Calavera sugar skull cookies for Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) - Grand Rapids Holidays | Examiner.com

 Looking to scare up some spooky-good Halloween treats? Or maybe you're throwing Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) shindig and need calavera (skull) cookies. Now you could do the (kind of boring and overdone) sugar cookies shaped like skulls. There are some hilarious Pinterest Skeleton fail cookie images to illustrate how not to do it! And let that be a lesson, too, that complicated isn't always better. Sometimes, you can improvise, like I did and make something better. Here's my scary-easy, wickedly yummy skull cookies. Scary-easy calavera skull cookies for Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) - Grand Rapids Holidays | Examiner.com

Ghoulishly Gross Halloween Party Foods and Spooky Snacks for Trick-or-Treat

Hosting a Halloween party? Want to scare up ghoulishly gruesome (but spooky-licious) snacks your little hob-goblins? These spooky snack recipes guaranteed will gross out the bravest guest. We'll organize them by Halloween creature. Play a blindfold touch and feel game. Have guests guess what foods are. Set out labels so guests know what creepy confections they ate.
Ghosts
--flesh: marshmallows
--guts: marshmallow fluff or vanilla frosting
--ghost guts cookies: pinwheel cookies
--blood: milk
--brains dipped in ghost blood: raw cauliflower dipped in ranch dressing
Vampires
--teeth: red apple wedges dipped in Hershey's Strawberry Syrup (blood)
--bloody fingers : hot dogs with ketchup
Haunted Jack-o-Lantern
--pumpkin blood: orange juice
Bats
--teeth: black and orange candy corn
--wings: grape fruit leather or prunes
Mummies
--brains: popcorn (being dried out, mummy brains are shrively and crumbled.
--people mummies brains: make popcorn balls with marshmallows and red M&Ms.
--cat mummy brains: popcorn and red M&Ms (Egyptians loved their cats and mummified them).
--zombie Barbie brains: whole walnuts
--wrappings: cotton candy
--guts: assorted dried fruit
--hearts and ears: pretzels
Skeletons
--fingers: mozzarella cheese sticks or pretzel rods
--faces: yogurt-covered pretzels
Witches
--brains: broccoli
--blood: milk and green food coloring, limeade
--guts: pistachio pudding or guacamole (serve with tortilla chips called dragon scales)
--eyes: green grapes or sliced kiwi
--Witches' brew: mulled spiced apple cider. Have children watch as you describe and prepare. Heat monster blood (apple cide) with eye of newt (whole cloves), dragon claws (cinnamon bark), Slenderman eyes (lemon slices), toad eyes (raisins), dash of skeleton paste (butter) and ground scorpion (nutmeg).
--Witch blood slushies: frozen honey dew melon or kiwi, blended with Greek yogurt and lemonade.
Miscellaneous
--Frankenstein --Nuts and Bolts: Chex Mix or Cheerios Trail Mix
--zombie sandwiches (as in for, not made of): Sliced lunchmeat (brain cross-section) sandwiches with guts and blood (mustard and ketchup).
--eye slices: sliced kiwi or cucumber
--werewolf gut and blood sandwiches: PBJ sandwiches
--toasted spider legs: chow mien noodles
Serve these monstrously healthy snacks before trick-or-treat, to prevent tummy crummies from candy 

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.

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

Easy, cheap kids' fall birthday party tips

Got a child with a fall birthday? Autumn is a great time for an outdoor birthday party. Sometimes, fall outdoor parties are easier to manage because it's cooler. Here's an easy, cheap kids' birthday bash, suitable for preschool to elementary age children. I've included tips for food, crafts, games, activities and cleanup.  Easy, cheap kids' fall birthday party tips 

Free Printable Halloween Trick or Treat Party Decorations, Banners, Streamer

Hosting a childrens Halloween party? Looking for ways to decorate the house for trick-or-treat? Want to decorate your classroom for Halloween? Here are free printable Halloween decorations: witch, pumpkin, ghost, black cats, monsters, bats and more. Free Halloween Party printables

Free Printable Kids Halloween Party Planner

I love party-planning, especially for preschoolers. At this age, they're pretty easy to please and you don't have to spend much to put on a great kid-friendly shindig. I'll never understand why anyone would want to take kids to an birthday restaurant or activity venue. They're are over-priced and you really don't get much bang for all that buck. I've found that kids have the most fun with backyard birthday bashes and holiday parties. Here are some preschool games and activities that are easy and free (or pretty darn cheap). Use these for your kiddie harvest, All Saints Day, Christian-themed or Halloween party, too! Easy, cheap, DIY activities for preschool birthday parties

Stay At Home Trick or Treat Ideas, Celebrate Halloween with a Sick Child

Family Activities to Trick or Treat, Celebrate Halloween with a Sick Child Halloween is one of the top three events most children look forward to each year. Some kids plan their trick or treat costumes months in advance. So what happens, if, when the big day rolls around, the child is too ill to trick-or-treat? Or, perhaps you object to Halloween for religious, social or health reasons? Maybe Halloween is just too scary for your kids? Instead of sitting in the house with the lights off, why not enjoy some family bonding time? Here are activities you can do at home. These tips will work for parents who wish to avoid door to door trick or treating, too. Cheap, recycle bin activities that are educational and totally creative! Read on

Easy No Sew Bible Character, Saints Costumes for Halloween, All Saints Day

Easy Bible Character and Saints Costumes for Halloween or All Saints Day Whether you celebrate Halloween and trick or treat and have children dress as saints, or if you celebrate All Saints Day with a costume party, here are tips for easy, creative saints and Bible character costumes. Most of these costumes can be made with household items. No need to spend any money. Perfect for large family. Recycle bin and no-sew costumes, too. Click for details

Free Printable Apple Activities, Lesson Plans

Free Printable Apple Activities Book Want to learn more the history and use of apples in Michigan? Parmenter's Northville Cider Mill (714 Baseline Rd.) has put together a free printable 8-page book about apples. It covers health, nutrition, recipes, history, science and some fun activities, too. Use this book as a follow up to a field trip, in your classroom, homeschool or just for fun at home. Read more...

Free Printable Halloween Costume Sewing Patterns and Tutorials

Free Printable Halloween Costume Sewing Patterns and Tutorials Making a Halloween costume for your child to wear for trick-or-treat? Perhaps you're going to a church or All Saints Day costume party? If you're a DIYer, here are dozens of patterns to make your own costumes: all ages, sizes, styles and themes. Read more

Bible Character Costume Props for Halloween, Trick or Treat, All Saints Day

Homemade Props for Bible Character Costumes: Halloween, Vacation Bible School, All Saints Day If you are dressing as a Bible character for Halloween, trick or treat, All Saints Day, a passion play, Sunday School or Vacation Bible School or a church harvest or costume party, here are props and symbols for major Biblical figures.
Read More

Easy Bible Character Costumes for Halloween

Easy Bible Character and Saints Costumes for Halloween or All Saints Day Whether you celebrate Halloween and trick or treat and have children dress as saints, or if you celebrate All Saints Day with a costume party, here are tips for easy, creative saints and Bible character costumes. Recycle bin and no-sew costumes, too. Read More

Green Recycled Nature Crafts for Halloween and Harvest Parties

Eco-Friendly Recycled Halloween and Autumn Harvest Craft Ideas Planning your annual Halloween or harvest party? Here are great fall themed crafts that focus on autumn harvest and non spooky Halloween fun. Easy, inexpensive fall crafts using recycled materials. Read More

Free Printable All Saints Day Party Games: Saints Costume Scavenger Hunt and Riddle Games

Free Printable All Saints Day Party Games: Saints Scavenger Hunt and Riddle Guessing Games Planning an All Saints Day party or party after All Saints Eve mass? Here are several free printable party games. I've written several variations of an All Saints Scavenger Hunt and Riddle Game. Print these clues for your All Saints Party. Read More

Free Printable Catholic Party Games for All Saints Day or Halloween

Catholic All Saints Day Party Games Catholics celebrate All Saints Day on November 1, following All Hallow's Eve, or Halloween. Families and churches seeking alternatives to Halloween celebrate All Saints Eve parties. Here are games to play for your All Saints Day or Eve party. Read More

Spooky Halloween Party Food and Buffet Treats--Free Printable Recipes

Spooky Halloween Party Buffet Foods and Treats Want to scare ghosts and goblins this Halloween? Try these spooky trick or treat party goodies. These treats will satisfy every vampire, witch, bat, zombie, ghost, mummy, ghoul, skeleton and monster on your Halloween party guest list. Read More

Day of the Dead - Dia de los Muertos Party Activities

Dia De Los Muertos - Day of the Dead Lesson Plans Party Activities  The Latino culture has shared many rich traditions. Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos), celebrated on November 1 -All Saints Day in the Catholic church- honors deceased relatives. Here are activities and lessons to celebrate Day of the Dead. Read More

Free Printable Halloween Coloring Pages and Greeting Cards

Free Printable Halloween Greeting Cards, Invitations, Coloring Pages Looking for good seasonal and holiday coloring pages? Fisher-Price. Fisher-Price has free printable coloring pages for Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, Valentine's Day, Easter, Mother's Day, Father's Day. Read More