Free printable Halloween masks, color your own masks for trick-or-treat costumes

Halloween isn't just for little children. Adults can dress up too. Here are free printable Halloween masks of Star Wars, politicians, celebrities, zombies and famous people. Use political masks in fun, educational government current events activities. Or use your Halloween costume to make a statement! Students will love making masks of world leaders, politicians and famous persons. Teachers might assign students to stage mock debates or elections. They could write speeches, debates or dramatizations of historical events and wear masks. Use celeb masks for for creative writing inspiration on satire, parody or essay writing. Use 3D animal masks in science.

Visit Wonder How-To for 100+ free printable Halloween masks. The site compiles printables from all over. Print cool steampunk masks that are vintage tech fun. Print Star Wars masks, Doctor Who masks and artsy creature masks. Wear your Star Wars mask when you see the new movie! Print, cut and assemble awesome 3D Halloween masks of animals. There are cool printable masks to color yourself. Traditional Trick or Treaters will love the assortment of free printable monster masks. Print Frankenstein, witch, zombie, skeleton, mummy, vampire, bat and more. There are Fox cartoon Halloween masks from King of the Hill and the Simpsons.

Star Wars masks come from Filth Wizardry. Political Halloween masks come from Forbes which published masks of those they deem the scariest people of the year. Forbes features politicians, especially those in scandal, notorious celebrities, world leaders, religious leaders and high profile criminals, and prominent society figures for that year. Included are Donald Trump, O.J. Simpson, Sarah Palin, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, former Gov. Eliot Spitzer, Martha Stewart, Ben Bernanke, Hilary Clinton, Borat Sagdiyev, for example. You can access archived free printable masks from 2002 to 2009. This list includes NewsGroper's free printable political masks that are similar to MAD magazine illustrations. Print masks of Barack Obama, Vladmir Putin, Ron Paul, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Fred Thompson and Britney Spears.

Free printable Adult Masks for Halloween Costumes

Halloween isn't just for little children. Adults can dress up too. Here are free printable Halloween masks of Star Wars, politicians, celebrities and more. These will be perfect for Star Wars: The Force Awakens fans. Use political masks in fun, educational government current events activities. Or use your Halloween costume to make a statement! Students will love making masks of world leaders, politicians and famous persons. Teachers might assign students to stage mock debates or elections. They could write speeches, debates or dramatizations of historical events and wear masks. Use celeb masks for for creative writing inspiration on satire, parody or essay writing. Use 3D animal masks in science.

Visit Wonder How-To for 100+ free printable Halloween masks. The site compiles printables from all over. Print cool steampunk masks that are vintage tech fun. Print Star Wars masks, Doctor Who masks and artsy creature masks. Wear your Star Wars mask when you see the new movie! Print, cut and assemble awesome 3D Halloween masks of animals. There are cool printable masks to color yourself. Traditional Trick or Treaters will love the assortment of free printable monster masks. Print Frankenstein, witch, zombie, skeleton, mummy, vampire, bat and more. There are Fox cartoon Halloween masks from King of the Hill and the Simpsons.

Star Wars masks come from Filth Wizardry. Political Halloween masks come from Forbes which published masks of those they deem the scariest people of the year. Forbes features politicians, especially those in scandal, notorious celebrities, world leaders, religious leaders and high profile criminals, and prominent society figures for that year. Included are O.J. Simpson, Sarah Palin, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, former Gov. Eliot Spitzer, Martha Stewart, Ben Bernanke, Hilary Clinton, Borat Sagdiyev, for example. You can access archived free printable masks from 2002 to 2009. This list includes NewsGroper's free printable political masks that are similar to MAD magazine illustrations. Print masks of Barack Obama, Vladmir Putin, Ron Paul, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Fred Thompson and Brittany Spears.

Free printable spooky paper toys, creepy crafts, haunted Halloween fun and scary activities

Do you love yourself a deliciously spooky Halloween? Yes, please!! Do you anticipate a terrifically terrifying trick-or-treat? Maybe you go all out on a ghostly decorations Hallow-palooza? If so, don't miss this website.  (how's that for dark, and foreboding) redefines Halloween fun with a gigantic collection of vintage Gothic paper toys you can print free. There are free printable Halloween decorations featuring any kind of creepy thing you could want.

Ravens Blight

Print and make 3D haunted house, manor, chapel and train dioramas. Create a graveyard scene "peopled" by undead soldiers and a ghostly pirate ship with zombie pirates. Make paper models of a spectral carriage, a bullet-riddled gangster car and a medieval battle-hearse.

Free printable Laura Ingalls Wilder pioneer activities, early American history lessons

If you were a girl growing up in the 1960s and 1970s, you read and loved Laura Ingalls Wilder and her Little House on the Prairie book series. Maybe you were lucky to have the handsome boxed set of Laura Ingalls Wilder books. Then you loved the Little House on the Prairie TV series when it came out. Long before "Pioneer Woman" and settler survival type reality TV shows, there was Laura Ingalls Wilder and her stories about life in the 1880s midwest. Laura Ingalls Wilder fans will be happy to know that a new movie based on the Little House on the Prairie books is in the works at Paramount.

But teachers and homeschool parents, you don't have to wait for that film. Now you can bring earlyAmerican history into your social studies lessons with free printable Laura Ingalls Wilder book activities. Get free printable American history lesson plans book activities from the seven books in the series. The series begins with "Little House in the Big Woods" when Laura is five and was written over a period from 1932-1943. But going in chronological order "Farmer Boy"comes first. It's based on childhood memories of Laura's father Charles Ingalls. Next comes "Little House on the Prairie", "On the Banks of Plum Creek", "By the Shores of Silver Lake", "The Long Winter", "Little Town on the Prairie" and "These Happy Golden Years." "The First Four Years" (stories from Laura's early married life). didn't come out till 1971 and I clearly remember the big deal that was, and later when "West from Home" (not part of the original series) came out in 1974.

The publication of these books sparked renewed interest in early American history and pioneer lore. My mother first read Little House in the Big Woods to me when I was near Laura's age in the story. Laura Ingalls Wilder had a gift for story-telling to match her fascinating life. I purchased the rest of the series, one by one and read them. I later read the Little House on the Prairie books to my own children and used them in our homeschool. The Little House books make perfect American history activities and social studies lesson plans on the life of American pioneers.

The website Laura's Prairie House calls itself the Definitive Laura Ingalls Wilder and Little House on the Prairie. The site has dozens of free printable American history and book activities, crafts, recipes and coloring pages. These books help social studies teachers explore the difference between American pioneers and settlers. Pioneers were trail blazers who built new towns and settlements. Settlers moved into these areas and settled them. Laura Ingalls Wilder's family, both the her parents Charles and Caroline Ingalls and her husband Almanzo Wilder were settlers and pioneers. They brought customs and traditions with them from the New England towns they lived in and they formed many new traditions based on the areas they settled.

There are free printable Little House in the Big Woods lesson plans, crafts, games and book activities. There are free printable Little House on the Prairie book activities and free On the Banks of Plum Creek printables. There are recipes for maple candy, johnny cake, parched corn, cornbread, vinegar pie, horehound candy and other foods Laura features in her books. Other sites feature more Little House free printables You can print American history crafts, recipes, sheet music and lyrics from songs as well as complete episode guides and links from the Little House on the Prairie television show. Laura's Prairie Home features comprehensive biographical data on the 

Free printable Frankenweenie activities, Nightmare Before Christmas coloring pages for Frankenstein Friday, Halloween

 The last Friday in October is Frankenstein Friday, so here are free printable Frankenstein monster crafts to celebrate! Why is there a Frankenstein Friday? Good question--nobody really knows the nuts and bolts of it. Maybe its just another way to extend the Halloween holiday? Or maybe its one more chance to dress up in silly costumes and not be shamed. Or maybe it helps vent a temper of Frankenstein proportions by scaring the liver out of little kids? At any rate, here are printable crafts for frankly freaky Frankenstein Friday fun!

Start by making your free printable Frankenstein monster mask. Choose one of the assorted Frankenstein masks: print, color green (or purple if you're feeling different) and get your inner monster on! Feeling female-frankie? Why not be Bride of Frankenstein? Print a mask of that scary chick at the same place. Or maybe you're not up for that much fright. For a safer option, print a picture of Frankenberry from the cereal box and make that into a mask. Next bolt over to DLTK forfree printable Frankenstein monster crafts. There are coloring pages, 3D craft projects, games, puzzles, books and greeting cards for Halloween. Why not confuse and amuse your friends by sending them a Frankenstein Friday greeting card? You might start a howling fun holiday tradition.

And musn't forget Frankenweenie and his faithful pup Sparky on Frankenstein Friday. Here are free printable Frankenweenie coloring pages. Print and make a bunch of Frankeweenie crafts from Disney. And now for a good-old-blowout of free printable Frankenstein monster coloring pages. Coloring Book Fun as some weird and quirky ones. Print Activities has got 25 Frankenstein monster coloring pages to print. There are cartoon ones and a few with Boris Karloff in his iconic Frankenstein monster role. Last but not least, is everyone's favorite Frankenstein monster, Herman Munster. Here are printable Munsters coloring pages from an old coloring book based on the TV show. Oh, and Anglophiles, don't miss the new movie "Victor Frankenstein" it's a feast of favorite British actors!

Free printable Halloween activities, crafts, coloring pages, worksheets, games

Halloween is creeping up and children of all ages, even the young at heart are getting ready for the fun. In many schools, activities are planned around Halloween. Educators know that when children enjoy something and have fun with a lesson, they learn better. Here are free printable Halloween activities for school classrooms, homeschool or scout troop. Use with old folks in nursing homes or anyone who needs some Halloween printables.

Count down the days to Trick or Treat with dozens of free printable Halloween activities, coloring pages and crafts from Making Friends.com. Print free craft projects for all sorts themes. Making Friends has a really holiday activities, coloring pages, cut and paste, paper dolls, Trick or treat wrappers, worksheets, Halloween puzzles and mazes. Print word searches, crossword puzzles and word games, perfect for Halloween language arts lessons. Print Halloween card games, flash cards, dioramas, masks and pumpkin carving patterns and stencils.

Here free printable Halloween lesson plans, worksheets, games, coloring pages, activities and puzzles. Use for Trick or Treat themed math, reading, writing, literature, science, language, social studies and crafts. All Free Printables has free Halloween crafts, greeting cards, party invitations, decorations, cut-outs, coloring pages, masks, party invitations, name tags, treat bags, pumpkin cut-outs, book marks, picture frames and lots more. Puzzlemaker lets you create templates for printable Halloween worksheets, puzzles, mazes, jigsaws, dot to dot, Soduku, crosswords and activities galore.

Print Activities is another mega site for all your school and family activity printing needs. Look for units, printable worksheets and lessons focused around Halloween and trick-or-treat. Disney Family offers a plethora of free printable Halloween Disney activities, crafts and coloring pages. Coolest Holiday Parties has free printable Halloween party supplies. You'll find cards, invitations, treat and punch bowl printables, banners, place cards, name tags, wall hangings for a ghoulish party.

Free printable gingerbread house patterns, Christmas craft stencils

Making holiday gingerbread houses is a favorite family traditions. Not being very artistic, I'd cheat and get the gingerbread house kit. But I've found a better way: free printable gingerbread house patterns, recipes and templates. Now, people approach gingerbread house making in one of two ways. The first is by painstakingly designing a work of art--not to be eaten, let alone touched. Then there's our youngest son's method: slap together a ramshackle gingerbread shed, lather in two inches of frosting, cover every inch in candy and devour immediately. Whichever school you subscribe to, you'll want these free printable gingerbread recipes, templates and patterns.
Ultimate Gingerbread is dedicated to the tradition of gingerbread house making. The site has dozens of free printable gingerbread patterns, recipes tips, ideas, suggestions, pictures. They even host an annual gingerbread house making competition. You'll need to register and create a free account. The website has a support forum as well, which would have really come in handy a few years ago when our gingerbread house's retaining wall gave way.
Tipnut list 12 free printable gingerbread house templates. There are several different styles from Hansel and Gretel cottage, manor house with dormers, frosted roof, etc. There are instructions and tips, too. King Arthur Flour offers a free printable gingerbread house recipe and instruction booklet with cake and icing recipes, tips and patterns. 
Mein Lila Park is a blog that links to free printable craft projects. This page lists printable paper houses to use for gingerbread templates. There are gnome, manor, town and farm houses. Many are already designed to be gingerbread houses. Botanical Paperworks has a free printable gingerbread house stencil with recipes. Sweetopia has another free gingerbread template to print. Patternsge has a detailed house pattern printout. Stefan Jansson at Flickr offers another printable gingerbread house. 
Sugar Craft has a free printable old-fashioned gingerbread house pattern. I've linked to the recipe page. Click the word PATTERNS on the right under the image of the house. Gingerbread Heaven offers two free gingerbread template printouts. Be sure to follow the instructions listed with the gingerbread house patterns for best results. 
I encourage family gingerbread house making for a bonding experience, but recommend that each person make his own gingerbread house. This spares debates/arguments over design that can end with the whole house on the floor! Not that my angels would ever do that! May your holiday season be as sweet as a gingerbread house. 

Free printable Halloween masks for kids to color and make

Trick-or-treat is all about dressing up in Halloween costumes, right? So how about free printable Halloween masks for kids to color, cut and paste? Perfect for preschool, special education and school Halloween parties. For families who don't do Halloween, I included links for generic masks so kids can still enjoy craft fun. Masks are grouped by theme.

* Various: Colorbook Masks free printable Halloween masks in dozens of themes and styles. There are tribal masks from Africa, Bali, Native American, Aztec, Mayan, Inuit, Asian and more. Print animal, Mardi Gras, Harlequin, Tiki, calavera (skull) masks for Day of the Dead. To find the masks, you have to create a free account and log in. Click each mask image to get to different mask design pages.

* Animals: Activity Village has lots of free printable animals masks.

* Disney: Check Disney Family for free printable Disney Halloween masks. Print 3D masks of Winnie the Pooh, Ironman, Disney princesses, Hulk, Captain America, Frankenweenie and more.

* Famous people: Forbes publishes free printable masks of trending famous people, politicians and world leaders.

* Scary: Check Ravensblight for free printable monster masks. The Hannibal Lector iron jaw mask is downright horrifying.

* Samhain and fantasy: Phee Mcfaddel has free printable fairy masks plus other Wiccan-inspired designs. Some are rather eerie and some quite pretty and floral.

* Monsters, ghouls and zombies: Paper Marcos Front has free printable creepy monster masks and 3D paper toys.

* Doctor Who: Visit BBC for free printable Doctor Who villains masks. Dress as Ood, a Silurian, one of the Doppelganger twins, a Peg doll, a Weeping Angel or (creepiest of all) a monster baby cherub.

* Day of the Dead: How about free printable calavera masks? Happy Thoughts will email you free 3D skull mask printables if you submit your email. Here's another printable skull mask pattern from Instructables.

Many of the masks print in black and white so children can color them. Making homemade Halloween costume crafts means you keep antsy kids occupied productively as they await trick-or-treat.

Free Printable Halloween Pumpkin Carving Stencils, Trick-or-Treat Jack-o-Lantern Patterns

What would autumn be without carving the traditional Halloween pumpkin? Making a jack-o-lantern for trick-or-treat is one of my favorite family activities. Looking for creative pumpkin carving stencils for your jack-o-lantern? Here are free printable pumpkin patterns for whatever theme you want: spooky, cartoon, artistic, fantasy, religious, animals, gobs more.  Free Printable Halloween Pumpkin Carving Stencils, Trick-or-Treat Jack-o-Lantern Patterns 

Creative Homemade Halloween or All Saints Day Party Invitation Ideas

Planning a Halloween party? Or maybe a Halloween alternative harvest party at church? Maybe you're Catholic and are throwing an All Saints Day party instead of Halloween. However you celebrate, skip boring paper invitations and try these creative unique ways to announce your party? Here are alternative party invitation and announcement ideas.

  Balloon: Purchase larger latex balloons. Inflate balloon. Write invitation message and party details in marker (silver for dark colors). Deflate and mail. Don't explain. Let guests figure out what to do.


  Jigsaw puzzle: purchase blank jigsaw puzzles or make your own. Write party message and details on assembled jigsaw puzzle. Take puzzle apart and mail pieces. Make your own jigsaw puzzle. Print a Halloween or party themed coloring page (lots of links on this blog). Cut out sides of cereal box. Glue to picture to colored side. Write message on plain side. Cut into pieces. Guests can use picture on the front to assemble message.


  Code Message Invitations: Write invitation in code. A simple code might for children's' parties is to represent letters with numbers 1-26. (A-1, B-2). For older kids use math problems with the letter number code.


  Treasure Map: Make a map of the party location. Write directions in code or clues. For example, we live on Columbus Ave. I might say, "You'll find the party on the street named for the guy who discovered our country."

  Edible invitations: Kids love these. Write the invitation message and details on sticks of chewing gum with food grade marker (found in cake decorating supplies section). Fruit Leather or Fruit Roll Ups work well too.

  Beaded bracelet: Buy cheap plastic letter and number beads. Compose invitation message and string on piece of yarn. Or write the details on a piece of paper and put words on the bracelet--Happy Halloween! Blessed All Saints Day! Or put saints medals on ribbon.

  For more awesome party ideas, visit me at www.diypartyplanner.blogspot.com and www.freeprintablecards4u.blogspot.com.

Homemade Animal Costumes, Habitats for Halloween

 Dramatic play develops preschool social, emotional, artistic, creative and communication skills. Plays lend themselves to all content. Here are homemade costumes, props and settings for life science theater. I call it bio-drama. Using recycled materials teaches real-life environmental science! These costumes and habitiats would be perfect for Halloween costumes. Make a spider in her web, bats, mammals, reptiles, insects and more.   Homemade Preschool Dramatic Play Animal Costumes, Habitats

Native American Indian Paper Bag Crafts for Thanksgiving

Many schools teach Native American Indian history. Around Thanksgiving in the autumn is a popular time to explore native themes. Here is a cross-curricular lesson plan and craft to make Native American costume from a paper bag. Perfect for Halloween.  Recycle Bin Native American Indian Paper Bag Crafts for Thanksgiving 

Vintage Gothic Haunted House Ideas

I recently did the Haunted Museum at our local historical society. I don't believe in spook houses nor in scaring kids but I thought it would have an educational bent. It didn't, so I tried to swing it vintage Gothic to get away from a gory a little. Here's how I scripted, costumed and staged it.  I Have a Flair For Scaring People with Gothic Horror, to My Chagrin

Preschool Apple Themed Printables, Crafts, Lessons, Recipes

Apples are the perfect theme for fall lessons. And just in time for harvest and Halloween. Here's an interactive, cross-curricular apple unit with crafts, recipes, science, art, creative writing, math, social studies, practical life, field trips and community-builders. I've added free printable apple-themed lesson plans and worksheets for activity extenders.   Preschool Apple Unit, Cross-Curricular Hands-on Crafts, Activities, Recipes

Healthy Pumpkin Treats Kids Can Make

Boy, pumpkin sure is the theme--everything from IHOP pancakes to beer features it. And right in time for harvest and Halloween parties. So I thought, why not tap into that beta-carotene goodness for my Week-of-school-snacks and Five-day-school-lunch-menu series? Here are healthy recipes featuring pumpkin. Use fresh (use pumpkin, not a jack-o-lantern) or take my lazy way out and use canned--not pie filling. Involve toddlers and preschooler in preparations. Weekly Snack Menu, Healthy Pumpkin Themed Kids Treats

Free Printable Apple Activities for Fall, Halloween

Apples are a popular theme for fall lesson plans, especially for preschool lessons. Looking for apple activities for a harvest party, science lesson plans or maybe Halloween? Have I got a great sweet treat for you--a plethora of free printable apple-themed fun. This booklet includes apple math activities, science puzzles, social studies lessons and history extensions. There are printable creative writing prompts, word games and more.  Free Printable Apple Activities for Fall Preschool Lesson Plans 

Halloween Recycled Trash Crafts for Kids--Homemade Hats

Got rainy-day, can't go out to play bored kids? Why not get started on a nifty homemade Halloween costume? If you need a fun fix fast, I'm your go-to gal. My ideas cheap, easy and parent-friendly. Your recycle bin is your best ally. Today's boredom first-aid: homemade hats for trick-or-treat costumes. Use for school projects, history lessons, too.Rainy Day Recycle Bin Crafts for Kids--Homemade Hats

Homemade Preschool Animal Costumes for Halloween

 Dramatic play develops preschool social, emotional, artistic, creative and communication skills. Plays lend themselves to all content. Here are homemade costumes, props and settings for life science theater. I call it bio-drama. Using recycled materials teaches real-life environmental science! Perfect for Halloween costumes and displays. Excellent for group costumes. Homemade Preschool Dramatic Play Animal Costumes, Habitats

Free Printable Doctor Who Coloring Pages, Crafts, Games, Activities

 BBC's sci-fi show "Doctor Who" celebrates its 50th birthday in 2013. My youngest daughter discovered Doctor Who in 2005 when she was seven. The current Time Lord was the Ninth Doctor, Christopher Eccleston. The current Eleventh Doctor is Matt Smith. If you love galaxy hopping in the TARDIS and battling Cybermen and Daleks here are free printable Doctor Who coloring pages to extend your adventures. And for Halloween, there are free printable Doctor Who villian masks--Cybermen, Weeping Angels, Silence and more. Free Printable Doctor Who Coloring Pages, Crafts, Games, Activities

Free Printable Halloween Party Decorations, Banners and Streamers--Spooky and Fall Themed

Hosting a Halloween party or haunted house? Looking for cheap Halloween party decorations? Want to decorate your classroom for Halloween? Here are free printable Halloween decorations including witch, pumpkin, ghost, black cats, monsters, bats, spiders, zombies, skeletons, ghouls and more. There are scary party decorations and more tame ones with cartoon images. You'll find free printable Halloween banners, streamers, table decor, treat bags, party favors--just to name a few! Read on. Free Printable Halloween Party Decorations, Banners, Streamers