Aug 25

Printable Halloween mask are great ways to trick-or-treat without the cost of high quality mask products available on the market. Children love to dress up as their scariest nightmares or their favorite heroes. What better way to have fun with the holiday, than by creating your own costume that has been customized buy them personally.

Creating these printable Halloween masks can be a very fun project that you and your child can enjoy together. It is easy to do and will be a great addition to your child’s Halloween costume.

In making these printable

Halloween costumes

masks all you need is a computer and a printer. You can search the Internet for images of your child’s favorite hero or heroine or even the scariest thing imaginable. Once you have found the desired image, you can right click on the image and choose to save to a destination on your computer.

Once you have saved the image you can then send it to your printer and change the size to fit the printer paper. Once you have printed the image onto the paper, you can then cut out the printable Halloween masks shape. Once you have completed these tasks, you can punch a hole on either side of the mask. Then you want to tie a string or piece of elastic band to the holes so that your child can place the mask over their face.

If your child wishes, instead of tying a piece of string to the mask, you can glue or tape a piece of wood dowel or even a pop cycle stick to the bottom of the mask. This will allow them to hold the mask up in front of their face when it is needed. A laser or ink jet printer would be the proper type of printer to use for this project.

These printable Halloween masks can allow our child to have a great time trick-or-treating with out spending a lot of money on expensive Halloween costumes. Having such a project that you and your child can do together is a great way for the two of you to spend building on the relationship that is between a parent and their children.

In making these kind of mask, it allows your child to be the designer of their own costume. This can be a great way for your child to learn some independence. So for fun that you can enjoy with your children, try this idea this holiday season.

Source : Articleavenue

Aug 25

Halloween is always just around the corner, have you decided what you’re costume is going to be this year? With all the choices of new Halloween costumes and ideas it’s really hard to decide on just one costume or whether you’re going to use makeup or just make your own Halloween mask and costume. Most people find it hard choosing a costume for themselves, let me give you some ideas and tips that you may not have thought of.

Halloween night would not be complete without some spectacularly scary costumes. The first question that any kid often asks when they wake up the day after is, “Where is all my Halloween candy?” and this is quickly followed by, “What am I going to dress up as next year?” The anticipation of dressing up in a spooky costume and Halloween mask gets everybody excited. The biggest thrill of Halloween has got to be transforming yourself into a monster, ghost, ghoul, vampire, witch, or other freaky costume characters. Of course, the most outrageous Halloween costumes are the best.

Where Did Halloween Costumes and Masks Originate?

Where did wearing Halloween masks and costumes actually start? So how did wearing a costume and mask for Halloween start? With the Celts. They held the belief that the spirits of the dead roamed the earth on Halloween night. Some of these spirits were amicable, but others were thought to be unfriendly and bitter towards those people who were still living and able to enjoy the fruits of the earth that the spirits once did. To camouflage themselves from these bad spirits, the Celts used soot to paint their faces. This basic method of disguising their faces developed, over time, into the more elaborate masks and accompanying Halloween costumes that are worn today. It also became traditional to emulate the frightening spirits by dressing up as ghosts or skeletons.

Tips and Suggestions for Halloween Costumes

There are literally hundreds of different types of Halloween costumes available today. Choosing the perfect one depends on two criteria - the first being which Halloween character you want to become, and the second being how much you are prepared to spend. One way to get an idea of just what types of masks and costumes there are available, and to help you to narrow down the huge choice is to search the Internet. There are plenty of low-cost Halloween costumes, some funny ones, and also those that are extremely elaborate and cost hundreds of dollars. It is worth bearing in mind that you can transform a relatively plain Halloween costume quite easily by using face paints and even add a pair of spooky Halloween contact lenses. Creating your own Hallloween kids costumes is also fairly simple and you can make one from anything that you have available. It needn’t cost a fortune or take a lot of time and effort either. All you really need is to come up with an idea for a Halloween costume and take it from there. Everyday items and imaginatively applied makeup can create some awesome effects.

Hints and Tips for Halloween Makeup

Halloween makeup can sometimes be more effective than a mask. It really depends on the effect that you want to achieve, and how much money you want to spend. Halloween makeup can cost less, as well as being more safe for kids when they are out trick or treating, as it does not obscure their sight. You can achieve some amazing effects with Halloween makeup too. You can buy makeup kits or use the same type of grease paints that actors use in the theater, with lots of wonderful colors that are easy to apply, and easy to remove. A low cost alternative is to use normal makeup, such as blush, eyeliner, eye shadow and lipstick. Water-based paint is also a great option, especially if you have had trouble finding a costume. You can create your own scary face with very little effort, and can wear any clothes you want to. This works particularly well if you paint yourself up to look like a zombie, or other creature that has risen from the dead. Your face paints will acts as a mask, and will turn any clothes into a

Halloween costumes

, including your everyday ones.

Tips and Tricks for Halloween Masks

There is something magical about a Halloween mask that makeup does not quite achieve. This is because they can instantly change you into someone, or something, else. Masks have been worn since ancient times to enable people to adopt a new identity, and for worshipping different Gods and spirits. You can buy a wide variety of Halloween masks via the Internet, ranging from terrifying vampires and witches to more mythical creatures, such as fairies, or even caricatures of famous people. For something a little different, you can create your very own masquerade style mask to compliment a costume by dressing up a plain facemask. All you need is some glue, and you can add anything you want to it, such as beads or even items that you find in your garden, like flowers and leaves, for a truly unique Halloween mask. If you want to make a Venetian style bird mask, you can add feathers and a beak. The Celts wore bird masks during their Samhain festival too.

Source: http://www.articleavenue.com

Jul 16

Reed diffusers have been taking the aromatherapy market by storm these days. They are available in nearly every commercial outlet from department stores to craft markets to internet storefronts. Still, even as popular as they are, many people are not sure what they are or how they work. Once you understand how they work, it is very easy to see their appeal.

Reed diffusers consist of three basic components. A glass container,(a bottle, jar or vase), a set of rattan reeds and diffuser oil. Fill the glass bottle about three quarters of the way full of the diffuser oil, insert your rattan reeds into the oil and you are all set to go. It sounds simple enough. And it is. Let us delve further, however, to understand how they work and see the big picture as to why reed diffusers are gaining popularity so quickly these days.

The glass container is self explanatory really. You can use nearly anything that is made up of glass and is tall enough to support the reeds. This could be a vase, a glass bottle, a glass jar, etc. I recommend using only glass as some plastics are not formulated for use with oils. If you do not have any glass containers, you can use PET plastic bottles in a pinch as these are formulated not to break down with moderate use of oils.

Next, you have the reeds. Reeds look somewhat similar to bamboo skewers. However, reeds are made out of rattan, not bamboo. These rattan reeds are usually between 10 and 15 inches in length. (The 12 inch reeds are considered the most popular length). Each individual reed contains about 20 “channels”. I compare these channels to small drinking straws. They run the entire length of the reed. It is through these channels that the reeds “suck up” the fragranced oils and pull it to the tops of the reeds. The scent is then dispersed into the air through natural evaporation. In general, between 6-10 reeds are used at a time. The more reeds, the greater the scent.

Next we have the diffuser oil. Diffuser oils themselves are comprised of a reed diffuser liquid “base” mixed with either fragrance oils or essential oils. The base itself is specially formulated to be the right “thickness” to travel up the reed channels effectively. Many bases use solvents that are too thick to properly travel up the reeds. This can result in poor fragrancing and gooey, warped reeds. When purchasing reed diffuser oils, look for oils that do not contain harsh chemical solvents such as DPG. Also, be on the lookout for companies whose bases use alcohol. Alcohol is highly flammable and expedites evaporation, causing your diffuser oils to diffuse too quickly resulting in having to replace the oils far too often. If in doubt, ask your supplier. Most will tell you if they use DPG, chemical solvents or alcohols in their formula.

Now that you have the basics, let’s look a little closer to further understand reed diffusers and how to best use them.

Reeds should be flipped about once per week or so. This will start the fragrancing process all over again as the oil is drawn back up the reeds. Reeds should not be re-used. Reeds should be changed everytime you change the scent. If you re-use the same reeds, scents will mingle together. It is possible that the mingled scents might compliment one another, but most of the time, they do not produce pleasant results. (Cucumber and lavender really don’t smell great together !) Reeds can clog with dust over time as well because of the channels they contain, so it is best to replace them about once per month or if you change scents. Additionally, reeds can become overly saturated with oil over time. So again, intermittent replacement is best.

Quality diffuser oils should last about 1 month per ounce. This can vary a little based on environmental factors, but it is a good rule of thumb. Use of heat, air conditioning, having windows open, having fans running, etc. can affect how long the oils will last.

Although reed diffusers are safer than candles, caution should still be used. Reed diffuser oils are not meant to be applied directly to the skin or ingested. Care should be taken not to tip the diffuser over or set it directly on delicate surfaces and oils can damage these surfaces. This is especially important if you have small children, pets or clumsy husbands. :) Reed diffusers are completely flameless and therefore you should not attempt to light the reeds.

Now that you are a reed diffuser expert, it is easy to see the appeal of them. Economical, easy to use, and safer than candles, you are sure to fall in love with this new home fragrancing option !

************************************************************************

Dawn Turner, an expert in fragrance diffusion, owns TheDiffusery.com. The diffusery sells reed diffusers and Reed Diffuser Gift Sets. Dawn, a self professed scent junkie, loves to travel with her husband, listen to music and watch reality TV.

Jun 13

How much do you know about the spooky holiday of Halloween? As you probably know, Halloween is celebrated on the 31st October and the name Halloween descends from the old name Hallows Eve, the night of the dead. This is why children and adults alike dress up as spooky characters suck as ghosts, goblins, vampires, monsters, witches and anything that goes bump in the night.

It is also said that on this night dedicated to the dead, that there are more spiritual energies, making it a more receptive night to contact the dead, and for the dead to contact the living.

Halloween is often considered an American festivity, so it might surprise you to know that it originated in Ireland as the Pagan Celtic harvest festival Samhain. Halloween wasn’t exported to America until the 19th century, when many Irish folk emigrated.

The Celts celebrated as their harvest festival because by the end of October all the hard work of harvesting the crops was over. They also saw Halloween as marking the time when the days would shorten and there would be darkness and coldness of the winter season.

Many Christians prefer to celebrate the following day, All saints day on 1st November (also know as ‘All hallows’ and ‘All souls day’) This is to avoid conflict with their religious beliefs. The word hallow means sanctify in old English, ‘to free from sin’. All saints day is therefore considered to be a day of goodness.

Halloween and its festivities have now been spread to most of the western world. However, the old Halloween meaning has been lost and replaced. Nowadays Halloween is seen as a festive holiday of fun and spookiness. A time to dress up and have a fun time, maybe to go trick or treating or to go to a spooky Halloween part. Halloween is a time to spook yourself, or maybe someone else, BOO!

Jun 13

Renaissance costumes are a popular theme at Halloween. These costumes are actually popular all year round for people who are into role playing activities, but Halloween is the busiest time.

If you’re looking for a Renaissance-era costume for Halloween, it’s a good idea to order it as early as possible for the best selection.

You’ll find all kinds of interesting ideas and you can save a pile of money off their normal prices.

Most of the clearance costumes are “last year’s models” or items they aren’t carrying any more, but there’s lots of great choices if you’re not set on being the hottest character from the latest blockbuster movie.

Jun 13

Okay, this year is your year! You’re determined to take home the prize for the most creative Halloween costume this year, and you don’t care who gets hurt in the process! (Sorry, seasonal humor!) Let’s ponder a few ideas to get your creative juices flowing for ways to make this year’s costume one for the ages!

My best strategy for winning a Halloween costume contest is to be overtly original. If you buy your costume off the rack either online or off, you’re pretty much doomed to failure. If they’ve seen it, they’ve seen it! Originality is everything here, and you can’t afford to be like the crowd if you want to win the contest!

My favorite way to win is to come up with someone famous who is in the news recently, probably not for their charitable work either! Capitalizing on their misfortune is - well it’s exactly what you want to do here! Chances are, they did it to themselves, and we as fans owe it to them to keep them on the public’s radar! Some ideas of just how this would work could include for instance, Lindsay Lohan looking for a fix; Paris Hilton in jail house garb, (fully accessorized, of course!); Michael Vick hauling his dead dog behind him (fake, of course); or perhaps the Obama girl.

The key here is to make sure you can be recognized as who or what you’re trying to portray. If they have to figure you out, you’re dead before you’ve begun. So that begs the question, “What if I don’t look anything like the person I’m lampooning!?!” Well, then either the costume itself has to carry you or you need to do a bang-up job with makeup and hair. Not only that, but you need to be sold out to the idea of portraying this person. That means acting like they would act, talking like they would talk, and in general becoming that person for the duration of the party. (Or at least until the judging is done!)

Make sure you fit into this costume concept. If you’re trying to portray Will Smith when your body more closely resembles Norbit, then we’ve got a problem from the get-go! Also, if your costume has you exposed more than you might be normally, make sure you can live with this. If you’re going to dress up as Britney Spears and are uncomfortable showing the amount of everything she shows, then rethink your costume! If you look the least bit uncomfortable either in concept or execution, people will notice.

Jun 13

Halloween is a time to dress up any way you want and have fun doing iy. The sexy costume is the fun way to show how fun the Halloween party is going to be. This time you need to do something very different then the same nurse outfit every one else is wearing.

You also want your man to look as sexy as you so we do have great sexy costumes for him also. Men get ready to show off how sexy you can be at the best Halloween party ever. Costume supplier websites is the best way to find all of these great men and women costumes for the special event. You want to take your time and find the perfect one for you.

In this article we cover new and approved sexy Halloween costumes so you will stand out. Here are a few costumes that are available. The sexy pirate costume is very good for a women who is very demanding and wants to stay in control. If you wear long sexy black boots, an eye patch, a red hot sash, and to top it off a captain pirate hat you will be the captain of the men at the party. When you want to be good, but also a little bad, consider an angel costume that is extremely sexy. It has organza wings, gray rose halo, and a very exotic full-length gray gown. A little darkness and beauty that allure all the bad boys to your knees. The superhero costume is ready for the adventurous woman who will save the party with her sexy costume. This outfit includes a sexy top with an S on the front so every one knows you are here to protect, a red skirt, gold belt, and of course the matching boot tops. The villain will be very scared.

The school girl out fit always is a top seller for all those boys in the class they are ready for you to teach them a lesson. You get some long white socks, short plaid skirt, tight white shirt, and you are ready for the best class party of the year.

So for the best naughty Halloween costume just get online and you can find the best costume for you or your man. For men the best out there is the Egyptian god with his golden rod, and a white rob around his body, with a gold sash around his stomach, and some flat sandals.

Jun 13

Hippy: You can become a hippy from the 1960s with a tie-dye shirt and faded jeans with holes in the knees. Combine this with a headband, a ponytail wig, and a jacket or vest covered in fringe and you will have the most authentic looking hippy costume of all time.

Nerd: Halloween is the time to dress like something completely out of character. You can dress your child as a typical nerd, complete with white shirt, pocket protectors, pants that are too short, horn-rimmed glasses, while socks and black dress shoes. Don’t forget to tape one corner of the glasses for a true nerd appearance. Make sure you use plenty of hair gel to slick back the hair and a few overly large fake teeth will be a great addition.

Soda Can: Find an inexpensive plastic barrel and cut a hole in the bottom. Paint the entire barrel the colors and design of your favorite brand of soda in a can. With holes for arms and your head, a simple barrel can transform your child into a soda can.

Your child can be the hit of your block or at the neighborhood Halloween party if you use a little imagination and create special homemade costumes out of inexpensive, household items.

Like the commercials say “The memory of your child in a costume you made together”… priceless.


Jun 13

Mom had talked about how having a witch’s cauldron prop for Halloween this year would really put her into the spirit of things. So naturally, when I saw one in a store at the mall with color-changing fog rising up from within the large black cauldron all covered in cobwebs, it got my attention. Examining this enchanting Halloween prop further, I discovered it had a most bewitching price too�$80 plus tax! Costing a bit more than I had budgeted for mom’s creepy cauldron, I immediately began conjuring up ideas on how I might make one just as spooky for half the price or even less.

First, I knew I needed that fogging device with the colored lights. That was the secret ingredient to my brew, the “eye of newt” if you will. I began hunting around online and finally found a similar fogging device with color-changing lights was available for $25.

Next, I needed the cauldron kettle itself. A quick browse through the Halloween section of the local department store netted me a large, black plastic cauldron for about $4 that I knew would look just as great at night, especially once the attention was drawn into the colorful cauldron fog brewing within it.

While there, I bought a small jug of the highly-touted “fog juice” only to later read in the fogger’s instructions that distilled water can be used just as well so long as you clean the device properly after each use. So, I experimented using both the fog juice and the distilled water and guess what I discovered? The distilled water indeed worked just as well, if not better, than the expensive fog juice! So, now I knew the fog juice was one pricey element I could eliminate from my secret brew. Onto the finishing touch�

Jun 13

The sky is darkening. You feel a chill and ghostly horrors in the air as the moon shines brightly on this cloudless night. It is the last night of October, October 31st. It is officially Halloween night and you have decided to have a hauntingly exciting Halloween party. How ghoulishly delightful! But where do you start in planning your Halloween holiday celebration. Here are 10 steps to help you in planning a great Halloween Party that will have all those ghosts, wicked witches and grim goblins screaming with delight.

Step 1: Halloween Party Kickoff: Think about who the party is for - for you or your children? An adult Halloween party will be quite different from a children’s Halloween party when it comes to planning the Halloween theme of the party, Halloween decorations, Halloween recipes and beverages. Adults and older children usually love to be frightened, but that is not the same for smaller children. So when planning your event keep the ages of your guests in mind. Once you have that figured out, now it is time to pick the date, time and place of your Halloween party. And don’t forget the guest list.

Step 2: Halloween invitations: This is where you can have fun and set the mood of your unforgettable night of horror chills and thrills by sending out unique and spookily inviting Halloween party invitations. You can purchase them or make some yourself with some construction paper and some glitter markers, or how about buying some inexpensive Halloween paper eye masks and writing the words on the back. Include all the important information such as date, time, place and a request for RSVP to your Halloween party.

Step 3: Halloween party food and recipes: now the party would not be a party without a lot of great Halloween munchies. Plan a menu and write out your shopping list. Try to do as much in advance as possible, and try to pick Halloween recipes that can be made ahead and stored or frozen. And again, think of the ages of your guests - there are a lot of fun Halloween foods for both kids and adults. Here might be the place to use up some of those Halloween pumpkin guts.

Step 4:Haunted Halloween Pumpkins: plan to buy your pumpkins early to get the best selection. By selecting a variety of shapes and sizes of pumpkins, you will be able to make a variety of interesting jack-o-lanterns ghosts. And don’t forget about those miniature pumpkins, they can make great party favors or Halloween decorations also. And the day before the party, carve your pumpkins and double check you have enough candles or use small flashlights to show off their ghostly grins.

Step 5: Halloween Costumes: there is always something exciting about putting on a Halloween costume and taking on another identity. So prepare yourself and your families Halloween party costumes in advance so that you don’t have to run around in a panic trying to put something together at the last minute. It is easy to find a lot of great Halloween costume ideas that will not cost a lot of money or time.