Imagine if you dedicated an entire day to creating a Halloween project. What couldn’t you make with 20-30 hours and a vision? Norma Jean spends that much time on each one of her handmade horror dolls, giving attention to the smallest details. They are totally one of a kind, and she even sculpts the heads, hands and feet herself. All that handmade TLC is going to cost you, but sometimes you have to splurge for art. (Plus, supporting spooky artists is a always a good thing.) There are such gory categories as dolls with head injuries, mad scientists, and perhaps my favorite, the skeletons convicts.
If you’ve got a barren chamber door, she also has super detailed, ornate Halloween wreaths available. Actually, they’re kind of like Halloween exploded into a wreath shape with all the activity going on (and I mean that in a good way). If you’ve got a specific style in mind, she does take custom orders but be sure to plan at least 2 weeks ahead.
Hey Halloween fans, we’ve got some juicy new articles and tutorials coming your way…
- Tomorrow we’re heading to the Halloween Haunt @ Knott’s Scary Farm. Last year they won the “Best Halloween Event in the World” award from Amusement Today. Hopefully that will make our claim seem less like hyperbole when we say it’s absolutely the best haunt we’ve ever attended (and we’ve seen a lot). It’s been a few years since we make the trek, so we’re chomping at the bit to see this year’s spectacle. Expect a full report in a few days.
- In other news, we’ve improved the search function on the site. Now all the search results are showing up so you can quickly scan through our whole site via the search box. Additionally, the tutorials now have thumbnails so you can quickly tell the difference between them and a regular old blog post. Handy, eh?
- On the 13th we’re headed off to a major Halloween shindig, and among other devious implications, that means that you’ll soon see a new featured recipe (with pictures of course). If we do a test run then the recipe will be up within a week or so, otherwise it should be up by the 15th. Just in time to add it to your Halloween party menu.
- There is also a new Halloween decor tutorial in the works to spice up your window and freak out your neighbors. Give us about a week.
That’s it for now. Want to see more? Then submit your own creepy creations and fiendish online finds! We want to hear your tales, see your photos, try your tutorials, and view your favorite creepy links… and so does the rest of the Halloween community.
Welcome to October! Less than 30 days to get all your Halloween plans together, including choosing a killer costume. If you’re still unsure what to dress up as, I’ve got a roundup of links that are sure to get your creative juices flowing.
Not sure where to start? The best tip I know of is to choose a Halloween costume that you’re genuinely interested in becoming. If you spend your days dreaming about how badass ninjas are, then be a ninja! If you really like a character from a movie or comic, become him or her for Halloween. For all you mavericks out there who want to do something truly original, dream up your own character. Feel free to borrow from any themes that appeal to you, whether they will “make sense” to other people or not. Grab a wig, a loud jacket, some face paint, and be who/whatever you desire. That’s the magic of Halloween, kiddies.
And now onto the costume idea sites. If you know of a website with inspiring costume ideas, leave us a comment.
- Costume Critic: Peruse and rate hundreds of costumes. This site has great browsing capabilities so you don’t have to waste time sorting through themes that you aren’t into. I love looking at Costume Critic throughout the year, too: it’s a good pick-me-up when Halloween is still months away.
- Halloween Costumes Group: My favorite flickr group. Filled with tons of inspirational photos. Lots of creative homemade costumes, as well as better views of ready-made costumes.
- Costume Party Group: People in costumes. Or costumes without people in them. Or people who are merely disguised a bit, or perhaps dressed a little funny… feel free to stretch the definition a bit.
- Instructables Costume Tutorials: Learn to make a costume, step by step, with a How-To from Instructables. The first 3 pages of results are great.
- Costumes Group: Costumes of all shapes, sizes and colors. Halloween as well as those dressed to the nines in something fantastical.
- Science Fiction/Fantasy Convention Costumes Group: Pretty self-explanatory, eh?
- Masked Faces Group: This group doesn’t allow Halloween masks, so instead it is full of more creative mask options.
Photo by Georgios Wollbrecht
I’m seeing a lot of DIY Halloween action this year, and it’s still relatively “early” in the season. I predict we’re in for a great year. Keep creating, Halloweenies!
One industrious sweet tooth decided to revamp the holy grail of Halloween treats and make homemade candy corn. Melisser wanted to enjoy its simple sweetness sans the sucky ingredients, so she tweaked a recipe from the Epicurious Editor’s Blog- with perfect results- and shared her success story online. Visit her blog for a step by step recipe with pictures. If you make your own homemade candy corn, let us know how it turned out!
Okay my little dark decorators, we have a new Halloween Decor tutorial for you, courtesy of Jill King from Spokane, WA*. You know those little bricks of modeling clay that are available at every craft store? With a just little bit of artistry- not too much, this craft is still suitable for beginners- you can transform those into little pumpkin picture holders. Use them to display creepy old ephemera, Halloween cards, or even your emo photography. Here’s an easy Halloween decorating idea: for a simple Halloween display, line up a handful of these along a windowsill or mantle and your decor is done. No matter what you’ve got going on with your Halloween decorations, these will make a creepy cool addition.
New Tutorial: Pumpkin Wire Picture Holder
*Thanks, Jill!
The bummer about kids Halloween costumes is that they’re pretty much a one-time use item. Kids grow so dang fast, and unless you’ve got younger kids to pass down those costumes to, they’re useless to your family after the season. Thankfully, you can help out other families in need and give new life to a used costume at the same time. Preschool Rock has set up a Halloween Costume Exchange that allows you to donate your kids used costumes and get a 20% discount off a new costume for this year. Pretty sweet deal.
How Does the Halloween Costume Exchange Work?
Parents seeking free Halloween costumes:
- Look through the listings of free Halloween costumes.
- When a desirable Halloween costume is found, the parent contacts the Halloween costume donator via email to arrange for shipment.
- Parent receives Halloween costume in the mail just in time for Halloween!
Parents wanting to donate a Halloween costume:
- Complete the Halloween Costume Exchange Donation Form.
- Your Halloween costume will be posted on PreschoolRock; PreschoolRock will email a code to you that will give you 20% off the cost of a new Halloween costume from Anytime Costumes.
How simple is that? So if you’ve got any kids costumes laying around please donate them so that a family in need can have a great Halloween.
