Haunted Hanging Pictures

Posted on June 23, 2012 by Emma Rae Curtis

There are many ways to get your house ready for Halloween. Sometimes you want to do big dramatic decorations, sometimes simple seems best. Regardless of how ornate you want to be there are subtle things you can do to really make your house feel spooky.

One of my favorite spooky decoration is a series of haunted hanging pictures I created a few years ago. Your party guests will feel like the eyes follow them as they wander the halls looking for the guest bathroom…any they might just get so spooked they wind up having an accident in their favorite fairy tale costume.

To make your own, look at craft stores for spooky pictures or silhouettes. Buy googly eyes, red nail polish, black plastic spiders or spider web material and picture frames from the dollar store. Paint the frames black. Mount the pictures to a piece of cardboard big enough to slip inside the frame. Then embellish the pictures with fake blood, spiders, bugged out eyes, slime, glitter, snakes, rats or glow in the dark paint. Get creative. Maybe you want to smear the picture in dirt after painting glow in the dark eyes.

Whatever you do make sure that there are enough altered pictures to get your visitors attention. Sometimes I like to make spooky shadow boxes and put fake daggers or a pair of Victorian scissors inside with a bloody ribbon.

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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Extreme Halloween Decorations

Posted on June 20, 2012 by Emma Rae Curtis

I previously wrote about how sending out the most clever invitations sets the tone for an awesome Halloween bash, so the next logical step is to consider your decorations. Lots of people who are interested in throwing a memorable Halloween party will embrace the standard cobwebs and pumpkins. Even if most of the year you run around like a child dressed up in an innocent looking girl’s angel costume, at Halloween, it’s time to embrace your wicked side.

But, in the dark underworld of Halloween party decorating, there’s so much more. If you want your Halloween party to become known as the local party of the year, you might want to go extreme with your decorations. I’ve gathered up a few ideas for you to consider, so let’s get to it.

When it comes to extreme decorating, jars of body parts, holiday colored lights and the more dead people the better. If you have the means, one of my favorite extreme decorations is the hearse or coffin. Even better, if you have access to some black horses you can use of of those horse drawn carriage-style hearses and have the horses canter past your friends homes with the driver dressed up as the grim reaper.

In our neighborhood, (be sure to get the okay from your neighbors, as some folks don’t like looking at an all-out decorated house and may complain to authorities) one of our friends  rents a classic style hearse and has an open coffin in their flowerbed-turned-graveyard, in addition to all of the other decor.

There are lines of cars who cruise past the house each night, and on Hallows Eve itself, there’s barely walking room for all of the people taking photos. The house ends up being such a draw because they have so cleverly gone to the extreme with their decorating, and they’ve also created lots of places for photo opportunities for all of those trick-or-treaters.

If you are considering doing your own extreme decorating for the fall season this year, there are a vast number of resources to help you out. You can custom make your own decorations with just a little imagination…and a few basics. Wood, paint, nails and glue are all easy to come by materials that allow you to build your own headstones in no time. One of my other neighbors uses huge pieces of black plastic wrap to create his own mini spook alley in his garage.

When it comes to holiday decorating, going extreme can be lots of fun, so why not give it a shot?

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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Devilish Designs: The Best Halloween Party Invitations

Posted on June 18, 2012 by Emma Rae Curtis

When it comes to setting the mood for an upcoming Halloween party, the invitations matter. I love Halloween party planning (obviously, or I wouldn’t have all things Halloween on the brain 24/7) and I’ve found that setting the tone for your event starts with the perfect party invitation. There are lots of ways to go about inviting your best friends to your Halloween bash, so it’s a great way to indulge your macabre, creative side.

If you are crafty, there are templates, specialty papers, ribbons and cut outs galore to create those memorable invitations. Think over-the-top, as the above image (via MarthaStewart.com) indicates. If I received a let’s-go-all-out invite with a faux human finger, I’d be excited to see what else the hosts had in store for their guests.  The idea is to lure your guests into your trap, er, I mean, your party venue that gives them a taste of what the evening will be all about. If you will have Halloween potions or drinking games, let your guests know. If the party will have a murder to solve, give them a clue up front.

Halloween Party Invitation

If handmade crafts aren’t your thing, there are lots of other options for you. I really like these invitations for a murder mystery Halloween party, and there are lots of other sites that you can custom order invitations. Some will even address, stamp and mail them out for you for a fee. You could also use technology to get the word about your party out. Although less formal, a creative Facebook event invitation can still get the buzz about your Halloween party going.

In fact, some friends of mine who are well-known in our community for throwing the best annual Halloween party sends only Facebook invitations, and then after the party is over, they post a guests-only photo album of posed and candid photos of everyone from the evening. They also announce the winner of the costume contest on their Facebook account. You can find some great costume ideas here.

If its a kids Halloween party, you can include a print out of a coloring page, scavenger hunt or other Halloween-themed activity for young guests to get them excited for the party. You can find lots of printable activities online, take this site for instance. 

Whether you are planning a murder mystery, a spooky kid Halloween candy-fest or a costume contest, the best way to get your friends to flock to your party is to send out the best invitations. Using social media or handmade signature craft cards to do so doesn’t matter, just as long as your guests feel welcome and the invitation indicates the party theme.

Creative Halloween Party Invitation

If you consistently plan your invitations with an eye towards creative excitement, before long your holiday party will become known as the fall event to attend and lucky recipients of your invitations will be envied.

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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Harvest Party Ideas

Posted on June 14, 2012 by Emma Rae Curtis

When you have kids who are involved in school and church activities it can be extremely difficult to plan a party where someone won’t be offended. That’s why harvest parties are so incredibly popular. It’s as if somehow parents of different faiths and backgrounds got together and came up with an idea that they could all stomach. So don’t be discouraged this year if you are in charge of the Halloween harvest party. Get creative!

Here are some sure-fire hits that the kids and their parents will love:

  1. Hay rides – Filling a tractor trailer with hay bales is a timeless pastime that children and adults love. Riding out into the pumpkin patch to pick your special pumpkin and riding all the way back to the barn is a fall tradition.
  2. Bonfires – A large bonfire in a safe outdoor setting is a great way for kids and adults to  join hands, sing songs or just roast marshmallows. S’mores will bring everyone together, just wait and see.
  3. Bobbing for Apples may sound gross to our modern sensibilities. The idea of everyone’s saliva in a big bin of water is definitely gross, but with a simple twist you can hang apples from string around a tree and loosely tie children’s hands behind their back with a bandana and see who can “eat” the apple the fastest.
  4. Burlap 3-legged races are still a favorite among children today. It combines coordination, teamwork and good old fashion fun! Prizes for the most improved, fastest overall and best teamwork really improve morale.
  5. Pumpkin carving or painting. Even if some families don’t celebrate Halloween, they can get behind a group activity.

If you have time, have a yummy snack or hunt for candy in hay bales. You might even show an old movie on the wall of the barn, a hoe down dance, or scarecrow building contest, and don’t forget the classic kid’s costume contest. Harvest parties should be fun and fast paced so don’t let anyone wonder what’s happening next, stay one step ahead and everyone will have a great time.

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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Halloween Dance Party

Posted on June 8, 2012 by Emma Rae Curtis

Do you ever get bogged down trying to plan out your Halloween party? Every year I try to plan something bigger and better than the year before, but sometimes it feels like my enthusiasm back fires and I’m left with too many activities for the kids that didn’t get done or too much candy leftover.

While your Halloween party can have any theme, I’ve learned over the years that a simple Halloween dance party is the greatest way to let adults and kids alike have fun, without overwhelming everyone with the evenings itinerary. In the past I’ve built haunted mansions in my back yard, or held a barn party at my neighbors. I’ve even transformed my house into a haunted hospital where guests dressed in gothic costumes had to perform emergency surgery on zombie pinatas. These were fun parties, but they were exhausting. Not only did I have to coordinate parents, neighbors and kids, but I had to make sure adults were present at all times at the different areas. This made me crazy and I didn’t enjoy the party as much as I would have liked to.

That’s when I discovered the simple dance party solution. If you throw a dance party, all of the food can be simple finger foods, which cuts prep time in half. The house can be decorated in whatever theme suits your fancy and there is no pressure for anyone to dress up in a theme. I always give prizes for the best costumes, so I’m never afraid someone will show up in street clothes. My friends simply know better.

If you’re looking for great Halloween mixes, spend a couple of hours looking up old radio show playlists. Some of my favorite songs have come from local radio shows that like to showcase rare or unusual creepy songs. You’ll never go back to the way you used to throw a party. I guarantee it.

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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The Haunting:Setting the Perfect Halloween Mood with Your Decor

Posted on June 6, 2012 by Emma Rae Curtis

Something wicked this way comes… or so the famous saying goes. As with all things Halloween, the more frightsome the preparations, the more enticingly fun the event can be. I’ve gone through some of my favorite ideas, and I think I’ve got a few things you might want to try for your Halloween decorating this year.

A couple of years ago, I attended a fantastic Halloween bash at a friend’s house, and it was incredibly memorable, not just for the food, fun and hospitality, but for the decorations. The hostess, named Alison, had gone all out for the party. She even donned a classic Halloween costume for the occasion, and she looked amazing.

Every food item had its own signature name, was served in a wicked goblet with possible health hazards attached. There were crows and cobwebs, headstones to step over and bloody finger prints on the walls.

She’d even filled her bathtub with blood red water and immersed a corpse (mannequin) in the water and made it look like the aftermath from the movie “Psycho.” I was in Halloween hog heaven, but it was such a great party a few of folks left early since the stuff was a little too convincing.

It was deadly divine.

There are lots of other things you can do to make your guests feel as uneasy as possible. Cheesecloth ghosts hanging from the trees, noodles cooked into the cake, fog machines and scary films will all add to the darkening mood of the party. (If only I could do a Vincent Price laugh right now…)  

Don’t forget to have a variety of poisons for the taking, and should your guests, ah, lose their heads, a place to rest their weary souls.

In the morning, should they still wake from the unearthly slumber, you can great them with a (what else?) post-Hallow’s Eve bloody Mary for breakfast.

halloween.

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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The Glow of Halloween

Posted on June 1, 2012 by Emma Rae Curtis

When I think of Halloween, I tend to think of lit pumpkins sitting on neighbors front porches beckoning young trick-or-treaters to “Enter If You Dare.” But, over the years the glow of Halloween has come to mean something different. Small strings of lights have become more and more popular, lighting haunted homes up like Christmas trees. LED candles have replaced traditional tea lights and almost every child in a superman costume  now carries a glow stick.

With the change in the quality of light, decorations have become more elaborate and less likely to set your house on fire.  I used to think glow sticks should only be used to identify your children on a dark Halloween night, but now I use them all over my yard to decorate, only I don’t leave them in their raw stick form.

What do I do with them? Well, I buy a large box online of 100 glow sticks. When they arrive I cut them open and pour the liquid into small jars and then seal the lids on tight. It creates an eerie green and purple lantern effect that you can use to lead strangers to your front door. As long as you don’t inhale the fumes or unscrew the tops it’s completely safe. Of course, wear rubber gloves when handling any unknown chemicals and work outdoors or in a well ventilated room if possible.

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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Dogs Love Dressing Up, Too

Posted on May 30, 2012 by Emma Rae Curtis

As an animal lover, I can’t help but bring pets into the fun of the holidays. Not every pet enjoys playing dress-up mind you, but if your pet is a calm, agreeable lab, like mine, there’s a good chance he might be willing to wear a a cape or a hat for a few minutes.

However, if there’s anything we need to consider when it comes to pets and the holidays, it’s the health and safety of the pet. If you are careful, you can ensure that everyone has a great time dressing up for Halloween, even your Pomeranian.

Could you turn down a trick or treat to this face?

According to the Humane Society, “Most pets are happiest wearing nothing but their birthday suit, but if you do choose a costume for your pet, forgo masks and make sure costumes are comfortable and do not pose a risk for injury.” They’ve got lots of other tips for Halloween pet safety too, so if you plan to include pets in your holiday traditions, keep their website in mind when you are planning your events.

Halloween & Pets: Dress-up Best Bets

  • Keep the time in costume to a minimum
  • Respect the pet’s need for space
  • No candy for your pet, but approved cat/dog treats are fine
  • Pets in costume will get lots of extra attention, but not everyone likes pets, so plan for guests with allergies or fears.
  • Make it fun! Reward your pet with extra love, attention, walks or playtime for being a good sport.

With safety in mind, there are countless options for getting your pet into costume. There are witch hats for cats, devil horns for your bunny and tons of dog costumes. One Hallow’s Eve, my friends dressed up their Great Dane with a costume that made the dog look like the headless horseman, and boy did that pooch love the attention.

Another friend of mine dressed her Irish Setter up in a tutu, complete with little ballet slippers. Everyone loved getting their photo with the dog, and that dog didn’t seem to mind a bit. You’ll want to keep in mind that not all guests to your home are fond of dogs, however, so be aware of their preferences and plan accordingly.

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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Vintage Inspired Halloween Decorations

Posted on May 29, 2012 by Emma Rae Curtis

If you like to hunt for unique treasures year round, it’s nice to target what you’re looking for. As I am in love with Halloween, you probably already guessed what I like to look for. That’s right, Halloween decorations! Still, it’s not as much fun to just look for plain old Halloween decorations, anyone can buy a Halloween foil banner from Target. I like to look for unique, rare Halloween items that will be totally one of a kind in my home. That’s why I look through antique malls everywhere I go. I feel that my Halloween parties are largely influenced by my appreciation for vintage Halloween decor.

Here are some of my favorite things to look for:

  1. Jack o’ Lanterns – Special 1950s jack o’ lanterns can be creepy, but no one else has one. I look high and low for these special little guys. Sometimes they’re made of wax, paper or chalk. You just never know what you’re going to find.
  2. Records – I love to collect records of spooky sounds of the night and the Monster Mash. Any H.G. Well’s stories make for great background ambiance on Halloween.
  3. Masks – These don’t necessarily need to have been made with Halloween in mind, but they are wonderful decoration items. I love hand painted porcelain masks, or creepy homemade masks.
  4. Day of the Dead trinkets. Whatever I find I usually buy. It doesn’t matter if it’s new or old. If it is a legitimate day of the dead item from Mexico it usually makes it’s way home with me.

What are some of your favorite Halloween decorations? Where did you find them? Do you look for anything specific each year?

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Winning Pet Costumes

Posted on May 22, 2012 by Emma Rae Curtis

Do you ever feel like your pet deserves more than just a plain white sheet on Halloween? Sure, dressing your dog up like a ghost is more than most people do, but really, you couldn’t think of a better idea?

I’m a huge fan of classic costumes, but when it comes to the comfort of your pet I think there are plenty of awesome costumes that keep your dogs mobility in mind, while making them look awesome.

Here are some winning pet costume ideas:

  1. Scuba dog costumes are both elaborate and fun to design. Looking for mini flippers and a loose pair of snorkeling goggles may seem overwhelming, but with a quick Google search you can find plenty of inexpensive options.
  2. Sailor pets look dashing in their red and white stripes with blue skirts or pants. You can even make a mini sailors hat out of white felt. This is one of my all time favorite pet costumes. It’s incredibly versatile!
  3. Cowboy dogs and cats crack me up. Mini gun holsters and cowboy hats perched on happy pets will warm even the crankiest of neighbors.
  4. Red Riding Hood is a good costume for the pet that doesn’t like to be dressed up. It’s easy to tie on, it doesn’t interfere with overall movement, and it’s adorable.
  5. If you have a mini dog, like a Chihuahua or tea-cup poodle, you might consider dressing them up as a green caterpillar. Caterpillar costumes come in bright greens and yellows and help your pet stay visible even in the dark of Halloween night.
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