Free Patterns: Easy Halloween Dog Tee's and Costumes

Lark Crafts is giving away free dog costume patterns from my book, Bow Wow WOW!  Pop on over and download a PDF today!

Lots of low sew ideas!

Make a DIY Halloween place setting with scrapbook papers and Mod Podge.

Anyone who has been to my house for a holiday meal, knows that I "heart" chargers - as nuts as it sounds....I really do just like the way they frame a plate.  So when I was working on Halloween ideas and came across black chargers at the dollar store...I was a bit smitten and inspired!

You only need a few things...... {{Gather This}}

Glass Plate
Pencil
Scrapbook Paper
Mod Podge
Foam Paintbrush
Torn Book Pages
Folkart Metallic Paint in Silver
Paper Towel

 Begin by tracing a circle from scrapbook paper.  This should be sized to fit the base of the plate.

 Apply a coat of Mod Podge to the printed side of the paper.

Apply a second coat of Mod Podge to the back of the paper.

Place the paper in the center (backside) of the plate.  Press any air bubbles with your fingers, smooth your brushstrokes.  Use a damp paper towel to clean any Mod Podge that is brushed over the edge of the paper.  Allow to dry.  Hand wash the top only with a damp rag.  Don't submerge in water.

Working on the charger, Mod Podge torn book pages around the center of the charger.  Allow to dry.

Scrunch a damp paper towel into a ball.  Dip the paper towel into silver paint.  Tap paint around the edges.  Allow to dry.

Finished Charger.

 

Layer the plate over the charger.

Make This: Frida Inspired Paper-mache Skull for Day of The Dead.

Paper-mache Skull for Day of The Dead.

I love Mod Podging with old book pages....they create such interesting textures and prints.  I usually pick up used paperbacks at my local thrift shop for under 50 cents.  My favorite are the old romance novels....they are so fun to read while you craft!  LOL.

This was designed for Plaid and was featured in our 2011 Halloween designs.  You can see our page at Plaid here.

{Gather This}For this project you will only need a few supplies.....

Paper-mache skull (this was from Michaels)
Old book pages (cut into small squares)
Mod Podge Gloss
Foam Paintbrush
Hot Glue Gun Helpers
Hot Glue
Lace
Paper Flowers
Feather Trim
Sturdy Paper Box
Folkart Acrylic Paint - 661 Metallic Sequin Black
Folkart Acrylic Paint – 2578 Leaf Green

 Coat the backand front of the book pages with Mod Podge, position onto the skull, smooth any airbubbles with your finger and top coat with a layer of Mod Podge. Continueadding more papers until the entire skull is covered.  Allow to Dry. 
 

 Cut a strip of lace to be the veil.Gather the lace with your fingers and attach using hot glue.  Be sure to wear Hot Glue Gun Helpers so you don't burn your finger. 
 

Hot glue feathers, flowers and other embellishments.  {{see the broken earring glued to the side?}} You can embellish the skull with almost anything that fits the theme.
 

Texture the top of the box by thickly applying random pounces of Mod Podge.  Allow to dry.

Dip the foam paintbrush into leaf green paint, tapoff the excess and tap onto the top of the box in a distressed fashion.  
 

 Paint the baseof the box with a foam paintbrush and black paint.   
 

 Hot glue the skull to the top of the box. Add more flowers and feathers around the base of the skull. 

Halloween Witch Crafts: Kids Milk Jug Pinata

Kids will go batty for this milk jug pinata! Made with Mod Podge and tissue paper! This Mod Podge project was designed for Plaid. Pop by my page at Plaid to see this project and tons more ideas!!!


Materials Needed:
FolkArt One Stroke Brushes - Script Liner, #1
FolkArt Artists Pigments - Pure Black
FolkArt Artists Pigments - Titanium White
FolkArt Metallics - Gunmetal Gray
Mod Podge Gloss
Filbert brush
Plastic milk/water jug (1 gallon)
Craft knife
Candy
Masking tape
Scissors
Tissue paper - Lime Green
Foam paintbrush
Tacky Glue
Black felt square
One 2" Styrofoam ball
Two Googly eyes
Egg carton
Yarn
Skewer
Tape

Steps:

1. Make sure the milk container is clean and dry before starting. Cut a U-shaped flap in the back of the milk jug with a craft knife (parents help with the knife).

2. Fill the jug with candy and tape the flap closed with a small piece of masking tape. This is just to hold the flap down as you add tissue paper, so you only need to use a little bit of tape.

3. Cut your tissue paper into small (roughly 2") squares and paste them to the jug with Mod Podge. Put as many or as few layers of tissue paper for your desired look, but be sure to cover the opening with two to three layers this will hold the flap down just enough so that the pinata will be able to burst open when hit. Allow the Mod Podge to dry thoroughly.

4. For hair cut jagged bangs into the felt and glue to the pinata (use the photo for placement reference).

5. Using the craft knife, slice the Styrofoam ball in half. Press your finger into the dome portion of the ball for the Googly eyes. Glue the eyes into the wells on the balls. Glue the eyes to the pinata.

6. Just above the eyes paint a scar across the forehead and a squiggle on the chin with Pure Black paint and a detail brush. Paint a squared mouth with the Pure Black paint using the larger brush. Paint teeth using the Titanium White paint.

7. Cut 2 egg sections from the egg carton. Paint them with the Gunmetal Grey paint. Glue to the sides of the head with tacky glue.

8. Using the tip of the craft knife. Poke a small hole in the top back of the pinata. Poke a second hole in the back of the pinata about 1" down from the top. Tape a long piece of yarn to a skewer and thread through the two holes. Tie a knot in the yarn to secure and hang.

DIY: Altered Witch Hat Centerpiece

 Altered Witch Hat Centerpiece

 This was designed for Plaid!  See our page here.

{{Gather This}}

Paper Mache Witches Hat

Foam Paintbrush

FolkArt Metallics Sequin Black

Torn BookPages

Mod Podge Gloss

Hot Glue Gun Helpers

Tulle

Feather Trim

Paper Flowers

Halloween Embellishments

 MaKe...

The basic steps for making the hat are: Paint the hat with metallic sequin black paint. Use two coats if needed. Allow to Dry. Tear the book pages into strips. Size them to fit around the pointed end of the hat. Coat the back of each one with Mod Podge, position onto the hat, smooth any air bubbles with your finger and top coat with a layer of Mod Podge. Allow to Dry.

 Lets Embellish!

Using hot glue and Hot Glue Gun Helpers, attach tulle and feather trim around the brim of the hat. Attach Halloween embellishments to the front and brim of the hat. Finish off the design by gluing paper flowers around the embellishments.

Closer look >>>>>Do you see the old earring dangling?  I love using old broken bits of jewelry as embellishments.  Also - The skull cabochon is from my shop.  If you like her, then you might like this project as well>>> Halloween Votive Holder.

 I love how the ornaments add a little pop of color and sheen.

DIY Halloween Bubbles

 Halloween Bubbles

Does the idea of kids and Halloween candy leave chills up your spine, holes in your teeth and nightmares of kids running around in circles for hours on end in your head?  Fear not!  I have a solution that will keep the little ones busy and the dentist happy.  B U B B L E S!!

 

These bubbles are traditionally for weddings and celebrations but with a little DIY makeover they can easily be transformed into frightfully fun bubbles.

{{Gather This}}

bubbles

scrapbook paper

hot glue

hot glue gun helpers

google eyes

mesh fabric or trim (this one was from Jo-Anns)

paper flowers

coffin box or other box (this one was from Michaels)

folkart paint black metallic

foam paintbrush

paper graphic

more paper flowers

gems

embellishments

Trim the paper to fit around the bubble container (leave a little extra for overlapping).  Add a drop of hot glue to one side of the bubble container.

Place the paper into the hot glue.  Wrap around and secure the end with a drop of hot glue.  Repeat for each bottle.

I LOVE google eyes!

Hot google eyes to the tops of the bubbles.

Cut strips of mesh fabric to fit a few times around the bottle.  Using a hot glue gun helper finger cap, hot glue the mesh around the bottle.

Hot glue a paper flower to the front center of the bottle.

Make as many as desired.

Dry brush paint the coffin box with metallic black paint.  The dry brushing effect will create haunted streaks.  To dry brush, dip the brush into paint, tap off almost all the paint and with a very light hand, paint the coffin box.

 Decorate the box by hot gluing paper cutouts, flowers and gems to the side of the box.  Load teh box with bubbles and pass out to the kids....or keep them for your self!

P.S. Grown-ups love them too!

101 Snappy Fashions: Whip Up A Baby Costume!

Whip up a
pumpkin costume
for your little one!

This project picture is from my book, 101 Snappy Fashions!

Get ready to say boo and show off your Halloween spirit! This design is so easy to make and it is endless how many different pumpkin faces you could make.

This pumpkin design looks so sweet and cute but, if you wanted to make a more gothic design, consider using cutout felt skulls, bats or a witch silhouette.


Materials:
Orange Baby Snapsuit (or a dyed one)
Black Felt
Embroidery Floss – Yellow
Green Trim

Steps:

1.Cutout facial features from felt for the pumpkin face. Triangles for the eyes and nose and a big smile for the mouth.

2.Using embroidery floss, attach the felt to the snapsuit with a running stitch.

3.Hand stitch green trim around the neckline.

DIY Ghostly Candy Bowl

DIY Ghostly Candy Bowl

{{designed for Plaid with Mod Podge in mind}}

Materials:

Large clear plastic bowl

Cheesecloth – 2 yards

Foam paintbrush

Mod Podge ® Gloss, 16 oz.

Plaid ® Hot Glue Gun Helpers

Hot glue

Lace

Feathers

Ornament balls

Paper flowers

 Place the bowl upside down on a tall sturdy object so it is about 5” from your work surface. Coat the outside of the bowl with a thick layer of Mod Podge.

 Here is a side view...

 Cut the cheesecloth into 5 pieces; place the pieces in the Mod Podge on the bowl. (let the pieces hand over the edge in a ghostly manor) Add more Mod Podge to the cheesecloth until it is completely glued to the bowl. Allow to dry.

 Add more Mod Podge to the cheesecloth if needed.

{{flowers are from my etsy shop}}

Using hot glue and Hot Glue Gun Helpers  attach lace, feathers, balls, flowers, etc. to the edge of the bowl. Fill with candy.

DIY: Halloween Votives

This past weekend I was working on some Halloween designs.  I adore these Victorian skull cabochons...I started stocking them in my shop about a month ago and they are going like crazy.  I realized that I need to make a few goodies with them before the Halloween season is over. So of course I got out my hot glue and mod podge..... :)

Begin with a votive candle holder.  This one has a slight distressed / mercury glass look.  Grab some scrapbook paper, make a template of the glass (add extra to one side for overlapping), cut the template from scrapbook paper.

Coat the back of the paper with Mod Podge and wrap around the candle holder.

Overlap across the back and top coat with a layer of Mod Podge.

 Hot glue a strip of wide pleated or lacy ribbon around the center of the candle holder.

I used this one from my supply shop.

Glue a narrower ribbon down the center of the wide ribbon.  I used the black metallic ribbon from my shop.

Last I glued one of the Victorian skull cabs in the center of the votive.  I just love it!

Enjoy,
Cathie