Halloween Aquabead Pin Badges

It tends to be Nanny’s job to “do Aquabeads” with Iris and Bertie …………

……….. no one else has the patience, but oh boy they are little blighters to work (the beads, not Iris and Bertie!), one false move and the design can become a sticky, unrecognisable mess ……….

……. and Nanny is called upon to try and rescue them, to make sure such a long period of intense concentration was not all for nothing …….aghhhhhhh!

These (above) are my own humble efforts, but what to do with them once they are complete?  Usually we draw a little background scene to put the designs on, which is then framed to create a lasting memory and recognises that I and B’s work is valued.  I also have far too many frames under my bed that really need using up ……. but as these have a seasonal theme  I needed to think of something else.

In the end I thought pin badges/brooches for my annual Halloween sleepover.  The beads on their own are not all that strong so I applied several thick layers of PVA to both sides, allowing each layer to dry thoroughly which made the shape far more robust. I then added a small pin fastening to the back using an epoxy resin glue again to make the badge/brooch more durable.

It wouldn’t take much to add a pendant finding to the shape to be worn as a necklace or hung from a Halloween twig tree….. I am also thinking they could also be used to embellishments Halloween crackers for the party table …….. hmmmmmm

Halloween Trick Or Treat Party Bag

This follows on from the Halloween card I made the other day and uses a plain brown lunch bag (10 for £1 Home Bargains etc.) and the Halloween paper chains I found in HobbyCraft (120 for £1).

All I did was make a front and back panel for the bag by sticking four paper chain strips side by side on a piece of scrap paper and trimming them down to size, and then mat and layered each panel on black paper. I added another strip across each panel that said Happy Halloween, and faux stitched, using a white gel pen, around the black matting and across the middle strip to make the panels “pop”

I stuck the panels on each side of the bag, folding them across the crease of the bag so that it could still be stored flat and then, in the spirit of Halloween, hung two spare plastic ghostie novelties on a short length of cord, threaded through a hole punched in the handle of each side. 

So,  if I was having a Halloween party, for just £2 I could make 10 really cute bags …… adding a novelty or two would only add another pound (packet of assorted Halloween novelties £1 Poundland)  ….. much cuter than a printed plastic bag and taking all but a few minutes to make each one.

Creepy Spider Halloween Lollipop Holders

I have finally used up ALL of the 72 spiders I got for a pound, from a local poundshop!

….. and in the process found another use for the Halloween paper chains I got from HobbyCraft (120 links for £1) and a spare bag of skull lollies from PoundWorld (19 lollies in a bag), which I have to say tasted pretty good, as I sucked on one as I worked  …… as part of my market research!!!!!!!

So ……. for the cover I took a strip of purple card 6cms wide and scored it on my scoreboard at 7cms, 1cm and 7cm intervals.

I stuck a spider paper chain down the centre of the strip and trimmed as necessary, punching two holes at either end, holding both ends together so that they would marry up when a ribbon was threaded through, followed by a little faux stitching using a white gel pen

I put two lollies in each holder, sticking them together with a little double sided tape to keep them together …………. and glued the spiders on with a glue gun, trying to place them over a spider on the paper chain for a 3D sort of effect.

I am tempted to buy another bag of spiders away for next year as they have been so useful ….. and especially as Halloween bits and pieces to inspire me to craft with have been few on the ground this year …..

Halloween Scary Spider Halloween Matchboxes.

Although I have used my Stampin’Up Matchbox die for this idea, there are plenty of matchbox templates on the internet that could be used instead.

I have used the adhesive foam spider and web stickers I got from HobbyCraft a week or so ago (£1) on these boxes……..

……. but I couldn’t resist sticking googly eyes on all the spiders before using them, it had to be done!

I cut the webs in half to make corners, used up scraps of Halloween borders that I’ve had for a couple of years and doodled away to my hearts content.

I also used my Stampin’Up scalloped and punches for the sentiments. Boo!

Halloween Lollipop Holders

I have never made lollipop holders before, but I had a few lollies left over from my Halloween boxes  and I didn’t want them to go to waste ……. so I got to thinking ……

So ……. for the cover I took a strip of purple card 6cms wide and then scored it on my scoreboard at 6cms, 1cm and 6cm intervals

…… then punched two holes holding both sides together so that they matched, to thread a ribbon through……..

……. followed by a bit of doodling, using a black fine liner and white gel pen.

Then out came my trusty old Stampin’Up punches and some Halloween stickers left over from last year……..

……. to decorate the front and the back of the holder.

All that was left to do then was to thread through short length of ribbon and tie a bow, which also helps keep the lollies in place,

Front and back view ……

Now I have worked out how to make a simple template I am thinking this is an idea that will also work for Christmas to make little stocking fillers ….. O wonder if I could do the same for chocolate spoons?

Frankenstein Halloween Trick Or Treat Matchboxes

Although I have used my Stampin’Up Matchbox die for this idea, there are plenty of matchbox templates on the internet that could be used instead.

I decided to have a go at making a Frankenstein Halloween Trick or Treat box but I am not that sure about Frankenstein's face, I don’t think he looks scary enough!

Embellishing the matchbox sleeve was a good way of using up odd bits of scrap paper, card and adhesive Halloween borders…….

……. an excuse to get my Stampin’Up plain and scalloped edge punches out of hibernation.

……. plus, I got to do lots of fiddle fart doodling.

Now,  all I’ve got to do is to find some suitable Halloween sweeties to fill him!

Glow Stick Wreath

Marc and I were talking about the very plain twig wreath that hangs all year round on my front door …… usually it only has a set of Poundshop battery operated lights on it ……..

…… but because of it’s loose weave we worked out that it wouldn’t take a lot to enhance and theme it to different times of the year ……. so this is my very simple first effort for Halloween  ……

All I did was weave a pack of £1 glow bands through it.

It looked so different,  I really want to try it again but next time blitz it  ….. with two packs of bands …..

Trick Or Treat Halloween Matchboxes.

Although I have used my Stampin’Up Matchbox die for this idea, there are plenty of matchbox templates on the internet that could be used instead.Last year Dianne, my special blog friend in Florida, sent me a wonderful parcel of deliciousHalloween crafty bits from Michaels, that, before now, I could hardly bear to think of using, but they are no good kept in a drawer …. and as I have enjoyed looking at them for the past year it’s about time I put them to good use!

So, these are the very lovely 3D, bubble stickers Dianne sent me that I decided to put on some Halloween Trick or Treat matchboxes.

I decorated the sleeves of the matchboxes first, which involved mat and layering, some doodling and using up other Halloween scraps as well as punching, using my trusty old Stampin’Up plain and scalloped edge punches.

I just love the colour combination of purple, green orange and black.

I lined the box trays with contrasting card scraps to make them a little stronger and then added a few stickers inside for good measure.All that was left to do then was to fill them with Halloween type sweeties.

I am really chuffed with how they have turned out ……….
……. and sad in a way, a few more bits of stash are finally used up.

Halloween Frankenstein Mug

A bit of spooky fun today ……. this is the mug I shall mainly be drinking my poison from, at work, in the week leading up to Halloween!  It’s not meant to last forever ….. the week will do, just for a laugh!

I found a mug for 99p in perfect Frankenstein green and then drew hair, a mouth and a couple of scars (round the back) with a black Marabu Porcelain Painter pen and then baked it in the oven for 30mins (170 in electric oven).

I would have painted the eyes on ….. but I don’t have a white painter pen (doh)!!!  However the googly eyes just add a bit of extra fun.  I have stuck them on with E6000 glue, so there is no chance they will come off, but I won’t be putting it through the dishwasher just in case.

Halloween Trick Or Treat Boxes

These are my Halloween Trick or Treat Boxes for 2014 using my trusty old sizzix box die (656278 Sizzix Bigz XL Box No.3), made using an pearlescent orange card from Payper Box http://www.payperbox.co.uk/
I’ve also used Spellbinders labels for the topper, but I don’t have a clue what number die set they are.

I made the web bands using a border clipart, printing it in strips on A4 purple paper and then cutting each strip to size ….. and I think Dianne in Florida sent me the spiders from Michaels last year, all I had to add were the wiggly eyes and a little doodling on the boxes.

The completed boxes were then filled with an assortment of Scooby Doo candy sticks, voodoo beads, lollipop rings and skull lollies from Poundland (most come in bags of 10 ….if not more, in the case of the skulls).

http://www.ellison.com/product/656278/sizzix-bigz-xl-die-box-3?locale=en-UK