Hello, all!  I've been prompted to share the gorey details of this year's Halloween bash.

The theme is based around "Our Love Will Never Die" tombstone.  Heh, I thought it was cute.
(http://www.frightcatalog.com/Halloween-Props/Tombstones/Never+Die+Tombstone-1016009/ )

So hubby and I are dressing like Gothic Victorian Vampires.  I just ordered the cake-its shaped like a coffin, with silk roses and cobwebs.

Originally I was going to do a mock wedding w/a "Corpse Bride" type wedding cake.  Weellll, since a wedding was not actually taking place (my idea was that we got too hungry before the guests arrive so we ate the padre, who will still be burried in my bathtub incl. tombstone) I decided to go with the coffin cake.  I'm still doing the invitations psudo wedding like, with a program and lots of flower arrangements.

Any way...so it has begun.  The save the date postcards are trickeling out...Bwaahaahaa

What I wouldn't do to be a "fly on the wall" at your party!!  Sounds like you and hubby are going to have a great time!  Vampires,ooohhhh,right up my alley(a dark deserted alley,that is!)
Thanks for the link,too!  I think I found the costume I'm going to wear to my new boyfriend's "HalloweenSpooktacular" party!

Ohohohoho, sounds like it's going to be great! If I'm ever in the neighborhood during Halloween, I want to do some party crashing.  ;D

I'm so glad you liked the link, CG!  I hope your boyfriend's party is lots of scarry fun!!

If you were in the neighborhood, Juri, you'd have a personalized invitation!!


Today the actual invitations arrived.  I got my jumbo postcards (http://www.ideaart.com/cgi-bin/sgin0101.exe?UID=2007052113174850&T1=PJ0215&FNM=05&UREQA=1&UREQB=2 ) that I used for Save the Date and these: http://www.paperdirect.com/Black+Tie+Flat+Invitations/item_no=SEV11324/cid=950/page_no=1/shop.axd/ProductDetails
and matching programs and business cards

I got some labels from Staples, but the software isn't working so I hope I can get a replacement tomorrow.  I have some save the dates to mail out.

Got my order from Oriental Trading Co. today-yippee!!
I'm going to hang this on the back of the bathroom door
http://www.orientaltrading.com/application?namespace=browse&origin=searchMain.jsp&event=link.itemDetails&demandPrefix=12&sku=25/5570&mode=Searching&erec=11&No=32&D=skull&Ntt=skull&Ntk=all&Dx=mode%252bmatchallpartial&Ntx=mode%252bmatchallpartial&y=9&N=0&x=18&sd=SKULL+WITH+COLOR-CHANGING+EYES

If you sign up for the Oriental Trading email newsletter, you'll regularly get a discount code for orders over $60, free shipping.

Every year (of course, this is only our 2nd party) I have The Coffin of Prizes.  The coffin is 4' long black cardboard and I sit it ontop of a crypt table, then decorate with cobwebs and green lights, ivy and black crows.  Its a door prize kind of thing and this year I got these cuties:
http://www.orientaltrading.com/application?namespace=browse&origin=searchMain.jsp&event=link.itemDetails&demandPrefix=12&sku=25/2382&mode=Searching&erec=1&D=plush%2Bbats&Ntt=plush%2Bbats&Ntk=all&Dx=mode%252bmatchallpartial&Ntx=mode%252bmatchallpartial&N=0&sd=PLUSH+BEAN+BAG+BATS+WITH+BRIGHT+WINGS

Its hard to pick stuff a guy might like, I usually have tea light candles and holders and inscense.  This year I have an actual raffle drum and orange tickets.  That should make it easier than what I tried last year!   ::)

I've got my fangs and perscription red contact lenses.  Hee hee, can't wait to see how those go over!!!

Those little bats are sooo cute, Sakina!

Hope your party is wicked fun!

Sakina wrote on Sep 21^st, 2007 at 12:02am:

I'm so glad you liked the link, CG!  I hope your boyfriend's party is lots of scarry fun!! If you were in the neighborhood, Juri, you'd have a personalized invitation!! Today the actual invitations arrived.  I got my jumbo postcards (http://www.ideaart.com/cgi-bin/sgin0101.exe?UID=2007052113174850&T1=PJ0215&FNM=05&UREQA=1&UREQB=2 ) that I used for Save the Date and these: http://www.paperdirect.com/Black+Tie+Flat+Invitations/item_no=SEV11324/cid=950/page_no=1/shop.axd/ProductDetails and matching programs and business cards I got some labels from Staples, but the software isn't working so I hope I can get a replacement tomorrow.  I have some save the dates to mail out. Got my order from Oriental Trading Co. today-yippee!! I'm going to hang this on the back of the bathroom door http://www.orientaltrading.com/application?namespace=browse&origin=searchMain.jsp&event=link.itemDetails&demandPrefix=12&sku=25/5570&mode=Searching&erec=11&No=32&D=skull&Ntt=skull&Ntk=all&Dx=mode%252bmatchallpartial&Ntx=mode%252bmatchallpartial&y=9&N=0&x=18&sd=SKULL+WITH+COLOR-CHANGING+EYES If you sign up for the Oriental Trading email newsletter, you'll regularly get a discount code for orders over $60, free shipping. Every year (of course, this is only our 2nd party) I have The Coffin of Prizes.  The coffin is 4' long black cardboard and I sit it ontop of a crypt table, then decorate with cobwebs and green lights, ivy and black crows.  Its a door prize kind of thing and this year I got these cuties: http://www.orientaltrading.com/application?namespace=browse&origin=searchMain.jsp&event=link.itemDetails&demandPrefix=12&sku=25/2382&mode=Searching&erec=1&D=plush%2Bbats&Ntt=plush%2Bbats&Ntk=all&Dx=mode%252bmatchallpartial&Ntx=mode%252bmatchallpartial&N=0&sd=PLUSH+BEAN+BAG+BATS+WITH+BRIGHT+WINGS Its hard to pick stuff a guy might like, I usually have tea light candles and holders and inscense.  This year I have an actual raffle drum and orange tickets.  That should make it easier than what I tried last year!   ::) I've got my fangs and perscription red contact lenses.  Hee hee, can't wait to see how those go over!!!

My wife has ordered sutff from The Oriental Trading catalogs ;)

She also get's another catalog called Stuff You Never Knew Existed and I tease her and tell her it should be called Crap You Never Knew Existed ::)

Jerry

Ooooh, I love Halloween!!  :D Your party sounds amazing.  :)
I will celebrate Halloween as a "drowned"- I will have a white dress, put some bath-oil in my hair to make it look a little wet and shadow my face with tones of green plus some smudged mascara...  ;D As I'm very pale I think I can be quite scary that way.  :)

Thanks, Angel Spun, I hope so, too!!!

Hee hee, Jerry, I think its crap also eventhough I have ordered a few things from them-they have such random stuff.   :-[
Joan-Ivy, I think your costume sounds great!!!  I think Manic Panic has green liquid...(looks it up)...Nope, they didn't have it but Good Goth does: http://www.goodgoth.com/foundations.htm

Ugh!  I stayed up really late messing around with the invitations.  I nearly forgot that last year I tried to download free Halloween fonts and my old computer wouldn't let me do it.  After seeing the creepy fonts, I knew I wanted to use them for the Vampire theme...thank goodness I remembered before I started printing anything!!!
I'm very happy with the results and greatful that we have this new laptop (even if I can't figure out the stupid photo software- :P).  So if you're looking for FREE Halloween fonts, go here:
www.halloweenfonts.com

edited to add font address 'cause after I looked up Good Goth I had to buy some stuff and I just posted this entry 'cause I didn't want to loose it and have to try and remember what I just wrote-I've only been up about 1/2 an hour  :P

That sounds so fun Sakina!  I'm hoping someone has a good halloween party around here.  I haven't decided what I'll  dress up as yet though.  

The bats are too cute!


Sakina wrote on Sep 21^st, 2007 at 12:02am:

If you were in the neighborhood, Juri, you'd have a personalized invitation!!

Cool! (note to self: move to Sakina's town after finishing JET)

Thanks Sakina!! That Mint-colour would be perfect... I'll see what I can do (I live in Sweden so if the shipping's too expensive...  :-/ ). But maybe I can find something like it at least!  :)

I hope its not too much, Joan-Ivy. If it is, look for someplace that sells goth makeup locally-that would be your best bet, beyond actual costume makeup from a costume rental type place.

Well...yesterday I had this great idea to get bat stickers (I was going to put these big bat sprinkles on the invites, turns out they are rubber, thick and look like they're flying so they will look best on a flat surface like a table.  I think they wouldn't stick to paper well or they might tear through an envelope for the ones that must be mailed.) from this site that's all about bats:
www.speleobooks.com
I got these super cute ones: http://www.speleobooks.com/catindex.html

Today I am starting on the floral arrangement stuff-starting with a grapevine wreath for the front door.  It will have red fall leaves, black leaves, rubber snakes, cobwebs and 5 small foam skulls.
Then I have a few vases to design and the biggie is the arch, it looks like this: http://www.frightcatalog.com/Halloween-Props/Decorations/Gothic+Skull+Archway-1006035/  I'm going to decorate it with dark red roses, black leaf garlands and there will be a big flower arrangement on the top.  I think we'll use this as our photo spot and place it infront of the back door so everyone has to walk under it to go outside.  I think it will be too dark for good pics if we put it out in the backyard, which was my original idea.  We'll see.

I love to send my guests home with a goody bag.  This year the bag looks like a coffin: http://www.orientaltrading.com/application?namespace=browse&origin=catalogProducts.jsp&event=link.itemDetails&demandPrefix=12&sku=25/7313&prodCatId=380360&mode=Browsing&erec=0&No=16&sp=true&Ntk=all&Ntx=mode%252bmatchallpartial&N=380360&sd=R.I.P.+COFFIN-SHAPED+GIFT+BAGS
Yesterday I found these, and ordered some: http://www.cafepress.com/buy/bats/-/pv_design_prod/pg_1/p_storeid.43917224/pNo_43917224/id_10590773/opt_/fpt________________________P/c_802/
I love the idea that people will be reminded of the great time at our party when they look at the fridge.

After my floral stuff I'm planning on working on this project, which I want to use at the front door.  I got two 4' tall 3 ball ivy topiary trees (Michael's had them on sale 50% off!!) and I'm putting a foam skull on top with black crows and I want to make the skulls blink.  Here's the project instructions: http://www.freewebs.com/halloweentower/propblinkingskull.htm

OK, nothing is going like I thought it would.  I did finish the invitations last night and they're going out today.

Now the decorating really begins.  After much bouncing off ideas on cats and hubby, I have found a cool way to keep the wedding theme (still having coffin cake) by switching my room decor around.  I was going to have a salon, with skeletons playing cards and my tropical plants (from hubby's luau) in the front room.  Now *excitement is building* the front room will be the "ceremony" area, and guests will see the arch and chairs set up right when they walk in so it will look like a wedding is waiting to happen.  Hee hee, I'm so happy 'cause I still get to use my original plan.  I'm such a theme-y person!!

So, the salon is moving into the sitting room (our living room) and the skeletons will be at the dining table instead.  I got a fireplace DVD and will play that while our guests enjoy super karaoke.  Friends of a  friend have like  $10,000 system they will bring and as our guests we get to save mucho denero!!!!!!

I may not post too much for the next several weeks, there's sooooo much to do.  My intention this year is to have ALL decorating done by the 18th, which is 2 days before the party.

Thanks everybody for letting me share this with you.

Don't forget to take and post pictures of each of the rooms!  

I hope to give you guys a "virtual" tour via pictures.

I really got a lot done tonight-I'm sweating like crazy.

I'm so happy that the front room (was going to be the salon and is now the ceremony area) in going to make the perfect entrance for our guests.  I'm getting all squishy inside with excitement at how its coming together and will look.  EEEeeeee!

This weekend will be spent a lot on a very tall ladder to put up the stone wall scene setter.  We have high vaulted ceilings.  Thank goodness for staple guns.

I worked with this tonight, and love it sooo much I ordered 4 more:http://www.orientaltrading.com/application?namespace=browse&origin=browseProductMain.jsp&event=link.itemDetails&demandPrefix=11&sku=25/5554&xsaleSku=70/1648&cm_sp=Cross%2520Sell-_-Product%2520Detail-_-+Product%2520Detail

I can't believe how awesome this stuff is.  You'll see...

Oh, yeah, I've been getting great response to the invitations eventhough so far more have said they can't come than can.  It is early yet.

Oh, yeah, x2-I got my BPAL 5ml Oblivion-I'm in love.  I'm going to smell so good no one will resist me, bwaahaaahaaahaaa!

I love it when an evil plan comes together.

You must be one of Oriental Trading's favorite customers! Glad to hear the plan is coming together!

LOL!  I do get regular email free shipping discounts...

Dang it!  I just lost my last post!  Grrrrr.

Do over:

Today the ivy topiaries got a nice wrap in orange string lights.  They'll be placed outside the front door, and I'll add a black crow to the top ball.

Got the arch put up, its way taller than I remember.  I'm going to have to tweak my original idea of the giant arrangement on top, I don't think it will fit now.

Tonight we made the meatloaf grave mounds trial run.  They turned out great, its a winner!

Today I got these spider web doilies and wanted to share:
http://www.decoratingwithlace.com/halloweenfun.htm, scroll down to spider web accents.
I also got some handkerchiefs with lace edges.  And a spiderweb table cloth.  I got Victorian rose doilies, tablecloth and mantle scarf last year to use for this party.

The crypt table is set up and I got news that my custom color black and marroon m&ms are on their way.

I've been having headaches so I'm not sure if I'll get much done on the decorating front tonight.
I wish my mom could have come out to help me decorate.  While he'll help me, hubby's just not as into this as I am.

I found a new hairdo for my costume, I can't wait to see it!!!  I am going to the salon to get it done, no heat, no teasing and very little hairspray/pomade is needed!!  It is perfect for my character!

Funny thing yesterday...I got my latex dead guys out of their boxes to place by the back door-they'll be going outside in the graveyard- as I put one of them down and was walking back to the storage room, Jupiter, my little black manx kitty ran past me super fast.  (he loves to run from one end of the house as fast as he can) When he got close to Grimrot he stopped dead in his tracks and got this funny posture like he has one back leg ready to scram and the rest of him wants to check out this humanoid thing.  I imagine it smells strange to a cat's sensitive nose.  I wish I had gotten a picture!

Ugh!  This weekend hubby and I (mostly I) worked so hard on the decorating.  We are nearly finished and I'm a bit scratched, bruised and worse for wear.  I love it that they've come out with black garlands, like the green Christmas ones.  Man, they can scratch you easily, though!

The backyard looks awesome, and it isn't even finished!  I love how the Tiki Bar turned out-its spooky!

This is the first year we made our own LED light skulls-one with green eyes and one with red.  I feel this is the beginning of a journey to making my own full fledged props.  I'm really interested in animatronics.  I currently know nothing about electronics.

So far looks like we're expecting 30+ people.  I really wish everyone would remember RSVP means respond whether you're coming or not!!  I think I'm going to put a note in next year's invitations!!

I can't imagine why anyone would NOT want to come to your parties!  They sound like the social event of the year.  Wish I was closer and could drop in..... hmm, what would my costume be?  Maybe I could paint a box to look like a castle and be Rapunzel looking out the window!

I like your costume idea, BB!  We had two guys wearing boxes-one was an iGo product (he works w/hubby and that's their product) box and the other guy was a Breathalizer.  You'll see, but for right now, the party was a great success and everybody had a great time.  While we were expecting about 40 people, 22 showed up.

Here's me and hubby:

http://i23.tinypic.com/dpjwpg.jpg

EEEEKKKKK!!!!!

;D

Love the look!

Wow, love the costumes!

I wanna see MORE of the costumes!  :-/  ....... and the decorations!

Thanks!  I had so much fun with my red contacts.  Some people wouldn't look me in the face!

More pics are forthcoming...just wanted to give you a peek.  BTW, there was no ratting or heat applied to my hairdo.  Just a foam rat, 2 hair pads, LOTS of amish hairpins, some bobby pins and soft hold hairspray.  

Our costumes were pretty inexpensive, maybe $40 each.  I think the accessories made them special.

I think the tiara was the crowning touch!   ;D

Wow!!!  Great costumes!!!!!

Cool costumes!!! ;)