CAGED CREATURES

I always think some of the most fun I have during the Halloween season is the "making of the props"!

It gives you the chance to be wildly creative and you'll just love the "oohs" and "aaahhhs" you'll get from your party guests.

Bottles of potions, jars filled with eyeballs, and a bubbling cauldron are always a treat, but don't forget to have some caged creatures hanging around. And nothing's off limits! Snakes and mice are always a fun surprise. Anything from birds to spiders, rats and bats.... they all look fab-boo-lous in a decked out cage!

And making a cage is really pretty easy. Just grab some old wire hangers, floral wire, and something to use for a base, (a wooden base, or urn would work best) some spray paint, and some mossy filler. I just cut the hangers with a pair of snips and shape them into the cage shape. Attach to the base with floral wire, add some moss at the bottom, spray paint, and you're good to go!

I spray painted this little wire cage for my pet rat, Lucifer.... and made this other cage, using twigs and branches I found on the grounds of The Manor. It makes a spooktacular home for my Transylvanian love birds Gomez and Morticia.

Be sure to hop on your favorite craft sites and Pinterest boards to get inspired! Most sites will give you the step by step instructions and I guarantee, once you get started, it'll be hard to stop!

Now don't be scared off, it's really easier than you think...... trust me.

CLASSIC HORROR MOVIE NIGHT

Hello Halloweenies! Parties, parties, parties! That's all everyone seems to be asking about. Please help! I've been getting that a lot lately!

Amber e mailed me and was looking for a party idea that wasn't the typical Halloween Party. No kiddies or costumes, just a fun evening with the 20-something friends. (Or fiends, if you hang out here at The Manor) Classic Horror Movie Night sounds like it just might be what you're looking for.

So get in the mood to watch some good old classic horror movies, and why not make a party out of it? This is one of my favorite theme parties to do. It's sooo easy and all you need is a few scary props, some good munchies, creepy cocktails, and a stack of dvd's! Here are my top 20 favorites.... in no particular order:

Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948)

A family-friendly choice and you'll remember why you loved these guys! Very funny, and even scary.

Munster Go Home! (1967)

Who doesn't love the Munsters? Sure it's goofy, but the Munsters are in color and it's fun to watch! Another good one for the kiddies, too.

The Birds (1963)

Leave it to Hitchcock to turn a flock of birds into malevolent monsters! And I love the outfits!

The Black Cat (1934)

A psychological horror film based on a Poe story, the first joint effort for Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi.

Frankenstein (1931)

It's a classic and make it a double feature with The Bride of Frankenstein! A double feature Frankenstein party is a guaranteed good time!

Bride of Frankenstein (1935)
Considered even better than the original, the movie boasts a great campy performance by Elsa Lanchester. One of my personal top 5 favorites!

The Fly (1958)
Half man, half fly, with Vincent Price thrown into the mix. Pretty scary at the time.

Halloween (1978)
Still my number 1 favorite of all time! I actually saw this at the movies when it came out. Yes, I was a teenager in the 70's! Very nostalgic for me. (Not a good one for the kiddo's) This early John Carpenter effort set the tone for many slasher flicks to come. None of the sequels measured up! And to this day, the scene where Jamie Lee is trapped in the closet, still freaks me out!

The Haunting (1963)
One of the greatest of all haunted house movies makes its point without ever really showing us a ghost. Avoid the recent remake at all costs.

Horror of Dracula (1958)

The first of the Hammer horror films, with Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee together for the first time, is thought by some to be the best vampire movie of the classic era.

House On Haunted Hill (1959)
Another one in my top 5! A sinister host, played by Vincent Price offers a group of people $10,000 each if they'll spend the night in his macabre mansion, then does his best to see that no one collects. Directed by the legendary William Castle. (B&W and colorized versions are available, but B&W is much better!)

Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)
When I was a kid, this was the first horror/sci-fi film that I was forbidden to see (probably had something to do with the word "body" in the title). The 1978 remake wasn't bad, either.

The Invisible Man (1933)
Directed by the legendary James Whale (Frankenstein), this original version of the H.G. Wells tale stars Claude Rains, who is a scary character, even though he's rarely seen in the flesh. The film also stars Gloria Stuart, of Titanic fame.


The Legend of Hell House (1973)
Roddy McDowall and Pamela Franklin star in this haunted house film that's a somewhat weaker version of "The Haunting," though still plenty scary and entertaining.

Night of the Living Dead (1968)
This one I wouldn't suggest for the kids. But George Romero's seminal but low-budget 1968 zombie flick is still about as scary as they get, because in spite of the black and white, it looks real. 1978 sequel was better, but this was the first.

The Pit and the Pendulum (1961)
One of Vincent Price's best classic horror vehicles, based loosely on the Poe story.

Poltergeist (1982)
A very scary film, with an excruciating climactic final scene taking place in a muddy pit full of decomposed corpses!

Psycho (1960)
Hitchcock might not be happy to hear that he started the slasher flick craze, but this is still his most popular film, and one which influenced generations of filmmakers.

The Shining (1980)
We couldn't forget this one by Stanley Kubrick, who teams up with Jack Nicholson for a Gothic tale with a difference. Come on, you know those little girls freaked you out!

The Wolf Man (1941)
One of a handful of the most remarkable horror films. Lon Chaney, Jr.'s best-known role. The rest of the cast is excellent, as well.

Don't forget to turn out the lights, pop some popcorn, and light a few candles to set the perfect party mood. And make sure to scream real loud at the scary parts!

 

PINTEREST CLASSICS

With the Halloween clock counting down, I know you all are looking for the best and creepiest decorating ideas, to spook up your home. So let's turn to those crafty fiends at Pinterest and see what's making the list for the best scares for Halloween. These DIY ideas are super easy and very high on the EEEEKKKK factor!

Here's my top 5 Pinterest Classics.....

5. The snake wreath

Spray paint the grapevine wreath black, add lots of rubber and plastic snakes with your hot glue gun. You can't get much more simple than that!

4. The vomiting witch

Use those pumpkin carving skills to dress up a watermelon to serve some festive fruit salad. Place the witch's hat on top, then stand back and watch your guests be totally grossed out!

 

3. The head in the jar

This is probably the most simple, but one of my absolute favorites.... take a Halloween mask, put it in a jar (that has a lid) and fill it with water. Poof! You're done! Now, if you want, you can also add a few drops of  food coloring, (I love red, but any color would look great!) secure the lid, and give it a good shake. So easy and sooooooo creepy! 

 

2. The Monster Meatloaf

When making your regular meatloaf... just a few added extras will really make this a meal to remember! Use your favorite meatloaf recipe, shape it into a skull. Add onion slices to make eyes and teeth, then add a few slices of bacon like in the photo above. Bake as usual. I want to be invited to this dinner party!

 

1. The bloody body bag

My number 1 favorite scare, and another so-easy-it's-silly idea, and the one guaranteed to get the most screams! Take some old material, form a body, then wrap it in a sheet, and secure with duct tape.

 

Don't forget to add some fake blood, and have a few of these guys scattered in your front yard. I promise, this one will have your neighbors running for the hills!

 

There are so may amazing, creative people on Pinterest, so be sure to check it out for lots of great Halloween ideas! And with that countdown clock ticking, you better get moving, NOW!

 

SPOOKY PAPER LANTERNS

Are you ready to start going full speed into (witch) crafting? This is when we really start to kick in into gear, so let's start this week off with a nifty project to light the way....

 

I love Halloween projects and the people who love to share their creative ideas..... and this is one of my favorites! This idea comes from a crafty lady whose site is FULL of amazing projects!

These lanterns are pretty easy to make and look way better than any you could buy at the store! Here's what you need to light the way for this project:

•Flameless candles (they run off a LED battery, and cost under $6 for 6 at Wal-Mart, batteries included).
•Paper bags (with or without window).
•Hot glue gun
•Felt cut-outs (bought or home-made —these came from the dollar store, 6 for $1.00).

 

I’m sure you can guess the rest from here, but take a few minutes with that glue gun, attach your spooky felt critters to the front of the bag, and add a flameless candle. Safe, cheap, and adds a lot of drama…

 

For more great ideas from the Fresh Crush site, click here and enjoy!

 

 

LET THE HAUNTINGS BEGIN!

With the Halloween season getting closer, you really need to think of creative ways to haunt your house for the big day! How fun are these wispy ghosts?

So how about a crafty project today? This is one of my favorites, and I've gotten a few requests asking how to make the best ghosts. Well, let me tell you....

All you need is some white mesh fabric, white balloons, black acrylic paint, rubber bands, craft needles, white thread and clear fishing line.

Blow up the balloons and paint spooky faces on them with the acrylic paint, let dry. Then wrap 4 long pieces of the mesh (several different lengths to make wispy effect) around the balloon to form ghosts. Tie rubber bands at the base of the neck, cover and secure with white yarn or thread. (secure it so it doesn't show too much)

Using the fishing line, make a knot and push through the mesh at the top (the "head" of your ghost) and hang from branch. Then on the underside make another knot in another long piece of fish line, and push up to form the "arms" of the ghost. Repeat on the other side. Hang from tree branches.

BOO!

THANK YOU, TIM BURTON!!

 

BREAKING NEWS! Can this be true? It seems that everyone is keeping pretty tight-lipped about this one.... but look what leaked out earlier this week.

 

More details to follow!

HAPPY GARDENING DAY!

Hello Halloweenies!

I hope you all are enjoying your summer! The Count and I have been busy traveling and working in the gardens around The Manor. And as much as I love the fall season, I really am loving what's been going on in my garden, this summer!

We've planted lots of new things this year, and things are really popping in the garden.

My plumeria are in bloom, and they really smell magnificent! But I love how freaky and gnarly their shoots get, before they open up. The look almost like a claw, then in a few days, these beautiful little blossoms emerge. 

In case you're not familiar with these little beauties, you may be interested to know that in several Pacific islands, such as Tahiti, Fiji, and Hawaii, the plumeria blossoms are used for making flower leis. So, if you've ever been to Hawaii, chances are that you've worn these around your neck.

In modern Polynesian culture, the flower is often worn by women to indicate their relationship status - over the right ear if seeking a relationship, and over the left if taken.

I think today would be a good day to go get dirty in the garden. Happy Monday, enjoy!