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!**

  

 

Denver Zoo Date

Yesterday was Robby's last day home so we decided to spend some quality time with each other. We went to visit the Denver Temple, went home to change and then after we went to visit the zoo. 

 

I'm noticing a lot of leaves are starting to change colors. Yay!

We didn't see a lot of the animals because we went kind of late, but some animals were ready for dinner, so we got to see them eat which was awesome!

Wish they would clean their windows.. eh oh well!

Isn't this camelion just the cutest? I love his curled up tail.

 I want him! He reminds me of Pascal from Tangled.

And then there's the famous Dori and Marlin from "Finding Nemo." 

And just in case you were wondering..

NO! I didn't sing "Just keep Swimming."

Okay maybe I did.

My sweet husband carrying my camera bag. 

I love how he doesn't care what anyone thinks!

My handsome husband.

Elephant eating dinner.

We made our way to the Asian Exhibit. 

Beautiful Colorado clouds!

Robby asked me if I wanted to jump (and I was about to) but then I remembered I had surgery not too long ago so I decided to skip out on jumping.

He jumped as far as a Kangaroo Rat!

I was also getting a lot of these pictures like the one above.
You know.. 
as soon as you bust out your camera the animal turns around to show you it's booty! Just lovely haha.

Well, my husband is now at the airport waiting for his flight and I'm sitting here at home missing him like crazy already. Ohh, what I would do to be at the zoo again with him!

Love you honey.
See you soon!