Holiday Gifts & Gift Baskets Blog

Posts Tagged ‘Halloween’

Halloween is a night kids look forward to all year. It’s fun for them to dress up as someone else and head out into the night in search of yummy delicious holiday chocolates. Since it gets dark so early in the Fall, children Trick or Treat in the dark. Keep some safety tips in mind so that everyone makes it home safely.

• Never let small children out to Trick or Treat alone. Even if they know the neighborhood, it’s not a good idea to send them without supervision. Not only are the decorations spooky for youngsters but with people out in costume it may be hard for your child to recognize stranger danger.

• All costumes should be checked for visibility. If you’ve dressed your little one as a ghost and they can’t see out of the eyeholes or might trip on fabric, it’s best to alter the costume so it’s shorter and easier to see out of. Same goes for store bought masks. Often they look ideal on the outside, but inside your child can’t see well enough to walk or their breathing may be impaired. Double check before purchasing anything that will cover a child’s head.

• All halloween candy that Trick or Treaters collect should be thoroughly checked by an adult before any child touches it. Pranksters have been known to tamper with candy and children have gotten poisoned or worse. The urban legend of the razor blade in the apple is a word to the wise.

• Not every neighbor is friendly. Teach your children to avoid any houses that are dark or that are unfamiliar to them. Instruct them never to enter anyone’s house, especially when they don’t know the people. They may get so excited about going in for free candy that they forget your warning. Another good reason for you to stay closely by their sides.

• Cars are a hazard on Halloween night. Children often head out for Trick or Treating right about the time people are driving home from work. A tired or distracted driver may not expect a child to be walking down the road in the dark and may not see them until it’s too late. Have your child wear reflective clothing and carry a flashlight. Make sure they stay on the sidewalks and never cross the street alone or when a car is coming.

• Older siblings may offer to take younger ones out on the big night. Depending on your level of comfort and your neighborhood, you might consider driving them or walking along. While an older sibling will often be a perfectly fine babysitter at home he could get distracted by a fancy light show at one house or a ghoulish display at another. One distracted moment and your younger child could get lost or worse. On this one night you may want to insist that you chaperone.

• Check your child’s costume not only for warmth if you live in a colder climate but also for mobility. That dog suit may seem fine in the house when your child tries it on, but out in the 40 degree night, your child may end up miserable and shivering. When in doubt, add layers under the costume so you can still see the costume but your child will stay warm. Also, have your child test walking outside in his costume. It’s one thing to try a costume on in a store aisle and another to have to walk in it in the dark. Any clunky shoe covers (paws) or oversized gag shoes (clown) will have to be monitored.

• You want your child to have a good time, but Halloween often brings out the zanier people. Don’t cave in if your child insists you’re being overprotective and unfair by coming with them. If they’re whining about you being there, they’re not mature enough to be out on their own at night.

Halloween is one of those times of year when you can forget you’re an adult. You can have fun being someone – or something else. If you have children, it is fun to dress them up and see them happily trick-or-treating, and if you don’t have children, you can indulge in some trick-or-treating of your own. Whether you’re hosting a Halloween party for children or for friends, you’ll need some scary, fun invitations. Here are some ideas to get you started. Remember, it’s halloween: go wild, be crazy, and above all, have fun.

If you need to get invitations out in a rush and don’t want to spend money on pre-made ones, you can pop online and find plenty of free templates. These come in various themes and for various ages. If you are inviting older friends, for instance, a vintage invitation can be a fabulous idea. One example, available at Make-Your-Own-Invitations.com has a creepy black cat and a skull on either side of a giant pumpkin. On the pumpkin is written:

Timid? No. Then on Halloween

At _________ of the clock

Let your highness be seen at:

(your address goes here).

It is fun in that melodramatic old horror movie way. Simply copy these for your guests, write in your party info, and send.

Another great idea that is perfect for children or adults is the Moonlit Halloween card. For this, you will need black cardstock, white or cream cardstock, glue, and foam cat shapes. Onto the folded black sheet of cardstock, glue a circle of white for the moon. Simply glue the foam bats (available at craft stores) so they look like they are flying in the moonlight. Inside, write with silver gel pens to give guests the party information. You can do similar cards using a witch or a black cat in front of the moon.

Purchase a package of brown paper lunch bags at the grocery store. For a very cute children’s invitation, fold the bag in half firmly. Trim a white piece of paper or cardstock so it will be about a half inch to one inch smaller than the paper bag on which it will be glued or stapled.

Write the party information on the white paper, either using your computer or printing it yourself. Adorn with Halloween scrapbooking stickers and staple or glue it to the inside of the folded bag. Cut out five or so orange construction paper pumpkins, writing “Boo” or another Halloween message on one of them. Glue three to the front of the bag and two on the inside cover. On the pumpkin with the message, use a length of green ribbon as a stem and staple or glue into place. Tie a length of black ribbon down the spine of the card, which creates a nice border look. Put the party information inside, and you’re done.

Buy blank cards or cut cardstock in half to make your own for this chic web and spider invitation. Around the edge of the front, draw a thin border and outline it with black felt tip marker. Draw a swirl, either with pencil first or just your felt tip marker, starting at a central point and looping further away from the center. From the center of your swirl, use a ruler to draw straight edges that extend all the way to the edges of the card. These will be like spokes from a wheel. Draw a little dot at the intersection of each point with your black marker. From a point in the swirl, draw a thin line straight down with a spider dangling down. A simple circle for the body, smaller circle for the head, and creepy legs will do it. Color the spider’s body red for contrast – and for blood, of course. On one of the web’s strands, write “Happy Halloween,” in very subtle handwriting. Inside goes your party information.

Happy Halloween!

Halloween is coming!  Depending on the age of your son, he may want to dress up as something cute or scary this Halloween. Here are some of the most popular Halloween costumes for boys this year.

1. The Puppy Dog. This classic costume never goes out of style. Whether he’s dressing as Clifford the Big Red Dog or just as a mutt, this is a fun costume. You can either buy some fabulous one-piece dog suits or make your own. Think floppy ears and spots made with felt. A collar made out of reflective material will not only look great, but will help him be seen by cars.
2. The Pirate. The action-adventurer will want to go as his favorite swashbuckler this year. Pull out an old bandanna, make an eye patch and tear up some jeans. An old vest completes the look. A stuffed parrot on the shoulder is a nice touch.
3. Superman. Your little guy can emulate the Man of Steel very easily. Make him a cape out of a pillowcase. Have him dress in all one color. You can find leggings appropriate for boys and add a big "S" on his chest and you’re up, up and away!
4. Star Wars Figures. The Star Wars movies are as popular now as they ever were. You may have to purchase a mask for this costume, but you can dress a Darth Vader all in black or a Luke Skywalker in all brown. Get creative. Add a light stick from the dollar store for a Light Saber.
5. The Cowboy. The movie Toy Story 3 has caused a resurgence in the love of the cowboy. Dress your little Woody in a cowboy hat, bandanna, funky vest and cowboy boots.
6. Super Mario. The Super Mario Brothers games for Wii and Nintendo have sparked a love of dressing as the Mario character. You may have to purchase this one. Or get a red hat, red shirt, blue overalls with oversize buttons and a big black oversize mustache and do it yourself.
7. Crayola Crayon. Every year you find at least one adorable child dressed as a crayon. What fun this is! And if you have siblings, why not dress them as several colors from the box? You can do it yourself with felt. Make sure you include the Crayola stripe and the color name (remember burnt sienna?).
8. Clown. If you’ve got a real kidder in your family, turn him into a clown for the night. This one’s fun to do on your own or you can go ready-made. The key is a wacky wig and a big red nose. An oversize tie and shoes work well too.
9. Penguin. Break out the black and white felt for an easy penguin getup. Make flippers out of long pieces of the black with a white circle for the tummy. A black hood with a beak becomes the penguin head. Cover shoes with orange felt cut to look like webbed feet.
10. The Ghost. There is no Halloween costume more basic or more fun than the ghost. If your son likes to scare people, he’ll love this time-honored sheet with holes. He’ll love the fact that no one recognizes him. And you get off easy on the sewing skills.

No matter what he dresses up as, he's sure to bring in a bounty of Halloween Treats!  And if you have a daughter, be sure to check out the Top 10 Most Popular Halloween Costumes For Girls.

Ever Wondered Where Going Door-to-Door Saying Trick or Treat on Halloween Came From?

Halloween is my favorite holiday hands down.  One of my favorite things is having all the kids dressed up in their adorable costumes coming to our door saying 'Trick or Treat'.   We almost always go all out decorating our house for Halloween so the kids love venturing up the driveway just to see the decorations including the spiders on the doorbell and skeletons coming up from the ground.  They always know they'll get a good treat at our door too!  In fact, my husband is at Wal-Mart right now stocking up on Halloween candy.  Last year, we had nearly 300 kids stop by our door and I expect even more this year.

Apparently the tradition of dressing up in costumes and going door-to-door to beg for treats goes back to the Middle Ages.  The costumes are said to be a Celtic tradition which placates evil spirits.  The handing out of food originated in Britain and Ireland where poor people would go door-to-door on November 1st. They would be given food in exchange for their prayers for dead souls on November 2nd. This practice was known as 'Souling'.  The practice of trick or treating in America is believed to date back to the early 1900's and it became a more widespread activity in the 1930's.   Whatever the origins, I am glad that this is one tradition that has caught on for the long term.  Happy Halloween and be sure to check out these Halloween safety tips to keep your pets, children and yourself safe this year!

On October 3, 1931, Universal Studios finished shooting Frankenstein. Some notes about the motion picture that is continually one of the top 100 video rentals:

• After the surprising hit of Dracula earlier that year, Universal wanted another film that would feature the Hungarian actor Bela Lugosi - minus his loopy accent. They bought a theatrical adaptation of Mary Shelley's novel. (The chief difference is a relatively mute monster; the book's creature is a gas-bag who has monologues running for pages.)
  • The actor, who saw himself as a romantic lead, hated the makeup and the role. He said, "I was a star in my country... Anybody can moan and grunt."
  • In the studio cafeteria, director James Whale noticed a fellow Briton: Boris Karloff. (Born William Pratt, Karloff was a black sheep from an unloving family of diplomats. His parents died when he was a child; he was raised by siblings. He took his acting name from a maternal relative.)
• Karloff's acting, a black-and-white film that was tinted green, and a shocking story (for the time) created a hit film.
• After test screenings, Universal cut one sadistic scene in which the monster, thinking a friendly little girl will float, throws her into a lake. (Ironically, little Marilyn Harris enjoyed being chucked into the water by Karloff. In real life, her adoptive mother - who picked her out of an orphanage for her looks, motivated her acting with beatings and other sadism, writes critic Forrest Ackerman.)
• Karloff said later he got much sympathetic fan mail, especially from children, who said they understood the monster's feelings.
• Nineteen-year-old Mary Shelley started her novel after hearing a discussion about life between her husband-to-be, Percy Shelley, and Lord Byron. Mary's mother died 11 days after giving birth (Mary was courted on her mother's gravestone) and she was raised by a cruel father who barely tolerated her. Critics have noted the parallel between her childhood and the monster's life. (Sources: Behind the Scenes, The Dead That "Walk, Universal Filmscripts, news services.)

If you are commemorating this Halloween with a haunted house full of scary monsters like Frankenstein, then a Boo Mania Halloween Gift Basket filled with scary treats and ghosts might be the perfect centerpiece for your party!