Monster Cupcakes #HalloweenFLIPZ

Halloween is so much fun for everyone!  Even if you don't get dressed up this year, dress up your Halloween cupcakes with Flipz!

Sweet and salty chocolate covered pretzels add a great crunch to holiday cupcakes. Choose your favorite cake mix, frosting and sprinkles.  Grab some Halloween cupcake liners and picks and some Flipz!  Use the frosting to "glue" on some spooky eyes and  you have created a monster!

For more ideas visit Halloween Flipz.com for a chance to  WIN A HOLIDAY PARTY KIT!!! Learn more about Flipz! Follow Flipz on Instagram! Like Flipz on Facebook! Disclosure:  I received this product for free from Smiley360 in exchange for my honest review. You can join Smiley360 here!

Spiderweb Eggs - Halloween Fun

I think Halloween is my favorite holiday.  I think working with kids all these years kept me keeping up with Halloween Fun.  Decorate your table Arachnophobia style with simple spider web and shrouds from the Dollar Store!

These are such fun to make!  The kids will get a kick out of seeing the "spiderwebs" appear like magic when you peel the eggs!

You will need:

• 1 dozen large eggs
• Equal parts blue, red and yellow food coloring (to make black)
• Salt and Pepper
• Blood Red Horseradish and Beets (optional)

Place eggs in a large saucepan and cover with water.  Add food coloring to obtain a black color.  Bring eggs to a boil, remove from heat.  Cover and let set for 10 minutes.

Using a slotted spoon, remove eggs one at a time and place in a folded paper towel.  Lightly crack egg on one side with the handle of a wooden spoon.  Just hit the egg once in the middle of one side.

Transfer the eggs to a medium bowl and cover with the "black" cooking water.  Let eggs cool completely in the cooking water in the refrigerator.

Carefully peel shells from eggs.  Watch the web appear!  Serve with salt and pepper and red beets if desired.

For Spider Deviled eggs, cut black olives in half.

Use one half for the body and slice the remainder for the legs.

~Adapted from Martha Stewart
Sharing with Gooseberry Patch Halloween Party!

White Chocolate Hot Cocoa Cones - Stocking Stuffers!

This is a quick, yummy little stocking stuffer that can also be given to teachers, the mailman, anyone that you might have forgotten at Christmas time. 

You will need:

• 2 disposable cake decorating bags
• 1/2 cup instant Hot Cocoa mix
• 1/4 cup white chocolate chips
• 1/4 cup mini marshmallows
• Candy cane or small ornament
• Chenille stem or ribbon

Directions:
1. Package hot chocolate mix. To make it easier to fill and package cone bags, insert them inside a tall, narrow drinking glass, votive or vase. Fold the cuff of the bag down over the lip of the glass, and add hot cocoa mix to the bag.
Remove cone bag containing hot chocolate mix, and secure with twist tie. This bag will be placed inside the second bag to hold the hot chocolate mix securely. Trim ends of bag to 1 inch.


2. Package candy treats and marshmallows. Place the second cone bag inside the glass, and fold down the top around the glass rim.
Place the sealed bag of hot chocolate mix inside the second bag, then layer chocolate chips over the top, followed by marshmallows.

3. Secure cone and decorate. Remove the filled bag from the glass, and use the chenille stem to secure the cone around the contents.  Add a candy cane (for stirring to add peppermint flavor to the hot cocoa) or a cute little ornament.
Each packet of will make approximately 4 8-ounce cups of hot chocolate.  The white chocolate will melt into the cocoa making an instant mix something special!

On a Christmas gift tag, add directions:

For a warming winter drink, add 2 Tablespoons

cocoa mix to 8 ounces hot water or hot milk;

garnish as desired, stir with the candy cane,

sip and enjoy!

~Adapted from Organized Home

 

Spooky Sparkle Pumpkin - Quick & Easy Pumpkin Decorating

Halloween has always been my favorite holiday.  Every year I try to come up with some new ways to decorate.
I have been on the look-out for some Cinderella Pumpkins, but I have not had much luck.

Here is a little white pumpkin I found and just added some copper ribbon and some burgundy and plum accents.

I think it's too pretty to leave outside...

The next pumpkin has a copper finish with some Spooky Sparkles!

When I taught pre-school I would sprinkle this "magic dust" on the kids to keep the monsters away on Halloween!

It works for 3-year olds.

Take your pumpkin and tape up the stem.

This pizza box came in handy.

Spray the pumpkin lightly with metallic spray paint.

I used Rust-oleum Aged Copper

Sprinkle with Spooky Sparkles

I think this pumpkin looks pretty just as it is, but you can add the copper ribbon.

Click on the link below to make these cute pumpkins!

Halloween Witch Dance

 Lamb Around Linky Alert! Fun Halloween Recipes and Crafts - Cookin Canuck 

Make some Dough! - Play Dough that is.....

Home made play dough is easy to make, easy to store and fun to use.  When I was a teacher at the YMCA, I had a class of 2-1/2 year olds.  As most teachers know, you usually have to spend your own money for supplies for your classroom.  I would make this play dough for them.  Working and rolling this dough is very relaxing for children.  This was one of their favorite things to play with and keeps them busy for at least an hour!

This dough is safe if some finds its way into the sculptor's mouth.  I've had to remove it from a few kids ears!  The dough contains alot of salt, so if they do want to try a piece, I don't think they will come back for more.

You can roll it out into slabs with a rolling pin or pat it flat with your hands so you can use it for building material or for cutting out shapes with cookie cutters or plastic knives.  You can make animals, people, "hot dogs", snakes - just let the kids use their imagination!  It's a big part of their development!

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup salt
• 1 Tbsp. alum or cream of tartar (optional, but helps preserve the play dough)
• 1 Tbsp. vegetable oil
• 2 cups boiling water

Food coloring (optional)            


Mix the flour, salt and alum or cream of tartar together.  Add the oil, water and coloring if you plant to make just one color.

Knead for 6 to 8 minutes.  If you want more colors, divide the dough after kneading for 3 or 4 minutes, add a different color to each piece and finish kneading each separately.  (This is a good job for the kids.)
Refrigerate until ready to play again!

If you would like to make a dough that can be "fired" like clay to make permanent sculptures,

3/4 cup boiling water

1/2 cup salt

2 cup all-purpose flour

Food coloring (optional)

Pour the boiling water into a medium-sized mixing bowl.  Add and dissolve the salt.  If you want the dough to be all one color, add color to the water.  Stir to cool a bit and then add the flour all at once.  Mix and shape into a ball.  Knead for 6 to 8 minutes.   To make more than one color divide as in above recipe.

Preheat your oven to 225 degrees F.  Lay the shapes on foil-covered baking sheets and bake for 30 to 90 minutes depending on thickness.  Cool completely before painting.

If you plan to hang the dough creations, before you bake them make a hole in the top of the piece or shape the dough so that a string can be tied around it.

 You can paint these with acrylics, poster paint for water color.

Use felt tip markers for detailing.

After painting bake once more in a warm oven 200F for 30 minutes.

Have some fun with your kids!

 My mom made this for me when I was growing up - so you are going to make some memories for your kids and have lots of fun doing so!  This is a great summer afternoon project.  Sit down with your kids at the table and just take some time to play!

Parents:  I have a full year's curriculum of ideas and crafts for Toddlers that I am no longer using. If you are interested in a monthly newsletter, please contact me.  I'd be happy to send them to you!