Gothic Style Halloween Party: Decoration Ideas

Close Up from B.Nute productions Halloween Haunt Gothic Invitation on Etsy

Although Halloween seems to be a far way off, stores are brimming with great Halloween decorations! It's also never to early to be thinking about your Halloween party! This week I'm going to be featuring ideas for a frightful Halloween Haunt Gothic Style Party... I hope you enjoy!

Inspiration Board

Pre-Made Gothic Style Halloween Decorations
If you are willing to spend some money and have space to store the items, there are amazing gothic-style decorations that can be bought online. Check out this link to many inspirational decoration ideas: Gothic Halloween Decorations.

Framed Cemetery and Graveyard Pictures
Head to your local graveyard and start snapping some pictures. Try close ups, funny angles and distorted perspectives. When home, in you favorite photo program, convert the to black and white and print away. Purchase used frames, or "distressed" ornate frames and hang or place in groups around the party area. Remove all pictures of "live" people, and make sure to only feature the dead ones!

Martha Stewart.com Has Many Great Inspirational Pictures

A Spooky Mantle: Candles, Dried Roses, A Gargoyle Statue, Old Potions and More...
Imagine being in an old Victorian house that has been boarded up for years. Picture what the mantle may have looked like in the parlor, if no one had touched it in over 100 years... Candles 1/2 gone, roses dried, artwork discolored, dusty old bottles and spider webs galore. This is the perfect scene for your mantle at this party!

Cheesecloth
There's nothing better than cheesecloth to add spook to your space. Best yet, it's pretty inexpensive! I've purchased yards and yards of it and hung it up as tattered curtains in my windows and doorways.

All you need to do is tear and stretch (once hung) to give the tattered look. For also some aging, you water down some brown acrylic paint in a spray bottle. Then (before hanging) spray the cheesecloth to give it the perfect aged look.

(Also, be sure to check out this great Cheesecloth ghost decoration from Country Living.)

Photo from Country Living Website

Old White Sheets - the Abandoned House Look
There's a neighborhood near us that goes all out for Halloween! It helps that the houses are also the perfect style for Halloween, but the decorations these folks pull out are just amazing. One house in particular creates a look of an old abandoned haunted house. They drape all their furniture with old white sheets to make it look like no one has lived there for years. Although, as trick or treaters we never go in the house, as you head up to the door, you can look into their big picture windows and see the spooky set up! It's just perfect!

...weekly roundup...

We're steaming ahead to the weekend! Here are a few items I read about this week that I wanted to share:

• Have you seen the catalog Chasing Fireflies? Cute costumes! I want to be Marie Antoinette, but don't think I'll fit!
• I read through the new Martha Stewart Weddings issue lickety split! Loved the "I Spy" Save the Date invites... hmmm, this would make a super fun birthday party too! Better get working on one!
• Loved the topping ideas for cupcakes in this month's Real Simple magazine. Yum, PB&J cupcake and a s'mores cupcake!

Have a good one!

Football, Tailgate or Big Game Party: Art Activity and Game Ideas

Football Saturday (and Sunday) is just around the corner... here are more Football party ideas-- some great arts and craft activities and game ideas for your affair!

Arts and Crafts Ideas for your Football Party

These art activity ideas are great for a big game party at home, or if little ones will be at your tailgate party, consider bringing a small folding table and setting out these activities for some pre-game fun.

Make Your Own Pennant

You can cut pennant shapes from poster board

or buy pre-cut pennants online. Set these out

with crayons or markers and make some colorful

pennants to root for your team! Below are some

online options for buying pre-cut pennants:

• Canvas Pennants
• Paper Pennants
• Felt Pennants

Make “Green” Cheerleading Pom Pons

Girls will love this activity and be even more excited when they are done... they can cheer on their team in style. Best of all, this is a great craft using recycled materials.

• Empty your plastic bag bin, and if need be, ask friends and neighbors for their extra plastic bags.
• Sort the bags into colors if you’d like, then cut into 1” wide strips.
• Lay the plastic bag strips, several 15” pieces of cut string, and colorful electric tape on a table for kids to assemble their own pom pons.
• To make the pom pons, have kids gather a bunch of plastic bag strips together
• Tie the bunch together in the the center.
• Now, fold the bunch in half and bound the folded edge with colorful electric tape.
• Make sure to leave the extra string hanging loose.
• Tie the extra string in a loop, so kids can wrap around hands to be held.

Now let, the cheering begin!

Face Paint in the Team Colors

Hire a professional face painter, or perhaps just your local teenage

babysitter for some face painting fun. Print out some college

logo and mascot examples as well as NFL logo examples for

helpful guides.

Football Coloring Pages

Check out your team’s website and search for “coloring pages”

to see if you can find any art pages for kids to embellish.

Here are some examples:

• NFL Coloring Pages

Game Ideas for your Football Party

Of course, watching the game is the main attraction of this party, but perhaps you have a large crowd coming or want some half time entertainment ideas... here are some game ideas for your next Football Party:

A “Friendly” Game of Flag/Touch Football

This scene has been played out in many movies and TV shows! Do you remember the scene in the Big Chill when the old friends head out at half time to play ball? How about the hilarious Friends Thanksgiving episode where they play a “friendly” game while the turkey cooks!

Now it’s time for you to have some “friendly” competition at your party with a little scrimmage. Pick up some flag football supplies and find a humorous trophy for the winning team. All will remember the fun!

Football Trivia Game

Print up some of your favorite football trivia questions and quiz your friends of their knowledge during half time. Offer a prize to the winner like tickets to another game, a football jersey, or even just a gift card to the local coffee shop. Here are search results for football trivia questions:

• Football Trivia Questions

Cheerleaders Unite

Are some of your party goers not interested in the scrimmage, but would rather cheer from the sidelines? Put those “Green” pom pons (from the Art Activity section above) to use and make up some cheerleader routines! The funnier and sillier, the better! Here are some websites with some basic cheers:

• Basic Cheer Moves
• Basic Cheerleading Jumps
• Some Cheerleading Yells and Chants

Sing the Cheer Song

Show your team spirit and gather the crowd to sing the cheer song loud and clear! Make sure to look up the words on the college/teams website, so you get it right! Here are some sample College Team Fight Songs (note, some teams have recently moved divisions, so you may need to click the old division to find your team):

• PAC 10 Fight Songs
• Big 10 Fight Songs
• Big 12 Fight Songs
• and more...

Big Game, Tailgate, or Football Party Decoration and Menu Ideas

Football, Tailgate or Big Game Party Invitation by B.Nute on Etsy

There's no better way to spend a Saturday (or Sunday) in the fall then watching a good football game! Growing up in a college town, I was lucky to get to go to many Saturday games, sit in the stands and root for the team. Or course, a pre-game tailgate party always added to the fun.

There was also a big rivalry in our family. My dad went to Stanford, and my mom went to Cal-- so we had many Big Game parties throughout the years.

Whether you like to go to the game or watch from home, here are some inspiring decoration ideas and menu ideas for your football themed party.

Decorating Ideas for Your Football Themed Party


Inspiration Board

Vintage College or Team Pennants
Perhaps you already own a pennant or 2 from your favorite team. If not, check out these online resources-- they add such charm to a space!
Vintage College Pennants
NFL Pennants

Pendleton or Similar Wool Blanket
If it's a warm day, perhaps the blanket could be used not for warmth but for decoration. Drape over the back tailgate or coming out of a picnic basket as a table decoration. It could also be used as a table cloth too! A nice plaid with fall colors is perfect for this theme.

Old Football and/or College Memorabilia
Pullout the old college photos, old ticket stubs, old yearbooks and more and decorate the serving table or area around the party with your memorabilia. You could set out a basket with the items inside for folks to peruse at a tailgate party. Football trading cards can also make a great decoration, scattered about the table.

Vintage 1950s The Skotch Picnic Basket Tin by HoneySuckle Boutique on Etsy

Retro Tailgate Picnic Ware and Thermos
A vintage thermos filled with hot cocoa, and old-time picnic ware will not only be utilized, but will also look good too! Check out these vintage picnic ware items on Etsy to get inspired.

Menu Ideas for Your Football Themed Party
Whether your hosting the party out of the back of your car or at your home, here are some menu ideas for game day!

Sub Sandwiches
I love the look of sub sandwiches individually wrapped in decorative paper and stacked up ready to grab and eat! These can be handmade and gourmet, or store bought, whatever is easiest for you! Here are a few tasty sub sandwich recipes I found:

• Smoky BLT from Country Living (blue cheese, romaine lettuce and beefsteak tomatoes)

Brats and Grilled Fare
Perhaps it's a small portable grill by the tailgate or a large BBQ in your yard -- make sure to throw on some bratwurst, knockwurst, sausages and dogs to be enjoyed by all!

Chili
Chili is great for game day! It's easy to make ahead, and serve in a slow cooker. A hearty chili will satisfy any crowd

Chips & Dip
Potato chips and onion dip; sweet potato crisps and red pepper dip-- traditional or gourmet style, chips and dip are perfect for game day.

Beer and Root Beer
Cold beer is perfect for watching the game. Serve a selection of small local brews or brews from the town/area of the 2 teams that are playing. Specialty sodas and juices are a great option for kids.

Enjoy, and Go Team!!

Happy Labor Day

Party Hats Perfect for Labor Day from Country Living

It's the last summer hurrah! I hope you are enjoying your weekend!

We just returned from an overnight safari (more on that soon!), and now off to enjoy a great day of swimming and bbq fun to wish the summer adieu!

Have a great day!

List of Bridal/Wedding Shower Themes

We're heading towards the weekend, but still a few more lists to go!

This post is devoted to the new bride and groom to be... Wedding/Bridal Shower Themes. So, if you're heading down the aisle soon, or just planning a shower for a special friend, use this list to get some creative ideas for your party!

Bridal/Wedding Shower Theme Ideas

Around the Clock Shower - Give guests an hour in the day, and their gift should be something that can be used during that time!

Through the Year - Give guests a month or a season, and have their gift be something useful to use during that time.

In the Kitchen - All newlyweds need kitchen items… this could be a perfect theme for them to stock up. You could also make it cooking focused, for the two chef love birds!

Alphabet Shower - Guests are given a letter in the alphabet that their gift must start with. This theme has lots of possibilities.

Stock the Bar - For the couple that loves to entertain, how about a "Stock the Bar" shower, where guests bring all types of items perfect for entertaining.

Naughty & Nice - A little naughty and a little nice make a great pair, and a fun shower full of giggles.

Garden Shower  - For the couple that loves to be outdoors, tending their garden. Could have a nice organic and "green" theme as well.

The Great Outdoors Shower - This shower is perfect for the couple who love adventure and the great outdoors. It could be a "woodsy" theme or athletic adventures, what ever suits the pair.

Bed & Breakfast Shower - This shower is perfect for guests to stock the newlyweds with linens, bath items, and kitchen items too! Perfect for a brunch shower as well.

Room to Room Shower - Each guest gets assigned a room to find the perfect gift for. Great for the new couple who just bought a home as well!

Wine Cellar Shower - This shower is perfect for the budding someliers and wine enthusiasts. Guests bring delicious vintages from all over to help stock the couples cellar.

Travel Shower - For the travel enthusiasts… guests could be given a country to find the perfect item for the couple, or just given gifts suitable for all the newlyweds upcoming adventures.

Spa Shower - Everyone loves a trip to the spa! Guests can bring gifts perfect for the bath, and/or relaxing. How about the perfect eye mask for a nice sound sleep?

Honeymoon Shower - Perhaps the couple is heading somewhere exotic and would like to have the guests provide gifts for the adventure. The theme of this shower can be perfectly matched to the location of the honeymooon.

Stock the Pantry Shower - All new couples need items to help stock their pantry. Guests can provide gourmet food items, kitchen items, dishware, table linens and more.

Tea Party - It's always fun to be a part of a "girly" tea party. The more flowers and frill the better. Pamper the bride-to-be during this special time. As always, if you have some themes that are a must for this list, please let me know! I'd love to add them.

List of People to Hire to Help Entertain at a Party

Sometimes the thought of throwing a party can be a bit overwhelming! Good thing there are so many talented folks to hire to help out on your special day. This list is not of folks who help plan your party, but a list of people you can hire to help lead art activities, games and/or entertain the guests at your grand affair.

I hope this list gives you inspiration. Perhaps your next door neighbor may be your key to great art activities at your next party!

A Chef or Cook - could be a fellow mom who's a great cook. Could provide food for the party or treats, and/or give a cooking lesson.

Artist or Art Teacher

Babysitter - A babysitter may be a great addition to a party to help lead art activites, games, read to kids or even help with food.

Balloon Person

Beader/Jewelry Enthusiast

Beautician

Dance Instructor - could be a professional or perhaps a student at a local dance school.

Face Painter - could be a professional, or perhaps a babysitter or friend.

Favorite Character Actor - could be a professional or perhaps a high school or local theatre person.

Gardener - possibly your grandmother, mother, neighbor or someone who works at a local garden conservatory. Could lead a fun gardening activity.

Gymnist - could be a professional or perhaps a student or student teacher at a local gymnasium

Henna Artist

Librarian/Storyteller

Manicurist

Musician or Band - could be professionals or the local kids down the street who have a band.

Neighbors or Adult of Kids at Party - Could help lead art activites, games, or even help with food.

Preschool Teacher - always great with young ones!

Princess/Prince/Knight Actor - could be a professional or perhaps a high school or local theatre person.

Scrapbook Artist/Enthusiast

Singer - could be a professional, or your friend or neighbor with a good voice! Perhaps this person could lead a sing-a-long for little ones or teach a new song.

Sports Instructor - could be a professional, a local coach, or perhaps an athlete on a high school team.

Superhero Actor - could be a professional or perhaps a high school or local theatre person.

Teacher or Teacher's Aid - could teach any type of art, science, or other activity

As always, I'd love your input! I'm sure I'm missing many talented folks who deserve to be on this list. Let me know...