Creative Kidstuff

Halloween Safety

Friday, October 31st marks the annual celebration of Halloween. Across the country, children and teenagers will put on costumes and trek door-to-door in search of treats. Safety is always a major concern during Halloween, so here are some tips to ensure your Halloween is safe and fun!

First, make sure you are visible to others- especially vehicles and bicycles. Wear reflective tape, bright colors, and carry a flashlight. Additionally, walk (don’t fun!) on sidewalks in well-lit, familiar neighborhoods and follow all traffic signals.

Avoid strangers, areas you don’t know well, houses that are not lit up to invite trick-or-treaters, and animals you don’t know.

Keep your costume choice safe too! Choose a costume which doesn’t drag on the ground, wear comfortable, well-fitting shoes, and make sure any accessories you carry are light and flexible. Bright colors are also a plus!

Trick-or-treat with a responsible adult you know well. If possible, go trick-or-treating in a large group. Carry quarters or a cell phone so you can call home if there is an emergency.

After you arrive home safe and sound, inspect your candy carefully. Avoid unwrapped items! If a wrapper is ripped, punctured, or otherwise just doesn’t seem right, throw it away.

Halloween is a night of spooky fun, but remember to stay safe! If you have any other great Halloween safety tips, please leave a comment. Happy Halloween!

Homemade Halloween Crafts

Halloween is quickly approaching and it’s time to start decorating! Homemade decorations are a great way to spend quality time with your children and add some cute spookiness to your home! Here are two of our favorite homemade crafts that are both easy and fun to do!
Glue Ghosts
Materials: Glue, String or yarn, Waxed paper, Craft stick or plastic spoon, Googly eyes, Black construction paper
Directions: For each Glue Ghost, cut a length of string and yarn and lay string on a piece of waxed paper in a basic ghost shape, leaving the bottom open. Cut out a fun mouth shape from the construction paper. Fill the area inside the string with glue, then use the craft stick or plastic spoon to smooth the glue around the area. Add your googly eyes and the mouth. Allow the glue to dry overnight. The next morning, carefully remove the ghost from the waxed paper and be sure to trim any excess glue. Finally, poke a hole through the top of the ghost using a pushpin. Thread a string and hang in your windows! Boo!

Egg Carton Spider
Materials: Black paint, cardboard egg carton, scissors, black pipe cleaners, glue, and googly eyes
Directions Cut the egg carton into sections and paint each section black. Wait for the paint to dry, then cut eight small holes in the carton. Push a pipe cleaner into each hole and bend them to look like spiders’ legs. Use a bit of glue to add googly eyes to your spiders face. Place around your home and spook your family and friends!

If you have additional fun homemade Halloween crafts, post the directions and any images in the comments!

Clay Rice

Beginning on October 6, 2008, nationally known silhouettist Clay Rice will be visiting the Creative Kidstuff store locations to masterfully create silhouettes of your children!

This delicate art form originated in Europe during the early 1700’s as a way to create an image of a person or loved one. During that period, it was referred to as “profile shades” or “shadows.” Before the French Revolution, silhouette artists were hired by the royal class to create the cut outs at parties and balls. Many of these images capture the elaborate styles of the era, and remain a valuable resource for historians.

In the 1760’s the Finance Minister of France, Etienne de Silhouette, spent a great deal of time horribly taxing the lower class of France- and creating the cut outs. Across France, peasants dressed in all black and claimed they were dressing “a la Silhouette.” Now these shadowy cut outs are referred to as silhouettes.

The “golden age” of silhouette cutting was in the 1800’s. An increase in immigration to the United States brought many European silhouette cutters to America. These artists created images of American politicians and the upper class, and therefore became part of the elite class themselves. Many traveled across the country to fairs and small towns to create images of the middle and lower classes. After the invention of the camera, silhouette cutting dwindled worldwide. Currently, less than 20 silhouettists are left in the United States.

Register at the Creative Kidstuff location near you to capture your child’s silhouette. These make lovely gifts for parents and grandparents, and are a special keepsake for your child. Space is limited so don’t hesitate! If you’ve been fortunate enough to already have a silhouette or after Mr. Rice creates one for you during his visit, share your experience in our comments!