Halloween Party Decorating Suggestions

Let’s talk Halloween party decorating suggestions sure to bedeck and bedazzle a frighteningly festive spooktacular, shall we?

Halloween-party-decorating-suggestions

Photo by Frames For Your Heart

Tricks and treats in classic themes and tastes, traditional colors, vintage finds, and striking textures and patterns lend the Halloween hostess a helping hand.

Wednesday-Addams-Family-Thing-Hand-Halloween

Welcome the famished to partake in party sips, dips, tastes and treats but first, partyware.

cat-black-appetizer-Halloween-plate

Halloween-appetizer-plates-ghost-cat

Ghost  ||  Witches’ Hat  ||  Black Cat  ||  Jack-O-Lantern

Vintage Halloween Paper Plates - 8ct

Vintage Halloween 9″ Paper Plates – 8ct

Clear Glass Pumpkin Beverage Dispenser

Clear Glass Pumpkin Beverage Dispenser

smoking-dry-ice-cauldron

Dry Ice Cauldron Punch Bowl Recipe

What you’ll need:

Pair of work gloves

Plastic or metal tongs

Dish towel

Hammer

5 pounds dry ice

1 large plastic or metal punch bowl (or cauldron)

1 smaller plastic or metal punch bowl

Directions

Put on the gloves. In a well-ventilated area, wrap the dry ice in a towel and break it into chunks using a hammer.

Using tongs, transfer chunks of dry ice into the larger of your 2 bowls, creating a flat space in the center. Place the second, smaller bowl inside the larger one.

Pour punch into the small center bowl, making sure no dry ice gets in.

Fill a pitcher with warm water, then pour it on top of the dry ice. Add more dry ice chunks and water to the larger, outer bowl, being careful not to get any dry ice into the smaller punch bowl, throughout the night to keep the fog going.

Tips & Tricks:

Wear thick work gloves when opening the package of dry ice (latex/kitchen gloves are too thin.)

Place the block of dry ice on a towel. Use a wooden or plastic work surface, as dry ice can crack tiles.

Wrap a towel around the block, then break it into chunks using a hammer.

Be sure both of the bowls you use are plastic or metal since dry ice can crack glass. Put any unused dry ice in an open plastic container and store it in a cooler filled with ice. Never store it in the refrigerator or freezer.

Five pounds of dry ice will last about an hour. Keeping a nearby fan on low will intensify the effect.

-She Knows

Metal Snake Glassware

Metal Snake Glassware

black-urn-beverage-tub

Think outside of the traditional by converting a plastic outdoor urn into a candy bowl, candle(s) holder or beverage tub.

Further zhuzh up this creation by wrapping the bottom and sides of the urn with a feather boa or leaf garland in choice of color.

White Bleeding Thorax Halloween Candle

White Bleeding Thorax Halloween Candle

Drop in LED votive or pillar candle(s), drape floral moss from the sides, finish with a hairy black spider, and you are good to glow.

White Bleeding Heart Halloween Candle

White Bleeding Heart Halloween Candle

Candles dripping in Halloween haunt cast a wicked chic spell, but do beware of their flame and their fright.

Beware! vintage ad

Serving bowls suggestions from copper pumpkin planters to plastic black cauldrons run the ghost and goblin gamut.

Copper Colored Pumpkin Shaped Planter

Copper Colored Pumpkin Shaped Planter

Halloween-Cauldron-Black

gourd-ghosts-pumpkin-entry

Midwest Living Magazine

Pumpkin luminaries of the terracotta Jack-o-Lantern variety light the night and the party path.

 Smiling Jack-O-Lantern Terracotta Accent by Make Market

Smiling Jack-O-Lantern Terracotta Accent

Cinderella pumpkin luminaries

Southern Living Magazine – Photography by Van Chaplin

Cinderella pumpkins turn into a Halloween hurricane for path and porch. Simply and carefully cut out space in the center of the pumpkin placing a glass cylinder vase into the space.  Add pillar candle to shine a light on spellbinding style.

clownCurious Portraits on Etsy 

Hauntingly amazing how something intended to be delightful can be so utterly frightful.

Renaissance Elizabethan Collar Neck Ruffle

Creepy perhaps, but I do love this vintage ventriloquist’s silent clown puppet mounted print paired with a French clown hat and Renaissance Elizabethan collar neck ruffle for an elegantly creepy centerpiece.

Pierrot-Clown-Vintage-ImagePierrot Vintage Image – The Graphics Fairy

We’ll call this Creepy the Clown.

creepy-the-clown

Photography by Nong 

If sending in the clowns is way too creepy for your Halloween party decorating taste, perhaps the throwback mystique of vintage Halloween decorations is right up your alley.

Cat & Moon Centerpiece

vintage-style-Halloween-ornaments-velvet-ribbon

Halloween decorations have come a long way in both design and availability since the Halloweens of the late 60s and 70s, but I still love to decorate with at least two or three in the style of vintage Halloween decorations.

vintage-ornaments-with-ribbons

Halloween-ornament-decoration-moon

Vintage Style Moon Ornament

Vintage black and white photos lend a certain amount of eerie charm while creating a haunted presence and ambiance.

Old-Photo-Image-Unibrow-ManFree Printable of Old Photo Image of Unibrow Man 

Lady-Riding-Crop

Lady Riding Crop

With deals, a free printable, DIY ingenuity, buy more save more promos, and online clearance sales starting sooner and sooner in the season, your Halloween bogeyman boogie down get together can be an affordable affair.

eyeball-print-eyeball-portrait

Eyeball Print 

Many moons ago our house was Halloween central in part because of the gargantuan bodark tree in our backyard that produced a bumper crop of green horse apples (hedge apple or Osage orange).

hedge-horse-apples-Osage-orange

Hedge/Horse Apples-Osage Orange

Horse apple-hedge apple-Osage orange is a choice decorative item vis-à-vis vase or bowl filler, and makes an excellent color, texture and pattern Halloween accent decoration.

hedge-apple-centerpiece

Sweet Something Designs

Let’s play Halloween dress up in dressed to thrill and dressed to kill fashions.

Velvet Bats Mesh Tulle Midi Skirt in Pumpkin1

Boo-tiful!

Fancy with Bowknot Knit Top in Black

Fancy with Bowknot Knit Top in Black

Velvet Bats Mesh Tulle Midi Skirt in Pumpkin

Velvet Bats Mesh Tulle Midi Skirt in Pumpkin

Halloween Crochet Witch Hat

Halloween Crochet Witch Hat

black-bow-heel-pump-womens-shoes

Black Bow Pump

Antique shops, vintage markets, and thrift stores become excellent haunts for fab-boo-lous decor finds.

Halloween-decor-vintage-finds

Highland Yard Vintage

orange-velvet-fabric-Halloween

Fabric remnants in traditional or transitional Halloween colors and patterns make great party tablecloths, napkins, and treat bags.

gray-textured-Halloween-fabric

Who doesn’t love an upside-down witch decoration?

upside-down-witch-legs-urn

DIY Instructions From Better Homes & Gardens

To make the witch legs decoration, dress bendable mannequin legs in striped stockings and buckled shoes. Then, place the legs upside down in a tall urn filled with moss.

spiders-and-snakes-graphic

Halloween Spider and Skull Bowl Filler

Embroidered Velvet Spiders Pillow

Embroidered Velvet Spiders Pillow

Note to self: Add Jim Stafford’s “Spiders and Snakes” to the Let’s Halloween playlist.

Resin Pumpkin Wrapped With Snake

Resin Pumpkin Wrapped With Snake

 

decorative-gold-snake-bowl

gold-snake-decorative-bowlAluminum Halloween Snake Bowl Gold

Some would argue it’s just not Halloween without the creepy-crawly while for others there’s no need to conjure up the fear of things that crawl and hiss in the night.

vintage-Halloween-postcards (2)

Enter a kinder, gentler Halloween theme.

vintage-Halloween-postcards (1)

Free printables in a wide variety of Halloween spook, scare, and spirit for all your Halloween treats, potions, place cards, invitations, and tabletop decor needs are but a Pinterest search away.

skull-print-Victorian-gothic-steampunk

Skeleton Print Victorian, Steampunk

King Skull Dinner Plates

King Skull Dinner Plates

Phantom Skull Decanter for Liquor

Glass Skull Decanter with Wood Ball Bottle Stopper

Glass Skull Decanter with Wood Ball Bottle Stopper

Halloween Skull Beer Mug

Halloween Skull Beer Mug

Bone Appetit dinner plate

Halloween Skeleton Dinner Plate

Better Homes & Gardens offers a free printable skull pattern to use for framing, window displays, DIY wreaths, gift bags, scatter decorations, etc…

free-printable-skull-pattern

red candy apple black

Kitchen Ghosts

tasty-treats-graphic

Morton's Candy Corn Old Fashioned

Morton’s Candy Corn Old Fashioned Recipe

pumpkin-margarita

Pumpkin Margarita Recipe

Witch's Potion

Witch’s Potion Recipe

Spooky Goat Cheese FingersSpooky Goat Cheese Fingers Recipe

Mini Pumpkin Cheese Balls

Mini Pumpkin Cheese Balls Recipe

Wicked Witch Hats Recipe

Wicked Witch Hats Recipe

Snake Cheese Straws

Snake Cheese Straws Recipe

Graveyard Brownies

Graveyard Brownies Recipe

Jack-o'-Lantern Candy Apples

Jack-o’-Lantern Candy Apples Recipe

Halloween-party-recipes-treats

Halloween party decorating suggestions offer inspiration for tricking out your Halloween monster mash bash.

Darleen-signature-love

Halloween Decorating Suggestions

Spooktacular Halloween decorating suggestions come in Halloween handy for the decorista who dares to bedazzle house and home in haunted fashion destined to thrill and delight the eye.

halloween-decorating-suggestions

Halloween is a prime time for showcasing your decorating creativity.

From fraught with frightful or a lavish display in spine-chilling style, doors, windows, fireplace mantels, staircases, porches, lawns, gardens, and sidewalks become prime players in a game of Halloween decorating dress-up.

jack-o-lantern-carved-candle-night

Affordable is the trick.

Eyeball Orbs

Eye-catching is the treat.

floral-moss1

evil-eyes-wall-decor

Clear Skull Beverage Dispenser

I like a little fright mixed with a tad of harmless haunt so the theme appeals to kids of all ages.

decorative-crow-statue

Decorative Crow

Stoneware Appetizer Plate - Threshold

6″ Stoneware Appetizer Plate – Threshold™

Crow Classic Litho Poster Size

“Crow” Classic Litho Poster Size

Doorstops and garden statues easily and eerily stand fabulous as centerpieces for the Halloween feast table or bar cart.

Design Imports Cast Iron Rat Doorstop

Design Imports Cast Iron Rat Doorstop

Sit this rat doorstop next to a cheese board and let the oohs and eeks ensue.

resin-owl

Resin Owl

iron-bat-wall-decor

Halloween Small Bat

The Cathedral Gargoyle Statue

Cathedral Gargoyle Statue

resin-skull-frog

Resin Skull Frog

black-cat-stretching-statue

Black Stretching Cat

Be sure to add by Black Cat by Janet Jackson to your Halloween playlist.

black-cat-table-decoration-vintage-inspired

Seasonal, special event, and holiday decorating can wreak double, double toil and trouble on one’s wallet; top reason why I like to source and suggest items that pull double decorating duty.

copper-rust-white-stoneware-pumpkins

Magnolia Dried Wreath Brown – Threshold™
81 oz Stoneware Pumpkin Jar – Threshold™
10 oz Stoneware Pumpkin Jar White – Threshold™
9.5 in Crackle Glass Pumpkin Decor
Large Ceramic Pumpkin Rust – Threshold™

Pumpkin decor far exceeds the plastic orange jack-o-lantern decor of yesteryear.

the-pumpkin's wish

Although I still love the vintage and throwback to childhood days pieces, I am over the harvest moon for many of the new traditional offerings found on sites and retail shelves.

home-candle

Spiced Pumpkin 9.5 Ounce Candle

Take a spiced pumpkin candle in deep amber orange and pair it with a faux maple leaf wreath in candle ring fashion and voilà-  a fall themed pumpkin palace centerpiece.

Bring the spooky-the creepy-the painful memories of stepping on these as a kid with a scattering of sweet gum tree balls in close proximity to the wreath.

sweetgum tree balls

Sweet Gum Tree Balls

faux-maple-leaf-wreath

When the clock strikes midnight on November 1st these accents find new life added to your home for the Thanksgiving holiday decorative accessories list.

Halloween-decorated-mantel-clock

Halloween Classics

classic-Halloween-color-palette

crooked witch hat

Pier Place Witch Shoes Candy Bowl

Pier Place Witch Shoes Candy Bowl

Judy-red-slippers

red-apple-cookie-jar

Cookie jar?

Candy bowl?

Pick your poison.

black-tulle-Spanish-moss

Halloween Medallion Wall Decor with Snake

Halloween Medallion Wall Decor with Snake

poison-red-apple-Halloween

About ten days from Halloween (or party date) pick up a dozen or two of roses.  I stick them in a vase with very little warm water, and allow them to wither and dry out.

Anatomical-Heart-Shape-Form-Bud-Vase-red

Come the day of the dead roses place the stems in a freakishly gorgeous vase.

black-tulle-net

Tulle by the yard is my go-to inexpensive solution to table wraps and centerpiece accessory.

black-mens-top-hat-party

top-hat-Halloween-decor

Vintage style eyeglasses, a novelty pipe, magnifying glass, and a Victorian style top hat(Halloween decoration now, Christmas tree topper for the holidays) and you’ve got yet another themed Halloween decorating suggestions centerpiece.

Halloween-scene-with-candles

Ambiance is an essential component in the entertaining equation.

candles in fireplace

Good Housekeeping

Halloween 3in x 6in LED Melting Candle

Halloween 3in x 6in LED Melting Candle

Flameless LED candles cast a (safe) spell and shadow of mystique.

Ghost Candleholder

Ghost Candleholder

Dim all the lights is not only a Donna Summer disco hit, but my lighting rule for an enchanting evening.

Donna-Summer-Bad-Girls-album-cover

String lights in your favorite color offer a soft glow to light the party night.

glass-pumpkin-bowl-jar-with-lid

Recycled Glass Pumpkin Cloche

Place lights inside a clear glass pumpkin jar with lid or under a collection of clear glass cloches to create a simple yet elegant lighting option.

string-lights-under-cloche

Delighted with the look this in the style of designer pillow cover and a flecked spider from the dollar store nesting atop offers.

fake-spider

Uninvited guests visiting front porch haunts provide creepy-crawly effects.

creepy-crawly-spider

food-fright-delight

Skeleton Swizzle Sticks

pumpkin-punch-bowl-1

Pumpkin Punch Bowl

skull-beverage-dispenser

Skull Beverage Dispenser

Whiskey Wine Skull Cup

Whiskey Wine Skull Cup

Bat Cork Wine Bottle Stopper

plastic-orange-black-jack-o-lantern-pail

Serving Halloween decorating suggestions for decades, the ever appropriate orange and black plastic jack-o-lantern pail makes for the perfect pumpkin ice bucket.

Acrylic Skull Bucket, Clear Iridescent

Way to Celebrate 4.5-Quart Acrylic Skull Bucket, Clear Iridescent

Halloween-punch-stirring-in-bowl

Kitchen Ghosts

Halloween Harvest Punch

Ingredients

4  cups apple cider

4 cups cranberry juice

3  cups ginger ale

1  cup orange juice

½ cup fresh lemon juice

3 cinnamon sticks

ice

apple slices, raspberries, and melon balls for garnish

Directions

In a large punch bowl, add ice, apple cider, cranberry juice, ginger ale, orange juice, lemon juice, and cinnamon sticks. Stir to mix.

Serve in rocks glasses over ice.

Garnish with apple slice, raspberry, and melon ball.

Skeletal Hand Plastic Cups

Skeletal Hand Plastic Cups

red-plastic-tumblers

Stackable Plastic Tumbler Cups, BPA Free, 8 Ounce, Red (Set of 4)

Godinger Owl Stemmed Glasses Goblets, Drinking Glass - Set of 4

Godinger Owl Stemmed Glasses Goblets, Drinking Glass – Set of 4

Moth Rocks Glass

Moth Rocks Glass

You’re traveling through another dimension, a dimension not only of sight and sound but of mind. A journey into a wondrous land whose boundaries are that of imagination.

Your next stop, the Twilight Zone and the buffet table.

black-white-dinner-plate

Royal Norfolk Black and White Dashed-Pattern Stoneware Dinner Plate

Halloween 52in x 90in PEVA Tablecloth - Critters & Insects

Halloween 52in x 90in PEVA Tablecloth – Critters & Insects

LED frog on skull tabletop decor

LED Frog on Skull Tabletop Decor

Halloween-frog-moth-paper-napkins

Halloween Skeleton Tabletop Decor with Moths

Halloween Skeleton Tabletop Decor with Moths

mystic-eye-ouija-cutting-board

Mystic Eye Ouija Cutting Board

Halloween Cute Snack Bowl Stand,3-Tier

Halloween Broom Stand,3-Tier

eat-drink-be-scary-cheese-board

Pumpkin Wooden Appetizers Board
Halloween Stoneware Tombstone Serving Platter
3pc Stainless Steel Cheese Tool Halloween Set

Fun, frightful, and fabulous Halloween decorating suggestions offer affordable ideas and easy tips ready to help transform your home into the spooktacular showcase it’s sure to be.

Love your style!

Fetching Friday: Boo-tiful Scenery

This week’s Fetching Friday features boo-tiful scenery festively depicting hauntingly beautiful images in the spirit of Halloween.

fetching-for-Halloween

Boo-tiful scenery, gorgeous spaces, presentations, accents, displays, delights, and accessories do not rely on tricks to conjure up decorative and stylish treats for the eye.

fairytale-carved-pumpkin

Fairy House Pumpkin

dark-interiors-Elle-Decor (2)

Elle Decor

outdoor-entry-Halloween-Martha-Stewart-photo-Ngoc-Minh-Ngo

Martha Stewart – Photo by Ngoc Minh Ngo

bayou-cocktail-bourbon-street

Bayou Cocktail \ Bourbon Street⠀

Ingredients

1 ½ ounces bourbon⠀

1 ounce fresh lemon juice

¼ cup apple cider⠀

2 teaspoons real maple syrup⠀

1 teaspoon fresh grated ginger (or ¼ teaspoon ground ginger)⠀

1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon⠀

5 ounces sparkling hard Honeycrisp apple cider⠀⠀

cinnamon sticks, rosemary and apple slices for garnish

cinnamon sugar for rim⠀

Directions⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Rim an Old Fashioned glass with cinnamon sugar and fill with ice.  In a shaker, combine bourbon, apple cider, lemon juice, maple syrup, ginger and cinnamon.  Shake to combine.

Strain into glass and top with hard Honeycrisp apple cider.  Garnish with cinnamon sticks, rosemary and apple slices.⠀

Bayou Life Magazine
Styling by @taylor.a.bennett
Photo by @kellymooreclark

boo-tiful scenery

Alexander McQueen

House of Hackney Troop Wallpaper

House of Hackney Troop Wallpaper

foggy-pumpkin-patch

Flickr

Halloween-outdoor-table-setting

Country Living – Photo by Matthew Benson

dark-interiors-Elle-Decor (1)

Elle Decor

I hope you have a spooktacular Friday, and enjoy boo-tiful scenery on this Halloween weekend.

love signature

Festive Halloween Decorating Ideas

Guests and ghouls alike will gasp with delight at these festive Halloween decorating ideas not too tame, not too terrifying.

It’s not too early to begin gathering festive Halloween decorating ideas and devilishly delightful goodies for your Halloween decorating extravaganza.

Bewitching decorative treasures festively bedeck your Halloween haunt for a day into night soiree of visual tricks and tasty treats.

Festive Halloween Decorating Ideas

Light the night and set a mood of stylish intrigue by illuminating your fright night soiree with distinctive lighting options.  

Halloween-tablescape-with-candles

Many moons ago I tricked out our kitchen and breakfast room in grand Halloween splendor.

black-tulle-Spanish-moss

Black tulle, white taper candles, Spanish moss, a vintage candelabra, glass cloche, a decorative black crow, and magnolia leaves spray painted black dressed the night in fright and fun.

Cat in Window laser cut wood tea light holder

Cat in Window Laser Cut Wood Tea Light Holder

Party possibilities range from pumpkin luminaries using clear glass cylinder vases to clear cylinder vases filled with moss, mini pumpkins and creepy plastic creatures thrown in for decoratively dreadful measure.

Halloween-pumpkin-luminariesSouthern Living

fairytale-pumpkin-7

pillar-candle-in-tall-glass-cylinder-holder

You local dollar store is an excellent starting point for party needs or party decoration fillers.

Did you hear the recent news of a popular dollar store raising their prices from $1.00 per item to $1.25 – $1.50 to offset rising production/shipping costs?

Now I guess we’ll call these party decor go-to stores dollarish stores.

Regardless, if you’re anything like me you favor festive Halloween decorating ideas like the following that remain big on festive Halloween decorating ideas fun, not big on festive Halloween decorating ideas prices.

black-green-tall-candles

Candles.

Natural Moss Mix

Natural moss mix.

glass cylinder vases

Glass cylinder vases.

Halloween-faux-flowers

Faux flowers in dark and boo-tiful colors.

All of the above make delightful and frightful additions to captivating centerpieces.

Koyal Wholesale Compote Bowl Centerpiece Mercury Glass Antique Pedestal Vase

Koyal Wholesale Compote Bowl Mercury Glass Antique Pedestal Vase

Creepy chic.

Anatomical-Heart-Shape-Form-Bud-Vase-red

Heart Shape Form Bud Vase

grapevine-witches-hat

11″ Grapevine Witch Hat by Ashland®

Centerpiece ideas include classic orange and black Halloween decorating accouterments, fresh or faux festive flowers, and creepy and crawly spiders and snakes in hauntingly beautiful form with a hint of chilling chic compliments of a can or two of spray paint in your favorite color(s).

Halloween Decorative Sculpture - Hyde & EEK! Boutique™

Halloween Decorative Sculpture – Hyde & EEK! Boutique™

boot-jack-cricket

Iron Boot Jack Cricket

Halloween tabletop decoration today, iron boot jack cricket hearth  decorative figurine tomorrow.

Assorted Eyeball Tabletop Accent by Ashland

Assorted 3.5″ Eyeball Tabletop Accent by Ashland®

top-hat-Halloween-decor

The top hat tips its hat to decoration triple duty.

skeleton-head-figurine

Primp it out for Halloween, tidy it up with a gold band and pheasant feathers for the perfect Pilgrim piece at Thanksgiving, and top it off with glitter stems at Christmas as a tree topper.

chicken-wire-figures-Halloween

Fun idea found on Pinterest.

dining-room-chairs

It reminds me of my dress painting adorning the dining room sideboard that I’ll drape sheer white lace over and backlight for a white wedding theme.

eye throw pillow

Oh, and the eyes on you throw pillows will work into the night perfectly.

The call to edit and decorate with items you already have is coming from inside the house.

grapevine-wreath-ribbon

Create a little tone on tone visual magic with a can or two of spray paint in your Halloween color of choice.

Begin with a grapevine or straw wreath.

Hunt and gather a harvest of dry leaves, stems, twigs, vines, and branches from nature’s arts-and-crafts-store (your yard).

Spray paint both sides of the crop and allow to completely dry.

Snake and intertwine your painted gathering work of decorating art down the center of the table in table runner fashion.

Painted wreaths become everything from a cake stand base to a candle ring.

black-straw-wreath

Scary chic, super affordable befitting centerpiece and table runner problem solved.

jack-o-lantern-Halloween-decoration

Pumpkin Man Tabletop Accent by Ashland®

Dark and eerie rules the night for adults, but may prove to be frightening for younger attendees.

Halloween Black Crescent Witch sign (1)

Halloween Black Crescent Witch Sign

Vintage style decorations make an excellent choice of theme for a family-friendly soiree.

Tabby Cat Vase

Tabby Cat Vase

Halloween Candy Bowl Options

copper-pot-handle

Vintage Copper Pot – EBTH

Hammered Copper Party Tub

Hammered Copper Party Tub

I lost my head.

Grecian Bust Pot

A&B Home Visage Medium Cement Vase

Stoneware Pumpkin Serving Dish - Threshold™

Stoneware Pumpkin Serving Dish – Threshold™

grapevine-bird-nest (1)

Pair a grapevine bird nest from the craft department with a black feathered crow found in the Halloween section for a spook-takular candy dish alternative.

spirits-boos

A cast iron cauldron pot fits right in with the trick and treat taste of Halloween.

black-cauldron-brass-ladle

Large Black Cauldron
Alchemade Pure Copper Ladle

Serving ideas for party potions of the leaded and unleaded varieties include a bewitching large black cauldron, copper ladle, DIY beverage dispenser,  punch bowl made from a pumpkin, and of course, dry ice to create a special effect foggy look.

Kitchen Ghosts

Special effects cast a spell of delight for the eye at a Halloween happening.

Dry ice punch bowl recipe

The dry ice punch bowl recipe from SheKnows spells how simple and safe instructions on how to boil over the Halloween punch bowl or cauldron.

skull-beverage-dispenser (1)

Skull Beverage Dispenser

Dispensers and decanters in the Halloween spirit.

Glass Decanter Skull Patterned

Glass Decanter Skull Patterned

Shade Skull Decanter

Shade Skull Decanter

Foster & Rye Skull Liquor Decanter, Clear Glass Skull Shaped Whiskey Decanter with Stopper

Clear Glass Skull Shaped Whiskey Decanter with Stopper

Take a pumpkin, stick a spigot in it, and you’ve got a party pumpkin keg.

pumpkin

black-spigot

DIY Pumpkin Keg

What You’ll Need:

large pumpkin

serrated knife

long handle spoon

marker pen

spigot

Directions

Begin by cutting the top off the pumpkin.  Set aside.

Using a long handle spoon, remove the pumpkin seeds and pulp.

Select where you want the spigot to be on the pumpkin.  Using the marker pen, trace a circle around the spot.

Being very careful, take the knife and cut the hole out for the spigot.  Make the hole the same size as tap to eliminate leaking from the opening.

Insert spigot into the hole and tighten.

Pour the fall seasonal beer or hard cider of your choice into the pumpkin and place the pumpkin top on.

Your beverage will pick up a slight to complementing pumpkin flavor, so select with that in mind.

smoking blackberry sage margarita

Smoking Blackberry Sage Margarita

Devilishly delicious drinks, anyone?

creepy-eyeball-MartiniCreepy Eyeball Martini

fairytale-pumpkins-trio

Non-alcoholic Pumpkin Punch

Ingredients

8 cups apple cider

2 cups orange juice

½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

½ teaspoon ground cloves

2  15 oz cans pumpkin puree

For Garnish:

1 cup maple syrup

1 cup cinnamon sugar

cinnamon sticks

apple slices

star anise

Directions

In a medium sized saucepan, simmer cider, orange juice, cinnamon and cloves for 5 minutes.  Whisk in pumpkin puree until combined with other flavor and a smooth consistency is reached.

eat, drink, and be scary tumbler

Eat, Drink, & Be Scary Tumbler

For an extra blast of tasty fall flavor, rim glasses by dipping the rim into maple syrup first and then dip into cinnamon sugar mixture.

Garnish with a cinnamon stick, apple slices, and star anise.

cinnamon-water

Cinnamon water is a delicious beverage option that’s as tasty as it is easy to make.

This stove top method brings out the flavor and color of the cinnamon.

Begin by adding 2 cinnamon sticks to 2 cups of water to a saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer for 5 minutes.

Allow concentrate to cool before adding to cold water and ice.

Halloween-inspired-wines-beer-ales

 

red-vibrant-color-wine-goblets

TableTop King 10 oz Wine Glasses, Stemmed Style in Red, Set of 6

Skull Ice Cube Mold Tray

Skull Ice Cube Mold Tray

Tablewares and Serving Pieces

oan-Crawford-Straight-Jacket

Tarot cards make whimsical place cards.

tarot-cards-fan-deck

Select a Sharpie in a commanding color and personalize with guests name.

Tattoo Tarot Board Game Cards

Tattoo Tarot Board Game Cards

Eat, Drink and Be Scary Serving Platter - Threshold™

Eat, Drink and Be Scary Serving Platter – Threshold™

Delivery!

Target-package

6″ Stoneware Cat Face Appetizer Plate – Threshold™

Treasures found, ordered, and delivered today make me Halloween happy.

stoneware-pumpkin-appetizer-plate (1)

When Halloween party hosting for twenty or less guests, and with Dave the Builder sharing KP duties, I go with “real” plates, utensils, glassware, etc…

orange-dinner-plate

Royal Norfolk Orange Stoneware Plate

Dollarish store stoneware plates and plastic chargers in traditional Halloween colors stack up a wicked good look.

black-dinner-plate

Royal Norfolk Black Stoneware Plate

Super scary-cute-sweet Halloween theme plastic and paper tableware options are everywhere this time of year, and make an impressive showing and an easy clean-up undertaking.

Royal Norfolk Red Swirl Side Plate

Royal Norfolk Red Swirl Side Plate

Metallic Silver Scroll Charger Plate

Metallic Silver Scroll Charger Plate

black-formal-plate-charger

Leopard love!

leopard-print-charger-plate

Leopard Print Charger Plate

This Mystic Eye Ouija Cutting Board is so unique.

mystic-eye-ouija-cutting-board

Mystic Eye Ouija Cutting Board

skeleton-tongs

Skeleton Tongs

Rats and cheese go together like a Halloween themed cheese board.

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black-wood-rectangular-cheese-boards-assorted-sizes

Black Wood Rectangular Cheese Boards

Rubber rats straight out of the Halloween decorations aisle placed on a black cheese board create a deliciously eerie display most Halloween appropriate.

 black-rubber-rats

Natural beauty pumpkins are simple to make and simply elegant when completed.

Simply heat up the old glue gun (caution, it’s hot!) and hot glue lush leaves to the pumpkin.

fall-pumpkin-cheese-board

I hope one or more of these tasty and festive Halloween decorating ideas tricks and treats your Halloween soiree spook-takular.

Sweet Treats No Tricks Halloween Goodies

Coming soon to a serving tray or cake plate near you is the sweet treats-no tricks Halloween goodies sure to tempt and delight.

jack-o-lantern-on-column-1

Flickr

I’ve selected several recipes, ideas, and suggestions for making the Halloween goodies baking process a delicious, easy, and wickedly fun endeavor.

Halloween goodies

Country Living Magazine

Presentation is key, and the vintage cutouts, bendables, honeycomb decorations, candies, and tin tray spell trick or treat.

Vintage Halloween Tissue Dancer Witch Hanging Decor

Vintage Halloween Tissue Dancers Hanging Decor

I loved our annual Halloween shopping trips to Kmart, TG&Y, and Gibsons for decorations.

Selections were limited compared to today’s offerings, but did the trick.

black melamine serving tray

A honeycomb decoration served as a centerpiece, a bendable scarecrow or warty witch a front door decoration, and two plastic jack-o’-lanterns lights to light the Halloween night and living room windows completed the look.

Vintage Halloween honeycomb cat

My mother showed a cake mix who was boss in the original Places In The Home test kitchen.

Duncan-Hines-dark-chocolate-cake-mix

Rae Dunn Large Mix Mixing BowlRae Dunn Large Mix Mixing Bowl

Her bag of tasty tricks included adding candy bar pieces, flavoring extracts, calorie rich whole milk, and food coloring combinations transformed a store bought cake mix into the taste of homemade.

There’s Halloween goodies magic in a bag of Milano cookies and white chocolate chips.

Milano milk chocolate cookies

Milano mummy cookies

M’mm M’mm mummy cookies are easy to make with a bag or two of Milano cookies, white chocolate chips, sprinkles, or candy eyes.

Milano cookie ghosts

Start by placing 2 cups of white chocolate chips and ½ teaspoon shortening  in a microwave safe bowl.  Microwave for 90 seconds.  Stir to incorporate. Microwave in 30 second intervals until chocolate is fully melted.

For extra smooth chocolate, add another ½ teaspoon of shortening to the melted chocolate; stirring well to mix.

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Test kitchen experiment with mint chocolate chips (not a favorite in the Places In The Home test kitchen) proves the times and ingredients accurate.
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mint-chocolate-chips

melted-chocolate-chips

Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.  Place Milano cookies on cookie sheet.

Spoon melted chocolate over the top half of each Milano cookie and allow to set.

Reheat the remaining chocolate for 10 seconds to melt.  Carefully spoon melted chocolate into a resealable plastic bag.   Zip or seal the bag and snip off the bottom corner off the bag.

Drizzle chocolate over each cookie to create the bandage look.  Finish by adding candy eyes or sprinkles for the eyes to each cookie while chocolate is soft.

Refrigerate cookies to allow chocolate to set.

Halloween graveyard cake

Halloween Graveyard Cake from Country Living Magazine

Milano cookies make excellent tombstones.

Classic-Chocolate-Creamy-Home-Style-Frosting

Spoon canned frosting in your choice of color into a resealable plastic bag.

Seal or zip the bag and snip off the bottom corner off the bag.

Pipe RIP on top half of a Milano cookie, and that’s it.

halloween-cookie-recipes-black-cat-cookies

These Black Cat Cookies from Good Housekeeping immediately caught my eye.

Granted, there’s several steps included in this recipe, but the finished product makes it worthwhile.

Black Cat Cookies

Ingredients

Basic Sugar Cookies – recipe here

Black Cocoa Cookies – recipe here

Royal Icing – recipe here

Vodka or other clear alcohol (you might need to add a dram or two for the baker!)

Black and silver luster dust

Directions

Prepare cookie doughs as directed.  Use flour-coated circle cutters to cut out circles from sugar cookie dough, and use cocoa-coated cat cutters to cut out cats from black cocoa cookie dough.  Bake as directed and let cool completely.

Use royal icing to decorate sugar cookies and attach cat cookies on top.

Mix a small amount of clear alcohol with silver luster dust and use a paint brush to paint small brushstrokes on the royal icing of the sugar cookies. Repeat with black luster dust to paint bats.

Makes 1 dozen.

-Good Housekeeping Test Kitchen

witch-cupcakes

These witch cupcakes are so ugly they’re darling.

I’m taking baking liberty here by suggesting you make the cupcakes using cake mix.  Where the cake mix calls for water, I use milk for a richer homemade taste.

How to make the witch hats:

Place a wire rack over a baking sheet.  Use a serrated knife to carefully cut 3 in. from the point of the sugar cones.  Place the chocolate wafers on the rack.

Melt the chocolate chips in the microwave according to package directions. Spoon the melted chocolate over one cone at a time making sure to evenly cover each cone.

With a spatula, spread the chocolate to cover the wafer, adding more chocolate if necessary.

How to make the frosting:

Using an electric mixer, beat 2 cups confectioners’ sugar, 1 ¼ cup butter (2½ sticks), 1 tsp vanilla and ¼ tsp salt in a bowl until smooth and fluffy.

Tint frosting green by mixing two drops of yellow food coloring with two drops of blue.

How to make the witches:

Spread a small amount of frosting onto each cupcake, top with a doughnut. Frost sides and top of the doughnut.

Place the jelly beans, cut-side down, into the frosting for eyes.

Cut each taffy into 4 pieces, shape each into a nose and place under the eyes.

Pipe the brown frosting ( two drops of red and two drops of green) onto the jelly beans for pupils and over the jelly beans for eyebrows.

Pipe a mouth with the red frosting.

Break the shredded wheat into strands and place on top of each doughnut.

-Woman’s Day

The homemade and the taste of homemade Halloween goodies trick is to treat the eye and the sweet tooth.

love your style

 

Halloween Happenings

October is an eventful month at the Places In The Home corral however, the corral is anything but ok these days when it comes to the business of all things house that make a home.  Let me ‘splain.  In the grand scheme of blogging things, one (me) simply can’t get the job done, posts written and images photoshopped unless the desktop computer and monitor work, and work they don’t.  This recent development is not my idea of frighteningly fun Halloween happenings, and trying to undo this sinister snafu without losing my mind and my religion is the trick.

monitor-brokenEvil!

Where there’s a will, there’s a way.  Although working on the notebook computer is no treat, the trick is to drink apply the principle of adjustment. Adjusting is the theme of this week.  Our city government announced this morning that local trick-or-treating will now take place on Friday evening.  The forecast is shaping up to be an ugly event making Halloween trick-or-treating on Saturday a washout.  Our Halloween celebration is still on, but with an adjustment or two of its own.  Call it a trick-or tweaking.

Halloween-happenings

No rain event will poison the party atmosphere at our Halloween at Places In The Home party.

poison-apple-Halloween

The welcome mat is out, the pumpkin is marked for carving, and in the words of Tom Bodett we’ll leave the light on for the trick-or-treaters.

we're-all-mad-hereBlame the madness on the Great Halloween Computer Crash, Charlie Brown!

I’ll redefine the term steaks are on the grill via a cast iron skillet on the stove, a liberal pat of butter, haunted house seasoning and a low and slow approach.  The food and drink will flow, and the Let’s Halloween playlist will rock the castle.

keep_of_Portchester_Castle,_2008-1The Keep of Portchester Castle, Hampshire, United Kingdom

For those of you who Halloween, have a safe and wickedly wonderful time. For those of you who do not Halloween, have a safe and wonderful weekend.

Love your style!

A Most Fetching Friday Halloween Edition

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This week’s Fetching Friday Halloween edition is appropriately inspired by the occasion of the day.

ff-black-pumpkinSweet Paul Magazine

ff-Halloween-chandy

1stdibs

halloween-decorArchitectural Digest

ff-halloween-matts-gustafson-kitchen-stockholm-remodelistaRemodelista

ff-pumpkin-in-barber-chairSur La Table on Facebook

ff-traditional-kitchen-alison-spear-dutchess-county-new-york-201306_1000-watermarkedArchitectural Digest Design File- Alison Spear Design

ff-halloween-statueAtlanta Homes & Lifestyles

When witches go riding,
and black cats are seen,
the moon laughs and whispers,
‘tis near Halloween.

– Author Unknown

 

halloween-black-service-areaHouse Beautiful

Halloween-fabric

I hope you have a most fetching Friday.

Love your style!

Halloween Decorating Ideas

Halloween decorating ideas tricked out in Halloween spooktacular fashion will illuminate the evening and catch the eye of the costumed faithful.

Halloween-decorating-suggestions

Halloween decorating has taken on a life all its own in recent years. Decoristas leave no moss covered stone unturned, no craft store unshopped, and no Halloween Pinterest board or Instagram account unseen in search and shop for the ultimate Halloween decor ideas.

flying-monkey“Fly, Fly, Fly.”  

We keep the scarefest very G-rated as not to spook the little ones. The most frightening thing at our house is the amount of calories in the bowls and bowls of candy.

skeleton-candy-bowl-1

In the vein of delight over freight, this Halloween decoration DIY is share worthy.

tissue paper bells ghoulsCountry Living

Construction-paper eyes and mouths glued onto white tissue-paper bells and then draped with cheesecloth brings forth a ghostly ghoul gang.

bridal-paper-bells

Black and orange rules the color palette, Monster Mash is the first tune on the Halloween playlist, and I’ve been known to break out an old pair of men’s cowboy boots, jeans, flannel shirt and stacks of yesterday’s news (0ld newspapers) creating a wicked good cowboy to help me pass out candy.

Vintage-Lady-with-Red-Veil

The Graphics Fairy

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Old-Photo-Image-Unibrow-Man

The Graphics Fairy

Glitter stickers, acrylic paint and a decorative furniture or curtain finial lend a designer touch and signature style to a Halloween pumpkin.

curtain-finial

Stylish decorations don’t have to expensive to be impressive.

witches-hat-black-cat

Create fab-BOO-lous Halloween centerpiece magic with a couple of dollar store feather boas, a witches hat, and a rhinestone pin.

Cinderella-pumpkins-local (1)

Get more bang for your harvest and Thanksgiving decorating buck by not carving the pumpkin and simply surrounding it with wow factor embellishments.

options-graphic-1

Spray painted leaves, a free Halloween themed printable, and/or old photos make great options to decorate a no carve pumpkin with.

Stretch Panne Velvet Velour Red Fabric

Velvet and lace add an elegant, creepy edge to the festivities.

Telio Amelia Lace Black Fabric

Mix and mingle fairy lights in and around the feather boas for an inexpensive option to light the Halloween night.

feather-boas-fairy-lights

Stock up on pillar candles and dollar store glass containers and cylinder vases.

clear glass cylinder vase

Glitter, black beans, candy corn or water dyed with food coloring make great filler choices.

dry-black-beans

Fly on over to your local dollar store for Spanish moss, red apples and glow-in-the-dark insects, and you’re set.

Halloween-centerpiece-ideas

These are just a few Halloween decorating ideas I have in my trick-or-treat bag. I hope one or more offers inspiration for your Halloween haunted or not so haunted house soiree.

Darleen-signature-love