INSTANT HALLOWEEN CENTERPIECE

Check out this fun Halloween centerpiece, made with nothing but candy corn, candied pumpkins, and a some black branches.

You can either buy black branches at your favorite craft store, or you can paint them yourself.  If you choose to paint them yourself....  spray paint the branches with black gloss, let dry. Then, take a tall, clear vase and place the branches in the center.

While holding the branches up, fill the vase with the candy until the branches stay upright.

When you get to the top, add the candy pumpkins, making sure that the branches are secure.

Now.... you've created an instant centerpiece, in less than 10 minutes. And you want to know the best part? All your dinner guests will be amazed at your spooky style and craftiness!

You're welcome.

WE'VE GONE BATTY

You've heard me preach this many times, and today's project is no different..... Think Simple!

Sometimes the easiest craft or decorating project is one that's simple to complete, you don't need a lot of materials, and when it's finished.... it gets a lot of ohhhhs and aaaaahhhhs!

A lovely flock of bats would really dress up any wall or entry way. And you won't believe how super easy it is to do!

All you'll need is a pencil, scissors, black construction paper, and double-sided tape. Then using the template below, just cut and paste it on to a Word Document, then enlarge it to the size you want, (be sure to make a smaller bat too) and run it off on a copier.

Take the template, cut it out, and trace the bats on to the construction paper. Cut them out, bend the wings, and attach to the wall with the double-sided tape!
Poof! You're done!

MY FAVORITE BLOOD RECIPES

 

I've been asked many times over the last few months, for my favorite recipe for making fake blood.... Well, I do have quite a few to choose from, and just in case you missed it the first time, here it is:

What's a Halloween costume party without blood for special affects? Fake blood is available in novelty and party supply stores but making it yourself is fun -- and you'll see more realistic results. Mix up a batch before a party and keep the local vampires in good supply.

Here are some recipes for you to make your own realistic-looking fake blood. Real blood is reddish brown so you may need to alter the amounts of ingredients for the desired affect. Keep in mind, fake blood is messy and some of these recipes may leave stains -- so use with caution and allow plenty of time for drying.

Homemade Fake Blood:
1 c. Karo Syrup
1 Tbsp Water
2 Tbsp Red Food Coloring
1 tsp Yellow Food Coloring

Mix together in a mixing bowl and you're done. Try adding blue or yellow for a different shade.

Simple Fake Blood:
Clear Corn Syrup
Red Food Coloring
Milk - Optional

However much fake blood you want to make, is how much corn syrup you'll need. Pour it into a bowl and mix in some red food coloring. Add some blue if you like. Adding a small amount of milk will make the blood appear darker and thicker.

Realistic Recipe:
2/3 c. Corn Syrup
1/3 c. Warm Water
5 Tbsp Corn Starch
4 tsp red food coloring
1 Tbsp Powdered Cocoa
2 drops of green or yellow food coloring

Mix the corn starch with the water in a large mixing bowl. Stir in the corn syrup. Add the food coloring slowly, checking for color.

Cheap 'N' Easy Blood:
~Plain Flour
~Water
~Red Food Coloring
~1 tsp. of Coffee

Boil the water on the stove, then sieve in the flour, making sure you get ALL of the lumps out. The quantity of ingredients aren't important, it just depends on how much you want. Once you have the flour mixed nicely into the water it should look nice and thick. Next, add the red food coloring.

You will notice that it's a ghastly, bright red colour but don't worry this is why we add the coffee. It is important that when you add the coffee to make sure the mixture is hot, otherwise it wont dissolve, but up until adding the coffee can be done in a ordinary mixing jug or pan.

Palmolive Imitation Blood:
You can also make fake blood with Palmolive dish soap, (it doesn't matter how much you put in) it depends on how much blood you want! Add red berry powdered Kool-Aid! This is great for prop projects, but be aware, IT WILL STAIN!

Have a Bloody Good weekend!

GRAB AND GO!

It's definitely that time of year we've all been waiting for.... The Halloween goodies are getting up on the shelves, so now's the time to grab 'em! The craft stores are filled to the rafters with Halloween fabrics, so it might be time to make some new pillows, maybe some new spooky curtains and tablecloths! The possibilities are endless!

May I suggest taking a few minutes today, to stop by your favorite craft and fabric stores to get inspired. Now, let's get started..... go!

I LOVE CANDY CORN!

Yes, I do. I admit it. I looooooove candy corn.

 I'm not a big candy or sweet eater, but I have to tell you, my sweet tooth practically screams for candy corn.... as soon as those little packages hit the store shelves!

So, if you're like me, not only do I love those little kernels of orange, white and yellow sugar.... but you love the colors too. And I bet we could find some really cool stuff to paint in the candy corn color scheme.

You all know how much I love to spray paint, and this color combination is no exception. These colors would look great on jars, vases, and even pumpkins! All you'll need is some newspaper or a drop cloth, and 3 cans of gloss spray paint in white, orange, and yellow.

Lay out the items you want to paint, on a flat surface, covered in newspaper (or a drop cloth). Make sure the items have been thoroughly washed and dried. Now, it's time to paint!

First, spray the entire  piece white. Remember when using spray paint, it's better to spray several thin layers of paint, to achieve the look you want.  Let dry according to package instructions. Then, apply the orange color in the middle, the whole way around. Let dry. Lastly, apply the yellow spray paint the whole way around the bottom. Let dry.

Now that you've got this down... let the spray painting begin, the candy corn possibilities are endless!

LET'S BE FRANK

One of my all time favorite guys is Frankenstein. Tall, green and gruesome.... that's the guy for me! And not only is Frank such a cutie, but he'd be the perfect centerpiece for any Halloween party, and especially in cake form..... even better!

Check out some of these Frank inspired cakes, that you could actually copy, pretty easily. Just get some white frosting, and green and black food coloring.

Just a few simple strokes with a pastry bag.... or my secret weapon.... the Ziplock bag, filled half-way witch icing, and cut off the (tiny) corner, and you're ready to pipe some icing! Now, if you haven't done this technique before, you may want to practice a little bit, before you put the icing on the cake. Remember, it doesn't have to be perfect... be creative, and have fun!

Check out some of these party cakes for inspiration....

BLOODY SHOTS

Check out these Bloody Shirley Temple shots! This drink is fun for the whole family.... but if you are having a grown-up-only party, these bloody syringes would make a great addition to your Halloween bar..... just add a little vodka, to taste!

If you don't have syringes on hand or you're expecting a large crowd, you can order syringes here via Amazon. 

Ingredients
Sprite
Grenadine

Vodka (for grown ups only!)
 Syringes

Instructions
Pour sprite over ice and garnish with a bloody (grenadine) syringe.

For more great ideas, like this, be sure to check out Your Southern Peach.com! Bloody Cheers!

THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR!

 Bye bye Summer! Today is the first official day of Fall. Enjoy.

HALLOWEEN TRAVEL DESTINATIONS

This year, the Count and I have decided to take a holiday vacation, and we've got it narrowed down to these Top 5 Spooktacular locations:

 

Dracula Tour—Transylvania, Romania

The Dracula Tour begins in Bucharest, Romania, where a group of like-minded vampire fanatics meet before embarking on a weeklong expedition following the path of Bram Stoker’s Dracula. The trip includes visits to the Snagov Monastery, where guests must cross a moat to see the tomb of Vlad the Impaler, and the Carpathian Mountains, to see the Castle of Dracula

 

Jack the Ripper Tour and London Ghost Walk—London, England

For those with a darker sense of history, this tour of the infamous London serial killer Jack the Ripper’s stomping ground may be the perfect way to spend three hours. Visit four of his murder sites in Whitechapel, then be sure to check out Berkeley Square, the site of what was once called the “most haunted house in London.”

 

Myrtles Plantation in St. Francisville, Louisiana

While suspected of being haunted by many sprits, Myrtles Plantation is best known for the ghost of Chloe, a vengeful slave. As the story goes, Chloe hoped to protect fellow slaves from their owner, Clark Wooddroff, and would often listen in on his conversations. When Wooddroff caught her eavesdropping, he chopped off one of her ears. To retaliate, Chloe served Wooddroff’s family poisoned birthday cake, and his wife and children soon died. The other slaves, outraged that she had murdered innocents, hanged Chloe and threw her body in a river. For almost two centuries, Chloe—has been spotted around the plantation grounds; some visitors say she’s stood over their beds when they woke. Visit MyrtlesPlantation.com for more information.

 

Haunted New Orleans

Voodoo, vampires, and above-ground tombs make for a macabre mix in this spookified city. All ages can enjoy the many ghost and cemetery tours, in addition to the especially spooky vampire tours! The haunted Hotel Monteleone in the French Quarter also has family friendly and non-ghostly activities, for those who may be a wee bit squeamish at the thought of ghosts and goblins.

 

Historic Salem

The Halloween season would be the perfect time to find out whether ghosts still roam the streets of this "bewitching" Massachusetts colony. The thrill of the Salem Witch Trials comes to life at The House of the Seven Gables, and you need to plan a stop at the Salem Wax Museum!

 

Read more: Real Haunted Places at WomansDay.com - Halloween Travel Tips

FREEBIE FRIDAY!

Happy Friday, Halloweenies!  You know part of being a good homemaker is being organized. And every Halloween Homemaker needs to have all of their supplies labeled properly. So, today I thought that I'd pass along a few of my favorites to you. All you need to do is enlarge them to the size that you want, and run them off on a color copier.

Cut them out, and add to your jars with Mod Podge, or a mixture of 1 part Elmer's School Glue and 3 parts water. (Use a foam craft brush to apply the glue on the front and back of the label, then wipe off the excess)

These are great for all those dusty bottles and jars, we've all got lying around..... and they'll keep your dungeon, neat and organized! Be sure to keep an eye out.... more freebies on the way!

HOMEMADE HALLOWEEN COSTUMES GALLERY

Sometimes all you need is a little inspiration to come up with a really fantastic idea! Creative costumes for Halloween are no exception.... check out these crafty costume designers, and see if you can identify any of these characters!