I know that Halloween is a long way away still… But you know me, always counting down to the next one… Halloween all day every day… Anyway, serving as the prominent “hostess with the mostest” Halloween after Halloween, your witch’s hat is starting to feel a little tired and you’re thinking about hanging up the broom for good. Maybe it’s time to pass the mantle, give someone else a shot. Who are you kidding? People rant and rave over your puking pumpkin guacamole dip, the dead man’s sausage fingers and the corpse meat and cheese plate.
Every party you’ve thrown has been dedicated to Halloween frights, but now you’re ready for something a little more kitsch, a little more playful. Friends and family are bringing their young tots to the spooky soirée, and the last thing you want is to hear your wailing two-year-old niece exclaim that she doesn’t want to eat zombie brains. This year’s Halloween party is going to be different: ding dong the witch is dead—long live Princess Buttercup!
This is Halloween
After deciding on your theme for the party, it’s time to get the refreshment table together! There will be no zombie meat or brains this year, it’s going to be all about spiders, pumpkins witches and ghosts—this year’s Halloween crafts are going to be so much fun!
When children ring the doorbell, they don’t know if they’re going to get a trick or a treat—that’s the fun of Halloween—how far is the veil going to be lifted? Give your little ghouls and goblins the thrill of a surprise with themed party favors!
Stuffed Jack-O-Lanterns
Materials Needed:
- Orange tissue paper
- Green pipe cleaners
- Pencil
- Scissors
- 1lb. Bag of candy
Directions:
Step 1: Lay out the tissue on a flat work surface. Trace a 9-inch wide circle on the paper with your pencil.
Step 2: Cut out the circle. Repeat steps 1 and 2 until you have your desired amount of circles.
Step 3: Place 3-4 pieces of candy in the center of the circle.
Step 4: Take the circle into the palm of your hand and close the circle, twisting together the circles edges.
Step 5: Twist the green pipe cleaner around the twisted top of the tissue paper. Coil the extending pipe cleaner ends to look like vines.
The Witch’s Cauldron
Materials Needed:
- Small paper cups
- Black construction paper
- Lime green tissue paper
- Glue
- Scissors
- Pencil
- 1lb. Bag of candy
Directions:
Step 1: Fold a piece of black construction paper around the paper cup and mark where you need to cut. Using your scissors, cut out the marked shape.
Step 2: Use the cut-out to trace the remaining pieces and cut out.
Step 3: Glue the tracings around the paper cups.
Step 4: Draw out the shape of a cauldron handle on the black construction paper, cut it out.
Step 5: Use the handle cut-out to trace the remaining pieces, cut out, and set aside.
Step 6: Fill the cups with 3-4 pieces of candy, cover the candy with the lime green tissue paper.
Step 7: Glue the ends of the handle to either side of the cup; the handle should be inverse to the cup. Set aside and let dry.
A “Handful” of Candy
Materials Needed:
- Transparent plastic gloves
- Candy corn
- Long tootsie rolls
- Gold peanut butter cups
- Orange, purple and green ribbon
- Plastic spider rings, optional
Directions:
Step 1: Insert a piece of candy corn (white point first) into each finger tip of the glove.
Step 2: Insert a long tootsie roll into each finger of the glove.
Step 3: Fill the glove cavity with peanut butter cups.
Step 4: Tie the end of the glove in a bow with your choice of orange, purple or green ribbon.
Step 5: As an added treat, theKitchn blogger Ariel Knutson places a spider ring on the ring finger of each hand for the kiddies to wear. You can use spider, bat or skull rings.
Give your party guests a fun goodie bag and you’ll all be in for a good night!
