Most of the time, we find ourselves pinching pennies to get by another week. However, when it comes to a party, you really want your kids to enjoy themselves. Here are some ways you can make a Halloween party fun without spending a fortune.

 

• Have a Halloween Treasure Hunt party – In the big, plastic Jack-O-Lantern buckets you can purchase for $0.50, place candy, stickers, bags of fruit snacks and party favors. Now, create a map that you can copy on a copy machine, showing where all the buckets are hidden. Give the kids plenty of time to find all the buckets and grab one (or several) of each of the prizes.
• Shop at Dollar Stores for decorations – You don’t have to go to expensive party stores to get all that you will need to throw a Halloween party. You can find paper goods, like plates, napkins and table covers, invitations, thank you notes, streamers, and many other thematic holiday decorations for $1! The party favors and candy you use for game prizes can also be found there for a fraction of what you would pay for them elsewhere.
• Use online retailers to your benefit – Online auction sites and party retailers can give your great deals on things like craft projects and party favors. If you plan to throw a party at Halloween time, you need to pre-plan when you purchase on the internet, though. Shipping can take some time, so you will need to order early.
• Have all the guests bring a Halloween treat to share – Cookie swaps are very popular, so you can have the adults bring cookies to share with all the kids! No parents mind bringing a food item to share, so ask for fruit and veggie trays, popcorn, Chex Mix , Goldfish and other popular snacks with kids. As the person throwing the party, you can furnish the drinks and cake.
• Look for games that don’t require purchasing supplies – Musical Chairs, (Child’s Name) May I, and Hot Pumpkin (instead of Hot Potato).

Being creative can make for a very fun, but very inexpensive party!

 

We all remember how much fun Halloween used to be when we were all little kids. Staying up late, the endless candy and the awesome costumes. But recently I’ve discovered that Halloween is just as much fun for us adults when we get our friends together and throw a killer party. Here are some tips on how to make your next party horrifically memorable:

One- Costumes for all guests.

Make sure all your guests wear a costume. When sending out invitations make sure you let them know that this is a costume party and costumes are required to enter. You might want to call some of your more conservative friends and personally persuade them to wear a cool costume. Despite your preemptive strike sometimes people have forgotten how to have fun. So make sure you have a couple extra Halloween props around so that you can lend them to your unimaginative friends. Once they see everybody else in costume they will not want to stick out. Some crazy hats, wigs and/or masks will ensure that everyone is playing their role.

Two- Be the host with the most.

As the host you want to set an example and have people talking about your outrageous costume. But this is important, make sure your outfit does not cover up your face (so no masks) since playing host means interacting with all your guests. Be creative, flamboyant and remember its much more fun when you are a bit risque. For killer costume ideas visit my blog.

Three- Fright house.

Setting the ambience is very important. Mood lighting is key. You want to have many small colored lamps. Try to create dim shadows all over when possible. Some good old Jack-O-Lanterns could make for great ambience. Just be careful how you illuminate them. A good fog machine can create an amazing effect for any room. And you can even rent these just for your party.

Have some creative cocktails to go along with your Halloween theme. And of course decorate your house accordingly. Spider webs and skeletons can go a long way. You can find some Halloween cocktail recipes at my blog. But most importantly remember to have fun. Halloween gives us adults a chance to role-play and lose ourselves in another character just like when we were kids.

 

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Designing your own Halloween costume can be easier than you might think. All it takes is a little time and some imagination.

Start by deciding exactly what you would like to be for Halloween. Once you have made this decision your next step would be to collect the necessary materials to design the perfect costume.

Be sure and allow yourself enough time to work on the costume, that way if you end up missing an important item you still have time to go out and pick it up. Waiting for the last minute is not a good idea.

Angel – For an angel costume you would need some white material for the body of the outfit. You can purchase some thin, easy to work with wire from most any craft department store. Use this to construct the halo that fits perfectly around your head. Also, pipe cleaners can be used for this. Dress it up by using lace or some type of silky material to sew around as a covering. Some white or gold color material would look perfect for the angel’s wings. Sew some wire through the edges of the wings to help them stand out.

Witch – Have you always wanted to be a witch for Halloween? If so, you simply start by purchasing the black material. Just sew a simple pull over dress then use a belt to pull it tight around your waist. You can either buy a black belt or sew one from left over material. Cut the bottom in a zigzag to add a touch of flare, add some black boots, an old broom for a prop and of course, the pointed black hat. If you want to make the hat yourself you can do so by using cardboard to form the wide brim pointy design and glue the black cloth to the outer surface of the cardboard.

Animal – Perhaps a cute little animal such as a cat, dog or even an adorable little bunny is more what you are looking for. Pipe cleaners sewed to a strap for support make wonderful whiskers, or just use a makeup pencil to color them on. Ears can be made by sewing together material with just enough stuffing to give them shape and body. Sewing wire along the edges of the ears will allow them to be shaped into different positions. To make a tail for a cat or dog you simply need to cut out and sew together a piece of material the correct length. Next, add the stuffing to give it the depth it needs then sew it onto the rest of the costume. A big ball of cotton glued onto a bunny outfit makes a perfect Peter Cotton Tail.

 

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Great kids Halloween costumes are a bit subjective – it depends whose point of view you’re looking at them from. As a parent, a great costume is one that’s safe and appropriate for the childrens age.

From a kid’s point of view, practicality isn’t really that important – they’re more interested in the latest TV or movie character, the latest fad or a current celebrity.

Finding a happy medium is the best way to go, but whatever you do be sure to get the child to take part in the choice. Just be sure to give them some guidelines so they understand what you will or won’t allow.

Kids won’t enjoy Halloween if they’re forced to wear a costume they don’t like. It’s sometimes hard to accept, but resign yourself to the fact that as a parent, your top choice is probably not the coolest in the eyes of your kids!

Wearing a costume is fun for people of all ages, but especially for kids. They just haven’t developed the cynicism that comes with adulthood, and they’ll think even the simplest things are great, if it’s what they want.

A simple mask with the elastic string that goes around the back of their head can make them feel like they really are Superman – they don’t need the latest in latex movie makeup to play a part.

If you’re throwing a party for a bunch of kids this Halloween, a theme can be a great way to set the stage for their costumes. It can also be a bit educational if you choose something like a certain era or culture (just don’t tell the kids!)

Whatever kind of costume you choose, just be sure to get on it early enough that your kids won’t be disappointed if they’re all sold out. This is especially important if they want to be the hero from this summer’s blockbuster movie or some other popular character. The most recently popular costumes are usually the first to sell out.

 

The Medieval Era is a time that holds a lot of fascination. Medieval themed fairs and parks are popular and are filled with traditional all kinds of people dressed in the traditional Medieval costume styles of the period. Also, a good medieval costume is also something that makes for a great addition to a costume party or Halloween party.

It is important to keep in mind while choosing a medieval costume is that there are different types of costumes depending on what you want to do. The wealthy dressed far differently than the poor and every day dress differed from special occasion dress. If you want to dress as a king from the Medieval Era, your costume will be much different than if you dressed as a peasant.

Here are some ideas to help you choose a medieval halloween costume that is right for your situation.

Authentic Medieval Period Dress

Drawings and paintings do exist from that time and they give us valuable glimpses into the style of dress. If you want to design your own medieval costume or find an authentic one you may want to study some of these works of art to get a feel for the type of clothes you like. You can look for information on the internet, in text books, in libraries, or in art museums for authentic medieval costume ideas.

Buying Your Medieval Halloween Costume

You can purchase your own medieval costume. But, keep in mind that the really authentic ones can get expensive. Check for costumes that are second hand or look in costume shops that may have them for purchase. Also check a few local theaters. They may have a medieval costume that theyí¤ be willing to sell to you.

Making the Medieval Halloween Costume

Of course if you have the skills you can make your own medieval costume. All you need is a pattern and the materials. You can either purchase the pattern or design your own. You can buy the materials from fabric shops or specialty fabric vendors if you want materials that are truly authentic.

Renting Your Medieval Halloween Costume

This is perhaps the easiest option. Costume shops should have a decent selection of medieval costumes. If you leave near a big city it will be even easier to find a costume to rent. Call ahead to make sure the shop has a good selection.

 

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Just as in the “real” world, there are many costume shops on the internet that all claim to be the best source for costumes and accessories. Obviously they can’t all the be the best, but how can you tell which ones will be the best to deal with? After all, it’s a little harder to judge them from a website than it is by walking into their store and actually looking around and speaking with someone.

When shopping for a costume online, you should follow the same principles you would when dealing with a traditional store.

Find out where they’re located. Any decent web-based store will have a physical address and contact information listed on their website, in an easy-to-find spot. If they don’t list this information, or it’s buried somewhere hard to find, they may not be the best choice.

What are their return policies? Buying over the internet means you can’t actually see and feel the costume before you get it home. If what you order turns out to not be what you expected, you should be able to return it with minimal hassle.

How do they ship your costume and how quickly will it arrive? If you’re ordering a costume with lots of accessories and detail you want to be sure that it is well protected in shipping, to avoid damage along the way. And the shipping time is important, especially as it gets closer to Halloween.

Do they allow special orders? Most online costume shops carry a wide range of accessories, as well as complete costume kits. If you want to order a kit but substitute a couple of items, will they work with you?

Is there a telephone number that you can call to speak to a representative? Even if you can find all the information you need on the website, it isn’t a bad idea to call them just to get a feel for how easy it is to deal with them in person. If you aren’t happy with the quality of their service before you buy, it probably isn’t going to be any better afterwards.

Shopping for a Halloween costume online can be a lot more convenient than visiting a bunch of stores in person. You’ll probably find a lot bigger selection, for almost any age. By using these tips, you’ll be a lot more likely to be happy with your costume, and more able to enjoy Halloween.

 

If you just want to take a steak knife and hack out your every day pumpkin face, then this article is not for you. We’re going to take a look at gourmet pumpkin carving for true Halloween connoisseurs.

OK, maybe gourmet is a bit of overkill, but why settle for just another carved pumpkin when you can have a prize-winning jack-o-lantern instead?

Success starts with selecting your Halloween Pumpkin design

Before even thinking about buying or picking your Halloween pumpkin from the local pumpkin patch, you need to plan the design. You can take the easy way out and buy ready-made pumpkin stencils, or you can design your own.

There are some great on-line sources for free Halloween stencils that you can download and use, or you can hand sketch it. Here are two great places to grab some nice designs. If you’re looking for a really unusual stencil, here’s one that will drive you bats!

I’ll cover how to transfer the pumpkin stencil to your favorite pumpkin after we take a look at actually selecting the pumpkin.

How to pick the perfect Halloween pumpkin

The pumpkin’s shape and size will determine what type of patterns and designs you can use. If you are using pumpkin carving stencils then it is essential to purchase a pumpkin that matches the stencil’s size requirements.

If you don’t plan on using a stencil then make sure that your pumpkin is tall and wide enough for the free-hand design that you have in mind.

Look for a pumpkin that’s not too ripe. It should be the right color orange and not have any soft spots or bruises. Look for a sturdy stem and never, ever lift the pumpkin by the stem. Sturdy or not, it’s a short trip from ‘nice pumpkin’ to splat.

Hold the pumpkin and smell it around the stem and top. If it smells very strong and ‘pumpkiny’ then there is a chance that it’s too ripe, pass it up and look for another. Thump the pumpkin and listen for a solid ‘thunk’. A hollow sound is bad news.

Carry your pumpkin carefully and transport it home safely. A bruised pumpkin rots quickly and might not make it through the Halloween season.

How to prepare the pumpkin for its coming facelift

1. Cut a circle around the top of the pumpkin without damaging the stem.
2. Remove the top and put aside.
3. Remove and discard the pulp and seeds unless you want to make Vampire Fingernails snacks for your Halloween party.
4. With a putty knife or similar scraper, gently scrape down the inside of the pumpkin to remove any moist flesh clinging to the sides. Be careful not to damage the wall of the pumpkin.

Now it’s time to transfer the stencil

1. Wipe the outside of the pumpkin so that it is free of dust and other foreign material. If you need to wipe it down with a wet rag, allow it to become thoroughly dry before proceeding to the next step.

2. Tape the stencil to the side of the pumpkin that you have chosen to be the face. Tape the top left corner first, then the top right, bottom left and then bottom right. Smooth the stencil out as you are taping it. If you have to crease the stencil to make it lie flat then be sure to pick areas that are not part of the design.

3. Using an ice pick or a pin-point punch awl, gently poke holes through the stencil and into the pumpkin. Follow the lines of the stencil carefully. It’s a lot like paying connect-the-dots games. Space the dots out however you see fit but remember that very complex designs are easier to work with if the holes are close together.

4. Check carefully to make sure that you have transferred the entire pattern and then remove the stencil. Keep the stencil handy to refer to in case you get confused while cutting.

Time to put your patient under the knife

Although many a pumpkin has fallen under the standard kitchen knife, it’s both the wrong tool and a very dangerous tool for pumpkin carving. For best results get yourself an X-Acto knife with a #5 knife blade and a #15 keyhole saw. See your home store for both items.

Using the saw for long cuts and the X-Acto for the close-in and intricate cuts, just follow the pattern carefully and, before you know it, you’ll have the pride of the pumpkin patch right there on your table!

Article from http://www.halloween-blog.com

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