Update: The headline for this article was updated on Oct. 17
Ribbon wreath: by Hannah Stephenson
There are very few supplies needed in order to put together your very own ribbon wreath. In order to make an eight-inch wreath about twelve yards of wired ribbon is needed (the wired ribbon as it’ll give it some structure instead of just flopping around).
After the ribbon comes the base of the wreath; it’s best to use an embroidery hoop. This way, you can easily pick whatever size of wreath you want. The embroidery hoop can be separated into a top and a bottom, which means that it’s easy to make two wreaths without having to buy two embroidery hoops.
The first step in construction is to cut the ribbon into eighteen inch strips. Then, fold the ribbon in half and slide it under the embroidery hoop with the “tails” of the ribbon on the inside and the loop on the outside. Insert the tails through the loop and pull to tighten.
Continue tying the ribbon all the way around the hoop, alternating between patterns/colors in any desired pattern. After fully covering the hoop, fold the ribbon in half and cut from the middle up to the top left corner. This will create a “v” effect at the ends of the ribbon.
Ghost popcorn balls: By Ashley Graves
Ashley Graves for the Criterion
With Halloween right around the corner, now is the best time to try out some fun and festive recipes to celebrate this spooky holiday. If you are looking for an easy dessert to make with only 5 ingredients, this one is for you.
I tried it out for myself and was blown away at not only how easy it was but also how cute these popcorn ball ghosts turned out to be. I received many compliments from friends and roommates on them saying how adorable they looked! The sweetness from the marshmallow and the saltiness from the popcorn created the perfect flavor balance, and the white chocolate coating added a rich and unique aspect to this already well-balanced combination.
The highlight of this recipe was the simplicity of it. There was minimal mess to clean up once they were made and the straightforward directions made this the perfect recipe for those who cannot cook. On the other hand, mine did not turn out just as cute as the Pinterest photo, but nonetheless, they were presentable and there was no confusion that they were ghosts.
I would recommend this recipe to those looking for something to do with their kids, or just looking for something to make that will be easy and cheap. Overall, I spent a total of $10.00 on the white chocolate, candy eyes and marshmallows and had an enjoyable time making these cute popcorn ball ghosts.
Ingredients
· 16 cups popped popcorn (about 1 standard size bag of popcorn)
· one 10 oz bag of mini marshmallows
· 1/2 stick butter (1/4 cup)
· 1 package Wilton bright white candy melts
· candy eyeballs
Instructions
· Place the popcorn in a large bowl (or 2 large bowls to make mixing easier).
· In a large pot over medium heat, melt the mini marshmallows and butter. Stir occasionally until smooth.
· Pour the melted mixture over the popcorn (dividing between 2 bowls if you divided the popcorn). Stir with a spatula until the popcorn is coated.
· Butter your hands and begin to form the popcorn into balls.
· Place the balls on a baking sheet lined with a silicone mat or parchment paper. Allow the balls to cool and firm up. (30 minutes to 1 hour)
· Melt the white candy melts according to the package. You can add vegetable shortening or vegetable oil to help thin out the chocolate if desired. Dip the tops of the popcorn balls into the melted chocolate and return to the baking sheet. Allow the chocolate to set for 1-2 minutes before adding candy eyeballs to each ball. You can try to add the eyes right away, but they may slide off if the chocolate is too hot.
· Allow the chocolate to set before serving.
Easy Halloween doodles: by Emily Eckland
