Haunted Pathways and Bewitching Halloween Parties

I don't remember how it started but I did go a bit crazy...our first Halloween party ended with such a huge success that I was struck.  I needed to go bigger and better each year after.  I loved planning and scheming all year for each new scare.  At that time internet access wasn't as common and there was no ETSY.  Just think of what I could have done with what is available now.  I am going to sprinkle a few of my favorite ETSY party decorations throught this little blog to help you get some great ideas for your own party.

My kids were 8 and 10 at the time when I was walking through my yard one night and realized the layout was perfect for a Haunted Pathway.  It was almost pitch black with many creepy country noises of hundred year old trees bending and creaked in the breeze.  I had only a few months to plan but my first year I was successful in setting up a very creepy haunted pathway which became the highlight of our Halloween parties.

You can fine this great piece of fine art for purchase at ETSY shop Mommy Makes at
http://www.etsy.com/shop/MommyMakes?ref=seller_info

By our second year we expanded our pathway and lined the parameter of our 5 acre country yard with orange strands of light.  We ran it through the pathway of trees that skirted our small ankle deep creek continued up around towards the field by the wild and bushy dogwoods and ended it at a patch of closely growing trees.  These trees once provided protection for an ancient outhouse that was torn down a long time ago.  The grapevines here hung linking the tall gnarly trees together to add to the creepiness and provide a wonderful anchor for the many glowing cobwebs I put throughout the area.

This great luminary was found in ETSY shop SniKitty @
 http://www.etsy.com/shop/Snikitty?ref=seller_info

A graveyard was set up in front of the dogwoods with life (or death) sized tombstones complete with arms and legs of the undead and two foggers to cast a mist around the entire space. Some of the tombstones were handmade with Styrofoam (instructions found on my Halloween Party Ideas page) and some were purchased at the time I couldn't afford to buy an entire graveyard.  I was so fortunate to acquire a full sized coffin; it was extremely heavy but very affective.  It was crudely made out of cheep wood and wasn't painted for the lack of time but it was aged and in the dark it didn't matter as long as it produced many screams.

This creepy tombstone would have been an excellent addition to my creepy graveyard.  You can find this beauty at ETSY shop SigsRose at http://www.etsy.com/shop/sigsrose?ref=seller_info

I created my own wispy ghosts (Halloween-party-ideas.html) and plastic cut outs for haunted trees to supplement my store bought decorations.  The year before I snagged up all the decorations, party cups, napkins and more that I could afford during the 75% off discounted Halloween sales.  There were me and my scouts (my mother, sister, etc.) set out to shop diligently throughout garage sales for anything scary or distressed.  One person's broken skeleton decoration quickly became my pile of bones for the graveyard. 

My children helped me pick out the prizes from Oriental Trade to fill the 20 buckets that were strategically placed along the pathway.  Anything from little notebooks and cute erasers to obnoxious, but fun, baking soda bombs and candy that turns your mouth red. 
Next was our costumes...Many of which were comprised of salvation army or garage sale items but some were investments and were more expensive, we used these every year.  When I was building my handmade costumes I found it a little funny that in the past I had said "why would anyone try to sell this" when I would find an torn up garments at a garage sale for a 25 cents.  Well...I guess I would because those were what turned out to be mad scientist, Frankenstein, witches and the living dead outfits.  Often those old clothes were not tattered enough so I would run them over with the car which produced a much more realistic tears and wear apposed to cutting them with a scissors. 

For the costumes that we would use every year we would invest in quality masks and even full suites.  This mask would look excellent with my "ran over" tattered clothes. Put some fur around your neck, hands and feet and you could scare anyone!   This great costume was found in ETSY shop Sans Soucis Studios, a real Artist and Mask Maker at
http://www.etsy.com/shop/sanssoucistudios?ref=pr_shop

Donning my freshly ran over costume and with a rehearsed scripted in mind I guided a group of 20 children to the haunted pathway.  We would follow it first down towards the trees next to the creek.  Faint haunting noises could be heard in the pitch black and only my flashlight along with the strings of orange lights guided our way.  We crunched our way through the leaves to the first clearly marked bucket of treats.  The kids excitedly dropped the prizes into their treat bag eagerly moving on to see what would be in the next. 

The first few kids spotted the next bucket on their own and ran towards it with their friends close behind.  Suddenly a werewolf leaps from behind the tree, growls and grabs at them.  Several kids jump, scream, then giggle as they realize what had just happened.  They all grabbed their treats and moved on again gleefully chatting about what could be at the next bucket.  Often the boys would insist that they were not scared and were daring the next haunt to come after them.

I wish I could have found these amazing luminary buckets back when I did the parties; they are perfect for the pathways!  I found these in ETSY shop LizzieJeans @ http://www.etsy.com/shop/lizziejeans?ref=seller_info

This amazing fun continued through many years until the kids became to old to scare effectively and the excitement seemed to have waned.  We didn't wait until they were completely board with it but closed it up and held more traditional parties instead.  Unfortunately there are few pictures of these wonderful moments since all of the adults in our family were busy haunting various areas but my memories are vivid and so are my children's memories.  These will always be the best Halloween memories I ever had.

I hope that some of my tips can help you set up a haunt for your family and friends.  (Halloween-party-ideas.html)  Luckily now we have ETSY and can find many items handmade by those creative artists and crafters.  Happy Haunting!!!

A Quest For The Great Pumpkin

The sound of crunching leaves and giggles fill the crisp cool air.  The smell of damp hay warming in the midday sun greets my senses.  Faded corn stocks and brightly colored orange and green squash line the pathway as we walk to join the other happy families for a wagon ride.  The farmer looks back to make sure everyone is seated and starts the tractor engine with a giant PUFF!  The wagon jerks and bumps through the field as the kids sit tight barley containing their excitement.

The wagon stops.  Rows and rows of pumpkins as far as the eye can see.  Out of breath and glowing with red rosy cheeks my children proclaimed "I am going to get one bigger than me!"  Fifteen minutes later my son and daughter are struggling with the largest pumpkin they could find.  Flat on one side and bigger than a 3 year old child it is picked up and dropped, tugged on and tripped over but the stem is still in tact...its a keeper.  Beaming with pride my children help me carry it to the wagon and we are on our way back through the bumpy field.

At home they proudly help me outline the face I should cut into their giant pumpkin.  They smile in amusement as they pick through the slimy innards finding the seeds to roast.  "It's The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown" plays in the background as we finish the masterpiece.  Beautiful.

My favorite Halloween memories.

New Listings...

http://www.etsy.com/listing/79693467/halloween-greeting-card-with-fine-art

http://www.etsy.com/listing/79672955/halloween-postcards-haunted-house-2

http://www.etsy.com/listing/79672708/halloween-postcards-haunted-house-party

http://www.etsy.com/listing/79712705/antique-postcard-grave-yard-national

http://www.etsy.com/listing/79417243/creepy-antique-postcard-church-and

Two Super Fun Treasuries Featuring Postcards In The Attic

Here are two wonderfully fun treasuries that have featured one of my vintage postcards.  One makes me think of summer gardens and the other of the upcoming Halloween Fun.  A heart felt thank you to the Curators.

Don't forget to check out my post ~ Flutterby Connection's interview and a chance to WIN
2 personalized ornaments! Go to http://butterflyintheattic.blogspot.com/2011/08/flutterby-connections-give-away.html


 

Fun Freaky Friday!!! - Monster Mash



This beautiful photo comes from ETSY shop B Square Studio at
http://www.etsy.com/shop/bsquarestudio?ref=pr_shop



It's the first Friday after a Full Moon.  To me the full moon has always been a night of beauty, but over the years and working in healthcare I have come to realize that there is some truth to the superstitions and stories about full moon nights.  Take out any spiritual or personal beliefs from the equation and I have observed that people go crazy on full moon nights. Not in a “Party!! Can I get a Whoop, Whoop” sort of way but in a “one that flew over the cuckoo’s nest” kind of crazy that is really disturbing yet intriguing.  Strange things happen in my universe and it just seems that the whole world becomes a tad cockeyed. 

When the world is cockeyed and the moon is full of course it will lead my thoughts to corny old horror movies; that is just how I think.  I do not have the stomach for the new horror films but love the old movies with cheesy overstuffed aliens, cardboard box robots and flying objects that had visible strings attached to it. 

A wonderful collection of digital images to craft with was found in ETSY shop XCreations at http://www.etsy.com/shop/Xreations?ref=seller_info

I have always been a big fan of Alfred Hitchcock, who was a little more realistic and scary than some of the other earlier movies.  I loved Alfred's twisted sense of humor.

One of my favorite movies captured in this art from ETSY Shop ARW Design at
http://www.etsy.com/shop/arwdesign?ref=seller_info

There are several documented first Horror films depending on what country you are looking for and what you would consider a film.  There were short films, only seconds long, that featured some pretty disturbing images made in the very late 1800's but I don't count them.  So then technically, using what I consider a film, Frankenstein was the first horror movie. 

This wonderful classic movie magnet can be found at the fun ETSY shop As We Go Arts at
http://www.etsy.com/shop/aswegoArts?ref=pr_shop
What Fun!!

I remember watching many reruns of The Blob, The Body Snatchers, Godzilla - does whatever (there were so many) and others.  So to treat myself for surviving this discombobulated week and I went in search of memorabilia from many of my favorite old horror movies. 

This Really Creepy limited edition print is autographed by the artist and can be found in ETSY shop Monsterbatory World  at
 http://www.etsy.com/shop/MonsterbatoryWorld?ref=seller_info

This is a wonderful treat, SCREAMING WOMEN WITH MONSTERS CLASSIC HORROR VINTAGE MOVIE COLLAGE KIT found in ETSY shop Iowa Jewl at
http://www.etsy.com/shop/iowajewel?ref=pr_shop

Who could resist this classic found in ETSY shop Jesse Janes at
http://www.etsy.com/shop/jessejanes?ref=pr_shop

To the amazing talent on ETSY...

THE MONSTER MASH


CLASSICALLY HORRIFIC


HIT OF THE PARTY