Showing posts with label The Holidays. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Holidays. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

31 Days :: Preparing for Halloween by Making Trick-or-Treat Favors - Day 17

Well, today is our last day of Halloween preparation. We've shared how we prepared our home for Halloween, some great pumpkin ideas, Halloween curb appeal inspiration, wreath ideas we love, decorative elements to create beautiful Halloween displays, tips for Halloween entertaining, our favorite tried and true party treats and to round things out, today we're sharing fun favors and ways to package those Halloween goodies.

Halloween Crackers are easy to make and offer a myriad of ways to customize treats.  Hop over here for the tutorial.
Who doesn't love a lollipop? Turn them into something special with this lollipop broomstick tutorial.
Paper bags are inexpensive alternatives for trick-or-treat packaging. Run them through the printer with your favorite Halloween scene, add ribbon to close and you have an elegant to-go gift for guests. Beth from It Is What It Is shows you how.


Create natural burlap goodie bags embellished with dots and ribbon. A simple craft with lots of appeal.

We love these witch broom favor bags!! Twine and a sticks turn simple paper sacks into bewitching fun favors sure to please.  Click here to learn how to make your own!

Pumpkin stick favors add a little something special to your display. You can also use pencils in place of sticks for a functional gift.

Instead of having the huge bowl of candy for trick-or-treaters to dig through, try handing out tissue paper pumpkins filled with treats instead. They're fund to make and it's a neat surprise for the little ones to open when they get back home.

And so there you have it! Everything you need to make sure your home is prepared for a haunting Halloween good time!

I hope you'll continue to join us for our 31 Days of Preparation journey. Come back tomorrow as we begin to prepare with thankfulness. Enter your email below and each post will automatically be delivered to your inbox. Don't forget to stop by the many other 31 Dayers for additional inspiration!

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Ÿ Day 1             Ÿ Day 7             Ÿ Day 12           Ÿ Day 17           Ÿ Day 22           Ÿ Day 27
Ÿ Day 2             Ÿ Day 8             Ÿ Day 13           Ÿ Day 18           Ÿ Day 23           Ÿ Day 28
Ÿ Day 3             Ÿ Day 9             Ÿ Day 14           Ÿ Day 19           Ÿ Day 24           Ÿ Day 29
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Ÿ Day 6             Ÿ Day 12           Ÿ Day 18           Ÿ Day 1             Ÿ Day 22            Ÿ Day33

In Gratitude,

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Tuesday, October 16, 2012

31 Days :: Prepare for Halloween with Holiday Treats - Day 16

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Halloween...that time of year when the gross and the gruesome is happily embraced. I'm sure you've seen those Halloween party platters that resemble body parts or other things that we won't mention (; I've never been one to go that route for our treats...and the only reason? I have a low gag tolerance. Yes, you heard me right...low gag tolerance.

If it remotely looks, sounds, smells or feels like something gross, the heaves begin! I can't even eat and watch TV at the same time if there's a fish/ocean scene because of the texture of the fish...yes, I gag at even the idea of the texture of slimy fish. Sad, huh? So our holiday goodies are all about things natural, fun, delicious and lovely looking (;  Here are a few of our favorite tried and trues...


























I hope you'll continue to join us for our 31 Days of Preparation journey. We'll finish things off tomorrow with Halloween favors! Enter your email below and each post will automatically be delivered to your inbox. Don't forget to stop by the many other 31 Dayers for additional inspiration!
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Ÿ Day 1             Ÿ Day 7             Ÿ Day 12           Ÿ Day 17           Ÿ Day 22           Ÿ Day 27
Ÿ Day 2             Ÿ Day 8             Ÿ Day 13           Ÿ Day 18           Ÿ Day 23           Ÿ Day 28
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Ÿ Day 6             Ÿ Day 12           Ÿ Day 18           Ÿ Day 1             Ÿ Day 22            Ÿ Day33

In Gratitude,

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Monday, October 15, 2012

31 Days :: Prepare for Halloween with Over 21 Entertaining Ideas - Day 15

Thank you for visiting The Homesteading Cottage. If you subscribe to our blog via RSS feed or email, you'll get helpful tips on simplicity, organization, all things DIY, natural cooking, entertaining, homesteading and emergency preparedness sent straight to you!

My parents gave the best Halloween parties when we were growing up! Both Mom and Dad were very creative and put a lot of thought into each and every event. We had different stations set up inside and out for activities, buffets with fun food and a haunted house in our basement. 

As we prepare for Halloween this year, I wanted to offer a LOT of inspiration for entertaining reminiscent of those parties from my younger days. I'm a visual gal and photos really help the wheels turn (; The examples below are filled with ideas on how to lay out a fabulous party. We've got everything from DIY Halloween dinnerware to simple tablescapes that look amazing with little effort. We even have traditional dinner examples with a touch of elegance.

Natural elements blend so well during this harvest time of year. Baskets are used to hold beverages and food, and pedestals allow items to be displayed at different levels. Simple swags can be made with tissue paper or fabric and hanging globes offer a pop of hover color above the table.
Printables make it so easy to create a beautiful display with little effort. Hop over to Better Homes and Gardens to use this set of  free Halloween printables including cupcake toppers, candy bar wraps, party favors and more. Simply print, trim and assemble!

Jamielyn over at I {heart} Nap Time also has free Halloween printables to get your party going.

Both adults and kids alike will enjoy celebrating Halloween with these easy to make decorations and buffet foods.

Need more space for your Pumpkin Patch party? Use metal garbage cans as a table base and add a large piece of plywood for the table top. Then cover with a tablecloth and you've got a scene set for partying fun (;

Pottery Barn's children's party offers inspiration for adult parties too!

Create a tattered tablecloth with a torn sheet and black paper cut-outs. Add those same cut-outs to the edge of cake plates for a pulled together design.

Orange balloons accented with jack o'lantern faces create floating pumpkins around a witch's brew table.
Bring back the days of old with vintage inspired Halloween decor.

Outdoor entertaining has never been so easy. Let the surrounding fall foliage be the backdrop and then add natural elements like a burlap runner. A few well placed black painted twig trees in pots filled with candy corn finishes things off.

Party prep doesn't have to be time consuming. Embellished hanging rounds to create cats, owls and pumpkins. A simple orange runner over a black table says instant Halloween!

Plan a haunting night of "groan-up" thrills and chills. A spooky buffet in a not-so-ordinary display is sure to keep your guests talking for years to come.

 This display from Lora Lee Lewis is sure to inspire!

Individual witch hats pull double duty as place cards and decor.

This spooky tablescape is sure to enchant and delight guests.

For a more traditional evening, simple touches of pumpkins with orange and black elements offer Halloween accents without getting too ghoulish.

Black and white dinnerware with simple pumpkins complete this elegant night of Halloween dining.
Stefanie from Brooklyn Limestone gives a tutorial on how to make your own Halloween dinnerware. This technique is so simple you'll want to make custom pieces for the other seasons (;
If you're having a sit down dinner, add a little something special with trick-or-treat gifts for each setting.
This cookie display is amazing! If you're not gifted in the cookie creation realm, the same haunted house can be made from cardboard and paper cutouts. Don't forget to add a small light behind to illuminate the windows.

Cover chairs with wisps of black tulle for yet another layer.

And there you have it! More than 22 ideas for Halloween entertaining. I hope you'll continue to join us for our 31 Days of Preparation journey. Tomorrow we'll be sharing ghoulish goodies and treats so don't forget to come back for our last two Halloween prep posts!  Enter your email below and each post will automatically be delivered to your inbox. Don't forget to stop by the many other 31 Dayers for additional inspiration!
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Ÿ Day 1             Ÿ Day 7             Ÿ Day 12           Ÿ Day 17           Ÿ Day 22           Ÿ Day 27
Ÿ Day 2             Ÿ Day 8             Ÿ Day 13           Ÿ Day 18           Ÿ Day 23           Ÿ Day 28
Ÿ Day 3             Ÿ Day 9             Ÿ Day 14           Ÿ Day 19           Ÿ Day 24           Ÿ Day 29
Ÿ Day 4             Ÿ Day 10           Ÿ Day 15           Ÿ Day 20           Ÿ Day 25           Ÿ Day 30
Ÿ Day 5             Ÿ Day 11           Ÿ Day 16           Ÿ Day 21           Ÿ Day 26           Ÿ Day 31
Ÿ Day 6             Ÿ Day 12           Ÿ Day 18           Ÿ Day 1             Ÿ Day 22            Ÿ Day33

In Gratitude,

New to The Homesteading Cottage?   Don't miss a post and subscribe here...
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