Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween my lovely crafty friends! I hope you have a wonderful time doing whatever you will be doing today. We had a blast at our Halloween party last night as Jon and Kate (minus 8). Mr. Designs by Vanessa rocked a bedazzled Ed Hardy shirt (that I found on the clearance rack...do guys actually wear these?) and I put clear scrapbook embellishment jewels on his ears for earrings. I love that I have a husband that doesn't complain when I want to embellish his ears lol! I think I totally pulled off Kate's hairstyle, but don't worry, I won't be going blonde anytime soon. My glitterfied pumpkins (à la Martha Stewart) are out and my tutu cute wreath is hung...bring on the trick or treaters!

How To: Worms and Dirt Pudding

Halloween is almost here and I don't know about you but I'm getting super excited! There is actually a chill in the Arizona air right now and it is finally starting to feel fallish. Mr. Designs by Vanessa and I are headed to a Halloween party tonight (as Jon & Kate Plus 8) so I whipped up this super easy dessert to share.

The Equipment:
Mixing Bowl
Whisk
Ziploc Freezer Bag
Mixing Spoon
Serving Bowl

The Ingredients:
Chocolate Jello Pudding (serves 6)
8oz Cool Whip Light
1 Package of Chocolate Oreo Cookies
Gummy Worms
Fat Free Milk


Step 1: Prepare the Jello pudding as directed on the box. I used fat free milk to cut down on the calories (the Oreos will have enough calories to go around).


Step 2: Chill your pudding in the refrigerator and start crumbling up those cookies. You can stick a few cookies in a ziploc bag and use a rolling pin (or your hands) to crush them. Kids love to help with this part.


Step 3: Mix in half of your crumbs and the full tub of cool whip into your pudding.


Step 4: Spoon into your serving dish (or you can keep the mixture in your mixing bowl) and top with the rest of your crumbs and gummy worms. It is difficult to tell how big the bowl is by the picture but this should serve around 10 people.


Step 5: Enjoy your worms and dirt! For birthday parties you can use a new flower pot as your serving bowl and add a fake flower to the top.


Add your Worms and Dirt Pudding photos to the Designs by Vanessa Tutorial Flickr Group.

Terrorific Tuesday

Trick or Treat!
Frame and post it note holder dressed for Halloween

Costumed Kokeshi Dolls
Try out a Halloween idea for a traditional Japanese doll with Crafterella

Halloween Mask
Phyllis Dobbs created a fun and easy Halloween mask - great for adults and kids!

Fun Halloween Lanterns
Stephenie Hamen accessorizes plain paper lanterns with her paper punches.

Black Widow & Bloody Necklaces
Pattie Wack uses 3-D paint to create chokers that will creep out your party guests!

Tutu Cute Halloween Wreath
Vanessa creates an inspired wreath made of tulle!

Mad Scientist Party
Amy of Living Locurto shares a slew of fun ideas to host your own Mad Scientist Party.

Halloween Zombie Dolls
Crafty Chica shows how to add some zombie love to your decor!

Halloweenies!
Boopsie Daisy shares some of the wonderful Halloween dollies that she dreams up!

Crafty Chica's Ghost Story!
Kathy Cano-Murillo shares a haunted crafty tale!

Halloween Cone Witches
Make these cute little paper cone witches for Halloween!

Halloween Leftovers
Mel takes the leftovers from last week's project and makes a cool Goth choker!

Brenda Pinnick Halloween Owls
Seasonal Owls for Scaring or Delighting Trick or Treaters

The Impatient Crafter
Margot creates another spooktacular mixed media necklace with a bite.

Halloween Batty Windchime
Heidi Borchers creates a super cute windchime with personality!

Kitschy Kitschy BOO
Add some Halloween flair to your day with this cute kitschy bracelet and earring combo!

Simple Halloween Gift Tags
Studio Mama makes a strong impact with these quick and easy tags!

Strands of Beads
Melissa once again gives some pretty flower beads a Gothic makeover with this simple earring design

Costume Fun
Sharron Westerfield shares her passion for costume-making and the joy it brings her grandchildren.

Return of the Birthday Zombie
Candace is cracking herself up with this ghoulish gift box idea

Doodle Pumpkin
Swelldesigner a.k.a. Alexa Westerfield shows you how to make a fun pumpkin on the fly!

Trick or Treat?

After discovering these yummy tutorials, I pick treat! Can you tell that I love Halloween? Well I do! I mean, come on, how often do you get to dress up and go around asking for candy (without seeming creepy that is)? By the way, I promise to blog about something other than Halloween after this week...maybe!

Halloween Cupcakes - Bakerella

Halloween Marshmallows - Distracted Gourmet

Pumpkin Party Glasses - Holiday Crafts and Creations

How To: Shark Infested Jello

Just when you thought it was safe to serve your guests a Halloween treat...

This shark infested jello is super simple to make and will be the hit of your Halloween party. When I say shark, I mean more of a fishy looking shark (a fishark) - partly because I couldn't find shark gummies but mainly because Swedish fish taste better (in my opinion) and look cuter. Yes, Halloween can still be cute!

The Equipment:
Mixing Bowl
Mixing Spoon
Clear Serving Bowls

The Ingredients:
Blue Jello
Swedish Fish


Step 1: Prepare the Jello as directed on the box.


Step 2: After mixing the ingredients together you can chill your jello for an hour, add your fishark, and refrigerate for another 4 hours before serving. I wasn't a fan of how the fishark tasted or looked after being soaked in jello so I just added my fishark to the top of the Jello.

Step 3: Serve and enjoy!


Add your Shark Infested Jello photos to the Designs by Vanessa Tutorial Flickr Group.

How To: Tutu Cute Halloween Wreath

I was searching my favorite blogs for Halloween inspiration when I came across this adorable Tutu Cute Halloween Wreath Tutorial by Baby Rabies. Be warned, baby fever is extremely contagious at this blog. For my version of the Tutu Cute Halloween Wreath I added a "spooky" sign in the middle and being the big chicken that I am, this is about as spooky as I get! Because my door is freakishly big (seriously they built the doorways in this home to the specifications of an NBA player), I decided to go with the XL straw wreath and used about 3 1/2 rolls of tulle to make it extra fluffy.




Add your Tutu Cute Halloween Wreath photos to the Designs by Vanessa Tutorial Flickr Group.

Terrorific Tuesday

Spooky Spider House
Silvia creates a miniature haunted house that is spooky and oh-so fun!

Witchy Embroidered Postcard
Sharron Westerfield brews up a whimsical witch postcard

The Impatient Crafter
Vintage plastic owls become the focal point of a charming necklace you can wear for Halloween and all year round!

Pumpkin and cat felt treat bag
Felt bag that can also be made as a wall hanging or door hanger

Cheryl Ball's Halloween Door Hangers
Create these door hangers from inexpensive gloves for Trick of Treaters

My Big Mouth
Make a creepy wire tree just in time for Halloween!

Mel's Day of the Dead Necklace
Linked chain, skulls and spiderwebs for Dia de los Muertos

Crafty Chica's Matchbook Shrines
Adorable little folding shrines that fit in your pocket!

Paper Pumpkin
Make a plump paper pumpkin from some strips of paper plus a little Halloween craftiness!

Polymer Clay Zombie
Candace's diabolical plan to populate the world with zombies continues!

The Impatient Crafter for iLoveToCreate
Make a retro style styrofoam ornament into a fab Halloween Party centerpiece! Madge shows you how using iLoveToCreate products!

How to Make a Spooky Spice Rack
Come make a spooky spice rack with Crafterella, she's sharing her unique labels with everyone!

Halloween Treat Tote
Conjure up a quick Halloween cupcake basket using new ScoreBoard dies!

Brenda Pinnick's Halloween Banner
A little scary, a little fun, this delightful banner celebrates all things Halloween. Made using Brenda Pinnick Sizzix dies, glitter and ribbon.

Creepy Candlesticks
Pattie Wack turns mini pumpkins into a boo-tiful Halloween lighting idea!

Strands of Beads
Melissa explores the holiday possibilities in a black and white checkered bead

Glow in the Dork Wall Hanging
Turn off the lights and have a laugh with this goofy wall hanging from Alexa Westerfield!

Picture Perfect Pumpkin
Vanessa Coppola turns a traditional pumpkin into a decoupaged masterpiece!

If you would like to join in the fun next week, e-mail Alexa at swelldesigner@yahoo.com and put in your subject line "Terrorific Tuesday". She'll get you added to the group!

How-To: The Picture Perfect Pumpkin

Happy Monday my crafty friends! Check out my latest tutorial that I wrote for Craftzine: The Picture Perfect Pumpkin. Happy decoupaging!



Add your Picture Perfect Pumpkin photos to the Designs by Vanessa Tutorial Flickr Group.

Halloween Goodness

I have scoured the internet in search of Halloween goodness and I think you will be spooked (in a good way) at what I found. Link your Halloween crafts & recipes in the comment section.

Fun Fall Cookies Recipe @ Stylish Cousine
Mmmm these candy corn cookies look delish!


I Scream Sandwiches @ Martha Stewart
How ridiculously adorable are these ice cream "sand-witch" hats?!

Jack the Hoop-o-lantern @ Betz White
Check out this super sweet Jack-o-lantern by Betz.


Free Printable Cup Sleeves @ Living Locurto
Drink your pumpkin spice latte in style.

Fabulous Finds

I have a serious (and I admit - irrational) fear of spiders but these little guys look harmless enough (maybe)...

Black Orange Spiderweb Doily by Shady Fibers

Fuzzy Pumpkin by thefuzzymonkey

Creepy Crawly Halloween Banner by Green Elephant Boutique

Fabulous Find

This pumpkin spice soap is totally makes me crave pumpkin pie...mmm with almond spiced whipped cream. Ok, I need to quickly look away before I ruin my diet. Luckily this yummy smelling goodness is calorie free.

Sweet Pumpkin Spice Goats Milk Soap by DancingMooney

Fabulous Finds

Have I mentioned that I love Halloween? Well I do! I love festive crafts, spooky decorations and pretty pumpkins. I'll be posting a few of my spooky craft tutorials soon but for now I'm off to add a little glitter to a pumpkin...

Petitie All Hallows' Eve Banner by heatheranndesigns

Coffee Sack Basket by Brin&Nohl

Piece of My Heart by LittleGrayPixel

Clowning Around

Halloween is quickly approaching and I can't wait! Yes, that would be yours truly as a clown when I was about 3 years old haha. My mom used to torture me dress me up in these ridiculous adorable handmade costumes. Oh how I don't miss my mom controlling my clothing choices anymore lol!

What will you be for Halloween?