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Halloween
Decorations Provide Seasonal Fun
By Dian Thomas
Today while driving down the street
I noticed there were many homes with Halloween decorations in the
yard. My first thought was, “WOW — what fun they had
decoration and preparing for Halloween!”
Decorations bring the spirit of fun,
excitement and celebration to Halloween festivities. Halloween is
a time to build lasting memories of fun times with family and friends.
Today I would like to share with you
some of my favorite Halloween ideas that I have done though the
years.
Try this for a creative centerpiece
on a table for Halloween. Make then Bewitching Witches with many
of the items that you have around the house.
Bewitching Witches
Make a short fat witch and a tall skinny witch.
5 rolls bathroom tissue (pale green
or white)
Posterboard (black and pale green)
1 yard Halloween fabric (for dresses)
Puff paints or permanent markers (black and orange)
Black raffia
2 craft witch hats
1/2 yard (1/8" wide) ribbon
2 small craft pumpkins
Shredded metallic paper
1 yard (3/8"wide) orange ribbon
1/4 yard black nylon netting
Scissors
Glue gun
For the tall witch, glue 2 rolls of
toilet tissue together to make a body. Use 1 roll for the short
witch’s body. For each witch, cut a piece of black posterboard
in the shape of feet and glue it to the underside of the roll, allowing
the feet to show.
To make a dress for the short witch,
cut a piece of Halloween fabric 24" wide and 6" long.
For the tall witch, cut the fabric 24" wide and 10-1/2"
long. Stitch a 1/2" hem in the bottom and a 1/2" hem in
the top of each piece of dress fabric. Sew the short sides together.
Run a gathering stitch on the long side, gather, and glue to the
top of the body.
Cut hands from the pale green posterboard
and arms from the black posterboard, adding 1" to the top of
each arm to create a flap. Glue the hands to the arms. Bend down
the 1" flap at the top of each arm and use these flaps to glue
the arms onto the top of the torso. For each witch, cut a piece
of black posterboard in the shape of feet and glue it to the underside
of the roll, allowing the feet to show.
***
A fun decoration that
children of all ages can enjoy is a Paper Plate Skeleton.
Click
to Enlarge
Paper Plate Skeleton
No bones about it! This is a cinch for little hands to make.
White paper plates
Paper punch
String Paint or markers
Black construction paper
Scissors
Cut white paper plates according to
the picture. To join the various parts of the skeleton, punch small
holes at each point of contact and tie them together with string.
Draw or paint features on the face. Accent the skeleton's scary
face by cutting out eyes, nose, and mouth.
Paste a sheet of black construction
paper on the back of the plate so the paper shows through the holes.
If both sides of the skeleton will show, attach an additional paper
plate to form the back of the head.
This skeleton is perfect for hanging
in windows and on doors.
***
Here is an exciting addition to your
Halloween table, which is both decoration and refreshment.
Floating Hand
This icy hand will give your guests a start!
Pair of powder-free surgical gloves*
Water, juice, or soda
Razor blade
Dry ice** (optional)
Wash the inside of a surgical glove
and fill it with water or other liquid. Tie a knot or rubber band
at the top. Freeze until solid. Carefully cut slits down the fingers
and hand with a razor blade. Peel away the glove, being careful
not to break off the fingers. Float the hand in very cold punch
or put it wherever your imagination takes it. For an extra spooky
effect, put dry ice in the punch, but be sure not to serve the dry
ice.
* You may want to purchase latex-free
gloves since many people are allergic to latex.
**CAUTION: Dry ice should only
be handled by adults, and adults should be present at all times!
Dry ice needs to be handled with caution,
because it is about 70 degrees Fahrenheit below zero. Always use
gloves to handle it because you can get burned badly. Do not allow
children to handle dry ice. A hammer is useful to break the large
pieces into smaller ones.
Some neighborhoods have friendly decorating
contests during Halloween. It’s a great time of year to make
friends with some neighbors you may not know. Give your friends,
family and neighbors a sight that will lift their day and get them
into the spirit of this fun and exciting celebration.
Would you like to see some of Dian's
other Halloween ideas? Just go to www.FunHalloweenFun.com
and you will find some of Dian's creative ideas that will turn any
Halloween party into a magical evening filled with fun. © 2007
by Dian Thomas
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© 2007 Meridian
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