Halloween Tips and Treats

Halloween is right around the corner and will be here before you know it. So, let get ready for it. This is a great time to enjoy the spirit of the holiday with friends and family. Find Tips and treats to create magical atmosphere in your home.

CONTENTS:

1. How To Carve A Pumpkin For Halloween
2. Do-It-Yourself Halloween Indoor Decorations
3. Halloween Special Potion
4. Do-It-Yourself Halloween Treats
5. Recommended Product: Pumpkin Seed Oil
6. Great Costume for Halloween
7. Halloween Music

1. How To Carve A Pumpkin For Halloween

Before even thinking about buying or picking your Halloween pumpkin from the local pumpkin patch, you need to plan the design. You can take the easy way out and buy ready-made pumpkin stencils, or you can design your own.

There are some great on-line sources for free Halloween stencils that you can download and use, or you can hand sketch it. Here are two great places to grab some nice designs. If you’re looking for a really unusual stencil, here’s one that will drive you bats!

I’ll cover how to transfer the pumpkin stencil to your favorite pumpkin after we take a look at actually selecting the pumpkin.

How to pick the perfect pumpkin

The pumpkin’s shape and size will determine what type of patterns and designs you can use. If you are using pumpkin carving stencils then it is essential to purchase a pumpkin that matches the stencil’s size requirements.

If you don’t plan on using a stencil then make sure that your pumpkin is tall and wide enough for the free-hand design that you have in mind.

Look for a pumpkin that’s not too ripe. It should be the right color orange and not have any soft spots or bruises. Look for a sturdy stem and never, ever lift the pumpkin by the stem. Sturdy or not, it’s a short trip from “nice pumpkin” to splat.

Hold the pumpkin and smell it around the stem and top. If it smells very strong and “pumpkiny” then there is a chance that it’s too ripe, pass it up and look for another. Thump the pumpkin and listen for a solid “thunk”. A hollow sound is bad news.

Carry your pumpkin carefully and transport it home safely. A bruised pumpkin rots quickly and might not make it through the Halloween season.

How to prepare the pumpkin for its coming facelift

1. Cut a circle around the top of the pumpkin without damaging the stem.

2. Remove the top and put aside.

3. Remove and discard the pulp and seeds unless you want to make Vampire Fingernails snacks for your Halloween party.

4. With a putty knife or similar scraper, gently scrape down the inside of the pumpkin to remove any moist flesh clinging to the sides. Be careful not to damage the wall of the pumpkin.

Now it’s time to transfer the stencil

1. Wipe the outside of the pumpkin so that it is free of dust and other foreign material. If you need to wipe it down with a wet rag, allow it to become thoroughly dry before proceeding to the next step.

2. Tape the stencil to the side of the pumpkin that you have chosen to be the face. Tape the top left corner first, then the top right, bottom left and then bottom right. Smooth the stencil out as you are taping it. If you have to crease the stencil to make it lie flat then be sure to pick areas that are not part of the design.

3. Using an ice pick or a pin-point punch awl, gently poke holes through the stencil and into the pumpkin. Follow the lines of the stencil carefully. It’s a lot like paying connect-the-dots games. Space the dots out however you see fit but remember that very complex designs are easier to work with if the holes are close together.

4. Check carefully to make sure that you have transferred the entire pattern and then remove the stencil. Keep the stencil handy to refer to in case you get confused while cutting.

Time to put your patient under the knife

Although many a pumpkin has fallen under the standard kitchen knife, it’s both the wrong tool and a very dangerous tool for pumpkin carving. For best results get yourself an X-Acto knife with a #5 knife blade and a #15 keyhole saw. See your home store for both items.

Using the saw for long cuts and the X-Acto for the close-in and intricate cuts, just follow the pattern carefully and, before you know it, you’ll have the pride of the pumpkin patch right there on your table!

Article Source www.halloween-blog.com

From: www.craftideas.info

If you would like to make a quick and easy Halloween decoration for your table or window sill, then you can decorate an interesting branch with paper cats, ghosts and jack-o-lanterns. This branch can be put into a vase or even hung in the window if possible. Not only is this project fast to do, but you can do it with your children and the costs are minimal.

Supplies needed

• Orange, white and black cardstock
• raffia in typical fall colors like orange or gold
• a found branch
• black magic marker
• pencil
• scissors
• small hole puncher
• patterns

Instructions:

• Print and trace the patterns out and transfer them to the appropriate colored paper or cardboard.
• Cut the pieces out with scissors. The details such as the mouth, nose or eyes of the jack-o-lantern or ghost can be cut out with the knife. Adults should do this if small children are helping with this project
• Punch the cat’s eyes with the hole puncher. Punch holes in the tops of the figures as well.
• Use the black magic marker and trace around the ghost’s body and facial features if desired. This helps make him more visable.
• Tie raffia through the top holes and tie a loop for hanging. Let the ends hang freely.
• Tie extra raffia bows on separate parts of the branch for extra decoration.

Tip: You can also use stiff felt or fun foam instead of cardstock.

3. Halloween Special Potion

I had read very positive reviews of Halloween before sampling it for myself. Most of them included how wonderfully feminine this fragrance was, as well as what an amazing floral scent it is. I had heard that the name of the perfume came about because it was molded after a fragrant flower that blooms on Halloween. How true that may or may not be is unknown to me, but I thought it was an interesting little background on this.

When I first smelled Halloween from the bottle, I was pretty positive that I’d love it. It smelled feminine and exotic to me, and very floral. Once I applied it to my wrist, though, the scent was quite different. The femininity was not as much as I was expecting, however, this isn’t a masculine fragrance by any means. It was very strong, and the only other word that I can think of to describe it would be warm. Although not what I would consider a spicy fragrance, it has that extra little kick. Definitely a true floriental.

While the floral notes still hold their own, the warmness of this fragrance, although definitely not what I would classify as spicy, was almost overwhelming at first. Should I wear this again, it will definitely be extra sparingly (more so than normal). It is this warmth that Halloween has about it that makes me weary of recommending it for any non-sophisticated, or non-Floriental style fragrance lovers. I definitely wouldn’t recommend this scent for any age. I’d say, at minimum, this is a college-aged group (and older) perfume, but hey, maybe you could make it work at a younger age and prove me wrong!

This fragrance is definitely something that I would recommend for evening wear. While it wouldn’t exactly be out of place if worn during the daytime, I just think it would be a much better fit for a night on the town or an elegant special event. Despite that, to me, this fragrance is a good fit for all seasons - Winter, Summer, and everything in between.

Get Special Price For Halloween by J. Del Poso

Source review from Scentaddicts.wordpress.com

4. Do-It-Yourself Halloween Treats

Skull Pop

I found this when I stumble Martha Living website. It's cute and easy to make.

You need : 2 regular marshmallows , white candy-coated licorice pastels, black licorice twist, black licorice drops, a toothpick and scissors

This is what you need to do:

• With scissors, cut one marshmallow widthwise to expose stickiness and make pieces for the head and jaw.
• Poke holes with a toothpick to make sticky spots for eyes, teeth, and nose.
• Poke white candy-coated licorice pastels into jaw for teeth, and press in black licorice drops for eyes.
• Snip a piece of black licorice twist into a small triangle for the nose, and press into place.
• Poke a few times with the toothpick into marshmallows to make a large hole for a candy stick. Push candy stick into hole, through jaw, and into skull.
• Wrap in cellophane bag if desired.

5. Recommended Product: Pumpkin Seed Oil

Botanical Name: Cucurbita pepo L.
Common Method Of Extraction: Cold Pressed/Unrefined

Benefits:

It contains Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids, which are known to promote energy levels, brain function, and overall health and vitality.

Pumpkin seeds (either the whole seeds or the pressed oil) have been used all around the whole for healing purposes, including: to heal wounds and burns, as a diuretic, to dispel intestinal worms and parasites, hormone production, overactive bladder, and for prostrate problems.

Today, this oil has been used successfully in preventing and alleviating prostrate and bladder problems. The phytosterols present in the pumpkin seed oil, are also presently being studied for their role in lowering cholesterol levels.

Pumpkin seed oil has a pleasant and mildly rich flavor, and is sure to complement both your health and your culinary creations. It is best to use the oil in its raw form, so that the important health benefits are not damaged by heat. A great way to use this oil is in a salad dressing, smoothie, or drizzled over a freshly cooked meal just before serving.

Notes - Because of its delicate nature, this oil should be stored in a cool and dry place, away from light and we recommend refrigeration to prolong shelf life. The variety of Pumpkin seed oil we offer is suitable for both food and cosmetic use and it has a deep green color.

Buy Pumpkin Seed Oils

6. Great Costume for Halloween

7. Halloween Music

Put a real scary on your friends with Halloween music. This will sure to get them moving. Get the right music for your Halloween party!

And Last....

All the best,
Liani Widjaja