Halloween

Dancing Skeletons – Boo It Yourself

Greetings loved ones.

October 1 has come and gone which means it’s full throttle on the Halloween decorations. Amiright?

In years past I have settled for some pumpkins and spider webs but this year I wanted something a little more substantial. Something spooky. Something…skeletal.

Isn’t it weird how he looks like he is dancing and laughing?

If I had come back from the dead as a skeleton and some broad wired me to a column, I would not be laughing. Or dancing.

Like I said – spooky. And it gets better – there are three of them.

This guy is my favorite. I rigged his hand so it looks like he is waving. But sometimes the hand flops over and it looks like he’s asking for money. ]

Leave it to me get a greedy skeleton.

I know you are looking at this and wondering how they stay up. Honestly, they stay up on their own. I added some floral wire to keep them in place through wind and rain, but these skeletons are opposable. The joints move and lock into place. Actually, lock is a strong word – more like click. They click into place. So long as the feet and hips are set up sturdy they hold just about any position.

Also. You like the wreaths?

Confession: The truth is this post was supposed to be about wreaths. I went to Michaels and bought a bunch of fall foliage and gourds and wreath forms and a couple friends and I sat on the porch and made fall wreaths and drank wine and ate dip and I took a ton of photos. I thought a wreath making party was a clever idea, isn’t it? Yeah I know!

But you know what’s not so clever? Dropping your phone in the sink the next day. Photos gone. This sink situation also happened to be the day the new iPhone launched so, getting anyone to repair or replace the phone was nearly impossible. I’m still waiting on delievery. So this is my way of saying, if you have called or texted me in the last two weeks, I probably didn’t get it. This is also my way of saying I cannot show you how to make these wreaths step-by-step, but I promise you can get all the supplies at Michaels. You can also pick up an opposable skeleton while you are there. And that’s the cool part.

What sort of Halloween craftiness are you thinking about this year? If you make anything fun and share it on social media please tag me – I would love to see it! And if you get the supplies at Michaels, tag them too because they love that stuff! Whether you’re into spooky sights, playful pumpkins or giggling ghouls, Michaels is your Boo-It-Yourself Halloween Headquarters and has tons of ideas for DIY costumes and décor.

Be sure to check out all of the other Michaels Makers Boo-It-Yourself Halloween ideas on the Michaels blog!

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The Easiest Glitter Pumpkins

by aunt peaches

Yesterday marked the first day of fall and so begins the annual PUMPKIN SPECTACULAR. This weekend I’m clearing off a credenza and filling with all the weird and sparkly skulls and gourds I have collected and made over the years. Maybe there will be a spooky movie in the background and a scented candle going and maybe some pie and holy cats it is going to be AMAZING.

Listen, I never said I was cool.

Speaking of cool – glitter pumpkins. I love a seriously sparkled up pumpkin but the Folks at Aeleen’s Tacky Glue asked me to come up with a super simple sparkle pumpkin that was friendly to all ages and skill levels, easy on the wallet, and capitalizes on the wonder that is Tacky Glue. You could do this with regular white glue but it will just drip into a one big mess, and that ain’t cute. You need the original. Pop on over to get the tutorial and make one for yourself.

Happy Weekend!

Spooky Dollar Store Skeleton Wreath

by aunt peaches 7 Comments

What’s better than a funky fall wreath?

A funky fall wreath made exclusively from stuff you can find AT THE DOLLAR STORE.

Booyow! The goal here was to make something Halloweeny that wasn’t cutesy and orange and black, but also wasn’t scary like a decorative severed foot. I think we hit a nice middle, don’t you? Nothing like a bunch of skeletons to make you feel good n’ spooky!

Get the details on how you can make one over on the Etsy blog today.

Espresso “Boo” Brownies

by aunt peaches 1 Comment

Riddle me this; What is a nine letter word for all the chocolate deliciousness you can handle?

Halloween.

Because while it might be fun for kiddos to dress up and run door to door looking for candy, it’s even more fun for adults to indulge their sweet tooth. Woot! This recipe combines the traditional candylike flavor of white chocolate and marshmallows on top of deep rich brownies kissed with espresso. You get the high and the low, the bitter and sweet, the dark and the light…all in one bite. And isn’t that right there Halloween in a nutshell?

Ingredients

Espresso Brownies (Base) 
-3/4 cup cocoa powder (for baking)
-1/2 cup Califia Farms Cold Brewed Double Espresso
-3/4 cup oil
-1 1/2 cups sugar
-½ teaspoon baking powder
-3 eggs
-1 tsp. vanilla
-1 cup all purpose flour

Ghosts (Topper)
-6 oz of white chocolate
-12 (or more) large marshmallows
-Miniature chocolate chips (can substitute with nuts or sprinkles)

Brownie Instructions
Mix cocoa, oil, and espresso in a bowl thoroughly, followed by sugar and eggs. Add in the remaining ingredients, mix well, then pour into a greased 9X13 pan. Bake 30 – 35 minutes in a 350 degree oven until they are crackled on top.

Cool thoroughly and then slice. The smaller the slices, the more ghosts you will need. Adjust ingredients accordingly.

Ghost Instructions
1 Break up white chocolate into grape-sized chunks.
2 Microwave until melted, stirring every 20 seconds.
3 Spoon the white chocolate into a plastic bag.
4 Snip one corner of the bag, keeping the hole as small as possible.
5 Squeeze a small amount of chocolate into the center of one brownie.
6 Add a marshmallow on top
7 Drizzle the white chocolate on top of the marshmallow paying extra attention to the sides. Messy is good!
8 While the chocolate is still warm, add two miniature chocolate chips for eyes.

These brownies go great with a glass of almond milk or cold brewed coffee. They are truly a treat for kids of all ages, especially those who enjoy their dessert with a scary movie or ghost stories by the fire.

This post has been sponsored by Califia Farms. The recipe, opinions, and unapologetic willingness to eat brownies was supplied entirely by yours truly. As always, thank you for supporting the brands that make this blog possible.

Happy Halloween!

Sparkle Tooth: DIY Rhinestone Pumpkin

by aunt peaches 3 Comments

There are people who believe Halloween is a holiday best reserved for all things spooky, scary, and tastefully decrepit. And then there are those of us who know Halloween to be a holiday for the weird, the rain bowed, and the rhinestoned.

Can you guess which side I am on? If you too share a love of all that is glitzy and glamofied, you are going to want to see this post I wrote for Etsy yesterday. This version features a pumpkin with rhinestones, but honestly, you could use this formula to imbed beads or buttons or anything your sparkle tooth desires. You could even incorporate all the old junk-a-thunk jewelry bits you have been collecting in a cloudy ziplock bag in the back of your sock drawer. You know the one.

Go one now. Get your pumpkin on!

Upcycled Halloween Lanterns

by aunt peaches 2 Comments

As much as I love Halloween, I’m not crazy about it being such a one-and-done holiday, you know? So much time and money spent on things that are gone in no time…

Costumes – worn once.  Trick-or-Treat candy – gone by November.  Pumpkins – half-rotten before the big night is over.

Wouldn’t it be nifty if you could add to the festiveness without spending much money, using items on hand, and save your results for years to come? Wouldn’t it be neat to use a little upcycling to make a big impact?

Yep. Thought so…

You will not believe how cute these lanterns are in person! I’m going to line them up in my window all month then bring them out to the front porch to keep me company while handing out candy on the 31st. They are easy, mostly-kid-friendly, and I didn’t even have to go out and buy special materials. There is one special ingredient here: a gourd shaped bottle, and this one from Califia Farms could not be more ideal!

Materials

–Califia Farms beverage bottles. The label here says orange juice but it is already looking like a pumpkin, no? They also make some delicious flavors you may have never heard of before like mango chili lime, pineapple ginger, and strawberry basil.
-Twinkle lights. LED lights are great because they do not generate heat, but you can use whatever leftover holiday lights you have on hand (see instructions).  -Paint. Basic acrylic craft paint, although, you could layer up something interesting with watercolor if you like.
– Paint brush.
– Black construction paper.
– Pen knife or box cutter.
– Scissors

Instructions
1. After washing the empty bottle, peel off the outer label and paint your favorite colors. I kept the colors basic greens and orange, but if you are working with munchkins, this would be a great opportunity to let them take the lead. Who says a witch has to be green? I hear pink and brown witches are very on trend!

2. While the bottles are drying, cut out Halloween face shapes and adhere to one side with regular white glue (click here if you would like to use my template for a jack-o-Lantern, scary witch, and Frankenstein monster).

3. Use a pen knife to cut a 2” slot in the back of the bottle. If you are not using LED lights, cut the whole a little larger to make sure any heat can safely escape.

4. Insert 10”-20” of the twinkle lights inside the bottle. You can light up multiple bottles on a single string, or designate a short strand for each creature.

If you are feeling extra creative you can add a simple witch hat…

But I also like the way the color caps look. Orange and green feel festive even with the lights off!

Happy Halloween!

This post is sponsored by Califia Farms but all opinions expressed within are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make this site possible!

Frida Portrait Costume

by aunt peaches 8 Comments

I had been wanting a legit excuse to make a flower crown ever since Michael’s had a flower crown making bar at their Makers Summit even last summer (<<yup, I said flower crown bar). I’m not quite boho-hipster enough to wear one to the gas station, but when Michael’s asked me to make a costume using items from their store, I saw my opportunity. Pair the occasion with a long-running love of Frida Kahlo paintings, a patient friend, a little photoshop…and we are ready to rock and roll!

If you are not familiar with Frida’s work, you need to get on that. Also, you can rent the Selma Hayek movie.

Special shout out here to Yasmin for modeling this project. It takes an especially special friend to give p their Saturday to come over and let you draw facial hair on them.

Want to make one of your own? All you need is a headband, some silk flowers and floral wire. Wrap, wrap, wrap and go!

My favorite part of the costume is Frida’s signature hand earring. You know a strong woman when she is wearing a human hand from her ear! And don’t you know – Michael’s sells these skull hands that you can wear all year. We were lazy here and just used the same floral wire, but you could certainly spend the time to make it into a proper piece of jewelry.

Still looking for a costume? The Michaels.com Halloween project page has tons of ideas for DIY Halloween costumes and décor. Or check out the other 49 DIY costumes from the Michaels Makers and you might just find the perfect one for you, your kiddos or your fur babies. Look: Jaderbomb’s dog Ceaux Ceaux is also a Frida fan:

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Silk Scarf Pumpkins

by aunt peaches 14 Comments

It’s the first day of September. You know what that means?

It’s pumpkin season. Heyo!

Michael’s asked me to decorate one of their foam pumpkins as part of their Michael’s Makers program and I was like, No problemo. Bring on the fall!

If you have followed the blog lately you know I got rid of a ton of scarves recently. Most of them are now at Goodwill but I snagged a few last minute thinking they would be great for this project. I have a long history of decoupaging pumpkins with paper, but fabric? That’s new. Turns out, silk scarves are ideal for this type of project. The end result is gloriously patterned and all kinds of festive. Want to make one?

Yeah. You do.

Materials

Foam pumpkin
Mod Podge (I like the gloss finish variety but it’s a matter of preference)
Silk scarf (see note on various kinds of scarves below)
Scissors
Old paint brush

Start by drizzling a generous amount of mod podge over the surface of the pumpkin, then brush it out. I like to let the mod lodge sit out a few minutes before adding the next layer. It seems to make things stickier. That might just be in my head, but I’m saying out loud and on the internet so it must be true.

Cut your scarf into smallish-squares. Mine here are around 4″, but you would want smaller for a smaller pumpkin, and larger for a larger pumpkin. No strict science here, just know that the more severe the curves, the narrower you will want the strips.

What kind of scarf? As thin and silk-like as possible. I started with project with three scarves but ended up only using one because the other two were too thick and did not lay flat, even when soaked with Mod Podge (that’s polyester for you). Also, natural fibers will absorb the glue much easier, so try to find that if you can. Lucky for all of us, thrift stores are usually pretty stacked with old silk scarves. Trust me.

Now brush your silk squares onto the pumpkin. cover completely, then let it dry over night.

After it dried, I decided to add a few sequins with Tacky Glue, but a more tasteful person would probably do without. The pursuit of tastefulness doesn’t really happen a lot around here though…

TaDa! That’s it. A patterned, funky, one-of-a-kind pumpkin ready to rock your socks off all the way through October!

Looking for more pumpkin decor ideas? Good news – here are 49 more!

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Sparkle Tooth Alert: Collage Clay Crystal Skull

by aunt peaches 15 Comments

Two things I can never get enough of: frosting and rhinestone skulls.

I needed something to coordinate with my Liberace gourds, naturally, and since sugar skulls are all the rage, this needed to happen. He’s out on the bookshelf now but I’m thinking he may need to stay out year round. Nothing says Christmas like a crystal skull!

I must give credit where credit is due — I totally stole this idea from this crystal skull I saw on Cathie and Steve’s Facebook page. I don’t think they will mind me telling you because I’m also going to tell you about their product, which is my new favorite thing: Mod Podge Collage Clay.

Materials

Mod Podge Collage Clay goes on like frosting but it’s a actually a glue. A puffy, air-dry glue. If you have ever made mosaics using tile adhesive and grout (love the look – hate the process) you are going to LOVE THIS STUFF. It comes in a tube, like frosting, with tips, like frosting, in pink or white…like frosting. Dries light weight but heavy duty enough to hold your stuff in place. I picked some up at Michael’s for $10 (now on sale in stores only for $5.99), and used a little more than half the tube to cover this basketball sized skull. Now I’m thinking of eleventyseven other things I want to make with the other half of the tube. I’m not going to say what rhinestone creature will emerge next, but it might begin with “tape” and end with “dispenser.” Shhhh.

Skull I also found this jumbo foam skull at Michael’s for about $10 (now on sale for $6.99), however, now that I am contemplating keeping this bad boy out year round, I am regretting that I used a foam base. Next time I’m thinking about getting a hollow plastic skull ($1 at Dollar Tree), filling it with sand, sealing it off, then cover with crystal sparkles, then set on the bookshelf. BLMAO Instant book end! How’s that for practical thinking? I know. You’re welcome. If you’re not into bookends, the foam is nice and light. Actually, they sell these HUGE foam skulls at World Market too, like, as big as a car seat. They go for $40 right now, but I’ll bet they will be on sale any day now. I’m thinking you could just make a huge one and mount it as a hood ornament. I’m so tasteful.

Rhinestones I’v mentioned this before but I’ll say it again, the best deal running on crystal gems is this one pound bag. I have never seen it in stores, but you feel free to hunt around. This project could also be a great opportunity to break up an old necklace and salvage the beads, or buttons, or maybe just the sparkliest crap at the bottom of your junk drawer. I’ve got 46 cents in Canadian coinage that me best destined for new and glamorous heights!

Applying the Collage Clay really is just like putting on frosting. I know I keep comparing it to frosting, and you are bored of that, but that is the only relevant comparison I can think of. Just squeeze it on and spread it out….don’t lick your fingers.

Then you stick in your gems and goodies and leave it alone. The package says it dries within 1-5 days, but I found it to be much faster. I would say it dried to the touch within 5 hours and was perfectly solid overnight. It probably didn’t cure 100% for another day, but I was free to put it on display the next morning. No coaster or special protection needed.

After the collage clay dried, I went back the following day and coated the eye sockets, nose and mouth with clear-drying Tacky Glue and laid in some more sparkles. I can’t tell what makes him look more crazy – the pink eyes or the diamond teeth. Every time I look at him I hear him singing “LET ME SEE YOUR GRILL.”

Let me see your what?

“Got da whole top diamond and the bottom row’s gold.” – Nelly

Annnnnnnnd that’s about it. Easy peasy. I’m not sure if you are supposed to use gloves, but I didn’t. I got some on my counter but it wiped off with a paper towel like….wait for it…frosting.

You knew I was going to say that didn’t you?

Also. Because this is important. I would like everybody to know that I did not stage this rhinestone skull on a field of gold sequins; it’s here laying around all the time. And by all time, I mean all week. It’s costume season and Abigail wants to be an iguana. I think she meant the iguana from Dora the Explorer but I’m going to reinterpret this as the iguana from the Solid Gold Dancers and telling myself it’s for her personal safety. Sequins are mother nature’s safety reflectors. We must keep the children safe.

Happy Halloween!

No-Sew Flying Spaghetti Monster

by aunt peaches 13 Comments

Know what’s cuter than a cute dog? A cute dog dressed like spaghetti.

Yup. It’s happening!

Kiki’s dog Abraham is one of those dogs that never stops moving. I think it’s a terrier thing. Jumping, dancing, hugging, wiggling, kissing the mailman, barking orders at the squirrels. Weird thing – he likes wearing clothes. He doesn’t even like it when you take his collar off. I think this goes back to his time in a shelter when the only time a collar came out was when a human would come to take him for walks or give him attention. I think he associates wearing things as a public mark that says I BELONG.

Okay. That’s me projecting my Lady and the Tramp pseudo-psycology on my friend’s dog. But you know what? I know what I know. And I know Abraham loves clothes, especially the ones that make him look extra adorable.

I mean…

I’ll have to get my video camera out so you can see the spaghetti wiggle with him. It’s pretty spectacular. And the cool thing about this costume is that it was inexpensive and came together in under an hour. Sure, this is a dog costume, but there is no reason you couldn’t take this to human size. OR EVER BETTER: make one for doggy and human to wear together.

That’s not weird at all.

You’ll need…
-Red or White base coat or sweatshirt (Abe donated his old coat to the cause)
-Brown yarn
-White yarn (extra thick blanket yarn is nice)
-Hot glue
-Pom-pom maker (optional)

Have you ever used a pom-pom maker? I grew up making pom-pons and tassels the old-fashioned way (just wrap yarn around a small book or piece of cardboard) and they are great, but I saw a woman at a craft fair demonstrating how to use a pom-pom maker and I was stunned, stunned, how nice and round her pom-poms came out. These really do look like little meatballs.

I hot glued some rough spirals shaped to the coat, which is a red fleece base. If you are ever considering making a costume with this method I highly suggest pairing it worth polar fleece. It takes to hot glue like peanut butter to jelly. I don’t know why that is, but it is. Those two love each other!

After the white spaghetti yarn was down I attached a few brown pom-pons, and that was that. Look how cute it came out!

Abe is sending you and yours spaghetti wishes and meatball dreams for a very happy Halloween!

This post is made possible thanks to Michael’s. Join me and the other Michael’s makers in creating costumes for those we love!

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Halloween