Our Monster Bash! - A Toddler Friendly Halloween Party

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

I thought I would share our Monster Bash Halloween Party we threw this past weekend.

I wanted to host a fun toddler friendly Halloween Party... and working through the back contractions I had the entire day..it came together! It was a fun night..

Hope you enjoy the photos from our budget friendly-toddler approved-Halloween Party.

I think the adults had just as much fun as the kids.. The highlights of the night were seeing everyone arrive in their costumes and watching the kids play with the felt monsters we made!

Maybe next year you'll want to throw your own monster bash! :)

I created and e-mailed out an Invite for the Party..

(I also blogged my Inspiration Board for the party)

The Monster Bash Dessert Table

was a mix of Target Discount Bin Finds,

Michael's Clearance items and things I already had!

My main splurge on this table was the $10 white spider web from Target.

Totally worth it... it made the table! And the girls loved it..

It was something spooky without being weird.

I used my DIY Cement Tube Birch Stands I made for the girls' party last year.

Green Sparkle Pumpkins - Target Discount Bins ($2.50 each)

Orange Sparkle Spider - Target Discount Bin ($1)

Orange Sparkle Leaves - On Sale/With Coupon at Michael's

I spray painted white, the leftover burlap from their vintage circus party,

and wrapped 2 boxes with it for table height.

Being 36 weeks pregnant with back(and regular) contractions limited my baking time...

so we ordered cupcakes from our grocery store and then decorated them!

We had Monster Cupcakes, Owl Cupcakes and Dirt Cupcakes with worms!

I kept catching sienna stealing the worms off the cupcakes...classic.

I made oreo truffles into little monsters! (eyes from JoAnns on sale)

Didn't turn out as "pretty" as I had seen them.........haha.

BUT..they were AMAZINGLY DELICIOUS.

(Note to self: Next time use regular chocolate instead of white chocolate.)

I also filled up some dollar store vases I had with pumpkin candy corn

and leftover candy from baking, gummy worms & reese's pieces.

On the Pot luck table I also put out a bowl of Cheese Puffs, Candy Corn and Monster Mix! (Pretzels, Popcorn, Reese's Pieces, Candy Corn and Marshmallows)

DIY FAVOR - FELT MONSTERS

I had made up some Felt Monsters a while back for my girls...

and then my mom gave me the idea of using the same idea but making puppets!

My girls loved them so much that I thought I would make them as favors for the party.

Each monster took one sheet of felt..with the felt being something crazy

like a quarter a sheet, it was a budget friendly favor idea for sure.

Sophie had fun with me choosing what the faces should look like!

And we made up adoption certificates to make it even more fun.

It was sooo fun seeing everyone get into their costumes!

Our little family went as Cowgirls and a Cowboy.

Our costumes are from CostumEexpress.com (posted here)

I kept the decorations simple..

I found this banner at Target for $4. Can't beat that!

The rest was our Fall Decorations that we already had out:

--I had made up a "Keep Calm and Eat Candy" Print

--I had sewed a garland with the leftover burlap and yellow fabric from their Vintage Circus Party..

--and I filled up our empty (non working) fireplace with pumpkins!

--I had also grabbed up a clearance leaf garland from Michael's with a coupon.

(put it across our fireplace mantle)

For something easy and big that we could use on the pot luck table...

I had gathered up some branches from our back yard... spray painted them white...

and then taped on some white leaf/branches I had used in the "enchanted cookie forest" from their Storybook Princess Party last year. I also covered the pot luck table with white linens.. and then black cheese cloth material from the dollar store. (not photographed)

For crafts..we were planning on painting pumpkins...

BUT... my mom reality check kicked in... and I realized that would be

entirely too messy for this pregnant mama to handle. AND it was too cold/wet outside.

So instead.... I grabbed up a pack of foam pumpkins from target....

a pack of stickable foam sheets from JoAnns with a coupon.. cut out shapes..

(eyes, lips, hats etc) And let the kids decorate on the floor in the girls' room.

It was a perfect little craft for them!

One of my favorite parts of the party... was the Mac N' Cheese Bake Off!!

It was so fun seeing the variety..and taste testing them all!..I mean all. ;)

I made up some printables to go with the theme.

As you can see...the garland ended up being taped..because...

I felt pregnant that day. haha.

 

Hope you have a wonderful and safe Halloween.

Because of the storm our trick or treating has been postponed...

but I look forward to seeing everyone's trick or treating fun that they blog about...

And I'll be sure to share ours when it actually happens! ;)

Our Family Themed Halloween Costumes & COSTUME GIVEAWAY from CostumeExpress.com

Excited to team up with CostumeExpress.com..

and share our Halloween Party costumes!

Enter to win your own costume below!

(Giveaway Has Ended! :)

We went with a Family Western Theme! The girls LOVED the pink cow girl costumes...

and I was able to find something that worked with my growing bump.

The girls are wearing The Wild West Cutie Toddler Costume (Sizes 3T/4T & 2T)

The costume comes with a pink hat..but sophie liked mama's better... (white felt hat)

and sienna is too much of a wild spirit to wear a hat....

The horse sophie is riding was a birthday present this past year (dollar store!)

The costumes run a little small.. so the girls are wearing

leggings for the coverage and for the cold. (sienna's from old navy sophie's from k-mart)

 

What does a pregnant mama wear to a costume party??

A man's poncho of course! haha. This thing is actually pretty comfy... ;)
It's the Western Authentic Wandering Gunman Adult Costume
Ben and I are wearing the Felt Cowboy Hat in white.

Ben thought a cigar was a much needed touch to his "sheriff costume....tough guy.

We are so excited for our Halloween Party this year!

Still working up some fun little details for the party.. 

I'm just doing a dessert table..and then fun voting cards for the mac n' cheese bake of.

Trying to keep it simple as I'm feeling very pregnant...but I like being kept busy.

and making felt monster puppets as favors

is way more fun than doing dishes. :)

How cute are they?! hehe.

I love how sienna says "giddy up HOR-seeeee".... ;)

Have you figured out what you and your
family are wearing for Halloween??
If you need some ideas check out costumeexpress.com.
And if you want a FREE COSTUME..
enter below to win one at $30 VALUE.

GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED!

HOW TO ENTER:

GOOD LUCK! 

YOU CAN ENTER UP TO 7 TIMES!

HOW TO ENTER: Leave a comment for each entry

(with an e-mail if you don't have a google profile or blog)

1. Follow The Busy Budgeting Mama via Google Connect (top right sidebar)

2. Follow Costume Express on Twitter

3. Like The Busy Budgeting Mama on Facebook

4. Follow Costume Express on Facebook

5. Follow The Busy Budgeting Mama via Twitter

@thebusybudgetingma

6. Tweet "I want to win a free Halloween Costume from @Celebr8Express on TheBusyBudgetingMama.com! http://bit.ly/QuLkUm @busybudgetingma"

7. Post about the Giveaway 

(Facebook or Blog.. Just include Link in comment)

The Giveaway will end on Wednesday, October 24th at noon.

A winner will be chosen via random.org

I will announce the winner on my blog the afternoon of October 24th

The winner will be contacted via e-mail(if left or available!)

Thank you for entering and good luck!!

My Little Felt Monsters

I had fun doodling my little monsters on card stock..

and bringing them to life with a little felt and sewing!

I've seen "Adopt a Monster" party favors all over Pinterest...

so I wanted to use that same Idea for our Monster Bash!

(A Toddler Friendly Halloween Party!)

I also created in Photoshop a Monster

Adoption Certificate for the girls to fill out with me. :)

It was fun having sophia (my 4 yr old) help me choose

how many spikes, teeth or eyes the monsters should have!

And even more fun hearing the names they came up with!

(the blue one is apple....haha. ;)

We also have a spikey, gilly and fuzzball.

I'm considering adding these to my Etsy Shop- Charming Felt!

(complete with the Monster Adoption Certificate!)

These little monsters are fun soft toys for your toddlers...

or as a party favor this Halloween!

I loved seeing the girls play with them..

I started off making 1..then they requested a daddy..

and then a mommy... etc etc..

Some of the monsters are in love.

as you can tell from the photo below.

I have to finish up some client felt orders...

but then I REALLY want to try and make these into puppet versions!

I think the girls would love that. :)

If you follow me on instagram or facebook, then you saw

I made up some sweet little felt owls too!

I'll share those on here soon.. I seriously am in love with them.

Monster Bash!- Toddler Friendly Halloween Party Inspiration Board

We are having a little get together in October..

A Monster Bash! I wanted to throw

 a Toddler Friendly Halloween Party.

I am a wee bit pregnant right now.... so It's going to be simple.

We are doing a Pot Luck and I'll probably do a cute Monster Themed Table.

I have seen the Adopt a Monster pins all over Pinterest...

so today I ran to JoAnns to grab up some cheap felt to make some

friendly monsters for the girls' and their friends to adopt at the party! :)

I put together a Spooktacular Monster Bash Inspiration Board

for any of you wanting to throw a Toddler Friendly Halloween Party!

1. Monster Cupcakes

2. Halloween Treat Bag Tags Printables (sold in my etsy shop)

3. Painted Pumpkins

4. Monster Playdoh

5. Mummy Juice Boxes

6. Pumpkin Dip Veggie Platter

7. Adopt a Monster

8. Boo Decorations

9. Candy Corn Candles

10. Monster Slime

11. Monster Cupcakes

12. Kid's Painting Pumpkins

I also grabbed up at JoAnns some fun googly eyes.

the girls will flip over this. This is a doable DIY for a pregnant lady. haha.

monster cups

I made up an invite the other day for our party!

Plan on e-mailing this one out to make it easier.

Want to use this for your party?? message me!

 I'll be adding the Printable my Etsy Shop for $9

(A lot of you asked me how I did it.. I created it in Photoshop.

If you want to learn how to use it check out tutorials on you tube!)

I have also always wanted to do a Mac N' Cheese Bake Off!!

(this by no means is a pregnancy craving strategy.............hehe.)

I thought it would be a fun fall addition to a party!

So while the kids get sugared up on monster cupcakes..

We can taste test all the yummy cheesy delicious

mac n cheese recipes people bring!

voting and prizes are a must. :)

mac n' cheese

Monster Bash! (Toddler Friendly Halloween Party)

So I might have made up a Halloween Party Invitation

during their nap time today......

I am not a fan of 'scary' Halloween..

but like making it fun and playful for my girls.

Ben wants an excuse to use our fire pit.

And the girls like any party where they can dress up and adopt a monster.

More details soon. :)

I should go.. Sophie just woke up from her nap and came and

curled up on the suitcase in the middle of my family

room (still there from our trip this weekend)....
I think she is back asleep..

mom duties call.

(I made up fake location/rsvp details for privacy.)