Halloween is definitely one of my favorite holidays. I love playing dress up, curling up on the couch watching scary movies, going to haunted houses, and all the other fun fall activities that this time of year brings. Another thing I love, is to decorate our house for Halloween. Every year Martha Stewart comes out with her Halloween Magazine and thought I would share some of her creative ideas to add some Spooktacular decor and sweet treats to your home!
Shivering Bats Shade How-To
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| Photo Source: marthastewart.com |
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| Photo Source: marthastewart.com |
Photocopy template to desired size; cut out. Using a white wax pencil, trace shape onto black construction paper; cut out. To suspend bats, make a ring from 20-gauge brass wire that fits just inside top of shade, resting on the shade spokes; a translucent white paper lampshade works best. Take a piece of white thread to bat; tie other end to ring. Repeat, hanging bats at varying heights and taping others to lampshade. (If you don't want to have to spend a lot of time cutting out the template from Martha Stewart, you can buy pre-made bats at Michael's that are the same as the template.)
Creepy Candles How to
Cast a sinister glow over any setting with a cluster of white tapers dripping with "blood" (actually red candle wax). Fill a cup or a small pail with sand, and plant white candles inside so they stand upright. Light a red candle and tip it over the white candles so the wax drips down the tops and sides, being careful not to burn yourself. Let wax cool completely before removing candles from sand.
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| Photo Source: marthastewart.com |
Deranged Halloween Arrangement How-To
- Use permanent glue to attach vinyl bugs to rose petals.
- Paint vinyl snakes using black acrylic paint; let dry.
- Use floral wire to create anchors for coiled snakes: twist 1 end around the snake's middle. Insert other end in vase.
- Secure centipede (or other big bug) to vase with poster putty.
Tools and Materials
- Permanent glue
- Rose petals
- Vinyl bugs, orientaltrading.com
- Black acrylic paint
- Vinyl snakes, orientaltrading.com
- Floral wire, 20-gauge, save-on-crafts.com
- Poster putty
- Vase, Versailles Crown vase, jonathanadler.com
Witch Fingers Cookies
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| Photo Source: marthastewart.com |
I first saw these amazing looking cookies a couple years ago in Martha Stewarts Halloween magazine, and thought I would share this neat recipe!
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons red food coloring
- 30 blanched almonds
- 2 large eggs
- 1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 8 tablespoons unsalted butter (1 stick), room temperature
- 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
- 5 tablespoons granulated sugar
- Pinch of salt
- 1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
Directions
- Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line two baking sheets with Silpats (French nonstick baking mats) or parchment paper, and set aside.
- Place food coloring in a shallow bowl. Using a small paintbrush, color one rounded half of each almond. Set aside to dry.
- Separate 1 egg. Set aside the white. In a small bowl, whisk together yolk, remaining egg, and vanilla. Set aside.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine butter, confectioners' sugar, granulated sugar, and salt. Beat on medium speed until well combined. Add egg mixture, and beat until smooth, about 2 minutes. Add the flour, and mix on low speed just until incorporated. Wrap the dough in plastic, and chill until firm, 20 to 30 minutes.
- Divide the dough in half. Work with one piece at a time, keeping remaining dough covered with plastic wrap and chilled. Divide the first half into 15 pieces. On a lightly floured surface, roll each piece back and forth with palms into finger shapes, 3 to 4 inches long. Pinch dough in two places to form knuckles. Score each knuckle lightly with the back of a small knife. Transfer fingers to prepared baking sheets. Repeat with remaining dough.
- When all fingers are formed, brush lightly with egg white. Position almond nails; push into dough to attach.
- Bake until lightly browned, about 12 minutes. Cool completely
Candy Corn Candles How To:
Items you will need:
White Candles any size
Candy Corn
Large Glass Candle Holder
Place candy corn inside the larger candle holder till you fill it up about half way. Add your white candle and continue to add candy corn to your liking. PS- don't eat the candy after burning the candle... Garnish with some fall leaves.
Get creative!!! If you're on a budget look at the Dollar Tree Store, they have some great deals and some of the same items Party City and Michaels have! For the Martha Stewart collection look at Michaels.
Here are some pics from our house this Halloween!
