CONKER SEASON IS HERE (SEPT/OCT)

Well it's here guys CONKER SEASON,

so get outside in your local parks and find your winner.

A conker is the seed of the horse chestnut tree.

When you find your first one call out

"Oddly oddly onker my first conker".

This ensures good fortune and few tangles throughout the coming season.

 Prepare your conker for playing.

The best conkers to play with are uncracked and  firm. 

Make a hole through the middle of of your chosen conker.

Thread a strong piece of string about 25cm long, through the hole and tie a knot at one end.

How to play conkers.

Players take turns at hitting their opponent's conker.

If you are the one whose conker is to be hit first, wrap the string around your hand and let the conker hang down.

The conker is held at the height your opponent chooses and is held perfectly still.

Your opponent, the striker, wraps his conker string round his hand just like yours.

He then takes his conker in the other hand and draws it back for the strike. Releasing the conker he swings it down by the string held in the other hand and tries to hit your conker with his.

If a player misses hitting his/her opponents conker they are allowed up to two further goes.

If the strings tangle, the first player to call "strings" gets an extra shot.

If a player hits his/her opponents conker in such a way that it completes a whole circle after being hit - known as ‘round the world’ – the player gets another go.

If a player drops his conker, or it is knocked out of his hand the other player can shout 'stamps' and jump on it, but should its owner first cry 'no stamps' then the conker, hopefully, remains intact.

(You may want to omit this rule LOL)

The game goes on in turns until one or other of the two conkers is completely destroyed.

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

The National championships are held on the second Sunday in October every year, in Oundle, Northamptonshire.
As you can see from these photo's they take it very seriously. LOL


Conker wreath (threaded onto a wire ring)


Have fun with your family.

PICK YOUR OWN PUMPKINS

Well October is here and Halloween is coming, so why not find a local pick your own pumpkin farm.

You can look here at the pick your own farms but check they grow pumpkins

or google PICK YOU OWN PUMPKIN " AND YOUR AREA"

Some farms have activities going on to, so you can make it a great fun family day out.

Remember not to go to early as they wont keep but don't leave it until the last minute either.
Also think about what you are carving onto the pumpkin so you know what size and shape you need.




Have fun with you family!!!

OCTOBER IS " THE BIG DRAW " MONTH

"So why not get everyone at home drawing.
It doesn't have to be a masterpiece, how about a game of pictionary or some sidewalk (chalk) art.
You could even buy some wallpaper lining and stick it to the lower part of your wall and let the kids create their own mural.
Or there's always the portraits sitting you could do your own or each others, see what your children really think you look like. Be warned these are not always favourable, but good fun

Checkout THE BIG DRAW WEBSITE for ideas.

Also check your local area as there are many things organised over the country, that you can join in.

My son was convinced he couldn't draw, then I bought him this book and he realised his pictures didn't have

to be perfect. Quinton Blake is a good example of this.

Also there are a good range of Klutz learn to draw books.

Have fun with your family!!!

  

HALLOWEEN PARTY 3

HALLOWEEN PARTY 2010

Well I have started to think about this years party, and much to all the kids (young and old) disappointment, I have decided not to throw a big Halloween party this year (see Halloween party 2009 for ideas).

BUT have a pumpkin carving party instead, as they are older now so can hopefully carve the pumpkins themselves without cutting any fingers off. So instead of the 25 + people we had over last year (the number increases every year) we are just having afew friends around and children and adults will carve together, and have some food and a family fun this year.

So I will post as I go along.

I have bought some school craft aprons as they are quite cheap. Although I am thinking of dying them black, as the pumpkin flesh stains, and at least then the aprons can be again.

I already have a large box of the kids carving tools (there are lots of kits available cheap), also a lino tool, and several different sized small pieces of copper pipes (they are great for making eye holes etc). Lots of metal ice cream scoops and large metal spoons. A large bottle of talcum powder, will let you know why soon.
And to prolong the life of the carving Vaseline (petroleum jelly).

Must remember to save lots of old newspapers and buy some black bags and baby wipes. Also photocopy lots of the carving patterns, there are loads of free patterns over the Internet you can use.


PUMPKIN CARVING PATTERNS
You can try these sites but there are lots more:

http://www.pumpkinmasters.com/free_patterns_main.asp

http://www.dltk-holidays.com/halloween/mpatterns.htm







Pumpkin masters are the best at this, and have a new book of patterns ever year, they are American but you can buy them in this country.









DECORATIONS


Pumpkins, Pumpkins and More Pumpkins!!!


Fabric Pumpkins


Wire Pumpkins


Carved Pumpkins.


Painted Pumpkins.


Decoupaged Pumpkins.




Willow Pumpkins



Tin Pumpkins.



Big ones, small ones and way they come ones.

CUPCAKES

More Pumpkins, LOL
I am going to make cake pops instead of cupcakes this year.
check out bakerella.com for intrusctions.
You make a cake, you crumble it, mix the cake with icing, roll it into balls, freeze them then cover in chocolate. They are so morish!!!



GAMES AND ACTIVITIES

The main part will be the pumpkin carving
but I have had requests for a treasure and a couple more games so here's what I have been thinking about.


RING THE PUMPKIN


Line up three large pumpkins with stems, to form a ring toss.

Use embroidery hoops or make hoops with rope and duct tape.

Mark a throwing line on the floor and take turns trying to ring a pumpkin stem. It doesn't matter if the players make a "ringer" or not, reward them with small prizes or stickers.

Smaller children can attempt to ring an entire large pumpkin with a hula hoop.



GOURD SKITTLES

Use butternut squash as pins.





FAVOUR BOXES

Free printable pumpkin boxes here

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Carving Instructions

Step 1) Preparation

For easy cleanup, place your pumpkin on several layers of newspaper before carving.

Step 2) Draw and Cut Lid

Cut a six-sided lid, big enough so you can reach in and clean out all the pumpkin gunk. Angle a saw or knife toward the center of the pumpkin to create a ledge that supports the lid. Make sure the hole is large enough to reach in and pull out the seeds and stringy membrane. The bottom of the pumpkin could also be cut off instead; this will allow the pumpkin to sit up straight and make removing the seeds easier.

Step 3) Clean and Scrape

Using the flat-edged ice cream scoop or the special pumpkin scoop, clean out the seeds and strings. Where you plan to carve, scrape the pumpkin wall until it's about one inch thick. If carving a challenging pattern, scrape the pumpkin so that the wall is about one-half inch thick.

Step 4) Print and Attach Pattern

Select the pattern you want to carve. Tape it in place with masking tape (normal sellotape doesn't stay on)

The pattern may need to be slightly folded to fit on a rounded pumpkin. Fold the pattern so that the pattern lines match up. (If the pattern is too large or too small, you can use a copier to reduce or enlarge)

Step 5) Transfer Design

Using the poker tool, poke holes along the design lines.

 Check to see you have transferred the design completely, then take the pattern off the pumpkin.

And cover design in talc and rub it into the holes. This makes the design clearer for carving.

Step 6) Saw Design

Using the carving saws saw dot-to-dot using a gentle up and down motion. Saw gently, the saws can break if they are forced.

Liam's finish pumpkin

And mine....I don't know where he get's his weird sense of humour from mind.

To preserve your pumpkin you can cover the raw cut edges with Vaseline or use a spray on clear vanish.

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HALLOWEEN PARTY 2

 HALLOWEEN PARTY 2009

INVITATIONS

I spotted a post card very early in the year and used it on our invites this year.

I loved it and really quick and easy to do.

Then printed this verse on the other side:


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Do join us for a spell,

It's fancy dress, that's mum's and dad's aswell.

Make sure your costume's give a fright,

And bring a coat it get's cold at night.

Halloween night is the date,

Be there at four or you'll be late.

Witches, wizards, pumpkins too,

Our wicken fest won't be the same without you!

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COSTUMES

This year I made a NEW SEW!! ghost cape for me, is was really easy but used alot of fabric. Sorry but I have no photo's but click on the link to see a photo on Martha Stewart' website.

Liam went as a mummy, I bought some cheap white pj's and stitched bandages onto them.
You can see this in the bobbin apples photo below.

DECORATIONS

Oh, the decorations I have accumulated over the years. I almost have as made Halloween boxes in the lost as I do Christmas decorations. I tend to buy them from all sorts of stores including the pound stores which seem to have last years items in for, yes you guessed it a £1.

But I do like to make some myself.

This was made from a polystyrene ring covered in floristry moss and spiders glued to it.

Then I blue tacke other spiders to the doors so they looked like they were all crawling the same way into the house.

The mirror was created by covering it in windowlene then just before it is completely dry drawing on it with my finger to remove it in places to make the eyes 
 

I sat night after night cutting out these mice which I stuck around the house, from the Martha Stewart site.

PUMPKINS

And here's the finished products

 I decided to put a shadow on the back of mine.

Which is really easy you just add a second carving on the upper part of the back of the pumpkin.

Then put it close to a wall.

BANNERS / BUNTING

I love this free Halloween bunting. (if to be used outside laminate it)

FOOD & DRINK

Last year was the same as the year before hot dogs for the children, chilli and baked potato's for the adults. This is because it is quick to pull together and the potato's can be put in early and the chilli can be made the night before.

CUPCAKES

Well this year I came across a bag full of plastic Halloween rings and I had a PING! moment.

Now I am not fantastic at cake decorating but the kids loved these. (I cheated and bought shop bought cakes and decorated them at home).

GAMES & ACTIVITIES

I'VE LOST MY MUMMY

Which was a treasure hunt.
I hid 16 numbered, laminated cards (with a clip art picture of a mummy on them)
around the garden with Halloween characters on them.

THE MUMMY RACE

I split the kids into two teams and encouraged to adult friends to be the mummies (thanks Nic and Steve).

I gave each team four value loo rolls and five minutes to cover the adults as much as they could.

the best covered mummy won.

HALLOWEEN PICTIONARY

I bought a cheap large childs drawing pad (A3) and a marker,
 cut little bat shapes out and wrote words assosiated with halloween on them,
they had to draw broomsticks, witches hats etc


BOBBIN APPLES

FAVOURS & FAVOUR BAGS

I bought trick or treat bags (in the sale last year at 2p each) and I have each family to bring a large bag of sweets or small toys and each child goes round and collects their candy and goodies at the end of the night.

Fancy Dress Award Certificates

You could give each child a (free down loadable) certificate  for different categories ie. scariest costume, cutest costume, most original, so every one gets one.

cake slice favour box free printable template

THANK YOU CARDS

I was really bad this year and didn't send out any thank you memento photo's.