Last updated on December 2nd, 2011
DO YOU DECORATE FOR HALLOWEEN? I don’t, normally. But this weekend my partner and I are hosting a costume-party for about 30 guests. My job is to make the interior of our 1826 Victorian house look really spooky for the event. The only problem? It already does. Still, I figure a few jack-o-lanterns, some crawling arachnids and maybe an illuminated skull, like the one up top (borrowed from friends Michael and Despina), can’t hurt:
On the entrance hall table, a trio of jack-o-lanterns, carved by my friend Herminio, are prepared to greet the guests. I raised the center pumpkin on a cake stand, and then covered both stand and table with cheesecloth. Black spiders, found at the dollar store, complete the ghoulish scene.
In the music room, ghosts at three windows (click photo to enlarge) are itching to dance to a CD that friend Jim Guidera has made for the occasion. On this CD are tracks from Lady Ga Ga and others, intermingled with appropriate screams — including actress Janet Leigh’s famous one from Alfred Hitchcock’s Psyco.
Of course no Halloween party is complete without a severed, frozen hand. I made one last year (above), and floated it in a bowl of red blood (a/k/a Hawaiian Punch). It’s time to make another this weekend.
How are you decorating your own house this Halloween? Got any tips or tricks to share?
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Related Posts:
Pumpkin-Carving with Herminio
Buried Treasures?
A Frightening Floating Hand
erin says
I have a face ice mold if you'd like to borrow it. It's kinda creepy. I'll bring it to the shop if you'd like. Halloween is my favorite!
Patty says
Try these ghoulish goodies: http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe/ladies-fingers-are-easy
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Erin – thanks for the offer. But where did you find such a mask?
Patty – thanks for the link. They do look ghoulish!
Katreader says
What fun. I used to decorate for everything…but since it's just me I've been slacking. I have some Halloween and fall knicknacks out-and pumpkins outside. Looking around-I won't bother dusting the cobwebs inside my house-what can I say, the spiders here want to help out!
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Katreader – I'm with you on the cleaning thing. For Halloween, the more dust and cobwebs the better. It's so…Lily Munster.
erin says
Michales craft store
Yolanda says
Love your decorations, especially the ghosts in the music room. The place looks haunted to me!
Liz says
Kevin, you’re on the right track! great choices! I have a gazillion ideas for “creepy” food and will be posting closer to Halloween., the blogging is brand new, so only a few things there right now. Cheesecloth is the best. You can also dye it with tea to make it look aged. and tear a few holes in it while you’re at it. And…a black crow or two (Michaels craft) perched on an ornate candle stick or pumpkin stem, for Alfred Hitchcock flair.
I have 20+ yrs worth of tried and true ideas, especially with food, so I’d love to share. I can’t wait to browse the rest of your website. VERY nice !! I’ve pinned your photo of the milk jug containers for seedlings..and ALOT of people liked and re-pinned it.
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Liz – I can hardly wait to hear about your creepy food and decorating ideas for Halloween. this is a holiday I go all-out for!
I’m with you on cheese-cloth. Last year, I laid a black tablecloth on my dining table, and then topped it with cheesecloth. Instant creepiness! Then I cut the ends, which had puddled onto the floor, with scissors. This gave them a jagged, and very “worn” appearance. Bats, spiders, and skulls, set between the punch bowl and other buffet items, completed the picture.
Thanks for pinning the winter-sowing piece. And, please share your decorating ideas as the “ghoulish” season approaches!