Terminalcoffee discussion

So, this time of year, along with cravings for hot cider and veggie pot-pie and the desire to snuggle under a blanket with a scary movie and a kitty cat, I get the urge to make Halloween crafts. I hardly ever act on it, although last year I had a big bird cutout in my front window. This year, who knows...

Do you have any really fun spooky or autumnal crafts to recommend or share?
It would be great if we could share some pics too!

What are your decoration and crafting plans for this year?

I saw these rat silhouettes on the steps at a friend's house one year, lit by simple mason jar tea lights. I thought they were, well, cute. Sorry the pic is a bit dark.

That makes me want to call an exterminator.

I like to festoon my mouth with candy corn this time of year, does that count as a craft project?

I do actually have some candy-corn buttons that would be kind of cute on a child's sweater.

Gertie wrote: "I saw these rat silhouettes on the steps at a friend's house one year, lit by simple mason jar tea lights. I thought they were, well, cute. Sorry the pic is a bit dark.

"

Oh I LOVE those Gertie! I'm going to start working on some :)

I didn't make anything last year, but a few of us on Twitter in different countries swap decorations as Scare Packages each year. My favourite thing was the severed arm on my screen door..

No pics, but for home-made whole body zombie make up, try mixing body moisturiser with green eye-shadow (I just buy the really cheap & cheerful pressed powder kind). Crush it up before you mix it & keep some left over. Slather it on your skin. While it's still moist, use a big face powder brush and just lightly sweep the extra powder over the top to add some definition. It doesn't matter if it goes blotchy - you're a zombie!
You can be tricky and add bony body contours if you're feeling artistic.

I also love these rubber necklaces from VonErickson on Etsy. You can make something similar, but less durable, using that stuff kids use to paint window pictures with.

LG, as long as you remember which is the candy and which are the buttons, I think you'll be fine. :-P

Thanks Ruby... the store bought makeup sometimes is really nasty; I think I'll try a homemade version next time I need to. Those necklaces are funny - I love the stitches one! That would be good for a Sally from Nightmare before Christmas.

"Scare packages"... what a fun idea!

The extent of my decorations last year was just some pumpkins and these bird and spider cutouts in my front window. (actually my goodreads avatar at the moment.)



I've been thinking it could be fun to instead of carving a face in a pumpkin, drill a bunch of holes in one side and face the holey side towards the house. It'll be like little starry dots, I hope.

I love to do myself up as Tammy Faye Baker for Halloween. I have to buy non-waterproof mascara and glop it on so that when I cry tears for Jesus it will make black stripey rivers down my cheeks. I miss Tammy Faye. Unfortunately, the buckeroos don't recollect her or her plasticky beauty. I have to explain that she was basically a Christian evangelical drag queen.

Haha, that would be fun Cynthia! I was "Under the Weather" last time I dressed up, and I think I had to smear eyeliner to get the weepy effect, not quite the same as tear tracks from real mascara, but it'll do if the mascara doesn't track properly.

Are you going to try it this year?

Under the weather is a great idea!

My backyard neighbor has an autistic boy who does not like scratchy costumes or masks or hats. They dress him in a white T shirt with the letter "P" on the front, add some dark smudges around one eye and a little purple eyeshadow and he becomes a Black Eyed Pea.

Nice... sounds like an easy costume too!

Actually this Halloween I will be in Hawaii...any experience with Hawaiian Halloweens, anyone?? I've already survived (barely) New Orleans Halloween. Hoo Boy.

Cynthia wrote: "Actually this Halloween I will be in Hawaii...any experience with Hawaiian Halloweens, anyone??"

Just the party scene in the movie North Shore.

Haven't seen North Shore, but Blue Crush is very popular in the movie rotation at our house. Great soundtrack.

I made a little "bottle graveyard" last night out of cut and broken bottles painted with chalkboard paint. I need to work on my glass cutting skills, fortunately in this case I didn't need even cuts. :-P

::shivers::