Halloween Owl Wreath and More!

We are busy getting ready for Halloween around here. We are tackling the costumes, cookies, school parties, and hanging the last few spooky decorations.  I found a fun owl at Cost Plus earlier in the season with the intentions to hang it on a wreath of some kind.  Sadly it is the day before Halloween and I am finally get around to making it.  I gotta have something fun on my door for the trick or treaters!

I was going to try the "socks on a wreath" again, but they didn't fit around the flat foam wreath without warping the houndstooth.  Instead, I opted for houndstooth fabric, first gluing the fabric to the front of the foam wreath.  Next I pinned and pleated the outside edges and cut the center out leaving enough to pull and pin on the inside.  The fabric didn't quite make it around the inside center, so I cut a long strip of the houndstooth fabric and glued along the bad edge.  I love that I can change the wreath for different seasons.  I just have to figure out something for Fall?  Any ideas?

Last night I made several batches of owl cookies for class parties. I stole the owl cookie idea from Kneader's Restaurant and Bakery.  I love their cookies and if I could I would just buy the cookies from Kneader's, but when I need about a hundred it is not very cost effective.  So, I borrowed their idea of backward chocolate chips for eyes and candy corn for noses, and ordered this owl cookie cutter. ( It's only a $1.55 on Amazon! )

*I don't profess to be a cookie artist...actually mine are kinda ugly...but they taste good and my kids think they are fun! Nicole got a good chuckle out of my cookie decorating skills.... 

I have a great soft sugar cookie recipe.  I have tried others - but keep coming back to this tasty recipe.  They are really good with homemade cream cheese frosting.

Sour Cream Sugar Cookies

3 1/4 c. Flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 c. butter
1 c. sugar
1 egg
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 c. sour cream

Sift flour, soda, salt, and set aside.  Mix butter, sugar, egg, and vanilla.  Add sour cream and 1/2 of flour mixture and mix.  Then add remaining flour and finish mixing.  Divine in half and roll out.  Cut out cookies and bake on ungreased sheet for 8-10 minutes at 375 degrees.  Do not over bake them! The edges should just barely be golden and the cookies should look firm.

Frost with cream cheese frosting, I like to use Glorious Treats' Cream Cheese frosting, it is a winner!

And last, a silly handout for my son's class.  My boys love whistle lips, they will entertain them for hours.  Thankfully for my ears - they are not too loud. We touched off the Frankenstein with a pixie stick for bolts. 

I am officially tired and it is only the beginning of the Holidays!  Nicole is whipping up another awesome costume for her daughter, she will be back soon to share!

I hope all of you have a "Franken-tastic" Halloween and be safe out there! :)  

(Our thoughts and prayers go out to all of those affected by the hurricane, we wish you safety and a quick recovery!)