Month: August 2013

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Lolli, lolli, lollipop! 60 days to Halloween

Ring the Lollipop is a fun and easy carnival/party game.  
All you need is a pegboard, some basic woodworking supplies, paint and a pile of lollipops and rings – I use glow-in-the-dark bracelets. When the children ring a lolli they keep it and the bracelet – lots of fun!
Directions for Ring the Lollipop are in A Harvest and Halloween Handbook
Join me for a discussion about Halloween on October 31, 1 p.m. Mountain time on BYU Sirius Radio 143!

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Halloween Party and Carnival Game: Candy Jar Guessing

If you are like me, you are anxiously awaiting all the great new Halloween decor to hit the market, but it seems to be slow in coming this year. In the meantime, get a jump on the harvest and Halloween party scene by gathering materials for parties and carnivals. This is a classic and favorite activity:
guess the number of pieces of candy in each jar. The winner takes it home as a prize. You can use canning jars, recycled jars or fancy ones; the cute pumpkin jar was a $1 thrift find!

Here’s a coloring page for your cute little pumpkins to practice numbers with. Give each jar a number and have the children draw that many pieces of candy inside.

For more coloring pages and party activities, see 
A Harvest and Halloween Handbook
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Glow-in-the-Dark Punch and Potential Potables; 62 Days

When I started writing A Harvest and Halloween Handbook, the first thing that popped into my mind as I was sitting on the beach watching my son and his friends play in the ocean, was a collection of drinks, like Prince Charming Cherry Soda, Moonlight Elixir, Toad-2-Prince Serum and other beverages. 

My favorite came into being when I wondered if you could do a glow-in-the-dark punch. No the punch doesn’t glow – its the presentation, although…let me work on this and get back to you, mwa, hah, hah, hah. I’ll be in the lab.

Here’s the recipe for this delicious punch:

2 qts. white grape juice
2 qts. Vernor’s ginger ale.

You can tint it if you like.

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63 Days; A Party in the 100 Acre Woods.

I just learned that The Many Adventures of  Winnie the Pooh DVD was released by Disney yesterday. I love A.A. Milne’s “silly old bear” and his friends and their adventures. They were so supportive and helpful of each other throughout the stories and E.H. Shepherd’s illustrations were magical. As much as I delight in Beatrix Potter’s watercolor paintings in the Peter Rabbit series, the characters were mischievous and prone to be naughty, while Pooh and his friends had a better moral framework.

In my Halloween repertoire, I’ve replaced witches with Mother Goose and I show you how to host a child-friendly Halloween party in the Hundred Acre Woods, your toddlers will love it! The details are in 
A Harvest and Halloween Handbook.

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64 Days; Back to School

I’m grateful for the opportunity to pick up my pencils and head back to school for more training in the arts. This semester I’m learning how to teach, as well as improving my painting skills and
acquiring a second language: the language of color. I wish all students a great year and much success!

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-harvest-and-halloween-handbook-pam-mcmurtry/1116031757?ean=2940148379744

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65 Happy Days

 

Between today and Halloween there will be many happy days 
and lots of reasons to celebrate. One of them is my daughter Heather; 
Happy Birthday Pumpkin! 
A Harvest And Halloween Handbook 
A Harvest and Halloween Handbook
http://www.amazon.com/Harvest-Halloween-Handbook-Artisan-ebook/dp/B009PA8ON6/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1370021462&sr=1-1&keywords=pam+mcmurtry%2C+a+harvest+and+Halloween+handbook
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-harvest-and-halloween-handbook-pam-mcmurtry/1116031757?ean=2940148379744
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Route 66 – Oh the Jouy!

 
 
 

 
Toile du Jouy is the classic French fabric that is like a storybook with depictions of families, bucolic scenes, even patriotic themes. 
I love a good story and the beautiful graphic quality of toile so I created an invitation that I hope brings you much jouy also.

Back in my hometown, I’m feeling the joy of being in the City of Angels with my loved ones on the west end of Route 66. 
 
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67 Days – Don’t Wait to Enjoy the Harvest

 

We may postpone enjoying our bliss until we achieve major milestones; graduating from college, marriage, career success; the list is long.  The other day I heard a man talk about the benefits of celebrating “little harvests.” Studies show that people who have gratitude enjoy better health and sleep patterns and have more energy. Why not enjoy a little harvest this weekend? There is  much to be thankful for.


A Harvest And Halloween Handbook

A Harvest and Halloween Handbook

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-harvest-and-halloween-handbook-pam-mcmurtry/1116031757?ean=2940148379744

http://www.amazon.com/Harvest-Halloween-Handbook-Artisan-ebook/dp/B009PA8ON6/ref=sr_1_1/184-7262057-1000569?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1377352609&sr=1-1#_

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68 Days; Let the Magic Begin!


As magical as magic is, it needs to be backed up with hard work, skill and determination.

Whether you are in school, planning a big event (like your life) or doing something important, put all you have into your effort and let the magic begin!

 A Harvest And Halloween Handbook