Holidays

Veteran's Day Crafts and Activities

Jenny Wanderscheid — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 07:00:00 +0000

Veteran's Day Crafts and Activities

Click here for Veteran's Day Coloring Pages!

And more Veteran's Day Coloring Pages

RED, WHITE AND BLUE:

Circle time and concepts to teach: Independence Day is July 4th, the Liberty Bell, the flag, the Statue of Liberty. It commemorates the United States birth as a nation. The Declaration of Independence.

Statue of Liberty Crafts and Activities

Torches

Use old newspapers and roll them in a large cone shape. Let children paint the cones. When dry, stuff with red and yellow tissue paper. to be the "flame" of the torch/ * Have the children make crowns, and then they can be the statue of Liberty. I often let them parade.

Star Crowns

Pre cut stars out of red, white and blue construction paper. Give each child a long white band (about 1 1/2 to 2 inches wide) of construction paper long enough to fit around a child's head. Let each child glue (I colored my white glue with some red paint) as many paper stars on the band as they want. I also put out some red, white and blue stickers for the to put on. When dry, fit to each child's head and staple. The kids just love the star spangled crown.

Statue of Liberty Torches

Use old newspapers and roll them in a large cone shape. Let the children paint the cones. When dry, stuff with red and yellow tissue paper to be the flame of the torch.

Statue of Liberty Crowns

Cut crowns from stiff paper to fit around the child's head. Let them decorate them and then with their torches do a parade.

Flag and Windsock Crafts and Activities

Flags

Start with white construction paper. Children glue on red strips, to make red and white stripes. Then glue a blue square in the top left corner. For the stars you can use white tissue paper, crumpled up, or star stickers.

Wind Socks

Use red, white or blue construction paper and roll it length wise. Glue, tape or staple together. Add string as a handle to one end. Add red, white and blue streamers to the other end.

Stars and Stripes collage

Give each child blue construction paper(9x12) with strips of red and white paper cut 1x9. Have them glue the strips on and add silver star stickers. (I usually cut my stars out so they are bigger!)

Fourth of July Windsocks
Assemble this project the same way as the Fourth of July collage however staple together making a cylindar and add streamers on the bottom and a piece of yarn on top to hang!

Flags

Start with white construction paper. Children glue on red strips to make red and white stripes. Then glue a blue square in the top left corner. For the stars you can use crumpled up white tissue paper or star stickers.

Wind Socks

Use red, white or blue construction paper and roll it lengthwise. Glue, tape or staple together. Add string as a handle on one end. Add red, white and blue streamer to the other end.

Stained glass stars materials: white paper, black felt pens, old crayons (peeled), warming tray, oven mitt, scissors. Process: use the black felt pen to outline a large star on the white paper. The blank space inside the lines will be "colored in" with melted crayon.

Place the paper with the star on the warming tray. Put the oven mitt on the non-drawing hand, hold the paper down with this hand. Using the peeled crayons, color in the star. Working slowly will allow the crayon to melt and soak into the paper. Remove the paper from the warming tray. Hold the paper up to the light or a window and see the stained glass effect. The star can be cut out and displayed in a window to resemble a stained glass window.

(note: rub the back of the crayon design with a cotton ball soaked in baby oil for a more transparent design).

Red, White and Blue Crafts and Activities

Red, White And Blue

Art Center

Use only red white and blue items in your art center.

Playdoh Fun

Set out red, white and blue playdoh and let the children's imaginations run wild.

Sensory Table

Place red, white or blue colored water in the sensory table with pitchers, measuring cups and other containers to allow the children to experience measurement.

Red, White, And Blue Puffy Paint Pictures

Materials:

Flour, Salt, Water, Red and blue food coloring, Empty mustard squeeze bottles, Cardboard

Directions:

1. Mix equal parts of flour, salt, and water to make the puffy paint.

2. Divide mixture into three different bowls and color one bowl of mixture blue, one bowl red, and leave the last one white.

3. Fill the mustard bottles with the mixture (one color per squeeze bottle).

4. Let the children squeeze the different colors onto the cardboard.

5. Allow the children's artwork to dry. When it is dry, the design will be raised and will sparkle!

Red, White, And Blue Salt Jars

Materials:

Empty baby food jars with lids, 9 cups rock salt, Red and blue food coloring, (PI) cup rubbing alcohol

Directions:

AN ADULT MUST DO THIS PART

1. To make the colored rock salt: Measure 3 cups of rock salt to be blue, 3 cups to be white, and 3 cups to be red, and place each in three separate bowls.

2. Combine (pi) cup of rubbing alcohol with (PI) a bottle or more of red food coloring (you want the colors to be bright). Do the same for the blue food coloring.

3. Mix the red alcohol mixture into one of the bowls of rock salt. Mix well and let sit for about 1 minute. Drain the excess alcohol mixture off of the rock salt. (WARNING: This will smell pretty yucky!) Spread the colored rock salt on cookie sheets and set outside in the sun to dry (this will take only an hour or so). Repeat the same procedure for the blue food coloring.

4. Do nothing with the remaining rock salt because you want it to stay white.

ACTIVITY FOR THE CHILDREN

1. Once the different colors of salt are dry, place them on a table with spoons and baby food jars.

2. Guide the children to spoon the colored rock salt into their jars.

3. Seal the children's creation with the lid.

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Halloween Safety Tips

Jenny Wanderscheid — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 07:00:00 +0000

HALLOWEEN is meant to be a special "TREAT" for children. However, during this annual event there are unnecessary hazards which can be avoided if a few common sense precautions are taken.

Children, to prevent traffic accidents, fire injuries, poisoned candy or food, and falls, cuts and bruises, you should do the following:

BEFORE TRICK-OR-TREATING

Wear a costume that makes it easy for you to walk, see and be seen.
Be sure your costume is short enough to avoid tripping.
Use reflective tape on your costume so people driving cars can see you.
Carry a flashlight.
Try to use makeup rather than a mask.
If you wear a mask, take it off before crossing a street.
Plan your trick-or-treat route ahead of time, picking streets that are well lighted.
Tell your family on which streets you will be trick-or-treating.
Have a parent, older brother or sister go with you.
If someone older cannot go with you, trick-or-treat with a group of children.
If possible, trick-or-treat while it is still light outside.
Cross only at corners. Never cross the street between parked cars or in the middle of the block.
Walk on well-lit streets and stay on the sidewalk.
If there is no sidewalk, stay as far left of the roadway as possible and walk facing traffic.
Wait until you get home to sort, check, and eat your treats.

AFTER TRICK-OR-TREATING

Throw away any candy or food that is not wrapped and sealed by a candy or food company.
Notify your parents and the police if there are any suspicious treats - treats meant to harm you.

Handprint Ghosts

Jenny Wanderscheid — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 07:00:00 +0000

Halloween Craft Projects

Handprint Ghosts

Have the children paint their hands white and press onto black construction paper. When they dry have the children turn them upside down and add faces.

(click the images to open a larger photo.)

More Halloween Fun and Activities!

Halloween Coloring Pages | More Halloween Coloring Pages
Halloween Costume Coloring Pages | Halloween Monster Coloring Pages
Frankenstein Coloring Pages | Pumpkin Coloring Pages | Witch Coloring Pages
Ghost Coloring Pages | Mummy Coloring Pages | Werewolf Coloring Pages
Haunted House Coloring Pages | Trick or Treating Coloring Pages
Jack-o-lantern Coloring Pages | Vampire Bats and Dracula Coloring Pages

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Paper Bag Pumpkins

Jenny Wanderscheid — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 07:00:00 +0000

Halloween Craft Projects
Paper Bag Pumpkins

Materials:

Lunch size paper bags, Orange paint, Green paint,
Newspaper, Construction Paper, String

Directions:

Have the children crumple up newspaper
and stuff their paper bagsso they are full.
Twist the unstuffed part of the bag and
tie at the bottom to make a stem.
Let the children paint their pumpkins.
When they are dry, the children can draw faces on them.

(click the images to open a larger photo.)

This craft was originally published on ChildFun.com,
and was updated with these photos by our friend,
Amanda Formaro of Crafts By Amanda!
Make sure to visit her site for more Halloween Fun!

More Halloween Fun and Activities!

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More Frugal Halloween Costumes - Halloween Crafts and Activities

Jenny Wanderscheid — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 07:00:00 +0000

Frugal Halloween Costumes - Ideas With Overalls

Overalls:

Paul Bunyan/lumberjack-add a flannel shirt, boots, and a plastic fireman's axe (from a dress-up set). Blue oxes are pretty hard to find, but you could use a blue stuffed animal. Add a black cap for that Canadian lumberjack look.

Farmer -overalls, galoshes, straw hat, flannel shirt. Could carry a stuffed farm animal, plastic pitchfork or toy tractor.

Sports Uniforms:

Athlete-dress up your kids in their sports uniforms and let them go as a famous baseball/football/basketball/hockey player. They could also borrow an older sibling's sports uniform.

Pajamas- Whenever my kids get new pajamas, we make sure to get the superhero kind that can double as Halloween costumes. Easy, and you don't have to change them for bedtime, after they have passed out from exhaustion and have come down from their sugar high!

Ideas Using Black Clothing
Costumes from Sweatsuits
More Kid Costume Ideas from Their Closets
Kid Costumes from Adult Clothing
Costumes from Odds N' Ends Around the House
More Costume Ideas

About the Author

Kim Tilley, a tightwad at heart, is the mother of three active boys and the founding editor of Frugal-Moms.com. Frugal by force and later by choice, Kim cut her income by 60% to stay at home with her children and discovered that anyone can live better for less. Her work has appeared in print publications such as The Tightwad Gazette. In her free time, she entertains herself by chasing kids and finding ways to create something from nothing!

More Halloween Fun and Activities!

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Webmasters and Authors:

We will gladly include a link back to your site or book in exchange for sharing your content. Just contact us!
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Halloween Party Snacks - Halloween Crafts and Activities

Jenny Wanderscheid — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 07:00:00 +0000

Halloween Party Snacks

by Danielle Schultz of Family Travel Reviews

Slime Gelatin

What You Will Need
Lime Gelatin, Gummy Worm Candy, LargeGlass Baking Dishes

Directions

Follow the directions on the package of lime gelatin. Prepare in a large clear glass baking dish or bowl. Once the gelatin has begun to set (about 1.5 hours) place the gummy worms into the gelatin.

Ghost Sandwiches

What You Will Need

Bread, Peanut Butter or Whipped Marshmallow Creme, Ghost (or gingerbread boy if you can't find a ghost) Cookie Cutter, Raisins

Directions

Make the sandwiches using your choice of peanut butter or marshmallow creme (or both). Use the cookie cutter on the finished sandwiches to create spooky shaped sandwiches.

Gelatin Jiggler Eyeballs

What You Will Need

Ice Cube Trays, White Grape Gelatin,Blueberries or Dark Grapes

Directions

Follow the directions to make the gelatin (use the jiggler recipe). Pour 3/4 full into the ice cube trays. Once they have begun to set, add the blueberries or grapes. Follow the directions explaining how to use warm water to remove the jigglers from the tray. Place in a white or clear serving bowl or arrange on a platter.

Cheese Boogers

What You Will Need

Cheez Whiz, Green Food Coloring,Pretzel Sticks, Wax Paper

Directions

Follow the directions to melt the Cheez Whiz. Dip a pretzel half way into the cheese. Wait fifteen to twenty seconds then repeat. Place on wax paper to harden. When the cheese has re-hardened, remove from wax paper and place on a serving tray.

Popcorn Hands

What You Will Need

Clear Plastic Food Service Gloves,Popcorn (popped), Candy Corn, Twist Ties or Ribbon

Directions

Place a candy corn in the finger of each glove, then fill with popcorn. Use the twist ties or ribbon to seal each bag. Place popcorn hands into a large serving bowl.

Spooky Suckers

What You Will Need

Suckers (Tootsie Roll Pops work exceptionally well), White Facial Tissue, Orange or Black Ribbon or Yarn

Directions

Place the top of the sucker in the very center of the tissue, then wrap the tissue around the sucker. Tie the ribbon or yarn under the sucker. Use a felt tip marker if you like to draw features on the ghost faces.

Pigeon Poop

What You Will Need

5 Cups Peanut Butter Crunch Cereal, 3Cups Rice Krispies, 2 Cups Pretzels, 2 lbs. of White Chocolate, 2 1/2 Cups Mini Marshmallows

Directions

While you melt the white chocolate in a double boiler, mix all other ingredients in a large bowl. Pour melted white chocolate over mixture, then spread onto wax paper until cool. Once cool, break into chunks and serve.

Halloween Rice Cereal Treats

What You Will Need

Marshmallows, Rice Cereal, Halloween Candy, Orange Food Coloring

Directions

Follow the directions on the rice cereal to make rice cereal treats. Add in candy pumpkins, candy corn, chocolate chips and/or orange food coloring for extra fun.

Don't forget about the traditional favorites: candy or caramel apples and popcorn balls!

More Halloween Fun and Activities!

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Cardboard Box Costumes - Halloween Crafts and Activities

Jenny Wanderscheid — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 07:00:00 +0000

Cardboard Box Costumes

Some adorable costumes have come to light using little more than a cardboard box, some paint, and lots of imagination. Here are several ideas to choose from. Happy Halloween!

All of the costumes listed here use a cardboard box.

Robot

1 large box
1 small box
gray hooded sweatsuit
silver spray paint
gray, white, or black gloves
silver face paint
markers
4 plastic milk jug lids

Seal one end of box with silver duct tape. Leave other end open. Do this with both boxes. Spray paint silver, let dry. When dry, cut circle out of small box so when placed on child's head, the hole will be there for his/her face. Cut open ends off or fold inside box. Follow above instructions for large box, then cut holes for arms. Glue lids on box in front, along bottom as control knobs. use markers to draw horizontal lines across the front of the box for effect. Paint face silver.

Race Car

large box
red spray paint
yarn
black spray paint
5 paper plates
black marker
4 yellow plastic milk jug lids (other colors will do as well)
1 red plastic milk jug lid for horn
red construction paper
white construction paper
craft glue

Fold sides of box in on both ends. Attach yarn to go from front of box to back of box and rest over child's shoulders. To attach, poke holes with a pen or screwdriver into the box, then run yarn through and tie off. Spray paint box red. Let dry. Spray paint the paper plates black. Let dry. Glue 4 of the 5 paper plates onto the box as wheels. Glue the plastic milk jug lids on to the plates as hub caps. Take last plate and cut out a steering wheel. Glue red plastic milk jug lid onto last plate as the horn. Glue plate to box. Cut tail lights from red construction paper, glue on. Cut headlights from white construction paper, glue on. Draw a grill on front with black marker.

Refrigerator

large box
marker
small trinket type toys
post it notes
empty box of cereal
white spray paint

Fold top of box closed, leave bottom open. Paint box white and allow to dry. Cut hole out of top for head and holes for arms out the sides. Use marker to draw a handle on fridge. Use different small trinket toys as magnets, glue on. Stick a couple of post it notes on with messages such as "Don't forget to walk the dog!" and "Pick up dry cleaning". Added effect, glue a box of cereal on the shoulder of the costume.

Christmas/Birthday Present

large box
wrapping paper
large bow
shiny ribbon

Tape up one end of box, fold in sides of other end. Wrap box up in wrapping paper. Tape or glue ribbon around the box and adorn with a bow!

Jack In The Box

large box
plastic headband
blue felt
red felt
green felt
orange felt
4 white pompoms
craft glue
red spray paint
gold craft paint
sponge
toilet paper roll
2 paper towel rolls

Tape up one end of box, fold in sides of other end. Spray paint the box and the paper towel and toilet paper rolls with red spray paint. Let dry. Cut out tall triangles from the different colored felts. Roll into cones and glue closed. Glue pompoms on top of cones. Glue cones to headband. Hopefully, the cones will be tall enough to flop over like a jester's hat. Cut appropriate holes for head and arms. Glue paper towel and toilet paper rolls together to form the crank, glue to the side of the box. Decorate the box with gold craft paint by sponging paint on in various places or along the border.

Dice

large box
white spray paint
black craft paint or marker
OR
black construction paper

Tape up one end of box, fold in sides of other end. Spray paint the box white. Let dry. Then, either cut big circles from black construction paper, or paint the black spots on your "dice".

Television

large box
small box (hair color size)
black spray paint
red craft paint
2 dowels from clothes hangers
aluminum foil
magazine picture of Barney (or football game, or whatever fits age)
2 plastic milk jug lids

Tape up one end of box, fold in sides of other end. Cut holes for arms and head. Completely close the small box and spray paint completely black. When dry, use red paint to paint cable box channel number on small box. Glue small box to top of large box where shoulder will be. Wrap dowels in aluminum foil, poke holes in top of "TV" and insert dowels for antennas. Use a black marker to draw a picture tube on front. Glue magazine picture onto TV screen. Glue milk jug lids on as knobs.

X-ray Machine

large box
white spray paint
paper skeleton decoration, torso only
craft glue
2 plastic milk jug lids

Tape up one end of box, fold in sides of other end. Spray paint box white, let dry. Cut holes for arms and head. Paint a black rectangle on the front, and the words: "Caution: X-RAY IN USE". Use the torso of a life-size paper skeleton decoration as the image on the black rectangle (the screen). Glue the milk jug lids on the front as control knobs.

Popcorn Box

large box
white spray paint
red paint
black paint
paint brush
yellow posterboard
craft glue
red posterboard

Tape up one end of box, fold in sides of other end. Spray paint box white, let dry. Cut holes for arms and head. When dry, paint red stripes vertically on box. Using paint brush, paint the word POPCORN in black across the front of the box. Cut large popcorn pieces out of yellow poster board. Glue along top edge of box. Cut a couple of strips of red posterboard, enough to go around the top edge of the box, covering the very bottoms of the popcorn. This will give the appearance of the popcorn being inside the box rather than floating on the outside.

Lego

large box
spray paint in a bright primary color
6 empty margarine or butter tubs
shoe box
small plastic cups
face paint

Tape up one end of box, fold in sides of other end. Spray paint box and let dry. Cut holes for arms and head. Paint empty butter tubs same color as the box. Glue the six butter tubs to the front of the box, 2 vertical rows, 3 in each row, closed end out. To create a matching hat, take a shoe box and spray paint it to match your costume. Glue small plastic cups (also painted) upside down to the bottom of the shoe box. Place the shoe box on your head. Paint your face the same color as your costume.

Recommended Reading: Family Fun Tricks and Treats great! My daughter & I love Halloween and when we saw this we bought it right away. There are so many wonderful ideas. A must have! There were a lot of spooky things to do with foods and great little ideas for those little helpers to decorate your home with lots of memories! You have to get this one!

About the Author
Amanda Formaro is the entrepreneurial mother of four children. She and her husband live in southeastern Wisconsin. She is also the owner of FamilyCorner.com Magazine at http://familycorner.com Subscribe to her free holiday newsletter, Family Holidays, by sending any email message to mailto:holidays-on@mail-list.com

More Halloween Fun and Activities!

Dear Reader: You can help us make this theme even better!

Webmasters and Authors:

We will gladly include a link back to your site or book in exchange for sharing your content. Just contact us!
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Halloween Safety Tips - Halloween Crafts and Activities

Jenny Wanderscheid — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 07:00:00 +0000

Halloween Safety Tips

Ghouls and Goblins Fill the Air, Parents and Caregivers Must Beware!
From the Paranoid Sisters

With Halloween just around the corner, the "Paranoid Sisters," Lisa Carter and Lori Marques authors of Child Safety Made Easy have a few suggestions for parents and caregivers of Trick-or-Treaters:

Be sure your child's costume is age appropriate. Too many buttons and strings on baby's or toddler's costumes may present a choking hazard. Avoid any long tails or material hanging off costumes that may cause a child to trip or catch on fire if it gets too close to a lighted pumpkin.
Costumes should be light colored or have reflective tape attached to it, to make your child easy to see. Have your child carry a flashlight.
An adult should accompany all children throughout Trick-or-Treating. Don't allow older kids to stay out late in the night. This opens the possibilities for trouble to brew and can be irritating to homeowners.
Tell your children to obey all usual traffic safety rules: look both ways before crossing the street, hold hands, cross only at cross walks, etc.
Wait until you can look at the candy for tampering before you allow your child to eat any. Be sure it's age-appropriate also. No hard candy for children under 5 years, this is a possible choking hazard. Very chewy candy should be avoided, too.
Now get your little trick-or-treaters dressed up and ready to haul in the candy that surely they'll need a lot of help eating!

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Frugal Halloween Costumes - Halloween Crafts and Activities

Jenny Wanderscheid — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 07:00:00 +0000

Frugal Halloween Costumes - Ideas With Sweatsuits

Muscle Man- Paint or quilt muscles onto the front of a flesh-colored sweatshirt. Stuff arms to make biceps look big. You can also paint or quilt leg muscles onto flesh-colored pants, and have the child wear a pair of shorts over it. For a barbell, attach two black balloons to a cardboard paper towel roll or gift wrap roll painted black.

Road- A little boy I know asked his mom if he could be a road one year for Halloween. My creative friend Mary was up for the challenge, and made a really stunning costume. She put him in a black sweatsuit, then created an intersection out of cardboard, one for his front, one for his back. She painted the cardboard cross black, added white lines, and hot-glued toy cars to each side. She punch holes and strung the two intersections together with shoelaces or string so that he could slip on the road over his head. For a finishing touch, she took an old construction hat from his toy box, painted a black strip down the entire hat and added the white traffic lines. She hot-glued cars and a miniature road sign to the top. This was the most creative costume I have ever seen- simply adorable!

Spider- Stuff the legs of three pairs of black pantyhose and attach to a sweatshirt. Be sure to wear all black so your spider matches. Add a red spot on the back of the shirt for a black widow.

Cat-Wear a black sweatsuit with tail attached. Tail can be made of stuffed pantyhose or other fabric. Attack ears to a headband for girls, or make a hood (or use a hooded sweatshirt) and attach ears to that.

Cow- Add black spots to a white sweatsuit, add ears as for cat above- on a head band or hood. You can do almost any animal costume with a sweatsuit. Just adapt to whatever animal you like- brown suit with bushy tail for squirrel, large pink sweats stuffed with pillows and corkscrew tail for pig, etc.

Dragon-Add dragon scales to the back of a green or purple sweatsuit (best to use a hooded sweat shirt). You can make them from felt, shoulder pads (there is a use for those annoying things!), or paper plates, folded in half. Sew or glue onto sweatsuit, starting from the hood, and going down the back. Make a paper mache mask to complete the costume.

Skeleton- Add "bones" to an old black sweat suit by fabric painting them on or using white felt. You could also do this just to the shirt, and then alter a cardboard box to look like an x-ray machine.

Bug-Add extra arms (like the spider) and wings to create the bug of your choice. Use a hooded sweatshirt or add a hood. Attach antenae to hood or headband.

Butterfly-same as above, just add colorful cardboard wings

Flower-Use green sweatsuit for body, and make a flower hat/crown. You can make these out of posterboard and tissue paper, or craft one out of fabric. You can also Hot glue petals to a hat you already own. Remember to keep the scale big, so you child looks like a walking flower in bloom. Sunflowers and daisies work very well. Another approach: attach petals at the neck of the sweatshirt, so that your child's head is the center of the flower.

Carrot and other veggies-Wear an orange sweatsuit, paint face green, and spray hair with green hair spray. Looks even better if you tease hair to stand straight up. If you don't want to do the paint and hairspray, make an orange cap and attach pipecleaners and green yarn to the top. You can adapt any veggie to a sweatsuit costume-just be creative!

Pumpkin-large orange suit, stuffed with pillows. Add a jack-o-lantern face and a pumpkin top on hood, with some leaves for effect! For small kids, just make an orange big with a pumkin face and a bonnet with a pumpkin stump and leaves on it. Cute and easy.

Grapes-purple or green sweatsuit with matching balloons. Easy and fun.

Ideas Using Black Clothing
Costumes from Overalls
More Kid Costume Ideas from Their Closets
Kid Costumes from Adult Clothing
Costumes from Odds N' Ends Around the House
More Costume Ideas

About the Author

More Halloween Fun and Activities!

Costume Odds and Ends - Halloween Crafts and Activities

Jenny Wanderscheid — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 07:00:00 +0000

Costume Odds and Ends

Take your recycling to a whole new level and create cheap, fun costumes from stuff you have lying around the house!

Balloons- Make a costume out of balloons and let them go out as a bunch of grapes. Put them in a green or purple sweatsuit and tape on matching balloons. Fun and easy!

Coffee cans- Make a top hat! That's what I did in the picture above. I just spray painted a large can and the top of a one gallon ice cream bucket, making them black. I then cut a hole in the ice cream bucket lid, and hot glued it to the can. It was not a comfortable hat, but it did work well as a prop, and cost just pennies (for the paint) to make.

Toilet Paper Rolls - Make a judge's wig out of toilet paper rolls! Save them up and staple together into a colonial-style wig. You can even spray paint it white, if needed. All they need is a gavel and a black graduation-type gown and the look is complete!

Sean as Abraham Lincoln. If you look closely, he is holding up the Gettysburg address in one hand and his black hat (made from a coffee can) in the other hand.The girl next to him is a sunflower.

Costume Ideas for Frugal Parents - Halloween Crafts and Activities

Jenny Wanderscheid — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 07:00:00 +0000

Halloween Costume Ideas for Frugal Parents

It's that time of the year again! Time to start thinking about what in the world you're going to come up with this year for Halloween. I really enjoy Halloween and making costumes (as long as they are not gruesome). Here are some of the items that we've used to make fun, inexpensive costumes:

Using Items Your Kids Already Have:

Kids' Costumes From Adult Clothing - Halloween Crafts and Activities

Jenny Wanderscheid — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 07:00:00 +0000

Kid's Costumes From Adult Clothing

Dress your kids up in some of your older, nice clothes that you don't wear anymore or find them at yard sales and thrift shops.

Old Suit- Dress up your son or daughter as little exectuive. A grown man's suit looks really cute on a 4-5 year old. Make sure to hem these so they won't be falling all over themselves while trick-or-treating.

Old Dresses- Little girls love to dress up as "mommy". You can also make "brides", "princesses" or fairies out of cast off prom/homecoming outfits. Add wings to make your kid an angel.

Army Fatigues- We dressed up Beau in some of our old army uniforms and he went as "G.I. Beau" (instead of G.I. Joe). If you don't have any fatigues laying around, check out the thrift stores and yard sales. Our kids love camouflage, so we pick it up on sale, clearance, wherever, in their size. Instant costumes, plus play clothes.

White blouse- add some baggy dark pants and a sash to create an instant pirate outfit. Add a belt, some rain boots and a cardboard sword and you're in business.

Old band jacket- If you can find a marching band jacket at a yard sale, thrift shop, or in your closet, your child can be a "Modern Major General" or a Napoleon. Make a funny paper hat to go with the jacket, add some white pants and some boots.

Retro clothing - If you have any castoff clothing from the 60s and 70s still rolling around and your teen hasn't already stolen them to wear to school, dress up your kid as a hippee.

Bathrobe- Can be used as a king or queen's robe, a space alien, or dress your teen daughter up as a housewife- with curlers and a facial mask (and don't forget the mop!). That should scare anyone! Even scarier if a teen boy dresses as a housewife, but he has to agree to it first! One year our paper boy dressed up like this and I nearly fell over laughing.

Homemade Halloween Costumes - Halloween Crafts and Activities

Jenny Wanderscheid — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 07:00:00 +0000

Homemade Halloween Costumes

Girls

I made my headpiece for my wedding and discovered how inexpensive and easy it is to do. Instead of buying my friends' daughters a bunch of toys for Christmas, I've decided to make them each a small headpiece to play dress up with. They all love dressing up like brides and princesses and such and these are so much nicer than the ones you get for dress up boxes.

They only cost about $4.00 to make, the material to make a veil runs for about a dollar a yard, and you don't have to make them perfect for kids.

If anyone is interested in a Halloween costume for a little girl, why not try this out? You can buy hair clips, headbands, flower girl halos, etc... at Walmart for a couple of dollars, as well as ribbon and silk flowers, fake pearls, etc....All you have to do is glue them on!

~ Submitted by Sarah

Boys

Take a brown paper grocery bag and turn it upside down. Cut holes in it for the child's head and arms. Cut the bottom into strips, like fringe. Add a few beads, and a feather headband and you now have an Indian costume.

Have the little boy wear one of yours or Dad's button down shirts. Put some of your lipstick or blush on his cheeks in circles. Add a tie, a hat that is too big, and some pants, and he is a hobo.

Have your child dress in all white. Take a white sheet and wrap around the child and pin it. Have the child sit down and bend his head over. Take a white towel a wrap it around his head "Sheik" style. Pin it to keep it together. You now have a makeshift Aladdin.

Have the child dress in all black. Take about three yards of black material and pin it to the back of his shirt. Slick back his hair, paint his face white, and you have a Dracula.

Put a lifejacket over his clothing, and a fisherman's hat on his head. A child's fishing pole (without a hook of course) makes this fisherman's costume complete.

A hat that your child wears tipped sideways, a black mustache drawn with eyeliner and an artist's palette that you cut out of cardboard make a nice artist's costume.

~ Submitted by Serena

Boys

My son Steve is really into middle ages stuff. He is dressing up as a knight.

His father cut out a shield and sword of plywood and together they painted on a coat of arms. It was a nice father and son time together.

If you are not so handy with a saw it can also be done with cardboard, markers or paint. To seal it from the weather cover in clear contact paper.

Creative ideas are much more fun than store bought items. They will have a lasting meaning with your children as they remember the time you spent together.

~ Submitted by Carol

About the Author

Amanda Formaro is the mother of four children. She and her husband live in Kenosha, Wisconsin. She is also the owner of The Family Corner.com website at http://www.thefamilycorner.com and runs the Frugal Mom Weekly newsletter.

More Halloween Fun and Activities!

Halloween Room Party Ideas - Halloween Crafts and Activities

Jenny Wanderscheid — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 07:00:00 +0000

Halloween Room Party Ideas:

Part 1: Let The Games Begin!

Planning a room party for your child's class can seem daunting, but it doesn't have to be! Most of the room parents are very happy to help in the lower grade classrooms. With some planning of games and treats, you can have a lot of fun. I wrote this article because last year, when I was looking for new ideas for my middle son's room party, I could not find much. Everything I found was far too grotesque for a kindergarten party, and expensive too!

Here are some of the ideas I've used for for K-2nd grades, some are easy enough for preschoolers to do as well. As the kids get older, the classroom Halloween parties don't seem to be as common, but you could use these ideas for a home Halloween party as well.

Part 1: Let the Games Begin!

Games to Play with Large Groups

We are limited to a 45 minute party with almost 30 kids, so we pick 3 of these games, and figure that we'll probably get to two of them. One of the most successful parties we did involved setting up stations. We had 3 games set up, so that the kids could rotate among them. Everyone got to play all of the games and eat lots of treats within our 45 minute time frame- a big success! At another party, we decided along with the teacher to schedule the party right after lunch. We did the games, fed the kids treats, and then sent them outside to play and run all of that sugar off!

Pumpkin Bowling: Get a hold of 4-6 plastic pumpkin buckets and a small ball (plastic bowling balls are perfect). Stack the pumpkins in a pyramid on a hard surface and let the kids bowl to their hearts' content! Assign a little helper to assist you with picking up the pumpkins and stacking them. This was a big hit with the kindergartners!

Spider Toss : We were looking for a different take on the bean bag toss, so I made a game out of a cardboard box, some fabric scraps, and fabric paint. Basically, kids throw spider beanbags into a "web" with holes.

Web Box: The easiest way to make this is to spray paint the box black, paint on a web with with 3-dimensional fabric paint, and then go back and cut 5 or 6 holes between the webbing, evenly spaced around the spider web.

Spider bean bags: Cut two circles of black fabric and 8 little spider legs for each spider. Pin circles right sides together, pin top of 4 legs to each side (right and left sides) of spider body, remembering to pin the top of the leg to the outer edges to be sewn (don't pin the foot there). Stitch around edges, leaving a 2 inch opening for turning. Turn the spider body right side out, making sure all of the legs have been stitched on correctly. Fill with dried beans and slipstitched closed.

Face Painting: Paint a spider, a pumpkin or a ghost on their cheek-kids love this!

Costume Parade-My kids' school holds a costume parade every year, and the kids love it! They bring their costumes to school in their backpacks and dress up for the parade and party. If you can't parade the kids through the school, perhaps you can parade them through another classroom (hold a joint class party) or march them around the room. At home, have a parade down the street, but have some helpers with you to round up straggling troops. Do this during daylight, not nighttime, and be careful of traffic.

Ghost Guess : Kids are divided into two groups. One group goes out in to the hall and a mom puts a sheet over him/her. They then go back into the classroom and the other group of kids has to guess who is under the sheet!

Pin the Nose on the Pumpkin : Pin the nose on the donkey Halloween style. Easy to make with felt and Velcro.

Mummy Wrap- a big hit with older kids, but requires lots of toilet paper! Divide kids into teams of 2. One person stands still while to other wraps them in toilet paper as a mummy at the start signal. Kids are given 2 minutes or so to wrap their friend up, first team to win gets a prize. Then, the wrapped-up kids burst out of their wrappings and it's their turn to wrap up their buddy. Have the kids help clean up the toilet paper. We did this to the "Monster Mash" song, it was a big hit!

Ghost Bingo-Make bingo cards from poster board but instead the word bingo, put "ghost". If you really want to go all out, the kids could even have Halloween shapes that they put on the bingo card instead of the standard plastic chips or pennies. When the kids gets bingo, he calls out "ghost". Make sure there are lots of 7's and 13's on those cards!

Spooky Story Round Robin- sit kids in a circle. Someone starts the story (with something like "It was a dark and spooky night..."), and then the person sitting next to them continues the story, adding a sentence or two. Depending on the age, you can set the rules about how scary the story can be.

Spooky ABC's- Same idea as above, but children name spooky items with the alphabet. Each child must repeat the letters and spooky items said before his/her turn.

Boo, Boo, Ghost- Halloween version of duck, duck goose

Halloween Tic-Tac-Toe-Make the tic-tac-toe cards from orange or black poster board. I like to make the tic-tac-toe pieces out of juice can lids. I paint the lids, then glue on a felt bat, ghost, spider, or pumpkin. I always save those lids (much to my husband's dismay!), so I have a ton of them. You could also have the children make their own pieces by drawing on construction paper and cutting them out.

Musical Monster Mash-musical chairs with spooky music. Older kids might like to do a "Monster Mash Contest" where he who dances the craziest wins! I'm partial to the Monster Mash, They're Coming to Take Me Away, and all of those other great, spooky 50's songs. "Thriller" by Michael Jackson would be a good one too.

Messy But Fun Games-

Try these if you have a smaller group to work with, or time to fill. They are messier than the first games, but lots of fun!

Apple Bobbing-old fashioned and fun, but if it involved water and kids, you know if it will be messy! Great to do outside if the weather is decent.

Spider fishing-Put a plastic spider and a magnet on the end of a homemade fishing pole (stick with string tied on). Fill a small bucket, washtub, or baby pool with water. Add plastic flies with paper clips attached to them, so that the magnet will pick them up. You could also just put the magnet on the end of the fishing string and attach the paper clips to cheap plastic spiders. Go fishin'!

Spider Pinata-Make a pinata out of paper mache! It's not that hard. Mix one part water and one part flour to make a paste. Dip newspapers in the paste, and then spread over a good-sized balloon. When the newspaper has dried, pop the balloon and cut a slit in the top for placing candy. Spray paint the body black and add legs- the can also be made out of newspaper, or toilet paper/paper towel/gift wrap tubes. You can also use cardboard or chenille bumpies (from the craft store). Open slit at top and fill with candy, taping it back up (black electrical tape shouldn't show). Hang from a tree and let the kids go at it! Just make sure they hit the pinata and not each other!

Part 2: Activities and Crafts to Keep Them Busy

About the Author

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Black Halloween Costumes -Halloween Crafts and Activities

Jenny Wanderscheid — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 07:00:00 +0000

Frugal Halloween Costumes:

Ideas For Dark Clothing

Black Jacket and Pants - These go a long way! We got three costumes out of a yard sale find black jacket and some black jeans my oldest son had. Here are some ideas:

Abraham Lincoln - One year, I made a beard out of fake fur and a top hat out of a coffee can and ice cream bucket lid (glue together, spray paint black). With a copy of the Gettysburg address, my tall, slender son made a perfect Abraham Lincoln (not the greatest picture, but you can see it here).

Sean and a friend kicking it up at a sock hop. The jacket was too big, and his hair wouldn't stay slicked back, but he had a lot of fun!

Halloween Party Crafts & Activities - Halloween Crafts and Activities

Jenny Wanderscheid — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 07:00:00 +0000

Halloween Room Party Ideas:

Part 2: Activities and Crafts to Keep Them Busy

These are great classroom and room party activities. Some of the messier ones are best done with the smaller groups, or with lots of helpers and plenty of time.

Mosaic Pot of Gold - St. Patrick's Day Crafts and Activities

Jenny Wanderscheid — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 23:51:00 +0000

Click images to view as a larger size

St. Patrick's Day Coloring Pages

Jenny Wanderscheid — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 20:29:00 +0000

Visit our sister site, ColoringBookFun.com, for our St. Patrick's Day Pages

Valentine Party Games - Valentine's Day Crafts and Activities

Jenny Wanderscheid — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 21:38:00 +0000

Valentine Arts & Crafts - Valentine's Day Crafts and Activities

Jenny Wanderscheid — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 21:38:00 +0000

Valentine Treats & Snacks - Valentine's Day Crafts and Activities

Jenny Wanderscheid — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 21:38:00 +0000

Valentine Treats & Snacks

Tempt your loved one's tummies with these tasty treats that say I love you!

Valentine Kisses: Makes 4 - 6

Ingredients:

6 cups Krispy Rice Cereal
1 Package Of Marshmallows
3 Tablespoons Margarine
Vegetable Cooking Spray

Utensils:

Microwave Oven
Large Microwave Safe Bowl
Funnel Sprayed With Cooking Spray
12" Square Of Aluminum Foil For Each Child
1" x 11" Strip Of Paper Per Child
Waxed Paper
Mixing Spoon

Directions:

Label each strip of paper to say "A Kiss For You!" Follow directions on cereal box for making treats. Allow the mixture to cool until easy enough to handle. Have children mold it in the funnel. Place on waxed paper to cool completely before wrapping. Wrap kiss and strip in aluminum foil. Give as a gift to a special someone.



Gingerbread Valentines

Ingredients:

1 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 egg
1 cup molasses
2 tablespoons vinegar
5 cups sifted flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon each of ground ginger, cinnamon, and cloves
1 package red hots candies
1 jar silver ball candy decorations

Directions:

1. Thoroughly cream shortening, sugar, and salt.
2. Add egg, molasses, and vinegar. Mix well.
3. Sift together dry ingredients. Add to molasses mixture, mix well.
4. Chill about 3 hours. Roll out, ¹ inch thick, on lightly floured surface.
5. Trace children's hands onto paper and cut out with scissors. Place paper hands on dough and cut around with a knife.
6. Place on greased cookie sheet and let children decorate their own hands.
Use red hots for fingernails, silver balls for rings, etc.
7. Bake at 375 degrees for 6 - 8 minutes, cool on wire rack. Makes about 15
hands.



Loveable Cookies

Ingredients:

1 20 oz. Roll refrigerated sugar cookie dough, chilled
1 16 oz. Can pink frosting
Powdered sugar
Heart shaped cookie cutters - 1 small and 1 large

Directions:

Prepare sugar cookies according to directions on the package for rolled cookies. Cut hearts in dough using a cookie cutter. Use knife or smaller cookie cutter to cut out a heart in the center of half the cookies. Place cookies on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 7 - 9 minutes. You can bake the baby hearts, too, for 5 minutes only. Let cool. Spread each big solid cookie with frosting and top with a cutout cookie. Sprinkle with powdered sugar.

Stick Valentine Box - Valentine's Day Crafts and Activities

Jenny Wanderscheid — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 21:38:00 +0000

Stick Valentine Box

You can use this pretty box to hold your valentines or you can fill it with potpourri and give it as gift.

You Need:

65 Skill Sticks
Heart Woodsies
5 Wooden Barrel Beads
Red, Pink and Light Pink Paint
Foam Brush
Tacky Glue

Potpourri Dough Air Freshener - Valentine's Day Crafts and Activities

Jenny Wanderscheid — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 21:37:00 +0000

Potpourri Dough Air Freshener

This quick and easy craft makes a great gift for Moms!

You need:
Potpourri Dough
Cookie Cutters
Ribbon (Optional)

Hugs & Kisses Pattern - Valentine's Day Crafts and Activities

Jenny Wanderscheid — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 21:37:00 +0000

Hugs & Kisses Pony Bead Pattern

This is a great package decoration for that special someone.

You need:
52 Red Pony Beads
18 White Pony Beads
3 Yards Satin Cord
1 Lanyard Hook

Basic Instructions:
Fold your ribbon in half to find the center. Use a half hitch (see detail below) to secure it to lanyard hook. Lace beads using the pattern above right as a guide. String beads onto the end both laces, knotting at bottom of each lace.

"I Love U" Pattern - Valentine's Day Crafts and Activities

Jenny Wanderscheid — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 21:37:00 +0000

"I Love U" Pony Bead Pattern

You can never get enough of these easy pony bead projects!

You need:
27 Pink Pony Beads
43 Red Pony Beads
3 Yards Satin Cord
1 Lanyard Hook

Basic Instructions:
Fold your ribbon in half to find the center. Use a half hitch (see detail below) to secure it to lanyard hook. Lace beads using the pattern above right as a guide. Add extra piece of ribbon at bottom. String beads onto the end of all four laces, knotting a bottom of each lace.

Holidays

Veteran's Day Crafts and Activities

Veteran's Day Crafts and Activities Click here for Veteran's Day Coloring Pages!And more Veteran's Day Coloring Pages

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Handprint Ghosts

Halloween Craft Projects

More Halloween Fun and Activities!

Paper Bag Pumpkins

Halloween Craft Projects Paper Bag Pumpkins

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More Frugal Halloween Costumes - Halloween Crafts and Activities

Frugal Halloween Costumes - Ideas With Overalls

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Halloween Party Snacks - Halloween Crafts and Activities

Halloween Party Snacks

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Cardboard Box Costumes - Halloween Crafts and Activities

Cardboard Box Costumes

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Halloween Safety Tips - Halloween Crafts and Activities

Halloween Safety Tips

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Frugal Halloween Costumes - Halloween Crafts and Activities

Frugal Halloween Costumes - Ideas With Sweatsuits

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Costume Odds and Ends - Halloween Crafts and Activities

Costume Odds and Ends

Costume Ideas for Frugal Parents - Halloween Crafts and Activities

Halloween Costume Ideas for Frugal Parents

Kids' Costumes From Adult Clothing - Halloween Crafts and Activities

Kid's Costumes From Adult Clothing

Homemade Halloween Costumes - Halloween Crafts and Activities

Homemade Halloween Costumes

More Halloween Fun and Activities!

Halloween Room Party Ideas - Halloween Crafts and Activities

Halloween Room Party Ideas:

More Halloween Fun and Activities!

Black Halloween Costumes -Halloween Crafts and Activities

Frugal Halloween Costumes:

Halloween Party Crafts & Activities - Halloween Crafts and Activities

Halloween Room Party Ideas:

Mosaic Pot of Gold - St. Patrick's Day Crafts and Activities

St. Patrick's Day Coloring Pages

Visit our sister site, ColoringBookFun.com, for our St. Patrick's Day Pages

Valentine Party Games - Valentine's Day Crafts and Activities

Valentine Arts & Crafts - Valentine's Day Crafts and Activities

Valentine Treats & Snacks - Valentine's Day Crafts and Activities

Valentine Treats & Snacks

Stick Valentine Box - Valentine's Day Crafts and Activities

Stick Valentine Box

Potpourri Dough Air Freshener - Valentine's Day Crafts and Activities

Potpourri Dough Air Freshener

Hugs & Kisses Pattern - Valentine's Day Crafts and Activities

Hugs & Kisses Pony Bead Pattern

"I Love U" Pattern - Valentine's Day Crafts and Activities

"I Love U" Pony Bead Pattern

Veteran's Day Crafts and Activities

Click here for Veteran's Day Coloring Pages!

And more Veteran's Day Coloring Pages

Halloween Craft Projects
Paper Bag Pumpkins