Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Healthy Halloween!

YMCA Healthy Halloween Party

Sneak Peak for members at 1:00pm. Haunted Hallways, games, spooky activities, contests and more!
No candy is handed out, only toys and prizes as "treats". Preschool age
children through 12 years of age are welcome! This is a free event!
When
Sat Oct 30 2pm – 5pm
Where
Billings Family YMCA


Ghost Cave


Saturday, October 30, 2010

7:00 - 8:00 PM, at Pictograph Cave State Park

Enjoy a guided interpretive tour of Pictograph, Middle, and Ghost Caves by starlight or flashlight.


Have some warm apple cider and seasonal treats around a campfire in the park's picnic area.

Dress for the weather and bring and bring a flashlight and lawn chair.

Directions:

Pictograph Cave National Historic Landmark is located 7 miles southeast of Billings off I-90 at the Lockwood exit, then 6 miles south on Coburn Road.


Howl-o-ween @ Zoo Montana

Date: Saturday and Sunday, October 30th & 31st

Time: 12-4pm

Admission Information:

Members entry at noon.
Non-Members entry at 1pm.

Zoo Opens at noon on both days.

Kids (Ages 3-15) receive free Admission when entering in costume.

Adults $6.25

Seniors $4.25

Dozens of businesses providing candy and samples to every kid.

Good Bear Day!!!


Celebrate 25 Years of Good Bear Day at the Parmly Billings Library
Saturday, October 30 at 10:30 am
Calling all Teddy Bears!
All teddy bears are invited to bring their favorite child to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Go
od Bear Day. This event for kids honors the birthday of President Teddy Roosevelt. Coloring contest enteries are due by October 29. Then come in on October 30th at 10:30 am for the parade, prizes and fun!

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Monday, October 25, 2010

Trick-or-Treat! Bag & Bucket Ideas

Here are some fun Halloween Bags and Buckets:





Monster Treat Bags

Help your little one transform a paper lunch bag into a creepy Halloween monster.

From the Blog: Crafts by Amanda

Materials:
-Brown paper lunch bag
-Acrylic craft paint
-Paintbrush
-Construction paper
-Scissors
-Glue stick
-Black marker
-Spray glaze or acrylic sealer (optional)

Instructions:
1. Paint bags whatever color you like. Stand them up and let dry. (Place soup cans inside so they don't tip over.) Add another coat and let dry again.
2. While bags are drying, cut facial features out of construction paper. You can use your imagination to make some fun eyes, mouths, and hair.
3. Cut polka dots, squares, stripes, or any other type of decoration you would like to use for your monster.
4. Fold down the top of the bag so that you don't accidentally glue your facial features too high.
5. Using your glue stick, decorate the bag with the stripes, squares, or polka dots. Be sure to cover the entire back of paper shapes with glue so none of the corners stick up.
6. Let everything dry, then apply a coat of sealer spray (optional). Let dry and fill with treats.




Personalized Treat Buckets

These monogrammed baskets make smart use out of recycled ice cream containers.

From the Blog: Brown Paper Packages

Materials:
-Empty ice cream bucket with a handle
-Felt
-Hot-glue gun
-Ribbon, about 5-6 yards per bucket
-Scissors
-Foam stamps
-Craft paint

Instructions:
1. Using the hot-glue gun, apply the felt to the bucket, covering the entire outer surface. Trim where necessary.
2. Glue ribbon to the top and bottom of the bucket, covering up the felt edges and the top rim.
3. Tie ribbons along the handle.
4. Use paint to stamp desired name on the front.




Cereal Box Stencil Bags

Update a classic fabric tote with easy-to-make stencils and spooky sponge painting.

From the Blog: Alphamom, Designed by The Long Thread

Materials:
-Fabric tote
-Fabric paint
-Stencil brush or sponge
-Cereal box
-Crafts knife and cutting mat
-Masking tape

Instructions:
1. Cut one of the largest rectangles from your cereal box.
2. Cut out jack-o'-lantern shapes with a crafts knife on a cutting mat. (An adult will need to do this part.)
3. Next, tape your template to the fabric and have your kids dab on the paint using a stencil brush or sponge (you could also use the end of a spongy paint roller). The trick to getting the paint on neatly is to hold the brush or sponge end perpendicular to the surface. Let dry.

Milk Jug Pumpkin Pots

These smiley jack-o'-lanterns can store almost a gallon's worth of treats each!

From the Blog: Filth Wizardry

Materials:
-Plastic gallon milk jugs
-Orange acrylic paint
-Paintbrush
-Scissors
-Black paper
-White glue
-Green chenille stems
-Paper leaf cutouts
-Green tissue paper

Instructions:
1. Paint milk jugs using orange acrylic paint.
2. Once the jugs are dry, cut a hole in the back by the handle for the treats to go in.
3. Cut jack-o'-lantern facial features from black paper.
4. Let the kids glue curled chenille stems and paper cutouts to the jugs.
5. Wrap green tissue paper over the lids and seal with glue.

Source: www.parents.com


Sunday, October 24, 2010

Super Simple Pumpkin Crafts for Your Home


Pumpkin-Painted Wood Pile

Paint the ends of wood logs with primer, then apply two coats of paint. Be sure to saw off ends before burning.

Pretty Paper Pumpkins

Transform orange paper into foldable, freestanding decorations that you can reuse every fall.

What you'll need: Orange and green solid or patterned scrapbooking paper, scissors or circle cutter, glue

Make it: Cut out 6 equal circles or ovals from matching scrapbooking paper. Fold each in half (keep desired pattern or color on the inside), then glue one half circle on top of another. When all 6 are stacked, pull the top half circle around to meet the bottom half circle and glue together. Cut a stem shape from green paper; attach to top of pumpkin with glue.

Pumpkin Paper Lanterns

Hang a pumpkin patch from the porch or ceiling. Glue cardstock facial features to paper lanterns (we found ours at pearlrivermart.com) and suspend using fishing line or painter's tape.

Pumpkin Wreaths

Hang a round orange wreath made from burlap and batting on your front door.

What You'll Need: 16" Styrofoam wreath form, cardboard, scissors, hot-glue gun, cotton batting, orange burlap, black adhesive-backed craft foam, green ribbon, fishing line

Make It: Cut a cardboard circle to cover the back of wreath form; attach with hot glue. Place on flat surface, cardboard side down, and fill center with cotton batting until top of mound sits about 2" higher than the wreath form. Cut 15 to 20 3"x20" strips of orange burlap for wreath covering. Glue on end of each strip to center of cardboard back, then stretch all the way around the wreath and secure other end with glue. Repeat for each strip, working in a circular motion until form is completely covered with burlap. Cut out facial features from craft foam and adhere to rounded side of wreath with hot glue. Loop a 20" piece of green ribbon through the top strip of the wreath and know consecutively to create the pumpkin's stem. Hang with fishing line.