Footprint Ghosts

There aren't many fall craft projects appropriate for a barely four-month-old,

but we wanted to give something to the grandparents to commemorate

Carter's very first Halloween.  It's Michael's second favorite holiday (after Christmas,

of course!), so it's a pretty big deal in our household.  Lots of decorations,

inside and out, lots of fall desserts being baked, "boo-ing" the neighbors with special treats,

dressing up our poor dog in ridiculous costumes and getting way more excited than we

probably should about the very few trick-or-treaters we get each year.

So we HAD to do something fun with the baby.  I looked for ideas on Pinterest and was all

set to make "handprint spiders" with black paint and wiggly eyes.  Until I discovered

that it's nearly IMPOSSIBLE to get an infant to open his hands all the way and keep

them open long enough to paint them and make two handprints on each canvas.

I contemplated doing it while he was asleep, but where's the fun in that?

I decided instead to save my beautifully painted orange canvases for our future daughter. 

She will more than likely be at least a year old and probably closer to two when we

bring her home from China.  And she should have a special project and grandparent gift

for HER very first Halloween, too, so those will be perfect.

For Carter, footprints seemed like a much better idea this year, and we chose to make

ghosts.  I covered a bouncy seat to protect it, stripped Carter down to a diaper, and

Daddy distracted him while Mommy tried her best to paint his ticklish feet and get

a few good prints on each canvas.  Then I added a moon to each one and gave the

ghosts their eyes.  I think they turned out pretty good, if I do say so myself.

I hope the grandparents will love them, too!

We took photos of him with each one. You know,

to prove authenticity when he becomes a famous artist someday...

And we added a little poem on the back.

We chose a fun series of photos for each set of grandparents...



wrapped the artwork in orange tissue, 

then in green wrapping paper.

I added an orange ribbon, a little tag and tucked the photos in

as sort of a sneak peek!

Michael's parents were here this morning and loved their gift.

Now we're off to Carrie's parents' house to deliver theirs!

Linking up again with Sunday Snapshot at Ni Hao Y'all.