Oh hey. Well, today's post is a bit of a failure. It just happens sometimes when we try to create stuff, even at halloween. I bet some of us have created a few halloween costumes or carved a few pumpkins that were more scary than the "Hellraiser" movie franchise. By the way, I have seen all three "Hellraiser" movies. Yes, I did watch them in a row, as I was snow bound, by myself, in old creep house, as the lights went out and the phone rang. Yes, I did hide under the bed while the dog in the house barked directly at a closed door. No, I will never watch them again. Yes, I do have photos of a few failed halloween costumes. No I will never revisit those either. Sorry I digressed.

Today, I thought we could try our hand at crepe paper spider garland. In all aspects, this project looked fun, simple and most important fast. Well, maybe I just wasn't in the mood or I didn't have the right crepe paper but my spiders turned out looking more like deer ticks shriveled in a hot afternoon sun.

Today's project is a challenge for you. Make this garland and make it better. Show me that I lack the crepe paper making gene. Go ahead and send me a message, leave a comment or post a photo of your garland on the Create & Change Facebook page.

You will need the following:

• black crepe paper
• a white pencil
• scissors
• patience and humor

Step 1: Measure off about 4 feet of crepe paper. Fold the crepe paper over into a 1.5 inch bundle.

Notice All The Garbage On The Right In the Photo. 7 Failed Attempts...

Step 2: Draw half a spider shape with the white pencil.

It Kinda Looks Like a Spider...

Step 3: Cut out the spider. 

Action Shot. Lots Of Hope Here.

Step 4: Cackle for joy as your spider garland is perfect!

Just Ticks. No Spiders Here.

I can't wait to see your spider garland creations. Until tomorrow crafty witches and warlocks.

Oh hey. Since yesterday's post I have been thinking a lot about ghost stories. Where they originate, what makes them spooky and lastly how to be a great storyteller. Storytelling goes back in human history farther than the written word. Through the ages, humans have preserved life lessons either imagined or real in stories. It has been the job of great storytellers to tell narratives that are emotionally complex enough for us to listen and learn.

Today, we use storytelling in our personal and business lives. Marketing is a story we tell a consumer. CEOs weave a stories about their company. Politicians speak stories of how they will make change. Kids hear stories from animated films and books. Storytelling is all around us and impacts us daily. It's how we interact as humans. However, for most of us, storytelling is a skill that needs perfection.

Today, I dug into an article at Art of Charm on "How To Tell A Great Story." It's short read on how to be a good storyteller. One of the main points is practice. Today, we are going to create practice in the art of great storytelling. Today, pick a ghost story or use the story you created yesterday. Use your voice recorder on your smart phone or an app such as BossJock to record yourself telling a story. It's interesting to hear how we can develop narratives through our voice and create emotions with the spoken word.

Below I try my hand at storytelling in this audio clip. It is clear that I will need about twenty more years to perfect storytelling but it was a great way to create and practice a skill that we need daily.

Have fun with the recorder and until tomorrow great storytellers!

Boo! Let's kick off the week with a good old spooky story. What is it about a ghost story that we can't resist? Most of us don't want to listen to anxiety provoking details of something horrifying but we just can resist the drama. The Atlantic's article "Why Do Some Brains Enjoy Fear" is a great read on why we might be attracted to these tales of suspense and horror. I'm going to guess, tales that make us shiver make us feel human.

In the spirit of feeling alive, today's project is to create a spooky story of your own. Fire up the notebook and pop the cap off your favorite pen. Think of what makes fear in you and create a short story that will frighten the pants off your entire neighborhood. Remember it's the tiny unexpected things that create the shivers.

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The Ring.

My husband was out of town. He often traveled to distant, far flung corners of the earth. Gone for weeks at a time, I would find myself alone shuffling the kids to bed late. Tonight was no exception. As the kids were sliding into their warm bath, there were three short quite knocks at the door. Knock. Knock. Knock. At first I ignored the sound. "Most likely the mailman delivering late" I told myself. The knock, however, became louder and more persistent. Knock. Knock. Knock. The kids shouted excitedly, "Go see who was at the door!" I toweled off my hands and quickly moved to the entrance. Reaching for the doorknob, a waft of sweet rose perfume filled the air. As I fiddled with the lock, dizziness waved over me. Pulling quickly on the heavy door, there was a sinking feeling in my stomach. I had forgotten to turn on the porch light to peek at who might be knocking at the door.

As I peered out into the night, a shadow quickly hobbled down the stairs. Muttering "thank you," I quickly turned on the porch light to get a better look at the figure. A sweet old voice said, "thank your husband" and as I stepped out of the doorway to get a better peek at the visitor, I almost stepped on a perfectly wrapped, tiny white box.

There was no card. The present looked as if it was lifted straight from a european store. The black ribbon perfectly positioned and precise. I scooped up the box, shut the door and placed it on a the hallway bench. "How strange." I said to myself.

After tucking the kids to bed, I noticed the box glimmering, calling from the bench. It was so curious that my husband sent me this package. "No note, no shipping box and a weird old lady delivery?" I said to myself. It all seemed odd but the tiny package glittered and beaconed to be opened. Scooping up the box, the silky ribbon unravelled and the lid fell from the base. Out popped another box inside. A velvety soft, black ring box with smooth gold trim. The box creaked as the top opened. Inside sat a tiny, ruby ring. I gasped with delight, slid the ring on my finger. It snapped perfectly into place. 

As I got ready for bed, the ruby danced in the light. It's short little sparkles made my head spin. It was late or early where my husband was but I sent him a message thanking him for the lovely gem. Tucking into bed the wind outside gusted. A storm was brewing. I switched off the light but even in the darkness the ruby glimmered. I stared hypnotized at the glistening bauble before slowly drifting off. 

It was late when I heard the storm. I was half between awake and asleep but there was someone beside the bed. The scent of sweet rose filled the room. Their hand softly stroking their fingers through my hair. Then, Knock. Knock. Knock.

The next morning, waking and vaguely remembering the storm, I noticed my phone buzzing. It was a message from my husband it simply said "Hey, what ring?"

---

Until tomorrow Steven King in training!

Oh hey spooky. Yep, it's shopping time. Sometimes in order to create we have to get out and see what kind of supplies are available. Halloween is no exception and Target is the the place to head for anything cool Halloween. It's fascinating to see what Target creates from year to year but lately there have been some super cool Halloween decorations. I have curated 5 for you to get your Halloween started with super spooky fun. 

1. 12" Metal LED Lantern - Adorable way create light for trick-o-treaters.
2. Haunted Cloche - It whirls and lights up. What could create more fun?
3. Giant Posable Spider - A perfect way to create fear on Halloween night.
4. Haunted Eyeball Doorbell - Super cool way to create super spook at the front door.
5. Warm Dewdrop Lights - Create sparkle on Halloween and beyond.

I product tested the giant spider and the doorbell. What do you think? Are you ready to create a some spooky too? 

Creating Spooky Here.

Well, I'm going to head down to Target and gather up more supplies to create the spookiest most fun Halloween ever. Let me know how the Target run goes and see you tomorrow goblins!

Greetings ghouls! Maybe it's a little early to hit the ground running with Halloween speak but it's never too early to start to decorate one's home for Halloween. We only have 4 weeks to add spooky magic to every surface of our house. Let's get right to it, channel Martha Stewart and get crafty with a ten dollar way to say boo!

You are going to need the following:

• 10 inch foam wreath
• hot glue gun and glue
• coffee filters
• boo printable {free for download here}
• super stretch decorative spider web
• a few fake spiders or something spooky

Here is a video to show you how to put it all together.

Well, off to whip up something scary for tomorrow. Let me know if the wreath put the bootiful in your home. Until tomorrow witches!

Hello October! I have mentioned in the past birthdays are big in our house. However, there is one holiday that tops birthdays. The good old fashioned, sugar coma inducing, Halloween. There is just something about the soul wandering, vampire prolific, pumpkin illuminating, costume dressing holiday. Maybe I am weirdly attached to the holiday because for the first eighteen years of my life, I lived in the smack dab of nowhere.  Every year I would go shopping for some the finest candy available in the midwest (thank you Tootsie Roll), place the yummy treats in a special bowl and wait by the door hoping to hear a knock. It was heart crushed to wait hours only for no one to appear at our house for tricker treating. No one!

Flash forward (ahem) a few years later, and here I am in a great urban environment that is primed for tricker-o-treating. It's a dream come true. So here we go. The next 31 days on this blog will be dedicated to creating for Halloween. We have costumes planned, decorations in the works and ghoulish recipes ready. We are going to be creating the coolest stuff to celebrate the wickedest day of the year.

Today's project is an easy one. To ring in the first day of October, create this vampire inspired piece of artwork. Well, ok, I have created for you. All you need to do is print it out and find a frame or a string and hang it on your door. Here is the free art for download: Velcome Artwork. Let's think of it as the magic potion that will start off Halloween amazing.

Until tomorrow witches and warlocks!