Candy Corn

This year I decided to offer a fun Halloween crafting party.  I found some rounded triangle blanks that were just screaming to be made in to candy corns.  I had a blast making my samples.  I made one with bold colors and one with a more distressed look.  I gave the attendees a few options for the words, they could choose "Trick or Treat," "Happy Halloween," or their family name.  I also gave them a choice of applying vinyl decals or using vinyl as a stencil and painting on their wording.  My first sample, with the lettering in different colors, is painted.  My second sample is vinyl lettering using outdoor rated black vinyl.  I live in the humid south and I have had no problems with the lettering peeling off.

We finished off our door hangers with fun ribbons.  I have simple taste so I just wanted one type of ribbon, but I had a whole basket of options for the attendees to play with.

Enter If You Dare

Confession.  I don't always cut my own vinyl.  I found this gem while scrapbook and craft shopping in Utah.  Once upon a time there were seven scrapbooking stores in the Houston area, and now there is only one.  And it is a 90 minute drive away.  So when I am lucky enough to make it back to Utah to visit family and mountains I soak in the creativity and inspiration and probably spend a little too much.  But I digress...

I saw this vinyl in a store and immediately knew what I wanted to do with it.  I wanted to put it on glass, and frame some Halloween fabric.   I love this decor approach because it allows you to use a larger frame, not being limited to a 12 inch scrapbook paper, plus there are so many wonderful fabric choices to consider!  I landed on this vibrant green and hung it on my front door.  I think I might find a new spot to hang it next year, I was so nervous that my boys would slam the door and break the frame.

Happy Halloween!!

Halloween Countdown

This might be one of my favorite Halloween crafts.  I found a metal sign on clearance at Hobby Lobby for a few dollars.  I painted over the original design with black and purple.  Then I cut some Halloween designs I had acquired.  I decoupaged the haunted house and tree on to the board (they were cut from paper).  And then I added the title and numbers using vinyl decals.  I glued a magnet on to a green decorative marble, which we use to mark the days as we progress through October.  The only trouble we have now is remembering whose turn it is to move the magnet each day!

Halloween Buckets

Here are pictures from this year's batch of Halloween buckets.  :)

My eldest dressed up as Ash from the Pokemon series.  He decided he wanted a Pikachu on his bucket:

 Isn't he just so handsome??  Oh wait!  Off topic!  Sorry!  ;)

My kindergartener decided to be a ninja for Halloween.  He has been all about karate and ninjas this year.  But wasn't just any ninja, mind you.  He was a ninja with a mustache (snicker!).

I found a great free font with ninja silhouettes with letter cutouts online.  I simply spelled his name and had the most awesome of ninja accessories:

Finally, my toddler dressed as his idol, Mickey Mouse.  I wrote his named in a Disney cartoon font and added Mickey heads of various sizes in classic Mickey Mouse colors.

 I can't wait for next year's challenges!  :)  Happy Halloween!!

Vinyled Pumpkins

Today I offered to supply some vinyl to decorate pumpkins at a preschool playgroup party.  I mostly cut jack-o-lantern faces, but I also supplied bats, spiders, polka dots, and cars.  I loved seeing all of their creations, and I even saw one of the vinyled pumpkins made it in to a Halloween photo shoot.  I'm talkin' with a professional photographer!  I was quite excited.

I took pictures of my two favorite pumpkins from the party, a traditional jack-o-lantern and a police car.

Halloween Custom Work

Here are more samples of customized costumes and trick-or-treat buckets.  First, a bucket for a police officer:

Next, a faux flight pin made out of gold vinyl and a bucket for a bomber pilot:

And finally, some work for an Air Force pilot.  First I added some lightening bolts to a toy motorcycle helmet.  And then I made a jet for the bucket.  The jet was definitely a challenge and I am quite happy how it turned out.

Halloween Pacifier

Isn't this a super cute idea?  You can update your boring binky through the year to match special holidays.  Or, you could choose a monogram or picture that suits your personality.  I just wish I knew that baby was going to be a frog, I would have suggested a little bug.  Wouldn't that have been cute?

Thomas Bucket for Halloween

This was a custom request for a cute 3 year old train engineer.  I have to admit I am proud of this one, it involved six layers of color piecing!

Halloween Fun

Vinyl can be loads of fun around Halloween!  I've already shown you customized costumes, cars, and buckets.  Here are a few more ideas:

A mess free way to decorate pumpkins!

Decorate your candles, and after Halloween is over they return to normal without any damage:  (sorry, don't know why blogspot is rotating my picture)

Decorate your mirrors, or other regular features in your house.  This is a decorated magnet board, usually plain green:

Space Decals for Halloween

A special little astronaut needed to get decked out for Halloween.  I was asked to personalize a plastic helmet and bucket for trick-or-treating.  Right now Michaels has $1 buckets in various Halloween colors in stock.  They are perfect for gathering sweets!

Here is the helmet.  I made a rocket for the top, and wrote "Commander " in a futuristic font.

And are a few shots of the bucket.  I think it came out so cute!  I created an Earth, Saturn, spinning galaxy, alien ship, and a few scattered stars.  The colors popped nicely on the black bucket.