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October 19, 2007

Fun Halloween Group Activities - Part 1

Updated October 7, 2007
The following is a great resource for activities for children, groups of children, and for tweens.  If you have any suggestions or comments on this post, please comment or Ask Anissa. 
The month of October brings class parties, Boy and Girl Scout get-togethers, community gatherings, hayrides, Fall Festivals and Halloween celebrations. 

Where kids gather to celebrate Halloween, parents and leaders frantically search for unique, fun and creative activities that can be done in a group setting.

Here are some ideas for Halloween Group Activities to get your creative juices flowing.

Games "Pin The Face On The Great Pumpkin" – Cut a large pumpkin shape from orange poster board. Cut three triangle shapes from black construction paper as well as a jack-o-lantern type mouth from the black construction paper. Place on piece of double sided tape on each triangle and mouth shape.

Blindfold the child, spin them around three times and allow them to place the facial features on the great pumpkin.

An alternative to this for younger kids is to simply cut a stem shape from green construction paper and allow the children to "Pin The Stem On The Great Pumpkin." For this game, tape the facial features to the pumpkin before the game begins.

"Guess The Ghost" – This is a great activity for a classroom party where there are many activities happening at the same time. Using one white sheet, a parent or teacher randomly (and discreetly) selects one student and takes them to the hallway to put the sheet over him or her. The parent brings the student back into the room and the remaining children must guess who the ghost is.

To really stump the children, occasionally place the sheet over the principal, school nurse, librarian or other fun loving individual.

"Bobbing For Apples" – Cut a large apple shape from red construction paper. Place it on the floor. Place a paperclip on a number of stickers, "no homework" coupons or other lightweight objects. Scatter the paper clipped items all around the apple. Tie a string to a stick and at the end of the string tie a small magnet.

The object of the game is to "bob for apples," or touch the magnet to a paperclip. Whatever the child picks up with the magnet is theirs to keep.

"Halloween Treat Ring Toss" - Again, cut a large pumpkin shape from orange poster board. Place it on the ground and scatter candies and small items (i.e. eight pack of crayons, play-doh, fruit snacks, etc.) all around the pumpkin.

Using diving rings or another type of ring (even doughnuts if you really want to be silly), the child tosses the rings and gets to keep the items that are inside of the ring.

Are you looking for inspiration for a Halloween costume this year? Check out the Get In Costume website where you'll find lots of ideas like face painting tips, costume accessories and much more. 

Plus, get a free copy of my special report "The Family Guide To Halloween Safety" at http://www.getincostume.com/freereport
Filed under Holiday, Main by Anissa.
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October 8, 2007

Ask Anissa: Halloween Secrets And Pumpkin Painting

Updated October 7, 2007
Many of you have been asking for Halloween crafts and things to do with your families.  I have several articles that I have found and that I will be posting on this subject this month.  If you have questions or would like more information, feel free to Ask Anissa!
Do you love Halloween? I know many people do and what would Halloween be without pumpkins? It wouldn't be the same. This article explains a little about creating quality memories with the family and painting pumpkins. These Halloween secrets are not the most amazing but it's just the little common sense Halloween pumpkin painting secrets that you just might need. 

First, part of the whole enjoyment of carving and painting pumpkins is that you take the whole family out for a good time. This would be a great way to make a new family tradition. Take the entire family out to the pumpkins and let everyone pick out their own. This will add to the enjoyment and help in creating bonds between family members. Like I said, these aren't the most amazing Halloween secrets out there but some people really don't think of these things.

Now while out looking for the pumpkins that you want to carve or paint you will want to try to seek out the pumpkins that have at least one side that is a little more flat than round. These pumpkins are out there, and usually it doesn't take too much to find them. This is the first tip to Halloween pumpkin painting secrets and Halloween secrets.

Okay, so now you're home with your pumpkins and the kids are in their play clothes, it's time to start painting those pumpkins.

The secret to great pumpkin painting is getting the right type of paints. Most craft stores will have a simple paint that will get the job done. Acrylic paint might work well here. Be sure not to try to use watercolor or oil paints when painting your pumpkins as they will not so through and they can get expensive here. Another Halloween secret is that you don't have to spend a lot of money to have a lot of fun with the family and paint pumpkins.

Get crazy with the way you paint your pumpkins. There are many ways and designs available for that Halloween secret pumpkin painting that you want to do.

Don't forget that you can dress up your pumpkins as well. Halloween secret rule of thumb- don't be caught up with what's been done before. Get creative and think outside of the box, that's usually when the best ideas come up.

You might want to look online for a few ideas of what to paint your pumpkins and how to dress them up. It would be a great place to start to jumpstart the thought process and the kids might see something they really like! There are many sites with Halloween secrets and pumpkin painting schemes on the internet.

You can receive a free Halloween face painting guide, a Halloween Fun E-book, Free Halloween games and recipes, free holiday cookbook, and a kids friendly recipes cookbook to have even more fun with the family. Go to http://www.amazingsalestechniques.blogspot.com and look for Halloween secrets! 
Filed under Holiday, Crafts by Anissa.
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October 6, 2007

Ask Anissa: Do you have Pumpkin decorating tips?

Updated October 7, 2007
I had an anonymous question, so, for Anonymous…..Here is some great information I found and thought you might enjoy.
Easy Tips for Creating the Perfect Halloween Pumpkin Decorations
Are you making a pumpkin lantern or other pumpkin decorations this Halloween? If so, here are seven tips to make this year's Halloween pumpkin your best ever!    

1. Plan your design carefully

It's important to decide what type of design you're going to use in advance. The design will determine the size, shape and colour of the pumpkin you select. Also consider if your pumpkin decoration will be a standalone centerpiece, or if you will have several pumpkins sitting together. If you just want the one, it will need to be large enough to make an impact and look good from all angles. If you're planning a display with several pumpkins, select pumpkins which will look good together, perhaps in a variety of shapes and sizes.

2. Make sure the pumpkin is in good condition

To ensure your Halloween pumpkin lasts as long as possible, buy one that is ripe and in excellent condition. Check for bruises, soft spots, mould, mildew etc, and remember that the flesh should be firm, and the stem should not look dried out. Pumpkins with smooth surfaces are easier to work with (although irregularities can add interesting aspects to your design too), and you might prefer to select one that is uniform in colour. After buying, be careful not to drop your pumpkin, and don't carry it around by the stem.

3. Choose a pumpkin that's the right size and shape

It's important to choose the right pumpkin for your planned design. Larger pumpkins are best for more complex designs, and smaller ones for simpler designs. A round pumpkin might work better with a scary face, whereas a tall pumpkin is preferable for an elongated design like a sitting cat or a ghost. If you're using a pre-made template, medium-sized pumpkins are usually best, unless otherwise specified.

4. Consider painting your pumpkin

Painted pumpkins are more unusual than the carved variety, but they last longer, and can be extremely eye-catching and attractive. Don't worry if you think you can't paint - it's really very easy! You can also enhance your carved pumpkin with a bit of paint. Check out my site (url below) for more information about easy pumpkin painting.

5. Use the right tools

Selecting the right tools for the job can make carving your pumpkin a lot easier. If you're really serious about pumpkin carving, you can buy special saws and other specialist tools designed just for carving pumpkins. These can make the carving process quicker, and are especially good if you're doing the more complex designs. But you can also get excellent results with the everyday tools you probably already have around the house, such as thin, long-bladed knives for cutting the flesh, spoons for scooping it out and a pen or pencil for drawing the design onto the pumpkin's surface. Knives should be sharp, and sharper knives are actually safer to use, as less force is needed.

6. Add a few extras

After carving or painting your pumpkin, you can dress it up further by adding extras like glitter, sequins, beads, wigs, hats, false noses etc. Just be careful about using flammable materials if you're adding a candle to your pumpkin to make a lantern.

7. Prolong the life of your pumpkin

Carved pumpkins usually tend to deteriorate within a few days, but you can help to prolong the life of your pumpkin by smearing the exposed surfaces with petroleum jelly. You can also buy special sprays designed for this purpose. Covering your carved pumpkin with cling film and keeping it in the fridge when not on display can also help. Bear in mind that painted pumpkins last longer than carved ones, so you might want to consider adding a painted pumpkin or two to your Halloween decorations for extra longevity and variety.

Bear these points in mind, and you're sure to create a beautiful, long-lasting pumpkin decoration this Halloween!

Melania Karel is entranced by all things supernatural and Halloween-related, and is webmaster of Halloween-o-Pedia, a treasure trove of spooky information and resources, including information about pumpkin painting and other forms of decoration.  

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Melania_Karel

Filed under Holiday by Anissa.
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