558 N. Main St., Prineville, OR 97754 | (541) 447-6205
Halloween decorations and costumes are meant to be frightfully fun, but the price tag for pulling together the big night doesn’t have to be scary.
Here are three fun and unexpected ways to keep costs low and let the creativity shine with enchanting accessories, do-it-yourself decorations and devilishly simple party planning.
Keep costumes personal and affordable
Masks are an easy and affordable way to jazz up a kid’s costume. They are also a great alternative for moms who don’t want to dress up in full costume, but still want to get in the spirit. Host a pre-Halloween masquerade mask party and invite each guest to bring one embellishment — sequins, glitter, feathers and buttons — to create one-of-a-kind masquerade masks. The host can provide paper masks, glue, and scissors, and set up a designated area where kids can decorate their own masks with friends. Plan to make it an annual gathering and remind everyone to save materials throughout the year.
Decorate on a dime: Take advantage of free resources and do-it-yourself crafts to use as decorations and fun activities for the whole family. Print out the stencils and have the kids cut them out with safety scissors for pumpkin carving or painting. Kids can glue stencils onto white paper bags to line the driveway or walkway and place flameless candles inside the paper bags for an extra spooky Halloween glow. Moms can apply trick-or-treat bag iron-ons to a white canvas tote to complete the Halloween look from head to toe.
Simplify party planning: Many people find the idea of hosting a Halloween gathering stressful. It doesn’t have to be; try placing a decorative notecard that says ‘witches brew’ next to the punch bowl and one that says ‘eye balls’ by a bowl of peeled grapes.
Make a glam centerpiece with mouth-watering Halloween treats displayed on a spider web two-tier tray, flanked by spooky candelabras with black and silver candles. It instantly creates an eye-catching focal point on the table with a spooky Halloween feel. A big trend this year is haunted gingerbread houses; have kids decorate them at the party for a fun and delicious activity.
For take home gifts, pack treat sacks with apples and tooth brushes with cards saying “fang scrubbers.” (The other moms will appreciate the healthy gesture.)
Halloween is a time to be creative and let your imagination guide you.
Try using pumpkin in soups, breads, muffins, puddings, the possibilities are endless. This pumpkin bar recipe is perfect for a fall dessert or after-school snack.
Pumpkin Bars
Ingredients:
4 eggs
1 2/3 cup sugar
1 cup oil
16 oz can plain pumpkin
2 cups flour
2 teaspoon baking powder
2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla
Frosting
1 - 4 oz cream cheese
½ cup butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups powder sugar
Directions:
Pumpkin bars:
Using an electric mixer at medium speed, combine the eggs, sugar, oil, pumpkin, and vanilla until light and fluffy. Stir together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, and baking soda. Add the dry ingredients to the pumpkin mixture and mix at low speed until thoroughly combined and the batter is smooth. Spread the batter into a greased 13 by 10-inch baking pan. Bake for 30 minutes. Let cool completely before frosting. Cut into bars. Preheat the oven to 350. Bake: 25-30 minutes
Icing:
Combine the cream cheese and butter in a medium bowl with an electric mixer until smooth. Add the sugar and mix at low speed until combined. Stir in the vanilla and mix again. Spread on cooled pumpkin bars.
