Haven Haunt

Two months until Halloween!

2010-09-01T01:55:00.000-05:00

I can't believe that I have not posted here all year. It has been a very busy year around the Haven Haunt. As many of you know my two nieces came to live with us last Sept. 1 and my life as I know it changed. When your baby is almost 30 and you are suddenly immersed in the day to day life of a 7 and 11 year old, it takes some adjustment.

The youngest remained with us until the end of January when she was granted the okay to go and live with her dad. The oldest is still with us and I am happy to announce that Audree will remain with us permanently, as my daughter was granted custody of her!!!!! Woo hoo!

Today is Sept. 1 and the anniversary date of her joining our family. The custody has been final for several weeks now, but today is a day of celebration here.

I have not totally neglected my Halloween planning all year and have been back in full planning mode all during August. I will be hosting three parties this year and things have been busy with the planning.

I am hosting my first all female witches Halloween party fashioned after parties of friends from the Halloween Forum site. Several posters there host a Witches Wingding and a Bewitched Bash. They have been doing this for several years and last year I read about it too late to plan one of my own. But, this year, I will debut my Be WITCHY party in mid-October.

WITCHY is an acronym for Wonderful Intelligent Talented Charming Helpful You. Be WITCHY will be a celebration of and for women, all dressed in their witchy finery. I will be writing more about the planning and decorating during the next two months on a regular basis. However, I wanted to drop by today and show off my newest witch prop.

This is not a very good photo of her, but she is adorable. She will greet guests as they come in the front door.

I spent last night working on the plans for the front yard and little courtyard area out front. More to come about this later.

Halloween decor and Boo Bash 2009 costume party at the Haven Haunt

2009-10-31T12:30:00.010-05:00

Welcome the first Boo Bash at the Haven Haunt. We had 30 guests and they stayed through the night with one group of relatives playing poker on the screened porch until 5:30 a.m. I guess that means the party was a success. It was a lot of work and I was busy with food right up until guest started arriving.

Photos of the actual Boo Bash are rather slim. I kept forgetting to take them! You will find some of various guests at the bottom of this LONG post. Some of the photos are out of order, but I tried to give a view of the party from the time you walked up the sidewalk to the front porch. Please forgive me for not being more organized in the photo department.

Again, thanks for stopping by and visiting the Haven Haunt 2009.

Left side of front porch area

Right side of front porch area

Hanging Screemer greeter and scarecrows in front porch area

Come in for a visit and some Halloween fun! Don't forget to stop by the skeleton hand door knocker on the back door to play Tempt Your Fate. Frightful entertainment will follow each haunting knock.

Wizard's spell book Our Glorious Ghoulish Century

Left side of entryway and washstand in Ye Olde Magick Shoppe

Ye Olde Magick Shoppe in entryway

Turn right in the Magick Shoppe to enter the door to witch's kitchen. Or, just proceed straight ahead into the living room called the Crossbones Inn. Watch out for the ghoul hanging on coat closet door before you enter the kitchen to be greated by all the witches.

The door to the left in the entryway takes you to the hallway Catacombs and two of the bedrooms. The front bedroom is the Haunted Hotel, featuring some scary and some not so scary guests. The hallway Catacombs features a mini graveyard on the corner shelf and many skeletons trying to escape their prisoned walls. Some have slipped through the bars and you can see their gravestones lining the hall.

Straight ahead from the entryway is the living room which is the Crossbones Inn this year. The fireplace seems to be housng a spider colony. Don't forget to check out the ghoulish busts on the mantle and the caged skeleton.

Sofa table with family gortraits gives you something to look at while resting. Be careful of eating the candy, some of the relatives died shortly after sneaking a handful of the candied corn.

Corner shelf with Halloween ceramics

Hanging ghouls in living room (this was before the deadly spiders came to visit us.

Hanging ghoul in living room

Living room ghoul

Another living room ghoul

My favorite living room ghoul

Intense spider webs behind recliner (below pass through window to kitchen)

Poison bar

The dining area was the Pumpkinhead Diner complete with a painted sign from Dollar Tree. I love this Pumpkinhead guy. I bought it at Big Lot

Here is a photo of the Frightful Food buffet table. There was a lot of food and just a variety to choose from.

I love the wire spooky Halloween tree. I received it in a swap several years ago. I also used many containers that fit the spooky mood of the table and food.

I was in a hurry when I made the coffin for the Dead Man's Dip, but it came out okay. It is an unsliced loaf of pumpernickel bread with pretzel rods added for the handle. I scooped out most of the center of the bread and filled the hole with cream cheese and picante dip.

This Beware sign was suspended from the upper cabinet door above the stove.a

An array of witches that found a new home on my kitchen countertops for the Boo Bash.

Several of my witch signs are shown here with the large hanging witch suspended from the ceiling. You can see the crashed witch on the door to the garage in the background.

This is the pass through window from the kitchen to the living room. I love my pumpkin tea pot and the ceramic witch's shoe. You can also see one of my small brooms above the stove.

This witch is lighted and also has sound. She is called the rock n roll witch.
She sways to the eeirie music and dances.

Paper witch centerpiece that rested on top of the refrigerator.

This another of my favorites. She looks so regal sitting atop one of my canisters.

This adorable witch wreath decorates the door into the kitchen from the entryway. She even has a garlic pod to ward away the vampires this month.

Witch clings on the backsplash above the sink. The one on the right end of the cabinets is just a cheap vinyl mask.

Another one of the small broom props. What is a witch's kitchen without brooms?

The cute witch black cat and a stuffed cutesy witch found a new home atop the microwave cabinet.

Entrance to master bedroom, which is off the kitchen/dining area. Another Dollar Tree sign.

Master bedroom with boo light and ghost on the wall. Sheets were draped
over my square coffee table that we stored there for the party

Zombie guy that we made from pieces of a kids costume and a cheap mask with a baloon inside for form. He was hanging in front of a large dreamcatcher and we just left the feathers for the hands.

The zombie guy and a pillowcase ghost that the girls made to cover a floor lamp.

This hanging ghoul is another one made from a kid's costume top and a fabric mask with a ballon under it for form. The white material covered a fan and made another ghost.

Close-up of the hanging or flying ghoul.

Pillowcase ghost that covers my vaccum in the bedroom area.

Small ghost on bedroom door.

Ghost on wall above the kingsized bed.

Door to master bath Butcher's Shop---another Dollar Tree sign.

One of the clostet doors in master bath. Bloody butcher's coat hanging on the grab bar of the body parts tub.

Various body parts strewn across the vanity in bathroom Butcher's Shop.

Bloody mirror

Butcher's apron hanging on closet door.

Large creepy hand on top of body parts tub.

Body parts in tub.

Close-up of various mangled body parts.

More body parts

Sign to Bat Room bathroom

Hanging bats (see large bat on shower at right)

Bat room mirror and bat light, spider webs and bats

Flying bats and hanging large bat

Large hanging bat

Anti H1N1 Venon

Sign on door to hallway Catacombs

The hallway between the two bedrooms was made into a Catacombs area. We used the wall cling sheets from Dollar Tree to make it feel like you were walking through a dungeon. I placed small gravestones at the bottom of the wall sheets to fill the space to the floor. There were two different sheets that lined the short hallway.

Looking toward the Monster Mash room.

It seems they are dying to get out! LOL

Catacombs wall with headstones below

Haunted Hotel entrance and sign

Webs across furniture and spooky scenes with white sheet covered furniture and hanging ghouls.

Wall inside the door of the Haunted Hotel

Sheet draped furniture in the Haunted Hotel

Spooky scene setter

Dresser area with creepy cloth

Closet area and creepy cloth

Bed area with spider light and spooky cloth.

Hanging small skelly

Small goul suspended in air

Cotton Patch vampire

Count Draculu---my one year old niece fell in love with him and took him home with her. She has slept with him all week long.!

Jointed witch in Monster Mash kids room. There were a lot of these jointed figures on all walls. I just couldn't find the photos to add.

Happy Halloween sign in girls MM room. They wanted to decorate, but didn't want anything scary.

Man eating plant on screened porch

Speciman table on screened porch

Apothocary rack on screened porch

Screened porch windsocks

Another hungary tree

Ghost Motel sign and another windsock

Close-ups of specimens---hands, snake, teeth, brains, tumors

Outdoor bar area

Hanging skelly and various skulls below

Graveyard entrance sign and skulls

Backyard cemetery with gravebusters More cemetery views

Ghost and Dead End Cemetery sign in backyard

Ghosts and skeletons in cemetery tree

Headstones and gravebuster

Snoopy (Bob) and the Great Pumpkin (Kathy) and their granddaughter, Alison. This couple won one of the couple prizes.

I left this photo out and just came back to add it. This creepy door knocker was placed on the door to the screened porch with the sign explaining the Tempt Your Fate game. Everytime anyone was ready to play, they had to push the button on the door knocker. Everyone knew that the game was on and to watch or listen. If fate was kind to you, you received a prize and if fate was cruel to you, you had to perform one of the fates on the slips of paper drawn after knocking. Bad fates included singing various Halloween or spooky well known theme songs. I had the words printed up. Other bad fates included various dances like Thriller, Monster Mash, etc. or singing Halloween songs to the music of well known Christmas carols or songs. It was a lot of fun.

Prizes were small bottles of liquor, murder or mystery themed books, and lots and lots of horror movies. These were also the things used for costume contest prizes.

Alison wrapping David up as a Mummy.

Caden trying to mummify Audree during the Mummy game.

Alison being wrapped by the other kids.

David and Caden wrap Alison up as a Mummy in a Boo Bash game.

Duke trying to dance to the Monster Mash with the kids---or was it Thriller?????

Duke in his skeleton costume. He looked like a fleshy, fat skelly.

Rodney at the Boo Bash

Barbara the purple witch

Ali as a ladybug

Audree the witch

Dustin the old rich man

Jennifer the wicked witch

Roxanne the cowboy

Felecia, the spell spinner witch

Background is back!!!

2009-10-21T20:16:00.000-05:00

Yea!!!!!!! I love this background. I was so excited when I found it and was so sad when I logged on and it had disappeared a few days ago. The blog looked so flat with the stark whie background. Thank you, thank you for working again!!!!

Here it is almost Halloween and my blog looked so bleak. Saturday is Boo Bash day at Haven Haunt and I can't wait. We have not had RSVPs from quite a few and I really don't know what to do about food. I am afraid to not prepare for them, but hate to make so much. But, since we are having Freshly Flayed Flesh in Ghouls Blood (brisket with barbecue) it will be great as leftovers for several days, so I guess we will just prepare for everyone.

I am so ready to do the final decorating and cooking and let the fun begin.

Background Disappeared

2009-10-20T02:59:00.000-05:00

##$&%Q, grrrr.....

I don't know what happened to my background and I LOVED it. It was there one minute tonight and then gone. I was not even signed in when it disappeared. I now have the disgusting box floating in the middle of the page telling me that I have exceeded my bandwidth and need to upgrade to Photobucket Pro!!!

I don't even have most of my photos on that site. I didn't think that this site had a space limit for blogs and what does Photobucket have to do with Blogger. Does anyone know???

Stretching Spider Webs

2009-10-18T01:28:00.004-05:00

Stretching spider webs for decoration is hard work!

Our Boo Bash is next Saturday and I still have a lot to do. It has rained for so long here that I am really behind in the outdoor decorating and today was one of the first nice days in awhile when I have had time to work on this. I did get the backyard graveyard mostly finished and tonight decided to work on putting up my spider webs in the house.

I had forgotten how much you have to stretch the webs! This is major work and I really don't have the patience for this. There are people during the Christmas holidays who advertise they will hang your lights and do the decorating, why not spider web people for Halloween. I actually think that I would pay someone to do this.

Here is a photo of the fireplace area so far. You can see that I just sort of gave in and left the knots in some areas. I just have tons of this to stretch and string out.

Halloween witches and a little witchcraft history

2009-10-15T22:25:00.003-05:00

I have always been fascinated by witches. When I was little, I remember being scared to death of The Wizard of Oz. I'm not kidding, I can remember hiding my face and leaving the room when the Wicked Witch of the East appeared in the movie. She and the flying monkeys horrified me.

The photo above is my witch wreath that adorns the door from the foyer into the kitchen. She is a kind of funky looking witch that is decorated with various kitchen items, making it perfect for a kitchen area.

Through the years, I have loved various shows featuring witches: Witches of Eastwick, Hocus Pocus, Bewitched, Charmed, etc. I can also remember frequently being a witch on Halloween. I get a good laugh out of my memories of those brittle plastic masks.

I read on a Halloween Forum message board tonight that someone was having trouble locating witch masks this year. There are countless full witches out there if you are looking for props, but it seems that the masks or the heads of witches are hard to come by this year. I did buy one at Dollar Tree that is sort of interesting. (Hey, what can you expect for a buck?) I have that one hanging on the cabinet that flanks my sink. The kitchen theme this year is a Witch's Kitchen, so I have a few scattered around. Some of my witches are sinister looking, some are funny. One of them is a rock n roll witch that sort of dances and has loud sound effects.
Another looks like a sinister witch Barbie doll and is actually made with an orange crocheted body. It is really unusual.
Yet another sits atop a cone shaped piece of plastic that looks like a tree topper.
These three are just a few that I picked up at thrift stores this year. They show the vast range of witch types.
I also read another post on the same forum about a fellow poster who hosted a Witches Wing Ding for the past two years. It is a party of all females dressed as witches. She posted photos and they were wonderful. I am going to have to steal that idea for next year. I just wish I would have known about it earlier, because I so want to host one, but it is too late this year. I am in the final days of planning and decorating for our first Boo Bash Costume Party.

It would even be fun to organize a Witches Wing Ding event on Halloween where the group went out to dinner or out for drinks. I think it would be great. Now, I just have to wait over a year to do this! :(

Did you know that the Halloween witch is still one of the most popular costumes chosen by young girls and adults each year? It's amazing. And one needs to ask... what is so fascinating about witches and witchcraft?

Well, here's a little bit of history behind real witches, not the Hollywood variety that we so like to copy. First, something that needs to be made clear is that the word 'witch' is derived from the old English word 'Wicce' (meaning wise one) - and 'Wicca (meaning healer). The witch was considered a wise-woman who lived in harmony with nature and the seasons. They were skilled in the use of herbs and were often called upon to cure the ill.

Essentially, the "Halloween witch" of centuries ago was a homeopathic healer. Being a wise woman and a healer, the witch had an assortment of special items that she utilized. Ancient Mysteries - Witches (DVD) One of these specialized items was the Athame. This was the witch's personal steel knife and was used in most rituals as it was believed to have been imbued with magical properties. The knife itself was double-edged and often had a black handle.

The broomstick was symbolic of magical powers. Its real purpose? To cleanse the area where magical rituals were performed. So how did the belief arise that the Halloween witch rode a broomstick and flew through the sky? On All Hallows Eve, witches would often anoint themselves with a "magical" ointment. The ointment made the skin tingle and gave the illusion of being very light, perpetuating the belief that they could fly. A witch walking through the woods on her way to the festival would often use the broom as a means to help jump over a brook or stream. Hence, they were believed to be flying.

It's amazing what the imagination can dream up, isn't it? Of course, we've all seen witches standing over bubbling cauldrons and drinking from large chalices in the movies. The cauldron was a pot used for concocting magical potions and for scrying (looking into the future on the water's surface). The chalice was believed to be a receptacle of spiritual forces.

Remember, we're talking ancient witchcraft history here... most beliefs were rooted in supernatural and spiritual powers. The wands that many witches carried were made of hazel wood, crystal, carved ivory or ebony, silver, or gold. It was believed that these wands were extensions of the life force of the witch herself. By themselves, each one of these symbols alone wouldn't create much of a stir, but when combined, all these ritualistic items and beliefs in mystical, magical powers would soon convince the general populace that witches had abilities beyond what the normal person should have.

Add in the ability to create "magical healing potions" to cure the sick, then superstitions would quickly grow and soon you have tales of witches being able to turn themselves into cats and doing all sorts of strange things. In conclusion, Halloween is one of the four highest holidays of the pagan celebrations and is often considered the greatest of the four, sometimes called the Great Sabbath. This is when the "Halloween witch" takes the time to observe the supernatural powers of this world and otherworlds, and ponder the mysteries that lie in both. It is a night for honoring ancestors, celebrating the harvest, and ringing in the New Year (which begins on November 1).

(Source for history: che11eness at http://www.budget101.com/)

Halloween Related Phobias

2009-10-11T00:00:00.000-05:00

There are a lot of fears or phobias, out there. Halloween certainly has it's share. Here is a list of those we are aware of:

Name: Fear of:

Achluophobia Garlic

Arachnophobia Spiders

Bogyphobia the Bogeyman

Catoptropobia Mirrors

Ceraunophobia Thunder

Claustrophobia Confined spaces, like coffins

Cleisiophobia being locked in

Coimetrophobia Cemetaries

Cucurbitophobia pumpkins....heaven forbid!!!

Dementophobia Insanity

Demonophobia Demons

Eisoptrophobia mirrors, or seeing oneself in a mirror

Hagiophobia saints or holy things

Heliophobia the sun

Hemophobia blood

Noctiphobia night

Phasmophobia ghosts

Placophobia tombstones

Samhainophobia Halloween, what's to be afraid of!?!

Satanophobia Satan

Staurophobia the crucifix

Taphephobia being buried alive

Triskaidekaphobia The number 13

Wiccaphobia witches

This was again found on a message board and posted by che11eness at http://www.budget101.com/.

I thought it was fascinating and wanted to share it, but since it was a list, it was hard to rewrite, so I want to be clear that this is from another source than me. Interesting stuff. I remember doing similiar lists for my junior high school newspaper!

Halloween Traditions and Symbols

2009-10-09T19:00:00.003-05:00

Rich in tradition, Halloween has no shortage of symbols and terms. Halloween parties are not complete without lots of spooky decorations to set the mood. Here is a listing of Halloween traditions and terms, for your enjoyment and use.

All Hallow's Eve - Another word for Halloween night.

Bats - Bats are part of the dark, sinister side of Halloween. Bats are purported to suck the blood of victims. Bats can turn into vampires, and vice versa.

Black Cat - a symbol of bad luck. Don't let a black cat cross your path, or you will certainly come upon a string of bad luck. Black cats are associated with witches. Some witches are known to be able to transform to a black cat and back.

Dracula, Count Dracula - The evil lord of the castle in Transylvania. When the moon is full, Dracula turns into a Vampire.

Frankenstein - A monster created in the laboratory of scientist Victor Frankenstein. Frankenstein has a gentle and intelligent personality. But, you wouldn't know that. His scary, monstrous appearance causes everyone to run before getting a chance to know him.

Full Moon - Vampires arise out their coffins only at night and only during a full moon.

Garlic and Garlic Necklaces - ward off evil spirits. A vampire will not venture near the neck of a woman who wears a garlic necklace, no matter how beautiful she may be. The only problem is, normal, good lucking guys will avoid her, too!

Ghosts - There can be good ghosts or bad ghosts. They can be friendly, or terrifying. Ghosts are poor souls who have died and are trapped between this life and the next. The "in between" place is called the netherworld.

Ghoul - a ghoul is a scary creature, similar to a ghost. But a ghoul is simply scary and has little character. It wasn't previously a human being as a ghost was. And, unlike some ghosts, a ghoul is never friendly.

Goblins - similar to ghosts and ghouls.

Grim Reaper - is the fictional personification of death. He is dressed in a long, black robe with a hood. Sometimes you can see a skeletal face. The Grim Reaper carries a long handled scythe(or sickle). The Grim Reaper comes at death to take bad people to hell.

Halloween Costumes - If you are going to a Halloween party or out to Trick or Treat, you need to dress up in a costume. No costume, no treats. Halloween costumes can be friendly or scary, simple or elaborate. If you don't' have money for a costume, be creative and make your own from things around your house. Learn to think outside the box and you can come up with great costumes without having to spend a lot of money.

Haunted Hayrides - Wildly popular with pre-teens and teens. They will wait hours for their turn on a hayride to get a dose of scares and frights. They will go on the hayrides in rain (snow) or (moon)shine. Haunted Hayrides - begin in early October, and continue daily through the month. It's not a hayride if its not haunted. This hugely popular attraction is a boon to farms that host them. People will wait hours for their rides. They will venture out a haunted hayride despite cold, rain, and even snow!

Haunted Houses - Ghosts inhabit the house. There're bats in the belfry. Evils spirits abound. People avoid haunted houses for good reason except at Halloween. This time of year, people will shell out big bucks for the big scare.

Jack O'Lantern - also spelled Jack O Lantern - A pumpkin for carving. It's believed the Irish brought the tradition of pumpkin carving to America.

Lighted Pumpkins - Also lighted turnips and rutabagas. Scary faces are carved into pumpkins or other vegetables and a candle is lit inside. It is said that they help keep the evil spirits away.

Mummy - In some old and ancient cultures, a person who dies is embalmed and wrapped in strips of white cloth. During Halloween mummies come alive and walk around the earth, scaring people. Chances are they won't catch you. And, if they do, what could they do with you when they are all wrapped up from head to foot!?

Netherworld - A place, or passageway, between heaven and earth.

Paranormal - a strange or unexplained occurrence or incident. This includes ghosts, witches, crop circles, UFO and other unexplained events.

Pumpkins - We are proud to say that pumpkins are a huge symbol of both Fall and Halloween. They come in many shapes, sizes and colors. They look great carved, or uncarved.

Samhain - Is this a season, the Lord of Darkness, or the Lord of Death. Depending upon who you talk to, Samhain can be any, or all of these.

Scarecrows - Not everything about Halloween is scary. Scarecrows successfully cross over between fall decorations and Halloween. They are popular in decorating for both events, and are much friendlier for young children.

Spooks - A ghoul or a ghost. They take pleasure in scaring people.

Trick or Treat - Children go out dressed up in their Halloween costumes. They knock on doors, and say "Trick or Treat". If they do not get a treat, look out!

Warlock - A male witch of Halloween. Note, a warlock is not related to witches of the Wiccan religion.

Werewolf or Wolfman- a man that transforms to a wolf. More on werewolves

Wiccans - A religious group that call themselves wiccans or witches. They will argue vehemently that evil witches of Halloween do not exist.

Witches - Did you know witches can be good, and witches can be bad. We definitely distinguish a difference between witches of Halloween and witches of the Wiccan religion.

from che11eness at http://www.budget101.com/

1,725 pound pumpkin

2009-10-08T17:28:00.004-05:00

With the price of pumpkin skyrocketing in the states this season, I would love to have this baby.
They say everything is bigger in Texas, but this potential king of all jack-o-lanterns wasn't even grown in the states. Click here for story

In addition to all that pumpkin and an enormous amount of seeds, the owner may soon hold the world's record for this pumpkin. She and her husband both compete annually and this year, her pumpkin outweighed the hubby's by around 400 pounds.

I remember one year my dear late MIL entered a contest at Walmart for a huge pumpkin. You had to guess the weight and she won. It was something like 58 pounds. Well, dear Ida didn't want the pumpkin so she had them load it into her car and brought it to our kids. Let me tell you that was a serious sized pumpkin. I can't imagine one the size of this one!!!! LOL My kids thought they had won the lottery with that huge JOL.

Tempt Your Fate Game

2009-10-07T23:51:00.024-05:00

Two other great site for ideas are the Halloween Forum and http://www.1halloween.net/ Both sites have hundreds of pages and include so many ideas. I found several more games there that we are going to use at the Boo Bash. The Halloween Forum is devoted to die-hard Halloween fans. They prepare for their Haunts and parties all year. There is some very amazing stuff made and displayed by the members. However, they are also very tolerant of the mere amateurs and small time Halloween nuts like I have become. The second site is a kid friendly site and on the surface looks a little juvenile. Don't let that fool you. It really has some great ideas including hints of how to make some simple, but effective CHEAP props like the crashed witch, bride and groom spooky couple, a life size vampire, and things like body parts coming out the grave.

But, back to the purpose of this post. We are going to play a game called Tempt Your Fate at the Boo Bash. I found the game on the Halloween Forum, but the ideas for many of the fates at the 1Halloween site.

There will be an assortment of good fates and bad fates. Since some people may not want to participate in this type of game, it will be voluntary. Anytime during the night someone may choose to Tempt their Fate and draw a card.

The game can be played by having guests pop balloons that contain the fates. However, I wanted something with a little more pomp and circumstance. Today, I found a spooky door knocker at Goodwill that is awesome. You push the button and the skeleton hand moves and makes a knocking motion while the sound effects mimic a loud creepy knock on a door. I knew that I had to buy this, but wasn't sure where I would be able to use it. When I got home, I realized that it will be a perfect prop for the Tempt My Fate game. It will be attached to a bowl or container that holds the cards. I haven't worked out the details of the container yet. I think this knocker will set a great mood for the game and everyone will definitely hear when someone decides to tempt fate.

Here are a few graphics used by Frankie's Girl from the Halloween Forum last year for her Tempt Your Fate game.

This is her description graphic of the Tempt Your Fate game from 2008.

Shown below are the Fate description cards used by Frankie's Girl last year.

I had considered putting the fates inside balloons so that guests could pop them to get their fate. However, I really want to make sure that everyone knows that someone is about to TEMPT FATE.

When someone chooses to Tempt Fate, they will draw out a card with the appropriate fate. If they have a good fate, there will be an appropriate nice card letting them know that fate has smiled on them or some such jibberish and they they are able to be spared. They will receive a prize that is written on the fate card. If they draw a bad fate, they will have to do what ever is described on the card.

This is where I am going to merge the two games. I am using some great ideas from http://www.halloween1.net/ as bad fates. This website has the lyrics to many Halloweenish songs including "Addams Family", "Monster Mash", "Ghostbusters", "Bad Moon Rising", "Munsters Theme", several from "Rocky Horror Picture Show", "Flying Purple People Eater", "Thriller", and "Werewolves of London". If you draw one of those as a bad fate, you must sing the song on the karoake machine. I may relent and let them just sing in front of everyone. Other bad fates include some Halloween lyrics set to CHRISTMAS carols. LOLSince some people would probably rather die than sing, there are also some other bad fates of things they have to do in front of everyone.I think this is a great game that would really be loved by teens.Check out all the homemade props in this site. it gives easy and cheap ways to make some really good props. ( hands coming out of graves, a person stuck in the ceiling, the crashed witch, ghoulish bride and groom, etc. It is the best site I have found for basic ideas and things to make without breaking the bank.

This second link to the Halloween Forum needs to be scrolled down a couple of messages.

Here are some graphics from another poster, who has played this game. Look at ylbissop's awesome graphics in the graphic below. This was posted last year on the Halloween Forum site at this link.

Edgar A. Poe, master of horror stories to receive proper funeral on Sunday

2009-10-06T18:45:00.005-05:00

Wow, this is amazing. Edgar Alan Poe was born 200 years ago this year and he is finally receiving a funeral befitting an author of his stature. Click on the link for an amazing account of his early death and the slight that took place of him. This is just one of many tributes to Poe and his writing planned this year.

Among the tributes, will be a lifelike (or is it deathlike) mock-up of Poe's corpse, which was unearthed in 1865 in order to be moved. This Poe-ish event will even include the "body" lieing in state for 12 hours at the Poe House. Following will be an all night vigil at Westminister's Burying Ground where his body rests. Anyone in attendance will be able to give a tribute to Poe.

The fake remains will be transported by horse-drawn carriage to Poe's actual grave on Sunday morning, where the funeral will be held. It will be fitting of someone of his stature.

Actor John Astin, who played Gomez in the popular Adam's Family series will narrate the events.

Nevermore, will his death be slighted... (I couldn't resist!)

Halloween Superstitions

2009-10-04T01:23:00.000-05:00

Source: che11eness at www.budget101.com

Halloween superstitions date back thousands of years and many can be found within the history of Halloween from several different cultures, particularly those from English, Scottish, Irish and Welsh origins. Many of these myths and customs were brought to Amercia with the new settlers and some of these interesting beliefs continue to this day."But," you ask, "do people in the 21st century still really believe these superstions?"Surprisingly, there are millions who do have beliefs in some of these like the one where you will have 7 years bad luck if you break a mirror (not true) or you'll have bad luck if a black cat crosses your path (unless you live in Britian or Japan... in which case it's good luck).Here are some Halloween superstitions I've gathered over time. If you're looking for a party activity, why not make up a trivia quiz using superstitions? Very fun to see who knows what. Enjoy!* If a candle flame suddenly turns blue, there's a ghost nearby.* If you ring a bell on Halloween, it will scare evil spirits away.* As Halloween superstitions go, this is an interesting one. In Britian/Ireland it was believed that if you were walking along on Hallowen night and you heard footsteps behind you, you should not look back as it might be the dead following. If you did look back and meet their gaze, it was an indication that you will die soon.* If you see a spider on Halloween, it could be the spirit of a dead loved one who is watching you.* Knocking on wood keeps bad luck away.* A Gaelic Halloween superstion suggests that all souls that are in Purgatory are released and free for 48 hours on All Hallows Eve.* You should walk around your home three times backwards and counterclockwise before sunset on Halloween to ward off evil spirits.* Some believe if you catch a snail on Halloween night and lock it into a flat dish, in the morning you will see the first letter of your sweetheart written in the snail's slime.* Many people used to believe that owls swooped down to to eat the souls of the dying. If they heard an owl hooting, they would become frightened. A common remedy was thought to be turning your pockets inside out and you would be safe.* In Britain, people believed that the Devil was a nut-gatherer. At Halloween, nuts were used as magic charms.* If a girl puts a sprig of rosemary herb and a silver sixpence under her pillow on Halloween night, she will see her future husband in a dream.* In North America, it's bad luck if a black cat crosses your path and good luck if a white cat crosses your path. In Britain, Ireland, and Japan it's exactly the opposite!* To prevent ghosts coming into the house at Halloween, bury animal bones or a picture of an animal near the doorway.* A person born on Halloween can see and talk to spirits.* A rural American myth states that children born on Halloween will be protected against evil spirits their entire life and will be given the gift of second sight.* If you go to a crossroads at Halloween and listen to the wind, you will learn all the most important things that will befall you during the next twelve months.* When bobbing for apples, it is believed that the first person to bite an apple would be the first to marry.* Peel an apple from top to bottom. The person with the longest unbroken peel would be assured the longest life. If you threw the apple peel over your shoulder, the initial it forms upon landing is the initial of your future mate.* If a bat flies around a house 3 times, it is a death omen.* In England, you are warned not to go hunting on Halloween night as you may injure a wandering spirit.* Another Halloween superstitions is an English tale that cautions you not to look at your shadow in the moonlight on the eve of Halloween or you will be the next to haunt a graveyard.* If bats come out early and fly around playfully, then it is a sign of good weather to come.* If a bat flies into a house it is a sign that ghosts are about and maybe the ghost let the bat in!

Vampire Cheese Head and Bites

2009-09-30T23:56:00.005-05:00

I posted earlier today that I don't like vampires, but I have to admit to thinking this little guy is so cute. I think I am going to add this to my Boo Bash menu. Instead of placing the cookies around the tray, I will probably use the Vampire Bites that are made of apple wedges and almond slivers.

October is almost here! Let's embrace it and all that it brings!

2009-09-30T11:05:00.004-05:00

October is almost here!!!! I will be so happy that the official haunting month has arrived. I have been ready to decorate for Halloween for the past few weeks, but I like to enjoy my fall decor before I add the Halloween things. So, I wait until Oct. 1 to bring out the creepy and spooky and funky Halloween decor. And, (drum roll please...) that is tomorrow.

This year has been harder than most on my waiting for my official decorating time. I have been so into Halloween and my plans for the first Boo Bash at Haven Haunt. I am substituting this week for four days and so yesterday, I ran up to my fav thrift store, the Resale Barn, during my conference time, to check out the Halloween stash. I am subbing in the little town where the store is located and so being here gives me another excuse to look for more things for the Boo Bash. Although the inventory has slowed down at the Resale Barn, they still had some great stuff. In my opinion, they had the right idea this year. They have had Halloween items out for over a month and people have been able to shop and build up their decor or costume items over time.

Now, that the big retail stores have their Halloween wares out and the specialty stores are booming, I already have a plan and am able to pick up the odds and ends pieces that I must buy new.

Halloween has become a new passion with me this year. I was just reading on some other blogs and realized that I still don't like some things about Halloween. I am not into the dark side of things. Like one of my fellow bloggers, I don't like vampires, either. I agree with the view of this blogger that it is probably because they are just evil. I do have quite a few props, costumes and decor that are vampire based, but they are lighter in nature.Can vampires actually be lighter in nature? Hmm...probably not, but the items I have with vampires are sort of funky---not scary or evil looking.

I also am at odds with my church over the entire Halloween issue. I realize that much of this material CAN and IS of the dark nature, (which I do not like nor participate in), but I just love a good scare and the escapism of the holiday. I have read Bram Stoker's Draculaand although it is not a favorite, I can appreciate the great literary worth of the novel.

I also am in favor of kids reading---too many won't read at all. So, what is the harm of them reading fantasy literature of books about teen vampires or wizards. Reading is a life skill and it expands your mind and makes you much more capable of higher order thinking and reasoning. So, let's encourage kids (and adults to read).

There is a book fair going on in the library of the schools here this week. I went in yesterday to browse the books and noticed that this book fair is heavy into Halloween themed books and posters. Well, gee, it is the time of the year and some of the most popular books and movies this year were about vampires, magic and such. So, please pardon me for being a little concerned that some parents were critical of these books being presented in the book fair! There were ample other choices. Have a family discussion with your child and set parameters for your family, if you wish, but hey, please don't impose your beliefs and restrictions on the others.

Let's be respectful and tolerant and not make, too much out of this current reading frenzy of young adult literature. I grew up reading everything I could about King Arthur and Merlin and Stoker's vampire and great pieces of literature that are today being banned for one reason or another. They didn't warp me---they made me into a well read critical thinker. I hope to see this trend continue. I found my own niche of reading comfort and it wasn't in these areas, just because I was exposed to such stories through literature. The end result was that I explored many types of books and found a passion in books and learning.

2009-09-27T21:55:00.004-05:00

I found this severed arm today at a store called Halloween Express. It was a pretty good store for costumes and props. We drove to the DFW area to find a costume for my daughter and ran across this store. I was hoping to find a few Dollar Trees while there to look for some more of the cheap gory hands and feet. However, they all seem to be gone. They were pretty good props for a buck, so I guess they went quickly.

I got this severed arm for only $3.98. It will be used in one of the man-eating plants on the screened porch or in the Butcher's Shop.

I found these two great bottles today at a Goodwill. They will make wonderful additions to either the Witch's Kitchen, Wizard's Magick Shoppe or the Apothocary shelf for the Boo Bash.

I also like the ghost. I cracked it on the way home, but it is a hairline crack and I hope to be able to add some glue to it.

Cool Props for the Boo Bash Today

2009-09-26T17:34:00.011-05:00

I went back to the Dollar Tree today hoping to find some more of the gory hands, but didn't find any. I had picked up a couple of the feet several weeks ago, but missed out on the hands. They told me that they won't be getting in any more Halloween. I am glad that found all the signs and things from there earlier. They really had a great assortment of things this year. My DD and DN let me out and went down the strip mall to another store, so I browsed around looking at everything and thinking outside the box for ideas for the Boo Bash. I found a couple of nice looking (if there is such a thing--LOL) snakes in the toy section. It says that they grow in water over a period of 90 something hours! I got two in different colors and patterns. I found a gallon jar in my garage that I had forgotten about. I don't have a lid, but will come up with some type of covering for it. I think they will be great for a prop in either the Ye Olde Magick Shoppe in my entryway, the witch's kitchen, or the apothocary area of the screened in porch.I also found some packages of life size flies, bat, locuts and other outdoor critters, and rats and other insects from around the house stuff---all in the toy section. I think they will have a great creap effect in jars. I also got two packages of monster looking teeth (with a set of three in a pack) from the toy section. You can't beat the price.I also picked up a couple of CDs of Halloween sounds and music to test.As I was checking out, the clerk asked me if I was interested in any window clings and I told her I had looked through what they had. She told me that she had a stack at the register that they had trouble displaying. So, I looked through them and picked up a pack of three clings of spiders, a large sheet of 6 glitter spider clings, and a large sheet of spooky glitter clings including a haunted house, cat, spiders, ghoul, witch, bats, etc.I have been looking for a crashed witch to go on the door from the kitchen to the garage. I found one today at the newly opened Spirit Halloween store and one a Target, but they were way more than I was willing to pay. These were all things that attached and were awesome looking, but I just wanted something simple on the door at the end of the long galley kitchen. The kitchen theme is a Witch's Kitchen. At the Dollar Tree I found one package left of a crashed witch wall door decoration! Of course, it is the design on a flat piece of black vinyl, but it fits what I wanted it for and the price was perfect!I was really pleased to find so many things for around $15! We had gone in the new Spirit Halloween store to look around and need I say it was awesome. Expensive, but awesome. I did get some good ideas of how to make some ghosts and how to display some things, so it was a great Boo Bash field trip.We also made a run to my fav thrift store, the Resale Barn, since DD hasn't found a costume yet. They have had a HUGE assortment of costumes and Halloween decor for weeks. They still had a lot, but are winding down. More people are thinking and buying Halloween now. I am so fortunate to have found all my items during the past few weeks before the supply there got low. She didn't find a costume, but I did pick up a cute wodden sign that has an arrow on each end and says: Witch Way? Hurry... They're Coming. The sign was only 99 cents! I also picked up an awesome bottle for potions for 49 cents.I love it and needed another sign for the kitchen door that connects to the entryway. I have another sign that says something about Witch's Way Diner that came from Dollar Tree.All in all, it was a great day of Boo Bash shopping for less than $20.

Spirit Halloween Store Here

2009-09-25T23:44:00.003-05:00

Oh my gosh, I just found out that we have a new Spirit Halloween store! They evidently opened up in the old Circuit City builiding last week in our area. We have never had anything like that here and always had to go to the DFW area to find things that Walmart or Target didn't carry.

I was sick this past week and haven't been out, but there was a story about the store in today's newspaper. I am so excited. I am taking my niece and nephew (both 11 years old) tomorrow to look around. Even though I am not looking for anything in particular, it is neat that we have this option and I am looking forward to this as much as the kids. I'm sure that I will find something that I have to buy, even though I don't have much to spend.

Spooky Type Fonts & Other Resources

2009-09-24T22:19:00.003-05:00

Check out this site dedicated to Halloween type fonts. It is called Fontenstein - A Castle Full of Halloween Type. I will be using some of these as I make some last minute props and signs. They will also be fun to use on future invitations for the Boo Bash.

These are all free and the site also includes a very comprehensive set of Ding Bats of all kinds for Halloween. Wow, I wish I would have found this sooner. I may go back and change some things that I have already finished.

I thought the fonts were great, but just wait until you check out the resources at the bottom of the site! This is one of the most comprehensive lists I have found. It has sites that boast of 101 Halloween ideas; how to make and use a scarecrow; Halloween games; an entire cookbook for your party; an online guide for making and using tombstones; ideas for using skulls, skeletons, bones; office Halloween party site; costume party info; scary ideas, safety hints; costumes site; fog machine info; fearful films; how to photograph haunts and parties; high end props; pumpkin carving patterns; Pumpkin Patch site; and even an entire site devoted to creating your own yard haunt.

Wow, I know where I will be spending hours in the coming weeks!

This has become a new addiction. There is so much to see and I am fascinated by all the variables.

Ghoul up your photos or become a zombie!

2009-09-23T01:08:00.000-05:00

I read somewhere the other day about this feature being available on the K-Mart website and I even went and looked at it earlier this week. I didn't have a photo available at that moment to use that was small enough. I went back to the site tonight and it seems that this item is not available. What the heck? I was excited about getting to ghoul up some photos of the nieces and them just be funny and not too scary.

Anyway, I was looking around tonight at various sites and ran across this site to Zombify your photos. This one is much more graphic than the one on the K-Mart site, but I think it will be fun to do this to each of our photos and print them out to set around the house for the Boo Bash.

Okay, now I feel like an idiot. I just posted the above and then went back to the K-mart site to look one more time. You have to click on the banner for Featured Costumes and it will take you to the site. Click here for a K-Mart direct link to the Ghoul Me site. It is really cute and will make for a fun activity and something to keep.

History of the Jack-o-lantern

2009-09-22T21:00:00.000-05:00

There is something magical about jack-o-lanterns. They just make me smile and announce that cooler weather is on the way. I have always loved them, but have to
admit to not using them for decor enough.

In our area, the local kids like to steal them and smash them. This is all in the spirit of "fun", but in reality it is anything but fun.Stealing is stealing and this amounts to vandalism of personal property and a massive amount of clean-up that is left to the home owners. So, I usually pacify my jack-o-lantern urges with the faux kind. So, sad, but true.

However, this year, I vow to used real pumpkins at my Boo Bash on the 24th. I will use them in the decor of the BACK yard. LOL

In the meantime, I will spend time online looking at all the wonderful sites devoted to this wonderful art form. Take a peak at this jack-o-lantern site called Extreme Pumpkin for some fun and lots of eye candy.

History of the Jack O'Lantern

The Irish brought the tradition of the Jack O'Lantern to America. But, the original Jack O'Lantern was not a pumpkin. The Jack O'Lantern legend goes back hundreds of years in Irish history. As the story goes, Stingy Jack was a miserable, old drunk who liked to play tricks on everyone: family, friends, his mother and even the Devil himself. One day, he tricked the Devil into climbing up an apple tree. Once the Devil climbed up the apple tree, Stingy Jack hurriedly placed crosses around the trunk of the tree. The Devil was then unable to get down the tree. Stingy Jack made the Devil promise him not to take his soul when he died. Once the devil promised not to take his soul, Stingy Jack removed the crosses and let the Devil down.

Many years later, when Jack finally died, he went to the pearly gates of Heaven and was told by Saint Peter that he was too mean and too cruel and had led a miserable and worthless life on earth. He was not allowed to enter Heaven. He then went down to Hell and the Devil. The Devil kept his promise and would not allow him to enter Hell.

Now Jack was scared and had nowhere to go but to wander about forever in the darkness between Heaven and Hell. He asked the Devil how he could leave as there was no light. The Devil tossed him an ember from the flames of Hell to help him light his way. Jack placed the ember in a hollowed out turnip, one of his favorite foods which he always carried around with him whenever he could steal one.

From that day onward, Stingy Jack roamed the earth without a resting place, lighting his way as he went with his "Jack O'Lantern". On all Hallow's Eve, the Irish hollowed out turnips, rutabagas, gourds, potatoes and beets. They placed a light in them to ward off evil spirits and keep Stingy Jack away. These were the original Jack O'Lanterns.

In the 1800's a couple of waves of Irish immigrants came to America. The Irish immigrants quickly discovered that pumpkins were bigger and easier to carve out. So they used pumpkins for Jack O'Lanterns. (History source: che11eness at http://www.budget101.com/)

Ghostly Jar

2009-09-22T18:39:00.000-05:00

In my quest for great items to go in my bottles and jars that will go in the Ye Olde Magic Shoppe, the Witch's Kitchen and the Apothocary at my Boo Bash, I have found some intresting things that can be used from ordinary household items. In addition I have found countless wonderful labels that are ready to print. The only drawback is finding enough bottles and jars and the cost of all the ink to print them. LOL

I hope to make an Eyeball Machine for the Magic Shoppe (link is in the sidebar. I just found this great item that will be a nice wow factor, too.

It is a Ghostly Jar. The object is to have a jar that smokes.

To make it you simply take any glass jar, or bottle, paint it a neon color or black, whatever you prefer.

Light a stick of incense & drop inside the jar and leave it alone.

This gives the effect of a smoking, ghostly jar. It is great for fortune tellers, wizards, witches, etc!

Remember the earlier post about the graveyard scent? You could always use patchouli inscense to achieve this scent.

I may try this out on the screened porch on the apothocary rack. There will be a Dead End Cemetery right outside the porch area. I think it will be a hoot.

Tombstone Epitaphs

2009-09-21T20:30:00.000-05:00

I have bought several styrofoam tombstones from Dollar Tree and a resale shop, but I am planning to make some of my own. I have been reading about ways to make them and decided to give this a try. I spent some time tonight researching for some epitaphs to go on them and/or some names that can be used to spice them up.

The ones that I bought all are generic and just have RIP or something along that line. Here is a link to a great site with some that I really like. Here are some spooky epitaphs that will really get a chuckle from Boo Bash participants. This site only deals with names for the tombstones.

My favorites are Berry D. Hatchet and Otta B Alive. Some of them are really corny, some suggestive, or funny or just dumb. They are really worth a great laugh though.

Another fun site I found includes epitaphs that are funny. A few that I liked were:

Here lies an Atheist
All dressed up
And no place to go.

She drank good ale,
good punch and wine
And lived to the age of 99

He got a fish-bone in his throat
and then he sang an angel note.

Here lies Lester Moore.
Four slugsFrom a forty-four.
No Les
No More.

Dragon's Breath Dip

2009-09-21T18:20:00.000-05:00

I am still working on the menu for the Boo Bash and ran across this one. It sounds really interesting. I have heard that roasted garlic takes on a unique and wonderful flavor and this recipe seems to uphold that fact. I think I will give it a try for my BB.

By Linda Larsen, About.com
There are two heads (yes, entire heads) of garlic in this dip! (That’s why it’s called Dragon’s Breath). But I assure you, when garlic is roasted, it becomes sweet and nutty. This is one of the most popular dips I have ever served.Ingredients:* 2 heads garlic* 1 Tbsp. olive oil* 8 oz. Brie cheese* 1/2 tsp. seasoned salt* dash white pepperPreparation:Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cut top 1/2" off the top of the garlic heads. Remove some of the loose papery skin, leaving the heads intact. Place each on a square of foil, drizzle each with the olive oil, and wrap well. Bake at 350 degrees 50-60 minutes, until the garlic is very soft and begins to brown. Cool until easy to handle. Squeeze each head to remove the soft roasted cloves.
In a food processer, process Brie cheese with the seasoned salt, pepper, and garlic cloves. You can also cream these ingredients together using the back of a spoon and a lot of energy. LOL

Refrigerate several hours to blend flavors. Serve with crackers, crostini, and sliced French bread.

History of Halloween

2009-09-21T01:25:00.001-05:00

Source: che11eness at http://www.budget101.com/

The History of Halloween Halloween is a modern name that was derived from All Hallow's Eve. According to the history of Halloween, the actual festival was called Samhain (pronounced sow-in) and mark the end of the harvest season after the live stock had been brought in and to signal the beginning of the winter season.It was a festival celebrated by the Celtic Druids which was celebrated on October 31st. This was the end of their year and November 1st was the beginning of the New Year, unlike today where our year ends on December 31st and the new year begins January 1st.Samhain (The Festival of the Dead) was observed in England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. As evening drew near, they began preparations for the Vigil of Samhain (The Lord of Darkness). It was believed that the veil between the living world and the spirit world was at its thinnest, and that the spirits of the people who had died in the past yearcould cross over and walk the earth once more. Communication with dead kinsmen was also believed to be possible at this time, and that all magical powers were enhanced greatly.The people would douse the fires in their homes, for they believed that evil spirits might find their way in and possess the living. Outside, great bonfires were started by the Druids (bonfire = bone + fire). Now there is great debate of whether they sacrificed humans or not during this celebration. Some say sick animals that wouldn't survive the winter and criminals…believed to be possessed by evil spirits… were burned. Once the fires died down, the Druids would read the bones and ashes left over to divine how the coming year would be. Others say that there is no basis in fact for this ritual. This is one of the mysteries in the history of Halloween that we may never know for sure.The people of the land would light torches from the fire and in turn, would re-light their own hearth fires. The belief was that the fire from the sacred bonfire would keep the evil spirits away, while allowing the spirits of their kinsfolk to find their way home.People would also dress up in furs and scary masks a prelude to our dressing up in costumes. They hoped that the evil spirits would be scared away or would mistake them for animals and wouldn't try to possess their bodies.Another tradition was for the peasants to go door to door, begging for food. The food would be left out to appease the spirits, speeding them on their way back to the spirit world. Whoever gave food would be assured of receiving a prayer from the peasants for good fortunes for the coming year. Those that were stingy received eggs and rocks thrown at their homes, among other pranks. We can see where some of our traditions came from, can't we?According to the history of Halloween, this was also the beginning of the New Year as well, and many activities involving predictions also took place, aside from the bone reading of the Druids. This was a time when fortune telling, tealeaf readings and other divination methods would be the most powerful for the future. One of the fun celebrations we still uphold is bobbing for apples. The Celts believed that the first person to bite an apple would be the first to marry.Another tradition was to peel an apple from top to bottom. The person with the longest unbroken peel would be assured the longest life. If you threw the apple peel over your shoulder, the initial it forms upon landing is the initial of your future mate.In the 7th century, the Romans conquered England and brought many of their own traditions. One of these was the celebration of All Saints Day, which was originally celebrated in May. By the 9th century, All Saints Day was moved to November 1st and All Soul's Day (a festival to celebrate all the dead souls) was added to November 2nd. The Catholic Church hoped that by combining the pagan celebration of Samhain with their own festival they could convert more people to follow the Christine religion. At this point, Samhain became known as All Hallow's Eve (the eve before the hallowed days of All Saint's Day and All Soul's Day). Eventually, All Hallow's Eve was shortened to Hallow E'en and then to Halloween, as we know it today.

Outdoor Haunted Cemetery Scent

2009-09-21T00:53:00.000-05:00

Outdoor Haunted Cemetery Scent
Patchouli, Patchouli, Patchouli!!!
It perfectly captures that musty-freshly-turned-earth/fresh flower smell. Get it in oil form as the fragrance will last a long time and a few drops will go a long way. Add a couple drops to tea light candles for lasting Cemetery Scent.

http://www.budget101.com/halloweenpdf/ht37.htm

I'm putting this in my list of sites for planning, but I just had to post about this. Can you imagine the feeling that everyone will get from this????????

Making Your Own Blood, Scars and Special Effects

2009-09-20T23:50:00.000-05:00

I have already spent quite a bit on props and decor for my first Boo Bash, so I have been looking for economical ways to finish up. After looking around on the web I found the following recipes for making fake blood, scars, scabs and various other wounds or special effects. Most use items that you already have at home. You've gotta love that!

These all were found at: http://www.budget101.com/.

Fake Blood

1/2 bottle of light corn syrup
very hot water
1 tsp of liquid dish soap (Dawn)
red food coloring
blue or green food coloring (optional)
In a small bowl combine the corn syrup and water (just add a little add a time till the correct consistency is achieved. Add your red food coloring, it can be made darker by adding the blue/green.

Store in the fridge. Prior to applying to the skin, apply cold cream. To use: drip, spray or smear as your ghoulish heart desires.....

OR

For blood use blue liquid laundry starch with red food coloring added. It sticks well, it gives the coloration of blood, and dries with the consistency of real blood. Or a mixture of cocoa and water with food coloring, placed in squeeze bottles drips marvelously. Very gory.

OR

For a simpler simulation of blood: mix catsup and face cream!

MYO Blistered Skin Effect
Apply a coating of Vaseline over the area, add white tissues to simulate the look of blisters. You'll need to add more Vaseline

MYO 2nd & 3rd Degree Burn Effect
Ground rouge and then ground charcoal over the top of Vaseline for third degree burns, tissue (either Kleenex or toilet tissue) over the Vaseline and rouge, then possibly torn and lifted up for the blister) for second degree burns; this can also be added for third degree burns. Just don't use the charcoal for the second degree.

MYO Flesh Wounds
petroleum jelly
red food coloring
baking cocoa powder
disposable tissue
bowl
toothpicks

Use a toothpick to mix 3-4 drops of red food coloring into a dollop of petroleum jelly (e.g., Vaseline).
Stir in enough cocoa (a pinch or so) to darken the red color to a deeper, blood-like tint.
Separate the tissue and tear out a small rectangle (3x2 inches) from a single layer of the paper.
Place the tissue at the wound site and cover it with the petroleum jelly mixture.
Carefully mold the tissue into a wound shape, with the edges raised higher than the center of the wound.
Add some petroleum jelly mixture to the center of the wound.
Sprinkle cocoa at the edges of the wound to darken it. Add cocoa to the wound center if a scabby (as opposed to fresh) appearance is desired.
Red food coloring will stain, so avoid wound contact with clothing or furniture.

Make Your Own Fake Intestines

Find an old pair of natural color pantyhose and trim the "feet" off. Carefully fill the hose with cotton or cut up cloth (old bedsheets work well for this). Using a hot glue gun seal the ends.
Randomly twist your intestines and stitch them in various places to make them appear more realistic.
Soak them in the Fake Blood recipe, wring slightly (as it does stain when it drips!). Hang them from a torn shirt, or let them hang out over the top of your pants as though you had surgery that the doctor didn't bother to complete!

MYO Fake Skin
8 TBSP flour 5 TBSP warm water Regular or Halloween face makeup
Mix together the flour and water, this will result in a dough like mixture. Do not add the makeup into the mixture.
Use this mixture and with a bit of regular elmer's school glue it can be affixed to the face or body. Mold the dough or fake skin to desired effect and then let dry. Drying time is at least 10-15 minutes, However after adding the makeup and the fake blood or other gruesome effects the simple skin recipe come to life.

MYO Gore Blood
2/3 cup Oriental 'Cherry' Dipping Sauce 1/3 cup Water1/2 Teaspoon Red Food Coloring 2 or 3 Drops Green Food Coloring Mix the Cherry dipping sauce with water, thoroughly enough to thin down the sauce into a gooey consistancy. Add food coloring. Stir again, and let the sauce sit, preferably in a fridge. When needed, take it out and spoon it onto areas where 'gore' effect blood is needed. The blood will drip in glops & globs, but doesn't puddle out like watery blood does.
(recipe courtesy Jane at Budget 101 forum)

MYO Snot for slime
1 cup cornstarch
1/2 cup water
green food coloring
Mix all ingredients. Great for squeezing through your hands. You can change the consistency by adding more water, then more cornstarch
This makes a great addition to body wounds, color it green and pretend to sneeze. Go dressed as a tissue with boogers in it.

MYO Bruises
deep/dark blue powder eye shadow
charcoal or smoke gray powder eye shadow
sparkling green powder eye shadow
make up brush
Carefully wet your make up brush & blot the blue eye shadow first, applying carefully. Use Q-Tips or your fingertips to add blots of color (gray/ charcoal & blue mix). Touch up around the edges using your green eyeshadow for a gruesome appearance.

MYO Burnt Skin Effect
Burnt marshmallows work excellent for giving the appearance of burnt skin. Burn the marshmallow- peel off the burnt area- open and apply to skin when cool enough to handle.

MYO Scar Special Effect
To easily create the effect of scars, Combine pink & green facial tissues in corn syrup, allow to soak and apply carefully. Let them dry before adding any make-up.
Also, various colors of craft tissue paper work well too.

MYO Gruesome Pus Boil
Get a band-aid about the size of the boil you want. Then, dip some tissue (toilet paper works best) into a mixture of PVA glue and water, and form it onto the band-aid. Make a groove by pushing a pencil about halfway into the tissue. Wait for it to dry and cut around the hardened glue and tissue. Peel the backing of the band-aid off and place it in the desired location. Use makeup to blend it onto your skin.

MYO Hairy Wart Special Effect
Whole peppercorns white or black
Corn syrup or eyelash glue
Hair bristles from a paintbrush or out of your hair brush
Non-toxic watercolor paints or Make-up brush
Keeping the peppercorns away from your eyes, (warts look better on noses and chins), "glue them in place using a little corn syrup or eyelash glue. We've actually had good luck with Elmer's School Glue as well, (It will come right off with a little vinegar). Hold in place until dry.
Carefully dip the ends of your "Hairs" 2 or 3 will do, and hold them in place in the glue/syrup until dry. A hair dryer on low heat will help set them quickly.
You can lightly dust your warts with a make-up brush rubbed in eyeshadow, or you can even spray paint your peppercorns green or gray and let them dry prior to applying.

MYO Scuzzy Face Make-Up
Two paintbrushes
Small saucepan or use 1 c. glass measuring cup in microwave
Cornmeal
Corn syrup
Red or brown water colors or make-up blush
One envelope unflavored Knox gelatin
Dissolve gelatin in 1/4c. cold water in a small saucepan, let set 1 minute, then continually stir over low heat until gelatin/water mix is clear. Allow to cool.
In the meantime, using a paintbrush, paint the shape of your scabs on your "victim" with corn syrup. Carefully cover the entire "scab" cornmeal. Let it set up for 2 full minutes, then lightly blow off the excess. Carefully shade the scab with the make-up colors you have chosen. By now your gelatin mix should be cool, very carefully paint the "scab" with the mix, avoiding pressure so you don't ruin the cornmeal texturing. The gelatin will help seal your "scab" and prevent it from wearing off.

Want to really gross someone out by eating your wounds? Try these:

Edible Scabs & Road Rash
Use Various Flavors of Jello/Gelatin to create edible scabs and road rash effects:
peach, lemon, orange, grape: skin growths, foundation for scabs, blisters, scars
black cherry or cranberry with a teaspoon of grape mixed in: blood, veins, moles, road rash
lime: boogers, pus, various marine life (algae, seaweed)
Plain: create the foundation for scars, scabs and other creations; dribble colored gelatin over the clear, shaped foundation

5 o'clock Shadow
Carefully burn a piece of cork, let it cool for a couple minutes and then rub on your face... or stubble by using used coffee or tea grounds stuck on with eyelash adhesive

These are things that we probably won't use much of this year, but may in future years. It is good to know how to do these things without having to spend a lot of money on make-up or kits.

Second Set of Halloween Props

2009-09-19T22:30:00.000-05:00

Here is the link to the second set of photos of the stuff that I have picked up for the Boo Bash. As you can see I have quite a stash of items and I am in the planning stages of what will go in each room. I thought I had all the room themes planned, but I am doing some modifying since I have the photos to look through.

I absolutely couldn't pull this off if I didn't have my fabulous Halloween Notebook and all the planning pages. I am working on the BB room by room on paper.

2009-09-18T01:56:00.000-05:00

It finally stopped raining here and I brought in the things I have had stored in the trunk of the car to inventory. I took photos of everything and have them in a Photobucket slide show. I tried to get it to run on here as a slide show, but couldn't figure it out. So, you will have to click on the link for the Boo Bash purchases to see them. I still have the things that I bought earlier that are stored in the shed. I will try to get them out tomorrow if we have sunshine.

As soon as I get the other photos taken, I will finalize the plans for each room and post about each one with some photos to support my plans.

Spell Book

2009-09-17T02:12:00.000-05:00

I found a really neat journal that I am going to use for a Spell Book or maybe a Spell Recipe Book for the kitchen. It even looks the part on the front cover and the pages are parchment looking. I spent several hours tonight reading through posts on the Halloween Forum and found some fun spells to include in the book. I also found a link to something like 500 spells from the television series >Charmed< that is downloading right now. This should give me enough things to make an even bigger Spell Book! Yea!

I forgot to look for a large book when I was out thrifting earlier in the week. I used to have a huge medical book that would be perfect, but I don't know if I kept it or not. I will look tomorrow. Surely I will be able to find something that will work. I think the large hardbound books are only $1 at Goodwill.

I will place one of the Spell Books on the washstand in the entry way.

My excitement is building for the Boo Bash. I went to Walmart today and bought another huge plastic tub to hold some of my new purchases. It is supposed to rain again tomorrow, but I hope to be able to empty my trunk into the tub and bring those things inside so that I can take some photos.

Added to my Halloween stash today!

2009-09-17T00:26:00.000-05:00

Woo hoo! I made a haul today and on the cheap, too.

I had to go into work for a luncheon and so decided to stop at Goodwill and the Salvation Army Family Store in the neighboring town where I work part-time. I was really looking for ghosts for my Boo Bash, but found some interesting things instead.

I bought the most adorable ceramic witch's shoe that will be a great addition to my Witch's Kitchen. I also bought two witches that are stand-up about three foot each. One is battery operated, but I don't know if it works or not, but they were only $2 each, so I didn't worry about that. They are nice props.

I also picked up a lighted sign with a ghost and the word Boo! on it, a lighted pumpkin sign, a set of three pumpkins in the plastic sort of shiny stuff that matches all my other lighted jack-0-lanterns, a fantastically scary pumpkin head mask for $1, and a six foot tall Halloween screem guy. Again, I don't know if it works but it was in the box and looks good and was only $3! I'm not sure where he will go, but for the money, I couldn't pass him up.

I also picked up a black graduation robe for $1 that will be tall enough for DH in case he decides to be some type of a ghoul. I also got a couple of kids costumes for $1-$3 that I will use with masks in the bedroom hotels for props.

I've got to get everything out and do some inventoring to see where I stand and take some photos. It has been raining here everyday for the past week and I just haven't been able to empty out my trunk.

I have been working on my menu for the Boo Bash tonight and am just about through with the plans for it. I will share it later.

Things are really moving along. I wish October would get here so that I can decorate some. I am determined to not put up any Halloween until then. Even then, I won't do most of the Haunt stuff until the week before the party.

If it ever stops raining, I will get some photos of my fall decor for the Tour of Homes. Then I will add the Halloween things in before the posting day.

First Boo Bash at Haven Haunt

2009-09-16T00:57:00.001-05:00

We are hosting our first ever Boo Bash at Haven Haunt and I am so excited!

I am a Christmas nut, but have never really been into Halloween other than decorating in a non-scary kind of way with lots of pumpkins and fall decor. However, this year, I decided that I wanted to start a new tradition and enjoy the haunting season with a Boo Bash. I picked up the name of the BB from my friends at Magical Holiday Home, which is one of my favorite online communities of Christmas enthusiasts. Gingerbug, the site administrator, holds a Boo Bash every year and the event has spread to more and more members during the past few years.

My cyber friends Cathymac and Luludou also hold Boo Bashes and their plans are underway. I have read the planning of these events for years and have shared in the excitement as the big BB day arrives, and finally decided that I didn't want to be left out again.

I live on a street called Haven Circle and so, the name Haven Haunt seemed perfect for this blog to share my plans and track the progress of the Boo Bash including photos of the event this year and in the future.

Admittedly, I have never been one to get into the ghoul and more Halloweeney side of this holiday, but for some reason, all of sudden this appeals to me. Call it a mid-life crisis, or just finally coming to my senses... Whatever the reason, I have been in full planning mode for the first BB at Haven Haunt for several weeks. Those of you who know me realize that I don't do anything in half measures, so the hunt has been on to find appropriate themes for EACH room in the house and the props to go with them without spending major bucks!

I pride myself on being a thrifty shopper and so I started out shopping early at my favorite thrift stores. As of last week, one of our area Goodwills has not even put out Halloween items and neither has the Salvation Army Family Store or another one of my thrift store haunts. (see I really am perfect for this because haunts are truly what the thrift stores have become for me in recent years!) I find the most amazing and cheap things in my weekly visits.

A pleasant surprise to me was finding lots and lots of goodies at the Resale Barn in a neighboring town. I go there often to purchase novels and I usually donate all my items to this particular store since it is so supportive of the local community. I have found the most amazing props, masks, costumes and all kinds of decor and serving items there during the past few weeks. I will get some photos of them uploaded during the next few days.

In the meantime I will share some of my journey in the planning of this event. I started out by working on my Halloween notebook. Actually, I had tentatively decided to hold a Boo Bash back in February when I downloaded the divider pages for my Halloween notebook. I am ashamed to say that the planning ended with the printed pages. They have remained in a folder until recently when I decided that I needed to forge forward. Notebooks and organized planning is something that I do using the original plans of CEO at www.organizedchristmas.com. These plans came forward with the two splinter groups of Christmas enthusiasts several years ago when CEO closed the message forums on her site. At that time the Magical Holiday Home and Our Home for the Holidays were both born. I remain an active member of both forums. Although they are primarily Christmas based forums, both include sections for all major holidays and the planning that is needed for each one. Each group has members that overlap like myself, but each also has its own unique membership and sections of the boards. I find that it is great to have the reinforcement of both sets of cyber friends and we have all truly become FRIENDS.

It is from my friends at MHH who have inspired me to hold the Boo Bash. The last day of each month is devoted to Halloween and is called the Great Pumpkin Day. That allows at least 12 days a year to be devoted to planning for the holiday. The third Thursday of each month is likewise spent planning and preparing for Thanksgiving and the 25th of each month is designated as Rudolph (or Rudy) Day and is in preparation for Christmas. It is truly a magical way to move through each month. I shop and plan all year for Christmas and so there is no made dash or big financial crunch during the holidays.

Since I procrastinated and didn't get my Boo Bash plans moving back in February, I have had to devote a lot of time and energy during the past few weeks to this event. Fortunately, I am diligent and lucky to have known about the Resale Barn. So, this Boo Bash is really shaping up and I am proud to say that the decor and food items will be great even with only a small time to work on it.

I decided that I wanted to decorate the entire house. At first I was going to only use my scarecrows, pumpkins, fall leaves, and the assorted ceramic Halloween items that I have collected over the years. That would have sufficed for the first Boo Bash, but that is not my style. So, I have been on a planning frenzy.

Things are still not completely finalized as to room themes, but at the moment I have plans for thr front yard, front porch area, entryway, main living area, dining area, kitchen, master bedroom, master bath, hallway, hall bath, two bedrooms, screened porch and the backyard! Let me tell you that is a lot of ground to decorated!!!