Halloween Cookies

It has been a whirlwind fall, but it finally feels like fall, so in the midst of the crazy, I did a project on my list this year.  I used my favorite cookie recipe, and some supplies from Michaels and Hobby Lobby.  The sprinkles and cookie cutters are from Michaels, and the vellum baggies are from Hobby Lobby.  I used this trick to print the message and haunted mansion on the bags.


I wanted to try out a few cookies on a stick, so I inserted the stick before baking the cats.  They held up well, and doing it this way-they held their shape.

You can just see the ghost peeking through the baggies.

And I just added a ribbon and clear bags to the cats.  

Ghost Banner

I recently went to a quilt retreat, and I was playing around with some scrap fabric.  I made these little stuffed ghost using old sheets I cut into a loose S shape.  I stuffed them after sewing them, painting their faces, and then cut out a simple haunted house shape from felt for the middle.  I glued them all to some fuzzy black yarn and ta da-a spooky little banner to add to the Halloween festivities.

Halloween Yard Signs

 I've been working on some new Halloween yard signs. These two guys are super simple and adorable.  I cut out a wobbly little shape and then used house paint to paint a basecoat for my ghost.  The exterior paint should help prevent the ghost from warping if there is a lot of rain this fall.  I then went back and added a few details and flecked on some black paint with toothbrush to give the white a little character.

For the witches hats I did some curvy triangles and then I could out the little hilly shape.  I bought a star at a craft store (b/c small wood is tricky to cut with a jig saw).  I used wood glue to attach it all together and then nails to reinforce the glue and add it to the stake.  I also put a coat of polycrylic over the whole thing to help give it another layer of weather proofing.

Spooky 2x4 Projects

 I bought a 2x4 in August...and much like Pinocchio's nose...I'm pretty sure it keeps growing b/c four projects later...I've still got wood to use.  It was money well spent.  I posted about the 2x4 cats and 2x4 pumpkins over the last few weeks.  The ghost round out this group.

To make the ghost I still cut them all different sizes and then chopped off each side  I painted them white and used a dabber to make the eyes.  I sanded the edges again so they would match their friends.  It would have been fun to glitter them up or even use glow in the dark paint, but....I wanted this particular set to look like their family.  I'm mixing and matching these so it's a three pack of spooky friends.  I don't do too much with wood, but if you are starting out-the only tools I've needed are a jig saw, piece of sanding paper, and a cheap drill.  2x4 is a little tougher to cut b/c it's so thick, but I decided to use this because it sits up better.

Ghost Meringues

 I made my own monster eyes last year....and went a little crazy.  Here is the tutorial for that process. You can buy these eyes as well, but if you make your own, it's much more affordable, and it makes enough...I should be able to will these to my imaginary kids.  I can imagine there therapy bill now, "My Mom willed me meringue eyes..."  It'll build character.  As I hunted down treats to paste those edible eyeballs to....I saw these popping up around throughout the net....but I was feeling lazy and discovered I didn't need to make my own meringues.  I bought them.
I took a little bit of white chocolate to adhere my eyes and melted it in a ziplock and snipped the edge off.

 I piped on two little dots and stuck the eyes on...

 Cute in a creepy way....this just might be the only time of the year it's OK to say that...

Ghost Cookies

I saw the idea for making these mini ghost cookies and packaging them in frosted containers last year.  I fell in love with the idea and had to try it out.  In Bee's original tutorial they made their own parchment envelopes, but I was able to find some envelopes at Hobby Lobby to save myself a step.  I found a set of mini Wilton cookie cutters with a ghost shape.  

 I used my favorite sugar cookie recipe with tips on hardening your icing so it can be packaged.

I printed the haunted house on a piece of paper, and then I taped my envelope on all four corners over the picture and ran it through a second time.  The tape peeled right off, and I was in control of where it printed on the envelope.  

 Then I inserted the mini ghost so they could fly around the haunted mansion.

Ghost Projects

I posted about ghost projects a few Halloweens ago.  Here is a week of projects and recipes.  I'll also throw in a Ghostbuster pudding I put together in honor of a week of decade projects.  I don't believe in ghost, unless you are speaking of the Holy Ghost, I'm pretty tight with Him, but.....there are some pretty cute ghost projects out there, so I find myself leaning that way as Halloween approaches.  This year I'm sending this trick or treat bag to one of my friends under the age of 5.  I saw this idea at Better Homes and Garden.   I took white fabric, cut out ghost eyes, and used double sided light bonding fabric to iron it to the bag.  I added black/painted eye balls, and a ribbon.  Now I'm gonna fill 'er up with goodies, because I believe in spoiling other people's children.  And I believe there t too much my friends can do if I send them via sneak mail attack. 

The Decades: Ghost Buster's Slimmer Pudding

Remember Ghost Buster?  Remember Slimmer?  I think he's a necessary addition to any 80's dessert bar.  I dyed some vanilla pudding with a few drops of green dye, and then used whipped cream, and mini chocolate chips for the ghost (Slimmer... in his slime, or...art.).  I could have piped him on with a carton of whipped cream to make him a little more perfect, but I leave perfection to other people, it's not my calling.  I think you definitely need the 'No Ghost' Sign for this guy on that imaginary 80's dessert bar!  The good news is...use the right ingredients and he's tasty and low calorie. 

Spooky Chili

Since I have a degree in rocket science from the University of Yeah Right, I was able to conduct this very difficult Halloween experiment.  I saw this idea in a magazine I was flipping through in line at the grocery store.  It was flip through the magazine, or pull my hair out....or the hair out of the person in front of me, or throw a tantrum like the kiddo behind me.  I wasn't feeling very patient, so I went to my happy place:  magazine flipping.  Anyway, basically I took processed cheese (I have a minor in nutrition from the same university), stamped out a shape with 1 of 254 Halloween cookie cutters I own, and slapped it onto a bowl of chili.  It would have worked on soup as well, or it would be cute in mini bowl of hot offerings on a buffet if I were hosting a Halloween party.  I'm not.  It would require going to the grocery store to get groceries and I can't go back there.  I can't.  There are lines.  I'm not good at lines.

A Week of Ghost....in Review

One week of ghost post down...
*Click on the words for links to the individual projects.
From a Tutu....

To a cupcake (or twenty-four)....

To potatoes....

With a side of fruit....

Followed by a splash of milkshake....

Starting Sunday....A Week of Candy Corn....AKA candy I know God will let me eat in heaven.
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Funky Junk
Tatortots and Jello
Along for the Ride
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Sunday Showcase
The Girl Creative
I Heart Naptime
Between Naps on the Porch
Keeping it Simple
CRAFT
Six Weeks to Spook
Somewhat Simple
It's a Blog Party

Halloween-Ghost: Boo-Nilla Shake

I saw this idea on Martha Stewart's Website.  I took a glass and the instructions called for melted chocolate to be piped onto the inside of a glass.  I did discover one fun 'trick.'  I had some left over chocolate icing in the fridge.  I took it out and molded it, and then pressed it onto the side of the glass and I was able to manipulate the face.  It stuck even when I added the frozen shake. 

I've also seen  this idea using clear cups, and a drawn face with a permanant marker on the outside of the cup.   The shake-it's actually Vanilla Slimfast.   It would have been a healthy choice if I didn't go grab a bowl of popcorn....and a handful of fritoes 30 minutes later. 

Halloween-Ghost: Spooky Fruit

This year I added pears to my collection of ghostly fruit.  I found the idea and instructions here.  I did make one adaptation.  I left the top of the pear showing, I kinda like the idea of knowing' it's a pear. Maybe I watched too much Ghost Busters as a child and the green slime is stuck in my head.  
I've done this with strawberries, and here is last year's banana ghost post. 

My favorite is the strawberry.  I could make a whole fruit bouquet of ghostly fruit. But I won't, because I'm still feeling lazy....and cheap, not because a ghostly bouquet would be a little creapy. I ain't afraid of no ghost.
Linking To:
Sassy Sites

Halloween-Ghost: Ghost Potatoes

I saw this idea on Martha a few years back.  It's pretty simple, make mashed potatoes, shape them into ghost using a piping bag or gloved hands, add black pepper eyes, serve them with some other spooky, meaty, treats.  How cute would this guy be with a bunch of friends on a platter?  I was only serving to a party of one, so, one mashed potato ghost for me, but....I'll file this away for the future. 

Halloween-Ghost: Ghost Cupcakes

One white cupcake, one swirl of vanilla icing, and two chocolate chips later-a ghost cupcake popped out of my oven.  It doesn't get a whole lot easier than this.  Now...on to making some friends to keep him company....

Linking To:

Hoosier Homemade

Trendy Treehouse

Halloween-Ghost: Boo Tutu Costume

My first ghost project of the season....is a costume for Blythe.  The best weeks start with Blythe projects!  I saw this onsie last year at Walmart.  It was 3 bucks.  The only size they had at the time was New Born, so I snagged it, and used some freezer paper, traced the face, and added  paint to make a bigger one for a bigger baby I know. 

After I purchased the onsie, I saw a tutu that look very similiar to this, using the same onsie to accompany the outfit. 

I'll post how I make my tutu's next week, but this is how it looks without the ghost face.  The ribbon is attached to elastic, and can be adjusted, and then trimmed. 

I also made a bow.  Every ghost needs a bow. 

I really just wanted an excuse to start making bows b/c I've been dying to make a few after I FINALLY found these clips at Hobby Lobby (for half off). 

Linking To:

I Heart Naptime

Sew Can Do

C.R.A.F.T.

Keeping it Simple

Between Naps on the Porch

The Girl Creative

Somewhat Simple

Craft O Maniac

Sugar Bee

Trendy Treehouse

Night Owl Crafting

Somewhat Simple

Fireflies and Jellybeans

House of Hepworths

Crafty Soiree

Ponytails and Fishscales

Paisley Passions

Simply Sweet Home

It's Fun to Craft

Halloween-A Week of Ghost

Strangely enough...I'm about to have a week of Halloween ghost themed projects.  I realized I was collecting quite a collection of Halloween ghost projects as I was moving through the season, and before I knew it...I had a week's worth of ideas stored.  The irony, I guess, is I don't believe in spooky ghost, or luck-good or bad, superstitions, and hauntings-just not me.  I just think they are fun in a Scooby Doo sort of way....the end.  I have a few past projects, and I've now created a 'ghost' label, which is still...weird for me.  I was originally just going to do a week of Halloween, but what I found was that I actually had to break it up into two different themes, and the rest I'm just inserting as I feel like it!  I feel like it almost every day between now and Halloween, but who's judging?  Really, who's judging?  We need to talk b/c I don't take judgement well.  Or not, it's best if I don't know you are judging.  And without further ado...a week of useless Halloween Ghost Projects...

Banana Ghost

I saw this in Family Fun Magazine (online, I stopped taking it, only because I was trying to be financially responsible, but it has the best ideas). I had left over chocolate from a few past projects, and there are always bananas in my house, and chocolate chips (I don't know why). They used popsicle sticks, but all I had were the sucker sticks something else I have in abundance at the house), it's the same idea. They were good, but I like the strawberry ghost best. In addition, you are supposed to freeze the banana for three hours before you melt the chocolate, and as soon as the chocolate hit the frozen banana is got solid, so it wasn't easy to smooth it out and make it look very good. I'm not that serious about this idea so I didn't try to correct that....but it's pretty fun to turn all these fruits into spooky treats just because I can.

Brownie Pops

I had to have the brownie pop pan from Wilton when I saw the book of ideas (which I did not buy). The pops are just 'all right' tasting (maybe a little dry), but I'm sure I can use the mold for a ton of other edible ideas, including mini cakes or chocolates that I can decorate with the same cute ideas. I don't want to think too hard on it right now, or I'll never stop making (eating) desserts. I used left over icing to create these iced characters....so....all I had to do was bake the brownies. I'm sure I'll revisit it again someday, but....now on to my next find.
Witch's Broom (The reason I wanted this mold so badly was the photo of these in the book.)
(I used the pretzel rods, and broke them in half, and stuck them in the still warm brownies. I used the star tip for the straw, and molded an orange slice for the ring.)

Ghost Couple














Mummy