Halloween spooky eyes notepad décor or favor

Pretty soon the ghosts and goblins will be running around collecting their candy.  Costume parties and spooky decorations will be everywhere.  This faux leather bound book looks back at you and the best part is that the notebook came from dollar store.  Wouldn’t this look great in a Halloween tableau?  Or better yet it would make a great non-candy party favor. Brown paper bags look amazingly like aged leather in just a few simple steps, who knew?

You will need:

·      Hard cover note pad (You can also do this with a soft cover note pad as well)

·      Brown paper bag

·      Water based wood stain

·      Clear gloss acrylic finish

·      Small paintbrush

·      Ruler

·      Pencil

·      Tacky craft glue

·      Scissors

·      Small amount of tan felt

·      Pencil

·      Small amount of black fun fur (Optional)

·      Two Halloween wiggle eyes

·      Waxed paper to cover your work surface

·      Paper towels

·      Small piece of lightweight cardboard

1.     Measure the cover of your note pad.  Measure and cut a piece of brown paper bag the same size as your cover.

2.     Crinkle up the brown paper bag tightly into a ball and then open and smooth flat.  Use some wood stain to brush on the crinkled paper.  Wipe off any excess with a paper towel.  Let dry.

3.     When the wood stain is dry brush on some clear acrylic gloss finish.

4.     Use a small piece of cardboard as a squeegee to spread some tacky glue onto the un-stained side of the paper and attach to the notepad cover.  Smooth with your hands.  Let the glue dry.

5.     Place your wiggle eye on the tan felt and draw a line around the upper edge a little larger than the eye, remove and draw a line across the bottom.  You will have a half moon shape.  (Eyelid)  Repeat for two eyelids and cut them out. 

6.     Glue the eyes onto the front of the book and let dry.  Add some glue to the back of the eyelids and glue over top of the eyes.  (See photo)

7.     Add the optional eyebrows.  Cut two ½” rectangles of black fun fur and glue over top of the eyes.

Halloween spider headband with Bowdabra mini bow maker

I must admit that spiders and I don’t usually get along.  On Halloween, however, spiders are fun.  Especially when they have wiggle eyes and sit adorably on top of a hairband.  And if you choose to not wear an entire costume at your office or workplace but don’t want to be a party pooper, then a spidey hair band is just the ticket!

You will need:

·      Black hairband

·      18 inches 1 ½” sheer black ribbon

·      18 inches Bowdabra bow wire

·      Black stiffened felt

·      Black felt (regular)

·      Black chenille stems

·      Glue gun and glue sticks

·      Mini Bowdabra bow maker

·      Two Halloween wiggle eyes

·      Compass with white pencil (To write on black felt)

·      Scissors

·      Pinking shears

1.     Use the compass and white colored pencil to mark 2 ½” diameter circles on both the stiffened black felt and the regular felt. Cut out.

2.     Cut the black chenille stems into four 4 ½” pieces.  Use the glue gun to attach them to the stiffened felt circle spoke style all around.  Glue the regular felt circle on top to cover and press down. 

3.     To make the legs-- use the pinking shears to cut down the center of each section all around for a total of 8 sections.  After you have cut the leg sections trim them to long rectangles following the lines of the chenille stems.

4.     Glue the Felt legs/body onto the hair band.  Bend the legs as desired.  Cut a piece of black felt into a 2-inch circle and glue to the underside of the hair band.

5.     Make the Bowdabra bow spider head.  Cut an 18-inch piece of Bowdabra bow wire fold in half and place in the Bowdabra bow maker.  You will have a loop at one end and two pieces of wire at the other end.

6.     Cut an 18-inch piece of 2 ½” wide sheer ribbon and insert directly into the Mini Bowmaker from the top.  The ribbon piles up like an accordion.  Scrunch the ribbon until you reach the end.

7.     Use the wand to push down the ribbon tightly.

8.     Thread the two loose ends through the loop end of the bow wire and pull tightly.  Remove from the Bowmaker, tie a knot on the back and fluff the bow into a rosette shape.

9.     Use the glue gun to attach the Bowdabra rosette to the center of the spider on the hair band. 

10. Glue two Halloween wiggle eyes on the front of the rosette at the base.  Bend the legs as desired.

Painted Indian corn wine glass tea light holder | tutorial

Painting wine glasses are easier than you may think.  And when your turn it upside down it makes a great tea light holder.  Fall is in the air so why not paint an Indian corn wine glass tea light holder.  It is sure to be the hit at any fall get together. 

You will need:

·      Gloss acrylic paint, tan, gold, yellow, lt. yellow, red, purple, white, sienna and orange

·      Small and medium sized paintbrushes

·      Brown sharpie marker

·      Raffia

·      Tea light

·      Waxed paper or cardboard to protect your work surface

·      Alcohol and paper towels

1.     Wash and wipe down your wine glass with a paper towel and alcohol.

2.     Using the brown sharpie marker, make a mark from the base of the stem to the rim on each side.  In essence you are marking half your wine glass. 

3.     On one side begin making small circles across with the marker continue making circles across and down until you reach the rim.  These are the Indian corn kernels.  See photo.  You will use these guidelines much like a coloring book and fill them in individually.

 

4.     Using the larger paintbrush and the tan gloss paint, cover the side that is not marked with kernels brushing with a downward motion.  Continue with tan on the stem and the base.  Let dry.  Turn rim side down and paint the bottom with tan and let dry.  Repeat with second coat.  When the second coat is dry, make some downward marks with sienna and white for a textural effect.  Repeat this step on the bottom of the base (which will be the candle holder) but brush the sienna and white in a spoke like pattern.

5.     Using the marks you made for kernels begin filling each one individually with the smaller paintbrush.  Use yellow, orange, purple, and red, varying the locations until you have filled in every one to the bottom.  Let dry and repeat with a second coat.

6.     Cute a 12-inch piece of raffia.  Cut and tie a six-inch piece of raffia onto the longer piece.  Continue adding raffia pieces until you have about six.  Trim up the ends.

7.     Tie the raffia strip with the fringe on the stem.  (See photo)

Note:  When marking your wine glass if you make a mistake or don't like the lines simply wipe off with some alcohol on a paper towel and start over!

Fall Place card chalkboard frames

Soon it will be time to have those fun fall parties and dinners.  Place cards are a nice touch.  You can pick up little 2 ½” x 3 ½” frames for very little money at dollar stores, department stores and thrift shops.  Create little chalkboards and use them for place cards and more.  Use various styles of mini frames to give it an eclectic look.  And the best part is that your guest may take the frames home as a party favor too! 

You will need:

·      2 ½” x 3 ½” frames with glass

·      Spray chalkboard paint

·      Mini autumn design felt stickers (Available in craft stores)

·      Glue gun and glue sticks

·      Alcohol

·      Paper towels

·      Chalk

·      Box for spray painting

1.     Remove the glass from the mini frame.  You will be making the glass into a chalkboard. (Yes you can spray chalkboard paint onto glass)  I like to use a flat box to spray my glass. Wipe down the glass to remove any dirt or oils.  Spray outside or in an area with plenty of ventilation.  Spray one coat and let dry, then spray two more coats drying in between.

2.     Meanwhile peel the backing off of the felt sticker and stick to another one lining up exactly, making it a two-sided motif.  It also gives the felt a bit more body and thickness. 

3.     Using the glue gun attach a motif on two corners of the frame.

4.     Rub a piece of chalk over the glass to condition it.  Replace back in the frame (Make sure the chalkboard part is facing out) and use the chalk to write a name or whatever you wish. 

Note:  If you don't have glass in your frame you can still make these by using a piece of mat board cut to  fit in the the frame and spraying the mat board with the blackboard paint.