Archive

October 2010

Browsing
Some more Halloween Real Party love coming your way… 🙂
Haunted Halloween Dinner
A 5-course dinner party for 20 gruesome guests
 Guests received hand-delivered invitations to this Halloween Dinner.
The invitations were attached to black roses and covered in fake spider web.
The Menu was an array of delicious, and creepy, Fall foods.
Most of the recipes were inspired by some of Martha Stewart’s Halloween food creations. (See my recent post on Halloween Recipes for some of the links!)
Menu:
First course: Tomato and Red Pepper Soup with Mozzarella Eyeballs
Second Course: Green Salad served with Roasted Red Peppers and a Spider’s Egg
Third Course: Lamb Shanks with Mashed Potato Ghosts
Fourth Course: Decaying Cheese Plate
Fifth Course: Death By Chocolate (Recipe for this deliciously sinful dessert coming soon!)
Tablescape
Each place setting held a menu (with rhinestone studded spiders crawling on them),
a charger plate covered in spider web and a wine goblet with another rhinestone
studded spider. The table itself was covered in a tattered cheese cloth,
tons of spider web, glittery spiders and pumpkins.
Decorations
When planning this party I really wanted guests to walk into a
whole different world that what my small apartment typically looks like.
In order to help create the other worldly look we purchased flat decorative
paper and black gossamer (like they use at proms).
We also purchased SEVERAL hundred fake spiders from OrientalTrading.com and used them throughout the party. Some of the spiders we spray painted silver, some we doused in black glitter, some we attached rhinestones to their backs.
We spray painted and glittered several pumpkins and scattered them throughout the party. Fake spider web finished off our spooky setting.

 

 

I’d love to feature your Halloween Real Party!
and send your party submission to me at:

*Affiliate links have been used in this post. I do not post about products that I haven’t used myself. See my policies page for more information!

I love trolling the blogosphere for inspiration. 
But, what I really love!?! Free printables. 

Free printables get me excited for the next event that I can use them in. I’ve even created entire parties just so I can use the free printables that I’ve discovered. So, today is dedicated to free printable goodies. I’ve added a page on my blog solely devoted to these free goodies (check the button on the right or tab at the top of the page). More on that page later… for now I’d like to share some exciting printables from some of my FAVORITE blogs!

The TomKat Studio always has great inspiration… 
which, is probably why they just hit 10,000 FANS on Facebook.
In celebration of getting to 10,000 fans the TomKat Studio has added three free printables for cake bunting. The blog also has a fun tutorial from Sharnel Dollar Designs for how to put together the great bunting. So, congrats to TomKat Studio and thanks for the great new printable!

Hostess with the Mostess
The Hostess with the Mostess was the first blog to REALLY grab my attention. It has such beautiful parties to inspire almost any event. Check out their many posts with free printables.
One of my FAVORITE free printables is their “Flowers and Candy” Centerpiece. It is adorable, whimsical and the perfect addition to a baby shower. 
How About Orange is a blog from a graphic and textile designer…
so, you can expect some pretty amazing free downloads.

This adorable free printable card featured on How About Orange is from Meg of Olliegraphic. Don’t you already have someone in mind that needs a good “Congrats!” card or a sweet message in the mail!
 For some seriously great inspiration check out Pizzazzerie.Com. The site has great real parties and tons of fun DIY projects. And, while there are currently some fun printables what I am REALLY looking forward to is the article “Halloween tables & Printables” that is listed under the “Coming Soon” area of the website.

Want to go ahead and get started with free printable awesomeness? Currently Pizzazzerie has a link to Gwynn Wasson Designs free printable collection giveaway. Two awesome Halloween printable sets are ready to be e-mailed to you!
Speaking of Gwynn Wasson Designs
 Check out the site for great tips and hints on how to print your free printables!
 
Currently I am working on several printable packages for an upcoming Etsy shop. But, I’d also like to make some available for FREE on this site. But, I need your help:
What free printables are you wanting to see on the blog?

You can certainly get creative with Halloween food… but, the drinks are where you can really go crazy! Today’s finds are all dedicated to the fun of Halloween drinks. Check out the following links for an array of Halloween inspiration.

Sources from top left clockwise: Witches’ Brew from Martha Stewart, Haunting Hot Chocolate from BHG (I LOVE white hot chocolate!!), Fresh from the Lab Bubbling Mocktails/Cocktails from Martha, and Boo-Nilla Shakes from Martha

Sources from top left clockwise: Blood Thirsty Mary from Martha Stewart, Bleeding Heart Martini from Martha, Sinister Cider Cocktail from Martha Stewart, Sweet N’ Tart Cocktail and Tootsie Roll Cocktail from Cocktailtimes.com

Sources from top left clockwise: Ghoulada Punch from Martha Stewart, Red Sangria from Martha Stewart, Ghoul’s Punch from BHG, and (my favorite!) Shrunken Heads in Cider from Martha Stewart

Sources from top left clockwise: Lychee and Grape Eyeballs from Martha Stewart (I’ve made these before and they were a HIT!), Candied Rim and Lychee Eyeball from Hostess with the Mostess, Bedeviled Skewer from BHG, Ice Eyeballs from Martha Stewart

Sources from top left clockwise: Skeleton Hand Garnish Trays from Pottery Barn, Halloween Etched Cocktail Shaker, Cold Blooded Ice Tray found at Fred Flare, Brain Freeze Ice Tray found at Fred Flare, Skull Drinkware from Target, Flask from Online Science Mall

www.halloweendrinks.net
Last, but certainly not least check out this recipe for your own Pumpkin Spice Liquor from
HalloweenDrinks.Net. I can just imagine all the drinks I’m going to create with this addition to my bar!

 

Well, I hope that you enjoyed today’s Friday Finds as much I have enjoyed finding them all!

 

Weekend Reader’s Question:
What kind of cocktail/drink/punch are you going to serve this year at your Halloween party?