Grandma's Ghost Gallery

Generous me. Overly generous me. Always helping the grandkids make cute seasonal decorations only to send them home as gifts for their parents. Enough already! This time I made something for myself....and kept it!

I LOVE it!

My trendy pennant garland is really just a string of flags that feature the artwork of all six grandchildren. Yes, even five month old Kaylee! It's expandable, so every year I'll add six (or more!) pieces until it not only wraps all the way around my house, but becomes a growing gallery of each child's advancing skill.

This year the three oldest kids painted with orange tempera seasoned with pumpkin pie spice. (Just sprinkle some into the cup of paint and stir with the brush. Smells yummy!) It might have been easiest to paint jack-o-lantern features, but I usually ask the kids to cut and paste those for the extra small motor development experience.

The gallery became ghostly after Bree went on a spirit-making binge once she was done painting. She fringed a sheet of white paper and added features (including shoes!) after grandma cut curved shapes above her scissored border.

The three youngest kids provided little ghostly footprints.








Once pieces were gathered, pennants were made of Halloween scrapbook paper. Artwork dictated the size and shape of each mix-and-match unit, sometimes even breaking the frame. Corner holes were punched, flags were arranged and tied together with raffia, and the end result became this grandma's most cherished decoration........

....which I strung between kitchen island lights - well above the reach of any of the cats - and lived happily ever after!















If you'd like one too - but your grandkids live far away - mail them a little box of art supplies, suggested activities, and a self addressed envelope. Then wait for your friendly mailman to deliver your own collection of treats!

Last year I posted a marathon of Halloween projects that everyone seemed to like. Here are the links to them all........

Spooky Theater and Ghost Sock Puppets

This lightweight, portable play stage is a concoction of cardboard boxes and wrapping paper tubes. There's a step-by-step tutorial included, along with directions for making dollar store sock ghost puppets.

Mason Jar Monsters

All in one - fork, napkin, food, and goofy eyeballs to watch your kids devour it all!

Ghost T-Shirt

Fabric scraps and iron-on application - that's it!

Monsters!

Seat paper mache monster guests around your Halloween table. These are big enough to be "human." A crazy good time had by all!
Tutorial included.

Spider-ettes

The time to print little hands is before they become too big to bounce out of a cheerfully matted frame. Perfect gift!

Windsocks

Streamers, cardboard, paper scraps, glue and craft punches make a lively colony of seasonal, breeze-activated merry-makers!

Paper Mache Ghost

Last week's post - an easy, fun way to introduce paper sculpting to children.

















Harvest Party

Bring the season to a happy conclusion with a family party full of food, fun, and pumpkin-picking.