Happy Halloween from BEST!

photo by Pedro J Ferreira

SPOOKY PUMPKIN PANCAKES

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups milk
• 1 cup pumpkin puree
• 1 egg
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 tablespoons vinegar
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3 tablespoons brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• Whipped Butter
• Fresh Blueberries
• Strawberry Jam or Jelly
  

Directions for Cooking:

1. In a bowl, mix together the milk, pumpkin, egg, oil and vinegar. Combine the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, allspice, cinnamon, ginger and salt in a separate bowl. Stir into the pumpkin mixture just enough to combine.
2. Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium high heat. Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/4 cup for each pancake. Brown on both sides and serve hot.

Directions for Decorating:

1. Using a melon scoop, scoop out two balls of whipped butter and place them on pancakes.
   
2. Make groves in the butter with a toothpick and fill with strawberry jam or jelly.
3. Place fresh blueberries in the center for pupils.

Written by: Kelly's Keychains http://egyptianruin.etsy.com

Random Baltimore Photo

Happy Halloween!

Image by Elwyn. Click here for more details.

Tutorial - Glowing Halloween Ghosts

Here's a quick way to add a little spooky glow to your Halloween. These little polymer clay ghosts are perfect for decorating a tabletop, hanging on a tree or using as a finger puppet. The directions are super simple and kids over 4 should be able to handle this craft with no problems.

Tools & Materials:

* glow-in-the-dark polymer clay
* black polymer clay
* a disposable foil baking pan
* Aluminum foil

Optional items:
* Fishing line
* needle

Directions:

1. Make a ball of the glow-in-the-dark clay by rolling the clay between your palms . The size you use will depend on how big you want your ghosts. I used about a 1/4 of a block to make my 3 inch tall ghosts, but tiny ghosts are just as scary.


2. Roll out 2 small black balls for eyes and 1 slightly larger ball for the mouth.

3. Carefully flatten the ball with the palm of your hand. You can also use a roller or a pasta machine to flatten the clay into a 1/4 inch thick flat circle.

4. Put your finger in the middle of the circle and pull the clay down around your finger to make the ghost shape.

5. Flatten the eye circles between your fingers and gently push them onto your ghost. The clay will stick very easily. Do the same with the mouth.

5. Take your finger out of the ghost and see if he is sturdy enough to stand on his own. If you made him too thin, you may need to put him over a ball of foil to keep him upright during the baking. He'll be able to stand on his own just fine after baking.

6. If you'd like to have a hanging ghost, place a small hole in the top of the ghost with a needle before baking.

7. Place your ghost in the aluminum baking dish. **Do not use a dish that you use for food.** Cover the entire dish with aluminum foil taking care to seal the it to avoid fumes escaping into your oven. Bake for 20 minutes at 250 degrees.

8. Take your ghost out of the oven and allow it to cool for about 20 minutes.

Put the ghost under a light for a few minutes and then watch them glow. If you want the hang the ghosts, tie a knot in one end of fishing line and thread the other end through the hole in the top of your ghost. Make a loop for hanging. Fishing line works great because it's strong and virtually invisible with the lights out. Hang them from a tree or string several together to make a garland and enjoy the spooky glow.

Let's Go Out! Trick or Treating

Let's go Trick or Treating!

For Halloween my little sprout will be turned into a pumpkin with this adorable costume by dahlhartlane.



He'll collect his goodies in this creepy skeleton treat basket by The Black Sheep Studio.
It's one of a kind and made from a gourd!


Of course we'll be escorted by the dog, and he'll need a costume too! This "dogerpillar" costume is made by
hatz 4 bratz, and the original is being sent to the craft maven herself, Martha Stewart!

I'll need something festive to wear myself, so with a nod to Charm City's very own terrifying wordsmith Edgar Allen Poe, I'll don this Black Raven hat by It's the little things.
Happy Hauntings!

Last Minute Halloween

photo by Monica Lopossay

Last year, the lovely Heather Von Marko of HVM Designs came up with an awesome list of last minute Halloween ideas for The Baltimore Sun. If you're still struggling to figure it out, you just need to take a peek at her suggestions to find something perfect!

My favorites involve the use of a cardboard box...


photo by Monica Lopossay

Robot: Take a cardboard box, glue on plastic cups and random doodads, and then make a hat out of a shoe box with some pipe cleaner antennae.

Stick of Gum : Paint a longer box pink, or make a sandwich-board-style stick of gum.

iPod : Paint the box whatever color you want, add a paper plate with the little arrows and such drawn on with marker, draw the screen - even add your favorite band and song in the field.

Head on a Platter: Get a plastic platter from the party store, cut a hole for your head through the box and the platter, add a tablecloth to your "table" and some plastic silverware as a place setting.

Lego: Paint the box a solid color, and use round plastic takeout containers painted the same to be the round nubs. Hot-glue them on, and you're done.

The easiest cardboard box costume: Draw on wide ribbons and be a wrapped present. You can make a big bow with strips of cut paper.

For the complete list, read the The Baltimore Sun article.

Friday Finds: Candy Corn

My Ruby and Violet - candy corn hat

Smoky Mountain Scents - candy corn soap

Kenny Coop - candy corn lip balm

AzitasSurprises - candy corn wallet

BEST's very own, Bakerswife - candy corn pin

Happy Halloween!

Written by Lauren of JerseyGirlDesign

Favorite Etsy Shop: Hannah's Tutus

This designer caught my eye last year when I began looking for a really chic tutu designer to make custom tutus for my daughters' costumes at Halloween. We had decided to go with the theme cat & mouse. When I saw Hannah's photos on etsy I was really impressed. She and her mother had teamed up and I was able to order from the Baltimore location which was attractive to me since I would see my product and the shop in person at pick up. Needless to say the finished products were adorable. I display each tutu I have bought from Hannahs Tutus on a decorative coat hanger in the girls playroom and they are as cute as deco as they are fun dress ups after we have worn them for our events. Check them out for an extra adorable Halloween this year or spoil your little one with a Birthday Bash Tutu like we did for our Ellie's 2nd Birthday in June.

Written by: Anna of Buttons for Babes

Let's Go Out... to Edgar Allan Poe's Funeral!

It’s the 200th anniversary of Edgar Allan Poe’s birthday. What better way to celebrate then to go to his funeral here in Baltimore… yes, his funeral. After stumbling through the streets one night here in Mobtown in 1849 drunk as a sailor, the infamous writer of “The Raven” & “The Telltale Heart” was laid to rest with an uneventful funeral with only a few in attendance.

There will be a myriad of macabre festivities throughout October including a public viewing of his body, an all-night vigil at his grave, a funeral procession followed by a funeral on Sunday, October 11th. Check out the Poe Bicentennial Web site for more information http://www.poebicentennial.com/events.html .

But what does one wear to a funeral the man who’s been dead and gone since 1849?


The Morticia Scarflette
By glenandconstance


Vintage Vixen Dress
By nattyboho


Poe & Raven Locket
By Casethaliel


Romantic Fingerless Gloves
By JRoseAtelier

Written by Kathy of TheGarbologistsWife

Get Ready for this year’s Great Halloween Lantern Parade

October is here, so in my family, this means we start preparing for our annual lantern parade festivities. Participating in the parade is a family tradition ever since I went (pregnant) that first memorable evening. Watching the lanterns wind through the night in Patterson Park, I knew this event was something I wanted to share with my family year after year. It is truly magical. And we are planning an extra cool lantern this year!

Parade Director Molly Ross, her band of loyal artist-assistants, and volunteers from all over converge this month to make this event happen. If you want to get involved, opportunities abound. Beginning October 11 there are lantern making workshops for children and adults through the Creative Alliance. This year Nana Projects’ stilt walking class for beginners offers a custom pair of stilts for $35.00. (Omg, that sounds fun!)The Parade Studio in Highlandtown hosts open studio time for people tackling larger projects and offers advanced lantern making workshops. 3323 Eastern Ave. Call 443-919-6980 for hrs. & info.All workshops are free, most require registration. Donations are welcome.
If you would like to see this Great Halloween Lantern Parade in all its glory, pencil it in on the calendar. Sat. Oct. 24, 7:30

Halloween Pop-ups!

We posted a link to Robert Sabuda's awesome pop-up tutorials last week, but thought these projects are so timely that they're worth posting again... just in case you missed them the first time around!


Witch


Bat


Frankenstein