These are a simple spooky yard decoration using items from around the home.

Materials:

Plastic sheeting or slit open garbage bag (large)
Dirt and leaves
Hand sized rocks (optional)
Body props (ideas: an old boot or shoe, fake hand or foot)

Directions:

• Lay out the plastic sheet on top of the ground where you want the grave to be.
• Pile on dirt so it mounds up like a freshly covered grave, leave a margin of plastic uncovered for easy cleanup.
• Stick your props in the dirt in the position they’d naturally be in (ie. if using a boot, stick it where it’s at the bottom of the grave, or a hand off to the side reaching up trying to get out).
• To completely hide the plastic, place the rocks all around the grave as a border.
• Strew some fallen leaves around the grave.
• Top the grave with a homemade tombstone.

For optimal effect, place a spotlight on the grave. Otherwise, try to position the grave where there will be some light on it so it can be seen at night.

Date Added: Sep 29, 2007

Use clear glass bowls for best effect.

Materials Needed:

Medium sized glass bowls (like a rose bowl)
Colorful Halloween candy (like candy corn)
Votives & Votive holders

Directions:

• Fill the glass bowls close to the top with candy.
• Insert the glass votive holders so that the top is just above the candy. The top level of candy should now be even with the top of the glass bowl.

Insert candles to fit the votive holders. You can use votives to “hide” the candle in the candy or choose candles that are a few inches tall. Light them for a simple yet pretty Halloween decoration.

Date Added: Sep 28, 2007

You can use an old candelabra you picked up at a garage sale or even a pair of candle sticks for this centerpiece.

Materials Needed:

Wax (same color as the candles)
Candles
Candelabra or candle holders

Directions:

• Lay some newspaper on your workspace for quick cleanup once you’re done preparing this centerpiece. Place the candelabra on top then insert the candles in the holders. Light them for a few minutes so the tops pool with wax and melt down a bit.
• Melt chunks of wax in a pot then take a large spoon and drizzle the melted wax slowly over top of the candles. Keep clear of the wick since you’ll want to light the candles during the party. You want to achieve the effect of heavy wax dripping along the sides of the candles and at the bottoms of the candle holders.
• Once you’re satisfied with the effect, leave the candelabra alone so the wax has a chance to firmly set. Carefully move the candelabra and position it in the middle of your food table.

You may have to keep reheating the wax in the pot while you do this since it will harden fairly quickly.

Date Added: Sep 28, 2007

An old favorite, here’s how to make them:

• Using clean, non-powdered and non-latex gloves, fill them with water or the punch you will be serving (can also use a complimentary juice, don’t use an alcoholic mix since it may not freeze properly). Tie them off tightly with an elastic band so no water will leak out.
• Lay the gloves on a cookie sheet and freeze. Do this the night before the party. Once frozen solid, cut the glove off and place in the punch bowl.
• Make at least two so you have a fresh one to add as the first one melts.

Optional: Put a gummy worm in each finger of the glove before filling with water, they’ll freeze inside the ice hand for a cool effect.

Date Added: Sep 27, 2007

An easy way to achieve a “bug effect” in icecubes is to place a raisin or two in each space of an icecube tray. Fill with water then freeze.

When these icecubes are floating in a punchbowl and glasses, it looks like bugs are floating in the beverage.

Probably not a good idea to use when serving small children since the raisins will be loose in the beverage when the icecubes melt–they may choke on them.

Date Added: Sep 26, 2007

Ingredients:

2 small packages yellow Jello
1 1/4 cups boiling water
24 blueberries

Directions:

• Pour Jello powder in the boiling water and stir to dissolve. Pour into rounded bottom ice cube trays. Refrigerate until partially set (approximately 20 minutes).
• Push the blueberries into the Jello (as eyeballs) and refrigerate until Jello has fully set.
• Dip the ice cube tray in warm water for about 30 seconds. Run a knife around the edge of each ice cube to cleanly pop over the eyes onto a serving dish.
• Keep refrigerated until serving. Makes 24.

Date Added: Sep 26, 2007