Pumpkin Carving Ideas

Carving pumpkins is one of my favourite Halloween traditions. It's a wonderful way for a family to spend time together exploring their creativity. It's always fun to come up with new designs, and today, I'm sharing the pumpkins that my boys and I created this year.

Of course, my hockey loving boys wanted a hockey player pumpkin, so we painted this tribute to our favourite team. Go Leafs Go!

We also used a "scraping" technique to make a Maple Leaf pumpkin.

And, of course, we had to carve a traditional scary pumpkin face. Pretty fun, right?

I love how our pumpkins turned out this year. We used three different techniques, had lots of fun, and devoured a feast of roasted pumpkin seeds.

Did you carve pumpkins this year? What techniques and designs did you use? I'm already looking for inspiration for next year. Happy Halloween!

♥ 
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

Simple Halloween DIY... using dollar store push lights

A few years ago, I created a mummy door using white streams and eyes made from card stock. Since then, I've been recreating my festive Halloween door annually... but this year, I decided to "take it up a notch". This year, I used streams of cheese cloth and glowing eyes!

For the eyes, I used "push lights" that I got at the dollar store. They are inexpensive and battery operated.

Then, I used Sharpies to transform the "push lights" into eyeballs, and I attached strong magnets to the back with hot glue.

I used tape to attach strips of cheesecloth to my front door, and then I attached the eyes. (My door is metal, so they attach easily with the magnets. If your door isn't metal, I would suggest try Command strips.)

The eyes look adorable during the day, but are even more impressive at night!

This is a seriously simple Halloween DIY. It's a small project that has a big impact... and your children and guests will be frightfully impressed!

Happy Halloween!

♥ 
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

PS - You can find more easy and inexpensive Halloween ideas here.

5 Minute Ghost Garland

Sometimes the simplest little crafts are the best, and the craft I am sharing today could not be easier... or more adorable! You are going to be amazed at how quickly you can make a super-cute ghost garland. It's the perfect Halloween craft, and it takes less than 5 minutes.

To make the 5 minute ghost garland, you'll need: yarn, googly eyes, hot glue, and a scrap of cardboard.

Then:

1) Cut a piece of cardboard about 6 inches wide.

2) Wrap the yarn around the box. I did mine about 40 times.... but it will depend on how thick your yarn is and how fluffy you want your ghosts.

3) Tie a piece of yarn around one end of the wrapped yarn.

4) Cut the other end with sharp scissors.

5) Fluff the yarn to make a ghost shape.

6) Use hot glue to attach googly eyes.

The ghosts can then be hung from a piece of yarn or twine. I just place them over the yarn, and they hung nicely.

Isn't this ghost garland a darling project for Halloween? It's a fun piece of Halloween decor, and anyone can make it! Minimal craftiness required. :-)

♥ 
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

PS - You can find some more easy and inexpensive Halloween ideas here.

EYEball Halloween Treats... with free printable tags

No child should feel left out during the holidays, so I think it is important to have allergy-friendly treat options available at Halloween. Each year, I strive to come up with unique, easy and inexpensive treats for my boys to share with thei classmates. This year, my 8 year old is bringing these adorable eyeball glasses with super-cute packaging.

I found "eyeball" bags to package the "eyeball" glasses, and I designed "EYE hope you have a FANGtastic Halloween!" tags. For my son, I used Picmonkey.com to transform his photo into a picture of a vampire, but I also designed some generic tags that you can download for free (below).

Here is what the treat looks like using the generic tags. Cute, right?

To download the tags I designed: right-click on the picture below, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 4X6 photo.

I love how cute these treats are, and it makes me happy that ALL the kids in the class will be able to enjoy them.

Will your little ones be sharing Halloween treats with their classmates this year? Will you have allergy-friendly treats ready to hand out to trick-or-treaters? I hope you enjoy the free printable tags I am sharing today. I really think they up the cuteness factor, don't you?

♥ 
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

Halloween Class Treats: FANGS (with free printable tags)

My boys love taking Halloween treats to school, but nutrition and allergies are always concerns. So, each year I challenge myself to come up with a sugar-free and allergy-safe option that is easy, inexpensive and fun. This year, I found fang whistles at Walmart and I packaged them up with cute little tags. I'm sharing the details and a few "free" tag options below!

The first tags I designed using Picmonkey.com. (You can use any photo editing software, but I love Picmonkey because it's free and easy to use.) I turned my son's picture into a picture of a vampire, and I added a "Have a FANGtastic Halloween!" note. Cute, right?

I also created a generic tag that you can download for free.

To download and use the tag I designed (for free): right-click on the picture below, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 4X6 photo.

I love the way these treats turned out, and the fact that they are allergy-friendly means that no one in the class will feel left out.

Are you planning to send Halloween treats to school this year? What are you planning to send? I have a bunch of different options on my blog, but this "FANG"tastic treat idea is one of my favourites!

♥ 
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

FREE Halloween Printable (Eat, Drink, and Be Scary)

Who doesn't love simple (and FREE) DIY home decor... especially for the holidays? Recently, I designed a fun purple and orange Halloween print, and today I am sharing it with you. You can download the 8X10 print for FREE, and pop it in an inexpensive dollar store. Cute, right?

There is nothing frightening about this "Eat, Drink, and Be Scary" print. It is pure cuteness!

To download the print: right-click on the picture below, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 8X10 print. (I printed mine at a local copy store for 39 cents!)

I hope you take a minute to download and print this cute Halloween Print. It will definitely be a unique and inexpensive addition to your home decor on October 31st.

♥ 
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

Eat, Drink and Be Scary (allergy safe Halloween treats for kids)

Halloween should be safe, inclusive and fun... so it's important to be aware that many children have life threatening food allergies. If you see a child with a teal pumpkin this Halloween, make sure you have a non-food treat ready to give them. Sending allergy safe treats to class parties is important too. Today, I am sharing a simple allergy safe Halloween treat and FREE printable tags.

The dollar store sells many cute Halloween straws. I packaged mine with a peanut-free chocolate bar, and I attached a note that says, "Eat, Drink, and Be Scary!" Cute, right?

To download the free printable tags I designed: right-click on the photo below, safe it to your computer, and print it like a regular 4X6 photo.

I love the idea of handing out non-candy Halloween options, don't you? It is such a perfect solution when nutrition policies and allergies are concerns. Everyone should have the opportunity to have a Happy Halloween!

♥ 
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)