Halloween D.I.Y.s

In a pinch for a last minute Halloween costume? Try one of these easy to put together ideas.

1. Garbage Bag Witch Costume. Three garbage bags, two posterboards or heavy cardboard, black tape and a broom. Instant witch costume...well..almost instant! Complete instructions here.

2. Bumble Bee Costume. A yellow or black tee shirt, about a half yard of contrasting black or yellow fabric/felt (depending on the color of the tee shirt), head band, wire, two small styrofoam balls and some glue. Cut the fabric into 3 inch strips, the width of the shirt, and glue onto the tee shirt about three inches between each strip.
Next...take about 6 inches of wire and wrap around a pencil, to make it spiral. Do this twice...once for each antennae. Wrap the ends of each wire where you want it on the headband. Attach a small styrofoam ball to each wire...you can paint these if you wish.
The wings....take some old pantyhose, two coat hangers, some elastic and tape. Form an oval out of each hanger and secure them together in the middle, to make the wing armature. Cut both legs off panty hose and stretch each leg over one wing, secure on the inside of the wings and attach two pieces of elastic...one for each arm. Keep all the raggy edges to the inside of the wings, as those will be up against the back and shouldn't be all that visible.
Pretty easy costume to put together in probably less than two hours total time.

3. Lady bug costume. Red tee shirt and black felt. Headband, wire and two styrofoam balls. Cut ovals or circles out of the black felt and glue onto the back of the tee shirt. See the instructions above to turn the headband, wire and styrofoam balls into antennae...in less than an hour...a very easy DIY costume.

4. A Bag of Jelly Beans. Large clear plastic trash bag, a bag of different colored balloons, jelly bean 'label' and some ribbon.
Blow up the balloons, cut leg and arm holes in the large plastic bag. Grab this Jelly Bean label , print it and tape it to the front of the plastic bag.
Once the bag has been labeled, put it on and fill it with the blown up colored balloons and tie at the neck with a length of ribbon.

You will need three black garbage bags, some black tape, staples, and 2 pieces posterboard or large cardboard to make this project.

Start with the witch's skirt. Cut one bag open so that it is one large flat piece.
Cut one strip from the longest side, about two to three inches wide.
Take the rest of this bag and gather the plastic in the center of the large flat piece.
Cut a slit large enough to bring the piece up over the legs and behind.

Take the strip you cut in the beginning and attach it to the waist...once
the skirt has been 'fitted'. You can attach a button and buttonhole if need
be...or velcro...whatever works to keep the skirt up.

Finally cut a bunch of various length slits around the bottom of the skirt
to give it a 'shredded' look....you know, with all the broom flying and what not,
the skirt is bound to look pretty tattered.

The Hat....Take a poster board or cardboard and cut a large circle...for the bottom/brim.
Cut a circle in the middle...large enough for the top of the head.
Take a second garbage bag and cut it open. Cut half of the bag into 3 to 4 inch strips.
Wrap the strips around the bottom/ brim of the hat and tape securely in place.

Take your second piece of poster board/ cardboard, cut it in half and roll until it forms
a cone. Secure and trim the edges. Be sure you measure so that it fits into the head hole before taping.
Once that is done, bring the bottom of the cone far enough into the hat, to turn up the edges just enough to secure it to the brim.

Now...with the rest of the second half of garbage bag, cut those in 4 to 5 inch strips and ... starting at the point of the cone, wrap the hat with the strips. Secure each strip well enough so that it won't come apart too easily, keep wrapping until there is only one strip left and then wrap the last strip around the base of the cone, like a hatband.

Finally, the cape. Cut the last garbage bag, like the others. Fold the bag in half and then in half again. On the inside fold, going from the top down, come down about 8 inches and cut an arm slit about 6 inches long. Flip the back, fold and fold again and do the same thing. See the diagram for more information.....if you make a mistake....black tape is your best friend.

Wear a long sleeved black shirt and black leggings under the costume for warmth, grab an old broom and you should be good to go.

Takes approximately 2-3 hours from start to finish.

If you click on the picture of the pattern, it will take you to a site that has larger sections of the pattern.

I think DIY Decor is way 'spookier' .
Take this wonderful ghostly spirit for instance....he'll be even spookier with the regular wall decor is replaced with the spooky kind.

Marker a mask and a toothy smile on a pumpkin (or some little gourds) and you have a cute little Halloween decoration that took no time at all.

Once the pumpkin has been prepared and carved...everything has been scooped out
and you're happy with the face you have carved...(don't forget to soak the seeds in salt water for homemade pumpkin seeds)...
dip your jack-o in a container of 1 gallon water and 1 teaspoon bleach.
Leave it for a few minutes, to kill the bacteria and extend the Jack-O's life.

After you remove it and given it a chance to completely dry, by turning it upside down,
take a solution of 2 tablespoons vinegar, 1 teaspoon of lemon juice and 1 quart of water.

Brush this mixture onto your jack-o and he'll look great weeks later.

For the 'best' looking Jack-O's on the block....prepare your pumpkin the week prior to Halloween and follow the directions above.

Oh yeah...and the little flickering LED Tea Lights work so great and there's no chance of setting something on fire!

Sugar Cone Witch Hats

You will need Cookies...(any round cookie that is twice as round as top of sugar cone...a sugar cookie is perfect.)
Sugar Cones
Chocolate Shell Syrup
The chocolate shell sets up quickly, so you'll have to work fast.
Run a circle of the shell right where you are going to place the top of the sugar cone. Leave this
for five or ten minues...check to be sure it is secure.
Once the cone is in place on the cookie, begin quickly brush the chocolate shell, directly from the bottle to cover the cone and the cookie.
Here you have it...a perfect little edible witch hat. How cool are these?!!

Nutter Butter Ghosts
Get some white frosting and spread on some Nutter Butter ghosts...there you have it...a tasty and quick Halloween treat.

English Muffin Zombie Heads
Shreadded Cheese, Black Olives, Pizza Sauce and English Muffins. Instant Spooky Snacks.

Mummy Pigs in a Blanket
Prepared Croissant Dough and Hot Dogs. Bake as directed and you have a batch of Ghostly Goodies.