Ghost Hunting, Amateur-Style

Posted on August 2, 2012 by Emma Rae Curtis

It seems that ghost hunter shows are everywhere these days.  Flip on a channel and you can find a variety of styles, methods and hunters that all focus on the pursuit of the paranormal.  But what if you don’t have thousands of dollars to spend on thermal imaging cameras, EVP software (for those not in the know, Electronic Voice Phenomena), video cameras and expensive equipment all to use for catching that all-important evidence.  Don’t worry, even if you have a limited budget and zero experience, you can still catch a ghost.

Tape Recorders

These handy little devices are for more than taping college lectures and nowadays they are far more reliable and easier to use (you don’t have to worry about popping in those pesky little cassettes, it’s all digital now).

On average they can start about $20 and run all the way up into the hundreds range.  Be prepared to hear static, they still carry a bit of that echo-y fuzz, but if your ears are perked, you may capture that elusive groan or whisper.

Dowsing Rods

Yes, they sound hopelessly old-fashioned, quirky at best, maybe a little too ‘black magic’ at worse.  But do they work?  According to some, absolutely!  You can find these items at your local alternative/new age gift store or online (Amazon carries them at a mere cost of $14.99.).

What is the secret mechanism that enables them to contacts spirits?  The short answer is, nobody really knows.  But its authenticity dates back to biblical times.  It is said that Aaron used a rod to locate water in the desert.  Try it out and watch the tips of the rods, if there is a spirit lurking about, you should see it moving.

Scrying

This is another method that is sometimes chalked up to the interpretations of overly-imaginative minds (similar to the movement of the Ouija planchette).  Scrying is also one of ancient origins, it involves using a bowl of water (sometimes a mirror or the ever iconic ‘crystal ball’) and watching as images begin to appear.  Think of those gypsy camps, with hoards of kids in gypsy costume, and those elaborate, dramatic ghost conjuring rituals. Of course, what forms is generally ‘seen’ only by the person holding the object and is most often, unfortunately, a harbinger of doom.  Be careful what you wish for.

Lights, camera, action!
You know what they say, seeing is believing.  When in doubt, bring your trusty camera along on any ghost hunt.  Nowadays, this type of evidence can be easily captured using simple digital cameras or just your phone camera.  There is no reason a spirit couldn’t be seen creeping around a corner of a room and just so happen upon your phone screen, think of what a great screen-saver this would make!

Downloadables

Yep, that’s right, you can download an app from i-tunes and also on some kindle devices and begin ghost hunting immediately.  Again, the cost is very little, ranging from ‘free’ to $1.99 and most likely should be used with a grain of salt.  Upon reading the reviews, customers stated that the Voice Recorder often repeated the same words, over and over, and interestingly enough, the same tone of voice.  Oh well, you get what you  pay for.

Emma Rae Curtis is a costume/dressing up/makeup & accessories expert. She mainly writes about Halloween but also about all things costume and dress-up related.

Posted in Extreme Halloween house decorations, Halloween Decor, Holiday Costumes | Leave a comment

Fun Halloween Crafts For Kids

Posted on August 2, 2012 by Emma Rae Curtis

Looking for fun Halloween craft ideas?

Part of the fun of Halloween, aside from overeating candy and wearing silly costumes, is decorating your home, inside and out.  With parties, trick-or-treating and other activities on the way, your child can get so excited she wants to wear her girl’s costume all day. One way to keep littles ones excited about the upcoming day is to make fun arts and crafts projects with that Halloween theme in mind.

Toddlers (ages 12 mos. to 3 years)

Keep it simple.  Little ones this age can only understand instructions a few steps at a time.  One great way to have them create a little Halloween ambience of their own is to make a paper-plate spider.  It’s a little messy, but well worth it.

Simply paint the palms of those two little hands black and then quickly (before they rub the paint all over your new white couch) lay them flat upon a paper plate, add two googly eyes and a piece of white yarn for a web.  Voila! Spider extraordinaire.

Preschoolers
Preschoolers are big kids now, or so they like to think, but truth is, they still need a lot of help.  One way to have them feel a little more grown up, is to let them do most of the work themselves.  A great project for kids this age is lollipop ghosts.

What could be more simple than a small square of white cloth, a ribbon or piece of yarn and a black pen?  Simply take the piece of cloth, center the lollipop underneath, tie it off with the ribbon/string and let them decorate the face.  Too cute!  Even they will approve.

Elementary


This age group is generally good to go with scissors and glue, one fun craft that uses both are Halloween Luminaries.  Another good thing about this project is that it requires very little time and expertise.  Simply have them decorate a small, white paper bag with pieces of black construction paper.

They can let their imaginations take over from here; jack o’lantern faces, spiders, spooky ghosts, tombstones, skeleton’s…whatever they can cut out and glue on, they can create it.  A great (and safe) way to illuminate these are to use battery-operated candles that you simply drop into the bottom of the bag.  They can be found at most arts and crafts stores, or your local supermarkets.  They are super easy to make and a great way to really decorate a front yard.

Emma Rae Curtis is a costume/dressing up/makeup & accessories expert. She mainly writes about Halloween but also about all things costume and dress-up related.

Posted in General Halloween, halloween crafts for kids, Holiday Crafts | Leave a comment

Classic Autumn Treats

Posted on July 25, 2012 by Emma Rae Curtis

During the autumn season, there’s nothing better than to enjoy the blazing colors of the fall leaves, carve jack-o-lanterns, visit corn mazes, or share scary stories of headless horsemen and monsters galore.

Why not stay cozy on one of those especially crisp fall days by making some gooey, yummy treats with the kids, as well? Just keep a stack of moist washcloths nearby so they don’t get sticky caramel all over that darling Disney princess costume. 

Here is a list of three classic autumn treats that the whole family will enjoy and, with as simple as these recipes are, the children will enjoy making, too.

Peanut Brittle

how to make peanut brittle

Photo via Delicious-cooks.com


This crunchy, sweet and salty treat is ready to eat in about 30 minutes when you use the microwave instead of slaving over a hot stove with a candy thermometer and a case of tennis elbow from all the stirring.  Microwave peanut brittle is quick and easy and the kids will have a blast breaking it up into pieces.

You will need:  

  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • ½ cup light corn syrup,
  • 1 cup salted nuts (of your choice)
  • 1 tsp. butter
  • 1 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp. baking soda

Combine sugar and corn syrup in a large, microwavable mixing bowl and microwave on high for 4 minutes.  Stir in peanuts and microwave on high for another 3 to 3 ½ minutes.  Stir in butter and vanilla and microwave again for 1 ½ minutes.

Remove from the microwave and slowly mix in baking soda until the mixture is foamy.  Pour onto a cookie sheet coated in butter or cooking spray and spread thin.  Let the brittle cool completely.  When ready, break into pieces with a kitchen mallet and enjoy!

Caramel Popcorn

caramel popcorn recipe

Photo via Whole New


Make movie night a little sweeter during the autumn season with a big bowl of homemade caramel popcorn.

You will need:  

  • 2 bags of microwave popcorn
  • ½ cup butter
  • ¼ cup light corn syrup
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1 tsp. baking soda
  • 1 large paper grocery bag

Pop the popcorn in the microwave and dump into the grocery bag.  Melt the butter, brown sugar and corn syrup in the microwave on high for 5 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds.  Mix in the baking soda and pour over the popcorn in the bag.

Let the kids take turns shaking the bag to distribute the caramel over the popcorn.  Place the bag back into the microwave for 1 minute on high and shake again.  Pour the caramel corn into a bowl and pop in your favorite Halloween movie.

Caramel Apples

caramel apple recipe

Photo via Real Simple


Put a spin on this classic treat by letting children roll the caramel covered apples in their favorite candy or topping.

You will need:  

  • 14-ounce package of caramels
  • 2 tbsp. water
  • 6 apples
  • 6 wooden craft sticks

Wash the apples, pull out any stems and pat dry.  Slide a craft stick into the top of each apple and set aside.  If you are going to roll the apples in candy or toppings, prepare them before melting the caramel by pouring each ingredient into a bowl so it’s ready for dipping.  You can use chopped nuts, mini candy-coated chocolates, crushed Oreos, sprinkles, toffee bits, mini marshmallows, crushed candy bars or any assortment of your family’s favorite toppings.

Next, have the kids unwrap the caramels and place in a medium saucepan (just make sure most of the caramels end up in the saucepan and not their stomachs!).  Add 2 tbsp. of water and stir the caramels over medium heat until melted.  Keep the caramel on medium low heat, stirring occasionally.  Dip the apples into the caramel and then coat by rolling the apple in your topping of choice.  Place the apples on wax or parchment paper and let cool.

Making these classic treats part of your autumn season will bring smiles and memories for years to come.  Just like the leaves and jack-o-lanterns, everyone will look forward to a little kitchen time with mom when the air turns crisp and cool.

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How to Make Haunted Gingerbread Houses

Posted on July 16, 2012 by Emma Rae Curtis

Emma Rae’s Haunted Gingerbread House Ideas

Making gingerbread houses are a tradition worth having that builds memories in your family, however, these holiday decorations aren’t just for Christmas anymore. Gingerbread haunted houses have become increasingly popular and you can make them from scratch or with a kit purchased at the store. Either way, if you decide to make one with family, be sure to take pictures because they will be times you will look fondly on later.

Here’s what you need to know to make your own. Because the Halloween houses are not your average cute little cottages, you will need to design a template for your pieces or search online for the sort of look you desire. Remember, the more complex your template, the harder it will be to assemble.

When shopping for candy to decorate your mansion with, think of things that translate into items we use on our own homes, just in smaller scale. For instance, M&Ms make great pathways, pretzels are awesome fences, and Neccos are nifty shingles. They make Peep ghosts now and Runts make little skeleton bones. There are types of sour green liquorice you can cut up to make tufts of grass and sugar wafers make excellent shutters.

Putting the pieces of gingerbread together takes a certain sort of icing called Royal Icing. It dries like cement and keeps everything from falling apart. It can be colored and used for decorative piping as well. Use it for pasting on your decorations and putting in your landscaping too! Make your mansion very spooky!

Everyone get in it this Halloween, start a new tradition and pick up a decorator’s bag. Make your own “Shrieking Shack” for your little guy dressed in his favorite Harry Potter costume! But most of all, have a great time being together enjoying each other’s company. Laugh and joke, dab frosting on your noses, but make some great memories.

Emma Rae Curtis is a costume/dressing up/makeup & accessories expert. She mainly writes about Halloween but also about all things costume and dress-up related.

Posted in General Halloween, Halloween Craft Ideas, Halloween Decor, Holiday Crafts | Leave a comment

How to Make a Spook Alley

Posted on July 10, 2012 by Emma Rae Curtis

October 31st can be one of the most fun nights of the year. For some crazy reason, we just love to be scared out of our minds! Why not be the talk of the neighborhood and host a spook alley made right in your garage or RV space?

If you are considering hosting a spook alley, first you’ll want to determine the age group you want it to pertain to. Who are you going to entertain? If your street is primarily very little kids, you might want to tone it down just a bit until they grow up. Teens are a fun age and you can do a lot more in your alley to be scary.

Once you have an age group in mind, you can start by creating a layout of your spook alley. You may have three or four different stations or rooms to set up, so decide what those are going to be. One room could have a live head on a plate, another room, a Frankenstein’s lab, and Dracula could be there and maybe add a werewolf chained to the wall. Now you are probably wondering how we get the rooms, right?

A little lumber and black plastic sheeting will solve your problem. Make some crude framework and wrap the plastic around it using a staple gun to secure it. This will make your walls. Put them together so that it forms a maze of sorts. Really, when you are making it yourself, you can create large, elaborate alleys or create one to be done in very small spaces. (It will resemble office cubicles.)

After your layout is completed, you will arrange your props and actors throughout the spook alley. Use your creativity so that the kids will have to go around corners and wonder what is in store for them on the other side. Consider having a guide, maybe a hunchback or a man in a pirate costume doing his best cranky looking pirateimpression leading the way through. You can make it spooky, but not so terrifying that you make the kids run backwards into the walls, knocking them over. The point is scare their socks off, but just be cautious when jumping out to freak them out.

Be sure to have the sights and sounds of your spook alley be stimulating and feel realistic. Some people like to have actors play out scary scenarios. If you have a dead guy on a table and you intend to simulate a (pretend, of course) electrocution, you need the sound of the switch flipping and the electricity flowing as the man is shaking and screaming. Even small kids won’t believe your scary scenario if it your lighting and sound effects are sub par.

Lastly, after all of your work, don’t forget to have a great time and know that you can throw together a great spook alley just about anywhere! Another word of warning…your spook alley might turn out to be so popular, that the kids will demand that you just have to keep doing it every year.

Emma Rae Curtis is a costume/dressing up/makeup & accessories expert. She mainly writes about Halloween but also about all things costume and dress-up related.

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Easy, Inexpensive, Do-It-Yourself Costumes

Posted on July 9, 2012 by Emma Rae Curtis



It doesn’t matter if you are dressing yourself or a gaggle of kids up for the Halloween holiday, making your own costume is the way to go. Personally, I prefer these over the store-bought versions, but there are pros and cons to both. The nice thing about DIY costumes is that you are able to tailor it to meet your needs, and that’s only possible when you piece it together using your own creativity. Using your own ideas enables you to have your costume become a custom design, rather than just one way.

To begin, you need to know what you are going to be dressing up as or you could also think of a theme. Sometimes it isn’t all about being someone, but being about a time period or just an object. It’s important to have it drawn up or to have a very firm concept in your mind of what you are looking for. Need help with an idea? Surf the web, there are unlimited possibilities out there.

If you want to dress up as a character, say in a gangster costume, always check your closets first. Many times, old clothing items make the best costumes. When dressing up as an objects, say an alarm clock, scour the garage for old boxes and unused cans of spray paint. By using things you have handy, you’ll save money, since these items will add up and could still cost high dollar amounts in the end.

After finding what pieces you have to work with, thrift stores are wonderlands for shopping and finding inexpensive things to add. Sometimes color doesn’t even matter. For a Snow White ensemble one year, I bought white pumps and spray painted them bright yellow to work with what I was doing. Experiment, manipulate, and make them your own to be just what you need. Some thrift stores even carry wigs that aren’t as expensive as the store-bought versions.

Don’t forget the accessories! Things like belts, purses, hats, gloves, jewelry and boots can make your look like one of the best! Make-up can be time consuming, but in the end, the look you achieve is well worth it.

Don’t overspend when it comes to your Halloween get-up, do it yourself and you’ll love the looks on everyone’s faces when you blow them away…especially when they learn how little you spent on your amazing outfit!

Emma Rae Curtis is a costume/dressing up/makeup & accessories expert. She mainly writes about Halloween but also about all things costume and dress-up related.

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Patriotic Ideas for the 4th of July

Posted on July 2, 2012 by Emma Rae Curtis

Our greatest happiness does not depend on the condition of life in which chance has placed us, but is always the result of a good conscience, good health, occupation, and freedom in all just pursuits.
Thomas Jefferson

‘Tis the season for patriotic pride! With barbecues, fireworks, parades and parties, we have many ways to celebrate America’s Independence Day. With the 4th of July just days away, and considering the presidential election, lots of people will naturally want to demonstrate their patriotism this year.

If you are one of these kinds of people, have you considered all of the ways to add patriotic flair to your national holiday celebrations? Why not add a patriotic costume contest to your family barbecue? Is your parade float a patriotic one, complete with costumed cast of characters? If not, you may want to consider Uncle Sam-themed attire for your festivities.


American holiday gatherings mean that there’s lots of ways to share your love of the land of the free and home of the brave.  Drape flag style prints over your tables, add red white and blue ribbons, balloons and other decor to your home.  If your friends and family are political, you can add classic donkey and elephant silhouettes here and there, (but I recommend not letting the political discussion get out of control).

Photo via simplyentertainingathome.com

If you have children around for the festivities, have red, white and blue desserts for them, kid-sized flags as party favors and there are flag-themed sunglasses, hats and suspenders that children will love to wear. The classic stars and stripes make a great decoration to any holiday event, and lots of times, you can find them adorned on just about every kind of clothing.

Independence Day isn’t the only reason to share your patriotic passion. The Olympics are heading our way quickly, and there are a number of other remembrance holidays that call for a little extra Lady Liberty-infused style.

Americans can’t go wrong with adding red, white and blue for to give holiday celebrations a little extra pow.  We hope you have an amazing Independence Day, full of the spirit of the season!

 

 Emma Rae Curtis loves to research and write about all things Halloween, including funny costumes, makeup, parties, and parenting.

Posted in 4th of July, General Halloween, Halloween Costumes, Holiday Costumes, Holiday Crafts, Independence Day Ideas, Lady Liberty Costumes, patriotic costumes, Uncle Sam costumes | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Quick Halloween Crafts

Posted on June 30, 2012 by Emma Rae Curtis

Not everyone has time for complicated craft projects during the month of October. So don’t feel bad if you only have a couple of hours on a Saturday afternoon to make Halloween decorations. So get moving, you’ve only got a little bit of time, make it count.

Here are four of my favorite quick crafts:

1. Spider Web pictures frames. Like the picture above, you can make a quick spider web out of any string or twine you have on hand. Simply take an empty picture frame and begin weaving a spider web pattern across. You can start from the edges and work your way in, or start with a center knot and make loops clockwise from the center. There are several variations I’ve found through Pinterest if you’re looking for a pattern. If you crochet or knit you can make a wool version that is fuzzy. They’re super cute.

2. Window silhouettes are a great addition and hardly take any time at all. I like to use images of frightened black cats or witches stirring cauldrons or carrying their brooms. Simply take a pattern you print out online and blow it up 200% using a commercial printer. Then trace onto black construction or butcher paper and cut it out. Tape to your windows or mirror, or the inside of lampshades for a spooky effect.

3. Mummy vases are incredibly simple. Just use linen strips to wrap old mason jars filled with flowers. Add googly eyes and loosely pin the ends at the top of the vase. You can also wrap regular vases if you want to create different mummy shapes, especially if your little one is going in mummy costume.

4. Shadow puppets can be made the same way that window silhouettes are. Only you don’t have to enlarge the pattern. Wolves, rats, goblins, ghosts, witches, snakes, pumpkins and other Halloween related animals like owls are perfect characters.

Emma Rae Curtis is a costume/dressing up/makeup & accessories expert. She mainly writes about Halloween but also about all things costume and dress-up related.

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Bad News Bears

Posted on June 26, 2012 by Emma Rae Curtis

Rrrroar. Or as the kids say it, rawr.

I went camping over the weekend with my grandkids and as we were roasting marshmallows over the fire,  they started getting agitated. As it turned out, they had been teasing each other about bears all afternoon, so as soon as it got dark outside, the fun part about playing bear-related camping games turned into bear phobia. I suppose it didn’t help that we were staying at a camping spot well-known for bear activity, with “bear aware” warning signs posted all over the place. I had to really think on my toes to get those little ones calmed down enough to go to sleep.

My only regret is that is wasn’t Halloween and I couldn’t use the evening as an opportunity to scare their socks off. But you guys know me too well… of course I’m going to use the experience as fodder for my fall Halloween shindig. I wouldn’t be able to look myself in the mirror and call myself a Halloween expert if I didn’t relish the occasional chance to spook the grandbabies.

As I was thinking about it, bears have lost a bit of their cultural cache in terms of being frightful. Maybe they were surpassed in scariness when the “Jaws” films came out, but that’s a shame. Bears really are quite terrifically horrifying, especially the Grizzly kind. Not only do they still eat the occasional tourist for dinner, but they have such great claws, and teeth.  It’s the stuff that Wes Craven only dreams about. I think its about time that the american bear resumed its rightful place among the scary beasts of Halloween lore. At the very least, you could tell a few campfire stories about bear attacks this summer. I know I’m going to be looking for a few bear costumes and rounding up some scary bear movies to prepare.

Consider yourselves warned, grandkids.

 

Emma Rae Curtis is a costume/dressing up/makeup & accessories expert. She mainly writes about Halloween but also about all things costume and dress-up related.

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A Family That Eats Brains Together…

Posted on June 25, 2012 by Emma Rae Curtis

I may be wrong, but after watching the news this summer, I think it’s a pretty safe bet to say that the summer of 2012 is the summer of the zombies. There are reports and stories of the zombie apocalypse… people biting each other’s faces, people getting shot and not dying, and for the kiddies, zombies falling in love. I don’t know if I’d survive a zombie apocalypse, but I’d sure like to try.

I’m an old lady… I can’t fight off an urge to eat chocolate, let alone a zombie hell-bent on eating my brains. The only real trick I have up my sleeve to try to fool the zombies into thinking that I am one of them by dressing in a zombie costume, and then drooling and staggering around. (Actually, it’s not much of a stretch since that’s usually how I feel and look at about 7 a.m. every morning.)


Ideally, this dressing incognito to thwart the zombies might not be a bad idea. We all know they aren’t the brightest tools in the shed, and neither are the folks to make movies about them.

(Eh, hem. Entertaining it may be, but deep in plot it is not. Anyone seen this flick? This one was a little better, but not by much.)

If my dress-up-as-a-zombie-to-fool-the-zombies ruse doesn’t work and you get your brains eaten, well, I guess you’ll be that much farther ahead of the pack and won’t have to go to all of the trouble of getting your attire into shape for some hardcore brain eating.

Emma Rae Curtis is a costume/dressing up/makeup & accessories expert. She mainly writes about Halloween but also about all things costume and dress-up related.

Posted in Halloween Costumes, Halloween Costumes For Boys and Girls, Halloween Costumes For Men, Halloween Costumes For Women, Halloween makeup and accessories | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment