Decorating and disguising store-bought candy is an easy way to add a little more homemade to the holiday. It’s the perfect kind of prep work kids can enjoy as they countdown to October 31st. Make one or all of the following candies to distribute on Halloween evening: Vampire suckers, grave robber goody bags and mummified candy bars. 
Vampire suckers:
To create you'll need:
* Several yards of black Paper Twist
* Vampire face and vest template
* Tootsie Pops
* Hot glue gun
* Red marker - fine point tip
* Scissors
Before you begin, photocopy the templates. You'll need one vampire face and one vest for each sucker.
To make one sucker:
Unfurl Paper Twist and cut a rectangular piece measuring 3 inches by 8 inches long. Apply glue to the sucker wrapper and fold paper over sucker. Apply glue to the vest cut out and attach it to the middle of the sucker. Apply glue to the top two corners of the paper and wrap around to cover the top portion of the vest, forming a collar. Apply glue to the bottom back portion of the face cut out and attach it to the top portion of the sucker. Allow to dry and repeat process with remaining candy. Don’t forget to dab his fangs with red marker.
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Grave Robber Goody Bags
An easy and decorative solution to the goody bag, grave robber goody bags are created with packaged treats wrapped in black fabric and tied off with white string.
To create you'll need:
* White Cotton String
* Several yards of black fabric, cut into 8 inches by 8 inches squares.
* Packaged candy
* Grave Robber Goody Bag Template
* Scissors
To create the goody bags, place template onto fabric and use scissors to cut out the shape of the bag. Place packaged candy in the middle of fabric and bring edges together to create bag. Tie off with the white cotton string.
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Mummified Candy
Mummify candy bars with a cheesecloth and coffee.
To create you'll need:
* Several yards of cheesecloth
* Spray bottle filled with cold coffee
* Scissors
* White cotton string (optional)
Use scissors to cut strips of cheesecloth. Lay strips on a cookie sheet and spray with coffee. Allow to dry overnight. Wrap cloth around candy several times and tuck. If necessary use string finish the job. If desired, embellish with a plastic spider.
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Paint Can Candy Collector
A new, gallon-sized plain paint can is a great way to collect candy and parents can seal the deal when it’s time to put the candy away.
To create you’ll need:
* New gallon-size paint can (available at most paint stores)
* Light color spray paint primer
* Orange spray paint
* Black acrylic paint
* Foam brush
* Painter’s tape
Instructions:
To keep the handle paint free, wrap it with painter’s tape. In a well-ventilated area, parents should apply one coat of primer to the can, including the lid and allow to dry. Next apply the orange paint and allow to dry. If necessary, apply a second coat of paint. Next, use the black paint to create a jack-o-lantern face on the can – for clean lines, use the painter’s tape .
Keep the design simple and paint the can white. It can become a ghostly face or create a free form spider web with a black paint marker, for added scariness glue plastic spiders around the can.
-- all projects by Steven James
Need more help or have a question about these projects? E-mail Steven James at create@macaroniandglitter.com Visit his Web site at www.macaroniandglitter.com and his etsy store at macaroniandglitter.etsy.com.
