Haunted Happenings

Happy Great Pumpkin Day!!

2012-01-31T04:56:00.000-08:00

Why not take some time today to download and print this free printable from: Craft Buds. It would look super cute in an old 8 x 10 frame found at the flea market and spray painted orange!

January Great Pumpkin Day

2012-01-29T05:54:00.000-08:00

January 31st is the first Great Pumpkin Day of the year so I thought it might be fun to share some Halloween ideas with you. I love links!

These cool party invites were in an etsy shop. It looks like they are sold out....but I love them...especially since my Halloween party in 2012 is going to be a Murder Mystery party, In 2011 I changed from an outside Boo Bash to an inside Haunted Dinner party and it went over so well that I started looking for another dinner party idea for 2012...hence...the Murder Mystery!

Next up so GREAT printables over at Tip Junkie! Love these colorful labels can be used to make jars look spooky for your party, in other party favors or in scrapbooks!

Here's a simple little project from My Blessed Life. Felt garland....looks super cute and easy to make. Create an assortment in fall colors and make your house will look fabulous, for the whole autumn season, not just Halloween!

And last but not least....a cute little recipe....project....Turkeys!! Aren't they so cute....and the kids will love making them and eating them...Check out this and other cute projects over at Make and Take!

So HAPPY JANUARY GREAT PUMPKIN DAY....a couple days early!!

Something Besides Cake

2010-10-04T17:20:00.000-07:00

This cute idea comes from the Martha Stewart website. These are glittered skulls and bones displayed in a lovely cake plate. What a simple decoration with ghastly effects! Taking something you already have and turning it into a Halloween delight!!

Owls from the Flea Market

2010-08-08T16:36:00.000-07:00

Pretty hideous ...huh? But just perfect as decor for the Witch's Ball this Halloween! Found at the flea market!

Another view of the spooky little critters. They are old and made of like a plaster stuff. I can envision them on the buffet table or sitting somewhere over seeing the party. I think I will use them for quite a few Halloweens before I grow tired of them!

A Witch's Ball

2010-06-20T20:49:00.000-07:00

This year our theme for Boo Bash...is The Witches' Ball...and in this case... ball ....is referring to a big party/dance etc......like the ball Cinderella went to.

However there's another kind of witch ball...

A witch ball is a sphere of clear or stained glass hung in windows in 18th century England to ward off evil spirits. Oddly enough these balls actually started out in cultures where witches "enhanced them" to ward off evil spirits. Later they were suspended from rafters with ribbon or placed on top of a vase for a decorative touch. It's common today to see similar ones in gardens called "gazing balls". The gazing balls are different in that they have no strands inside the balls themselves.

According to folk lore the colors would attract the spirits and the strands inside the ball would entrap them. Most witches balls were traditionally blue or green. and made of glass. The later gazing balls had a silver surface and served to ward off evil by reflecting it away rather than trapping it.

I'm hoping to visit a shop soon that sells witch balls and when I get one...I'll post a photo here of my own witch ball.

Welcome to the NEW GPD

2010-06-16T06:55:00.000-07:00

I have been busy with all the blogger blogs. The new templates and designs are fun to work with. I am excited about the new GPD look and hope you like it also.

Soon it will be June GPD. Unfortunately (or fortunately depending on how you look at it) I will be in Mexico on GPD so doubt I get a lot of Halloween stuff done. It would be awesome if I could find some Day of the Dead stuff there but since it's June I doubt it.

June means there are only THREE more GPDs before Halloween. I can hardly believe how fast this year is flying by!

Great Pumpkin Day May 2010

2010-05-29T21:25:00.000-07:00

I'm starting to celebrate our "special days" again and blog about them. After a hectic 2009....I feel like I'm back home and back on track again in 2010!!

So Monday...is Great Pumpkin Day. I am planning to break out the Halloween Notebook and start some rough Boo Bash Planning. I am thinking I will use the theme of a Witches Ball for our party this fall. I think it has a lot of possiblities. It sort of means I have to dress as a witch though...lol

We could have a great banquet table, good music, and all sorts of creatures come to the Witches Ball.....so it will be easy for people to pick costumes. The decor could be lots and lots of candles, black gauze material or tulle...black and orange perhaps....and some snakes, bats, and spiders would round things out quite nicely...!!

October

2009-09-28T18:05:00.000-07:00

It's almost October and here at Great Pumpkin Day we will focus on one thing and one thing only and that's BOO BASH 3....

BOO BASH 3 Invitations are printed and ready for delivery even though most everyone knows the date...THIS year it's on Halloween...something my college daughter hates because she has other parties to attend...but I assured her...it's only that way ONCE every seven years...so the next time it rolls around she won't even care...LOL She may come early in the evening and then head back to college later...you know those parties don't even start till ten!!!

Next is the BIGGEST job...sorting and setting aside the party decor....I have tons of Halloween....some is already out but some items are for Boo Bash only so I want to get those gathered and ready.

Then we have menu plans to finalize and a yard to prepare and a house to clean.....luckily I have 31 days to do it!!!

BOO BASH THREE

2009-07-25T18:53:00.000-07:00

October of 2009 will be our third annual BOO BASH....I can hardly believe it. How fast time flies. It just seems like yesterday when Cathy of Haunted Hamlet....inspired me to throw that Halloween Party I had been thinking about hosting for quite some time...AND now this Fall will be round three....both years the weather has been cold but not unbearable....so this year I'll hope for the same. We will be hosting it on Halloween this year, which will work for some people but not others....but such is the problems of parties...and last year everyone wondered why we had it the weekend before since Halloween was on a Friday....so I thought okay...this year we WILL have it on Halloween!!

I hope to be a TAD bit better prepared than I was last year...so some Fall yard work and planning will help.....so....here at Great Pumpkin Day...I will be posting frequently to keep myself on task...but FIRST...a theme...The first year it was just a Boo Bash....not a specific theme....last year I tried for a Witch's Kitchen look...and this year....hmmmmmm....this still needs some thought.

My Fall Home Tour

2008-10-16T13:26:00.001-07:00

This is the top shelf of a little white child's cabinet that I have in the kitchen. I limited the holiday decor to the top shelf for this year. I think it adds just the right touch of holiday spirit. The white wall in my kitchen is changed with the seasons...Here is a Give Thanks picture and a little wooden box with some bear figurines...
Another shelf in the kitchen with odds and ends picked up here and there!

These pictures show my autumn village which I display on shelf in the living room...usually I add a few fall leaves also but just haven't gotten around to it yet!
The little Halloween figures are not part of the set because it is just an autumn village but I picked them up at Michael's to add a little spooky fun!
Another section of the village...

This is a picture of a little desk that I decorate for each holiday or season...
Here is a Fall Quilt I got at the flea market and I hang it above the little desk!

This is the dry sink by our front door....I always drape some seasonal or holiday material over it...both the 0ther items were picked up at the flea market.
This is another shelf in the living room with assorted what nots..the wooden window frame is draped with some fall folliage...at Christmas I will use evergreen!

Get Ready For Fall

2008-08-30T21:37:00.000-07:00

I simply love Hallmark Magazine...and this fall issue is no exception! Check out the cute and clever jack o lantern designs on the cover. With little windows and doors...they remind me of fairy houses and you do know how I love fairies!! This magazine is always chocked full of recipes, clever crafts, and simple ideas to try!

In this edition there is a great Treat Yourself section that will be perfect for Celebrate Me Days. There are also some clever ways to use old children's toys to decorate or create unique displays. There's a special section on gifts from the garden with some ideas for using dried herbs.

Boo Bash 08

2008-08-11T20:16:00.000-07:00

Need to get moving on my Boo Bash 08 plans....well...I have lots of ideas but time to start actually getting some stuff in place.

My main project is the witch's kitchen jars....shooting for 13....a nice witchy number. And also a few crates and a Spell book...

Second project is the invitations...want these out early this year...I always say that but life seems to have other plans.

Third project is pulling together my costume...ummm....a witch of course!

Fourth project is to focus on some outdoor decor...perhaps the ring of ghosts would work nicely for the party. Lots of pumpkins and a few mums too....at least that's the plan.

Fifth project is the menu...I have several ideas...probably chili for sure...

May Great Pumpkin Day List & Challenge

2008-05-01T15:24:00.000-07:00

Okay here's my short and sweet list for Great Pumpkin Day for May:

Work on BooBash2 Plans...the date will be October 25th...the Saturday before Halloween!
Update & Review Fall/Winter Notebook

And here's the challenge for this month...please feel free to join me.....

Make a decor item(s) for the BooBash....I am thinking about making some jar labels since I want to turn the kitchen into a spooky witches' kitchen and some jars with labels...like batwings, eye of newt, etc will be essential....so I would like to either make them by computer or craft some...haven't decided yet! So the challenge should you choose to accept it is to make a party decor item (or party favors would count!) or if you aren't hosting a party then a fall decor item for your home!!!

My April GPD Challenge

2008-04-30T19:22:00.001-07:00

Here's a picture of my Halloween album that I picked up in the Fall of 2006 at Walmart. I started it with some photos of Katie at Hallween that year...6 days before Evan was borned! She dressed as a pumpkin.

This is a layout of some photos I shot in sequence as Evan discovered his first sucker. Looking at it, unwrapping it, putting it in his mouth and then his expression after tasting it!!! So cute!

Halloween 2007 was Evan's first Halloween. He dressed as a purple monster and everyone wanted to pose with him for pictures. So FINALLY on April GPD....I actually got the layouts finished and added to the Halloween Book...YEAH ME!!!

April Great Pumpkin Day

2008-04-27T19:30:00.000-07:00

Great Pumpkin Day started out being celebrated on the LAST day of the month which is either the 31st or 30th depending on the month but then in an effort to spread out our "special days" a bit some suggested celebrating it on the 13th...I try to hit one or the other or both...

This Wednesday is Great Pumpkin Day and I hope to complete my Halloween 2008 pages in my Halloween scrapbook...I'll take pictures of the album and the pages...and try to get them up by the end of the week!

I have also started looking toward BOO BASH 2008. This year I plan to have an inside and outside set up just in case the weather is HORRIBLE!!! Around here you can never tell. So my kitchen will be set up like a witches kitchen with spell books, potions, and other stuff. After Halloween 2007 I found some cute crates on DEEP clearance at Michaels, and they have some cute Halloween labels on them. These will be perfect for filling with small bottles and envelopes of spell dust etc. The living room will mainly have pumpkins and candles...it might not get used at all depending on whether we can use the patio or not. Even if we use the patio...the kitchen is the entry way into the house from the back...so everyone who uses the bathroom will see the decor in there! So I will be searching for spooky kitchen ideas....and filing ideas away for next month..when I plan on trying to create a few things.

On Halloween Night

2008-04-02T19:02:00.000-07:00

On Halloween Night by Ferida Wolff & Dolores Kozieiski is a children's book that features lovely pictures. The premise of the book is counting Halloween creatures/items up through the number 13. From one witch stirs...through...eight toads croak...all the way to thirteen ghosts haunt this is a fun to read and beautifully illustrated book. Originally published in 1994 it's sure to become a children's classic.

GPD List from April Monthly Magic

2008-04-02T14:21:00.001-07:00

Here are the items from the April Monthly Magic list for Great Pumpkin Day. Remember it can be celebrated on the last day of the month or on the 13th of each month!

1.Pick a date for your fall party. Start a party planner section in your fall notebook.

2. Burn a CD of scary songs or sounds. Make a label to match your party theme.

3. Search on line for decorating ideas for a fall party.

April Great Pumpkin Day Challenge

2008-04-02T14:12:00.000-07:00

Each month I will post a Great Pumpkin Day Challenge. The challenge will be one part of my basic three approach as it will either be “for fun”, a planning item, or involve taking some action to “do” something. The Challenge will be an additional item not one of the ideas listed on the Monthly Magic list. This is a challenge to make us stretch ourselves and do just a little bit more each month. The challenge can be completed anytime during the month. It does not have to be done on Great Pumpkin Day itself.

The April Great Pumpkin Day Challenge is a DOING item.

Find some Halloween pictures. From 2007 or 1976….it doesn’t matter…just find some pictures. Do one of the following with the pictures:

Create a two page scrapbook layout for your album.
Use them to create a personalized notebook cover for your Halloween or Autumn notebook. Make sure you have a clear view notebook
Create an altered autumn clipboard using them. You can actually use the clipboard or use it as a picture display in the fall.
Create an altered book (use an old child’s board book) and include the pictures in it. Call it The _____ Family’s Halloween Hauntings or some sort name.

If you are like me….you always mean to DO something with those pictures and here’s your chance. Let’s get a few pictures scrapped or used in some fun way. Get them out of the boxes and envelopes and on display! When you finish post here and let us know then hop out somewhere and buy your self a little treat….

Great Pumpkin Day Idea List

2008-03-30T20:55:00.000-07:00

1. Make Halloween and/or Thanksgiving cards
2. Declutter/organize costumes
3. Update scrapbooks with Halloween pictures/Journal memories
4. Declutter/organize decor
5. Create a Fall Recipe Section or Binder
6. Work on Halloween/Fall section or Binder
7. Plan Halloween party
8. Watch Halloween DVDs
9. Browse Fall magazines/books for decor and craft ideas
10. Start a collection of ideas for party favors for the kids parties
11. Test a new fall recipe
12. Inventory/Organize fall dishes/linens etc/Declutter Too
13. Inventory fall party supplies
14. Make A Halloween/Fall rag garland or wreath

Halloween Fun

2008-03-30T13:12:00.000-07:00

I can tell already that this is going to be a fun blog. I love autumn, and Halloween. Last year was our first ever....BOO Bash...and although it was a bit chilly, we plan on trying it again. I may plan on having some things set up inside also, to eliminate the problem with weather. The fire was nice however, and people stayed till about 2:00 am so I guess they were having fun! LOL...those of you that read my blogs know I have a lot of them so just make sure to pop in ever so often cause I will get new things up here and there...a random schedule of posting. Not daily but frequently.

Blog under Construction

2008-03-29T06:06:00.000-07:00

Please be patient as I develop this new blog as a place for sharing Great Pumpkin Day ideas and activities, along with fall party planning fun!