Niece Chronicles: Games on the fly
So in 30 minutes, I’ll be entering the lion’s den (aka sleepover with the nieces) and I’m looking for ways to
entertain them, when we’ve tired of coloring, wrestling, “pretend” and TV. And by “we” I do mean myself, not the girlies. I’m great and car games and heavily rely on my mobile phone as a backup, below are a few favorites and would love to hear more suggestions.
Games on the fly…
“How much does x animal weigh?” Ask the little ones to guess how much an elephant, zebra, whale, python, giraffe weighs…let your imagination go, trust me it takes days before you run out of suspects in the animal kingdom. If we’re in the car I pull up Wikipedia on my phone and away we go. Plus, you never know, next time the small talk at happy hour gets dull bust out your plethora of animal weights…see who’s silent then.
The Guessing Game – Disney style. “I’m thinking of a character.” This game we can play for hours, it’s amazing how many characters, princesses, and villains Disney has created. Although playing with a 3-year old we get a lot of Princess Aurora and Snow White. And the five-year old is convinced iCarly should be in that category, although as a kid I would have argued the same for Punky Brewster or Rainbow Brite. I mean come on? Fabulous outfit – check! Great hair – check! Own tv show – check! Doll – check! Hard to argue otherwise.
And last but not least – Bubble Breaker on my phone. It’s even more cool now that I have the HTC Imagio with a Touch Screen. I’ve seriously moved up on the cool auntie scale after that plane ride. She was even telling the Gram, how cool my new phone is now.
Have other suggestions? Trust me I’ll need them, post away.
Niece Chronicles: The Complexities of A Single, Childless Auntie
Let me set the stage, car ride in the 5:45ish a.m. timeframe on the way to the airport for a trip to Disneyland. As the single auntie, I often travel with my sister’s family as the 3rd child. 
5-year old Niece: So mommy, at Disneyland I have to listen to parents right?
Sister: Yes.
Niece: You’re a parent?
Sister: Yes.
Niece: Daddy’s a parent?
Sister: Sure.
Niece: Aunt Chirsti’s a parent?
Sister: Uh…sure.
Me: Not unless you count my cats. I’m a kitty parent.
Niece: (rolls her eyes) I don’t.
Me: I’m not a parent then.
Niece: YOU will be.
Me: No, I don’t plan to have kids.
Niece: Yes, YOU WILL BE. You’ll have kids.
Me: No.
Niece: MOOOM!
Sister: You still have to listen to her.
Attack of the Spiders!
Guest Post by Jackie, Josi, and Jaida Lee…
We decided to help Aunt “Kirsti” keep up with her daily Halloween projects so we took on the spiders.
Supplies: egg carton, googley eyes, candy corn (or any little treats), pipe cleaner (I used vintage ones), photo sticker squares and Elmers craft bond. Jaida felt we needed some rocks so we used them for props.
Instructions: The first step is to cut out the number of spiders you will need out of an egg carton. We trimmed the individual spider body down so it left a “V” shape on one side, then I cut two more “V” shapes to tuck the legs down in.
Since the girls were impatient, we did not go in the best order to complete them. It is best to take pipe cleaners and cut them in quarters, if you want an 8 legged spider, you will need two piper cleaners. Josi stated that babies only have 4 legs so she only needed one pipe cleaner.
We used the photo sticker squares to stick the legs on to make it quick. If you are giving them away, I would use a little bit of glue so the candy doesn’t stick to the photo squares. You will want to make sure it dries before adding candy.
We glued the googley eyes on which wouldn’t stay in place because we did this first and then we messed with the legs so do this step last. The girls added a mouth (Jaida added a nose, too). You can also just color the spider eyes on and for that matter you could paint or color the whole spider body black.
Jaida has chased all of us around the house with the spider.
Remaining Halloween Craft Challenge Posts
I would personally lobby for Halloween to be celebrated all year long. I greatly appreciate the folks who wrote guest posts for me and I’m a huge loser for just now posting these!
Now that I’ve had a chance to breathe and recover from work and bazaar season, here they are…
Bat Name Cards by Jessica Ratliff:
One of the best things about Halloween is serving your friends scary food. But how to make sure they know those Buffalo Wings are really Bat Wings? By making your own name cards!
Supplies: black construction paper, black spray paint, clothespins, wine corks, craft glue, a print out of your scary food names, a bat stencil (You can use a cookie cutter, clip art, a stencil or draw freehand. I used clip art from marthastewart.com), pen or pencil (Christi would tell you to use a Sharpie.), scissors, a sharp knife or Exacto blade, newspaper
Instructions:
Trace your bat stencil on the black construction paper and cut out the shape. I was able to get seven bats on one sheet of paper. Using a pencil gives you a shiny line to cut on but a black pen leaves less notable marks.
Step 2
Cut apart your scary food names and trim the paper around each name so it fits on the bat shape. You may have to try several font sizes to find the right size. Most of mine are 48 point Zombie Holocaust or Buffed, both fonts I downloaded for free from the interwebs. Using the craft glue, adhere your food names to the bat shapes.
Step 3
Cut the wine corks into half-inch high circles, and then cut those circles in half, so you have little moon shapes. Pinch the cut cork with the clothespin, so that it stands upright, using the cork as a base.
Step 4
Spray paint the corks and the clothespins black, ensuring you have proper ventilation. I recommend outside, on newspaper, when it’s not too windy. Let dry. Very important or you’ll have fingerprints on your name holders and paint on everything else!
Step 4
Glue the bat shapes with the labels onto the clothespins – Voila! You can now ensure people know they are eating Flayed Skin (smoked salmon), Dead Man’s Ribs (BBQ ribs) or Sweeney Todd’s Meat Pies (sausage and apple empanadas).
Clearly, you could adjust this craft and make nice, tasteful name cards for other celebrations, but really, Halloween is the only holiday worth discussing.
Halloween @ Disneyland
Ok in part the reason for my blogging delay…a trip to Disneyland with the fam…okay not my family but whatever. 
Halloween Craft Challenge…really late Oct. 14th post
Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends…great song and so true. These glorious posts are from my generous friends and family who have so graciously offered to do so while I was deep in SPC action.
First up…Guest Post by Kim Davis
I’ve been following Christi’s Halloween craft challenge and wanted to get in on some of the fun.
Today brings a haunt of a different kind. The final product is Halloween orange. It is edible, hot and comes in a little jar. This “craft” is a bit advanced, but doable for even the virgin canner – habanero jelly. This is my first season canning, and know it is possible.
Supplies:
- 1/3 c. dried apricots (finely sliced)
- ¾ c. white vinegar
- ¼ c. red onion (finely chopped)
- ¼ c. red bell pepper (seeded and finely chopped)
- ¼ c. habanero peppers (seeded and finely chopped)
- 3 c. sugar
- 3 oz (or on pouch) liquid pectin
- Canning jars (three 8-oz jars or six 4-oz jars); with sealing lids (new) and rings
- Canner or large (6 quart) pan for processing your jars of jelly
- Stainless steel pan (I used a 3-quart pan), for making the jelly
- Surgical gloves (optional, but encouraged for chopping the habanero peppers)
- Wooden or heat resistant spoon
Instructions:
You’ll need to take care of one step 4 hours in advance (or even overnight) – no instant gratification here. I did rush it a bit in fact, and found that 3+ hours was just fine as the apricots were pretty soft out of the bag. In a non-reactive container, combine the apricots and vinegar. Let stand.
When chopping your peppers, think 1/8 inch chunks. AND, please do use surgical gloves, as these peppers pack a punch.
In a stainless steel saucepan, add apricot/vinegar mixture, red onion, red pepper, and habanero peppers.
Stir in the sugar.
Then, over high heat, bring to a full rolling boil (stirring constantly) until the boil cannot be stirred down. Then add the pectin; stir. Boil hard; stirring constantly for 1 minute. Remove from heat. If there is and foam, skim off the top.
Pour the jelly into hot jars (I sterilize mine in the dishwasher – other option is to boil the empty jars). Leave a ¼ inch room at the top. Wipe the rims of the jar and top with sterilized lid and ring.
Place the jars in large pan (or canner) of boiling water – boil for 10 minutes. Remove jars.
If you pass this out as a Halloween trick or treat, be sure to do so with a WARNING label. This jelly is fiery hot. I enjoy atop a toasted bagel, but it is also quite tasty served with cheese. I’m also told it is good melted into grilled or sautéed dishes.
Until ready to eat – or hand out as “tricks” or “treats” – enjoy the beautiful golden color with flecks of color suspended in the jelly.
Halloween Craft Challenge: Oct. 13
So tonight’s craft challenge will be updated tomorrow, in part because I’ve underestimated the drying time of the lacquer. Oh lacquer and glue – I shake my fist at you for taking so long to dry.
Supplies: Bottle cap, 3d crystal lacquer, skull bead, orange paper, black sharpie, magnet, and E6000 glue.
Instructions: Here’s another project for the kiddies, make great little gifts for family and friends. If you want to make these for party favors consider buying the bottle caps on etsy with a jump ring to make bottle cap necklaces.
Cut a circle of paper to fit on the inside of your bottle cap. Here I’ve taken my sharpie to draw a spider web.
Stick your circle of paper on the inside of the bottle cap. To make it stay in place you may want to use double-stick tape.
Add your skull bead – at this time of year bead and craft stores have a great supply. Everything from skulls, ghosts, to black cats and pumpkins. It doesn’t matter if there’s a hole in the top or bottom, once you fill it with the liquid lacquer it won’t show.
Lay the bottle cap on a flat surface and fill with the liquid 3d crystal lacquer. Be carefull the liquid usually comes out fast and can overfill the container. Since it sets up firm, be sure to wipe any excess of your counters or craft surface. I tend to the fill the cap just to under the edge so everything stays in place.
For extra pizzaz, consider adding a dab of glitter to the wet liquid or confetti.
Let dry overnight. The next day once you’ve determined it’s dried all the way. Flip it over and glue on the magnet using your E6000 glue and let it sit for several hours.
If you’re not into crafting the bottle cap accessories yourself, check out these adorable finds on etsy.
Halloween Craft Challenge: Oct. 12 – yes again late
Planning a party and short on wine tags? Don’t want any to mistake the poisoned punch for their own right? Well that would be the case if we lived in the average dinner theatre plot line.
These wine tags are cheap and easy.
Supplies: circle tags, permanent black marker (I <3 Sharpies), Halloween stamps, double sided tape, black string, a page from an old book, pinking sheers, and black stamp pad.
Instructions: Take your permanent black marker and fill in the white portion of the tag. Important to use a permanent marker since the tag will be on a wine glass and we don’t want to ruin anyone’s bride of frankenstein, toga or angel costume.
Cut a small circle from the old book page, I’ve used pinking sheers for an added embellishment. For size I’ve tried to make it approximately the size of a nickel.
Stamp a Halloween image in the middle of the paper. Take your black marker and carefully outline the pinking sheered edge.
Cut a piece of your double stick tape and affix the embellishment to the tag. Add string and voila! Quick, cheap and easy wine tags for your Halloween party.
Halloween Craft Challenge: Oct 11 – yes it’s late
Consider my hand slapped – I’m determined to post 31 craft challenges, unfortunately some have slipped a bit.
Sunday’s delayed post is whooo-rific! This little owl ornament – what you don’t have a Halloween tree? Okay not everyone has a Halloween tree but yes to answer your question I do have a tree. So if a Halloween tree is not your thing, fill this little guy with cinnamon potpourri or lavendar and he doubles as an air freshener.
Supplies: rickrack, orange fabric, two shades of brown fabric, stuffing, and a sewing machine
Instructions: Either freehand or trace an outline of an owl on the lighter of the two brown fabrics. Double up the fabric so that you’re cutting two out at the same time.
Cut out owls. Cut 8 inches of rick rack for the hanging loop.
Take your darker brown fabric and cut two circles.
Cut out an orange triangle for the nose.
Take one of the two owls and sew on the two brown circles for eyes. Then lay the orange triangle between the eyes and sew.
Then lay the two fabrics wrong sides together, pin the rickrack at the top for a loop. Sew around the edges leaving the bottom open to stuff with either stuffing or spices.
Stuff the owl. Press together the edges at the bottom and finish sewing the bottom. If the edge around the stitch is uneven, you can cut it but be sure to leave at least 1/8 edge so that the stitch doesn’t work loose.
Ghost Pops Contest
I’ve received my first entries in the ghost pop contest. These entries are from the sis and nieces. Plenty of goodie bags to go around so send me your pictures.
