The future is Orange!

I was in Eastbourne at the weekend and they have a nice Poundland store there where I bought more Halloween goodies! I am amazed at the value for money. The pack of orange tissue was of course just £1 and there are 18 sheets including 4 printed with spiders, orange crepe paper and black crepe paper.  Great for wrapping up little gifts.

I like the skeletons. I haven't quite decided what to do with them yet but the skull necklace I will dismantle and cover the skulls and crossbones with illuminated glitter.

I hope you are all getting crafty for Halloween and if you are in need of ideas or tips, check my previous posts for this year or go visit here for last year's posts where I gave lots of links for websites. Just scroll down and there are more ideas on my sidebar.

Toots for now,

WOYWW - Halloween invites

It's that time of year again when my dark side emerges and I get involved with all things Halloween! *Ü* This year, my 3 friends, my sister and I will be having a day together, celebrating Halloween with some spOOktacular surprises! I have been making the invitations and that is what is on my desk this morning. I made the background paper just by using some of my 3,000 fonts on my pc and chalking over the paper to give a distressed look....and then I inked the edges. Here are the 5 layered on top of eachother.  

If you want to have a nosey on everyone else's desk today, pop on over to Julia's blog and leave your name with Mr Linky. Happy crafting.

Bag of bones!

I'm laughing...I can imagine what you might all be thinking....."what on earth will she do next"?! Welll....as I passed the butcher this morning, I popped in and asked him if he had any beef bones! Here they are....

...and what do you suppose I will do with them? At this moment in time, they are boiling in the saucepan. 1. They will make some beef stock which I will freeze until needed. 2. The bones are going to be serviette rings!! LOL...but then you knew that, didn't you?! Of course, I shall strip them of any meat or marrow and clean them up first! *Ü* 

Do drop in for more Halloween tips!!!

Toots for now peeps.

Halloween Bites!

There are lots of websites around that give ideas and inspiration for Halloween crafts, food, decoration, invitations to parties, costumes and games.

One of my favourite sites is Martha Stewart. There are hundreds of ideas to make Halloween a frightfully spOOktacular time.

I have been planning my menu and I want to start with a salmon mousse but it will be in the shape of a brain - with the use of a brain mould! I bought one from Marks & Spencer for £3.99 - including the jelly and gummy worms! (This isn't the one I bought but similar shape).

Hmm...when I think back to my childhood....I can remember my dad would buy 'brains' - of what, I never knew but he would cook them gently in the frying pan and we would eat them, spread on toast - and I enjoyed them!   Now my dad was born in Cairo, Egypt, brought up in Damascus and I would imagine that he would have eaten all sorts of  'exotic' foods. Funny, the things that bring back memories!! LOL.

For main course, we shall be having a Rack of Ribs! Also, Meatloaf in the shape of a hand.

For dessert, I will be making the Graveyard Cake that Heston Blumanthal made on his Gothic tv series.

However, if you don't have time to make a cake for Halloween, or not that creative, you could always buy one here but they are quite pricey - cool though. 

All for now peeps....got another list to make! Toots for now.

  

My Boo Crew!

Last year, my youngest daughter Keeley hosted the family Halloween party. Unfortunately, my husband and I didn't go but they had a wonderful time together and I did feel part of it as they called me and sent me photos via their mobile phones!

This is them in all of their regalia! I really couldn't recognise who was who - except for cutie pie - Little Miss Ashley that is....their makeup was a great disguise.  

I hope you are all having a super rest today and getting ready for Halloween....maybe Christmas,  as it is now October and time to be thinking about making those Christmas cards. Whatever you are doing. Enjoy!

Halloween buys!

Yesterday, I went to Ramsgate market and wandered into a couple of shops - one being Poundland and the other was a 99p shop just opposite! They had similar items for Halloween but not exact and so I managed to find a few things that I don't actually have! I know you will find that amazing as I do collect objects of Halloween desire and have quite a collection already! *Ü*

The Trick or Treat hanging - and all of the items below were just 99p each. I couldn't make it cheaper. The bone is real and has a drilled hole in it, so I will suspend it from something. There are 'foam' Dracula teeth and the other 2  items are 'specimen' tubes with a green syrup and gum 'nose'! I may transfer them into a jar and use the tubes for something else I have in mind.

Two years ago, I bought half the stock of a house that was selling off the entire Halloween contents from the Open House on Halloween and 2 other nights prior. I left the really scary stuff - I'm more for fun and cute. I will have to start decorating my home early as there is a lot to do!

Maybe I will have a 'dummy run' - or dress rehearsal in the coming week....I'm going to have to try on my false eyelashes for starters ....I haven't worn them since I was in my teens in the 60s!! *Ü*  I'm going to need a lot of 'puff' to blow up a 3' pumpkin! LOL.

Judging from some of your comments on my blog, some of you think I am totally bonkers when it comes to 'ordering' a tarantula! Oh it did make me laugh. You know, I am having so much fun organising as I will have on the day. So mark this date in your diaries.....Wednesday 27th October....it will have to be earlier than 31st due to my friends and sister's other family commitments for Halloween. You may hear them *squeal* - hopefully with delight....that or it will be because they suffer with arachnophobia! Eeeek!

Until tomorrow....have a Super Saturday yourselves.

Welcome to October!

Welcome to October - the month of Halloween and all things fun. I am excited - a lot.  For the 3rd year running, I have planned a Halloween get-together with my 3 friends but on each occasion for the past 2, something has come up that was very unexpected and it didn't go ahead. Even this year, there was a question mark looming!

However, all is well, it has been confirmed and my plans are going ahead. First, I have arranged for my sister to be here as guest of honour. My friends all know her from 50 years ago too and they will be happy to see her again. She has a black cat - 'Magic', so hopefully, she will bring him along for props! LOL. I have a tarantula ordered for the day and oooo....loads more to organise. Lots of which cannot be done just yet as they are last minute things but I will try to keep you up to date with my plans. I have almost finished the invites, so will post those here asap.

I have had several packages arrive this past week and I am soo blessed to have such good friends and acquaintances that have sent me items of great delight, who know of my love for Halloween.

My friend Marsha from Michigan sent me a birthday package - the Halloween issue of PaperCrafts magazine that I have been trying to get here but without success.....some Martha Stewart illuminous glitter, Halloween stickers and chipboard that she got from the craft day on HSN a couple of weeks ago. Thank you sooo much Marsha.

Helen - who claims she doesn't 'do' much Halloween (check out her blog for some fab ideas) kindly sent me some Halloween items that I can't buy down south. There is a store where she lives called Poundworld and I have the most beautiful crystal collection of spider necklace and matching accessories. Also some skeleton hands too. Thank youuu Helen.

Right, gotta fly....

I'm off to market today to see if there is anything I need for the BIG day.

Happy crafting.