Category Archives: Holidays/Parties

Halloween Milk Jug Ghost / Pumpkins

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I started this project thinking I was going to make ghosts, but some of the faces I made sort of look like pumpkin faces.  So, I’m declaring these “Milk Jug Pumpkins”.  It was so simple, I think the hardest part was remembering to not recycle the jugs.  I collected these over a few weeks, but I wish I would have had more.  I think I’ll add-on to this idea next year with my original intent – Ghosts!

Here’s a list of supplies you’ll need:

  1. Milk jugs – I love the one 1/2 gallon jug I found.  I’ll have to add a few more next time
  2. Black Sharpie Markers
  3. Scissors
  4. Box Cutter
  5. Christmas Lights (white for ghosts, orange for pumpkins)
  6. Google – used it to find different ideas for the faces

It’s really simple.  Clean out the jugs and let dry.  Draw faces on with black sharpies, I went over the faces twice, it made them darker.  Then I cut 2 holes on back side, first using the box cutter to start the hole, then the scissors to make it larger.  The hole should be about the size of a half dollar, then fish the lights through and keep the jugs in a row.  Plug them in and there you have it, Pumpkins!

These will travel great in the camper and I will line my sidewalk for Halloween at home.  Now, the house is almost fully decorated, bring on the trick or treaters.  How do you decorate your site/house?  Have you ever tried to make some of the decorations yourself?

Halloween Wreath

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I wanted to do some decorations for Halloween that I could use not only at home, but the camper as well.  Halloween weekends are pretty big when you camp and EVERYONE decorates their campers.  It’s amazing some of the stuff you might see.  We’ve seen a straw maze, full-blown pirate ship, haunted house, and many cemeteries.  We don’t have that much stuff, and I’m more of an inside decorator than outside.  And that’s where the wreath comes in.

I found the idea on Pinterest and decided I could do that!  This is what you’ll need:

  1. 2 6 foot black boas
  2. Various googly eyes
  3. 1″ and 1 1/2″ styrofoam balls
  4. 12″ styrofoam wreath form
  5. Hot glue gun
  6. Black spray paint (optional)
  7. Colored ribbon (optional)

I thought it would be a good idea to spray my wreath form black before I started, just in case some of the boa moves over the years, or in case I didn’t wind it around tight enough.

I sprayed both sides and let dry for a few hours, then got started on the assembly.  I used the hot glue gun and put glue in small sections (otherwise the glue dries too fast and the boa won’t stick) and started to wind the boa around the wreath.

While the completely wrapped wreath dried I assembled my eyes.  I used different size googly eyes on each foam ball set.  I left them in odd parings.  I once heard you should always do parings in odd numbers or it looks too uniform.  I glued the eyeballs on first, then attached each pair together before I glued them on to the wreath.

Finally I added purple ribbon to the wreath to hang, I tried to find orange but my Michael’s didn’t have any in stock, and I’m happy now that I have the purple.

My kids loved it and its light enough to travel with us in the camper.  Now, just where to hang it since I can’t put nails in the camper walls.   Hummm…..

Relaxing On Labor Day

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We got down here on Thursday night, and it was a pretty quick drive.  Sterling State Park is a little over an hour from our home so it’s not too long of a ride for me.  We had great weather for Michigan. It was hot and over 90 on Friday, and a perfect day for the beach.  The water was surprisingly warm; since it’s a great lake I expected it to be chilly.  Our warm summer has helped to make the water bearable.   The kids had a blast and could walk out 100 yds., with the water still below their bellies.

Hurricane Isaac stayed at bay until Saturday night, we got some light showers, which forced us to finish watching the Michigan/Alabama game huddled under our awning.

Sunday was much like the rest, beach time, bike riding, games, campfire and of course eating!  I made my camping staple, rice kripsy treats, but something went horrible wrong.  They we’re a solid rock and nearly broke a tooth trying to eat one.
We always bring glow sticks with us for the kids.  I originally started buying them to help keep track of the kids in the dark/dusk, but now they like to make crazy things.  Not sure what it was, but it was a full moon, so I guess we blame that for the crazyness.

How was your holiday?

Halloween Camping Decorations – Part 2

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We’re going to HarborTown this year for Halloween and I’m already starting to plan how to decorate our camper and campsite.  Everyone at the park really gets into decorating and it’s usually one of the busiest weekends.  Most parks shut down the roads so there’s no cars, and the kids can safely Trick or Treat.  I have the typical spiders, bats, headstones, etc. but wanted to bring it up a notch this year.
Here’s some inspiration so far:

Huge Spider Webs:
I have 1 large spider and love this look.
Adding additional spider, twigs and leaves would make it look more authentic.

Eyes in Bushes & Trees:
I found these two ideas for the bushes and trees.  Using both looks together will be impressive.  The eyes will fill in the space during the day and at night the toilet paper roll will glow.

Daytime eye idea from Better Homes & Garden

Nighttime eye idea from ThriftyCraftyGirl

Frankenstein Door:
We have two doors on our campers, and I’d love to do this to one of them
Great idea via Mel-Designs

For our other door and windows, I want to do this and I’ll have to make these.

Have any other ideas for decorating for Halloween?  Would love to share!

Halloween Camping Decorations

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Halloween is a major holiday for campers, and decorating is more fun than at home sometimes.  This year we’re going to the Port Huron, MI KOA and they have a cool offer.  If you book one of the Halloween Weekends, you get Thursday night free to come early and set up.  That got my planning gears going, I am a Virgo afterall ;-) Each year we invite friends and family to come to the campground and make a major event out of the day.  I have some of the traditional decorations, but I’ve been searching for something more unique.  I love the idea of glitter pumpkins:

After reading a few posts, it looks like something I can handle doing with the help of my little monsters.  I’ve also seen some with feather boas, glitter, feathers and glue what could go wrong?

And speaking of monster, I also found these monster jars from Crazy Domestic and couldn’t pass these up:

I’ll be heading to Michaels this weekend to start my crafting.  What other cool, unique Halloween decorations have you seen?