Showing posts with label Halloween. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Halloween. Show all posts

Friday, October 29, 2010

Friday is PIE DAY!

My initial plan for today was to make a savory pie,
but then it struck me, DUH, it's Halloween weekend.
Must make an appropriately festive pie.
I'm not a big fan of novelty pies, so I wanted to just give a classic a costume.
S, always the clever one, thought of making a slice of pie look like a candy corn.
I think it looks quite adorable, and, best of all, it's still a basic pumpkin pie underneath.

Here is what I did!
Start with a basic pumpkin pie. I used the recipe on the can. Yup. Easy.
It took me awhile to figure out what the yellow layer was going to be.
Pumpkin and lemon? nope.
Pumpkin and banana? ick.
Ah-hah!
Coconut with a bit of Wilton's gel coloring. perfect.
 I used about 6 drops for 1 cup of coconut,
then worked it in with my fingers to get it evenly colored.
It is easier to dress your pie one slice at a time.
Just slip a piece onto a plate and carefully add a ring of coconut on the crust edge.
Finally, a dollop of whipped cream makes the white tip!
Happy Halloween!
Christine

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

DIY: pumpkin collar

Orange plastic fencing as design inspiration?
Hell, yeah!

I made these silly, crazy doodads
for the Pioneer Woman luncheon
at the Creative Connection event.
It was one of those times.
This nutty idea popped into my head.
I made one.
It looked exactly like my vision.
Yes.
It doesn't always happen that way.
Especially because I had to sew these.
At any rate, I loved that this bright plastic material
turned into this soft cowl-like collar for my plant pots.
And now,
they are festive collars
for my punkins.
You're beginning to think I'm
just a little crazy,
aren't you.

But, you like it.

I'm sorry that I don't have any process photos.
I started with a 3 ft by 2 ft piece of fencing.
Next, I secured the fencing around a plastic plant pot
with a rubber band.
Using a large needle and fishing line,
I did a straight? stitch
(sewers, feel free to correct me)
along the fencing,
pulling and gathering as I went.
Tie off the end, and voila!
If I can do this, you can.
(e-mail me with questions if you'd like:)

Happy crafting!
Christine


Monday, October 18, 2010

Takeaway: Halloween

When I'm out shopping at oh, say, Target or Walmart,
 I can't resist the clearance isle.
This time I struck it rich with Halloween items
on clearance long before Halloween is even here!
 
These adorable cupcake kits were 1.00.
Yes, that's right. 1.00.
I had to restrain myself from buying them all.
Oh the possiblities.
 
I quickly turned some vases (in seasonal colors)
and a glass bottle into Halloween decor
by popping a cupcake collar onto them.
A bit of a trick, but mostly just a sweet treat!

Monday, October 11, 2010

Halloween party favors

Simple composition notebooks have always been a staple-for school, in my home office and in my studio. These fun black and white designs are perfect for Halloween crafts.
I turned mine into frightful party favors for a Halloween table or party.
The word 'composition' on the front gets spooky with the addition of 2 additional letters.
Use rubber stamps or black sticker letters to add your own tag lines.

Pages get a time worn look with a simple tear and your used coffee grounds.
Just tear the edges of the notebook paper,
then rub them with a used coffee filter (or dip them in cold coffee or tea, but this is less drippy).
Rub lightly, or you will rip the filter and spill grounds everywhere. That would certainly be a fright!
All bundled up with mummy like strips of fabric, these notebooks will please all of your visiting ghouls.

Monday, October 4, 2010

Takeaway: Halloween treat bags

Eek-Halloween is right around the corner, and I'm ready to bust out some tricks.
Here are four easy projects using paper Halloween treat bags.
(I got these cuties at Target)
For a devilishly simple place setting, slip a paper napkin and plastic untensils into a bag.
Then, finish it off with a twist of festive ribbon.
Placecards are another bag slipped into a frame.
Names are written on metal rimmed tags, then tied on with more ribbon.
(These fantastic frames are (gasp!) 99 cents at IKEA.
It's a good thing I stocked up, because I know you're all on your way to get some right now!)
Together, they set a colorful and frightful table!
Small treats like stickers and plastic critters slip into bags,
then await their fate propped up in a yellow folding ruler.
This adorable party favor is a snap.
Start by poking a hole in the bottom of a bag with a wooden skewer.
Slip in a monster size lollipop, cut the bag to size and tie with ribbon.
(You may recognize that vase...perfect for holding Halloween goodies)
 A peek inside reveals no tricks, just treats.

Friday, October 30, 2009

Friday is PIE DAY!

Today I am taking a departure from my usual pie repertoire in order to bring you a pie that is theme appropriate for Halloween.  I generally stick to classic pies with pastry crusts, and tend to think that fluffy concoctions and cookie crusts can't really be called pie at all.  This is strictly my preference, and I won't hold it against you if you will only eat frothy pastel pies, but they really should be called desserts.

Alright, enough of that, and on to the pie of the day.  This is a happy mixture of classic pumpkin pie flavor and chiffon texture all wrapped up in a bourbon laced chocolate cookie crumb crust (say that 5 times fast!). 

Halloween Chocolate Pumpkin Chiffon Pie

Chocolate Cookie Crust
24 chocolate wafer cookies, crushed
4 T butter, melted
2 T bourbon

*note-I used Famous Chocolate Wafers for their yummy taste and dark color
-crush chocolate wafers with a rolling pin, or in food processor for finer blend
-add melted butter and bourbon
-press into 9" pie plate
-bake at 350 for 8 minutes



Pumpkin Chiffon Filling
1 env. unflavored gelatin
1/2 c cold water
2 egg yolks
1 c evaporated milk
1 can pumpkin filling
3/4 c brown sugar
1/2 t salt
1/2 t nutmeg
1/2 t cinnamon
1/4 t ginger
2 egg whites

-soften gelatin in cold water
-in top of double boiler, mix egg yolks, milk, pumpkin, 1/2 c brown sugar, salt and spices
-cook over boiling water for 10 minutes, stirring constantly
-remove from heat and stir in gelatin
-refrigerate, stirring occasionally, until thickened
-beat egg whites, gradually adding 1/4 c of brown sugar
-beat until very stiff
-fold into pumpkin mixture
-spoon into shell and refrigerate until firm

The dark chocolate crust and pale orange filling create a festive color combination.  To add more crunch and a little visual interest, I added a few cookie sprinkles on top of each piece.  You could also top it with candy corn, maple candy or any other Halloween tidbits you have around.


You may eliminate the bourbon in the crust if you would like it to be kid-friendly, or you can leave the pie to the adults, and make some chiffon cups for the kiddies.  I simply spooned some of the pumpkin chiffon filling into custard cups, then topped them with plain cookie crumbles to form a bed of "dirt" for gummi worms.

Happy Halloween!  Please share your own Halloween plans and costumes!

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Halloween tablescape



It's super easy (really) to put together an eerie tablescape for serving up a Halloween buffet.  Choose an appropriate color theme, then dig through your cupboards and closets to find display items and serving pieces.   Make it silly, make it scary, or a little bit of both, as I did.
I started out by using a $4 roll of black window screen as a table runner-it gives just the right amount of sheen and spookiness to my table.  Height is an important factor in creating interest, so I borrowed some black metal boxes from my desk area.  These serve as the base for a big white pumpkin balanced on a silver pedestal stand, a bowl of colorful gourds, and various creepy creatures.  A succulent plant and a bowl of green, poison? apples add a burst of Halloween green to the table, and taper candles and vintage cat cut-out complete the decorative element.  Critters sprinkled around the table, and amongst the food, elicit an occasional gasp from diners.

Mix up your serving pieces to introduce more color and height to the table.  Tiered servers and bowls layered on top of platters or trays add variety.

Glasses, tumblers or small buckets hold black licorice twists or breadsticks.

Treats can be kept simple with basic favorites in Halloween colors
 and clever combinations from the grocery store. 
Popcorn, blue corn chips and roasted pumpkin seeds are seasonal bests, or mix up peanuts in the shell with candy corn....

......or yogurt pretzels. (or go crazy and mix all of them together-whoa!)
A nest of spanish moss and a spider web adds some creep factor to this bowl of treats.

Hmmmm.....looks like I'm almost ready for Halloween-anyone want to come to a party?
Tomorrow I will add some home-baked treats to this tempting tableau.

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Halloween candy bowl

I love this project because it is super easy, a little bit silly, and a little bit creepy.  It was all inspired by a pair of black latex work gloves that I picked up during my dollar store foray.

I stuffed the gloves with a combo of tissue paper (nice for the small finger spaces) and bubble wrap. 

After they were filled enough to look sufficiently realistic, I inserted a clothespin into the "V" between the inside thumb and forefinger of the glove. 

With a bit of manipulation and wiggling around of clothespin and stuffing, I was able to clip the glove onto the edge of my candy bowl.  (I selected my favorite vintage orange enamel Halloween bowl!)
After both gloves are attached, it appears that phantom hands are offering up the candy bowl.

BOO!

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Halloween place cards


Whether you're having a small Halloween fete or a blow out bash, these two simple place card projects will liven things up.  The first project does double duty as napkin holder and place card.  A vintage photo, altered slightly with some jiggle eyes and a name placard (use any stiff paper cut into desired shape), is served up by two plastic skeleton hands.

I tied the hands and photo into a grouping with fishing line, then attached to ribbon and black bias tape that are wrapped around a napkin.   

More vintage photos are put to use in my second project.  If you want to save the original photos, just make copies of the photos on cardstock and use those for your placecard project

I spooked up my photos with some Halloween theme craft store stickers, and spelled out guests names with letter stickers.

Next, I spatter sprayed gourds with metallic bronze and hammered silver spray paint. 

To make these into my placecard bases, I either cut a slit directly into the top of the gourd........

...or attached a straightened paper clip to the back of the photo.


Be sure you've got your gourd positioned so that it will sit steadily on the table, then add your photo.


Guests will know their place at the table, and can take these home as a party favor.
These gourd bases could also be used to serve up menu cards or food labels for your Halloween buffet.