It never seems to be such a big celebration in the UK, there is a bit more evidence of kids trick or treating but as most people don't feel it is a tradition they get very poor pickings.  We have always tried to have a pumpkin in the window to let kids know that they are welcome. 

On the Puppets and Stuff website puppets by Cher has a wonderful full size troll she calls The puppet eater.  She apparently fills the mouth with candy and they have to dare to put their hands in it's mouth.  Sometimes she triggers the mouth so that it closes.  I can't find the link to the picture but she is www.puppetsbycher.homestead.com. 

This year we may well go for a bit more of a celebration as our boys are more of an age to enjoy it.  Ideas anyone?

Oh yeah, nearly forgot, what size shrunken head do you want?  Why not do a family, start with a hen's egg and pm onto that, then move up to a duck's egg and finally a goose egg.  Use Dopapiers eggs in pm tutorial for prep.

Last edited by newmodeller (2007-07-10 08:26:35)

Might just do the family one, the kids like the idea of having a head "their egg size" as daughter put it. They want to do something to represent hungry ghosts, too. Still trying to figure how to do that one. heh

We're in a semi similar boat in this family. We do a more traditional Halloween, no trick-or-treating (never have, never will), and we incorporate a bit of Buddhism celebration into it. Since we're not the typical American party-goer or TnT'er, it's more of a family and community giving thing. We used to take item donations to a local temple (Buddhist) but there isn't one near our new home, so will give to a church this year. The kids love the spooky side of American Halloween so we're stuck with that part. If there is a haunted house for kids we usually go to it, and come nightfall we tell a spooky tale or two from our heritage. We've a lovely little feast together, which oddly enough doesn't include a ton of candy and sweets. We've no relatives anywhere near us, so it's just us this year. It's an all day event which (before the travelling) we'd spend a month getting ready for. One of the most loved holidays in this family.

Thanks for the idea. A time of costuming and illusions (among other things) definitely needs mask decorating. I love masks! *zips off to start sketching*

I really like the old antique pumpkin and black cats for kids to collect candy in.  Havent made one but you can see lots of the old ones on ebay.  Should be quite simple to do over a balloon.  Debra

I love the idea of "sally cat" ghosts, that one is inspired Debra.  I think we may just have to do that at home.

Really love the ArtAttack site.  Since I often work with kids, some of the ideas here are really inspiring!  Thanks for sharing it, Debra