WebSpinstress Gothic Halloween Blog

Halloween Yard Decorations

Halloween yard decorations and props are difficult to find in retail stores this year. Luckily for me, I’ve been stockpiling a whole home full of spooky decor for many years or I would be joining every one else in tripping over the excessive amount of Christmas trees and wrapping paper that has already flooded stores for the past 2 weeks in SEPTEMBER. October starts tomorrow!

I have found a few items online worth mentioning though. There’s still time to have these shipped and set up for Halloween…these are spooky props that won’t scare the complete BOO out of you. I’m saving those links for later!

* Skeleton Arm Stakes
* Skeleton Flamingo pair
* Stone Cemetery Wall
* Full 28-piece Bag of Bones Set
* 6ft Inflatable Carriage Hearse
* Grim Reaper Lamp Post Cover
* 5ft+ Standing Metal/Glass Lantern

Midnight Dreary Arrangement

A Dark and Dreary Halloween Arrangement

Midnight Dreary is the first Gothic Halloween arrangement I have created this year, to begin my soon to be over-crowding series of spooky adornments.

Ravens and silk black roses surround an elegant “Boo” word statue with silver skulls, LED pillar candles, and a tall candelabra. This arrangement is set up alter-style, to be placed on top of a bookcase or on a thin side table.

At night, the LED candles flicker in dark orange hues, dancing around the figures and casting shadows on the wall. For added ambiance, I have an additional set of orange Halloween lights set in front of the arrangement.

Black LED pillars are available HERE for only $5.99 to $9.99 and are definitely my favorite find so far…

Halloween Party Themes

The Many Themes of Halloween

Sort your Halloween decorations and props by theme and throw a unique Halloween party this year that no one will forget…

Here’s 9 creative themes to get you started, including:

* Traditional (festive)
* Modern or Contemporary
* Halloween from the Grave (spooky Halloween decor)
* Wicked Witch
* Things that go Bump in the Night (Scary props)
* Masquerade / Carnival
* Creepy Castles
* Fantasy and Mythical Beasts
* Pirates – Creatures of the Sea

Halloween Party Decor

Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes

Quick Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes:
(Makes 12 cupcakes)

1 box spice cake mix
1 egg
2 Tbsp flour
2 cups pure pumpkin puree
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup oats

Stir together spice cake mix, egg, and pumpkin. You can add nuts, dried fruit, or any other additions to the batter. Pour the batter evenly into cupcake pan. In a separate bowl, combine butter, brown sugar, oats, and flour. Spoon your brown sugar mix over the top of each muffin. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes.

Need a few more festive cupcake ideas?
Try these Creepy Crawly Cupcakes for Halloween!

Creepy Treats: Spiders

Spiders to Kill For…

An elegant Halloween treat, and who wouldn’t want to rip into these 8-legged Raspberry and whipped cream filled chocolate spider cakes?

Tutorial: Spider Cakes

Forget the deviled eggs this Halloween, these spider web eggs are much more creepy and fully cracked up to be all they can be…a little bit of food dye goes a long way!

Tutorial: Spider Eggs

Classy, intricately designed little spider web cookies. Brush up on your icing skills, and get ready to decorate…it’s ok, don’t forget you get to eat all the rejects to hide the evidence. lol

Tutorial: Spider Web Cookies

Halloween Decorations Inspired by Nature

Some of the most festive Halloween decorations can be found in your backyard. With only a few extra craft supplies and a little creativity, you’ll have one-of-a-kind Halloween that can’t be bought in stores…

Twigs:
Thin branches can be arranged with flowers and leaves to create a festive centerpiece. Intertwine them together in circular form to create a base for a wreath. You can spray paint branches or dip them glue and glitter for a modern twist. A large branch can stand up in a tall floor vase for a natural Halloween tree.

Leaves:
You can keep them natural, or add a clear spray sealant on the leaves to make them last longer. String them to hang around your home, either by themselves or on a long string together. You can also use Fall leaves on your Halloween dinner table around your centerpiece and dishes.

Other findings:
You may be able to find stones, berries, seashells, or pinecones that will stand out with your natural Halloween decorations. Don’t forget about the little things – spray paint or glue and glitter them to match the rest of your accessories.

Food items such as fruit and vegetables also complement Fall and Halloween settings. Use pumpkins, gourds, apples, corn, grapes, squash, berries and nuts to create arrangements for guests to feast their eyes on.

Name that Candy Bar Game

If you are searching for fun Halloween party games that are fun for all ages, play Name That Candy Bar.

Sit together and read the clues out loud, tossing the first person that calls out the correct answer the winning candy, OR you can print out lists and have your guests write their answers for a scavenger hunt. Whoever gets the most winning answers then receives a larger prize (keep multiple prizes available so everyone wins).

Clues:

Large heaping piles – Mounds
Slightly stifled laughs – Snickers
Rescuers – Life Savers
Slippery hands – Butterfinger
Busy buzzing bees make this – Bit O’ Honey
Gear for felines – KitKat
The galaxy – Milky Way
Time to collect the green – PayDay
5-pointed blast – Starburst
Can’t remember what it is – Whatchamacallit

My larger collection of adult and kid-friendly Halloween games are here:
Halloween Party Games