If you bought a few too many bags of candy expecting a truck load of trick-or-treaters and only had two show up to your door, you’re probably wondering what to do with the leftover treats. Though it’s tempting to eat every last Hershey’s Kiss and Tootsie Roll, you’re saving your binge for Thanksgiving day, where you’ll help yourself to at least three pieces of pie; hey, it’s the holidays, treat yo’ self!
Instead of throwing the candy away or taking it to the breakroom for a free-for-all, why not get into the holiday spirit and make something of it to share with family and friends come Thanksgiving?
Here are three upcycled Halloween treat ideas that’ll get your Thanksgiving and all of your holiday celebrations off to a good start!
The Thanksgiving Cracker
Brought exclusively to you by the Bumblebreeblog (see full tutorial with photos there!), this sweet cracker craft will start Thanksgiving dinner off with a bang! Filled with small toys and candy (this is where all of that extra Halloween candy comes in) the Thanksgiving cracker is a fun, small gift of appreciation that’ll get everyone sitting around the table talking and laughing.
Materials Needed:
- Halloween candy
- Recycled paper towel tubes
- Ribbon (orange, yellow, red, maroon or brown)
- Cracker snaps
- Wrapping paper (orange, yellow, red, maroon or brown)
- Hot glue gun
- Tape
- Scissors
- Pencil
Directions:
Step 1: Cut the recycled paper towel roll in half, making two smaller tubes. Cut along the top of the tubes.
Step 2: Lay the tube on the wrapping paper. Wrap paper around the tube (it should wrap all the way around) and make a mark. Make sure you have at least 2 inches of wrapping paper protruding from either side of the paper tube. Unroll the wrapping paper once more.
Step 3: Cut along the mark you made on the wrapping paper. Set the tube aside for now.
Step 4: On a flat work surface use your hot glue gun and glue the cracker snap along the edge of the cut wrapping paper.
Step 5: Unfurl the cut wrapping paper with the glued cracker snap and lay the tube in its center. Tape the wrapping paper edge without the cracker snap to the tube. Continue to roll the wrapping paper around the tube nice and tight. Hot glue this strip down.
Step 6: Tie one of the open ends of the tube with ribbon.
Step 7: With the Halloween candy you have left over (this would also make for an awesome Halloween arts and crafts project next year!) fill the tube. Tie the remaining end with ribbon.
And just like that, you have a neat little noisemaker complete with candy! Instruct your guests to pull the cracker apart at both ends and the treat will “rain” candy. To make the cracker even more exciting, you can include little handwritten quotes, jokes and questions for your family to read at the table!
Candy Stuffed Turkey
What is Thanksgiving without turkey? Nope, I’m not talking about the carved bird on the table, I’m talking about crafts! Use your leftover candy and scrap craft supplies to make a darling candy-stuffed turkey! (Full tutorial with more photos at Clean & Sensible)
Materials Needed:
- Halloween candy
- Pipe cleaners (yellow, orange, red and brown)
- Googly eyes
- Brown tulle
- Super glue
- White marker
- Scissors
Directions:
Step 1: With your white marker, trace 9-in. circles on the brown tulle. Cut out the circles.
Step 2: Place a handful of candy in the center of each circle. Make sure you have enough space to tie the ends of the circle into a knot, with excess tulle to make fanning feathers.
Step 3: Measure and cut 6 in. of brown pipe cleaner. Roll the top of the pipe cleaner into a spiral, this will be the turkey’s head. Wrap a 1 in. piece of orange pipe cleaner through the coil; this will be the turkey’s beak. Next, wrap a 2 in. piece of red pipe cleaner around the base of the turkey’s beak; this will be his gobbler.
Step 4: Glue on the googly eyes just above the beak. Set aside and let dry.
Step 5: Using the remaining yellow pipe cleaners, cut two 8 in. pieces. Fold the bottom of each pipe cleaner to make three toes. These will be the turkey’s claws.
Step 6: Stick the head and feet through the “body” of the turkey.
Now your guests have their own gobbly good turkey friends!
Chocolate Thankfulness Tokens
Thanksgiving is of course about more than the food. It’s about sitting down with your loved ones and expressing gratitude for your family, friends and experiences. Show your loved ones why you’re thankful for them with chocolate thankfulness tokens.
Materials Needed:
- Halloween candy (need mini chocolate bars)
- Construction paper, assorted colors
- Pens, assorted colors
- Small plastic bags
- Ribbon, assorted colors
- Pencil
- Scissors
- Clear tape
Directions:
Step 1: Place the mini candy bar in the middle of the construction paper. Make a mark on the paper along all sides of the candy.
Step 2: Write a reason you’re thankful for them on the paper using your pens. You can add stars or other designs.
Step 3: Cut out the little rectangle message.
Step 4: Tape the message to the front of the candy.
Step 5: Repeat steps 1-4 for every square of chocolate.
Step 6: Place the candies in a plastic bag and tie with ribbon in their favorite color.
Now look: you’ve used all of your leftover candy, flexed your creative muscle and shared in the happiness of the holiday with your family. Not a bad way to spend Thanksgiving.
How do you use up leftover candy?
