Halloween

Homemade Halloween decorations are to best. And even better are homemade decorations crafted from recycled materials. Craft contributor Rachael Hobson has shared this super-cool idea for making a milk jug skeleton found on The Party Animal.

Need a last-minute Halloween craft? This tutorial for making wooden peg zombies from Jessica Wilson of Scrumdilly Do is brilliant. The tutorial includes handy tips for adding gory details (like bloody bandages...Ewwww) and making your wooden undead stand on their own.

I love, love, love these movable mummies from Camilla of Family Chic. Simple to make and simply to die for, this project is the perfect DIY for you pint-size ghouls. Coated flexible wire, a few scraps of cotton (she uses muslin) and awesome bending skills are all you need to spruce up those nooks and crannies with some serious Halloween cuteness..um, eh "scariness."

After seeing Maya*Made's tutorial for fall newspaper bunting I knew I just had to jump into Autumn action.

Practicing counting skills and number recognition is easy as "1, 2, 3," when your toddler buys into the process of what you're trying to teach her. Getting her to take ownership in her learning is key. Kids love all things Halloween so why not use this as a motivating theme to get the learning started in a fun and pleasurable way for your toddler?

Uber-cool craftster chick Megan Reardon of Not Martha contributes this awesome tentacle pot pie how-to on Babble. Simple, spooky, fun and tasty...I think I've just found the perfect Halloween night dinner idea to warm up and fill up my tiny trick-or-treaters pre-candy coma!

Megan:

This papier mache candy bowl by Ellen Luckett Baker of The Long Thread is simply too sweet. What trick or treater wouldn't want to dive their costumed paws into one of these bowls made from recycled materials...What trick or treat supplier wouldn't want to make one of these bowls then fill it to the brim with yummy Halloween treats?

Ellen:

We have some serious shadow puppet love. The puppets and theaters are a cinch (and cheap) to make from ordinary household materials. And they offer oodles of imaginary play opportunities and pumping of creative juices.

Just in time for Halloween Gather and Nest has shared a meat loaf idea sure to transform your "meatloaf, smeatloaf, double-beatloaf" standby into a magnificent mummified meal. If your kids are like mine and constantly snub the loaf (what's their problem? I have proof I mix up a mean loaf?) then this Halloween themed dish which tosses in some pasta, cheese and olives is sure to convince them that the loaf is yummy and (at times) good for a laugh. Go mummy meatloaf!

Being gung-ho about making at least one costume for one of my kids yet limited on time and skill I set out in search of a costume that would be homemade without being overly complicated or underwhelming. I wanted to make the costume out of materials I have since we've already spent a pretty penny on kiddie costumes and also consumption bad..recycling good.