A Haunted House

Believe it or not, Halloween is around the corner! Halloween is a holiday that merits a plan; it’s one of the only times when adults can be kids again. We get to dress up and be silly. Whether it is planning your costume or planning a ghoulish affair, this is one time where creativity is key and you can have fun with décor. Over the next three weeks I will be sharing three types of haunted celebrations and tips for making them fun for your guests. From throwing a big affair to a small intimate dinner we’ve got you covered, so be sure to check back each week.

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Kicking it off is a no brainer: Create a haunted library for guests to explore. Here are a few easy tips to transform you living room in to a haunting experience. 

The Raven

It always starts with the invitation. Create an invite that has a supernatural sensibility.  Who better to create a haunting story than Edgar Allen Poe. Attach an excerpt of the poem "The Raven" to a faux black bird. 

Cover it Up

To make a big impact and create the sense that your house is an abandoned space, cover your sofas and arm chairs with white sheets. Place cob webbing from your local craft or costume and display store lightly on top of the sheet, giving it the sense that the furniture has been covered up for a long time.

Mummified Tables

Instead of throwing a linen on top of your table, cover the table in strips of muslin. Wrap each leg, and then the tabletop. This will create a mummified feel. Place a row of safety pins in random places to give it an authentic feel. I love this because unlike a linen, wrapping the legs allows you to see the structure of the table and it can be less expensive than a fancy table linen.

The Dust Settles In

What would a haunted house be without dusty books?  Place stacks of books around the room. The older the better. Drop by Goodwill and pick up a stack or two. Set them on coffee tables and end tables. To create the sense that they have been around for awhile, lightly dust the top of the books and spines with talcum powder.  Use a makeup brush to spread the power around, and to brush it away to put the books back on your shelf when the party is over.  Layer a few cobwebs on top and place a rubber mouse or two.

Friend or Foe?

Of course a haunted house wouldn’t be haunted without a ghost.  Create a ghost that will make a big impact by making it 6 feet tall.  Create a plywood base that measures 12 x 12. The first step is to make a frame for your ghost. Drill a pilot hole into the center of the plywood base. Attach one of the 2 x 2 boards to the base with a long wood screw. Cut the foam ball in half using a knife with a serrated edge. With your hot glue gun, attach one half of the foam ball to the top of the board. This creates the head shape. Angle cut two shorter 2 x 2s and screw them into the main 2 x 2. Take an old sock and stuff it lightly with rags. Slide the sock up over the ends of the 2 x 2s to form the shape of hands. To secure them, tape the ends of the socks in place.  Be sure to put the plywood structure on a drop cloth at this point. Cut the white gauze into 6-foot strips. Dip the strips one at a time into a pail of fabric starch. Pull the gauze out slowly, wringing it out as you go. Begin draping lengths of gauze over the ghost frame until you have created the thickness and shape you desire.

Allow the ghost to dry and the gauze to harden.   Place it on your front porch to greet trick-or–treaters or behind the bar to mix a drink!

An Extra Hand

Place ceramic hands throughout your buffet, reaching around a dish, or over one.  Harry Allen creates a work of art that appears to be real. Set in white they have a ghostly feel. If you don’t wan to splurge on a Harry Allen hand, create them yourself with a  ceramic craft kit.

Mirror, Mirror

Whether it is the mirror on your medicine cabinet or something you picked up at a junk store, mirrors age easily. Add a bit of whimsy to any room by spraying a layer of hairspray or spray adhesive on the mirror. Quickly cover the adhesive with a layer of talcum power. With a Q-Tip soaked in nail polish remover write a message on the mirror like “I see you.”

A Ghost Story

Send your guests home with a spooky tale by Edward Gorey. The illustrations are both charming and haunting.  Wrap it up in muslin and place a few safety pins on the front cover. This will reflect the mummified tables at the party. The story can read year after year, making the memory of your Halloween bash a haunting one.