In my neighborhood, Trick-or-Treating is a thing. It's one of those 'hoods that's proud of their reputation as the spot to be, and happily embraces the families that come from all around year after year. Our kids especially love it; the over-the-top decorations, the excitement of seeing so many classmates and friends walking the streets and ringing our doorbell, the block party vibe that permeates the night. So I've been thinking a lot about how we (and all other parents) can live up to … [Read more...]
DIY Halloween Decor: Spiderweb Garland
If you're looking for a simple DIY Halloween decor idea to try with the kids this year (one that - bonus - will keep them quiet and busy for a good chunk of time), check out my kirigami paper spiderweb garland. Kids love the ancient art of origami and kirigami takes it up a notch by adding in cutting work (which is great for building fine motor skills). Follow our step-by-step instructions below to make some basic kirigami spiderwebs with the kids in Halloween colors. Then string them … [Read more...]
Super Simple Halloween Decor: Dollar Store Pumpkin Makeover
I love holidays, but I'm not always festive when it comes to decorating. My home aesthetic can best be described as NEUTRAL. So, the bright and colorful decorations that come with Halloween, Christmas, Easter and every other holiday don't really vibe with my interior. After passing some $1 pumpkins, I picked up some gold spray paint and simple black hobby paint and thought I'd try my hand and making my own very classy and neutral fall decorations. The project was much easier … [Read more...]
Halloween Craft: DIY Stand-Alone Ghosts
If you’ve been to your local craft store recently, you’ve probably noticed the sudden abundance of cheesecloth available on the shelves. The thin, gauze-like material has been a Halloween crafting staple for decades and for good reason. It’s a very user-friendly material for both kids and adults to work with and it’s appearance naturally lends itself to ghost and mummy projects galore. Today we’re giving you the quick and easy steps involved in making some spooky spirits that you … [Read more...]
Handmade Halloween: Make Spider Sack Decor with the Kids
I'm so excited about this Halloween project, it turned out even better than I'd envisioned. It's the quintessential MPMK project - easy enough for kids of all ages to get in on the action and the finished product is a decidedly stylish take on traditional Halloween decor. And did I mention how inexpensive it is? … [Read more...]
Do You Have a Halloween Ritual?
Our family is big on traditions. We've got them for major events like birthdays and Christmas, as well as small things like Saturday mornings and bedtime. Recently, I’ve been thinking about all the Halloween activities and projects we’ve tried (or wanted to try) since the kids were born. This year, I’m looking to officially elevate a few of them to “tradition” status. As I was compiling ideas, it occurred to me you too might be interested in starting a family Halloween tradition. So I’ve … [Read more...]
Halloween Craft: Dry Erase Ghost Votives
It's that time of year again... Time for ghosts, witches, and goblins to make their spooky appearances. Mwah ha ha ha! (That was my best evil laugh, in case you couldn't tell.) Halloween is my absolute favorite holiday, because it's all about creativity. For that reason, it's also the perfect holiday to do crafts with the family. This year, we decided to add to our porch decor by making Dry Erase Ghost Votives. … [Read more...]
The Best Ideas from Halloween 2013
If you're an MPMK pinterest follower, then you know we've had some exciting stuff going on over the past few weeks. Juggernaut pinner, Jane Wang, has once again invited me to co-host one of the biggest holiday themed boards on pinterest: Gather & Crow! Along with this being a huge honor, it's also an incredibly fun experiment into what the people really want. Rarely have I had access to such a huge audience and seeing what ideas excites them most is so intriguing. What has quickly … [Read more...]
DIY Mummy Luminaries
Hi friends. Before the week comes to an end, I just wanted to say thanks for all of your sweet words regarding our big announcement and baby #3. I'm so excited that the word is finally out so I can freely discuss the new baby with you all. One of the big things around here that baby will have an impact on is The Forever Home Project. As we're setting up rooms, I'm finding myself back in the familiar position of looking for ways to hide away baby toys and to keep everything baby-proof. And, … [Read more...]