Here’s a ghostly grab bag of Halloween handicrafts

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Crafts
Jennifer Roos

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Just some of the fun things you can put together this Halloween. Left to right, Jack ’o fish bowl, pumpkin cookies and foam candy canister.

Halloween is one of my favourite holidays, and it’s not just because of the candy. The best part of this holiday is spending time with family. There are so many great opportunities to get in some quality time – whether it’s an outing to the local market to pick out the perfect pumpkins or a carving party with the kids and their friends.
It’s even great fun to come up with costumes together and, of course, there’s trick-or-treating. I love taking the kids around the neighbourhood on Oct. 31.
Halloween is also a frightfully fun time to make crafts. Here are a few fun projects for the whole family.
Have a safe and happy Halloween!

Jack ’o fish bowl
Turn a fishbowl into a tasty pumpkin centrepiece the children will love. All you need is a small fishbowl (available at dollar stores), some black paint, a paintbrush and a touch of raffia. In terms of paint, use glass paint or dimensional fabric paint for a permanent pumpkin, or acrylic paint for a more temporary one. Clean and dry the fishbowl. Paint pumpkin eyes, a nose and a mouth on both sides of the bowl using the black paint. Tie a raffia bow around the mouth of the bowl and fill the bowl with candy corn or orange jellybeans.

Fun foam candy canister
Children will have a great time decorating their own candy canister. Mom or dad should remove the top of an empty apple juice can, clean it and make sure there are no sharp edges left from the can opener. Cut enough fun foam to cover the can. Glue it in place with hot-melt glue. Glue a handle to the inside of the can. It’s time for the children decorate (children should use craft glue). Add foam eyes, a nose and mouth to an orange background to make a pumpkin can. For Frankenstein, add scary eyes, a nose, a mouth with sharp teeth to a green background. Make a witch with wild raffia hair or make a Halloween scene (see photo) with black cats, bats, tombstones and more. The kids can also add Halloween stickers, or draw on the foam with markers.

Pumpkin cookies
Have fun in the kitchen with the children. Whip up a batch of sugar cookie dough. Roll flat and stamp out pumpkins with a pumpkin-shaped cookie cutter. Turn icing orange by mixing red and yellow food colouring. Add chocolate chip eyes, nose and mouth.

Halloween Sugar Cookies
¾ cup butter, softened
¾ cup white sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
¼ teaspoon salt
In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter and sugar. Add in the egg and vanilla. Stir dry ingredients into the batter. On a floured surface, roll the dough to about 1/8 inch thickness. Cut pumpkin shapes using a cookie cutter. Bake at 350 F for about 10 minutes.

Halloween butter icing
¼ cup butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon salt
3-5 drops food orange colouring
4 cups icing sugar
¼ cup milk
Beat all ingredients together until well blended.

Jennifer Roos is a freelance writer, crafter and author of Simply Seasonal – Easy Crafts for Winter, Spring, Summer & Autumn. For more crafts, check out Jennifer’s expert blog at http://ca.lifestyle.yahoo.com/home-garden/experts/. Reach her at jennifer@jenniferroos.com.