Kids of All Ages Can Have Fun With Halloween Costumes

Although Halloween celebrations were once very much about children, this has changed during the past thirty to forty years. Dressing up in costumes, a classic Halloween tradition, is great fun for kids and adults alike.

Even though it is more fun for parents than their children, most people start dressing up for Halloween as babies. Kids have a nearly endless supply of Halloween costumes to choose from. Despite that, it tends to be a character from a recent movie or a well known TV show that becomes the most popular costume of the year.

Cartoon characters, though, are not the only popular choices. Younger children love classic costumes like aliens, ghosts, pirates, and witches. Older kids will want to disturb their parents more with gory costumes that sport scars, fake wounds, and lots of blood. There is also a great variety of Halloween costumes for adults. You can choose from classics or popular licensed character costumes.

Many Halloween costume parties follow some sort of theme that requires that all the guests wear similar or somehow matching costumes. You could choose to dress as if you were from a certain decade by wearing a zoot suit from the 1940's or flappers straight out of the roaring 20's. More historic costumes from the medieval and renaissance periods are also popular.

While kids are usually satisfied with a costume bought in any store, adults are not. They tend to focus on the details of a costume, often arranging it all themselves. Costumes used by adults tend to be elaborately decorated, right on par with movie costumes. These intricate designs frequently feature masks, makeup, and clothing of a very high quality.

Since arranging all the details of a costume can be a daunting task financially, it would be wise to contact a store that rents costumes. If you choose to rent, you might be able to save money and use a new costume each year.

Halloween Party Ideas and Costumes

I will be writing a number of articles on Halloween. Why you ask? Because it is my family and friends favorite time of the year! Let me explain what I mean when I say FAVORITE! We hold our party as close to Halloween as we can. It is a neighborhood party. Usually about 75% of our neighborhood participates in the party. We also have friends and our neighbors friends join in the fun. Each year the amount of people rises. You know you do a great job when people start talking about it in July! Our party consists of food, beverages (also BYOB) finger food and candy. We have themed costumes and contests. We spend at least a week prior to the party getting food ready and getting the decorations ready. Our number of attendees range from 40 to 60 and, like I stated earlier, grows each year.

The Food

When we prepare food for the party, it is always themed food. And, our food is usually gross! One year we had a kitty litter cake, and was so gross no one ate it! We have had chocolate mice, fried lung, fried skin, bat wings, brain, heart, monster toes, witch fingers, centipedes, bat droppings, mummy spread, swamp juice, and many, many more disgusting foods. It is real fun watching people ew and yuk at the gross looking food. But, it tastes great! Looks can be deceiving.

Themes

We try to have themes that are kid friendly as we do have a lot of children attending. As an example, one year we did a play on words. You had to think of a word or phrase and make a costume about it. One lady had a white sweat suit with candy wrappers on it and came as White Trash. A girl had a devil costume on with eggs all over it for Deviled Eggs. We had a web server, maid of money, leaf blower, red as a beet, nun of your business and loan shark. But the best (and won best costume) was I'm a Cowboy, Baby. Yup, a neighbor is a police officer (and a big guy!) and he had on cowboy boots, a western shirt, cowboy hat and a diaper! You see where the fun comes in?

Props

We also have a ton of props. One that is a big hit is our beverage cooler. A couple years ago I was trying to figure out how to make a cooler to hold all of the BYOB that was arriving so we didn't have a ton of coolers lying around. So I hit upon the idea of making a coffin. Now this coffin is full sized, and lined with Styrofoam. It's black with a red cross on the lid. What a hit! We put a full sized skeleton in it and pack him in ice. When we start cleaning up the next day there is still ice in it, so it works great!

We also have smaller props that we use. We have tea light candle holders with witches, and black cats. We have jars with yucky liquids that I labeled to look like witches ingredients. We have a 3 foot spider and web that we string in the corner (on trick-or-treat night there is usually at least one person who gets freaked out by this). I am also the DJ and we have music for dancing, but I also include Halloween favorites like Werewolves of London, Purple People Eater and Monster Mash to name a few. After the games, dancing is usually the next round of fun. The kids are pumped up on sugar and having fun in the yard , and us adults start the REAL party!

Games

We have games for both adults and kids, although the kids games are usually more fun! We have done the traditional such as guess the body part, but also some unique such as the spider races. We play roll the peanut and of course bobbing for apples. We have prizes for both the kids and adults.

On my Blog I will be publishing further articles. I will also include pictures on the topics I will talk about. If you see or read something of particular interest to you, just pop a comment and I will try and answer it for you. So get your Halloween face on and get the gears rolling. Have a great time this year!

Tom Johnson
http://www.pixelbliss.com
Life Unscripted

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Cheap Ways to Make Halloween Costumes - Best Kiddies Funny Ghoul Jokes, Party Ideas & Games

Halloween - It only seems like yesterday cowering behind closed doors fearing little monsters, which would come armed with tricks up their sleeve, more than that of the year before. Would my treat be good enough to keep me safe, I thought? With bated breath I would apprehensively open the door. The pleasure I got from giving was so rewarding, once the masks were removed to reveal ear to ear grinning kids, who believed at the time, had scared me witless

Witches, pumpkin lanterns and jolly kids, who, in cold damp weather conditions, dress up wearing a mischievous grin under a ghoulish mask, are just some things we associate with Halloween (October 31st.) I am not sure of the popularity of this event around the globe, but in the UK it is pretty big Halloween - a time when kids love dressing in eerie costumes, and a happy time for parents who do the dressing.

What is trick or treat, simply explained, it involves children dressing in their favorite Halloween costume and approaching neighbors for their goody bag to be filled with treats. If a child is denied a treat then beware because a trick is then played. Tricks can include throwing flour/eggs through the letter box. Depending on how devilish the imp (child) tricks can be more serious. Do yourself a favor and give generously. Children at one were safe to go out alone; however, you must discourage kids from wanting to do this. Insist that an adult accompanies them on their rounds.

Want this Halloween night to be extra special but money is an issue, worry not because there are ways to help you have a fun Halloween night without costing the earth.

A fabulous money saving option is to share expense. Ask neighbors or family if they are up for sharing costs. Don`t be afraid to ask, as there is possibility they too are in the same boat, and think this a good idea. If your neighbor has a bigger garden than you, then you save money if they provide space for tent or marquis depending how big the event. And in return, if you`re handy with a needle and cotton, then you supply the Halloween costumes. Two heads are better than one, so ideas will come fast and furious on how to save cash.

Halloween Costume Ideas

Nothing beats making your own outfit as a money saving alternative regardless of whatever the occasion. Avoid temptation to hire a ghoul costume as it is expensive; also it has to be returned. A handmade Halloween costume can be stored away and used the following year. Jumble/car boot sales are worth a visit for picking up bits and bobs cheaply. Let us assume that the needle cotton option is not your forte, if so consider working with face paints, newspapers and black bin bag liners.

If you want a spooky Halloween mask then make one with paper Mache. Involve the kids, it makes decorating more exciting and the mask more personalized. Remember there is no right or wrong way. To create the shape of your Halloween mask use a balloon, this saves on buying fancy craft store products. "Warning" some children may not excite over Halloween like other kids do and may fear different things. If so, dress them down so they can still enjoy the fun without their little heart pounding ten to the dozen.

Make a Mask Items.

1 You will need a Balloon, Newspaper, and Wallpaper Glue/Paste, some Acrylic Paint, Pinafore and scissors.

2 Protect the work space with newspaper or old cloth. Blow balloon up to preferred size. Cut newspaper into strips then dip in glue and layer round the balloon several times. Smooth out wrinkles as you go along. The more layers - the more solid the mask. Finally add features specific to the mask you are making. Allow cast to dry for 24 hours. Once Mache has set cut into the mask popping the balloon. Cut the back of the mask out, and secure a piece of elastic around the back for keeping the mask in place.

Paint mask in preferred color. This is where imagination comes in so you can identify the mask in the way you see fitting as a scary Halloween mask using paint.

Halloween Costume Ideas

3 Costumes do not come cheaper than making one with a bin liner. Bin bags make shiny capes. All you do is cut a hole for the arms and head to go through. Red liners use for creating a devil, and black for witches, Dracula or Batman. Also good for keeping the kiddies dry if raining when out trick or treating.

4 Spooks don`t come spookier than a Halloween ghost. Take a white sheet, cut out eyeholes, and you`re done (how quick.) Keep the sheet a safe length to prevent tripping. Sheet cuttings make favorable treat bags with draw string opening. Using a permanent marker, you can draw spiders, bats etc on the sheet. A Halloween skeleton has you wear a black leotard and your face painted black. Use white paint to draw bones on for skeletal effect. Have a book to hand with graphic pictures for you to copy from.

Halloween Jokes

1. Where do ghosts go the day before Halloween?

Boo -ty Parlour

2. What do witches use after

blown dried their hair?

Scare spray

3. On what day do spiders eat the most?

Fly-day

4. What do skeletons say before they begin dining?

Bone appétit!

5. What kind of mistakes do spooks make?

Boo boos

6. When does a skeleton laugh?

When his funny bone is tickled

7. What do ghosts drink at breakfast?

Coffee with scream and sugar

8. Where do most werewolves live?

Howllywood

9. What instrument do skeletons play?

Trom-BONE

10. What do you get when you cross a black cat with a lemon?

Sour-puss

Halloween Games and Party Ideas

1 The filling of a sweet jar with colored jelly beans is a fun game. Ask guests to guess how many beans inside. Other confectionery connected with Halloween i.e. jelly snakes frogs and toads are ideal. Place sweet jar near the door and hand each guest a blank piece of paper to put their name and answer on.

2 Halloween Generation Game: Place items such as different type sweets, fruit, mini pumpkin, etc. on a tray. Allow guests to view for a minute, and then have them recap on what they remember. Winner is the one who remembers the most

3 Halloween Words: Of course word choice will differ for age groups playing this game.

Hand each person or child a sheet of paper printed out with a Halloween word such as haunted, trick or treat, pumpkin, skeleton or apple dunking on. Save printer wear/ tear and ink, and hand write. Ask participants to make as many words as they can out of the words.

4 Who Has The Pumpkin - Ask guests to form a circle. Start a song, the more suitable for the occasion the better i.e. Monster Mash. Give mini pumpkin to someone who then passes it on to the next person, and so on until music stops. The person left holding the pumpkin leaves the circle. The last left with pumpkin is the winner and gets to keep it.

5 Halloween Hunt - Hide bags of spider jellies, toffee skeletons or candy. Set kids loose letting them run riot while trying to find the hidden yummies. Have children supervised for particular Halloween games. Be sure to keep back some sweets as someone has to lose.

For the Halloween environment buy black construction paper and cut out silhouettes of bats and decorate accordingly - hang them at different heights with thread from the ceiling. Pipe cleaners are great for making creepy crawlies (spiders.) Pumpkins hollowed out and carved with evil faces with a lit candle inside is traditional and they make great Halloween room features. Watch children at all times where there is a naked flame. Happy Haunting and keep safe this Halloween night.

Halloween Fun Costumes and Entertainment

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Creative Halloween Costumes, Decorations and Party Ideas

Halloween is one of my favorite times of year.  Ever since I was a kid I loved dressing up in Halloween costumes and trick-or-treating.  Now that I'm all grown-up I still enjoy the festivities with my kids and having Halloween parties too.  

It's fun to decorate the house with spooky ghosts and spider webs and pick out the perfect costumes.  Planning a Halloween party with all the autumn foods brings back lots fun memories too.  The weather starts to get cold and you get to make and eat all those fall favorites like caramel apples and pumpkin bread.

I love to see all the creative Halloween decorations that people put in their yards, on their front porches and in their windows all around the neighborhood.  It seems like it's never too early to get your Halloween decorations up.

It's such a joy to see the little ones all dressed up in their favorite superhero costumes or princesses and monsters.  As an adult it is a fun challenge to see how creative you can be with your costume to impress your friends or win the best costume prize at the Halloween party.   You can find lots of great creative costumes ideas for kids.  They have lots of their favorite tv and movie characters as well as superheros and villains.  

Big kids and grown-ups like to get in on the fun too.  You can dress up in creative couples Halloween costumes like Danny and Sandy from Grease or a Gangster and Flapper or Fred and Wilma Flintstone.  There are lots of fun combinations.

The kids love trick-or-treating and of course all that candy.  Now all that sugar might not be the best choice for kids so you may want to try some creative alternatives.  You can give out healthier snacks like individual serving size bags of goldfish crackers or pretzels.  Small toy treats are also a fun choice.  You can purchase those rubber band bracelets that come in all sorts of shapes and colors and give those out as well.   

You also want to make sure that you think about safety.  Halloween can be lots of fun but you want to make sure that everyone stays safe and comfortable.  Having costumes that are warm enough and make it easy for motorist to see you is important for trick-or-treating on a cold dark night.  Carrying a flash light or glow stick or a glow in the dark candy bucket are some good ideas too.

If you would like some more great ideas for Creative Halloween Costumes, Decorations and Party Ideas, check out http://www.creative-halloween-costumes.happy-holidays.net

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Discount Halloween Decorations and Costumes

A Halloween festival is one of the most celebrated events and having a fun-filled party needs innovative decorations and imaginative costumes. As we all know, Halloween is depicted as a celebration of something scary, which is why people and children traditionally disguise themselves as ghosts, goblins, witches, vampires and zombies.

However, the celebration of Halloween today is not only about being scary. Some children and adults disguise themselves by wearing something not in accord with traditional Halloween celebrations in the least. They disguise themselves as fireman, superhero characters, fairy tale characters, astronauts, cowboys, Indians or even movie stars.

This allows for many more choices for fun Halloween parties. It does not require it to be scary or creepy. Although you can include some scary stuff which has been basically part of traditional Halloween decorations, you also need to be imaginative in order to have a different and unique approach.

Among the traditional decorations that you need to include are pumpkins, hanged bats, spiders and cobwebs. The best thing about pitching your own designs and ideas in putting up decorations is you can decide the kind of results you want for your Halloween party. You are in total control.

With regards to your costumes...be creative. Although you can wear the very simple and traditional ghost with white sheet and eye holes, take this opportunity to let your imagination free. It's really not hard to create fun, easy themed costumes. Keep in mind that scary costumes are not always required.

If you plan to purchase accessories such as make up or wigs, but you're on a limited budget for such products, discount Halloween decorations and costumes are available online. One thing good about purchasing online is, it is available all throughout the year and is quite cheap compared to the ones available in stores and malls.

Halloween decorations and costumes are not hard to do when you are putting your ideas and heart into it. You just need a big amount of patience and perseverance in order to achieve the outcome that you desire.

If you do not have the time to shop locally, remember, discount Halloween decorations can be found online...sometimes with free shipping.

Check out discount Halloween costumes and decorations here.

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