Lets face it, Halloween has to be one of the most fun holidays to decorate for, especially when you have kids around the house.  They love everything spooky and gross, but you'd like to have something special to celebrate family, yet in keeping with the Halloween Spirit!  So if you're looking for a fun new element for your Halloween decor.  Anything Joe's has come up with a great new decorative Halloween Sign, personalized with charicatures of you and your family, Stick man style!

Anything Joe's has long been known for the "Mom Purse" with the stick family kids.  We are taking it a step further this year and creating totally unique Holiday Gfits.  Our hand painted Halloween Sign for the Family is a wonderfully fun way to celebrate family at this spooky holiday.  Painted on Artist Canvas Board and hung with cute grosgrain ribbon, this 10" x 20" sign will look perfect by your front door or on the Halloween Party Buffet.

Each is custom painted with the family members as you describe them, tell us their costume, hair color, include the pets too if you like, and we take it from there,  the fuller the canvas the better.  Here is pictured a Dad as the knight and Mom as the queen and three little boys, two as sport figures and one as a pirate.  The boys wanted the dog included too.

While you will love this as part of your Halloween Decor, the kids will love seeing these charicature stick figures of themselves.  We thought this was an extra special Family Halloween Celebration idea that you'd want to see!  If you're crafty, you can create yourself, or just save the time and let us do it for you!

If you need other unique Halloween Ideas, click here to view all the options!

Now that school is back in, the next big holiday on the kids minds will be Halloween!  The one day of the year, when asking for candy is cool and acting out and dressing up is accepted by parents, teachers and friends alike!  This is  a kids dream of a holiday!  A holiday where their unique and creative ideas can shine!

Halloween ideas are rampant, but will take some serious thought and preparation from both the kids and the parents.  Who or what are you going to be this year is the first big question.  Next, are you going to create your own Halloween costume or just buy off the shelf?  Lets hope you can help create their own Halloween costume!    Whether it is their favorite pop star, a simple ghost with a sheet and two eyes cut out, most costumes can be created from items right in your own closet or attic and these will be the most memorable and also the most affordable.

Of course this is not an option for everyone, but there are ways to still make it a Personalized Halloween even  if you can't stitch up a costume.  And the candy, how are you going to carry it??  A halloween bucket, bag or if you're expecting a big haul, how about a pillowcase!

At Anything Joe's Personalized Gifts for Kids, we've featured bags, of every size, but the cutest and most enduring choice for a Halloween Candy tote idea are the personalized Halloween Buckets hand painted by our artists. 

These sturdy Halloween buckets, 10"H   come in Black, Orange and Dark Purple and are personalized with the child's name, a Halloween Candy design and feature a nylon rope handle.  Strong enough to carry anyones take on Halloween evening!  This is a great way to make their Halloween experience more personal.  The buckets can also be used over and over for several years and they are a great place to store the Halloween Candy until it's all gone.

Need a more customized theme?  We can do this too, we can do something to match their Princess Costume, Super Hero, or whatever character they envision!

These Personalized Halloween Buckets are also great for whoever greets at your front door to pass out the candy.  Another choice for your Front Door Ghoul would be our personalized Halloween Snack Bowl.  This can be painted with the family name, such as, "THE JOHNSON'S TREATS" and will look great as you dish out the candy or on your counter for the Halloween Party!

OK, so now that we have that out of the way, we always like to include our

Top Halloween Safety Tips:

So, as you prepare your child for the Candy Grab Night, remind them of these points and then be sure to escort your little trick-or-treater on his rounds or make sure that there is a responsible adult present with them.

1. Stay on the sidewalk, if there is one, if not, stick close to the curb, facing oncoming traffic.
2. Choose the safest route, not the shortest! Emphasize the importance of crossing only at corners. Crossing mid-block increases your risk of an accident.
3. Remind kids to look both ways (left-right-left) before crossing the street, and don't assume that motorists will yield to you.
4. Limit your territory to familiar streets and neighbors. Make it clear if certain areas or houses are off-limits. There's advantages to trick-or-treating with a group: there's safety in numbers, and it's more fun!
5. Halloween is a great time to remind kids about stranger danger! Teach your child to be polite but cautious around neighbors they haven't met, and to never, ever enter a stranger's home or car.
6. Beware of black cats…and other nocturnal critters. Halloween, with its constantly ringing doorbells and throngs of people, can make even calm pets nervous. Advise your child to steer clear of pets he or she doesn't know, and consider removing your own pet from all the action.
7. This one is never popular…but don't let kids sample their treats until you inspect them. To lessen the disappointment, serve up a fun, Halloween-themed meal first. How about a Worm Sandwich (hot dogs cut into squiggly strips, curled up on a bun)? Or Spaghetti and Eyeballs (with strategically-placed olives embedded into the meatballs)?
8. Set rules regarding candy consumption, starting on Halloween night. It's no coincidence that physicians see a rise in upset stomachs after Halloween!  A great idea we heard was to once you get home, divide the candy into 7 bags, ziplock sandwich sized, so they will have a weeks worth of candy.  Keep it in the kitchen in a safe, unreachable place and divvy it out each day!  Anything left over seven days worth, divide into bags and take to the local nursing home or shelter, they will appreciate it so much!
9. Spook-proof your yard for visiting trick-or-treaters. Clear the walkway of wet leaves and other obstacles; turn on all the lights. If your decorations require extension cords, get them out of the way.
10. As far as Jack o' Lanterns go, never let young children near carving tools. Non-toxic paint, stickers, and push-in picks are safe decorating alternatives. Or let your child draw the face, while you do the carving. Instead of candles, illuminate your pumpkin with a safe, battery-operated alternative.
11. Falls are the leading cause of accidental injuries on Halloween, according to the National Safety Council. So shorten that hem, leave the high heels home, and make sure you think safety!
12. Get the pictures before you start!  Stay focused on helping them have a great time!

"Trick or treat, Stinky Feet, Give me something good to eat!"

This phrase will be announced joyfully by kids across the country this coming Halloween night as it has for generations.   But before your ghosts and goblins head out to trick or treat this year, parents  keep in mind these trick or treating safety tips to make sure the only howls are those of fun.  At Anything Joe's we love this time of year and wanted to pass

Trick or treating safety tips for Kids:

Halloween Costumes: 
Allow your kids the chance to be creative or in control of choosing their new "alter ego".  This is a wonderful time of self expression and imagination.  With this in mind here are some costuming tips.

• Your children should carry or wear something lit, such as a fun flashlight, glow bracelet or necklace, or flashing attire for visibility. The popular Light-up shoes are also practical, and easy to see on a dark Halloween night.
• Fancy shoes, while cute as part of their costume, kids planning to go trick or treat should wear sturdy shoes and not the princess high-heel or other types of shoes often shown with costumes. Save those for the costume parties or contests and not trick or treating. Their feet--and most likely you who may end up carrying either the shoes or the child--will be thankful.
• Avoid costumes that drag on the ground. While cute initially, costumes that drag can trip up little feet, get caught on bushes, and create a tussle that sometimes results in the child wanting to remove the costume. Remember, kids who trick or treat want to be costumed AND comfortable.
• Since you will be out for a while, pick costumes that are bathroom-friendly. On this same subject, parents should pre-plan a bathroom stop along the way (a friends' house will do and is a good time for a water break as well), or at a public facility if driving.
• Be sure a child's mask allows them to see and breathe.  SuperHero or Monster masks often have small eye slits and nothing for the nose or mouth. Parents should try on masks for size and not hesitate to cut out larger openings for a trick or treater's comfort. If possible, find a mask that "breathes" and is easy to put on and off. The types of mask that easily can slide up on the head and then pulled down are best.  If it is too hot, the child will not make the entire route with their mask on!
• Only carry flexible extras, such as wands, knives, swords, ninja items, etc., that can't cause injury if a kid accidentally falls or have them strapped on as part of the costume. No play prop should resemble the real item as some folks do not like seeing small children carry these items; and trick or treating should be a fun and positive experience for everyone.
• Be weather aware.  Be sure your child doesn't  get over-heated or overly thirsty.  Don't have your child dress in an adorable lions costume with heavy fur and hood if you live in Southern states where temperatures could still be in the 80s in the evening; by the same token, a fairy costume might be impractical for a cold northern evening. Be one of those creative parents who accessorizes jackets or thinks "cool comfort" for their kids.
• Think "practical" over "cute" when picking a trick or treat goody bag or container. Some of seemingly-fun ones sold in stores are heavy--before any treats are added; others are too long and will drag the ground or have sharp edges that could scrape against tender skin. We offer our rope handle Trick or Treat buckets and cloth Trick or Treat Totes that can be personalized that are lightweight, but hold LOTS OF CANDY!
• Choosing a Trick or Treat Route:
• Today, many schools have their own Trick or Treat night, as do malls, shopping centers, churches and private neighborhoods or civic clubs to make this easy.  First see if there is an event you can plug into.
• Plan out  your route in advance and check it during the daylight for obstacles that could trip up trick or trickers. Trick or treat in familiar neighborhoods or areas.  Check with area malls and shopping centers as these have become great places to trick or treat and they may also have Costume Contests and events in conjunction with the Trick or Treat schedule.
• Trick or treaters should walk, not run, and should never cut across lawns or driveways. Obstacles could exist that aren't readily visible in the evening.
• Only trick or treat at houses that are lit. Residents who do not wish to be bothered by trick or treaters often leave off their lights as a sign; respect their preference by only going to houses that are lit.
•  Keep track of time and don't trick or treat after 9 p.m. (general recommendation). That allows ample time for children to trick or treat, and by then, the excitement of the evening and the candy/treats means little ghouls will be tired, anyhow.

See all of our Halloween and Trick or Treat Ideas!