Spooky season is upon us, and we are excited for all the Halloween festivities! Do you celebrate the season by eating candy and watching scary movies on the couch, or are you the “fun one” on the block hosting all the Halloween parties? However you celebrate, the ghoulish festivities don’t have to break the bank. Come along as we break down how to have Halloween fun on a budget.
DIY Costumes Anyone Can Craft
You don’t have to pay for overnight shipping on Amazon or hit up your local Spirit Halloween to have a great costume. We bet you already have things in your closet or supplies lying around your home to DIY your own! Here’s three ideas to get you started.
Scarecrow
For this costume, all you need is a pair of overalls and a long sleeve flannel; check out your local thrift store to find these on cheap if you do not already own. Once you have the outfit down, you only need orange and black face paint. Use the orange paint on the tip of your nose and cheeks, then outline in black and add stitching details like a farmer just sewed you up! Feel free to add a straw hat for an extra touch.
Lego
This DIY costume is perfect for the kiddo who is LEGO-obsessed! First, grab an old box and disposable cups. Use a box knife to cut a hole for your head and arms, then paint your box and cups whatever color you desire. Once the paint is dry, attach the cups to the front of the box to complete the look!
Bundle of Grapes
To transform into a bundle of grapes, all you need are balloons and construction paper. Once you decide whether to be purple or green grapes, blow up your balloons and attach them to your clothing using safety pins. To top off this costume, cut out construction paper in the shape of a leaf and secure it on the top of your shirt.
Fun Decorations to Give Your Home A Haunting Touch
We promise decorating for the spooky season doesn’t have to be complicated! Using traditional Halloween colors is an easy way to bring the Halloween spirit into your home. Popular colors that bring in spooky vibes are orange, black, green, and purple. Make these colors pop even more by adding little DIY decorations.
Paper Plate Pumpkins
Grab some paper plates out of your pantry and paint them orange and black to look like jack-o-lanterns; you can attach a piece of string to make your pumpkins hangable anywhere!
Plastic Bag Ghosts
This craft is perfect if you want to get rid of some of the pesky plastic shopping bags! Grab those bags, scissors, a permanent marker, and some twine. Ball up a shopping bag to shape the head of your ghost. Put another bag over the head you just made and tie the twine around the bottom of the head. Use your scissors to distress the bottom of your ghost. Finally, give your ghost a spooky face!
Bat Lamp
This DIY will really light up your life by transforming your living room lamp into a batty light show. Run to your craft supplies and grab black construction paper, scissors, and tape. Cut out bats and use tape to attach them to the inside of your lamp. Flick on your lamp and watch the bats take flight!
Fun and Easy Halloween Treats
There’s no reason to spend lots on themed food! Here are three fun recipes perfect for your huge Halloween bash or a seasonal treat to throw in school lunches. Beware because they are frightfully fun to make!
Mummy Hot Dogs
Ingredients
- 1 (8-ounce) can of crescent roll dough
- Eight regular-size hot dogs
- (Optional) Ketchup or mustard for dipping
How to Make It
- Gather your ingredients and preheat the oven to 350 F
- Unwrap crescent rolls to make four rectangles.
- Using a pizza cutter or knife, slice the dough into thin strips.
- Wrap the strips around the hot dogs to make your mummies.
- Place on a baking sheet, not touching, and bake for 14-16 minutes till golden brown.
- Optional: Use your chosen condiment to make your mummies eyeballs.
Spooky Strawberries
Ingredients
- 30 fresh strawberries
- 8 ounces white baking chocolate, chopped
- One teaspoon shortening
- 1/8 teaspoon almond extract
- 1/4 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips
How to Make It
- Wash strawberries and use paper towels to pat them completely dry.
- In a microwave-safe bowl, melt white chocolate and shortening; stir until smooth. Stir in almond extract.
- Dip strawberries in chocolate mixture and place on wax paper lined cookie sheet; let excess chocolate drip to form ghost tails.
- Immediately press mini chocolate chips into strawberries as eyes.
- Place strawberries in the freezer for 5 mins.
- In the microwave, melt the remaining chocolate chips; stir until smooth. Dip a toothpick into the melted chocolate and draw a mouth on each ghost.
Frankenstein Rice Krispy Treats
Ingredients
- 3 Tablespoons of butter
- 10 ounces of marshmallows
- 6 cups of rice cereal
- Green food coloring
- Melted chocolate/candy coating
- Candy coating
How to Make It
- Melt your butter in a large pot and add marshmallows. Stir until they are melted.
- Add in food coloring until it turns green.
- Slowly add rice cereal and stir to combine.
- Press rice cereal in a buttered 9×13 pan, press till flat, and let cool.
- Let the treat sit for 30 mins.
- Remove from pan and cut into squares.
- Melt chocolate and dip the tops of the treats into melted chocolate; then lay it on a sheet of wax paper.
- Use melted chocolate as glue to adhere to candy eyes.
- Fill a bag with melted chocolate and a pipe on Frankenstein’s mouth.
With the holiday season creeping closer and closer, Carolinas Telco FCU wants to help you save where you can, so you can focus on fun, family, and festivities.
