Go Teal this Halloween

 

I am putting out a teal pumpkin this Halloween to let everyone know that we are not giving out candy.  We have decided to give out small toys instead.  I am doing this as part of the Teal Pumpkin Project started in 2014 by the Food Allergy Research & Education (F.A.R.E).  The projects seeks to include children who would otherwise be excluded from Halloween.  This includes kids with food allergies and celeriac disease.

My niece has type 1 diabetes.  She can eat candy as long as she has enough insulin to accommodate what she chooses to eat, but often nutritional information is left off the candy she receives while trick or treating.  If it is brand we are familiar with then we know the carbs in the candy to calculate her insulin, but there are a lot of candy we can only guess at.  So usually there is a bunch of candy she cannot have and the majority of the candy she keep sits in a drawer until next Halloween.   I think a few prizes would make her Halloween a little more fun.

Mermaid Hair Don't Care

What does Mermaid hair look like you ask?  Since Mermaids are mythical creatures there hair can look like anything you want.  The iconic Disney mermaid princess Ariel has causes an association between red hair and mermaid tails but there are other design routes you can make with your costume hair. 

Wet Hair

Personally, I think mermaid hair would mostly be wet because they spend some much time submerged it water.   So you could actually head out to your costume party with wet hair or if you rather a more dry option you can sculpt you hair to get the "wet look."

Check out this tutorial on the wet hair look.

Beach Waves
I suppose when they take a breathe and enjoy the sun above the water their hair would  have a beach wave texture due to the salt water.  So wavy hair might give your more mermaid an more authentic hair style (can there be an authentic look when talking about mythical sea creatures?).   You can keep your costume look simple by adding some waves to your own locks or you can go wild to create a more colorful mermaid style.  

If you need help creating beach waves.  Check out this youtube video by Jesssouthern.

Mermaid Hair (Bright Multi-colored hair)

Mermaid hair, if you check out the images on google, features multi colored hair usually embracing soft waves.  This is a big hair commitment but you can always use wigs or extensions to add a little magic to your hairstyle.

For those who actually want to make the jump to bright colored hair.  Here is a tutorial for you.

DIY Mermaid Headband

Do you want to dress up your mermaid costume?  Perhaps, give your costume a custom look? If so, this easy DIY Mermaid Headband may be what you are looking for to jazz up your basic costume.

What you need
Seashells
headband
faux pearl, various sizes or color
fake flowers
ribbon
burlap
glue gun
imagination

You can actually use whatever you like to create this custom headband.  I use a combination of supplies I had on hand and items purchased at my local dollar store.

In this version of the craft I covered a basic headband with burlap and wrapped around some teal fabric.  I fastened it with hot glue.  I added the shells, then the flowers and finally the faux peals.  On one side I used a piece of plastic grass to attach two peals,  It kind of looks like they got caught in the headband floating around in the sea.

I like that all the stuff on the headband looks like it could have been found in the sea.

This is another headband I did using the same supplies,  Instead of flowers I accented it with spiral seashells.  The headband recipient did not like these spiral shells so I later replaced them with a white shell that looked like the rest and added some flowers and rhinestones.

The fun part of this craft project is that you can customize it to get the look you want.  If you do not like the look of the burlap just adhere shells to basic headband for a more classic pretty mermaid style.  I personally like the texture the burlap adds to the headband which is why I used it for both designs.

The main thing is to have fun and to add a little whimsy to your cosplay or Halloween costume.

Shadow Box for Halloween

Looking for a new way to decorate for Halloween?  Why not create a spooky shadow box to hang on your wall.

This youtube video shows one such design to inspire you.  I found a lot of unique shadow boxes on pinterest that are sure to inspire you to create your own unique box.

DIY Standing Ghost

Ghost sitting on my shelf

This Halloween craft is easy (though, a tad on the messy side) and will add some spooky fun to your home decor.

What You Need
Glue
Water
cheese cloth
plastic pop bottle
foam ball
tape
wooden dowel or sticks
knife

You are going to need to create a silhouette to drape the cheese cloth over.  You want to create the ghost shape.

Just slice to holes in each side of your pop bottle.  Pop in your sticks.  Tape them securely to the pop bottle so they look like outstretched arms.

For the top you will need to tape on a foam ball.  Cover with plastic wrap if you are worried about the cheesecloth sticking to your model.  Soak the cheese cloth in a solution of water and glue.  Pull out and drape over the form until completely covered.  Wait until the form is dry. Remove form carefully from cheese cloth. It should be able to stand on it's own.  Decorate it, place an led light in the center or leave it as to create your ghost decoration.

Garden Gnomes for Halloween?

This Halloween the garden gnomes get in on the action.   I discovered these Ghastly Garden Gnomes last year when I trying to find new Halloween decorations.  Aren't they absolutely creepy?

Image by Shawn DeWolfe reproduced under CC BY 2.0 license

Witch Decor

When decorating for Halloween it is fun to have a theme.  You could go with skulls, witches or goblins,

The article Haunted House Makeover: Witch Edition provides you a map for turning a room in your home into a hobble fit for a wicked witch.

Think cauldrons, spell books and black cats as you dream of a spooky room guaranteed to give all that pass through your doors shivers down their spines.