mortimer waving to the neighbors
Sigh...since the boys have moved beyond homemade costumes now, I thought that I share a few favorites from the past.
2006 - E as mummy and M (sneaking up behind) as Ninja. E's costume was simply muslin tacked on to grey sweatpants and jacket. To this day, there are still little knots of thread on that jacket.2007 - E as an M & M. This is one of my favorites! I used puffy paint for the face and felt for the body. His only complaint was that people kept trying to take a bite out of him.

2007 - M as a crusader from Monty Python (the killer rabbit scene - notice it on his neck). People either recognized this costume right away or didn't get it all.

2008 - M as Angus Young from AC/DC.

Hump Day Humor - Halloween fun in our home

I love Halloween! I've always had a thing about dressing up like someone or something other than myself and parading around town [something I also did on a normal basis in the mid '80s]. I totally get into the festivities.

In year's past, I used to set up a parlor in my driveway. I'd lay out an old rug, settee, table with lamp, eerie sound effects playing in the background, etc. I'd also serve spiced apple cider. Over the years, we've accumulated a lot of decorations including a crystal ball with a floating head, fog machine, and grave stones. One year, I even made a mini haunted room in our garage for the kids to explore. Needless to say, this all took a lot of time so I've stopped doing as much any more. However, I do still like to bring out some props and dress up a bit.

Here is a fun DIY project for the whole family - Bowl of Brains. This is such an easy prop to make. [I did notice today that cauliflower isn't cheap at $4/head.]

Here's what you need:
cauliflower
toothpicks
large glass bowl
red food coloring (gel works best)

Clean the green off the cauliflower and place it in the bowl. With a tooth pick, wipe some food coloring on the cauliflower. The gel appears like blood clots. Add water and more food coloring to your liking. That is it! The glass magnifies the cauliflower and makes it look brainy. You can add gummy eyeballs or worms for extra grossness. Isn't it simply disgusting?! The kids love it!


This is our family friend, Mortimer...

Mortimer is an academic skeleton that was purchased for my husband's birthday when he started residency (6 long years ago). He typically lives in my studio/office closet because he frightens the children who come over to play. [Mort used to stand by the door of the office until I heard the blood curdling scream of a 6 year old one day. We were so used to his presence that we forgot to close the door when my son had a play date. This will be mentioned in at least one future therapy session, I'm sure.]

Mortimer sits in our window during October. He comes out on to our front porch to wed his headless bride (one of my dress forms all dolled up) on Halloween night. Top hat and all, Mort is a classy guy. I'll try to take a photo this year so I can share this blissful wedding occasion with you.





As the boys get older, our decor seems to get a bit more gross. This year, E decided to take sticky body parts he found at the dollar store and place them into one of many skulls we have around the house. Yes, we have many skulls of varying sizes in our home. I never thought I'd get used to so many skeletal pieces surrounding me, but somehow over the years I've become jaded to them. I assure you none are real, although I do believe you can buy them on Ebay.

Next, there is witch Hazel. She is a Martha Stewart silhouette I bought at Michaels one year. I use a tension curtain rod to hold up her "fiery" cauldron which makes Hazel glow in the window at night.

I'm keeping my "costume" subtle this year. I'm just wearing my horns, striped socks and my spider ring - not a huge departure to my usual wardrobe.






Are you dressing up this year? Do you decorate your house? I'd love to see what you do!

Handmade finds by Crafted by Lindy: Bump in the Night

1. Blue Horror Lamp Shade - Spooky Shades

2. Darwin Stuffed Guinea Pig Plushie - Zygopsyche

3. Spiderweb Pressed Halloween Party Invitation - Letterpress Light

4. Happy Halloween White Tree - A Punkin Card Company

A fun Halloween tradition - ghosting

Late in the evening yesterday, the doorbell rang.
We weren't expecting anyone.
The lights were out.
We opened the door and found a bag of goodies, a note, and a picture of a ghost.
We saw rustling in the nearby bush.
Who's there?!



We were GHOSTED!



Are you familiar with this little neighborhood tradition? It was new to us when we move here 5 years ago. Each year when it happens, it not only surprises us but gives us a little rush of excitement.
Even if you don't have kids, trick your friends with this little treat and spread the Halloween fun.



Here's what you do:


1) Print two ghostly notes here.


2) Print two of these GHOST pics here.


3) Pick two neighbors/friends and stealthily deliver these with some goodies.


4) Stand back and watch the fun surprise unfold!

Halloween is my favorite "holiday." I have more ghoulish treats, projects, and decor coming your way. Stay tuned!