Need a Halloween costume fast? On a budget? Here are a few spooky ideas for fabulous Halloween costumes that you can make at home.

1. Scarecrow
This old favorite is surprisingly simple! Grab an old pair of denim overalls and a flannel shirt. Use clear tape (packing tape is durable!) and attach raffia to the cuffs of the shirt and the hems of the pants. Find an old straw hat, eyeliner for freckles, and blush for cheeks and you are set to go!

2. Grapes Fit for a King
Dig in your drawers for a purple or green sweat suit. If you cant find one, they are relatively cheap at discount stores. Purchase balloons in the same color and inflate. Attach the balloons to the sweats using safety pins. A little face paint is a great touch!

3. Dalmatian
Purchase or find a white hooded sweat suit. You will also need black felt. Cut the black felt into circles and glue strategically onto the sweat suit. Many art stores carry fusible felt that can simply be ironed on. Use black face paint for a black nose, whiskers, and a few spots.

4. Skeleton
This is very similar to the Dalmatian idea. Purchase a black hooded sweat suit and white felt. Cut out bone shapes and attach to the sweat suit. Black and white face paint is another nice touch.

5. Pair of Dice
This is a wonderful idea for couples. Find two relatively large cardboard boxes. Cut the top and bottom out of the box as well as holes for the arms. Cover the boxes with paper the color of your choice. Use black paper or felt to make the dots. You can’t roll a bad pair with this idea! If you want to be a wrapped gift, follow the same steps, but wrap the box in wrapping paper and ribbon. Make a bow to use as a topper on your head. For females, attach to a headband or use bobby pins. For a male, bows can be easily attached to baseball caps.

Halloween is notorious for its tricks and treats. Here are a few ideas for spooky treats to give on this ghoulish holiday.

Temporary tattoos and stickers are great for Halloween and easy on the budget. Most kids love temporary tattoos and they can often be found on the web or in stores in a variety of patterns and themes. Halloween stickers are also a great idea. They provide for easy decorating and hours of fun.

Pencils, novelty erasers and pencil toppers are another option. These low budget favors are popular among a variety of ages and actually provide functionality. Pencils, erasers, and pencil toppers with a Halloween theme can be found online or in the arts and crafts section of most stores.

If you fancy edible treats, here are a few recipes for a disgustingly haunting good time!

Earth Worm Surprise
Ingredients:
1 box of chocolate pudding
1 bag of assorted gummy worms
1 box of chocolate cookies (Oreos work well)
1 bag of clear plastic cups

Make chocolate pudding according to directions on box. Put one or two gummy worms in each cup and pour pudding over them to set. Top with a layer of cookie crumbs. Have gummy worms poking out of crumbs for a spooky surprise.

Goblin Guts
Ingredients:
Popped popcorn
Dried apricots
Dried cranberries
Raisins
Mixed nuts

Mix all ingredients together for a Halloween version of the traditional trail mix. Substitute candy for fruit for a sweeter treat.

Candied Apples
Ingredients:
2 cups of light corn syrup
1 cup of sugar
½ cup of cinnamon red hot candies
8 medium red apples on popsicle sticks
Chopped peanuts (optional)
Pour nuts into a shallow dish or bowl. Line a baking sheet with wax paper. In a saucepan, combine corn syrup, sugar, and candies. Bring mixture to a boil over medium high heat. Continuously stir until mixture has boiled. Cover and continue cooking for three minutes. Uncover and continue cooking until mixture has become 270-290 degrees F on a thermometer. Cool mixture for 2 minutes and then dip apples. Roll apples in nuts if desired. Set on baking sheet to harden.

With so many choices, picking the best Halloween costume for you may be tricky. Many contemplate all year about the perfect ensemble. There are many choices that span a variety of budgets. If you are having a hard time deciding what ghoulish creature or funny prankster to be this spooky holiday season, here are a few ideas.

Make sure your costume is comfortable. Comfort is key for a number of reasons. Masks that impair vision are not only annoying, but can be dangerous. If your costume is too long or baggy it could be a tripping hazard. As you think, make sure that your options won’t impair movement or sight.

If you are attending a fun Halloween party, think about the audience involved. If you know the people well feel free to let your imagination fly. If there is a theme, limit your choices to something within that range. If children are involved, make sure your choice is age appropriate!

If you like to stand out, choose a costume that is controversial or thought provoking. Anything that has to do with politics is usually good and will allow for lots of conversation!

If you are on a budget or just want to hand make your costume, remember a few things. Keep in mind how much you are willing to spend on supplies, and don’t pick a costume that is too difficult for your current sewing or designing skills.

If you plan to buy a costume, do it as early as possible! Popular choices sell out fast. Shop late September or early October for the best costumes at reasonable prices.

Renting a costume is another option. If you want to stand out and be one of a kind, costume stores are the way to go. Watch your budget though, some costumes can be pricey. Also make sure to take care of it while in use, damages are not cheap either!

Shopping online for Halloween costumes and supplies is a fabulous idea. With online retailers you can shop year round. If you already know what you want to be next season, go ahead and buy it during the off time for an incredible discount.

Dressing up on Halloween is probably why it’s considered the most fun holiday. All year people contemplate a costume that will be the envy of all the trick-or-treaters or win the costume contest at the Halloween party. Either way, the practice of dressing up in costume on Halloween is hundreds of years old and still performed today.

Halloween essentially means, “All Hallows Eve,” which occurred the night before “All Hallows Day,” a Roman Catholic holiday celebrating the saints. Years before “All Hallows Day,” was celebrated, the Celtic Irish celebrated October 31st as the “new year.”

On the eve of the “new year,” or “Samhain,” (rhyming with cow-en) as they called it, the spirits of the recently deceased could re-enter the bodies of the living for a chance at an afterlife. During this night, all barriers between the living and the dead were broken.

Fearing for their souls, the Celts would extinguish all the lights in their houses, dress up in ghoulish costumes, and reek havoc on the town to scare the spirits away. The Roman Catholic’s later adopted these practices as their own. As spirit possession became less popular, people began dressing up as witches, goblins, and demons in a more ceremonial manner.

In the 1840’s the famous ‘potato famine’ struck Ireland. Many Irish fled Ireland in search of refuge and ended up in America as immigrants. Although the practice of “dressing up” on Halloween was already a practice in Europe, this is when the ceremony was brought to America.

Today, people all over the world still dress up in costume on Halloween, or “All Hallows Eve,” as it was once called. Many believe that dressing up is a tribute to the ‘devil,’ or some kind of ‘demonic’ ceremony. Quite the contrary, dressing up actually started as means to save souls from demons and later on to celebrate the saints!

Halloween is an exciting holiday for both children and adults. If you’re throwing a Halloween party, food is imperative. Have fun with it! Costumes aren’t the only means of dressing up, dress up your cupcakes with plastic spiders or make eerie vampire blood punch. Here are a few recipes that make great spooky Halloween treats!

Ghoulish Eyeballs
Recipe makes approximately 9 dozen eyeballs

3 cups lemon gelatin (can be sugar-free)
1 cup hot water
½ cup miniature marshmallows
1 cup pineapple juice
8 ounces cream cheese (can be lowfat)
1 cup mayonnaise (can be lowfat/fat free)

Dissolve gelatin in water in a double boiler. Add marshmallows and stir until melted. Remove mixture from heat. Add pineapple juice and cream cheese. Beat until blended well. Cool for five minutes and stir in mayo. If you have rounded ice cube trays, poor mixture in and leave to set in the refrigerator. Otherwise, poor mixture into a ceramic dish and leave to set. When the mixture is set, use a melonballer to scoop balls onto wax paper and set aside to decorate. To decorate use liquid food coloring and paint on irises and pupils. If in a hurry, dip the eyeball into food coloring to approximate an iris and only paint the pupil.

Salami and Cream Cheese Wraps (Witches Fingers)
Make as many as needed

Miniature sweet pickles
Cream Cheese
Sliced Salami
Toothpicks

Cut pickles into fourths lengthwise. Pickle lengths should be relatively similar to the length of the salami. Spread a thin layer of cream cheese on the salami and fold around the pickle. Secure with a tooth pick. Many party stores have Halloween inspired toothpicks for a decorative touch to this spooky snack.

Spooky Halloween Sandwiches
Make as many as needed

Sliced bread
Sandwich filling of choice
Condiments of choice
Metal Halloween inspired cookie cutters

Make sandwiches to taste, but make sure that the ingredients stick well so the sandwich doesn’t fall apart after cutting. After the sandwich is prepared, use a metal cookie cutter (plastic ones often wont cut through sandwich contents) to cut the edges of the bread off. Sandwiches can be secured with a toothpick if needed.

Boogers on a Stick (Here’s a gross one!)
Makes 3 dozen

8oz jar of Cheese whiz
3-4 drops Green food coloring
3 dozen Pretzel sticks

Melt cheese in microwave according to directions on jar or can. Allow to cool slightly. Add food coloring until cheese turns a gross booger-like green. Dip pretzels, one at a time, into cheese. Dip every twenty seconds until desired booger-effect is reached. Place on wax paper to cool.

Chocolate Blood Ooze Cupcakes

8 oz Cream Cheese
1 egg
1/3 cup Sugar
Red Food Coloring
1 pkg Chocolate Cake Mix

Prepare chocolate cake mix using directions on the box. Combine cream cheese, egg, and sugar and blend well. Add two drops of red food coloring and mix. Add food coloring until desired shade is reached. Fill cupcake liners half way with cupcake batter. Place one teaspoon of filling in the center of each. As the cupcakes bake, the batter will rise to surround the filling. Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 25 minutes.

Bug Juice
(Repeat recipe until desired amount is reached)

1 can green Hi-C
2-2liter Sprite
1 container Green Sherbet

Mix Hi-C and Sprite. Add Sherbet to keep mixture cool. Gummy worms add a nice touch. Make mixture with red fruit punch to make vampire’s blood!

Now you have enough recipes to make an entire Halloween feast! Get cooking, and have fun!

Having a happy Halloween is a priority for most. Having knowledge of safety and using common sense can help deter any problems that might arise on this eventful night. Implementing these tips will provide safety and fun for everyone involved!

When planning your Halloween costume or that of your child’s, make sure they involve bright colors or reflective tape. Wear shoes that fit well and hem your costume if it’s too long to prevent tripping.

Make sure children know all of their emergency information. For young children, it’s a good idea to make an index card with all the information and put it in their trick-or-treat bag.

When purchasing costumes, wigs, or masks, make sure they are flame resistant. When purchasing novelty swords, guns, or knives, make sure they look fake and are flexible or soft to prevent injury.

Make sure all children and their escorts are equipped with a flashlight. Put new batteries in the flashlight at the beginning of the night and carry an extra set around incase the batteries die.

Make sure all children and escorts are familiar with the stop, drop, and roll method of extinguishing a fire from their clothes. Have them practice this incase their costume or outfit becomes inflamed.

It’s always a good idea for children and their escorts to trick-or-treat in large groups. Larger groups are more easily seen by motorists. Walk slowly and always communicate with your group so no one gets lost.

Have a family discussion with your children about what is acceptable and not acceptable on Halloween. Having these rules out in the open will prevent any unknowingness on Halloween night.

Make sure kids keep all their candy uneaten until they return home. Greatly inspect each piece of candy to make sure it hasn’t been tampered with.

If you are an adult planning an adult-themed Halloween party, make sure that keys are taken at the door and there are enough designated drivers. Remind guests that children will be trick-or-treating and driving while intoxicated is never a good idea!

Halloween originated with the Celtic Irish. October 31st was the Celtic new year and the night where the recently deceased could re-enter the bodies of the living for a chance at an afterlife. Subsequently, the living would dress up like ghouls to try and scare the spirits away. Today, children and adults alike still look forward to the Halloween celebration. Halloween parties are extremely popular among children and can even be an alternative to trick-or-treating. Here are a few tips on creating an excellent Halloween party for kids.

It’s great for both adults and children to be involved in party planning. Designate duties among both parties for planning, decorating, and cooking. Children love to be involved, so letting them help bake, pick out decorations, and pass out invitations adds to the fun and helps with organization.

Picking a theme is often helpful, but not always necessary. A popular scary/sci-fi movie is often a good choice to base a Halloween party on, but don’t limit costume ideas, as many children have colorful imaginations and different ideas on what they want to be.

Next, make or buy invitations. If you have a computer, there are many software programs that have Halloween clip-art which make it very easy to create a one-of-a-kind invitation. It’s also great to involve the kids in making invitations. Get out the glue, markers, and construction paper and let their creative sides go wild. If you don’t mind spending more, Halloween invitations are also available at most party stores.

Food at a children’s Halloween party is very important, especially if it’s an alternative to trick-or-treating. Provide lots of candy, as many look forward to this holiday solely for this reason. Make treat bags for the little ones to take home afterwards. There are many recipes that involve simple treats such as cupcakes or chips and dip, and taking them to a ghoulish level by adding scary food coloring or plastic spiders.

A Halloween party should not be hard to plan, as the possibilities are essentially endless, but children tire easily, so make sure to have several activities or games set up. Bobbing for apples is an old favorite. Costume contests are also fun, but make sure to have prizes for everyone! Pumpkin carving or painting is another creative option. If you buy the small pumpkins, they make great personalized party favors!

Turn on some eerie Halloween music, turn the lights down, and get ready to party! Keeping an open mind and safety first is imperative with children, so just have fun!

For children, Halloween can be identified as one of the most exciting holidays because of the allure of dressing up in costume and receiving tons of candy. As we age, dressing up becomes more tedious, and counting calories prohibits much fun with candy. Still, Halloween can be fun for adults as well. Throwing an excellent adult themed Halloween party can be simple and enjoyable.

First, try selecting a theme for your adult Halloween party. Setting guidelines helps to reduce anxiety and promote creativity. It also adds to a distinguished and more adult-like atmosphere. Hand made invitations are cheap to make and add a personal touch. Include an RSVP card to know how many friends will be attending. This will also help with budgeting on party favors.

Finger foods such as cakes and small sandwiches make for a great adult themed party. Most foods can be easily converted to Halloween treats by adding a little food color. Keeping a variety of foods will not only keep everyone entertained, but full as well.

Will you be serving alcoholic beverages at your party? There are a variety of cocktails that can be catered to a Halloween theme. Punch is an excellent idea. Using a blood red base adds for a spooky feel and when placed in the proper bowl can make a conversational centerpiece. Party favors such as Halloween themed umbrellas or plastic spiders can be added to the desired affect, or used to distinguish alcoholic from non-alcoholic beverages. Make sure there are enough designated drivers before the party starts!

To keep the party lasting till the wee hours of the morning, try playing some adult themed games. Costume contests are always great and will once again promote creativity in your guests. Karaoke and lip-synching are also popular among the more adult crowd. For the winners, pick up a few gift certificates to a local restaurant or bake an extra batch of cookies.

Turn the lights down, the eerie music up, and get ready to party!

Halloween shouldn’t be only fun for the kids. If you are planning an adult-themed Halloween party, spirits of many kinds are probably on your list. There are many cocktails that can be transformed into spooky Halloween treats. Here are a few ideas:

Blue Ghost
Ingredients:
3 part lime vodka
1 part blue curacao
Sprite or 7 up

Fill a highball glass with ice. Add ingredients and mix well. For an extra spooky treat, decorate with carbonic ice.

Sewer Water
Ingredients:
1 part vodka
2 parts Dr. Pepper
1 part orange juice

Fill a highball glass with ice. Add ingredients and mix well. Add a Halloween themed umbrella or lemon slice for decoration.

Vampire’s Blood
Ingredients:
1 part bourbon whiskey
1 part Drambuie
1 part Dubonnet

Stir ingredients with ice. Strain into a cocktail glass. Add a cherry or lemon slice for decoration.

Halloween Themed Black and Orange Screwdriver
Ingredients:
1 ½ oz. black Blavod Black vodka
3 oz. tangerine juice

Fill a highball glass with ice. Add tangerine juice first, and vodka on top. Decorate with Halloween candy on a swizzle stick.

Jack-o-Tini
2 parts vodka chilled
¼ part Bols Pumpkin Smash Liqueur
Small pumpkins

Put a large soup pot on the stove and boil. Carve the tops off of the small pumpkins and set aside. Scoop out the insides of the pumpkin along with the seeds so only a thin shell is left. The seeds and flesh will not be needed. Place the pumpkins in the boiling water and let sit for approximately a minute. Remove the pumpkins from the water and let drain. Combine vodka and liqueur in shaker with ice and shake well. Strain into pumpkin and serve with Halloween themed straw and other decorations as desired.

Creepy Crawling Bug Juice
1 part coconut flavored rum
1 part Blue Hawaiian Maui Schnapps
5 parts orange juice

Combine ingredients in shaker with ice. Shake well. For an aesthetically spooky touch, serve in mason jars with gummy worm decorations!

When planning any party, make sure there are enough designated drivers. It’s always a good idea to take keys at the door.

Every year on “All Hallows Eve,” better known as “Halloween,” people dress up in costumes, trick-or-treat, watch scary movies, and have parties. This tradition originated in Ireland, as the Celtic Irish once thought that on October 31 the spirits of the dead could re-enter the bodies of the living. In turn, the living would dress up in ghoulish costumes to scare the spirits away. In the 1840’s the Irish brought the tradition to America, and we have celebrated it here ever since. Other countries celebrate Halloween too, and not all the same.

In Austria, families will leave bread and a lighted candle or lamp on the kitchen table before heading to bed. They once believed that the bread and light would welcome souls back from the dead on this eve which is known to be stirring with spirits.

In China they celebrate the Halloween festival which they call, Teng Chieh. Novelties, such as food and water are placed in front of the pictures of deceased relatives. Lanterns are then lit to guide the spirits home on Halloween night. This ceremony has two purposes, the first being to remember the dead, and the second is to help the dead ascend to heaven if they haven’t already done so.

In Ireland, the birthplace of Halloween, they still celebrate this holiday strongly. In more rural areas, bonfires are lit just as they were during the time of the Celts. Children then trick-or-treat around their neighborhoods.

In Japan, they have a holiday celebration similar to Halloween which is known as the Obon Festival. They celebrate the spirits of deceased relatives by preparing special foods and decorating with beautiful red lanterns that are lit and set to float in the rivers.

In Spanish speaking countries such as Mexico, Latin America, and Spain, Halloween is known as “El Dia de los Muertos,” or “the day of the dead.” The holiday is three days of happiness where families remember loved ones who have died. The festivities begin on October 31, when the spirits of the deceased are said to return to their homes. Many decorate their houses with alters of flowers and pictures to commemorate their loved ones.