Halloween Advent Calendar

I looked up Halloween advent calendars on Pinterest but didn't really like the ones I saw, so I decided to make my own. Can't wait to hang this 'spooky' advent calendar on our fireplace!

  What you'll need

Burlap Fabric

Fabric Paint & Paint brush or sponge
Number Stencil (I got mine from Joann's)

31 Clothespins 

Acrylic Paint to paint clothespins

Halloween charms

Twine or Yarn

Printable cards

Rope 
 

•  I found the ghost and spider table scatters at Target. You know the dollar bins in the front of the store? They were in that section for $2.50 each.
• I had burlap fabric and fabric paint already, but if you want to buy some you can get the fabric at Joann's or Wal-mart and the fabric paint you can buy at any craft store.

• I got the clothespins at the dollar store (36 of them in one package).

• I had the acrylic paint already to paint the clothespins black & white.

• I printed the cards from here.

• I bought the black & white twine from here.

Now.. for the cards!

I don't have any kids yet, but I made some cards keeping my future children in mind. Robby and I will do most of these activities together now (I'm a kid at heart and I LOVE all the holidays), BUT we can come up with something else to do if we don't feel like having a Halloween muffin tin lunch or coloring a Halloween picture! Ha! Who knows.. we can color a page and the best picture wins, getting a massage for the prize! =) 

Btw.. if you come up with a cuter way to make the cards please let me know. I have no idea what I'm doing when it comes to digital stuff so that's as good as it's going to get.

Also, I know we all get busy and stuff comes up. 

So I thought about just adding the cards in the bags weekly or maybe even sticking a card in the bag daily that way I know for sure if that activity will work with everyone's schedule/weather/etc.

AND last but not least, 

if these activities are way too much for you to add to your already busy schedule, then you can alternate-- activity, treat, activity, treat.. & by treat I mean a piece of candy or a cheap little Halloween toy. 
That's what I love about these calendars.. we can make it our own!

On each card I added an activity and Halloween joke.

Here is my list in no particular order:

go to a corn maze

*why don't skeletons like parties?

{they have no 'body' to dance with}

make a creamy caramel apple dip

*what is a witch's favorite story?

{'ghoul deluxe' and the 'three scares'}

(NOTE: You can find that recipe on my Pinterest board called: autumn/fall)

go trunk-or-treating

*where do baby ghost go during the day?

{day'scare'}

 (NOTE: My church always has trunk or treating, so that's why I added that one} 

read halloween books

*what kind of mistakes do ghost make?

{'boo-boo's'}

pick apples & bake an apple pie with the apples we pick

*what is a witch's favorite subject in school?

{'spelling'}

watch charlie brown halloween special & read "it's a great pumpkin charlie brown"

*what do you call a fat jack-o-lantern?

{a 'plumpkin'}

make apple cider

*what do witches put in their hair? 

{'scare' spray}

have a photo shoot in the leaves

*what do ghost do when they get in the car?

{they 'boo-kle' their seatbelts}

go on a picnic

*why was no food left after the monster party?

{everyone was a 'goblin'}

make spider cupcakes

*what do birds sing on halloween?

{trick or 'tweet'}

go on a hay ride

*what is the favorite game at a ghost's party?

{hide & 'shriek'}

carve pumpkins

*why didn't the skeleton cross the road?

{didn't have the guts}

color a halloween picture

*what's a monster's favorite play?

{romeo & 'ghouliet'}

go trick-or-treating/pass out candy/make hot cocoa

*who won the skeleton beauty contest?

{no 'body'}
(NOTE: this card will always be in the day 31 bag & watching "Hocus Pocus" is MUST!!!)

paint mini pumpkins

*what kind of witch lives by the sea?

{sand-witch}

make ghost rice krispie treats

*what do you call two witches living together?

{broommates}

make a halloween craft

*who did frankenstien take to prom?

{his 'ghoul' friend}

visit the pumpkin patch

*what do skeletons say before eating?

{'bone' appetit!}

make halloween cookies

*why do witches fly on brooms?

{vacuum cleaner cords aren't long enough}  

make spider ice cubes & a spooky halloween drink

*what do you call a skeleton who won't work?

{lazy bones}

"boo" one of your neighbors with a halloween treat

*when is it bad luck to meet a black cat?

{when you're a mouse}

have a halloween muffin tin lunch

*what do ghost's say when something is really neat?

{'ghoul'!}

have a family halloween party

*what does a witch do on saturday night?

{'boo-gie'}

(NOTE: we may not have time to always have a halloween party, but we can veg out on the carpet with just the ones who live in our house with halloween music blasting-- I consider that a party too!)

decorate for halloween

*what do ghost serve for dessert?

{ice 'scream'!}
(NOTE: this card will always be in the day 1 bag)

make any halloween treat

*what is a vampire's favorite food?

{'neck'tarines}

watch a halloween movie

*what do you call a friendly, dead egyptian?

{chummy mummy}

make a halloween craft

*what do ghost drink when they are thirsty?

{'ghoul'-aid} 

 (NOTE: I know I already added this, but a person can't make enough crafts. Especially with all the cute ideas on Pinterest)

pumpkin bowling

*what kind of insurance does a ghost buy?

{home 'moaners' insurance}

watch hocus pocus

*how does a witch tell time?

{she looks at her 'witch' watch}

(NOTE: I'll probably watch this movie more than once. My favorite!) 

make s'mores

*why are mummies good employees?

{they get 'wrapped up' in their work}

(NOTE: they have halloween s'more ideas on pinterest with the ghost marshmallows)

make halloween cake pops

*what has webbed-feet, feathers, fangs and quacks?

{count duckula} 

Update:
 I added some more cards to my list..

watch "the witches"
what do ghosts eat for breakfast?
 {boo-berries}

go for a fall walk
where does count dracula usually eat his lunch?
{at the casketeria}

paint halloween rocks
what's it like to be kissed by a vampire?
{it's a pain in the neck}

make caramel apples
knock knock.
who's there?
ben.
ben who?
ben waiting for halloween all year!
Note: cheesy joke, i know! & i can't believe i forgot caramel apples in the first place.

make dirt in a cup/add gummy worms
why did dracula's mother give him cough medicine?
{because he was having a coffin fit} 

play halloween games
how can you tell the vampire likes baseball?
{every night he turns into a bat}

scavenger hunt
knock, knock.
who's there?
witch.
witch who?
witch one of you can fix my broomstick?

make pumpkin bread/give some to a neighbor
what song does dracula hate?
{"you are my sunshine"}

read fall books
knock, knock.
who's there?
boo.
boo who?
boo who, I didn't want to make you cry.

go over the history of halloween
what tops off a ghost's ice cream sundae?
{whipped scream}

make halloween popcorn
dracula decided he needed a dog, which breed did he choose?
{a bloodhound}

make leaf art
what do you call a goblin who gets too close to a bonfire?
{a toasty ghosty}

make snikerdoodle cookies with candy corn
what kind of tie does a ghost wear to a formal party?
{a boo-tie}

I added a couple more craft cards & movie cards since those are fun & FREE!

If you have any other ideas or ideas that don't cost a penny, please let me know so I can add your ideas to my list. 

   

**Time to make a Christmas one!**