Modern Midnight Madness

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

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

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

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

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!

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

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!