Trick or treat: How to make Halloween gifts

Brought to you by Allen’s Lollies.

halloween

I know when it comes to Halloween, some people are into it and some people aren’t. I guess because we live in Australia and it’s not as widely celebrated as other parts of the world, it hasn’t quite taken off. Our little neighbourhood is a hive of activity on Halloween though. Parents drop their kids around to our estate and it’s a fun, social night. Last year I put up cobwebs, and had a bit of a shin-dig.

I wanted to do a little craft activity for Halloween, and when it’s come to craft I’m all about easy. I did consider making pinata cookies with lollies inside… but yeah, I decided that was a little beyond me while I’m wearing my crafty training wheels.

These little cards are perfect gifts for friends, or for trick-or-treaters who come a-knocking. Allen’s sent me their new fun pack range of Fruity Craze Jelly Beans. They’re filled with jelly beans {just 9 beans so that it’s a bit more portion-controlled for the kidlets} and contain no black, because I’ve said before… ain’t no one got time for black jelly beans. They’re available in fun packs {one 200g bag filled with little bags of jelly beans} and can be found at Coles and other independent grocers.

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What you need:

♥ Cardboard {black, white and purple}
♥ Black texta and white too {or if you have some googly eyes to glue on, use those}
♥ Lollies {Allen’s fun packs are perfecto!}
♥ Scissors
♥ Stapler

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I cut mine out freehand, but you can use the templates from this website. Here’s the bat template, the dracula template and the ghost template.

To make them, just cut out the shapes, staple in your treats and give your gifts away. Easy!

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I’m also giving away a fun pack of goodies! I’ve gathered these beautiful things from Lark Store and am going to send them out to one lucky winner. It includes a love heart tote, two heart pillow cases, awesome notecards, disco tea towel, smile purse, ice cream money bank, blank DIY necklace and one purple glitter necklace. The total prize value is over $240! You’ll also get some Allens Fun Packs too, to inject a little more fun into your life.

 

fun things
To be in the running: Tell me what how you’d spend your day, if I gave you a day off-duty and you could do whatever you liked. Anything. What would you do?

Terms and conditions can be found here.

The winner of this competition is Sarah. x

50 thoughts on “Trick or treat: How to make Halloween gifts”

  1. If I had a day off I would do my business in the toilet without a little person yelling and asking me “are you doing a poo mum? Oh that stinks”. Imagine going to the toilet all buy yourself! I’d probab;y have a day long shower too… all alone! That’s the stuff dreams are made of!

  2. If I had a day off, I would wear dangly earrings and an all white ensemble that involved a short skirt and impossible heels (even if it isn’t flattering I would do it because I could). I would enjoy the silence. No kids’ TV shows. No “What’s that?” or “Need a snack!” ringing in my ears. I would just drive around with nothing but my car keys, phone and purse. Listening to songs that have swear words in them. Loudly. Everywhere I went, I would move really slowly, lingering over items I really like at the shops. Then I’d blog about it. While sitting at some beautiful non child friendly cafe that looks over the ocean. Passersby would think about how glamourous I am and I would wave to them in a charming way that says, “Toddler? What toddler?”
    😉
    (all tongue in cheek of course but don’t think I haven’t thought about it haha)

  3. If I had a day off, I would cuddle my kids in bed for ages, then their dad would take them on an amazing adventure and I would sit at the Piano I bought myself for my 30th birthday ( 6 weeks after my first child was born, I thought once I became a mum I would have so much time to play it…… HA!) I would sit, play and sing my heart out for hours! Thats what I’d do.

  4. Oh what a pretty pack of goodies! If I had a day off …. Well Chantelle I’d love to be cancer free for just a day ( possibly a lot more than one day but I am a realist) so I didn’t have it sitting at the front or back of my mind just niggling at me. I’d love to be doctor and nurse free too although they are my good friends these days. I’d much prefer to catch up with a real friend not over thinking that the person I am with is feeling sorry for me, the real me who prior to 2 years ago was just like most mums, busy on the merry go round of living life. And at the moment a day free of tablets would be good although I best not take advantage of that or else I might end up in a bit too much pain and I wouldn’t want to upset the good that comes from the bad while taking oral chemo tablets. I’d love to wake up just one day and be able to forget how life changed back in 2003 as a 40 year old with a lump in my breast to then find out 9 and a half years later it had spread further in 2012. So what would I do on my day off well I’d love to spend the day doing what I love to do which is teach kids because giving up work has been hard. I lost my hair in March 2013 and just yesterday wore my hair in a little teeny tiny ponytail so maybe if I had a haircut in a swish salon that could be fun too! Somewhere that people don’t know my history and we could just talk about the weather or what Brad and Angelina are up to or how bad was it that the lovely Michael and Carlene only won $10,000 on the Block!

  5. Sleep, sleep, sleep! This 25 week pregnant mumma with a non-sleeping toddler needs some beauty sleep. After my wonderful sleep in, I would treat my seriously neglected toes to a good pedicure.

  6. These are so cute! I’d love to make them with the kids in my class but some parents get a bit uptight about Halloween (here in Australia!). Maybe I’ll just make them at home with my kids 🙂

  7. I would just love a day home alone in our house. I would lay on the couch and read the books and magazines I never have time for. A bag of Allens snakes would be the perfect sneaky snack to go with it.

  8. Sleep in, eat chocolate for Breakfast, watch the mid day movie and then go for a nice big walk. The most important thing about the day is that I would NOT talk to anyone!!

  9. There would be sleeping in, breakfast at my fave cafe on my own, cups of tea with my best friend (cause in this dreamworld scenario, she too would have a day to herself!), cross stitching in my comfy chair and a little baking without ‘helpers’. A lovely, peaceful, day which would end with masses of hugs from my boys cause I would actually miss them ☺️

  10. I’d start my day out with a few hours at the hairdressers I’m about nine months over due for a new style and color this regrowth is horrid 😉 then I would check out some local cafes to see what gluten free options are available as I’ve recently been diagnosed with coeliac disease.

  11. I’d sleep until I felt like it, then probably head out for a manicure and a massage in the morning before hitting my favourite restaurant for a cheeky lunch with perhaps a cocktail thrown in, then home for a relaxing afternoon of crafting. I’d end up with big snuggles from my little devils because that would make the day absolutely perfect. 🙂

  12. I’m 32 weeks pregnant, so if I had a day off, I would start with having my hair done, then have someone cut my toenails and paint them and shave/wax my legs, not fussed which, just can’t reachthem myself 🙂 have a nice long lunch with mates, coffee and cake at Koko black and finish off with a massage – bliss! Not asking too much hey 😉

  13. With The possibility of sounding like the worst mother and wife ever, I would just look after myself instead of everyone else. Drink a hot cup of tea, eat a whole hot meal, go to a cafe without having to worry if I can fit a triple pram in, wear something white, not look completely frazzled, speak to my sister in the phone uninterrupted, shave my legs and go to the toilet without an audience and I would absolutely not go near anything that looked like a nappy bottle stove or washing machine… Just the little things… I know I should be grateful for my beautiful girls and husband but you know when you have those days when you are just pulled from pillar to post and there is not an ounce of gratitude shown… That’s today

  14. A whole day to myself would see me up early to enjoy the day. A walk to feed the ducks and feel the sun on my face. A trip to the salon for a long overdue cut & colour. Then off to a leisurely lunch with a girlfriend to chat about celebrities and just gossip. The afternoon would be doing the grocery shopping slowly and ALONE then come home and curl up with a good book and a nice hot chocolate..

  15. If I had the day off I’d have a loooong bath with lots of bubbles, eat a full meal, in one sitting while it’s still hot (someone else would prepare of course), I’d watch a movie the whole way through without having to pause forty five million times and I’d go to bed at a reasonable hour and sleep the whole night without interruptions. What dreams may come……

  16. Ooh wow!! After having an extra cup of hot tea with my hot toast, I would have a long uninterrupted shower, then go shopping!! And only taking my wallet!!

  17. If I had a day off, I’d drive up to Albury and spend it with my mum and dad. We’d cook and watch funny British comedies and laugh. Life is short and parents are precious. I miss them, being 300 km away.

    Lovely prizes, I love Lark!

  18. This might seem strange but I just wanna lay on my couch with salt and vinegar chips, maltesers, caramel popcorn and eat like a pig and then feel a bit sick while I watch all the trashy shows on Foxtel that I never get to watch, like The Real Housewives of New Jersey and Keeping Up with the Kardashians and Fashion Police. Basically I’d like to relive my life before kids, when all I have to worry about is what goes in my tummy lol!

  19. I would spent the whole day getting down on paper the sculpture ideas I have swimming around my head. I imagine filling pages and pages and pages of crisp white paper with measurements and drawings. If have been focused I could even get to carving into the acrylic near the end of the day!

  20. If I was given a day off I would go get a facial, mani, pedi & haircut (maybe even a spray tan) – buy a new outfit and grab a few girlfriends to help top off an amazing day with dinner, dessert and cocktails <3

  21. A day completely to myself… I don’t even remember a time I wasn’t needed somewhere or to do something. I would give anything for the time to sit at a lovely beach side cafe alone, just me, my hot coffee, a piece of delicious cake and people watch. Then I would 100% head off to the beautician for the works. That is something I haven’t done in forever 🙂

  22. If I had the day off, I would do up my little girls bedroom – she’s inherited her older sister’s nursery & deserves it to be given a few personalizing touches – nothing major but just enough to make it really hers.

  23. What a lovely thought, I’ve forgotten what a day off is 😉 I would get up when I want to, walk to the beach and enjoy a lovely swim in the ocean. Then wander off to a cafe for a nice brekkie, coffee and observe the world going by. I’d have a notebook with me so would spend a few hours writing about anything or something. Then a long walk and catch up with some friends over dinner and drinks. Or a movie night at home with delicious snacks. Off to bed, pleasantly exhausted 🙂

  24. Sleep in until i wanted…then…not get up (except to make a,cup of,tea and some awesome paoched eggs) then cuddle up in bed, on the couch out in the sun anywhere….and escape even more….escape to the pages of my book. I could be tris fighting for divergent, catniss fighting with peter, of a nicholas sparks romantically trouble character…..oh the places i would see! Lol!

  25. If I had a whole day off (this is a dream world so money isn’t an issue either, obviously) I would get myself a room in a five star hotel in Sydney. Sleep in is a must, followed by the best buffet breakfast you can imagine. I would then grab my DSLR and my walking shoes and trek round the city taking the most amazing photos you’d ever seen (dream world remember). I would stop in at the AGNSW for a look around and then I would meet my girlfriends for a long lunch and some shopping. After that, probably off to a really good movie in Gold Class with the biggest, chocolaty sundae you could imagine. Then I would get dressed up in an amazing dress that fits me perfectly (which I bought earlier when I was shopping) and meet up with my husband for dinner at a fancy pants hatted restaurant. We would stay out all night, enjoying each other’s company, having adult conversation that didn’t revolve around the kids or what errands need to be done tomorrow whilst staring at the sparkling harbour. In reality, I would probably spend my whole day off worrying about my kids, what they were doing, were they being good and would focus too much on that to enjoy myself properly.

  26. What would I do on a day off?
    Firstly, I’d have a little bit of a sleep in, since most days I start work between 6-7:30am (but not too late, since I don’t want to waste the day!), then I would the day with my darling mum…..we would get pampered at a day spa, enjoy some yummy food for lunch (and some GOOD coffee!), do a spot of shopping and maybe even have a fun photo shoot…..but most importantly, make some special memories to cherish forever! Unfortunately my mum has been diagnosed with Mesothelioma (an incurable asbestos related cancer in her lungs), so any time spent together is an important thing in my life…..oh, and we would drive around with the top down, in the new red convertable that my step dad just bought her!!

  27. A day off… I would sleep till at least 10am, get up and make and eat coconut pancakes served with yoghurt, berries and maple syrup, I would swing in the hammock and drink my coffee (probably missing my kids but not enough to want to care for them at this point!), I’d go for a swim then eat back all the calories in sushi, I’d have a post lunch nap, I’d wake and watch a few hours of trash telly I’d taped, then make a braised beef yumminess, invite my family to join in the feast then go to a 7pm movie, come home, shower and sleep! Ahhh that feels nice to think about!

  28. As silly as this sounds I would rush around and clean the house. Then i would take a luxuriously long shower. And then I would sit down with my feet up, some chocolate, savour the peace and quiet and look around and enjoy the house being clean with no little people trashing it

  29. I would spend the whole day watching the 5 seasons of Offspring. The only episode I have seen is the final one and I wished I had of watched it from the beginning! Oh and maybe chuck in a bag of Margaret River Chocolate Factory dark chocolate drops for those sad moments that I know happen………..ok and a bottle of wine (or two)

  30. I would sleep in, take myself to a cafe brekky with a good book and not rush, I’d go and look in those funky little stores with the funky little items that little fingers usually don’t allow me to go in, maybe play ladies who lunch with some friends (who conveniently have day off too) and have a winey afternoon, and dinner with hubs at a nice restaurant perhaps in a new frock I purchased in one of the funky little shops……..ah to dream:)

  31. I would lay in bed until 10am and just watch mindless tv.
    Then have an uninterrupted shower and wash my hair and blow dry and straighten and take my time.
    Then- day spa. Massage and facial
    Then go to a lovely cafe and have a yummy lunch and take my time. Then read my book.
    Bliss!!

  32. If I had a day to myself I would sleep! Sleep some more , then have a long hot shower without children watching or yelling so I could stay in there as long as I liked.
    Oh and then I might go back to bed and sleep some more (-:

  33. First up a load of washing so that I could then spend the rest of the day “I-should-be-doing-housework” guilt free. Then I’d play on Facebook, eBay and email all day – maybe until dark – have a long shower and go to bed early. It may sound boring to some but it sounds like bliss to me!

  34. If I had a day off i would do lots of awesome things like spring clean the house, clean out the fridge, scrub the oven and the fans. AND cook something amazing in the slow cooker.

  35. If I had a day off, as boring as it sounds, I’d have a movie day! Munchies galore, that I wouldn’t have to share =) Watching scary movies, since daytime in our house is pretty much Peppa Pig & Dora on rotation, and then I’m too scared to watch movies alone at night in the dark!! lol

  36. I would sleep in and then go to a shopping centre without a pram and with a small handbag. If try on clothes and not need to worry about where my kids are. I’d eat lunch in a cafe and then head to a day spa for the afternoon where I would get pampered from head to toe. Then I would go home and read a magazine and order takeaway for dinner.

  37. I’d grab my beach chair, sunscreen, sunnies and a good magazine and head to the beach all on my own! No “mum look at this”, “do this mum”, “watch this mum”! Ahh bliss and silence!

  38. What A great idea Chantelle if there was such a thing as a day off it would be sleep in,get a pedi,catch a movie and eat sushi for lunch and maybe a facial as well and lie down and read a book for the rest of the day,no cooking dinner either!

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