Archive for October, 2008

For your next pirate bash, make your very own mini ships as table decoration or even as placecard holders. This fun recycle project is easy to put together and a great activity to get the guest of honor involved.

What you’ll need:

• 3 cardboard egg cups (or open walnut shells)
• Brown acrylic craft paint
• Paintbrush
• ¼ cup modeling clay or play dough
• 6 toothpicks
• 1 sheet white paper
• Scissors
• White craft glue

How to make it:

1. Paint the egg cups inside and out with brown paint. Set aside to dry.
2. Cut sails from white paper. You will need 6 large sails (1.5″ x 1″) and 18 small sails (.5″ x .75″).
3. Set aside three of the toothpicks for the large sails. Break or cut the other three toothpicks in half, giving you 6 halves.
4. Put a line of glue through the middle of one of the small sails. Place the cut or broken end of one of the toothpick halves onto the glue line.
5. Roll it in the glue to cover both sides, then place another sail on top, sandwiching the two sails together. Flatten the sails together with your fingers and set aside to dry.
6. Repeat step number 5 with each toothpick half and 2 small sails (each).
7. Following the guide in step number 5, make the larger salls. For each large sail you will need a toothpick, 2 small sails and 2 large sails. Glue the small sail to the end of the full toothpick, then glue the larger sail beneath it, leaving a small gap between the top and bottom sail. Set aside to dry.
8. Roll a small amount of clay in your palm, enough to line the bottom of the egg cup. Place in the egg cup and flatten to cover bottom.
9. Insert open end of large sail into the middle of the clay. Insert two small sails, one on either side of the large sail, into the clay.

These owls were so much fun to make and easy enough for little helpers. Here’s what you need:

• Brownie mix (we used puree apricots in the place of egg and filled the cups ¾ full)
• Oreo cookies
• M&Ms (replace with Skittles for egg and dairy free)
• Cashews
• Chocolate sprinkles
• Cream cheese icing

While your brownie cupcakes are cooling, tint your cream cheese icing orange and divide your Oreo cookies (we removed the white filling, but you could leave it). Next, ice each cupcake, apply your cookies face up, sprinkle the top of the cupcake with chocolate sprinkles to resemble feathers and add the cashew as the hooked nose. Finally, using a toothpick, place a small amount of icing on the back of the M&Ms and apply as the owls eyes.

(Tip: Oreos tend to get soggy when not kept in airtight containers. Plan to ice and decorate within an hour or two of serving.)

As I continue to search for fun crafts for our block Halloween party, I came across these mummy treat cups and thought I would share. (If you’re looking for something a bit more spooky, the orange bow and bow tie can be replaced with a thin mouth out of black craft paper.)

Here’s what you’ll need:

• Plastic or paper cups, bathroom sized
• White cotton fabric, an old white t-shirt could work great
• Medium wiggle eyes
• Black sheet of construction paper (or orange felt)
• Scissors
• Glue stick
• White craft glue

Here’s how:

1. Cut a small section from the t-shirt, depending on how many treat cups you will be making. Start with a section about 6″ x 6″. Cut that section into strips ½ inch strips.
2. Use the glue stick to line one side of a t-shirt strip, then starting at the bottom of the cup, wrap around and press in place. Repeat until entire cup is covered.
3. Use white craft glue to attach wiggle eyes.
4. Cut bows out of felt or cut a thin line from the black construction paper. Apply with craft glue.
5. Fill your cups with fun treats: gummy worms, chocolate candies or candy corn!