All Hallows Design

A little more magic...

2009-10-13T12:45:00.004-05:00

There are a whole host of ghoulish goodies and wicked ideas over at Woman's Day. Here are a few images of my favorite Halloween inspiration-

Check out the website for details and how-to's!

The products of a Halloween mind

2009-10-13T12:07:00.005-05:00

My very first year of art college, I met a very special guy. He looked like Johnny Depp and drew like Tim Burton, and wore a long, flowly victorian style coat and had crazy black hair. His apartment was filled with old dusty trunks and old Boris Karloff movies and things wrapped in twine, and always smelled like spices and Halloween.

His name was Jesse.

If Halloween were a person, I'd say it was Jesse, and so when my inbox informed me I had received an e-mail from Jesse with one of his latest Halloween creations, I just knew I had to share his awesome Halloween spirit here. This is what arrived in my inbox-

It's one of his yearly Halloween scarecrows, and I can't wait to see more. I kinda wish I had the time to create such a creation in my front lawn, and alas Jesse lives too far from me for me to bribe him with Halloween cookies. Not only does this guy make awesome Halloween scarecrows, but also makes some wonderfully wicked art.

He has his own blog, so if you wish to fill your mind with more dark drawings, have a gander at Haunted Nonsense, and lets hope he posts more awesome scarecrows.

Deadly DIY - Spooky Wreath

2009-10-08T12:03:00.003-05:00

A really cool spooky wreath is the one major thing I have not yet aquired for my Halloween decor. Ok, there's a lot I have left to do on my decor, but I feel a wreath is tantamount. I just keep waiting for the perfect spooky wreath to come along...
Well, now I'm thinking, I should just MAKE my own spooky wreath...

Want to make one too? Check out this sweet spooky wreath tutorial from A Forest Frolic.

Coolest Costume Ever...and a contest!

2009-10-06T22:34:00.006-05:00

What would you say if I told you that this was a costume?
No? Not convinced? Well, how about this?
This is so totally a costume.

No? Still nothin? Well howabouuut... this
I'm still sensing some disbelief. Well, maybe these videos will clear it up...

Believe me now?

By the way, if you see cool halloween stuff like this, AND are awesome enough to have an iphone (I'm awesome enough to have a dead cell phone with a sim card) you should totally check out the Snaggle Find Halloween Hunt! Collect the coolest photo collection on your iphone "hunt" and you could win monies! That's right, real monies!

So you can buy me an iphone.

Right?

Handmade Halloween

2009-10-04T19:18:00.005-05:00

It's only the beginning of October and I feel like I've already blown through my Halloween budget for the year, especially since we're already kinda on a tight budget. So, I think it's time for me to get a little resourceful, and start making a lot more of my spooky effects. Here are some cute DIY ideas from Country Living you can do with stuff you have or on the cheap.

Get all the tutes over on Country Living...

The season so far...

2009-09-30T18:20:00.003-05:00

It really started with an apple orchard (cider, yum!) and a country pumpkin vendor...

Aren't these just glorious looking pumpkins? That's my baby there, center left.

We grabbed a trusty old rusty wagon to haul our pumpkin finds in. They had perfectly shaped little orange ones, and beautiful snow white ones...

Can you believe that's even a real pumpkin? It just looks too perfect on my stoop. That thing is going to make a wicked jack come Halloween.

The buffet table in progress so far. Note the apothecary jars. I need way more on this table. I'm thinking about making a creepy halloween tree for the middle out of old branches from the backyard...

Again, can you believe that white pumpkin is real? Mr. Crow can't. Look at his eye goin' all buggy.

My entryway table. Perhaps not surprisingly, it looks not far from this most days, minus the skull, cobwebs and lights. We just collect or create odd knick-knacks. I made the big metal book senior year in college. It's one of my favorite props.

So, a long way to go, but hey, it's not even October yet. I'll keep you updated as progress marches on...

PumpkinRot - Yard Spooktacular

2009-09-30T12:28:00.005-05:00

Awhile back I covered the wonderful etsy store of Pumpkin Hollow, and I mentioned that among spooky sweet pumpkins they also had some fantastic zombies and ghouls. Well, I should have imaged that the person who makes those fearsome creatures would have a truly awe inspiring, terror-inducing lawn display.

PumpkinRot is the fantastic website of the creator of those ghouls, and he has oodles and oodles of photos from his Halloween displays over the years. I'm usually more of an elegant-scary kinda girl for halloween, (vs. say lots of rubber rats and plastic severed arms kinda halloween) but these fiber-wrapped, sculped zombies are just too amazingly wonderful. If I want to be scared out of my wits on Halloween, I want it to be THIS kinda scary...

I just adore the color work, and that decadent sense of decay all his characters have. Go visit Pumpkin Rot for more photos than you could ever hope for of awesome, creepy lawn displays my neighbors will never be cool enough to have.

Damn...

Dusty Walls and Ghostly Writings

2009-09-29T21:31:00.005-05:00

There's something kinda spooky about chalk. Wipe clean your image and left behind is a ghostly image of drawings past. There's something wonderfully wicked about old dusty chalkboards. Dusty old anything reminds me of tattered sheets in the wind and creaky doors. Perfect for a little Halloween fun! Check out some of these wicked Halloween inspirations using chalkboard paint and some good old dusty chalk.

Poetic Home has some fantastic chalkboard ideas...

Old books and planters make great Halloween accessories! Not to mention that vintage typewriter... where can I get me one of those?

Apartment Therapy knows how to spook up some glam with chalkboard paint borders.

Make online has these fantastic chalkboard paint bottles. Write dusty messages or contents of potion bottles on them!

LittleBigHead made this super cute chalkboard pumpkin. Dress him up differently every day! I personally dig the mustachio look.

What about this charming chalkboard witch from Colonial Candle? I bet you could make your own with some chipboard and vintage photos.

Chalkboard paint is a great way to not only add a little darkness, but an ever changing surface! Paint a frame, paint and old statue... it all looks cool with chalkboard paint and a little imagination.

Soup in a ... Pumpkin?

2009-09-28T12:55:00.004-05:00

There are a few things in fall I cherish above all others. Halloween, leaves, Halloween, cold air, pumpkins, halloween, apple cider, decorating for Halloween, and hot soup in a bread bowl. And Halloween. I might have mentioned that already. Hot soup in a bread bowl is just about as "fall-y" as you can get, but it wasn't quite as Halloweeny as you can get- until now. Check out this awesome recipe:

Yum yum! Soup in a pumpkin shaped bread bowl! Perfect for Halloween parties or just fall goodness. Don't worry, it's not weird pumpkin flavored bread or anything, which people always seem to think is a good idea until they have to taste it with split pea soup. Eww...

Get the how to over at The Idea Room.

Ghoulish Gothic Halloween

2009-09-27T20:34:00.005-05:00

I just had to share this Halloween party mash up from Better Homes and Gardens. I love how it mixes up the usual black and orange, into a strangely eerie black and sickly neon greens. It's halloween all right, but a nice change if you're looking for something a little different or a little less pumpkin-y for your ghoulish feast.

Get more over on Better Homes and Gardens.

Deadly DIY - Faux Mercury Glass Pumpkins

2009-09-26T19:07:00.004-05:00

Fall is really and truly here, and I celebrated today by doing one of my favorite fall activities: apple picking! We went out to an orchard and picked crisp fall apples, ate too much wild rice soup, drank too much apple cider (as if there is such a thing) and picked out some pumpkins.

We got a truly glorious pumpkin specimen from a local grower that would have cost us at least an arm, maybe a leg and a half, at our local grocery store. It made me appreciate how nice real pumpkins are and how crappy some of the local ones can be. Most of the time I go for fake punkins, just because they're shaped so much nicer. Still, faux orange plastic pumpkin doesn't exactly instill the chills of Halloween proper, does it? So here's a way to take your plastic pumpkins and make them shine... literally!

Get the full tute over on the DIY showoff (scroll down a bit), and give your pumpkins and elegant, spooky shine.

When Tim Burton does Fashion...

2009-09-23T20:30:00.005-05:00

... the results are spectacular. Someone gave Tim Burton the full run of a fashion shoot, so lucky you gets to check out some Halloween Haute Couture from the pages of Harper's Bazaar. Deliciously wicked and wonderfully fashionable to boot. And OMG that skeleton. Never mind that these halloween costumes are a few grand a piece, the results are faabulous dahling...

See more over at Harper's Bazaar.

Vampire Martini

2009-09-23T12:21:00.005-05:00

Looking for the perfect Halloween drink? Well if you're done with banishing fall chills with an apple cider martini, maybe you're all for adding some chills. How bout a ghoulishly good vampire kiss martini? First add the perfect garnish with HWTM's hard candy blood drip, and then mix as follows:

* 1 1/2 oz Finlandia Vodka
* 1 1/2 oz Korbel Champagne
* 3/4 oz Chambord

1. Pour vodka and half of the Chambord in a martini glass.
2. Top with Champagne.
3. Pour the remaining Chambord over the back of a spoon to make it float.

Can be enjoyed by Twilight and regular folks alike. Drink up :)

The Invitations...

2009-09-22T17:35:00.003-05:00

Today is officially the first day of fall, and you know what that means... it's time to send out invitations! I've been working on mine a little bit each night. I designed the front and inside, printed it out on colored paper, and tore each out. I'm hand stamping the envelopes and sealing them with some fun Halloween metal stickers. They're not done of course, but what do you think?

If you want to make one of your own, just download this image and print it on some spooky colored paper. Enjoy!

Deadly DIY - Seance Party Table

2009-09-17T17:46:00.003-05:00

I was recently informed of an oh so spooktacular site, How to Haunt Your House, whom, among many awesome Halloween goodies, has some really cool tutorials. Have a peek at their Seance Party Table tutorial, made out of a card table, some plywood, and a little ingenuity. It looks like you can get some really great professional effects! They also have a book out, which I'll be sure to add to my Halloween wishlist. I'm thinking I'm just going to start a library of Halloween decor books... anyone care to share their reading list?

A Nevermore Halloween...

2009-09-17T12:53:00.004-05:00

Check out this cute "adults" party, an Edgar Allen Poe themed Halloween party! I love the bookish theme throughout, something about old books is just too perfect for Halloween. Combine it with Poe and a few ravens... magnifique!

Get more details and images over on Midwest Living.

Modern Midnight Madness

2009-09-16T16:15:00.005-05:00

The Hostess with the Mostess has some truly fab Halloween themed parties, like this gem, a Modern Midnight Madness Halloween party. It's great for those of you looking to make the spooky night special without scaring off guests that aren't into the whole skeletons and rubber-rats "halloween" thing. Not that those people are coming to my party, but still...

Did I mention I love Jones soda? I so do. They have the best seasonal flavors.

Deadly DIY - Tattooed Pumpkins

2009-09-16T10:29:00.009-05:00

This is definitely a DIY you need to do now, but if perchance you're enough of a Halloween nut to be growing your own pumpkins, Craftster user Steven James has an awesome idea for you... tattoo your pumpkins! Steven says:

If anyone has been growing their own pumpkins this summer, now is the time to give them a tattoo. As the pumpkin grows the tattoo becomes a raised scar. The end result is really cool and creepy. You can create custom messages or images. You can even write names on Jack Be Lantern pumpkins to use a place cards for a Halloween dinner.

Check out the how-to here!

Lovin' me some Love Manor

2009-09-14T16:21:00.002-05:00

Just found this on flickr today...
Check out the amazing Halloween gallery that Love Manor cooked up for last year's Halloween...

Love Manor has a website, which is down right now, but promises more goodies for the 2009 year. To keep you busy until it's up, check out their gallery on goodies, or printable labels. Great stuff!

Deadly DIY - Hanging Leaves

2009-09-14T12:25:00.003-05:00

Ever wish you could take the magical colors of fall and preserve them forever? Yeah, me too. Especially when sitting in the bleak blankness of Minnesota winter. Well, with this little tutorial from Martha, you can! Learn how to preserve leaves by dipping them in beeswax and create colorful fall hangings to let the season shine long after the leaves have fallen.

Semi Nutritious Ghoulish Goodies

2009-09-11T21:11:00.003-05:00

As well as ponderings over the perfect decorations, I'm also starting to give some serious thought onto goodies for my ghoul guests. Sure, anyone can go with candy, but how many of us have seriously regretted dining on a Halloween buffet made entirely of sugar?
Candy is of course required, but how about what we dare call... some "real food". Well, the Food Network has us covered with some yummy goodies that might actually have some real nutrients in them too. Click on each pic to get the recipe...

MMmm... vampire blood tomato soup with Munster sammies. Omnomnom.

Cheddar and Hard Cider Fondue... served with real veggies! A hot treat is great for casting off the nightly chills...

Sweet and Spicy Screaming Hot peanuts... for the little Devil in ya..

Day of the Dead Tamales... vegetarian, for the zombie that cares...

Ghostly Pumpkin Pudding, for a little spooky sweet...

I have no doubts I'll still get my sugar rush Halloween night, but there will come a point in the evening I'll be looking for something that didn't come out of a bag, and these recipes are there to the rescue. Your ghoulish guests will appreciate it!

MAKE DIY Halloween Contest!

2009-09-11T20:43:00.002-05:00

It's definitely starting to be that time of year, because MAKE online has just announced one of my favorite DIY contests: DIY Halloween!! Check out their page for details, and when you do, be sure to check out last years awesome winner, the creator of the Magic Mirror. Check out this video of it in action:

Best of all, you can get a full tutorial on how to make your OWN magic mirror, but beware Hallows traveler, this DIY project is not for the feint of heart. Still, it's so damn cool...

The Finer Things

2009-09-09T19:16:00.013-05:00

I have to say, when I'm looking for the perfect one-of-a-kind Halloween costume, there are only a few places to look, as far as I'm concerned. Your neighborhood thrift store (I got the BEST pair of victorian boots ever at mine for 3 bucks. Wear em' everyday now)... aannd, Etsy.
Etsy is by far the best way to get custom, cool stuff, sometimes for really sweet prices. Sometimes, well custom stuff is expensive. I find the best way to make an awesome costume is to thrift %90, and splurge on one item that'll really make it rock. For instance, any of these would do the trick...

A burlesque steampunk victorian bustle. How bad@ass is that. All you need are some cheap tights and a poofy top, and that skirt will make you, baby. You'll be pirating air ships in no time..

Not feeling steampunk enough? Well, no steampunk outfit is complete without your brass goggles. A steampunker without their goggles is like a yuppie without their Starbucks. One cannot be without the other. The more superfluous gadgets the better. Plus, steampunk is soo in this year.

Feeling more the masquerade type? How bout' a beautiful handmade mask? This specimen may not be the most refined, but that's what I love about it. It feels like an illustration come to life. If Neil Gaiman had a masquerade ball, I picture it being filled with faces like this...

This seller is sadly no longer on Etsy, but I fantasized about em so much last fall I just had to include them. Stunning angel wings done in natural, golden tones. I so love that they're not white. Why do you never see angels with wings like these? They're so beautiful. If anyone knows where this seller went, let me know!

If you're feeling more monster this time of year, never fear. The hazardly hairy creations of ZFJade will have you outfitted in no time. I must confess, these are going to be part of my costume (I'm going as the crazy bunny Max from Sam and Max, and I needed some seriously wicked bunny feet. Mine are sans claws) If boots aren't on your list, there are claws, hats and the like to outfit you to your monster best. Hell, I'm going to wear mine around everywhere.

Speaking of monsters, I suppose we should get back to the fact that Halloween is supposed to be for the kiddies (bah I say) but if your little one is going to learn how to truly appreciate this wickedest of all Holidays, you better get them outfitted in their best early. I say if you're going to go monster, you should go for some of the most beloved monsters of all time... a Wild Thing!! My boyfriend and I went as a Wild Thing and Max a few years ago. It was a blast.

Want something that will make you look suave with any outfit? Never mind the rest, stick on this hat with some tattered clothing and you're in for a wicked good time. Deliciously gothic, with a wonderful tattered touch of Halloween, this hat would work for anything.

Still can't find that perfect Halloween accessory you're aching for? Check out Etsy's full costume lineup for some spooky good ideas. Happy hunting!

Deadly DIY - Halloween Pendant

2009-09-02T21:24:00.003-05:00

We've had a number of inspirational photo roundups, but we've been lacking in some good old DIY spirit (boo... harhar). Have a gander at these spooky pendants from Creative Kismet.

You can get the full tutorial on the blog on how to create these spooky pendants, perfect for fall while you're counting down the days to Halloween goodness!

A Country Halloween

2009-09-02T21:05:00.005-05:00

It's September, and in my eyes officially fall! I pranced over to Michael's store and bought some apothecary jars and lots of mallow pumpkins to liven up my buffet table, and am now happily watching Sleepy Hollow and ogling over Johnny Depp. Let the season begin!

Very much like my refusal to admit in public I'm a deep fan of Martha Stewart (but only when Halloween is involved) I am also as unlikely to admit that I'm quite fond of Country Living. They did a fabulous lineup of vintage images I featured before, but that's not all they have up their sleeves. They have a whole host of delectable images and ideas that make me think maybe country bumpkins know something I don't. These images just make me want to run away to a house in the woods as soon as the fall air arrives...

They have a variety of tutorials and templates you can try out to achieve some of these darling effects. Get all the ghoulish details over on the webpage.

Handmade Halloween Mini Book

2009-08-27T22:34:00.005-05:00

Spotted this beauty over on Craftster, made by user Melissaurus.
She made a fanastic mini book on her favorite theme, crows! Just goes to show you it doesn't have to be all classic pumpkins and the like to invoke the spooky spirit of Hallow's eve. Of course, black and orange help a bit...

Stunning. I would love to add something like this to my Halloween collection. Check out more details and photos over on her post.

Halloween Houskeeping

2009-08-27T09:03:00.004-05:00

Good Housekeeping has a pretty nice gallery of Halloween decor ideas over on their site. Simple, classic and always in style. There's some pretty good stuff over there. Check out some of their great ideas...

See the full gallery of Halloween Magic over at Good Housekeeping.

Martha Stewart Halloween Edition

2009-08-26T12:23:00.004-05:00

I may try my darndest to resist the mindless sheep following, but I admit I am a total sucker for Martha Stewart Halloween stuff. I spend ages at the Halloween section on their page, and get all googly eyed at the special Halloween editions. My supervisor, also a Halloween nut, was awesome enough to pick me up a copy of this when he saw it in stores...

Lookit! New shiny edition of Halloweeny-ness!

Among Halloweeny craftiness, there are also a number of large full page ads for grandin road, the carrier of this years Martha Stewart's halloween line. If you've ever flipped through previous Martha Halloween editions, there is a disappointingly high number of familiar projects, but they're still pretty and there's enough new stuff sprinkled about to make it worth while. I particularly love the victorian-esque nature of a lot of this years costume ideas. You'll have to get the mag to see all the pretty pics, but here's a peek at some of the goodies featured over at grandin road...

there are other Halloween goodies over there, you'll just have to head on over to check it out.

Pottery Barn - FREE SHIPPING!

2009-08-24T12:38:00.003-05:00

EEEEEee!! The Halloween season has started over at Pottery Barn, with FREE shipping on their Halloween items!!

Get a move on while it lasts!

Halloween Weddings - The Cake

2009-08-24T12:26:00.005-05:00

It's the crowning glory, or just that piece of yummy sugar you shove into each other's faces in the most romantic way possible... the wedding cake. If it's for a Halloween wedding, well then, you can't just have your usual three tiers of white then can you? You've got to have something spooky and special... check out some of these examples, and click on each cake to find out more about it.

These of course, are some of the finer examples of cake making, but if you're looking for a good laugh and some more enlightenment on the professional cake world gone horribly wrong, you absolutely have to check the blog Cake Wrecks. No, it's not Halloween themed (all though those are on there) but it is damn funny...

Creepy Cupcakes

2009-08-10T21:25:00.004-05:00

I recently came across a really great blog all about Halloween goodness (the blogger in question is preparing for her Halloween wedding... I love Halloween weddings!!) that's called Creepy Cupcakes.
I have to admit though, when I clicked the link to the site, I was really hoping for some creepy cupcakes. So, lucky for you, you get a special two for one - a fantastic new blog to add to your Hallow's eve reading list, and a roundup of spooktacular creepy cupcakes from around the web! Click on each pic to find out more about the cupcakes...

Cupcakes are becoming so hip, even the undead will give up a few brains to get a bite. Cook yourself up some yummy fall goodness!

Etsy Halloween Preview

2009-08-03T12:33:00.002-05:00

It's starting to be that time of year.... Etsy has a Halloween Preview Gift guide up this week. Take a peek at some of the spooky goods you can snatch up this year, and keep your eye on the gift guide, as it updates with more creepy crafts as Hallow's Eve draws nearer.

Tiny Halloween Town

2009-07-30T19:08:00.005-05:00

What gorgeous little creations! For anyone who's ever wanted to live in Halloween Town, or some form of it, well if you're an inch tall midget, you're in luck! Craftster user Phizzychick has made a gorgeous set of inch high Halloween houses...

Such beautiful detail, and only and inch high!! You can check out more photos of the whole Halloween town over on her Craftster post.

Spooky Reads - Oyster Boy

2009-07-30T12:50:00.006-05:00

Looking for a little summer reading to get in the Hallows eve mood? Check out one of my faves from the master himself, Tim Burton. I present, The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy & Other Stories. With all those cool illustrations, of course, comes some awesome merchandising...

I imagine Tim Burton living in Halloween town year round. I wonder what the inside of his house looks like...

Spooky Sales - Stock up now!

2009-07-30T12:33:00.006-05:00

There are a few key times to stock up on Halloween goodies... one is, of course, doing it right after the Holiday, when stores are trying to get rid of their leftover inventory. The other, however, is just before most Halloween merchandise hits the shelves, because stores are trying to clear out for this year's new stuff. So, here are some of the Halloween goodies you can snap up now...

Wrapables is having a sale on some of last season's spooky goods. Check out some of the tricks and treats they have on sale right now!

Target has a few too, but it's somewhat slim pickings, since it gets pretty well cleaned out during the Halloween season...

However, if you're looking for this season's stuff, well there's always a store that starts before everyone else... check out some of the blinged out skulls you can find right now at Michaels! Me, I'm trying to resist at least until September, we'll see how long that lasts...

A Halloween Apothecary

2009-07-27T23:33:00.005-05:00

I've noticed a new trend rising up that I quite fancy taking up myself... apothecary jars! I love apothecary jars because they have a great vintage-y, somewhat "mad scientist" feel depending on how you use em. What's great is they can suit any season depending on what goods you fill them with... and what better use than for Halloween! Check out some of my favorite apothecary Halloween finds...

You can find these at The Garden Web, The Steampunk Home blog (awesome blog!!), Vintage Mint, Pottery Barn, and the Hostess Blog.

Allice In Wonderland - Teaser

2009-07-23T20:06:00.002-05:00

OK, so it's not entirley Halloween, but its Tim Burton, so it's practically the same thing...

Deadly DIY - Halloween Altered Book

2009-07-22T20:08:00.003-05:00

Speaking of scrapbooking and stamping... check out this sweet project from Honey Girl Studio. More pics and a full on awesome tutorial on the blog. I need to start getting in on this "stamping" thing...

A stampin' good Halloween

2009-07-21T21:38:00.004-05:00

Paper craft has always been a bit of a mystery to me. "Scrapbooking" always conjured up images of old ladies sticking teddy bear stickers on everything, but as I've discovered, stamping, paper work and scrapbooking have some pretty hip tricks up their sleeve. Check out the new stuff from Stampin Up that showed up on Lisa Somerville's blog... is that skull cool or what?

There are more goodies where that came from. Check out some of her previous Halloween crafts, this one featuring some yummy Halloween treat ideas...

Etsy Finds - Pumpkin Hollow

2009-07-19T21:15:00.002-05:00

I found a fantastic new Etsy seller for all-year Halloween goodness, Pumpkin Hollow.

Both spooky and sweet, depending on your tastes. If you're a fan of sweet, there's a whole collection of these adorable baby pumpkins, described, quite accurately as "tall and happy". If you're more for the spooky side, they have wonderfully creepy scarecrow, corpse and zombie goods.

Deadly DIY - Felted Pumpkin People

2009-07-19T21:05:00.003-05:00

How cute are these guys? I think they'd make absolutely adorable place settings for a Halloween dinner party or even a wedding, if you were ambitious enough. Get the full tute over at Martha's.

Creepy Cocktail ideas

2009-07-19T20:59:00.002-05:00

There's a fantastic roundup of creepy cocktails over on Tastefully Entertaining. Go check it out!

Matthew Mead Halloween

2009-07-17T00:16:00.007-05:00

Matthew Mead, fabulous designer who's worked for the likes of Pottery Barn and LL Bean, has a Halloween Book available with all sorts of cute Halloween ideas and inspirations. Here are a few fabulous sample goodies...

Want more? Go get the book!

Department 56 Halloween

2009-07-16T00:15:00.006-05:00

I'm usually not one for such strong product placement, but I've always loved Department 56's Halloween stuff. They even have some cute tutorials, all though conveniently some of them require the use of their products. Still, you can learn to make Boo Bubblers, above.

Or Frankenstein's Lab filled with yummy goodies

Or some spooky tea stained Gauze!

Sadly, I was informed that Department 56 was bought out last year, and so 2008 was their last Halloween line. :( Saddness. If you have any of the Halloween Krinkles or Dept 56 collectibles, hold on to them tight!

A Very Harlequin Halloween

2009-07-16T00:04:00.003-05:00

Harlequin patterning has got to be my favorite Halloween touch, and the age old diamond mark of the trickster is taking over Halloween in a big way. Want to spook up in style? Add a little harlequin to the mix...

From top left - Spooky Chic Chandelier by Moonstruck gift shop, Harlequin Gatto mask by Masquerade Venetian Masks, Harlequin DIY vase by The Pleasures of Homemaking, Witch over Moon envelope by Paper Source, and Krinkles Harlequin rats by Krinkles Online.

Halloween Wedding - Reception Inspiration

2009-07-15T12:00:00.007-05:00

I love love love fall weddings, and Halloween weddings even more. Last year a good friend of mine got married on Halloween, and it was such a blast. Thinking about tying the knot in spooktacular style? I'll have some fun inspiration comin' your way for all aspects of Halloween weddings, from cakes, to dresses to receptions and favors...

here's a few ways of making your reception absolutely stunning...

Gothic Halloween Plates

2009-07-14T14:04:00.003-05:00

I found this post about Tasteful Halloween Decor and loved the idea of black and white plates to add a little gothic ambiance to a room. Problem is, designer dishes can cost a pretty penny. Well, why not make some of your own?

Well Design Mom has a fabulous post on how to make your own gothic plates, using thrift store plates, stencils, and a little paint! Check it.

Inspiration - Spider house

2009-07-14T13:53:00.001-05:00

Neeeeaaaat.

I'd buy a house like that purely as a Halloween decoration. See more decor over on Creative Halloween.

Frightful Food - Apple Cider Martini

2009-07-14T12:33:00.004-05:00

I adore apple cider, and hate that I can't get it year round. Last year at the start of fall, I went cider hunting. I wandered around a supermarket until I finally asked a nice gentleman standing next to the apple isle if they had any fresh cider. He shook his head politely and said "Sorry, it's not apple season yet". I stared at him blankly as he stood by the rows and rows of shiny apples. I guess it's made of magic apples or something. Anyway, this year, when I do get my hands on some cider, I have plans...

Mix it up:
4 oz Spicy Cider, 4 oz vodka, 2 oz brandy, 2 oz triple sec, 1 oz fresh lemon juice, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1 tsp superfine sugar, 1 tsp brown sugar. Combine all ingredients in blender for 5 seconds. Coat rim in sugar and cinnamon mix. Pour mixture into shaker of crushed ice. Shake and pour into 2 martini glasses. Garnish with a slice of apple and a cinnamon stick.

It seems like I might need a stiff drink after hunting for it anyway....

Deadly DIY - Spooky

2009-07-14T12:21:00.003-05:00

How cute! From the "I saw it in a magazine and didn't want to pay an inordinate amount of money for something I could make myself" files. Cheap and classy! Check out the tutorial.

Frightful Food - Luscious Chocolate Cake Pumpkins

2009-07-13T21:12:00.003-05:00

How delish' is this? From 31 ways to decorate with pumpkins, this one has got to be the tastiest... from the page:

To get the look of these single-serving pumpkin treats, trim the bottoms of cakes baked in mini Bundt pans (available at nordicware.com) to create a flat surface. Join two cakes so that the fluted tops are at either end, then drizzle with Chocolate or Vanilla Glaze and sprinkle with coarse colored sugar or nonpareils before the glaze sets. Top with a marzipan stem

The recipe is from Delish, but I imagine any of your favorite chocolate cake recipes will do. Yum yum pumpkins!

Vintage Halloween - when scary was in

2009-07-13T12:33:00.006-05:00

Halloween in the time of Cholera is a fantastically spooky flickr set that was forwarded to me by a friend. It just goes to show you we've gotten worse at spooking up Halloween, because damn if these photos aren't scary...

No "sexy indian" costumes here, no sirree. Check out the whole set on flickr, shudder, and remember kindly that Halloween is really supposed to be freaking scary!

Deadly DIY - Guilded Pumpkins

2009-07-12T12:53:00.003-05:00

Take a twist on the classic orange and black theme, and mix it up with a little metallic gold. Painting the pumpkins black first add to the spooky aged look. I'm totally doing a harlequin patterned pumpkin... and the swirly one... and the polka dot one.. and...

anywho, get the tutorial over on Country Living.

Deadly DIY - Spiderweb balloons

2009-07-12T12:34:00.002-05:00

A absolutely fantastic DIY party idea using the wonders of something called Hi-Float. Hi-Float is supposed to just prolong the life of your balloons, but it wasn't long before someone discovered it made some pretty sweet spiderweb balloons. Get the full DIY over on Crafty Crafty.

Pottery Barn Halloween

2009-07-09T20:14:00.009-05:00

I admit, I've become quite a fan of Pottery Barn since I accidentally bumbled into there looking for.. of all things... pottery. It's also not a barn, for anyone wondering. What it is, is a place I could spend faaarr too much money. Target was bad enough, but now my financial doom is really at hand... Pottery Barn is doing Halloween.

images via Vintage Mint

Well played Pottery Barn, well played...
This was their 2008 collection. Who knows what horrors 2009 holds for my wallet.

Frightful Food - Murder Cupcakes

2009-07-09T20:04:00.003-05:00

Originally made by Craftster user Lethargic for the season premiere of Dexter, (absolutely awesome show, you've never find a more likable serial killer... is that an odd sentiment?) these murder cupcakes would be a spooktacular festive touch to any Halloween ensemble. In fact, just bring them over to the next normal dinner party you're invited to. If you're not invited back, well, they ain't our kinda people. Get the lowdown on how she made em!

Deadly DIY - Bubbling Cauldron

2009-07-09T19:53:00.003-05:00

Pretty spiffy effect. Learn how to make your own boiling cauldron over on Instructables, because nothing says Halloween like boiling your friends alive. Or at least, appearing to.

Halloween Capital of the World - Next door?

2009-07-09T19:44:00.003-05:00

I know this piece of knowledge must have been stored in my brain before, but for some reason it failed to illuminate itself until... well, someone mentioned it. Funny how things work that way. As it turns out, the "Halloween Capital of the World" is a few minutes north of me in Anoka Minnesota. Hmm... capital of the world you say? That's a bold claim... a peek at their website doesn't really impress me with it's holiday festiveness. Someone seriously needs to give these people a style makeover... I mean, if this is what we're presenting to the world as the penultimate Halloween destination... well, I think we can do better.

However, I'm not one to pass judgment until I've actually seen the whole shebang, so rest assured as October creeps closer I'll make plans to check out ol' Halloweentown...

Nevermore

2009-07-08T23:58:00.001-05:00

Learn to decoupage yourself a fabulous Poe pumpkin. Ghastly details over at Mrs. B's.

Masquerade

2009-07-08T23:43:00.006-05:00

I have always always always wanted to go to a Masquerade. Ever since my best girlfriend showed me the Labyrinth one night at a sleepover, and we giggled over David Bowie in gratuitous spandex, I have wanted to go to the Goblin Ball.

Well, as it turns out, you can...

The Labyrinth of Jared is a full scale, no holds bared full on masquerade ball, and it's happening this weekend. If there was ever a better excuse than Halloween to go get dressed to the nines as a goblin, well, I can't think of one.

Someday, I swear, I'll get myself a ticket. Halloween in July indeed...

Everyone needs a costume...

2009-07-08T23:30:00.002-05:00

Even the My Little Pony's are getting into the dress up action, thanks to fab artist Mari Kasuinen. Check out the whole collection. And if you're really feeling generous, go ahead and buy me one. Really. I'm not picky.

Wicked Etsy Finds - Carmela Jay

2009-07-08T23:22:00.004-05:00

In the spirit of Nightmare before Christmas, we have the fantastic blend of Halloween and Xmas... Dead Pez, the dead reindeer. Etsy artist Carmela Jay makes the coolest Dia de los Muertos skulls...evar.

Of course, there are regular skulls too. So you can celebrate Halloween at X mas, and you can celebrate Halloween at... well, Halloween! Grab yourself a skull :)

Last Year's Costume - Steampunkin'

2009-07-08T19:53:00.007-05:00

Yesiree, last year was a blast. I got inspired by steampunk early on, and started sketching up a costume. After a little bit of sketching, I got this...

A friend of mine helped me sew it up. The spats, pants, hat and skirt are all handmade. The bodice is one of those things you can buy in the ladies department store to make you look slimmer... or steampunkier ;) The shirt was an old tux shirt I got at a thrift store, with a modified collar to make it fit my dashing red sash. The jacket, since it's one of the first things people seem to ask about, is actually a Victoria's secret 4 in 1 jacket. The dreads were handmade for me the halloween before by a lady on Etsy. The whole shebang was slaved over because I had the party of all parties to go to on all Hallow's eve... a halloween wedding! It ROCKED.

So the question becomes... what should I be this year?

Deadly DIY - Cat o' Lanterns

2009-07-08T19:46:00.003-05:00

Like I said before, sometimes those "homey" magazines really have some cute ideas, like cat o' lanterns. Ok, it's not going to win you any badass points, but they are darn cute, and if you do the eyes just right, just a little bit spooky. Get the lowdown on how to make em over on Sunset.

Epic Parties - Bill Joyce's Halloween Parties

2009-07-08T19:38:00.005-05:00

images via Shreveport Times

There used to be a beautiful full spread of a studio tour of Bill Joyce's Halloween pad in Home Companion Mag, but sadly the 'zine appears to have gone the way of Pluto. Still, Bill Joyce holds an EPIC halloween party every year, and it's always worth a few good photos...

2009-07-08T19:16:00.000-05:00

Playing with new images... waddya think?

Kindred Spirit - The Holiday Queen

2009-07-08T18:47:00.000-05:00

I found another like minded individual by surfing through twitter today, and came across the wonders of the Holiday Queen, and her magical misfit creations. Yes, it does say "Holiday Queen", but trust me, you're not going to find any chubby angels or jolly Santa's. It's all wonderful, whimsical Halloween goodness. She creates fantastic little goodies you can buy in her Etsy shop, which I'm sure to stock up on as we near all Hallow's eve. Her paper mache creations are to die for (har har) and are really quite reasonably priced. Spook it up!

Party Inspiration - Ghoulish Glam

2009-07-08T18:34:00.000-05:00

There are lots of blogs out there dedicated to throwing awesome parties, and so it shouldn't be a surprise that The Hostess with the Mostess has a wonderfully ghoulish post on throwing a totally glam Hallows Eve party.

To me it looks like that centerpiece is filled with orange m&m's. Yum.

Can't forget about your shimmery skulls, now can you? Get it all over at the HWTM.

Party Inspiration - Outdoor Spookfest

2009-07-08T18:20:00.000-05:00

It pains me to admit it sometimes, but I do seriously covet Martha Stewart and the like magazines around fall. They do sometimes have absolutely stunning ideas, like this inspiration for an outdoor Halloween party in Country Living. Isn't that path just magical?

I love the vaguely rustic, vintage feel of it. Vintage Halloween, in fact, is coming back with a vengeance, and with good reason too. Have you ever really looked at vintage Halloween decor? That stuff is damn scary.

Deadly DIY - Flamless candle

2009-07-08T18:06:00.000-05:00

This blog absolutely has to start off with the wonders of Dave Lowe. Dave Lowe is a comic artist and Halloween aficionado. While is blog is not entirely dedicated to Halloween, it might as well be, because not only is he a fantastic comic artist, he is also a prop master. All year round he seems to be scheming about new Halloween decorations, compiled from heaps of useful junk he has strewn around. Good news is, it's the kinda junk you probably have around too, and he has fabulous tutorials. Check out this one on how to make your own impressive flameless drippy candles.