Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Bone to Pick

I started out packaging what I hoped would be fun birthday gifts for my nephews and ended up creating what I think could be a fun Halloween treat.

I'll share.

Matthew thinks he is an archaeologist and can frequently be found on dinosaur digs in our backyard. I bought him the Dino Dig, pictured below, a few months ago hoping to convince him to get out of the heat and continue excavating at the kitchen table.
He loved it!

Rule of thumb. Always give a gift you yourself would enjoy receiving. I'm certain the rule holds true for boys aged 5-8. Around the same time, I purchased my nephews Highlowaha T-Ray shirts from Cafe Press. Note: T-shirts, when given to anyone under the age of 15 are never considered a "real" gift. Never.

Dino Dig + T-Ray Dinosaur Shirt. I feel a theme coming on.

Why simply give a gift when, with a little effort, you can give a gift that SHINES.
Wrap shirts in brown lunch bags, taping balls to each end. Shape and use plenty of tape until package begins to look bone-shaped. Paper mache, using flour, water, and strips of paper. Cover with acrylic paint and add a layer of crackle to make bones look aged. Whole process should take no more than 30-40 minutes.
Here are my nephews birthday packages wrapped, with bones attached dinosaurs worked into the bows. But you, who doesn't have nephews birthdays to celebrate?...
Consider this....

Ditch the t-shirt; use toilet paper rolls to make packages smaller, and to give them their shape; and fill with plastic bugs and candy. You'll be the hit of any Halloween celebration.

Signing off until tomorrow...

8 comments:

Robin said...

I'm going to have to quit my day job to sit around and craft if you guys don't quit coming up with cute ideas. LOL

Danko Family said...

That is such an awesome idea. I'm going to have to start saving my toilet paper rolls instead of recycling them!

Heather @ HouseofShine.com said...

Fun!

Kate this makes me think of your dino dig cake! Can you imagine making a dino dig pinata? Packaging your gift in a dino dig bone? You could have a whole dino dig theme!

Jessie Freeman said...

Man - I wish I could borrow your brain for a day! I love the ideas and wish I could come up with this stuff!!
Thanks for sharing your awesome ideas!

Katie said...

I remember you talking about this during the summer. It turned out great (as it always does)!

Happy tuesday!

Cheryl Houston said...

Awesomeness!

Jessie- you borrow Claudia's brain... you just get one idea at a time.

And! Don't forget everyone. If you have something you need kicked around- send us an email and we'll feature it on Free For All Friday. OR just tune in on Friday and post it in the Comment section.

Peggy said...

A-mazing!!

Happy Day!!!

I'm going to my room and just make a little ole card or something easy!

Brian K. Root said...

Very cute!