Throwing a Halloween Party

Ghosts and goblins, oh my! Halloween is fast approaching and More Than Paper has you covered with tips and tricks to throw a creative Halloween Party for both kids and adults alike this season. From invitations to party favors, you’ll have a party to remember. Follow these pro tips: 
 
1.     Hold on to those broomsticks and think about the type of party you want to throw:
The first step in event planning is determining exactly what kind of event you want to host. Think about the activities, dress, time, date, and menu for the event. Do you want a spooky party? A fun and whimsical party?  This will set the tone for all future planning. 
 
 
2.     Decide which witches and warlocks to invite to your super spooky event:
The next step in planning your Halloween party is to figure out the gruesome guest list! After determining the type of Halloween party you are having, adjust your guest list accordingly. For example, if you plan on throwing a ‘potion party,’ only invite those guests who are legally eligible to drink. Gather the names and addresses of your guest list and start looking for an invitation that matches your party vibe. 
 
Pro Tip: We recommend sending out the invitations for your party at least three weeks in advance to ensure your guests are well prepared for the holiday festivities! 
 
 
3.     Remember to make your menacing menu for all your guests to enjoy: 
One of the most important aspects of any party is the menu. Halloween parties are no exception! So while making a nice dip may do the trick, we recommend trying to create Halloween-themed dishes. For example, add some crushed chocolate cookies into a chocolate pudding cup; and top with some gummy worms to make a grave dirt cup! Pinterest is full of Halloween-themed food and you can even get healthy ideas. (We love a peeled orange or clementine with a small piece of celery stuck in the top! It looks like a pumpkin!) 
 
4.     Add a dash of competition to your caldron with some Halloween-themed games!: 
What is a party without some fun and games? While games are not completely necessary, we recommend including some signature Halloween-inspired games to add some nostalgia to your Halloween soiree. Some of the easiest and budget-friendly games to try at your Halloween party are bobbing for apples (in a non-COVID world), pin the nose on the witch, or even Monster Mash musical chairs!

After reviewing these spooky steps for making your Halloween party the best one yet, we at More Than Paper have created a list of perfect Halloween products for you to indulge in this Halloween holiday season! Make sure to order early, so you are not disappointed!  
Make sure your guests know exactly where and when to park their broomsticks for your Halloween party this year! Try these Cauldron Bubble Green Halloween Invitations to get your guests in the spooky spirit! For more Halloween-themed invitations, visit https://www.morethanpaper.com/Halloween-Invitations.htm

Witches, zombies, and spiders; oh my! What better way to put your personal spin on a Halloween haunt than with these precious Halloween Hang With Us napkins by Three Bees! Not only are these napkins personalized with your name, but there are multiple color options to choose from to match your Halloween aesthetic! For more Halloween napkin options, go to https://www.morethanpaper.com/Halloween-Napkins.htm

 
3.  Are you thinking about serving some of those ghoulish dishes at your Halloween soiree? If so, make sure these dishes are served with style with these spooky Halloween 3 or 4 Piece Tabletop Sets by Kelly Hughes Designs! This set comes with a personalized placemat, bowl, plate, and mug (if you get the four-piece option). These sets are the perfect way to spark some spooky cheer around your Halloween party this year! For more Halloween-inspired décor, visit https://www.morethanpaper.com/Halloween-Main.htm

So what will it be this Halloween?  We can’t wait to see the parties that you throw! 

Halloween Alternatives

Halloween is fast approaching and like many of our holidays and events scheduled in 2020, there’s a good chance that this spooky night is going to be cancelled. For safety reasons, it certainly makes sense to at least modify how we are approaching Halloween. But how do you tell children this news without letting them down, once again? We’re big on back up plans and getting creative. Today we are sharing some ideas for alternative Halloween plans.   

Decorate like you’ve never decorated before

Luckily, this is one thing that doesn’t need to change.  Decorate your heart out – indoors and outdoors! In your dining room, living room, or kitchen, we love these festive bats that our owner, Debbie, cut out years ago from black construction paper. She brings them out every year. 

Be sure to touch all areas of your home… even places you wouldn’t think of like the bathroom! How cute is this? It’s not the bathroom but the batroom!

Outside, you can go all out with orange, purple, and green lights. If you have never been one to have inflatable characters on your lawn, 2020 could be your year to do so.  The tackier and wackier the better, we say! Your neighbors and those passing by will love your outrageous Halloween spirit.

Candy on a stick

This is a new trend to emerge out of the pandemic and one that could work for a socially distant Halloween.  Buy Halloween candy, wooden dowels from your craft store, and tape.  Secure the candy package to the wooden dowel with tape, and place in your lawn spaced out. Invite your neighbors to do the same and schedule time when a few kids at a time can “trick or treat”.  We think this could be a fun way for smaller kids to still experience the thrill of getting candy.  

 

Source: https://www.facebook.com/wendy.reeves.92/posts/10223719070262700

 

Treat yo’self (and the ones you love)

We have lots of ideas for Halloween baking and cooking for yourself and the ones you love at home.  Why not dress up in your costumes?  Have a family party!  Create festive cupcakes like these for everyone to enjoy. 

 

Or get inspired by these other haunted treats! We’ve included some healthy options, too – like this pumpkin faced veggie tray.

 

Or these adorable fruit snacks! They’re incredibly easy to make. Cut bananas in half and add two (mini) chocolate chips for eyes.  For the “pumpkins”, use Cuties and cut and insert small pieces of celery for the stem.

 

These “graves” are just Milano cookies with “RIP” painted in black frosting (with bloody red….).  They rest in chocolate pudding covered in Oreo cookies. These are incredibly easy to make.  

 

Two other ideas for you are these Jell-O Cups that look like candy corns, and these Rice Krispy Monster Eyeballs. So much fun to make, especially with the kids.

 

Even if you can’t find time to make some special Halloween treats, just changing out your placemats and plates for the day will bring a smile to your children’s faces.  We have plenty of options. Be sure to check them all out here!  Of course, at More Than Paper, we are also all about the presentation so if you do get creative in making some delightful Halloween treats, be even more “extra” and serve them on one of our create-your-own platters where you can completely customize the colors for the season!

 

So, however you are able to celebrate Halloween this year, we hope that you find creative and exciting ways to keep the traditions alive and even to create new ones.  That’s what 2020 is all about, right? Adapting and finding the silver linings.  Be sure to share how you celebrate Halloween in 2020 on our Facebook page. Happy almost Halloween!

Free Halloween Printables

Happy Halloween! We've rounded up some of our favorite free printables on the web so you can print a few out and decorate your home. Put one of these on your door and set the tone for trick-or-treating! Frame a few and place them on the mantel, the buffet, and around decorations. From scary to cute, there's something for everyone! Which one is your favorite?

From Fancy Designs

From Pretty My Party

From 36th Avenue

From Wine and Glue

From Lil'Luna

It Works for Bobbi

From Babble

More Than Paper would like to wish you a happy Halloween! 

Halloween for Adults

Halloween isn't just for the kids, you know. Plenty of adults all over the country get into the spooky and cute holiday, too!  And why not? With all the great costumes for adults, creative food and drink and entertaining options, it's really just another excuse to throw a great party.  Of course, More Than Paper has you covered with invitations, party accessories and ideas for food and drink for your adults-only Halloween party. This year, make it about the party (and not about the kids trick or treating!) 

We can't get enough of this creepy vintage skeleton invitation or this martini glass halloween cocktail party invitation.  We found this appetizer on Pinterest -- they are whole wheat witch fingers from Texan Erin Baking -- and had to share it with our readers. Can you believe those?! 

Get festive with your invitations or party favors and order some personalized address/favor stickers (shop a variety of choices found here!) Don't forget the napkins, too! (Customize them for Halloween, Fall, or Thanksgiving!)  Need some costume ideas? Head over to Party City where we found this flapper girl. 

For this drink with a fake spider and blood, head on over to Shape Magazine's website for the recipe and other fun and funky Halloween drink ideas!  

Happy Halloween, Adults! 

Personalized Halloween

As a parent, it's fun to actively plan Halloween with your children.  From choosing their costume, selecting the treats, decorating the house, and mapping out the neighborhood trick-or-treating route, there is plenty do to around this time of year. At More Than Paper, we think it's fun to go that extra step and make it just a little bit more special with personalized goodies that can be used year after year.  This is why we've curated this "personalized Halloween" board below with ideas from More Than Paper and a few other places on the web to share with our readers. From personalized mealtime, costumes, treats and decorations, this is bound to be the most exciting Halloween yet! 

These personalized laminated placemats and dishes (more plates, cups, bowls not shown!) are fun to bring out at mealtime all October long. More Than Paper has a variety of plates from which to choose, too -- like this green, purple, orange and black polka dot one by Kelly Hughes Designs. 

We found a personalized "Happy Halloween" giant banner, complete with grommets and string to hang from your home outside. The super cute place mats by Pen at Hand are from More Than Paper. When it comes time to treat collecting, we love the witch princess and bat by Chasing Fireflies and the personalized dress and fireman costume can't be beat! 

If it's baby's first Halloween, be sure to check out this adorable spider onesie! We found it and several other cute ones on Etsy (click here to buy!)  If you are really into the spirit and want to go all out, try personalized chocolate bar/candy covers like the ones below at More Than Paper. What a special treat to pass out on Halloween, they'd also be great for a classroom party at school. 

If you are hosting a party and doing favors, consider these personalized favor bags. 

This lightweight personalized trick-or-treat bag by Pen at Hand can be used year after year and be a treasured keepsake. It holds a lot of loot, too! At just $23, we think the price cannot be beat. 

So what are you doing for a personalized Halloween? Get shopping at More Than Paper now! Most orders arrive within 2 weeks of your purchase, so plan ahead and you'll be ready! 

Halloween Party

Do you love Halloween like we do? It's such a fun holiday for children. This year, the spooky and festive holiday falls on a Friday which we find particularly convenient for school-aged kiddos! We're hosting a neighborhood party and are brainstorming all the adorable ways to decorate and make this Halloween the craftiest, yummiest, and best one yet!

What's the first step in planning a monster bash? A printed invitation, of course! It sets the theme for the night. We love these ones found at More Than Paper.  Whimsical and colorful, these ones are perfect for any Halloween party.

Find these cute invites here! 

1) Halloween Welcome by Inviting Co.

2) Witches Feet by Take Note Designs

3) Black Spider Web by Noteworthy Collections

4) Little Ghost by Picture Perfect

There are plenty of adorable ideas when it comes to crafting. We love this easy Halloween pennant flag banner from Polka Dot Chair. 

Easy Halloween Banner from Polka Dot Chair

When it comes time to serving food, we like a mix of healthy alternatives and junk.  Surely you have seen this cute idea circling around Pinterest from last year? The ghost bananas and orange pumpkins were a huge hit at our party last year.  Surely we will make them again! 

Image Credit - Skinny Mom

With every kids party we always make a little favor or small treat to take home.  We found exceptionally cute cookies and think they'd be adorable packaged in cello bags, tied with some string, and perfect with a personalized treat bag sticker!  More Than Paper has a variety of treat bag stickers from which to choose. 

SHOP Treat Bag Stickers

Over the next few weeks we will be sharing more ideas for Halloween! Check back soon and often.   Here are some image credits! 

Image Credits for Cookies

Eeek! Boo! Cookies

Spider and spider web cookies

Variety pack Halloween 

BOO Halloween Cookies

Personalized Door Decoration

Happy Halloween! 

At More Than Paper, we just love personalized items for our home!  Which is why we love this affordable DIY personalized front door decoration, perfect for the fall season. Anyone can create it at home with little to no crafting experience.  With a few simple supplies and about 20 minutes, you can have a fun seasonal decoration hanging from your front door.  

For this quick project, you will need: 

1. Charcoal twine by The Twinery, available at More Than Paper.com
2. May Arts Ribbon in orange 
3. Wooden letter of your choice (available at your local craft or hardware store)

Start by tying the twine onto the wooden letter.  Wrap the twine around the letter until you have a large section covered, or about 1/8 way covered.  When you've completed a section, tie it off and secure with a stapler or glue.   Next, do another section and then alternate the twine and the ribbon.  The sections do not have to be exact or equally spaced to look great! 

Hang from a sturdy piece of ribbon from a wreath hanger and you have an easy personalized front door decoration.   It's that simple! 

Try this idea for a nursery for baby.  Wrap blue or pink twine around a letter or a whole name for a personalized touch! 

Easy Halloween Banner

At More Than Paper, we love decorating for Halloween.  It's a fun holiday to craft for because there is so much room to get creative.   Today we are sharing an easy halloween banner that you can work on with your kids, just in time for Halloween!  Assign little ones the task of adding the stickers, or allow them to cut if they are ready.  This affordable and easy paper craft will take about 30 minutes and most of the supplies can be found at More Than Paper.com in our new Crafter's Corner.  Doesn't it look great finished hanging from the mantel?  

Supplies needed: 

1. Charcoal twine by The Twinery, available at More Than Paper  
2. Quick Card Stickers and border stickers, available at More Than Paper
3. Cardstock in yellow, orange, black and stripes.  (Or choose whatever suits you!) 
4. Glue 

Start by folding over the cardstock and cutting a triangle.  Use as your template to cut identical triangles for the other pennant flags. 

Add your sticker decorations!  We added the versatile border stickers to the top of the flag. 

Line the edges of the flags with glue.  Before securing in place, insert the twine. Use a double layer of twine for extra stability.  Seal shut and allow the glue to dry.  This will secure the twine as well. 

Add more stickers when dry and hang from windows, the mantel, or just about anywhere! 

Enjoy this fun and easy craft for Halloween - or use some of our other themed stickers and borders to make this banner for another holiday or occasion!  Share your creations with us on our Facebook page! 

Halloween Treat Bags

Are you in charge of helping out at your kids' Halloween party at school this October? Or perhaps you are throwing a party at your home, or want to get extra crafty and festive for the trick-or-treaters!  We love this idea found on the SRM Stickers Blog by Amy Crockett of the Scrapping Mommy.  It's an extra special Halloween treat bag and we'll show you how simple it is to make here! 



As More Than Paper is rolling out a crafter's corner this fall, we are adding new products each week.  This week we added these fantastic Kraft Bags by SRM.   Available in two different sizes (medium and large) and value priced, these make the perfect start to your decorated treat bags. 

Amy embossed her treat bags with a large spider web pattern.  Amy has a Cuddlebug so this was easy for her!  If you don't have a Cuddlebug, you can skip this step as the stickers, stamps and twine are enough to keep this bag super cute!  We also have a great selection of other bags, some of which are pre-embossed.  Check them out! 

Then she used a round tag and decorated it with SRM stickers.  Alternatively, you could use Halloween stamps or U.B.U. Haunted Shack by PSA Essentials to decorate the tag.   Stamp the character onto white paper, punch out and then adhere with craft glue or Zapdots to the kraft bag. 



Amy then added twine from The Twinery in Charcoal, now available at More Than Paper in our crafter's corner!  Add your "TRICK OR TREAT" sticker by SRM, available here at More Than Paper. 

Now you are ready to rock with these adorable treat bags for the classroom, at your home party or to pass out at Halloween. 

Be sure to visit Amy Crocket at The Scrapping Mommy and tell her how much you love her adorable project, you can see more about this project here too!