It's All Fun and Games....

(Review)

Do you have an annual Halloween party? I just received this very fun game and thought I'd share my thoughts with you. The Clues, Spells and Curses Scavenger Hunt was created by Party Games Plus and involves a combination Scavenger Hunt, Treasure Hunt and Murder Mystery. It includes everything you need with the exception of the "magical ingredients" which are made from items in your home. You also receive the labels for the magical ingredients, the clues and the curses (and the curse breaking cards of course) - and the instructions for the game. To prepare you just copy and cut, put into envelopes and hand them out to teams of players.

Here is the breakdown of the game:

Your guest will hunt for scavenger hunt clues to solve the mystery, fall victim to curses and have to do what's on the curses cards until someone else finds a way to reverse the curse using the magical ingredients and reverse spell cards. AND to make it even more fun you use game money to buy, bribe, and borrow clues, spells and potions from other teams. 

Doesn't that sound like fun?

I was trying to come up with a way to play it online like a blog hop - but I'd need some help from some of the blog hop pros like Simply Stacie. I was thinking it would be a lot of fun to hide the clues throughout the "Creep-O-Sphere" and visit those blogs to find the clues & solve the mystery.

Now, this is a game for adults - but there were a few other games for kids or families to work on together. You could have a Pirate Treasure Hunt (ages 5-9) - the kid's come in costume, you award prizes for costumes and the kids solve riddles to play the game & find the treasure. And there are all kinds of other games, including Wii Party Games! 

What games caught your eye at PartyGamesPlus.com?

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. No money exchanged hands and I was not required to give a positive review.

Autumn Wreath Inspiration

I thought for my first post this holiday season I would post about some beautiful fall wreath tutorials that I've found in blogdom. 

1) This beautiful autumn wreath is from a wonderful blog called Jones Design Company. She has another wreath that I'm in love with too - it's made from the pages of a book. She uses items found around the house to create her craft projects and the tutorials that she creates makes it look so very easy.  You can find the autumn wreath or the book page wreath by clicking on the name of the wreath.

2) Crafts and Coffee has a roundup of 7 wreaths for you to check out. My favorite is this one that I've just posted the picture. The shimmery leaves almost look like a light is behind them and they kind of glow. Isn't it gorgeous? It's made using a paper punch and shimmery paper to create the leaves. You can find the tutorial here. She also has a wide variety of other varieties of wreaths - everything from crafty, to a Fall Penny wreath, to a Feather and mushroom wreaths (tutorial on another site). 

3) Make It and Love It has a wonderful autumn greetings wreath that is simple and won't break the bank when you get the supplies! I personally suggest you get the sign (if you aren't an artist) from Hobby Lobby when they have the wood signs 50% off. It seems like they go on sale every other week - so it won't be a hardship to find a week they are on sale. =D Here is the tutorial, The tutorial shows you not only how to make the wreath itself but also has a good example of how to make the bow. 

And, here's my wreath that I made last night:

Fall Posies Wreath

I had a lovely spring wreath that I bought at a big craft show about 6 years ago. I think I loved it to death! Anyway, I was going to try and fix it and put it back together using a hot glue gun and I couldn't.  All the sticks kept falling out and I gave up. So, then I thought "I'll just buy a new base & use the flowers from the original wreath" - and of course, then I saw a "bush" of these flowers at Hobby Lobby and used those instead. 

When I make my wreaths I like to group the flowers (or whatever) in groups of three and either do the design in a crescent design on a round wreath or I'll do it just across the bottom. I had so many flowers for this one I ended up doing it all the way around.


(Sorry, it's a little fuzzy. I used my camera phone) 


I'd love to see some of your wreaths! Why don't you link up your pics and toots?

Count Your Blessings Blog Hop & Giveaway Linky, Wk 1

Hi everyone! This is the first week of the Count Your Blessings Blog Hop and Giveaway Linky. First I want to explain a few things. 


1) PLEASE help with advertising: Click the Tweet button at the bottom of this page or the Share This button. This linky is heavily advertised but there is only so much I can do - if we all work together we'll be that much more successful. Please feel FREE to take a button and post it on your blog too.  ThankS!

Right Click with mouse on image, Copy, Paste on your blog.

Link to: http://holidaygiftsandmore.blogspot.com

2) Each week I will feature my Wednesday Review & Giveaway Linky. You are welcome to enter the giveaway if you are interested.

This weeks Featured Giveaway is:

One Lucky Reader will WIN a copy of

Family Fun's Halloween Issue!

(Enter Here)

3) I'd love to host an Ornament Exchange! It's going to be fairly basic - Sign Up to Join In HERE and I should know the dates here in a week or two & how I'm going to do it. I'm hoping to co-host the event with someone and if you'd like to join me that would be awesome. Thanks!

If you have a Holiday Event coming up and would like to feature it on my sidebar - let me know. All I ask is that you feature this Blog Hop/Giveaway Linky on your blog with a link back to this blog.  Thanks!

Count Your Blessings Blog Hop

Link Up Your Blog (No Giveaways Here please) Hop
Link Up any Holiday ideas for Decorating, Recipes, Halloween, Fall Fun, Crafting, etc - NO Giveaways - use the linky below this one - Thanks!


          *** Sorry no images this week - 

              I can't get them to work?***

Mister Linky's Magical Widgets -- Easy-Linky widget will appear right here!
This preview will disappear when the widget is displayed on your site.
For best results, use HTML mode to edit this section of the post.

Please link up any family friendly giveaways. Be sure to load them like this:

WIN a ______________, 10/31, US & CA
You must indicate an ending date & who can enter
US, Canada or WorldWide (WW)

Mister Linky's Magical Widgets -- Easy-Linky widget will appear right here!
This preview will disappear when the widget is displayed on your site.
For best results, use HTML mode to edit this section of the post.

Halloween by Family Fun (Magazine Review)

Halloween by Family Fun (Magazine)
by Disney Publishing Worldwide
Age 8-12, $9.99
Available at a store near you

It's hard to believe it's almost Halloween but it is, and I'm sure your kid's have been sharing their costume ideas since school started (or maybe summer?).

The special Halloween edition of Family Fun is packed with FUN ideas for costumes, crafts, pumpkin ideas and treats (gotta have treats).  There are bonuses too - easy ideas for Halloween parties, clip art decorations and even more.

The costume section comes with a supply list and many of the supplies are things you have around the house like - cardboard boxes (need a big one? Ask at Sears or the local appliance or furniture store if they have any dishwasher size boxes (or whatever size you need). Paint, brushes, foil, margarine tubs and plastic cups are just a few of the items you may need.

There are ideas for: a Perky Penguin, a Pink Poodle, a Ladybug, a really cool Retro Robot (my favorite lol) or how about a Washing Machine or a MP Player?

How about some cool craft ideas?
A couple of the crafts I loved the most were Mr Bottle Bones & the Tie Dyed Pumpkin Shirts! You can also make a tabletop haunted house, a giant spider or get some great pumpkin & gourd ideas.

No party is complete without treats!
(aren't they cute?)

Christmas Suggestion:

Have a family in YOUR family that would enjoy a 

Year Subscription to Family Fun? 
You can order a subscription for $9.95 

(savings $29.55 (or 75%)

CLICK HERE

Holiday Traditions is going to give away 1 copy of Halloween to a lucky reader. Is it going to be you?

The Freak-O-Sphere's best ideas.....

Boo!

Starting October 1st, Holiday Traditions will 

be UP and Running w/ craft ideas, tutorials, book reviews

gift ideas, great recipes and every weekend starting 10/8

there will be a Link UP of the Freak-O-Sphere's best ideas! 

 

An assignment:

You assignment for October 8th is to come UP with

your best Halloween (or Fall Festival) ideas!

Show decorating ideas, craft ideas, creepy recipe

ideas..... whatever your creative little mind will come UP with!

One lucky winner will win a copy of......

Will It Be YOU?

(Please note: if you and your family aren't into Halloween - feel free to come up with Fall Festival ideas instead.)

 

Coming soon.... Don't Miss It!

Hi everyone!

Holiday Traditions

will be open for business

October 1st!

It's time for another year of

Sales, Black Friday,

Shopping and more....


Oh yeah, link up your creative
holiday decor ideas, recipes, craft ideas,
gift ideas & giveaways on
Friday's too!

So, Are you ready?

Be sure to come back October 1st!


PS: would you like to add my button to your sidebar?
(I'd be really thrilled if you did)



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Today's Blog Hops:  

Christmas - What does it mean to YOU?

O morning stars! Together proclaim the holy birth,
And praises sing to God the King and peace to men on earth.(O Little Town of Bethlehem)
Isaiah 9:6For to us a child is born,to us a son is given,and the government will be on his shoulders.And he will be calledWonderful Counselor, Mighty God,Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
What does Christmas mean to you?  Is it a time of reflection of the sacrifice God made to give us Salvation?Knowing that he gave us that which mattered most to him - and provided a path to Righteousness and the Gift of Life through the death of Jesus - God's Only Son and the Resurrection that wiped away Sin?
Did You Know?Jesus, in Hebrew, means God is Salvation
John 1:14"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only,who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."
Jesus, called Immanuel, "God With Us"was different from everyone's expectations.Instead of judgement, He brought mercy and love.
Isaiah 60:1 Arise, shine; for your light has come, And the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.
Jesus - was and is that light,Have YOU allowed HIM into the dark places of YOUR heart?
John 3:16For God So Loved The World that HE gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in HIMshould not perish, but have everlasting life.