I Love to Create - Best Costume Trophy

The big day is this weekend, do you have your primo costume ready? I'm talking something worthy of a handmade trophy not something you picked up this week at Target. Well the clock is ticking you better get on it. For those doing the costume judging if the participants in your contest are going to take the time to put together a rad costume shouldn't you take the time to make them a special trophy?


Wooden Disc
Crafty Chica Little Chica Paint Pack - Black
Small Doll
Witches Hats
Gold Spray Paint
Aleene's Fast Grab Tacky Glue
Bic Mark-It Permanent Markers
Rick Rack or Ribbon


The first thing you need to do is spray paint your doll. I opted for gold so my trophy would resemble an Oscar. I also painted my wooden discs with black Crafty Chica paint. After all the paint was dried I used Fast Grab Tacky Glue to attach my dolls to their base and the hats to their heads.


The last thing to do is to decide what your winning categories will be: best costume, best family themed costume, scariest costume - the choice is yours. I made my sash using some vintage trim and a fine tip bic Mark-It Permanent Marker.


Once you decide make a sash to go around your trophy pageant style and present the lucky winners with their prize!

Tallulah's Halloween Tutu

I know there are a million and one tutorials out there for how to make a tutu and truthfully, mine is not that different. However, just in case you have not seen those other millions I thought I would share mine with you. I whipped this one up because Tallulah needed another Halloween outfit like a hole in the head, but can you really have too many? What I discovered is they are so cheap and easy to make she will be getting one for Thanksgiving, Christmas and most other major holidays that come down the pike.


SUPPLIES
1.5 yards of green, orange and purple tulle
3 yards of black tulle
scissors
ruler
ribbon


The first thing you need is a bunch of strips of tulle. I spread out my yardage and began to roll it up in a tube. Make sure there are no wrinkles. Using a ruler (really for the most part I just eyeballed this part) I cut little strips 3"s wide.

You will need a long piece of ribbon to act as the waist band. You want enough to go around their waist and then tie in a bow in the back. Measure your child's waist to see where to start and stop.


Once I started working with these strips I realized they were too long for Tallulah so I cut each strip in half.

Most of the instructions I read called for knotting one strip of tulle at a time. I actually used two strips at a time to make my tutu extra puffy. Go big or go home right. I alternated 2 sections of color (which was 4 strips) with a section of black. Do this all the way around your ribbon. I found this video very helpful.


All that is left to do is tie your tutu onto your child! Big thanks to my friend Carin for teaching me how to make my tutu.

This Week on Craft Lab

If you thought guys were not crafty, think again. Tuesday morning on the DIY Network is a double dose of dudes. First up join Bre Pettis and me as we make shadow puppets on a bamboo stick using contact paper and mono filament. Perfect for a Halloween themed puppet show.


Next up on Tuesday morning (remember it is a double dude feature) Addi Somekh stops by the Craft Lab and does incredible things with balloons. I'm talking instruments, flowers and party decorations.

Thursday morning tune in for two more episodes of Craft Lab. First up local Austinite and fellow Austin Craft Mafia member Susann Koehane stops by the Craft Lab to give me a lesson in bamboo. We make paper, picture frames and more!

Chris Derubeis makes airbrushing look so easy, but let me tell you there is some serious skill involved. Chris and I airbrush a guitar that totally rawks.

I Love to Create - Terrifying Halloween Topiary

This week I have been chatting about creating the perfect Halloween themed table. Whether you are having a Halloween party or maybe just a few people over for dinner there is no reason not to set the mood with a festive centerpiece - and the mood is easier to create than you might think.

SUPPLIES
Vessel (I used a witches boot)
Florist Foam
Crafty Chica Paint Pack
Scraggly Branch
Small Embroidery Hoop
Decorative Paper
Aleene's Tacky Glue
June Tailor Printer Fabric
Embroidery Floss
Decorative Ribbon
Embroidery Needle
Scissors
Small Christmas Ornaments
Paint Brush


First things first you are going to need the perfect creepy branch. This was a harder task than I had envisioned. It was even brush pick up week in the neighborhood so everyone had their trees trimmed, but none of the branches I spied on my walks were quiet right. Luckily the fam and I took a stroll to a local park where I found the perfect dead branch.


Your other quest for this project is finding the right vessel. I discovered my giant witch's boot at TJ Maxx. You are going to need florist foam to stuff inside your vessel and hold your branch in place. You are also going to need to paint your branch black with Crafty Chica paint for the full creepy effect.


I was pleased as punch with the centerpiece at my party! I found some small Christmas ornaments in black, silver and lime green at Hobby Lobby and decked the halls. This week however I had an epiphany. People make keepsake Christmas ornaments, why not make one for Halloween?


This year for Halloween Chris and Tallulah had a group costume. Chris was Gallagher, complete with Sledge-o-Matic and Tallulah was a squashed watermelon. I printed a picture of them up on fabric that goes through your printer. I wrote 2010 in pen on the fabric so I could embroider the year.


Using the wee-est of all wee embroidery hoops I could find I stretched my fabric and embroidered my 2010 using a simple back stitch.


After I was done embroidering I removed my photograph and set it to the side. Using Crafty Chica Paint in black I painted my wooden embroidery hoop. After the paint dried I trimmed the edge of the hoop with decorative ribbon using Aleene's Tacky Glue.


I made a back for my ornament using decorative paper and black craft felt. I attached a loop of ribbon so that I could hang my ornament from the tree.


Now all I need to do is make an ornament with a picture from Halloween 2009 and the tradition has begun!

Halloween Decorating - Tables and Vignettes

A boo-tiful Halloween table can make the blandest of foods or the cheapest of candy taste wonderful. I studied the Internet long and hard to get inspiration and gathered a few of my faves to share. I also have a few pictures of my own Halloween handiwork. Tune back in tomorrow for a Halloween centerpiece how-to.



For the low low price of $15 you could have a Halloween party table that looks chic, full o' polka dots and fabulous courtesy of Anders Ruff Custom Designs.


Oh Torie Jayne your hot pink Halloween makes my heart skip a beat.


Nothing says you only have to decorate your dining room table. Check out this entry way table from Better Homes and Gardens.


Amy Atlas is a design guru who can give even Martha a run for her money. (image via Pepper Design Blog)


The Glorious Treats blogs had a sweet spread with adorable printables by Tom Kat Studios. Why does everything look cuter with a little label?





Martha, Martha, Martha - can she do no Halloween wrong?


All You Magazine has a crafty cute Halloween table to share (image via Social Couture).


The Ladies Home Journal knew how to throw a heck of a Halloween shin dig back in 1919 (image via Dragonfly Design Studio).


I la la la love vintage paper mache pumpkins. I am lucky enough to have 3 that belonged to my parent's as children. It would be dreamy to have enough to decorate an entire table like Country Living (image via Simply Suzanne).






Last, but not least in my humble opinion, is my own house. I have several different Halloween vignettes set up around the casa.

I'd love to see pictures of your digs or some of your fave Halloween table tops online.

Here are a few more table decorations I made with HGTV in video form to get your creative juices flowing.

Ghoulish Grub - The Halloween Party Spread

One of my favorite parts of throwing a party is creating a scrumptious spread. For this year's 2nd annual Pint Sized Halloween Party I went all out. The spread was large and augmented by several tasty treats friends brought with them. There were over 50 people there several of which were pregnant so I needed to be prepared. If you are having a Halloween themed party this year I have a few recipe, table decorating and party planning suggestions.


Nothing makes the party like a giant bowl of cheese balls. What can I say they were cheap and looked like little pumpkins. I had envisioned making ice cream filled oranges that look like little jack-o-lanterns with all the oranges I bought, but alas I threw in the towel and just put them out in a bowl. I made a batch of cake pops using orange cake mix and cream cheese frosting. I also recovered my cake pop carrier to make it a little more Halloweeny.


My lovely friend Kara brought a delectable batch of pumpkin cupcakes with her. You can also see my giant witches boot in the center of the table I had a spooky tree coming out of the center that I of course did not get a picture of.


In my party throwing experience, people love them some cheese. Trust me buy a cheese tray from Sam's or Costco and thank me later. Veggie trays typically go over well (and tomorrow I'll have lot's of ideas about what to do with the left overs). They come on a plastic tray, but it looks so much nicer if you put it on your own cute platter. With Tallulah I craved cereal, with this baby I crave briny foods like olives, pickles, capers and okra. That said I'm not sure I would make these Green Olives Stuffed with Chili Almonds again. Fun table touches likes straws and Halloween themed lollipops in candy corn help make the table cheery, even if they don't get used or eaten.


Mini Carmel apples with nuts and pretzel sticks, yes please. These were easier to make than they sound, but I'm not sure they were all that delish. They looked darn cute though. Two things you can barely see in the picture were a couple of my favorites. With some of my left over oranges Chris made a batch of Citrus Salsa. We are eating some today with the festive blue corn tortilla chips you see in the picture (you could get white chips, but why when there are blue). One of my favorite and easy to make treats is a dip made with a block of cream cheese, pumpkin pie filling and sugar. Mix it up to taste, sprinkle with cinnamon on top and serve with Gingersnaps - yummy!


I started to make a patch of pumpkin hummus, but opted for carving a small pumpkin and serving ready made hummus inside. The spicy dried okra I bought at Round Top was a big hit. I'd kill for the recipe, but I fear it would call for a food dehydrator. I sadly did not get a picture of the luscious pumpkin bread my friend Becka brought or the chocolate spoons I whipped up, trust me when I say both were a hit.


I can't claim credit for these creepy fingers, my friend Andee brought them to the party. The mini pumpkin shaped cheese balls went super quick. Mental note for next year make a double batch - they were easy, cute and yummy as all get out.


Again Andee to the rescue with eyeballs that got all gobbled up before I could try one. Next year I think I might go with an entire food that looks like something else theme. I'll keep you posted.

I'd love to hear about what you make for your Halloween parties. Do you have a special dinner recipe you make each Halloween? Do you have a popcorn ball recipe that will make me weak in the knees? Let's chat.

This Week on Craft Lab

Craft Lab is back this week on the DIY Network Tuesday and Thursday morning. Let's take a sneak peak at what you can see this week.


Tuesday we whip up a wood burned purse with Vani Sodhi Gundara and then we torch a little metal clay with Cathi Milligan.


Thursday morning tune in to see how to make a sassy girl mosaic with Tiffany Miller and a soldered glass box with Kate Richbourg.

I Love to Create - Halloween Goody Bags with Crayon Cupcakes

Finding cute, not goofy, goody bags can really be the bane of a party throwing mother's existence. Trust me, I know from experience. As usual it was left to me to take crafty matters into my own hands.


SUPPLIES
Decorative Paper
Decorative Edge Scissors
Aleene's Acid Free Tacky Glue Stick
Goodie Bag Fillers - including Crafty Chica Skull Iron-On


Luckily I found some cute polka dotted bags at Hobby Lobby to work with. From here I cut ovals out in 3 different sizes with scalloped edge scissors.


Using my Aleene's Acid Free Tacky Glue Stick I layered all my pieces together. I also made a purple border that I glued a strip of Halloween paper to.


I attached my toppers to the bags using a stapler. Wanna see what's inside?


Here is all the loot for the wee little ghosts and goblins - bubbles, Crafty Chica Iron On's for their creative moms, books and crayon cupcakes. Don't know how to make crayon cupcakes? They are super easy let me show you how!


All you will need are crayons and a muffin tin. I used the same Halloween themed tin I used last year to make soap.


Peel the wrappers off of your crayons, break them into small pieces and fill your muffin tins.


I placed the tin in the oven at 250 and waited for the crayons to melt. All that was left to do was wait for them to harden and they slid right out of the tin. Much easier for toddlers to hold and color with than traditional crayons.


Now all the goody bags are waiting on my windowsills for this weekend's Pint Sized Halloween Party. I hope they are a big hit.

Looking for some other Halloween goody bag ideas? Take a peek at these videos I did for HGTV!