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Trick or Treat? ….how about Party and Eat!

We’ve put together this Super Spooky Giveaway for all you Halloween haunters,with the help of amazing kids’ party box company, Acme Party Box Company and fantastic London based cupcakery, Buttercup Cake Shop.

Throw a pre Trick-Or-Treat Halloween Party with Acme’s handmade Halloween Skull Buntings and Halloween Crowns, Buttercup Cake Shop’s Halloween Cupcakes and a Halloween tee from Alexandalexa.com!

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GIVEAWAY WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28 at 6p.m GMT

- Good Luck! -

With Halloween tomorrow, the last minute preparations are bound to set you into overdrive, especially after a long week of

work, half term activities and Halloween excitement.

 

Always left to the last minute is the messiest Halloween necessity, the ever so sloppy, labour intensive,  Jack-O-Lantern.

Any way you slice it, carving such a large vegetable into a snaggletoothed ogre can be a bit of a challenge, especially

with youngsters.

 

This year, why not skip the monstrous mess and create a fun, stress free activity for you and the children by taking part in

‘Pumpkin Decorating’. Depending on the age of your children, the items you use to decorate will vary. Below are some

pictures to inspire you….now all you have to do is get started with your children using your very best Halloween

imagination and natural creativity!

 

Spotty Pumpkin

WHAT YOU WILL NEED: Spray Paint (pre-spray paint base), Markers or Paint (to make spots or other shapes)

  

 

 Ribbon Pumpkin

WHAT YOU WILL NEED: Ribbon, Hot Glue

 

 

Witchy Cat Pumpkin

WHAT YOU WILL NEED: Construction Paper, Tape, Markers

 

 

Blackboard Pumpkin

WHAT YOU WILL NEED: Blackboard Paint, Chalk

National Maritime Museum and The Queen’s House

When: Saturday, October 31, 2009 11:30-18:00

Price: £5/adult, £3.50/Child (Family ticket £15: for 2 adults + 2 children or 1 adult + 3 children)

Location: National Maritime Museum, Park Row, London, SE10 9NF

Transport: Greenwich/Maze Hill rail/Cutty Sark DLR

 

(Booking Required)

Booking:
   Online: www.nmm.ac.uk/tickets
   E-mail: [email protected]
   Tel: 020 8312 6608.
   The Bookings office is open 10.00-16.00

 

There is quite a lot going on at the National Maritime Museum throughout Halloween day which will surely

keep your youngsters busy until the trick-or-treating begins!

 

The Halloween events here are appropriate for the whole family and will include story-telling, workshops,

performances, music and much more.

 

Dress up in your Halloween costume and you could win a prize for best costume! All participants will receive a

certificate to say that they survived the scccccaaaaarrry Haunted House!

 

Spooky Sounds and Stories

Times: 11.30–13.30, 14.00–16.00

Description: Spooky music and story-telling for little ones.

Age: Suitable for age 5 and under.

Location: The Queen’s House

 

Ghastly Masks

Time: 11.30–16.00

Description: Make a ghastly mask of a witch, a devil or a ghostly spook, for the Zombie dance.

Age: Suitable for all ages.

Location: The Queen’s House

 

Phantom Paintings and Portraits

Time: 11.30–16.00

Description: Use portraits from the Queen’s House to make a portrait with spookily moving eyes.

Age: Suitable for 4+.

Location: The Queen’s House

 

Zombie Dance

Times: 11.45–12.20, 12.25–13.00, 13.25–14.00, 14.05–14.40, 14.45–15.20

Age: Suitable for all ages.

Description: Join in the dance sessions and learn how to do the moves from Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’.

Location: The Queen’s House

 

Ghost Encounters

Time: 11.30–13.00, 13.30–14.30 | 12.00–13.30, 14.00–15.00 | 13.00–14.30, 15.00–16.00

Age: Suitable for all ages.

Description: Find a ghost who will tell of some of the mysterious hauntings in the Queen’s House.

Location: The Queen’s House

 

Halloween Skies

Time: 14.45

Age: suitable for 5+; under-5s not admitted. All children must be accompanied by an adult.

Description: Come and find out what the night sky has to offer this Halloween in this Halloween-themed live

planetarium show, presented by an astronomer. Find out what myths and superstitions connect the night sky

and Halloween and why this spooky festival occurs on 31 October.

Location: Royal Observatory Greenwich; Planetarium

As Halloween draws nearer, options seem to be limited to the quick and easy pre-packaged costumes found on the

high street and Grandma’s old costume patterns which take about 10 hours too many to make.

 

What we often forget about is option number 3, the ‘pulled together’ costume, which can be made with materials that

are currentlyliving in the nooks and crannys of your house.

 

Option 3 is often the best option as it is inexpensive, creative, fun and results in a unique costume that both you and your

child can be proud of creating together!

 

Below are 9 quick and easy costume ideas to get you started:

 

1) PROPER PIRATE

MATERIALS

Scissors

Black sweatpants or Old Jeans

White Shirt

Red Sash or Rope

Bandana

Oversize black T-shirt

Hot-glue gun

Cardboard

Aluminum foil

Black Felt

String

DIRECTIONS

VEST

Cut arms off black T-shirt, cut neckline into a “V” then cut down front in the center to create the vest

TROUSERS

Cut off bottom of the sweatpant or jean legs jaggedly so they are just below knee length

SWORD

-Cut the cardboard in the shape of a sword

-Wrap the aluminum foil onto the ‘blade’ of the cardboard sword

-With the leftover material from the trousers, glue gun the fabric to the handle of the sword

EYE PATCH

-Using the left over material from your child’s trousers cut the shape of an eye patch out large enough to cover your

child’s eyes

-With a knife, cut two holes into the edges

-Cut the string in half and feed each piece separately though the hole you have created and tie a knot

-Place the eye patch over your child’s eye and tie the two separate pieces of string around his/her head

* Dress your child in the white shirt, vest and trousers and tie the red sash or rope around the child’s waist and tie

the bandana into a triangle and place around their head

 

2) PRECIOUS PRESENT

MATERIALS

Scissors

Wrapping paper

Tape

Ribbon

Glue Gun

 

DIRECTIONS

-Cover a large box with wrapping paper.  

-Make a hole in the bottom and top as well as two holes for the arms

-Tie a ribbon or place a bow onto your child’s head

 

3) SWEETHEART SWEATSUIT ANIMAL

MATERIALS

Sweatsuit

White pom, pom balls or cotton balls

Construction Paper

Glue or Pins

Facepaint

DIRECTIONS

(Bunny/Dog/Cat/Bear)

TAIL

-(DOG/CAT) Using the sweatsuit of your choice, cut out a tail from construction paper and pin it to the bottom

backside of the sweatsuit.

-(BUNNY/BEAR) Glue or pin pom-poms or cluster of cotton balls onto the backside of the sweatsuit bottoms

EARS

-Cut a set of ears out of construction paper and attach them to the hood of the sweatshirt with hot glue, pins or tape

FACE

-Paint a nose and/or whiskers on your child’s face!

 

4)  MISCHIEVOUS MUMMY

MATERIALS

White Sheet

Scissors

White Facepaint

Black Facepaint

Thermals

White or clear electrical/medical tape
 

DIRECTIONS

-Cut the white sheet into strips

-Paint their face white and smear black under their eyes

-Get your child into their thermals and wrap the strips around

them securing the pieces with tape

-Wrap the head too leaving the eyes, mouth and nose un-blocked

 

 

5) GREAT GHOST

MATERIALS

White Sheet

Scissors
 

DIRECTIONS

-Cut eyes and a mouth into the white sheet

-Place the sheet over your child’s head

 

 

6)  BEAUTIFUL BUNCH OF GRAPES

MATERIALS

Bag of purple balloons

Bag of pins

Purple trousers and long sleeved shirt

Purple facepaint

Green Beanie/Toque
 

DIRECTIONS

-Blow up the balloons and fasten the ends to the purple clothing

-Place Green Beanie/Toque on the child’s head and paint their face purple

 

 

7)  JOLLY BAG OF JELLY BEANS

MATERIALS

Colourful balloons

Large, clear coloured bin bag

Purple trousers and long sleeved shirt

Ribbon

Pins

White piece of paper

Markers
 

 DIRECTIONS

-Blow up all the balloons

-Cut two holes for legs into the bottom of the bag and two arm

holes in the middle

-Put the bag onto your child’s body with their legs and arms

sticking out of the holes and fill the bag up with the blown up balloons

-Write ‘JELLY BEANS’ on the paper in colourful marker and pin it to the front of the bag

-Loosely tie the top of the bag around the shoulders with colourful ribbon

-Cut off any excess bag from around the face

 

7) DIVA IN THE DAY SPA

MATERIALS

- Bath robe

- Towel

- Facepaint

- Slippers

- Nail Polish
 

 DIRECTIONS

-Wrap hair in a hand towel and secure it with a safety pin

-Paint toe and finger nails

-Use the facepaint to create the look of a spa face mask

 

8)  FRIENDLY FARMER

MATERIALS

Overalls

Plaid Shirt

Wellies

Straw hat, bandana or elastics for pig tails

Small stuffed animals

Pins

Cardboard

Grey Paint

Bucket
 

DIRECTIONS

-Put on the overalls, plaid shirt and willies

-Braid hair into plaits (if possible)

-Tie the bandana around the neck loosely

-Cut the cardboard into the shape of a pitch fork and paint it

-Pin the small stuffed animals to the overalls

-Use the bucket for candy collection

 

9)  GORGEOUS GYPSEY

MATERIALS

Mismatched skirts

Loose colourful top

Scarves

Costume Jewelry

Old purse

Tambourine
 

DIRECTIONS

-Layer mismatched skirts

-Tie one scarf around your child’s head,  drape one over her shoulders,

and tie one around her waist

-Use the old purse for candy collection

-Add lipstick and facepaint

 

 

 

Kids love nothing more than getting involved in cooking. And when it comes to making dinner, there is no better way to

entertain your children while creating a fun and healthy meal they are sure to finish every last bite of!

 

Self made pizzas can be made at any time, but for this spooky time of year, ‘Spooky Pizza’ is a good spin on an

everyday meal idea.

 

Get your kids involved by putting out the pizza sauce for them to spoon onto their base and cut up an array of

vegetables with a bowl of grated and sliced cheese for the rest of their decorating

 

Ingredients

English muffins or Pita Bread

Pizza sauce

Black olives

Red or green pepper

Sliced and grated cheese

*Include other vegetables or meat your children like to ear and let them create jack-o-lantern faces or other

Halloween characters of their choice!

 

Instructions

1. Heat the oven to 180º C.
2. Get your children to spread a tablespoon of pizza sauce over the base (English muffin or Pita bread).
3. Set olive slices in place for eyes and small slices of red pepper for pupils.
4. Place the slices of cheese across the English muffin or Pita bread for the mummy’s wrapping.
5. Bake for 10 minutes until the cheese is melted.
6. ENJOY!!!!

If you are not already tired out from half term activities, don’t forget that it is Halloween on Saturday 31^st November and if you’re looking for something spooky and exciting to do with the kids, then why not try out Phobophobia at the London Bridge Exhibition on Friday 30^th and Saturday 31^st October (7pm-2am)? The evening is quite spine-tingling so younger children may not enjoy it as much as older ones.

For the tiny tots, try the London Canal Museum’s boat trip or the Witch Trick or Treat at the London Eye will be running activities and trips throughout the half-term week for children. It costs only £6 for under 4s.

At London Zoo there will be various activities running throughout the half term week as part of their Animal Adventureaaargh!, a makeover of their Animal Adventure exhibit. Children will be able to listen to stories, carve pumpkins and even go on explorations in the dark!

The National Maritime Museum is holding a Haunted House Family Fun Day for all ages on Saturday 31st. A family ticket costs £15 but you must book in advance (see website). The best costumes will win prizes and everyone can join in and learn the dance to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller”, make ghoul masks and find some ghosts who will tell you a little history about Queen’s House!

However, if you would rather stay at home and have a little Halloween party, then have you tried out our Halloween cupcake recipe? It’s a great activity that the kids can get involved in and that is enjoyable for the whole family! Why not have a competition to see who can decorate their cakes in the scariest way?

In terms of party games, why not try apple bobbing? The original and still the best, apple bobbing is fun, cheap to set up and easy to tidy up if you have a wipe-clean floor, as water can go everywhere! You’ll need a couple of buckets filled with water and a few apples in each. Split children into teams and see which team can remove all of their apples from the water first! But there’s a catch: They can only use their teeth to pick the fruit up! Trick or Treat is also an option, but better if you know your neighbours and live in a family area. Also, if you want your kids to get creative, you could provide various materials for them to make scary masks or they even whole costumes! For example, see who can turn their friends into mummies the quickest by wrapping their friends up in toilet paper!

Whatever you decide to do, have fun with it and let us know what you get up to! Email [email protected] with your tales or leave a comment on this blog.

It’s Halloween next week and once again time to start thinking about witches’ noses, toffee apples and trick or treating. If you decide to have a Halloween party for your children, then we’ve come up with a few ideas for party cupcakes and the perfect ways to make them scary!

Makes 12

Prep Time: 15 mins

Cooking Time: 18 mins

Ingredients

110g/4oz butter (for best results, leave at room temperature for 20mins before hand)

110g/4oz Caster sugar

110g/4oz Flour

2 eggs

2tbsp milk

¼ tsp Vanilla extract

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C / 350°F / Gas 4.

2. Add the sugar to the softened butter and mix it in well until both ingredients are combined.

3. Break the eggs into a bowl and whisk lightly with a fork.

4. Pour about a little of the egg mixture into the butter and sugar mixture and mix well. Add more egg and mix well before adding the rest of the mixture. Remove all larger lumps by mixing well.

5. Now add the milk and vanilla essence to the mixture and mix well for 30 seconds or so.

6. Fold in the flour to the mixture and gently mix it in until all ingredients are combined well.

7. Spoon the mixture into the cup cake containers, filling each to about two thirds full with a teaspoon. Leave the cupcakes for about five minutes to allow the mixture to settle evenly.

8. If using a flat baking tray, ensure the cakes are kept well apart. Place in the preheated oven and bake for about 15 to 20minutes or until golden brown. Leave to cool for 20 minutes before decorating.

Decoration Ideas

• For some scary spiders, try topping the cupcakes with chocolate icing and chocolate sprinkles, black licorice for legs and little coloured sweets for eyes.
• For monster faces, ice the cakes and pop a variety of sweeties, mini marshmellows and chocolate chips in the middle of the table and let your kids go wild creating ugly, scary monsters!
• You could even use body part sweets and snakes and bugs as toppings to create spooky Halloween treats!

This recipe was adapted from Cook UK.