Halloween Cards and Gifts for Kids

Isn't it funny the things you remember about your childhood? I'm one of the lucky ones; mine was pretty great. One memory I have (or a string of memories, really) is the way my mom made every holiday a big deal for my siblings and I.

On Valentine's Day, we'd wake up to a small box of chocolates and a card set out on the table. On May Day, we'd make baskets of homemade treats to deliver to the neighbor kids. And on Halloween, we'd craft paper ghosts and pumpkins to hang in our bedroom windows. One year, we painted our Halloween pumpkins to look like Cabbage Patch Kids complete with yarn hair and all, and every year we carved pumpkins together as a family - always. All these years later, I still remember the extra effort my mom (and dad) gave to make those celebrations special for us. 

It's the little things, isn't it? It sure made me feel special. 

To this day, I love to be crafty and I try to create those fond childhood memories for my kids. I also might be far away from my nieces, nephews and cousin's kids (who feel like extended nieces and nephews to me), but I still like to show them how much I care.

A few weeks ago, I stocked up on $1 Halloween items to give to all my favorite kiddos. It didn't cost me much -- maybe $10 or $15 total -- but it's the thought that counts. And I know Tory, Aden and all the little loved ones in my life will have fun opening a special Halloween treat. I found Halloween books, festive orange and black hair ties and packs of stickers in the dollar bin and purchased enough so every kid would each have a few things.

Then, one afternoon Tory and I pulled out the construction paper and paints and set to work making Halloween cards to go with our gifts. Tory asks to make a craft almost every day, and she really enjoyed this one. I wanted it to be something simple she could participate in, so I grabbed some cotton balls, paper plates and paint and set her loose. 

I showed Tory how to stamp the cotton ball into a glob of paint and move it around on the card stock paper. My idea was to make a "monster" shape and I'll admit, I had to shush my inner voice more than once when she wasn't rubbing the paint around on the paper exactly as I would've done it. Calm down, self. Let the three-year-old do her thing ... 

"This is fun, Mom. I like this!" Tory exclaimed more than once.

Well then, mission accomplished. I love that she loved making our activity together. 

After the paint dried, I pulled out my hot glue gun and adhered googly eyes onto the color blobs. I let Tory decide what eyes (big or small) and how many went where, then I glued them in place. 

I took a black Sharpie marker and made the blobs into monsters by drawing arms, legs and antennaes. Tory wanted to draw too, so she grabbed some markers and added her flair to each card.  Finally, I glued the monster cards onto black construction paper and wrote notes on the back to each gift recipient. 

I dropped these Halloween gifts in the mail last week so all my favorite kiddos can enjoy their goodies throughout October!

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Linking up with Courtney @ Sweet Turtle Soup and a few others for a Countdown to Halloween.