Halloween Party 2008!

Here it goes, the complete Halloween Party run-down!

Invitations were SO simple. We used the saying:

"It's a Halloween Party

You're in for a Scare

Prize for best costume

Be there if you dare!"

You'd be Ghoulish not to attend!

(please find babysitting for a haunted night out!)

PREPARATION:

Melissa and Kristin (who cohosted the party) came over a couple days before to set up the table. We used black fabric, silver webs, pewter dishes and black candlesticks, plates & napkins.

We set up the dessert table and drink bar the day of...(I couldnt close those rooms off to the kids!)

DAY OF...

I only used tea lights in paper bags to decorate the front, a couple pumkins and a wreath.

This poster was right in the entry...I wanted to let people know they were in for some fun games! (and to stick around for the costume contest!

We made sure to have great prizes for the costume winners. Everyone voted, and we had some clear winners! We decoupaged the black and white paper to the lids of the jars to match the theme.

Of course we needed candy on the table! I also put out halloween books to look at. We had halloween movies playing on the tv on mute and then had Halloween music in the background.

The finished table with food. Miranda came up with all the food labels! I emailed her a list of food and within minutes she emailed me back a list of names!

Tortilla chips: torn skin crisps
Chili dip: brains and beans
Tomato, bean, corn, cilantro salsa: pick in your eye-o
7 layer dip: 7 feet under
Normal red salsa: vampire blood
Sourcream dip: rabid dog froth
Green salsa: pile of bile
guacamole: cold mold
Baguette slices: fresh flesh
Spinach dip: creamed ghost gizzard
Hot artichoke dip: choking heart parts
Hot water: burning acid
Hot cocoa mix: ground sweet bones
Marshmallows: ghost cutlets
Bubbly root beer: hell broth
Ice water with scary ice: goblins bath
Pumpkin pie: jacko’s flesh pie
Whip cream: ghost guts

Apple slices: bat nibblets

Caramel dip: sweet joint juice
cream puffs: mummy eyeballs
Brownies: death by chocolate

I cant believe I dont have a picture of the drink station in action.

We had hot water and hot chocolate, and the coolest looking rootbeer that we kept adding dry ice to. Then water with ice that had spiders in it.

Bobbing for Apples. I got these great tins at Lowes for 15.00 each. I figure I can use them every year...and they would be great for a big bbq with sodas!

We strung a rope from 2 trees and then hung 10 stings from it to hang the doughnuts! We had at least 20 participants!

Prizes for all winners/participants that wanted them!

Things I would have done differently:

of course we had too much food...but that means lots of left overs!

No pumpkin pie next time!

All about Feathers!

My friend gave me the idea to make a black feather wreath kind of like the PB one. So, I found a wreath form, painted it black and wrapped 2 feather boas around and around it (gluing as I went)
(if you try it, wrap it around before you glue so you make sure you spread the boas evenly)
It isnt the cool looking crow wreath from PB, but it is a great Halloween wreath!

Planning a Halloween Party...

This year, I am doing a adults-only costume party. There are so many ways to have a halloween get-together, but for this year, I thought it would be best to invite TONS of couples and make it more of an openhouse.
Of course Ill blog about this after the party...but for those planning parties, here are some of the ideas we've come up with for this one:
Food: ALL DIPS! Chips and baguette slices with guacamole, chili, artichoke, queso, salsa, etc.
Drinks: bubbly rootbeer, hot chocolate/cider, water
Dessert: ok...Im still deciding, thinking old fashion candyshop/cookies etc.
Prizes for best costumes
Apple-bobbing
Doughnuts on a string
Black and White movies playing
Spooky music
Couples pictures

Any other great ideas?

Some favorite cheap decor!

Of course I love my Halloween blocks. The vinyl cost me 5.00 and the wood/paint about 2.00!
If you want to make some, I'll hook you up with Kathy for the vinyl.


I saw this at Potterybarn 4 years ago and I put one together every year. I used to find the sticks outside, but now I use the same ones each year. NOTE: put the sticks in the vase first, cause you cant shove them down in the candy corn.

I usually have a bowl of pears, but during Oct and Nov I change them out for pumpkins. Sometimes I do them the Martha Stewart way with modge podge and glitter, but most years they are just pumpkins.

OK, I love fall candy...It is kind of hard to do this with kids nowadays, but I still keep a couple jars around. I stuffed the middle of these jars with newspaper or paper towells so I didnt have to use so many bags!

Preparing for a Halloween Party?

Ok...I know Im a little early to be thinking about it, but Halloween really is just around the corner. Once the middle of August hits...all I think about is Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas in no particular order...just that I need to get ready for all 3! So, I just found this...I havent seen it in person yet...but only 29.00 at PB! I think it is SO cute and could have so many uses at your party this year. Think it over!

Making a Tutu.

You may already know how, but for people like me (late bloomers) it takes awhile to figure out even the simplest things.
Last year, my friend Kathy figured out how to make tutus in an easy easy way. You can make them all colors, multicolors, short, long, huge and puffy or nice and flat. All you need is
*10 yds.Tulle,
*1 inch elastic to fit the waist,
*and one little seam to close the elastic!
First, measure the elastic around your childs waist. I would make it a little snug because the elastic will stretch.
Sew it together, overlapping about an inch, and sewing multiple times to make it stay. I use a zigzag stitch.
Cut your tulle in strips. I cut mine in 6 inch strips because my flat ruler is 6 inches wide and it makes it REALLY easy.
The length of your strips depends on how short or long you want the skirt. This one of Elle's is really long...more like a princess skirt. I think shorter is better for most uses. Decide how long you want the skirt, and double it...that will be your length. (I used 18 inch length for this one) NOTE: it is kind of hard to trim it after you have made it because it is hard to make it even.
Then, one little tulle strip at a time (or 2), tie them in knots around your elastic. Tie it pretty tight. Your elastic will bend right in half most likely. I tied this one 1 strip then 2 strips at a time, alternating.

To make multiple colors you can just alternate the colors. you can even push the knots up and down if you want one color on top and one on the bottom. Or, tie the colors together if you want a mix.

Now...isnt that a fun thing to know with Halloween around the corner!

Costumes & Photography

My friend uses this great photographer in Dallas, "Miss Amy." I went onto her website and loved her work...this in particular! I never thought I would be one to like portraits in costumes..but I am LOVING these! I think it has a lot to do with how quality the costumes look... Anyway, get creative with Halloween and who knows what kind of treasures you will find in the photos!