HALLOWEEN BEAN BAG TOSS

Take a cardboard box and paint 3 pumpkins on it. Cut out large mouth shapes to throw in the bean bags. Put numbers of 5, 10, 15, above each mouth opening.

 

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How long can you keep WHITE SKELETON HEADS (Made from white balloons) in the air? Draw  the faces with magic marker -You could also use nets to catch them.

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Don’t forget the MUMMY WRAP Contest!

Dived kids into teams of three.

• Choose one child from each team to be a "mummy". The other 2 are the mummy wrappers.
• Have the mummy stand with their hands and at their sides and their feet together.
• At the signal, all wrappers wrap their mummy from head to foot (Leaving room to breathe of course)
• No clothing can show when the wrapping is done.
• Although the toilet paper will tear from the roll, teams must continue wrapping.
•  Be sure to have a camera ready!!!

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TRICK OR TREAT PARTY GAME

1. Before the party cut several strips of paper; about twice as many strips as there are children.
2. On half of the strips write the word 'treat'. On the other half write 'trick' with a trick such as "hop on one foo"”, "pat your head and rub your belly".
3. Place all of the strips in a Halloween bag.
4. Have the children form a circle. Walk around the circle. Each player draws a paper out of the bag and performs a trick or receives a treat such as a sticker, Halloween pencil or small piece of candy. (Be sure all kids receive a treat!)

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The familiar FREEZE DANCE with a Halloween twist.
Instead of musical statues do MUSICAL SCARES--where the children get into a frightening pose whenever the music stops! Use Halloween music such as the Monster Bash, Purple People Eater and Halloween Sounds, etc.

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SKELETON SCAVENGER HUNT
Purchase plastic skeletons and disassemble them. Hide the bones before the game starts. Have kids search for them and then reassemble the skeleton. For older kids, you can hide the bones and then write out clues for them to follow. You can also get a few skeletons and break the kids into teams.

 

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PUMPKIN AND FOOT RACE
Set up starting and finish lines and have the children race to see who can get their smallish pumpkin over the finish line. Only feet can be used to push pumpkins along. There can be no kicking;if any kicking is observed, that child goes back to their starting line. This would also be a good team relay race.

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PUMPKIN & BROOM RACE (Can be played in a outdoors or gym!)

• This is a simple race but since pumpkins are not smooth balls and refuse to roll in straight lines, you'll need plenty of room!
• You need medium pumpkins and sturdy sticks (or brooms); Use one pumpkin and stick/broom for each team.
• The racers line up on the starting line with the pumpkins turned on their sides.
• On the signal, the racers use the stick to roll the pumpkins to the finish line.
• Younger players may want to use their hands instead of the stick.
• If you want to play this as teams, make it a relay race.
• When playing inside use smaller pumpkins.

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PASS THE PUMPKIN RELAY

• Line up into 2 teams.
• The first person passes the pumpkin OVER his/her head to the next person in line.
• The next person passes the pumpkin UNDER his/her legs to the next person, and so on.
• When you get to the end of the line the last person runs up to the front and starts it all over again.
•  Whoever has the first person that was in line at the beginning of the game--- in the back of the line WINS.

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POPCORN RELAY RACE – All it takes are two big bowls of popcorn and some small cups per team. Have kids run and get a cupful of popcorn and transfer it to the bowl across the room. The first team finished wins. Because of potential popcorn mess, this would be good played outside!

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PIN THE WART ON THE WITCH
Supplies:
Large picture of a witch, preferably with a wart already on it
Blindfold
A paper wart for each player with his or her name on it
Tape
How to play:
1. If the picture of the witch does not already have a wart on it, draw one.
2. Hang the witch on a wall or a door where there is lots of space around it.
3. When it is a player's turn, blindfold the child and give her the wart with a piece of tape stuck on it.
4. Spin the player around (not too fast!) and tell her to stick the wart on the witch's nose.
The player whose wart is closest to the real one is the winner! (You can also make a huge pumpkin and play put the nose on the pumkin!)

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MELT THE WITCH
Draw a with on a blackboard, whiteboard or roll paper-- and attach it to a wall. Have children take  turns throwing a wet sponge at the witch to try to melt her. You can mark certain areas with points and keep score if desired.

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COSTUME RELAY RACE

• Divide players into equal teams.
• For each team have a box containing a complete costume, each costume should have the same number of pieces (4 or 5 is fun - Shirt pants, shoes, wig or mask, etc.).
• In turn each player must put on the costume and run to a certain point where they take the costumes off and put them back in the box.
• They run back to start where the next player repeats the process until one team finishes and wins.

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FIND THE PUMPKIN
Supplies:
Ten pieces of white paper
Five pieces of yellow paper
Five pieces of orange paper
A crayon
Scissors
Directions:
1. Draw ten white pumpkins, five yellow pumpkins, and five orange pumpkins. (Or adjust the numbers to reflect the number of you group)
2. Cut out all the pumpkins.
3. Decorate each pumpkin with a funny face.
4. Write the number 1 on the backs of the white pumpkins.
5. Write the number 5 on the backs of the yellow pumpkins.
6. Write the number 10 on the backs of the orange pumpkins.
7. Hide all of the pumpkins.
8. Youth try to find as many pumpkins as you can before the adult says "Stop!"
9. Players will add up the numbers of collected pumpkins. The player with the most points wins! This can also be played in teams.

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ZOMBIE GAME
One person is IT'--the others must sit or lay as motionless and expressionless zombies. The person who is 'IT' must do whatever they can to make the zombies smile, giggle, or wiggle in any way without touching them! When 'IT' gets a zombie to wiggle, giggle, or smile, that zombie then joins 'IT' in trying to get others to smile, giggle, or wiggle. The last zombie wins!

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KNOCK OVER THE GHOSTS--PUMPKIN BOWLING!
Supplies: 3 small pumpkins, 30 empty 2 liter clear soda bottles (less if your group is smaller!), 1 can white spray paint, 1 permanent black marker, a bag of gravel or pebbles placed in bottom of bottles

• Ask parents to save empty, clean 2 liter soda bottles for your game.
• Spray paint the soda bottles white and draw eyes and mouths on the bottles once dried.
• Add about a cup of sand or pebbles in each bottle so they will stand without falling over.
• Divide kids into several teams of 3-8 kids each...line up and take turn at bowling over the Ghosts!
• The small pumpkins are the bowling balls.
• If it's for a party- consider prizes.
• The kids that get a Strike receive another turn to bowl a strike. If they  bowl another strike, they receive a prize. hen using prizes BE SURE EVERYONE GETS SOMETHING for playing!

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BOBBING FOR APPLES OR DONUTS ON A STRING 

APPLES:
Fill a large tub with water and several apples. The players must try to bite" into and "catch" and apple while holding their hands behind their backs. Don't forget to have some towels handy.

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DONUTS:
Using string, hang mini or regular doughnuts from the ceiling or a tree. The object of the game is to be the first to eat the donut with out using your hands! Do not use powdered or cinnamon doughnuts. Plain is the safest--it's would be unsafte to inhale the sugars. 

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PUMPKIN HUNT – While the kids are out of the room - hide pumpkins around the room. Challenge kids to find them all! When they have found all pumpkins you can serve a special snack or give each child a ‘goodie’.

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 GAMES AND FUN from the Fall/Autumn category These work with HALLOWEEN!!!

PUMPKIN BOCCE BALL Object of Game: Roll a pumpkin closest to the big pumpkin. You need a large pumpkin. Also purchase several miniature or round sugar pumpkins. To play: Place the big, carved out (Or NOT carved out) pumpkin several feet away. Give each player a small pumpkin. Each player rolls (No tossing or throwing) their pumpkin and tries to be the closest to the big pumpkin. The player closest wins ...

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Throw  PENNIES IN THE PUMPKIN: Carve out a pumpkin; line the inside with plastic or aluminum foil. Make the top opening large. Option is to use small plastic pumpkins which are quicker and not messy! To play the game---place the pumpkins a couple feet away. Give each player about ten pennies...and try to get them in! Each time one gets in--a point is earned...

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GUESS THE PUMPKIN'S WEIGHT!
Need: Large pumpkin
Bathroom or science class scale
Slips of paper
Have children write their estimates of the pumpkin's weight on a slip of paper. Kids write their names on the paper, fold them, and place in a box. At the end of the time-frame, weigh the pumpkin and award a prize or the pumpkin to the child with the closest guess.

 

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MR. PUMPKIN HEAD
Do you have Mr. Potato Head game pieces???! The kids can have some Halloween fun using them with small pumpkins!
Using a smallish to medium sized pumpkin, poke some holes where the eyes, nose and mouth would be (include hat and ears). Have the children decorate "Mr. Pumpkin Head" using Mr. Potato Head pieces.

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HALLOWEEN GOURD ROLL
Have each child take a turn rolling a small, round gourd. Try to find one with lots of bumps for extra craziness! The kid with the longest roll wins. Play on a sloped driveway or a small hill for extra fun.

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GOURD BOWLING
Set up 'bowling' using empty two-liter soda bottles. If preferred, the bottles can be weighted with seeds or water. Use a round, bumpy gourd as the ball.

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MAGIC PUMPKIN SEEDS Really fun with young children!
Materials:
Pumpkin seeds, small paper bag and small pumpkins

• Show the children a small bag of pumpkin seeds and explain that you believe these are magic pumpkin seeds.
• Take the children outside to the playground where they toss the seeds onto the ground. Have them make up a few magic words, if they want.
• The next day, before children go outside--gather the seeds and put small pumpkins in their place. Take the children outside and delight them with the 'magical' pumpkins that have grown.
• If you have enough pumpkins, the children can take the pumpkins home and/or first decorate and paint them to add theme of your space.
  Idea adapted from preschoolrainbow.org

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GUESS THE CANDY CORN...

 

 

Take a Halloween-theme container and fill it up with specified number of candy corn pieces. Let the children guess how many pieces are in the container. The closest to the right number wins the container and treats. (or shares with the group)  A perfect way to end a successful Halloween party!

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 DRESS A SCARECROW AND RUN...

Stock up on over-sized plaid shirts, goofy pants, floppy hats and any other clothing that a scarecrow might wear.  Make piles containing one of each item.

• The number of piles is determined either by the number of kids or teams participating.
• Line up kids and let the game begin!
• The children run to the pile, put on the outfit, and dart back to the starting line.
• If doing it as a team game, they  then switch the outfit with their teammate--who run out and back.
• First team with their last team member dressed as a scarecrow wins.

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PUMPKIN SEED TOSS
Number and line up 5 small baskets or crates; have children stand 3 feet (or farther depending on ages) in front of the first crate and toss seeds into the crates in sequence. Small prizes can be given for each of the crates they get their seeds in.

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Party Game: PUMPKIN WALK

• This is like a regular cake walk except instead of numbers, place pictures of several Halloween items on the floor.
• Children  walk on the pictures and the names of the items are called out instead  numbers.
• Use themed music such as Monster Mash and Purple People Eater.
• Base prizes on Halloween theme…or cookies/cupcakes.
• After playing ALL CHILDREN receive something!

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Idea***Have a PUMPKIN SEED SPITTING CONTEST OUTSIDE! Who's can goa the farthest?!

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PIE EATER TAG GAME!
Good for October to December because of apple and pumpkin pies!

• Split the students into two different groups; one is apple pie and the other group is pumpkin pie.
• Have one student be the pie eater, who will be standing on the center line. The pie eater can only move from side to side on the center line.
• All the students say to the pie eater, "Pie eater, pie eater are you hungry?" The pie eater responds with a 'yes or no' answer.
• If the answer is no, the pies (students) ask again.
• If the answer is yes, then the pies ask again, "What kind of pie would you like?"
• The pie eater then says apple or pumpkin and that pie tries to make it to the other side.
• If the pie is tagged, then they become a pie eater.

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PUMPKIN GOLF
Object of Game: Hit the golf ball into a pumpkin.
1. Carve out a pumpkin. Make the mouth extra large.
2. Build a cardboard ramp about one to two feet side from the ground to the bottom of the pumpkin's mouth.
3. You will probably need some support under the cardboard.
4. Tape the ramp to the floor for stability.
5. Mark a starting point a few feet from the start of the ramp: The older the kids, the farther away.
Playing the Game:
1. Each player gets to hit a golf ball three times.
2. Each time the ball goes into the pumpkin, the player wins a piece of candy. From: About.com

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CANDY CORN RELAY RACE

 

 

Designate a starting line and a finish line. Set out a bowl full of candy corn for each player at the starting line and an empty bowl at the finish line. The players must use a large spoon to scoop candy corn out of the full bowl and then carry it to the empty bowl and fill it. They cannot spill any candy corn or use their hands! If any candy corn falls off the spoon, they must immediately pick it up and bring it back to the starting line bowl and start over with that scoopful.

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HALLOWEEN PARTY TOSS ACROSS
Object of Game: Get three O's or X's.
1. Use a "Toss Across” game.
2. Tape pieces of candy or small prizes on some of the O's and X's.
3. You can use a paper note stating the prize if the prizes are too big to put on the game.
Each player gets five or six bean bags.
Toss the bean bags at the game. There are two ways to win.
Win a prize by getting three O's or X's.
If the player turns over a prize, they win that prize.

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GHOULS AND GOBLINS!

• Have the kids line up on a line, and count them off by twos.
• When finished, have the "ones" go on one side of the gym and the "twos" go to the other side of the gym.
• Have the two groups lined up across from each other. One group are the Goblins, and the other group are the Ghouls.
• The facilitator will shout out a group, either the Ghouls or Goblins; that group must then chase the opposite group and try to tag as many kids as they can.
• If a child gets tagged, that player joins the OTHER group.
  Example: If the leader calls out 'ghouls' and four goblins were tagged, those four tagged goblins are now ghouls.
• This game goes on until there is only one person in the group, and that person is declared the winner.

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SPIDER WEB #1
Arrange groups of 4 to 8 children in a circle and give each one a golf ball-sized ball of yarn. Help each child tie an end of the yarn around their waist. Taking turns, each player tosses his yarn to someone else in the circle. When they reach the end of the yarn, they've created a web! Now the only challenge is to untangle themselves.

 

SPIDER WEB #2 – Take a ball of yarn and have one person start by holding the yarn. They throw it to another person and it continues until the yarn is all gone.

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TRADITIONAL GAMES  PLAYED HALLOWEEN STYLE
Play classic games such as:

• WITCH, WITCH, GHOST... (Played like Duck, Duck, Goose) 
Four or more children sit, stand, or kneel in a circle facing in. One child goes around the circle touching each person on the head as they pass and say "Witch". They continue around the circle tapping and saying "Witch" until they decide they are ready to tap someone on the head and say "Ghost". They then proceed to run around the circle. The "Ghost" must run around the circle in the opposite direction. Both are racing for the open spot in the circle. The loser gets to be the caller for the next round. Variations on this game are many including hopping, skipping etc.

• APPLE-APPLE-PUMPKIN GAME
Play Apple, Apple, Pumpkin! Same game as above.

• PASS THE PUMPKIN played like Hot Potato. Use a tiny pumpkin…

• Instead of playing Pin the tail on the Donkey---PLAY 'PUT THE STEM ON THE PUMPKIN'--'PIN THE TAIL ON THE DEVIL'--- or 'PUT THE WART ON THE WITCH'...

• Play Musical Chairs to the "MONSTER MASH"

• Add ghoulish imagination to a SCAVENGER HUNT or game of HALLOWEEN CHARACTER CHARADES

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***These are fun to do Halloween week for a gym warm up--or as "Pumpkin Says" (The Halloween version of Simon Says)
Also consider these before doing any fine motor or craft activities. Have the children do "warm ups" to get their hands and minds ready to work!

• Pumpkin Fists: Make tight fists.
• Boo Hands: Have the children stretch their hands as far as they can saying "boo!!"
• Spiders: Tapping fingers on the table/floor.
• Smashing Spiders: Smash "spiders" with flat hands onto table or floor.
• Witches hats: Use pincer fingers to make a triangle, place it on your head and make witch noises.
• Two Ghost Flying: Have children take their hands and press the palms together and "fly" with their arms.
• Frankenstein Sitting: Sit on a chair or floor and do sit ups with flat palms.
• Shake the Scaries out: Shake your whole arms and hands.
  Source: perpetualpreschool.com by Cathy

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HALLOWEEN WALK Good for Pre-K to Gr. 1 as Drama Game
Form line on one side of room. Cross room in following ways:

• Fly like a bat
• Gallop like a cowboy on a horse
• Hop like a bunny
• Roll like a pumpkin
• Dance like a princess
• Creep like a cat
• Walk like a skeleton
• Float like a ghost
• Stomp like a monster

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For great Halloween Snacks and party food click here

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More than 50 Fun Halloween Drinks, Snacks and Goodies!

EDIBLE CREEPY CRAWLIES

PEANUT BUTTER CATERPILLARS
Bananas
Peanut butter
Grapes
Chow Mein noodles
• Peel and slice a banana. Join the slices together by "gluing" them with peanut butter. Carefully poke two Chow Mein noodles (or break a pretzel stick in half to make two pieces) through the top of the grape. Use more peanut butter to attach the head (grape) to the front of the body, with antennae (Chow Mein noodles) pointing up.
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ANTS IN THE SAND
Crushed graham crackers
Chocolate sprinkles
Snack sized re-sealable plastic bags
  • To crush graham crackers, place inside a large (gallon size) re-sealable plastic bag. Using a rolling pin, crunch crackers through the bag by rolling back and forth over them until they are all in crumb form.
Fill snack sized re-sealable bags halfway with graham cracker crumbs. Add a small handful of chocolate sprinkles to the bags and seal.
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BUGS ON A LOG
Celery stalks
Peanut butter, cream-cheese or spreadable cheese spread
Raisins or Raisinette candy
  • Spread peanut butter onto washed and drained celery stalks. Top with raisins.
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COOKIE SPIDERS
Black or chocolate licorice twists
Fudge sandwich cookies
Chocolate frosting
Red cinnamon candies or chocolate chips or raisins for eyes

• Cut licorice in half.
• Remove the top of each sandwich cookie; press 8 licorice pieces into the fudge center to resemble spider legs.
• Spread a little chocolate frosting over the licorice; replace cookie tops.
• Frost the tops of the spider cookies with frosting. Place red cinnamon candies on top for eyes.
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MUENSTER CHEESE BEETLES

 

Crunchy Chow Mein noodles
Muenster cheese (or other soft block cheese)
• Cut the cheese into 2" x 1" rectangular blocks. Gently insert three Chow Mein noodles on each side of the cheese blocks for legs. Using two broken Chow Mein noodles, insert into the "head" as antennae.
Tip: Use softer cheese such as gouda, Havarti, Monterey jack, or mozzarella so cheese does not crumble Chow Mein noodle are inserted.

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MARSHMALLOW SPIDERS
You'll need a package of large marshmallows, pretzel sticks or chow mein noodles and mini M & M's or raisins.
  • Have the kids push four pretzel sticks or noodles into each side of the marshmallow as the spider's legs. These will make the marshmallow body of the spider actually stand on their spider legs.
Use another stick to poke two eye holes in the marshmallow; insert M&M's or raisins into place as the spider's eyes.
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CRACKER SPIDERS--with peanut butter or cheese spread!
These arachnid treats are easy to make and they look positively lifelike crawling across the snack plate.
For each:
2 round crackers
2 teaspoons smooth peanut butter (or cheese spread if allergies)
8 small pretzel sticks
2 raisins
  • With the peanut butter, make a cracker sandwich. Insert eight pretzel "legs" into the filling. With a dab of peanut butter, set two raisin "eyes" on top. Makes 1.
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THE ABOVE ARE ALSO GREAT WITH NUTELLA
Ingredients:
8 Ritz crackers
4-5 Tbsp. chocolate hazelnut spread, such as Nutella
thin pretzel sticks for decorating
Raisins or white chocolate chips for decorating
Directions:
1. Spread approximately one tablespoon of the chocolate hazelnut spread (Nutella) on four Ritz crackers. Top each with another Ritz cracker to make a sandwich.
2. Insert pretzel sticks on the sides of each cracker to make a spider's legs. You will be able to fit about six pretzel sticks on each spider.
3. Make the spider's eyes by dabbing a bit of Nutella on the back of two raisins or white chocolate chips and placing them on top of the cracker sandwich. Make the spider's mouth the same way, using the Nutella as glue for the white chocolate chips or raisins, and arranging them in the shape of a mouth.
4. Serve and eat!
Makes 4 crunchy spiders

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CREEPY CRAWLERS
1 lg. pkg. butterscotch chips
1 lg. pkg. milk chocolate chips
1/4 c. butter
1 (5 oz.) can chow mein noodles
1 to 2 tbsp. water
  • Melt chips and butter in double boiler or glass bowl in microwave. Stir to mix. Gradually add small amounts of water to thicken mixture. Stir in noodles and mix to coat in chocolate mixture. Drop by spoonfuls onto waxed paper.

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THREE HALLOWEEN SNACK MIX-PARTY MIX RECIPES

 One easy way to provide Halloween party food for kids is to create a huge bowl (or plastic pumpkin) full of Halloween snack mix.

• Start with a box or two of Count Chocula or Frankenberry cereal- they aren't always easy to find, and are only out at Halloween. Other cereal brands sometimes come out with a special Halloween blend as well.
• Add candy corn, raisins, small marshmallows, small pretzels, chocolate chips or other treats to the mix.
• Kids will have fun 'grazing' at this yummy snack bowl all night!

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HALLOWEEN PARTY MIX #2
Ingredients:
1 6-oz bag original flavor Chex Party Mix
2 cups Wheat Chex cereal
1 cup candy corn
1/2 cup whole salted almonds
1/2 cup chopped dried apples
• In a large bowl, mix one 6-oz bag original flavor Chex Party Mix, 2 cups Wheat Chex cereal, 1 cup candy corn, 1/2 cup whole salted almonds and 1/2 cup chopped dried apples.

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#3 WITCHS' GORP
3 cups eyes of Newts (peanuts)
2 cups tails of dogs (pretzel sticks)
1 cup squishy, slithery parts of frogs (raisins)
2 cups warts of toads (Cheerios)
1/2 cup lizard lips (walnuts)
1 cup dinosaur toenail chips (banana chips)
1 cup teeth of bats (sunflower seeds)
1/2 cup of dandruff from the biggest rats (coconut)
1 cup chocolate cover iguana hearts (chocolate chips)
Measure and combine all of the ingredients in the order listed above. Mix well with mixing spoon.
Source: Cooks.com
This is a good one for your newsletter...really cute!

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HALLOWEEN APPLE IDEAS! Here are a few ideas from the APPLE COOKING THREAD that could work for Halloween time!
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WORMY APPLE!
Help kids slice apples into thirds and remove seeds from the center. Have them reassemble the apple with peanut butter (or cream cheese) and gummy worms between each layer. Worms should be hanging out from apple.

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APPLE SMILES
This is an apple recipe your kids are sure to love. Cut a red apple into slices. (These are the lips) Have child spread peanut butter or cream cheese on apple slice. Place mini marshmallows (These are the teeth) on top of peanut butter and top with other apple slice.
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APPLE FANGS
Ingredients:
8 large Red Delicious apples
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 tbsp. sugar
1 10-oz. jar strawberry or cherry sauce
Directions:
1. Wash, peel and core the apples. Then cut each apple into 8 pieces.
2. Dip the cut apples into the lemon juice to prevent them from turning brown.
3. To prepare the fangs, cut the apple slices into long, narrow triangles, making pointy tooth-like shapes. Re
-dip slices in the lemon juice and lightly sprinkle them with sugar.
4. Arrange the fangs on a serving platter with the strawberry dipping sauce in the middle. Make sure you splatter some of the "blood" over the fangs. Makes 10 servings.
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APPLE OR PEAR MOUTH
Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Ingredients
1 medium apple or pear
1 Tbsp peanut butter (or low fat cream cheese or cottage cheese) Cutting board
20 raisins

 
1. Cut apple into 8 slices. Spread 4 of the slices with a small amount of peanut butter.
2. Insert raisins between the apple slices for “teeth”.
3. Top the apple slices with another apple slice.
4. Serve. Refrigerate leftovers.

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CEREAL TREATS

KIX BALLS ON A STICK...
Prep Time:30 min
Start to Finish: 30 min
Makes: About 20 snacks
Ingredients:
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1/2 cup peanut butter
3 cups Kix® cereal
20 raisins, miniature milk chocolate candy drops, small gumdrops, chocolate- or yogurt-covered raisins or miniature marshmallows 1 to 2 tablespoons multicolored candy sprinkles, 20 thin pretzel sticks (2 1/4 inch)

 
1. In 3-quart saucepan, heat sugar and corn syrup to boiling over medium heat, stirring frequently. Remove from heat; stir in peanut butter until blended. Stir in cereal. Cool slightly, 2 to 3 minutes.

2. Lightly butter hands. Shape 1 to 2 tablespoons cereal mixture into a ball around each candy. Immediately roll in candy sprinkles. Place pretzel stick into each cereal ball.
High Altitude (3500-6500 ft): No change.

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No-Cook NOT SO SPOOKY SPIDERS
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate morsels
3/4 cup Rice Krispies
1/2 cup thin chow mein noodles
Candy eyes
1. Line baking sheet with waxed paper.
2. In microwave, place chocolate in 2 cup microwave safe bowl. Microwave on medium (50%) for 2 minutes. Stir. If chocolate is not completely smooth, microwave an additional 20 to 30 seconds; stir.
3. Stir in Rice Krispies.
4. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto waxed paper, forming spider-body shapes. Stick 4 noodles into each side of "body" for spider legs. Add eyes on top of spider.
5. Refrigerate about 15 minutes to set, or let them set at room temperature about 1 hour. Store in covered container.
Makes 12 spiders.
Source: Cooks.com

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#1 RICE KRISY HALLOWEEN TREATS
The regular, run of the mill rice cereal treat can be turned into a sweet and unique Halloween treat by adding a few drops of orange food coloring (or a combination of red and yellow) into the marshmallow/butter mixture as it melts.
When you cut the treats into squares, add one candy corn to the top of each square.

#2 RICE KRISPY TREATS

Ingredients: 3 TBSP butter, orange food coloring (or mix red and yellow food coloring), 10 oz. marshmallows, 6 c. rice krispies
Directions:

• Melt butter in a sauce pan over medium heat; add food coloring to desired color; then add marshmallows.  You may want to add more food coloring once the marshmallows are melted.
• Place the rice krispies in a large bowl.  Pour the melted marshmallows over the rice krispies and toss to combine.
• Line a sheet pan with foil and spray foil with cooking spray.  Dump rice krispies mixture onto foil. 
• Take a sheet of wax paper and spray it with cooking spray; then cooking spray side down press rice krispies mixture so that the entire pan has a thin layer of mixture, about 1/4 inch thick. 
• Let set for a few hours.
• With Halloween cookie cutters, cut out your shapes and decorate.

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HALLOWEEN MARSHMALLOW HAYSTACKS
This is a great variation to the rice cereal treat recipe.
Replace the rice cereal with corn flake cereal. Follow the instructions combining the cereal, melted marshmallow and butter mixture. Mold the cereal mixture into the shape of haystacks. Add an orange candy corn pumpkin to the top of each haystack.

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NO BAKE MAGIC BROOMS
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
1 cup smooth peanut butter
5 cups shredded wheat cereal, crushed
1 cup M&M's (plain)
32 (8-inch) pretzel rods
Grease 2 large baking sheets; set aside.

• In a small saucepan combine sugar and syrup.
• Bring to a boil; boil 1 minute. Remove from heat; stir in peanut butter.
• Place cereal and M&M's in a large buttered roasting pan.
• Pour peanut butter mixture overall, tossing to coat well.
• Drop mixture by rounded tablespoon onto prepared baking sheets, spacing about 2 inches apart.
• Form each mound into a broom shape.
• Place a pretzel rod into top of each "broom" to form a handle.
• Refrigerate 35 minutes or until set.
  Store in single layers in covered containers.
  By JBic

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RICE KRISPIE GHOSTS
Prepare Rice Krispie Marshmallow treats according to the cereal box directions. Shape the warm mixture into ghosts---- use a ghost cookie cutter if necessary. Add some white icing and mini chocolate chip eyes and the kids will enjoy eating the fun Halloween ghost treats!

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HEARTIER OR BREAD, CRACKER, TORTILLA BASED

MUMMY DOGS

6 hot dogs
1 package ready to bake pastry in a tin
Parmesan cheese
Directions:
Wrap each hot dog in a pastry sheet and lightly brush with melted butter. Sprinkle parmesan cheese over the top.
Place "mummy dogs" on a lightly greased baking tray and bake at 350F approximately 15 minutes or until golden and baked through. You can add pepper corns or dots of mustard for eyes.
Serve  with "blood" (ketchup

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 WORMS ON A BUN
Try this Halloween twist of the traditional hot dog and bun.
Ingredients:
Hot dogs
Hamburger rolls
Ketchup
Directions:
Cut the hot dogs into thin slices and score the edges (about three cuts per slice).
Boil or microwave until the slices curl like wiggly worms. Serve three or four worms to a bun. For an extra-icky touch, add a few squiggles of ketchup.
Source: FamilyFun.com

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STRING CHEESE BROOMSTICKS (A pretty healthy snack that is also fun!)
Ingredients:
String Cheese
Pretzel Rods

Shred the  string cheese into long strips.
Place/Press them around the end of a pretzel rod.
Tie a piece of string licorice around it to look like a broom.

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BLOOD AND GUTS WITH EYEBALLS
1 package green spinach pasta (elbow macaroni is best)
1 jar spaghetti sauce
1 jar stuffed Spanish olives
  • Boil pasta according to package instructions. Heat spaghetti sauce. Cut olives in half to make "eyeballs" and place on top of the "blood and guts."

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PUMPKIN FACES
Toasted English muffins
Orange spreadable cheese or cream cheese with added orange food coloring
Raisins
• Have the children spread the cheese on the English muffin. Let them arrange the raisins to make the eyes, nose and mouth. Eat and enjoy!

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JACK-O-LANTERN PIZZAS
 
Ingredients:
English muffin halves
Pesto or Marinara Sauce
Grated Cheddar cheese
Sliced Black Olives

Lightly spread sauce on the English Muffin halves.
Cover with grated cheese. Make a jack-o-lantern face
with olives. Place mini-pizzas on a cookie sheet and
broil in oven until the cheese is melted.
This is a great kid activity as well as a menu food

 

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GHOST

SANDWICHES
White sliced bread
Children’s favorite sandwich ingredients
A ghost-shaped cookie cutter (or a cardboard template to cut around)
  • Make up favorite sandwiches and cut out with the ghost-shaped cookie cutter. You can add eyes with chocolate chips, olives, or whatever else is appropriate

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GHOST TOAST #1
1. Spread soft butter or margarine on a large slice of white bread.
2. Carefully cut or tear a ghostlike shape out of aluminum foil.
3. Press the foil shape on top of the buttered bread. Sprinkle the bread generously with a mixture of cinnamon and sugar.
4. Place the slices on a baking sheet and slip under a preheated broiler for about two or three minutes or until the butter is hot and bubbly.
5. Remove the foil template to unveil spooky toast.

GHOST TOAST #2 
Lightly toast white bread.
Spread it with butter or margarine then have kids sprinkle it with ghost dust (icing/confectionary sugar).
Or..... cut the toast with ghost shaped cookie cutter and spread with cream cheese and add raisin eyes.

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BISCUIT GHOSTS
Ingredients needed:
One or Two cans of Refrigerator Biscuits
Cinnamon & Sugar Mixed together
Butter or Margarine
  • Have children separate and shape each biscuit like a ghost...brush on melted butter...sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon and bake as directed. Simple, fun and tasty.

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HALLOWEEN TORTILLA TREATS
Flour tortillas
Canola or other oil
Cheddar, Parmesan or other favorite cheese
Directions:
Start with some flour tortillas and spray a little oil on them. Sprinkle with grated Parmesan or other cheese. Then cut fun shapes out of the tortillas with a bat, ghost or pumpkin cookie cutter. Put the shapes into the oven for a crispy treat

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GOULISH, DISGUSTING PARTY DRINKS

GREEN GOUL PUNCH
1/2 gallon limeade
1 liter ginger ale
1/2 gallon lime sherbet
  • Mix together juice and ginger ale. Scoop sherbet and add to punch. Add marshmallows and maraschino cherries to float in punch.
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SLIME PUNCH WITH FROZEN HAND!
You Need:
Large bowl
Half-gallon (2 liters) of lime sherbet
One quart (one liter) each of ginger ale and lemon-lime soda
One quart (one liter) of sugar-free lemonade (made from powdered mix and dyed with green or red food coloring)
Two surgical gloves, washed first in warm, soapy water, rinsed, and turned inside out
String or rubber band

• Fill the gloves with the colored, sugar-free (sugar-free freezes better than sugar) lemonade and tie them securely at the wrists with string or a rubber band. Freeze until solid.
• In the bowl, mix the sherbet, ginger ale, and soda.
• With scissors, cut the gloves from the frozen hands. Discard the gloves and float the icy hands in the punch.

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WORMY ICE CUBES
Cup gummy worms or other creepy crawler candy
2 ice cube trays
1 quart fruit punch
• Arrange gummy worms in ice cube trays, 1 worm per cube. Fill tray with fruit punch as you normally would water. Freeze until solid, 8 hours or overnight. Place into punch bowl/drinks minutes before serving
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SPIDER CIDER
Spider Cider is simply apple cider with 6 drops of red food coloring -chill for 30 minutes. Then get a small cup or ice tray and pour some more apple cider in to them; get some gummy spiders and put 1, 2, or 3 in each cup or ice tray. Add 6 drops of purple food coloring. Freeze it over night. Put iced cider with gummies into red cider. (Be sure not to freeze the red cider over night...a tasty beverage. _________________________

HARRY POTTER'S DRAGON SNOT
Mix 8 ounces of Sprite or 7-Up with one scoop of lime sherbet.
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PUTRID PUNCH
Ingredients:
1 13-oz. package lemon-lime Kool-Aid
1 cup sugar
8 cups water
1 can frozen orange juice concentrate
4 cups ginger ale
Worm cubes (See above))
3 scoops orange sherbet

• This sick-colored punch looks disgusting but tastes wonderful.
• Empty the Kool-Aid package into a punch bowl.
• Add the sugar, then the water and stir until dissolved.
• Stir in the orange juice.
• Just before serving, add the ginger ale and worm cubes and float the scoops of sherbet on top.
•  Before long, the punch will be green and infested with worms. Serves 14.
• A perfect drink to compliment ‘Worms on a Bun’.
  TIP: Be sure to freeze your worm cubes before the party.
  Adapted from: Familyfun.com

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EYE BALL PUNCH 
Canned litchis, drained
Maraschino cherries without stems
Dark red punch or fruit drink, chilled
Directions:
1. Cut a slit in each litchi. Stuff a maraschino cherry into each fruit so it resembles an eye. Place stuffed litchis on a large baking pan. Freeze until solid.
2. To serve, pour punch into a large bowl. Add the litchis.

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PUMPKIN PUNCH
Scoop out the inside of a large pumpkin. Put a mixing bowl inside. Fill the bowl with apple cider, orange punch or any other beverage the kids would like!

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TWO HALLOWEEN PARTY TWINKIE IDEAS!

#1 TWINKIE KABOBS
Ingredients:
Hostess Twinkies, 1 for each serving
Strawberries or other fruit
Soft candies
Cut each Twinkie into four equal pieces. Put the stick  through the Twinkies cake---not the cream! Put the strawberries at the top and soft candies on the bottom of kabob rods sticks.
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#2 HALLOWEEN PARTY TWINKIES
Ingredients:
7 pumpkin shaped candy corn
1 Hostess Twinkie, sliced into 3/4-inch pieces
Place pumpkin shaped candies on the cream part of a Twinkie.
Refrigerate 30 minutes.

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MISCELLANEOUS

NO BAKE HALLOWEEN CAKE! Not really a cake-but pudding!
Ingredients:
2 packages Instant Chocolate Pudding (four serving size)
3 1/2 cups milk
2 8-ounce tubs of whipped topping
1 16-ounce package of chocolate sandwich cookies
1 package of Milano Cookies and Gummy Worms

•  Crush the entire package of cookies by placing them all in a zip style plastic bag and have the kids pound on the package.
• In a large bowl, make pudding as directed on the package but use 3 1/2 cups milk for both packages. Let stand 5 minutes.
• Mix in one tub of the whipping topping then mix in half of the crushed cookies.
• Spread the mixture into a 13x9 pan.
• Sprinkle the rest of the crushed cookies on top.
• Put in refrigerator and refrigerate for 1 hour.
• Use the Milano cookies to make the grave stones.
• Use the other tub of whipped topping to make ghosts.
• Stick gummy worms into the mixture so it looks like they are coming out of the dirt.
  (Source: About.com)

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POND SLUDGE (Green Jell-O) 
Fill clear plastic glasses with green Jello. When the Jello has almost set, add gummy worms, making sure a few of them are escaping over the rim of the glass.
If desired, when the Jello has set, add a dollop of pond mud (chocolate pudding).

 

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HALLOWEEN PRETZEL RODS
Ingredients:
2 cups white chocolate candy melts or white chocolate chips
Orange colored sugar or sprinkles
Chocolate sprinkles
20 pretzel rods
Preparation:
1. Line a baking sheet with waxed paper.
2. Place candy melts or white chocolate chips in a double boiler. Heat over low heat until melted.
3. Spread orange sprinkles and chocolate sprinkles in even layers on two separate shallow plates.
4. Dip pretzel rods into white chocolate, using a spoon to coat the rods well.
5. Press gently into orange sprinkles. Turn, then press into chocolate sprinkles.
6. Place pretzel rods on prepared baking sheet. Let harden for 20-30 minutes.
Serve immediately or store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

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BLOODY FINGERS
Ingredients: 1 package ladyfingers, Almond slices, Confectioners' sugar, Raspberry jam
Place the ladyfingers on a tray.
Spread with raspberry jam.
Place an almond slice at the tip of the finger.
Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar and serve.

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OREO PUDDING WORM CUPS
Ingredients:
4 cups of cold milk
1 package (4-serving size) Jell-O chocolate flavor instant pudding
1 package ( 4-serving size) Jell-O vanilla flavor instant pudding
1 tub (8oz) Cool Whip topping, thawed
18 Oreo chocolate sandwich cookies, finely crushed, divided
8 plastic cups (6-7 oz)
8 gummy worms
8 gummy frogs
1. Prepare instant chocolate and vanilla puddings separately, with two cupsof cold milk each , as directed on packages. Let stand for five minutes.
2.Gently stir 1/2 cup of cool whip into each bowl of pudding. Sprinkle onetablespoon of Oreo crumbs into bottom of plastic cups. Top each with 1/4 cupof vanilla pudding, 1 tablespoon Oreo crumbs and 1/4 cup chocolate pudding.Sprinkle evenly with remaining Oreo crumbs. Refrigerate at least one hour.
3. Insert one gummy worm and one gummy frog into each cup just beforeserving.
Makes 8 Sand & Dirt Cups.

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 KITTY LITTER CAKE

This really does look like used kitty litter!)
• 1 spice or German chocolate cake mix
• 1 white cake mix
• 1 large pkg vanilla instant pudding mix
• 1 pkg vanilla sandwich cookies
• Green food coloring
• 12 small Tootsie Rolls
• 1 new (and definitely unused) kitty litter pan
• 1 new plastic kitty litter pan liner
• 1 new Pooper Scooper

1.  Prepare cake mixes and bake according to directions (any size pans).
2.  Prepare pudding mix and chill until ready to assemble. Crumble white sandwich cookies in small batches in food processor, scraping often. Set aside all but about 1/4 cup.
3.  To the 1/4 cup cookie crumbs, add a few drops green food coloring and mix. When cakes are cooled to room temperature, crumble into a large bowl. Toss with half the remaining white cookie crumbs and the chilled pudding. (Mix in just enough of the pudding to moisten it. You don't want it soggy. Combine gently).
4.  Line new, clean kitty litter box. Put mixture into litter box. Put three unwrapped Tootsie rolls in a microwave safe dish and heat until soft and pliable. Shape ends so they are no longer blunt, curving slightly. Repeat with 3 more Tootsie rolls and bury in mixture. Sprinkle the other half of cookie crumbs over top.
5.  Scatter the green cookie crumbs lightly over the top. (This is supposed to look like the chlorophyll in kitty litter.) Heat 3 Tootsie Rolls in the microwave until almost melted. Scrape them on top of the cake; sprinkle with cookie crumbs.
6.  Spread remaining Tootsie Rolls over the top; take one and heat until pliable, hang it over the side of the kitty litter box, sprinkling it lightly with cookie crumbs. Place the box on a newspaper and sprinkle a few of the cookie crumbs around.
Source: Familycorner.com

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GHOST PEARS

Isn't this idea wonderful!  Photo and directions  are courtesy of  No Fuss Fabulous--a fantastic blog site. Melt white chocolate in your slow cooker. Holding a pear by it's stem, dip it into the melted white chocolate until you have a nice even coat of chocolate. Place chocolate-covered pear onto wax-paper. Place two choclate chips on the pear for eyes. Let harden and enjoy!

 

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GRAVEYARD GRAVEL

3 cups semisweet chocolate pieces
1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
2 Tablespoons butter or margarine
1-1/2 tsp. vanilla
Dash salt
2 cups tiny marshmallows
Unsweetened cocoa powder mixed with an equal amount of powdered sugar
Powdered sugar

Directions:
1. Line a 9x9x2-inch or an 8x8x2-inch baking pan with foil; set aside.
2. In a medium saucepan, heat and stir chocolate pieces, condensed milk, butter, vanilla, and salt over medium heat until melted and smooth. Remove from heat; stir in marshmallows just until combined. Spread mixture evenly in the prepared pan. Using a table knife or thin metal spatula, swirl marshmallows through fudge in pan until marshmallows are mostly melted. Cover and chill about 2 hours or until firm.
3. Using a small scoop, scoop fudge and shape into rocks (fudge will be sticky). Roll some in cocoa powder mixture and some in powdered sugar. Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Makes about 80 pieces (2 1/4 lbs.).

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PUMPKIN SHAPED CAKE
Make or purchase to bunt cakes. To create your pumpkin--put the two cakes together. Cover with orange frosting and decorate as desired!

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EDIBLE EYEBALLS
Ingredients:
Powdered Donut Holes (Or tiny powdered donuts)
Gummy Life Saver
Chocolate Chips
Tube red gel icing/frosting

1. Place a life saver in the center of the eye (donut). This makes the iris.
2. Place a chocolate chip for the pupil.
3. Use the red gel to glue all together and make the eye appear blood shot. (This is something that can be prepared ahead or to have the children make!)

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WORMS IN DIRT (Using Jell-O)

You'll need clear plastic cups, orange or green Jello, gummy worms and crumbled Oreo cookies.

You can refrigerate the Jello right in the cups- place a gummy worm in the bottom of the cup before refrigerating.

When the Jello sets, place a layer of crumbled cookies on the top and place a few gummy worms 'crawling' out of the 'dirt.'

Kids love this easy Halloween party treat! You can even add a (dollop of whipped cream) ghost on top with mini chocolate chips for eyes!

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 ICE-CREAM WITCH Place a large scoop of orange sherbet (or favorite ice-cream such as this mint) into a dessert dish. Make the eyes, nose and mouth with pieces of nuts and raisins. Licorice hair is optional...Top the ice-cream with a pointed ice cream cone (sugar cone) hat. Freeze until time to serve.

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  SPIDER SUCKERS (A craft and snack in one!)

Take a large sucker such as Tootsie Roll.
Under the sucker part, securely twist 4 long black pipe cleaners around the stick. Extend the end of the pipe cleaners to make 8 legs.
Bend each leg to resemble a spider's leg.

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For more than 40 Halloween Games Click Here...

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MAKE UP at Page Bottom...

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THRIFT STORE COSTUMES…
The more youth (or you) look and sound like someone else, the more exciting the drama activity will be. Wearing a hat, scarf, shawl or apron will help change appearance. Collect interesting hats, skirts and jackets-- as well as acting tools such as fabric, tinsel, wigs, jewelry and the endless list of accessories.The keys words to remember are experimentation and imagination!!

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 ARTIST COSTUME --All you need is a big white shirt, a beret, black tights or leggings, some paintbrushes and several colors of paint on an artist’s tray. Paint different blotches of paint on the white shirt. Cut a circle from the felt a little bigger that your head. Sew a running stitch around the outside of the felt and pull in just a little to make it puff up. It just sits on the head with bobby pins. Put paint brushes in pocket and carry artist’s tray with you.

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BUTTERFLY COSTUME
Need: Sturdy cardboard, Utility knife, Colored netting, Batting, Brightly colored paints,
Satin ribbon, Leotard & tights, One & half yards of the same colored fabric, Same colored socks, Shoes, A plain, simple mask, Silk flowers, Pipe cleaners, Pom-poms, Glue, Stapler

• Cut out two sets of the wings from the cardboard.
• Using a utility knife cut out designs from the inside of the wings.
• Paint one side of each wing and fold them in half like a real butterfly.
• Next, lay the netting between the set and glue in place. Punch four holes through the cardboard to run the ribbon through to give the effect of a backpack.
• To make a mask--Separate the petals of the flowers and glue them neatly around the mask from the inside out, carefully making sure that the eyes are not covered; Remove the elastic cord and staple a piece of ribbon (long enough to tie around the head and dangle down) to each side. Double the pipe cleaners and attach to the back of the mask; glue the pompoms to the ends.
• Have child put on the leotard, tights and shoes, covering the shoes with the socks.
  Use combinations of reds, oranges, yellows, greens, blues, purples, and pinks. This could also be used as a fairy with silver and white!

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CAT/DOG/PIG

• Cat: Black leggings or pants and black shirt. Cover a stretched-out wire hanger with a black sock-- or stuff a black sock with material for the tail.
  Use a black headband with ears attached that are made of cardboard and painted black. Add black mittens or gloves for paws--and black socks and shoes. This idea can be used for any animal by switching colors and the type of ears and tail.

• Dog: Add spots to construction paper and adhere the spots with tape or washable glue. Use a barrette to attach long felt ears to the sides of the child’s head.

• Pig: Wear a pink or white sweat suit with a pipe cleaner tail.

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CLOWN: Over sized clothes make a clown costume. Add hat, wide tie and face paint.

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CONE HATS:  The Basic Cone: Fold a 12" x 24" sheet of newspaper in half. Cut out a quarter circle and open the paper into a half circle. Roll the half circle into a cone to fit the head. Tape or staple the cone together.

• Witch Hat: Make a basic cone out of black paper. Make the brim. Place the cone on a sheet of stiff paper and draw around it. Draw a larger circle around the first circle and cut it out Draw 5 tabs inside the inner circle. Cut out the inner circle around the tabs. Fold the tabs back. Slip the brim over the cone and glue to tape the tabs to the cone.

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COWBOY: Shirts, jackets and jeans for a cowboy costume. Add a hat, scarf, and boots.

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CRAYON COSTUME
Need: Poster board, Stapler, Scissors, Black construction, elastic, and construction paper that is the same color as the poster board.

• Take the colored poster board (your choice) and cut it to fit between the child’s underarms and knees.
• Wrap the board around the child---making sure to leave room to wear sweats under the colored poster board.
• Cut an oval out from construction paper of your desired crayon color; Glue it to center of poster board over the stomach area.
• Cut out the letters CRAYOLA from black construction paper and glue them to construction paper centered on the stomach.
• Use leftover poster board to construct a cone shaped hat. You should use a 2" strip at the base of hat to form a crayon design. Make sure the top of the hat has a flat base.
• Attach elastic to the shoulder area and staple it to the poster board.
  DO NOT make it too long- as it will constrict walking ability. You may have to cut out arm indentations for an easier fit. Use the same colored clothing underneath to create illusion of all one color.

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DINOSAUR COSTUME
Need: Rectangular cardboard box, X-acto knife, Masking tape, Green spray paint, White, black, yellow paint, Green sweats, Green tights, Styrofoam ball (2-3" diameter), Stuffing material, Green felt (optional), Velcro points (optional), Red felt (optional).

• The cardboard box should fit over child’s head and shoulders to form a Dino head/snout.
• One designer has done it 2 years in 2 different ways -- one year she cut out "shoulder rests" for the box to fit on the child’s shoulders.
• The next year the box was longer and too wide, so she cut armholes in the box. It takes some measuring and adjusting by putting the box on the child).

Next ...basically figure out how to turn a rectangular box into a Dinosaur head by cutting away pieces, folding, and taping.
Leave a "window" for child to see out of between the top of the elongated "snout" part of the head and the top of the head (This gives the head a 2-level look and avoids the problem of lining up eyes with). Spray paint the "head" green. Cut a Styrofoam  ball in half and paint it yellow; paint a black pupil in the center of each, and glue on the sides of the head for eyes. Have child paint red spots on the head.

• Cut one leg off the green tights and stuff with poly-fill to form the tail. Close it with a rubber band; pin it to elastic on back of the child’s sweatpants.
• If desired, cut paired triangles of felt. Glue them together and attach it to the tail and back of the child with Velcro. If desired, cut circles from red felt for spots and attach to them to child’s outfit with Velcro.
• Can also be used as a crocodile with a few modifications. For a crocodile, put the eyes sticking up from the top of the head instead of on the sides.

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FAIRY COSTUME
Need: Material, Thread, Sewing needle, Mesh or lace material for wings, Metal or wire in a "C" shape for wings.
You can use a dress with a flared skirt for the base. Next, cut the mesh or lace material into the shape of the wire with just a little room to overlap it. Sew the lace or mesh over the wire and it’s complete.

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FIREFIGHTER IN A FIRE ENGINE COSTUME
Paint a box bright red with ladders on the sides. Use aluminum pie plates for reflectors. A plastic firefighter’s hat is a good addition. Children will be more than happy to come up with the siren sound!

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FLOWER MASK
Children enjoy discovering all the flowers that bloom in the summer. The colors are bright and inviting. To make an inexpensive and colorful blossom mask--- cut out the center of a paper plate, leaving a hole large enough for the child’s face. paint the plate and then cut flower petals from colorful construction or tissue paper. Glue the petals around the rim to make a unique flower. Attach elastic thread to the back of the plate to finish the mask

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GENIE
Need: Bathing suit top and bottom, a pair of pajama bottoms with a hem you can put a string through to tighten around ankles and matching midriff vest. To make a hat, cut a hole in the middle of a small plastic container for a ponytail - cover it with fabric and fasten a scarf to each side of the hat so that it hangs loosely in front of your mouth. (Picture the old “I Dream of Jeanie” episodes for this.

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GHOST: A white sheet creates the perfect ghost costume. For an added touch buy an old hat to place on the ghost's head.

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GRASS SKIRT (From Paper Bag)
Materials: A roll of brown wrapping paper, Glue, Self-adhesive Velcro fastener, Stapler, Scissors.

• Step 1: Cut off two sheets of paper that measure six inches longer than child’s waist size; lay one sheet on top of the other. Staple them together along the short side (to form the waist) about a 1/2 inch from the edge.
• Step 2: For a waistband, use a four-inch-wide paper strip with the same circumference as the skirt waist. Glue the lower half of the waistband to the stapled edge of the skirt front.
  Fold over the waistband top, and glue it to the inside of the skirt. For a decorative waistband, twist together two long paper strips and glue them on.
• Step 3: Use scissors to fringe the skirt from the hemline to just below the waistband.
• Step 4: Stick one part of the Velcro fastener to the front of one waistband end and the matching part to the back of the band’s opposite end. Wrap the skirt around the child’s waist, and fasten.

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GRASS SKIRT (Green Crepe Paper)
To make these easy grass skirts, you’ll need a roll of green crepe paper, and duct tape.

• Cut a piece of duct tape large enough to circle the child’s waist plus 4 inches.
• Lay it on a flat surface sticky side up.
• Now unroll the green crepe paper and lie perpendicular to the tape, lying one end ½ way into the tape. The length will be determined by the height of the child.
• When the tape is full with the crepe paper strips, cut another piece of duct tape and lay it sticky side down over the first piece, trapping the crepe paper ends into the "waistband".
• Last, punch a hole in either end of the duct tape and tie together with a ribbon.

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GYPSY: Flowing dresses and bright shoes make a gypsy costume. Add lots of jewelry such as bracelets, necklace, beads, earrings and scarves.

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HATS---THE BASIC BAND: Cut a 2" wide strip of paper long enough to go around the head with an overlap of about 1". Staple ends together.

INDIAN HEAD DRESS #1: Make a basic band; tape or staple feathers to the band.

INDIAN HEADBAND #2: Cut brown construction paper into strips; fit it around child’s head and staple or tape ends together. Cut feathers out of scrap.

INDIAN VEST TO GO WITH HEADBANDS: Cut a vest from a brown paper bag, cut a slit up the front and neck and arm holes. To decorate, either cut out construction paper shape (arrows, sun, designs, etc.) and glue them on.

ROYAL CROWN: Make a basic band about 4" wide. Cut points in the top. Decorate the crown with beads, buttons, braids, sparkles, etc.

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HIPPIE

 

 

Wear a peasant dress, flowing light material skirt, or bell-bottom pants. The top can be a tie dye shirt or flimsy top-with love beads, long hair parted down the middle (may need a wig), a peace sign button and -tinted glasses. Using makeup, paint a peace sign, flower or heart on child face.

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HOT DOG COSTUME
Need: An old thick blanket like a comforter, large pieces of brown and tan felt, small pieces of red and yellow felt for ketchup and mustard, cotton pillow filling, Brown pants, face paint.

• First you cut the comforter so that it fits around the child and ties in the back.
• Cut a hole in the front for child’s head and arms. Then cut the brown felt in the same shape as the comforter.
• Sew the felt onto the comforter.
• Cut the red and yellow felt (in the shape of ketchup and mustard) and glue it on the front of the hot dog. Then get the tan felt and measure it like a jacket.
• Cut arm holes in the sides. It should look like a bun.
• In order- put on brown pants, then the hot dog, then the bun and finish with the face paint. You have a hot dog!

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INSTANT EARS...

 

No time or too small for a full costume? To make an adorable bunny, kitty, puppy, or an elephant---all it takes are ears (construction paper or cardboard attached to a hat or headband) and a nose (a tiny bit of makeup on the nose and cheeks, and the appropriate tail pinned to the back of pajamas or a sweat suit.

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 JACK-IN-THE-BOX COSTUME
A big box with bottom and top cut out, a clown looking shirt, Clown Makeup, Aluminum foil, Paint.

• Take a box-making sure child can fit into it. Paint the box with decorations such as numbers and letters.
• Sew, glue, or tape a shirt onto the inside of your box; a hat could be made to match the shirt.
• Make a crank with the aluminum foil; tape the crank onto the side of the box.
• Make up the child’s face with clown paint. Have “Jack” bend down in the box and POP Back up.

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MAIL CARRIER
This is especially good for Preschool to Grade 1. They enjoy playing dress up and many costumes can be made from items around the house. To make a Mail Carrier’s costume- find or make a canvas bag with a short strap so it can be carried on the shoulder. Be sure to "equip" it with mail. Save old postcards, junk mail, little gift boxes, and a couple of magazines to put in the mail bag. Decorate an old shirt to be a uniform. For props, use shoe boxes that are decorated and used for mail boxes. Put names of program children on the “mail-boxes” so the mail-carrier can deliver the mail.

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MARTIAN
Rainbow wig, Oversized glasses, Face paint, Headband, Silver or gold pipe cleaners, Foil

• If possible have child wear green slippers and a fluorescent green leotard and tights. If not possible find blue or purple, etc.
• Wrap the headband in foil and attach 2 or more pipe cleaners to the top for the antenna.
• Paint child’s face in a variety of psychedelic colors and outer space designs.
• If you’re a girl Martian, add a sheer fluorescent green ballet skirt. If you can’t find oversized glasses, make some from cardboard.
• Cover the cut-out cardboard with foil or decorate with fluorescent markers.
• Let your imagination go wild and add your own touches to this visitor from another planet.

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NERD
High-water pants, white button-down shirt, bow tie, white socks, black dress shoes, a pocket protector, and dark frame glasses with masking tape around the nose piece are all you need for this classic costume.

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PLANES, TRAINS, AUTOMOBILES COSTUMES
Remove the top and bottom flaps of a box, then place a box around child’s middle and attach with over-the-shoulder ties. With paint, paper plates, tin cans, some additional cardboard, and imagination, the child could be a race car. Paint racing stripes, add cans, cups, or stickers for front and rear lights. Don’t forget the sponsor’s names on the side and the personalized license plates.

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OLD WOMAN
Use a past-the-knee dress, wig, handbag, umbrella, nude colored knee-highs that don’t stay up and old shoes. Use gray eyeliner to draw light lines from your eyes (crows feet) around your mouth (looks like no teeth). Add vertical lines around the cheek bones for additional wrinkles. Experiment until you reach the desired look. Blend this all lightly so the lines are just shadows in add a layer of white powder, two pink spots of blush and pink lip stick. For a chilly night, add a cardigan sweater buttoned at the top or a long fuzzy overcoat and flowered hat.

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PRINCESS: Prom or evening gowns make an excellent princess, queen, or your favorite movie star. Add jewelry, gloves, high heels, purse and shawls.

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PURPLE PEOPLE EATER -COSTUME
Dress in purple sweats; jell child’s hair so it stands up in a "horn"; draw an "eye" in the middle of child’s forehead with make-up. Top it off with a necklace made of a plastic fork, knife and spoon; tie these on a shoelace around and around the neck .

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ROBOT

Use a small box for the head with a large space cut out for the face, and a larger box for the body, with head and arm holes cut out. Other materials: Paint, sparkly stick-ons, aluminum pans with stickers for the control panel.

 

SCARECROW
Wear worn-in jeans or over-alls that have patched holes with an old bandanna; add a flannel shirt, a worn-in hat and gardening gloves. Stick some straw in various places to add to the effect. Use makeup to paint the face yellow and add short lines around the eyes to look like a sewn on patch. Use green make-up to paint an upside down triangle on the nose--- again adding short lines around it to look like a sewn on patch. Use red for the mouth adding the short lines. Add small red circles of color to the cheeks.

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TEENY BOPPER (1950’s)
Un-tucked, solid-color button-down short-sleeved shirt, jeans rolled up to mid-calf, or a poodle skirt, white socks and penny loafers or saddle shoes. Girls wear ponytail and boys slick-back hair ducktail style with gel.

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VAMPIRE
Wear black pants, white button-down shirt, black shoes, a cape (buy a vampire cape or dye a sheet black), plastic teeth, and slick hair back with some gel. Use white make-up for the face and highlight with red blush on the cheeks and red lipstick on the lips. Red lipstick applied carefully with a lip brush down the side of the mouth can look like blood dripping down.

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WITCH
Black dress or skirt and top, black tights, cape (dye a sheet black), witch’s hat, and of course a broom. Make the face green and use a black eye pencil to make dark lines. Stick a piece of oatmeal colored black to the make-up paint on the nose, chin and/or cheek to make a good wart. Pin a plush-toy black cat to child’s shoulder or tie it to the broom.
Some ideas adapted from: kid.lifetips.com

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FOR OLDER KIDS DRAMA/THEATER CLASS: COSTUME MAKING

MASKS AND SIMPLE HATS are quick and creative projects. Animal masks are really fun, made from just about anything you have on hand. Whatever they are doing, have the kids draw their design first and then try to create it; that reinforces how a costume designer works.

If you have time, they can bring in research materials before they start to draw. It also reinforces the concept if they all draw characters from the same story (the biggest problem being that for every fairy tale you suggest, they will draw the Disney characters...you’ll spend a lot of time explaining that there was a Cinderella before the one that wore the blue ball gown in the cartoon....) With hats, have them draw a design based on one of several simple shapes that you can help them make (cone, top-hat, crown, etc.) Older kids can make hats of felt or fleece.

    • If you want to get older kids into some basic construction, VESTS ARE GREAT. They are unisex and can be designed for just about any character (and some kids will actually end up wearing what they make, if it's cool enough). A simple, two-piece vest pattern teaches the concepts of how to size, cut, and sew, with only four short seams that can be sewn by hand. Embellishing and/or distressing the vest helps to continue the concept of creating a character through dress. You can also start with a finished thrift-store vest and have them embellish it -- faster and easier than trying to teach construction

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 MAKE UP!

 

FACE PAINT RECIPE #1 (for six colors) tablespoons of corn starch; divided
3 tablespoons of water; divided
3 tablespoons of cold cream; divided
6 cup muffin tin
Food coloring...

In each cup of the muffin tin put 1 teaspoon of cornstarch, 1/2 teaspoon of cold cream, and 1/2 teaspoon of water. Add a different color food coloring to each cup. Mix well.

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FACE PAINT #2 (For one color) Materials: 1 tsp. cornstarch, 1/2 tsp. water, 1/2 tsp. cold cream, food coloring
Mix cornstarch and cold cream together until smooth. Mix in water and food coloring. Use a small brush to paint designs on the children's faces. Store in an airtight container.

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FACE PAINT #3
Materials
1 Tbs. Crisco shortening
2 Tbs. cornstarch
Food coloring
Mix all ingredients together until smooth. Use sponge or fingers to apply to face. Wash with soap and water.

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CLOWN PAINT #1
1/8 c Baby Lotion
1/4 tsp powdered Tempera paint
1 squirt liquid soap
This is easily removed by soap and water.

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CLOWN MAKE-UP #2
Blend on a paper plate:
2 tblsp. shortening
5 tsps. cornstarch
1 tsp. flour
Dab of Vaseline
Add food coloring for various colors.
Wash Off with Soap and Water...

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EDIBLE FRUIT LIP GLOSS
Materials:
Favored drink mix
1 cup vegetable shortening
Food coloring
Small container such as a film container
1. Mix one packet of drink mix with shortening.
2. Add in a few drops of food coloring that matches the flavor. ie: yellow for lemon.
3. Pack in small container, such as a film container, and you have wonderful tasting and smelling lip gloss. Of course the lip gloss is edible should some accidentally be licked off.

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ADDING A SPOOKY TOUCH TO MAKE-UP...
BLACKEN FACES
To lightly blacken faces, carefully burn a cork and when cool, rub on the face.
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For a GHOULISH LOOK...
Add a dusting of flour to already made up faces.
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MAKE A HAIRY WART
Need:
Whole peppercorns white or black
Corn syrup or eyelash glue
Hair bristles from a paintbrush or out of your hair brush
(Optional) Non-toxic watercolors (the kind you use in school)
Directions:
1. Glue peppercorns to your hands or face using the corn syrup or eyelash glue. KEEP PEPPERCORNS AWAY FROM YOUR EYES! You may have to hold them in place until the glue or syrup is dry.
2. Dip one end of the hairs in the glue or syrup and attach to the peppercorn, so they look hairy.
3. Use the paints to color them creepy!

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MONSTER/SCARY APPEARANCE...

• Use make up that will give your skin a sickly pallor: rub green eyeshadow on your cheeks and red lipstick to highlight scars.  Ketchup for blood and gore.

• Old clothes and hats, like an old black raincoat over your shoulders for Dracula cape.

• Swim fins to create horrid Creature from the Black Lagoon feet.

• Child-safe white school glue...dab a thin line of glue across the cheek and let it dry to create a temporary scar. Or make dots that'll dry into warts.

• Talcum powder dusted into your hair looks ghostly!

•Oatmeal. Mix it onto a paste with water, dab it on your skin and let it dry. Gross (but actually good for your skin when you wash it off with warm water.)

• Lots of mousse rubbed into hair creates vampire-looking slick effects. Or pull your hair into spikes or wild snarls. Be ready for lots of shampooing to get back to normal.

• A rubber glove, filled half full of lukewarm water and secured with a rubber band. Hold this inside a long baggy sleeve and extend the arm to shake hands with unsuspecting friends.

• Old wigs and fake fur can be cut up to make mustaches, wild eyebrows, even hairy werewolf hands.

• Always be careful to keep make-up and glue and powder far away from eyes! Don't keep monster make-up on too long, and don't use any of this stuff on your skin if you have allergies. Source:kidsart.com

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#1...FAKE BLOOD FOR MAKE UP
Karo brand corn syrup
Red and blue food coloring
Milk
Add some red food coloring to the corn syrup, then just a drop or two of blue to get a more realistic dark color. Milk will make the blood appear more opaque and more realistic.
Note: This mixture is sticky and can stain clothes.

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FAKE BLOOD  #2 
Ingredients:
2-1/2 Tablespoons water
60-70 drops of red food coloring
10-15 drops yellow food coloring
2-3 drops blue food coloring
5-1/2 Tablespoons white corn syrup
Directions:
1. Mix all of the food colorings and water together.
2. Slowly stir in the corn syrup until the mixture is thick, but still "slides" down your arm. This goop WILL STAIN your clothing!3. Smear it on your skin wherever you want the "blood" to be.
Adult Supervision Required

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What kind of mistakes do spooks make?
Boo boos.

When is it bad luck to meet a black cat?
When you're a mouse.

What's the first thing ghosts do when they get in a car?
They boo-kle their seatbelts.

What did the Kleenex say to the nose?
Put a little boogie in it!

What do the birds sing on Halloween?
Twick or tweet!

Why do mummies make good employees?
They get all wrapped up in their work.

Why are there fences around cemeteries?
Because people are dying to get in.

Monster#1: Can you lend an ear?
Monster #2: Yes, but I’ll need it back

How do Monsters like movie stars?
Medium Rare.

What do witches put on their hair?
Scare spray

What is a Mummy’s favorite type of music?
Wrap!

What type of dog do vampire's like the best?
Bloodhounds.

What do you call a fat Jack-O-Lantern?
A plumpkin

What happened to the man who didn't pay his exorcist?
He was repossessed

What do ghosts say when something is really neat?
Ghoul!

Why didn’t the skeleton cross the road?
He had no gut.s

What's it like to be kissed by a vampire?
It's a pain in the neck.

Why don't skeletons like parties?
Because they have no body to dance with.

What's a ghost's favorite color?
Light Boo.

What do you call a skeleton who won't work?
Lazy bones.

Why wasn't there any food left after the monster party?
Because everyone was a goblin!

Who won the skeleton beauty contest?
No Body.

What do you call a friendly dead Egyptian?
A chummy mummy.

How does a witch tell time?
She looks at her witch-watch.

What do ghosts serve for dessert?
Ice Scream.

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