Helpful Halloween Ideas

by Margareth Montenegro

All Hallows Eve is just around the corner, where ghouls, goblins, witches and vampires are ready to come out. Typically we prepare ourselves for Halloween with candy, decorations and customs. For once, you can send chills up the spine of those who come knocking at your door. Here are some ideas to make your Halloween fun and spooky for everyone to enjoy.

Making your own spooky sounds can be easy and fun. To do this you will need a microphone, a tape recorder or CD recorder, and blank tapes or CDs. Press record and make some scary sounds such as screaming, crying, laughing, slamming the door, rustling some leaves, etc. Just let your imagination guide you. An alternative to having spooky sounds is buying tapes or CDs that have graveyard sounds, witches' laughter, door slamming, screaming, etc. These are a little more costly, but you won't have to go through the trouble of rerecording.

Everyone hates the feeling of something crawling on him or her. You can create spiders with webs. Place stretch cotton spider cobwebs or fiberfill from your local Halloween store around your bushes, trees, or porch. Spray some water on them to get the gooey, sticky feeling. For an added spook you can tie a string to all your spiders and set them up so that they come down when the door is opened, or as someone walks by they can trigger the string and down comes the spider.

You can create your own giant spiders by using a large black garbage bag, newspaper or leaves, cardboard and glue. Fill the garbage bag with newspaper or leaves until it is the right firmness you want it to be. Cut eight legs out of the cardboard and cover them with black cloth, construction paper or with pieces from another garbage bag. Glue the legs on and let it dry.

A ghoulish treat is to create your own graveyard in front of your yard. Buy large blocks of Styrofoam from a local art supply store. Cut them up into different size head stones by using a knife or a saw. Paint them a dark charcoal or gray color using paint or spray until they are completely covered. You can take a sponge and dip it slightly into light gray, black or white paint and sponge around until you get the old and fading effect. Add your epitaphs by either carving into the Styrofoam or writing them on with paint. Place your tombstones in your yard about two to four feet apart into the leaves and cover them with some vines. For a creepy effect, add a crow on one of the tombstones. As it gets darks you want your graveyard to be visible. Be sure to light it properly with a couple of Jack-o-lanterns or with a floodlight.

Lighting is important on Halloween because it sets the mood of a haunting in your yard, in the garage, or in your house. You would probably need to spend a little here, especially if you are trying to create the perfect haunted house. There are lots of lighting options like candles, backlights, fluorescent lights, strobe lights, floodlights and stringed lights that can be found at your local Halloween store. Set them up where you want. Just remember you want enough light so that people won't trip, but not so much so they can still get scared. To add more to the special effects of lighting, you can get a fogger to create the mist and eeriness of not knowing what you are walking into.

To give the feeling that someone is watching and guarding over your spooky home, make a dummy or scarecrow. Get an old shirt and pants (preferably jeans) and tuck the shirt into the pants by pinning them together or tying them with a string. If you want, you can add a belt. Now you can stuff your dummy with newspaper. You can also take plastic bags, stuff them with newspaper, and then place them into your dummy. Take old large gloves, stuff them and tuck them into the shirt sleeves. Use old socks, fill them with newspaper, and tuck the pants in. Then put on an old pair of shoes. Use whatever you want for the head, such as a ball, a pumpkin, a balloon or an old sheet. You may want to add blood to it as a gruesome effect.

"Double, double toil and trouble. Fire burn, and cauldron bubble." Wouldn't it be nice to make your own cauldron bubble? Partially fill a plastic cauldron with hot water, and then add dry ice and a glow stick to create an eerie centerpiece for your table. Be careful when handling dry ice; it can easily burn the skin.

If you want to send out Halloween cards or invitations, you can make your own. All you need is construction paper, a pencil, ruler, markers and scissors. Or you go to an e-card website and send them.

Halloween night is not complete without a couple of Jack-o-Lanterns sitting on your stairs or lying around your yard. Carve different designs and put a candle inside or a small battery operated flashlight to give that glowing effect. You can even create the misting effect. Place a clear plastic container with hot water inside and add dry ice. Do not use a real candle, as the carbon dioxide will extinguish it.

Depending how elaborate you are going to be with your Halloween set up, you will always need to go to your local Halloween store and buy decorations, props and costumes. Everything is going to cost money, but if you are planning to set up every year for Halloween, then it will be worth spending a little more. If you are planning just to save money and are not really into Halloween, then buying a poster and a few plastic spider webs will be the way to go.

Always remember to have a safe Halloween by making warning signs that warn not to touch decorations or props, because they can be dangerous. You especially don't want the dry ice to be touched by little ones; make sure to put a warning sign on that. If you have actors, tell them not to touch anyone, especially children. They may get really scared and that can spell legal trouble. Put your Jack-o-Lanterns far enough away so they're not a fire hazard. It's also a good idea to talk to your insurance company for extra insurance from the day you set up your props until the day you take them down. A safe Halloween is the best Halloween, making it fun for everyone.