Spooktacular Halloween Themes

It’s a given there will be a party or two to attend during the Halloween season.  If you are the host of that party, here are some great ideas for spooky, ghoulish themes that are both frightening and fun!

Get the party started with the right decorations and props to turn your space into a room to be remembered!  Why settle for a plain card table and a homemade paper chain when you can add oh-so-fantastic embellishments to your event that will make guests go “wow” when they walk in the door.

The easiest way to start off your party is to pick a theme.  This will help decide the best decorations, guest list, and ideas for your specific party.  A few great ideas are:

·     Bats - A Bat Halloween theme party is a great idea if you've got a mixed crowd -- guests of all ages, boys, girls, guys and gals, will love this batty party.

·     Pumpkins - Pumpkin-carving is enticingly messy and squishy, and it's a Halloween tradition that's been celebrated for centuries. Keep little ones celebrating this fall with a pumpkin-carving party.

·     Glam - Get the girls together for a night of Halloween fun. Easy and cute decorations as well as bite sized foods will make a party they'll love. Top the night off with an adorable purse favor filled with grown up Halloween goodies!

·     Monsters (zombies, vampires, and werewolves oh my!) – For these party guests, grisly and ghastly is the only way to go.  Let these tough types test the strength of their spine with a party that oozes with heart-stopping surprises, cringe-worthy costumes, and a menu into which only the boldest vampires would sink their fangs.

·     Budget – Scare your guests, not your wallet with easy DIY decorations and invitations.  There are many online resources you can print for free to give guests a great time and your wallet a rest.

·     Creepy Haunted House - The touch of a cold corpse, the sound of a howling wind, and the taste of your heart in your throat...the senses truly come alive as they enter your chilling retreat.

·     Adult - Halloween isn't just for kids anymore! Mix decorations and recipes for a perfect, upscale adult Halloween party. Choose a spooky costume; mix with a creepy cocktail for an unforgettable evening!

·     Party Scene Investigation – Send invitations early to get guests intrigued so they will want to investigate this criminally perfect party!  Have a mystery game ready so you can find out which of your guests is a super sleuth.

      Halloween is a fun holiday for all ages, so get creative and incorporate the best party ideas for your theme.  Create a party plan and remember to include invitations, decorations, games, activities, party food, gift bag favors, costumes, and gifts.

Halloween Recipes

Throwing a Halloween party provides the perfect opportunity to delight guests with spooky food creations that set the mood for an evening of thrills and chills. Guests are sure to enjoy your scary treats, even if they're a little grossed out by the presentation. Halloween is the ideal occasion to offer such a disconcerting array of creepy, yet tasty options.

Brain Mini Cupcakes

Brains!  That is what every zombie is in quest of so serve your guests these mini cupcake brains.

Ingredients:

·         Red velvet cake mix

·         Cherry or raspberry sauce

·         Candy Brain mold

·         Jello (green) or green fondant

·         Mini cupcake wrappers

·         Cream cheese frosting

Directions:

1.       Make the cake box recipe according to directions on the box using mini cupcake wrappers and pans.

2.       Once cooled, add cream cheese frosting to each mini cupcake.

3.       Make jello according to directions but add to candy mold and let set in fridge until firm. (If using fondant, roll fondant and press into mold, take out immediately).

4.       Carefully, take brains out of mold and add to top of cupcakes. 

5.       Spoon cherry sauce on top and around brain to add effect.

Forked Eyeballs

These scary-good Halloween treats, prepared and eaten on the same fork, begin with a doughnut hole dunked in white chocolate.

Ingredients:

• 2 bags white chocolate chips
• 12 doughnut holes
• Semisweet chocolate chips
• Red decorator frosting

• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

Directions:

1. To coat the doughnut holes, melt white chocolate chips and oil over low heat (and keep the chocolate warm while you work). With a fork, spear each doughnut hole and submerge it in the melted chocolate to coat it, and then gently tap off any excess.
2. Stick a chocolate chip with its point cut off onto each doughnut hole, cut end first. Place the forks (handle side down) in a glass and allow the chocolate coating to harden.
3. Use a tube of red decorator frosting to add squiggly veins radiating out from the pupils.

Swamp Juice

Filled with gummy creatures and fish eggs, this sweet, bubbly drink looks like something scooped up from a deep, dark bog. Try making a batch for a Halloween gathering or as a spooky after-dinner treat.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup small tapioca pearls
• Food coloring
• 4 tablespoons sugar
• Gummy fish
• Seltzer water
• Lemonade
• Gummy worms 

Directions:

1. Bring 6 cups of water to a boil and add the tapioca pearls. Reduce the heat slightly and boil the pearls, stirring occasionally, for 20 to 25 minutes.
2. Divide the pearls, with the remaining water, between two bowls. Add 4 drops of food coloring (use 3 drops of yellow and 1 drop of green in one bowl, and 4 drops of blue in the other) and 2 tablespoons of sugar to each bowl. Stir the mixtures, and then allow them to sit uncovered for 20 to 25 minutes. Drain and rinse the pearls with cold water.
3. Spoon 2 tablespoons of pearls into each glass and drop in a gummy fish. Fill the glasses with seltzer water, and then add a splash of lemonade. Place a gummy worm around the spoon as a creepy finishing touch.

Monster Toes

Kids will love the gross-out factor of this tasty finger food. Parents will love the fact that it is candy-free. Try some for a party or pre-trick-or-treating dinner.  

Ingredients:

• Cocktail Wieners
• 6 inch tortillas
• Ketchup or BBQ sauce
• Toothpicks

Directions:

1. Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Cut a small wedge into the end of each cocktail wiener to make a toenail.
2. Cut the tortillas into strips about 4 inches long and 3/4 inch wide. Discard the ends.
3. Soften the strips in the microwave between damp paper towels for 10 to 30 seconds.
4. Roll each wiener in a tortilla strip and secure with a toothpick.
5. Bake for 7 to 8 minutes. Remove them from the oven, and then fill the toenail with ketchup or mustard. Remove the toothpicks before serving.

2011 Costumes

Costumes

Just like any previous year, 2011 will present some exciting new choices in Halloween Costumes.  While some may already know what their perfect costume will be, others seem to have difficulty finding the costume that suits them best.

With all the costume choices out there, it’s always hard for the indecisive to narrow down a final choice for the Halloween season.  I’ve come to the rescue and let you in on what are the most popular and interesting costumes for the 2011 Halloween season.

Adults:

Steampunk is huge with adults this year.  Both men and women can get into this gear head meets Victorian romance merger that incorporates elements of either science fiction or fantasy.

I have to mention zombies, since zombies are the new vampires.  This is an effortless costume to pull off as well because you come with unwashed hair, and dirty clothes.  Just add some gray makeup and a limp, and you’re good to go.

Men:

Men always love the zany, wacky costumes so go as something completely unexpected this year such as a pool table with removable balls or a rubix cube hat that also twists like the real game. 

Another popular option is the morph suit.  These costumes are breathable and you can actually see and drink through them.  Although form fitting, others are not able to see you through them.

Women:

Women tend to dress as nutty celebrities they see in the media.  Lady Gaga is still big this year, but so is Black Swan, Jersey characters, and, you betcha, your favorite Alaskan mom. 

Also, women want to relive their youth, so anything decade is always fun.  There are so many choices from the 50’s to the 90’s that are great.  So go retro Madonna or Farah Fawcett.

Children:

A lot of parents are looking back at what they were for Halloween as kids and some old-school costumes are also making a comeback such as Ghostbusters, Strawberry Shortcake, and Super Mario Brothers.

Don't forget one of the most important things a costume can do: encourage your child to play.  There are many ways to incourage imagination, but one of the best is through costumes such as pirates and princesses.

Boys:

Super Heroes have always been the ultimate choice for boys but move over Super Man, there is a new crop of super heroes in town thanks to all the movies lately.  Your boy will feel like he’s got super powers in his Hal Jordon or Captain America costume.  Any of the Justice League or XMen are big (should I say Super Big) as well as transformers.

Girls:

Princesses have always ruled this area, but lately princesses have turned to a darker side and so I suggest the Monster High characters.  Your little lady still looks cute in her costume and gets to act out her inner vampire or werewolf in a school girl skirt.

Infants and Toddlers:

These little tykes will look adorable in anything but here are a few favorites.  Bugs and animals are always fun and usually the costume goes over clothes and comes with a hood to keep little ones warm while trick or treating.  Characters are great alternatives as well, such as Yo Gabba Gabba, Thomas the Train, and of course, the ever popular Smurfs.

Couples:

Couples love to have ensembles that really work well together such as ketchup and mustard, Hansel and Gretel, or celebrity couples such as Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio or Tommy Lee and Pamela Anderson.  Be creative and think outside the box in this area.  I once went with my husband as a gypsy and he was my crystal ball (short hair or bald heads work well for this).

Really anything goes when choosing a costume as long as you put a little thought and creativity into it.  Which means, don’t decide what to be on Oct 29^th.  The sooner your search begins for that perfect ensemble, the better the creative outcome will be.

Children's Halloween Party

Children’s Party

By Poppie

Halloween conjures up images of haunted houses, trick or treating, and ghoulish monsters.  Sometimes it can seem a bit scary for the little ones.  I wanted to host a Halloween party that the children would remember but not be frightened to participate in.

My daughter’s birthday just so happens to be November 1^st so we decided to have a Halloween party last year to celebrate her birthday.  We wanted it to be fun but not scary so these are a few things I did to ensure the children had a great time. 

She had all her friends come in costume.  To avoid scary masks, we specified on the invitations that it would be easier to eat cake and ice cream if there was no masks.  We had a contest to see who had the best costume which was awarded with a "Best Costume" trophy. 

For decorations, we took toilet paper rolls and folded one side in to make ears and made various creatures with them.  We had a cat, the Where the Wild Things Are monster, a bat, and an owl.  We set them by a black cauldron that I placed various piñata toys and candy in.  Each child could grab what they wanted and put in an orange sack to take home.  We also made “potions” out of lemonade and soda that we stuck in thin vases and labeled with ingredients such as “Potion Number 5 – snake tails, bat wings, sugar, spice, and everything naughty”.

We dimmed the lights and lit the jack o lanterns in one room to create ambience for our guests while they ate cake and brains (okay, green Jello shaped like a brain).  Painted mini pumpkins were sporadically placed around the room to go with our glowing centerpieces. 

For drinks, we had another black cauldron with punch in it and dry ice to create a spooky effect.  The drinks were served in paper cups with cute, glittery spiders or pumpkins stickers placed on them.

We played pin the spider to the spider web.  I had taken a pumpkin carving tracer sheet of a spider web and traced it on a paper plate.  Then my girls painted the web and little spiders that we cut out and numbered with sticker numbers.  Each child was blind folded and placed their numbered spider on the web.  The closest to the center of the web was the winner.  The prize was an oversized chocolate bar.

This was such a fun party, that my daughter wants to do a similar party this year as well.  We’ll change a few of the decorations for a fun twist and add a theme this year to limit which decorations we decide to put up and stay on budget.   This party is no trick to do and quite a treat for the children!

Party Planning 101 - Slime Time

Make any children’s party eewie, gooey and FUN!

Supply List:

• White Glue
• Baby Powder
• Borax Powder
• Water
• Green Food Coloring
• Plastic Spoons
• Mixing Bowls
• Funnel
• Measuring Cups
• Measuring Spoons
• 2 – 1 Liter Plastic Bottles
• Zip-Top Plastic Bags

Advance Preparations:

With the funnel, pour the following ingredients into each plastic bottle:
Potion #1

• ½ cup baby powder
• 2 ½ cups white glue
• 2 cups water
• Green food coloring (add until it’s light green)

Potion #2

• 2 tablespoons borax powder
• 2 cups warm water

On The Day of The Party:

• Set up an area where the children will make the slime. If possible, set up near a sink.
• Cover the ‘slime area’ with newspaper or paper towels for easy clean up. Because the children will get their hands dirty, (that is the fun part!) have baby wipes available to clean their hands if a sink is not available.

How to Make It!

1. Divide the children into small groups.
2. At the ‘slime area’, the children will be given a mixing bowl and spoon.
3. Pour ¼ cup of Potion #1 into each bowl.
4. With their spoons, they will add 2-3 teaspoons of Potion #2 to Potion #1. Stir after each spoonful. By the time the third spoonful has been added, the liquid should change into a dough like substance.
5. Instruct the children to pick up the mixture and knead it with their hands until the liquid is absorbed and is no longer sticky. They can now play with it just like play dough.
6. Place the Slime in a zip-top plastic bag and have them wash up. Instruct the children to place the Slime in their bags after use. It will last longer.

Helpful Hints:

• Mixing the two potions together is not an exact science. The secret is to add Potion #2 slowly to Potion #1, making sure to stir them together as you are pouring. If the mixture becomes hard, not slimy, you have added too much of Potion #2. Throw it away and start over.
• When coloring your Slime, use only a few drops of food coloring. Too much food coloring will discolor the children’s hands.
• Tell the children to refrigerate their Slime to help keep it fresh. Slime usually lasts between 7 to 10 days, depending upon use.

VERY IMPORTANT REMINDER: HAVE FUN!!!!

Party Planning 101 - 5 Tips for Halloween Decorating

Five Fast and Easy Ways to Decorate Your Halloween Party Table!

What’s a more cost effective way to decorate than to turn your tableware into your decorations?!

1. Mix & Match Colors & Patterns!

   Set the table and decorate at the same time! There’s nothing more boring than a one-color table setting. Why not mix & match with classic Halloween colors?! Orange, Black, Neon Green, and Purple! And, to add even more excitement, take advantage of 50% OFF select Halloween Paper Patterns?

2. Line Your Table with Spider Webbing!

   This trick can make an everyday table cloth come alive! Line the table with a fun colored tablecloth. Then stretch spider webbing, of any color, across the table, taping along the sides of the table. (Trick to hide the tape: hot glue gun Halloween garland along the outside of the table.)

3. Create Napkin Holders out of Spider Rings!

   Now that you have the colors on your table, class it up by using napkin rings. And not just ANY napkin rings… SPIDER RINGS! It’s affordable, fits the theme and looks GREAT! Plus it’s easy!

4. Turn Plain Toothpicks into a Crowd Pleaser!

   For this transformation, you’re going to need scissors, a glue gun and some of those left over spider rings from your Napkin Holders (#2). Cut off the ring portion of however many spider toothpicks you’re going to use. Dab the bottom of each spider with the hot glue and insert a toothpick. Hold until glue dries and “Voila”!

5. Add Body Parts!

   Nothing adds to the table like a fake, bloody limb! From arms to fingers to heads, you’re sure to impress your guests while letting them know people would DIE to try some of your food! 

And there you have it. Five EASY, FAST & FUN ways to spruce up your next Halloween Party!

Party Recipes - Ghoul Fingers

Spooky, spicy and with ONLY three ingredients - VERY easy to make!

What You Need:

• Frozen Taquitos
• Red Pepper
• Refried Beans
• Sharp Knife
• Cutting Board
• Baking Sheet
• Fun & Spooky Platter

How To Make Them:

1. Cut the red pepper into long skinny fingernail shapes.
2. On the backside of each fingernail, cut away excess meat until it is less than ½ inch thick. (The thinner you make them, the more they will curl when cooked.)
3. Using refried beans as a paste, ‘glue’ a fingernail to the end of each taquito.
4. Place on a baking sheet and cook according to the cooking instructions on the taquito box. For best results, use the conventional oven directions.
5. When done, transfer to a fun & spooky platter and serve.

Suggestions:

• These can easily be made ahead of time and stored for up to 4 hours in a refrigerator. Reduce the overall cooking time by 2-3 minutes if they are partially thawed.
• Serve with salsa, sour cream, chili con queso in festive serving dishes, and the Tangled Web Dip, also found in the 101 Spooktacular Halloween Party Ideas book.

Enjoy!

Party Recipes - Tangled Web Dip

Kill two flies with one web by serving this tasty appetizer. It looks great and tastes even BETTER! Supply List: Refried Beans Guacamole Shredded Lettuce Shredded Cheddar Cheese Tomatoes Black Olives Black Decorating Gel Tortilla Chips And a Knife, Spoon & Large Platter
How to Make It: Begin by spreading the refried beans over a large platter. Top with a layer of guacamole. With the black decorating gel, draw 4 or 5 circles, beginning with the smallest in the middle and getting larger as you go. Next, drag the knife through the black gel from the center out toward to make the spider web design. Garnish the outside edge of the platter with shredded lettuce, tomatoes and black olives. Serve with tortilla chips. Suggestions: Garnish the dip with black olive eyeballs. To make them, simply cut an olive in half, squirt some pasteurized cheddar spray cheese in the middle of it and add a dot of black decorating gel. Serve with a variety of tortilla chips. The dark blue corn variety is especially fun to serve at Halloween. Garnish with plastic spiders!