Halloween Foot "Trip" Sensor to Trigger Or Activate Lights, Sounds, Scary Effects

Skill level: Super Easy.

Time needed: 5 minutes.

Expense: $10.00 - $20.00

The major bummer with most store-bought Halloween stuff that gets triggered is it's lame. A few tiny eyes may light up, or perhaps it will create a tiny shriek. I've yet to come across anything substantial (Loud, flashy, large, etc.)

"Startle People with a Photo Sensor to Trigger Effects"

You can assemble a little photo-sensor that triggers when people cross it and break the light beam. You may have seen something like this in small stores-when you enter, the attendant gets alerted to your presence.

Ingredients:

Photocell switch

2 Extension cords

Bright L.E.D. Flashlight

1 cardboard tube from paper towel (cut in two halves) or 2 toilet paper cardboard tubes.

1) Take the photocell switch and plug it into your extension cord. Take the other extension cord and plug it into the outlet on the photocell. Whatever devices you will be triggering will be plugged into this cord later. If you don't know what to plug in, see our "scare tactics" article.

2) Tape one of the cardboard tubes to the "eye" photo sensor on the sensor unit so that the cylinder projects out from (and shields) the light senor. This is merely to keep any ambient light (from other decorations or lamps) from interfering with our trigger. This is our "receiver."

3) Tape the bright L.E.D. flashlight to the end of the OTHER cardboard tube. This will be the light beam projector.

4) Find a place along your walkway to set-up the beam. The light (beam) emitting side must directly face the receiver. Remember to place the receiver (which requires power) on the side of the walkway that has outlets and/or leads to your effects. The light emitter side is totally portable. You may want to try to hide each of there in bushes, between rocks, or simply put decorations or things over the devices (being careful not to cover the holes of the tubes.) CAUTION: Do not place the receiver anywhere near water or where it can get wet (sprinklers, ponds, etc.)

That's all there is to it. The L.E.D. flashlight should last beyond any single nights of Halloween scares. We recommend plugging strobe lights, sirens, or other "gags" into the sensor. Check out the "scare tactics" for project ideas.

Halloween Decorations are certainly the foundation of a Happy Halloween, but adding some great effects or illusions and some "scare tactics" are the frosting on the cake. Yes, you may trigger them yourself, but it's much more fun to automate some stuff. This way you are free to hand out candy, laugh with the "victims," or simply just enjoy and take-in the whole exciting experience. For our trick-or-treaters we set up at least three triggered "effects." We were fortunate enough to have a forked drive-way; so we gave parents with "kiddies" an option to take the less-scary route. You may choose to warn anyone with little kids that there are some scary things ahead. It's fun to scare the older kids, teens, and adults, but not so nice to terrorize toddlers.

Bill Lae is an award-winning visual effects artist and Halloween Haunter. As one of Hollywood's effects artists, Bill worked for all the networks using his magic touch on TV's top shows including The X-Files, Buffy, & The Outer Limits. He created BigScreamTV http://www.BigScreamTV.com a series of DVDs anyone can use to create in-home Halloween effects with a TV. He also shot a how-to DVD called X-Treme Haunted House Make-Over where he shows folks how to haunt the house for little cost. His love for Halloween started long before he came to LA. As a child he made haunted houses in his parents' basement. In LA, he began mixing easy-to-use technology (DVD players, computers, printers, lights) with other household items to "trick out" his own house every Halloween. At last count, he had 700 trick-or-treaters. "It's my favorite holiday," Bill says. "I especially love amazing the hardened, media-savvy, teen-age critics. And it truly is the one time when everyone has the opportunity to give unconditionally-giving candy to strangers!" For more Halloween Projects: http://www.booityourself.com

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Choosing Scary Halloween Sounds For Your Halloween Party

Halloween sounds are the most important part of your Halloween Party. Many people tend to focus on decorations and costumes during this time of year. While a party would be alright without these scary sounds, the parties that do have them tend to be big hits.

Before you go out and pick up any sounds, you must make certain that they fit in with your theme. Once established you will be able to select the tunes that are going to be essential for your event and take it up to the next level.

Typically you will want to avoid certain sounds that are considered scary, but quickly become some of the most annoying sounds possible. A screaming cat can jolt fear in a person on occasion, but when you have it on repeat, people will start to find that it grates on their nerves. A more effective sound would be the howling of the wind.

Most of these tracks tend to last a considerable amount of time, and the howling mixed with the occasional clanking of chains or even squeaks that appear will send a chill down a person's back. This makes it one of the most effective Halloween sounds you will encounter and you might find people are looking around in fear as you play this track.

If you have a haunted house theme, cackling witches and ghost moans are effective. You just need to be certain they are evenly spread out on the track. Constant moaning and cackling will lose its effectiveness. Try to find a set of tracks that have a mixture of noises that will help you to bring out the fear in the mood.

With the wind blowing and the creaking of an old floorboard these sounds when mixed in sparingly, you get the ultimate mix. In addition, if you can find chimes and organ music they will enhance the level of fear that your guests begin to feel.

Be sure that you keep the environment to match the mood that the music sets to enhance the fun that everyone has as well. If you have a haunting tone usually a brightly lit party zone with colorful balloons isn't the best solution.

Of course if you are looking for a light hearted concept, you can play some of the more classic Halloween songs that are available. "Monster Mash" is one of the best known tunes for this time as is "Thriller" by Michael Jackson. Begin to compile a list of songs that would make for a fun Halloween theme party. Some other suggestions would include:

• A Nightmare on my Street by DJ Jazzy

• Ghost Busters by Ray Parker Jr.

• Halloween Theme Song

• Friday the 13th Theme Song

• This is Halloween by Marilyn Manson

• Purple People Eater by Sheb Wooley

• Tubular Bells

• X-Files Theme Song

This is just a number of ideas you can use. Depending on the theme of your party and musical tastes of your guests you can add additional songs as well. Just remember that some songs can be intense and not appropriate for all ages. Take that into consideration as you begin to create your ultimate playlist filled with the best Halloween sounds available. Most of all enjoy this remarkable holiday.

spookynite.com is a very informative and resourceful Halloween website for Halloween Costumes and all your Halloween Music that you will be looking for.

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Cheap Halloween Props - Your Kids Can Make Good, Scary Fun!

Halloween is so much more fun for trick or treaters when your house looks enticingly scary as the kids approach. These days, even one pumpkin can run you a few bucks, so if you're like me, you're looking for a few ideas for cheap Halloween props that are still scary enough to give the kids a thrill. Here are just a few ideas for creepy, but cheap Halloween props the kids can make and/or decorate themselves. You save money and they have fun.

Poster board and cardboard boxes are on my short list of cheap Halloween decorating materials. A large cardboard box can be turned into a haunted house in an afternoon. Hung from a window, your haunted house will lend a creepy feeling and inspire a little apprehension for the candy seekers. Depending on the kids ages, you may need to help cut out some 'windows' with a utility knife. After that's done, let the kids loose. All you need in the way of supplies is a tube of gray acrylic paint, yellow or orange cellophane, a pack of markers in day-glow colors, a package of 'spiderwebs' and some glitter. Cut your cardboard box to a size that fits in a front window. After the kids have painted the house, allow about 15 minutes for drying (acrylic paint dries quickly). Turn the cardboard (or poster board) over and then they can tape the cellophane to the back of the windows. Now they can use their markers to draw in the creepy details. Kids generally know what scares kids, so let them have free rein. Apply spiderwebs! When the haunted house is finished, hang it on the inside of the designated window. The cellophane will be backlit by the lights inside. Voila! Incidentally, this Halloween prop can be used again next year!

Halloween light strings are another of the reusable and cheap Halloween props. While a creepy entryway is part of the Halloween fun, you want to balance off the decorations with a bit of cuteness for the very young trick or treaters. You can light the front of your house for just a few bucks and the kids can have fun doing this task as well.

You might want to get a quantity of those fake spiderwebs. Attach them to places kids might touch, like the doorbell and porch or stair rails. Little plastic creepy crawlers should be in abundance, tucked into the spiderwebs. No glue needed. You might even offer a creepie as a 'party favor'. As the kids are leaving with their treats, give them an added scare. "You're welcome to take a little spider or worm home if you'd like to take one from the spiderweb patch..."

Instead of spending a lot of money on a couple of big pumpkins, pick up some of those tiny pumpkins at the supermarket. Get a few small packages of glass 'jewels' and let the kids create Jack o' Lantern eyes and mouths. Group them together on a table at the doorway, or spread them along the windowsills. These cheap Halloween props can also double as Halloween 'party favors'.

Every drugstore's Halloween section is flush with the printed-on-cardboard skeletons, witches and vampires. Let the kids put a little spark on these cheap Halloween props, gluing on fake jewels for eyes, some glittery red blood streaks and some accent creepiness with the day-glow markers. Hang these guys from a tree branch, porch rail, or anywhere they'll catch a breeze and flutter wickedly.

Making these cheap Halloween props heightens the fun of this single, annual scare fest. Better yet, most are reusable. Next year, the kids can add to their collection.

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How To Use Halloween Sounds To Complete Your Scary Party Or Display

If you are having a Halloween party or just want to make your house scary for trick or treaters, the aesthetic gruesomeness of your house or yard can be enhanced with creepy Halloween sounds. A scream from the bushes or a witch's cackle can make any Halloween decoration come to life and scare both young and old. The sounds will captivate the youngsters as they try to figure out if they are real or a part of the make believe, macabre world that you have created. The sounds of Halloween are just as important as that blood spattered door or the dummy you have hanging in a noose in the tree in your front yard.

You can buy commercial Halloween sounds on CD or audio tape. These types of products have been around for a long time and you might remember the 33 rpm album that was a hit around Halloween time. It featured the screams of the dying, the cackle of an old woman, the howl of the wolf, and even the creaking of an old door. The audio tracks of today are a lot scarier and have more variety. In recent recordings you can hear the screech of a cat, the moan of a ghost, and the screams and torment of a devil possessed soul. There are even recordings that feature the voice and Halloween sounds of Freddy Kruger, Jason, and Michael Myers.

These recordings can be used at Halloween parties or to aid ambiance to your Halloween decorations. A good technique is to use your surround sound system outdoors. You can place the speakers outdoors in different locations so that the high and low sounds come from all around. By doing this you can see the confusion and fright in your visitors eyes as they try to see where the sound is coming from. Have the speakers placed out of site so that the sounds will sound like they are coming from your Halloween displays or the bushes. The more speakers you have the more fun it will create as the Halloween sounds creak and scream around the trick or treaters and their parents.

A unique idea for Halloween sounds is to record your own. You and your friends can really get creative as you record your scariest voices. You can do a wolf howl or a mummy's moan and record it so that it can be played at your Halloween event. Be creative and try different sounds. Bang some pots and pans and use different sound props to create a plethora of scary sounds and terrifying sound affects. Record a vicious sounding dog and play it as your guests walk by. Watch them jump as they think Cujo is about to bite a chunk of them.

Halloween sounds do not have to be limited to the gruesome utterings. You can mix your audio with Halloween songs like 'Monster Mash' and theme songs from 'The Adams Family' and 'The Munsters'. Go wild and let your imagination go wild with you. Remember sounds are as important as looks on Halloween night. Don't go all out on displays and forget your Halloween sounds.

Are you looking for ideas for kids costumes this Halloween? Visit the Get In Costume website for plenty of helpful tips such as Halloween face painting and making your own costumes.

Plus, you can get a free copy of my special report "The Family Guide To Halloween Safety" at http://www.getincostume.com/freereport

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Halloween Parties - Ideas For Scary Decorations

Whether you are entertaining adults or children or both, decorations are important in setting the proper creepy atmosphere for Halloween parties. You can come up with some pretty scary decorations that don't cost much money, and they are guaranteed to give your guests the chills.

The secret to setting the right atmosphere for Halloween parties is lighting. Using novelty colored light bulbs in lamps, wall lights, sconces and even small directional lighting gives your home a new look and makes even the most humble scary decorations look eerie. Keep all overhead lights off and use a mix of lighting strategies to make guests think they may be partying in a haunted house.

Jack-o-Lanterns can be either whimsical or creepy, so pack tables, corners and the entryway with grimacing faces. Choose pumpkins that seem a little odd with discoloration, bumpy growths or even flat on one side. Carve faces that show eerie expressions, and then make a few more as lanterns. Simply take a long 4-inch nail and hammer it all over through the pumpkin shell in random spots. Pair a few lantern pumpkins with some creepy faces, place non-candle lights in them and watch them glow.

An easy eerie decoration for a Halloween party room is to cover the ceiling in bats. Using black construction paper, cut out several dozen simple bat shapes. Tape black thread to the back of the bat and tape the other end to the ceiling. In low light and dangling on invisible thread, the ceiling of bats will look like they are diving and swooping.

There are plenty of commercial decorations for sale around Halloween, from shrieking motion activated ghosts and zombies to creepy props such as Halloween skeletons, spider webs with giant hairy inhabitants, door covers that feature bloody bones and wicked monsters and any manner of window and wall clings with realistic pictures of Halloween horror scenes. Choosing a few key items and placing them in a central or prominent location will up the scare factor for your guests.

Don't ignore the little details that add so much to Halloween parties. Drape spider webs in unlikely places and place plastic spiders everywhere. Play spooky background sounds from specially created Halloween CDs. Make warning signs for all doorways and windows, such as "Keep Out," "Condemned," "Beware" and "Warning."

For more information on halloween decorations, visit the holidays section of Life123.com.

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Scary Halloween Decorations and Unique Gift Ideas

These special scary items will make your Halloween more fun. You can choose them to be the decoration as well as gifts to your friends. People will absolutely scared and happy with these unique products specially created for Halloween.

Horror Movie Shower Curtain and Bath Mat

Can you believe that your bath room had been a murder scene? The bloodstained evidence was left on your white bath mat and curtain. With this horror scene, everyone will be shocked when entering your bath room. But it's cool in Halloween festival, isn't it?

Zombie Head Cookie Jar

This is a perfect Halloween decoration as well as a great gift idea. It's a zombie's head jar that full of lovely cookies which looks like you what you eat is the zombie's brain. I think most children would love this special jar.

Gift Box Active Bloody Hand

If you want to try something more stimulating of your gift, a box of active bloody hand could do this. But you must make sure you can deal with any condition when the receiver opens the box. And also the one who doesn't have heart disease.

Ominous Visitor Shower Curtain

Install such kind of shower curtain in your bath room will create a lot of fun. It seems that always there's someone in your bath room preparing to kill you. I guess it could have great effect on your friends in the Halloween night.

Garden Zombie

If you hold a Halloween party in your garden, a few garden zombies will be perfect decoration. In the evening, you can add some light near the zombies which can absolutely scare your friends when they see them.

Sexy Halloween Costume

Have no ideas of dresses in the coming Halloween parties? Can you imagine sexy lingerie costumes appear in the parties? Sexy Halloween costumes provided online are crafted with special attention to details and quality, ensuring you to be the eye point of the parties.

Thesexysecrets.com is your reliable online supplier of Halloween sexy lingerie costumes, where you can select a wide range of sexy lingeries in good quality and competitive price.

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Scary Halloween Party Ideas For an Eerie Event

Scary Halloween party ideas can sometimes be a challenging feat. The reason for this is that people are no longer scared or surprised by the things that they used to be. So much on television has reduced our sensitivity that many people will tell you that nothing surprises them and they are telling you the norm.

Aside from the usual set up of Halloween costumes, candles and dark hallways or rooms that exhibit a stuffed person hanging from the ceiling in the attempt to make a dungeon scene, what can you do to make a different and scary Halloween party? It's important to remember that scaring everyone at once is rather a difficult bit of work; however, scare one person at a time and you can change the atmosphere in a room or at a gathering by putting people on edge.

If you want to spend the time and the effort, you can set up some interesting things but you don't want people to think that "the game is afoot". You might get everyone off guard by saying you wanted a party, but just didn't have the time to decorate like you wanted. Or, you may have your party before Halloween or after so people aren't expecting anything. Then, you need to go to work making it all happen. Soliciting the help of a few friends can sometimes be very helpful, but don't make it to many.

Scary Halloween party ideas include having a séance, where you can rig the table or a disc that has music on it. Bring a cold draft into the room. Have the lights blink, dim or the power shut off for a few minutes. Turn it back on before someone investigates and finds human interference. The sudden scent of incense or cigarette tobacco, particularly in the house of a true non-smoking fanatic can make any body a believer because it goes against everything they know about you. The people that you have chosen to help you can show subtle shifts in character or look scared or promote the idea that something has been heard or seen, but it must be subtle. Movements that are picked up by the peripheral vision, but aren't happening when one looks directly at it can work wonderfully. Odd noises from the outside of the house work well. Use the help of a neighbor or teenage children that are not expected at the party.

For more Scary Halloween party ideas and theme party plans, visit www.fun-theme-party-ideas.com/halloween-party.html for tons of popular theme party ideas, including decoration, costume, game, and party drink ideas, as well as printable invitations.

© Copyright 2008. Feel free to reprint this article on your site as long as the article is not modified in any way and the resource information (about the author) is listed as above.

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Choose the Right Scary Halloween Decor For Your Party

Halloween is a wonderful holiday and choosing the best Halloween Decor is a great way to make the holiday even more enjoyable. Whether the decorations are scary, fun and comical or life-like you're sure to find what you're looking for. However, there is so much to choose from it is very difficult to choose exactly what you want. Read on for some ideas.

Halloween Lights

A great and easy way to jazz up your home is by using lights as party of your Halloween setup. These can either be bulb lights that are similar to Christmas lights or blacklights. Regardless of the type you choose you are guaranteed to make your home look just a little more festive and is great for Halloween parties.

Inflatable Decorations

There are some great looking inflatable decorations that you can add to your home this Halloween season. Since they've become more popular over the years they have also become more affordable. Of course this all depends on what kind of inflatable Halloween decor you're looking for.

Scene Setters

A scene setter are pieces of Halloween decor that you can purchase to transform your home into a certain type of scary scene. Things like tombstones, cobwebs, dungeon walls and more are examples of scene setters. Have you ever been through a haunted house or watched a movie that took place at a certain period in history? If you said yes than you're already familiar with scene setters.

Other Decorations

As I stated earlier, there are so many decorations to choose from. Some are unique and obscure, others are traditional. One way to add to your Halloween decor is to take several decorations and create your own scene. You can set black cats or cobwebs on tombstones, place hands on grave plots and make it look like it is rising out of the ground. You can also buy packages of fake spiders and roaches. Have fun with it because that's what Halloween is all about.

The right Halloween decor will make your Halloween party memorable or forgettable. Get ideas for your party at the Halloween decor site!

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Halloween Party Ideas Will Help You Create the Perfect Scary Themed Party For Everyone

Halloween Party Ideas | Creating the perfect Halloween themed party

When fall rolls around, many individuals seek out Halloween party ideas. There are a number of festivities that occur on Halloween. One of the most common festivities is that of a Halloween party. If you are looking for ideas for your next party, this article is sure to be beneficial. This year, you can try out many new ideas and concepts when hosting your party.

This way, you can maximize the potential of fun for all of your guests. In order to appropriately host a memorable party this Halloween, one of the first things that you will need to do is to establish a general theme. The theme is the most important aspect of a successful party. While many may go with a "general" theme, it is best to focus on one particular aspect when choosing the perfect theme for your party.

There are a number of unique themes that you can select from when it comes to Halloween party ideas. You may elect to set up a "haunted house" theme, or your may like the idea of a "fright night" bash. Perhaps you are thinking of more of a "monster mash" theme or a "spooky screams" theme - it is all up to you!

The theme is important because it allows you to center your festivities on a common item. Once you have selected a theme, it is important to consider the decorations that you will use for the festivities. Decorations are especially important when it comes to parties that are held on Halloween. It is essential to set a certain "look and feel" for the guests that will be attending. Once you have devoted some time to your theme, it is now time to consider the menu.

There are many different Halloween party ideas when it comes to the foods and beverages that you will make available for your party. It is important to select items that will compliment your theme, as well as the decorations that you have set up. For example, if you are going with the theme of a haunted house, you may want to create a tombstone cake, or even ghoulish punch.

These foods and beverages can really compliment a theme that surrounds the whole concept of ghosts, ghouls, and other spooky things that may be found in and/or around a haunted house. It may take a little time and consideration, but creating a memorable Halloween party can be a fun and exciting endeavor!

Scary Halloween Decorations For An Exhilarating Fright Night

Who wouldn't anticipate this time of the year? Halloween season is the perfect time to hold spooky costume parties! Of course, adults and kids are both looking forward to wear their creative and unique costumes and revamp the house with scary Halloween decorations. Make your imagination run wild because the more creepy, unique and surprising your ideas are, the better!

Halloween party is not complete without great party decors because only these can set the right mood. There are wide varieties of ghoulish Halloween decorations you can use to heighten the eerie charm of the party venue. Dig out the spine chilling, deep rooted fright from your guests with these super scary Halloween decoration ideas:

Indoor Halloween Party Themes

Witch House Decorations

Transform a room, house, banquet hall or any indoor Halloween venue into a frightening witch home! Have life-size witch doll on a broom suspended in the air. Showcase a full size witch doll sitting on a chair or standing at the different areas of the house. Display witch potions, candles, skulls or other eerie witch bits and pieces as if used for doing rituals.

Haunted House Decorations

Bring the haunted house spooky atmosphere into your own house! Decorate the interiors of the party venue with ground and wall coverings and nettings to disguise the whole area. Set up a dim lighting and consider lighting some candles, skulls or bones and spider webs. Gore props, animatronics and ghost illusions also create a spine chilling mood.

Spider Webs and Spiders

Spider webs designed artistically are the classic decorations every Halloween. But what's great about spider webs is that they readily transform the venue into a scary nook. Oversize spider webs with black, hairy and authentic looking spiders can definitely give goose bumps. You can also have glow-in-the-dark spider webs on the murky areas of the house but make sure not to overdo it and keep the spider webs authentic-looking.

Lighting and Sound Effects

Screams and scary giggles or laughter are the most popular sound effects to boost the eeriness of the atmosphere. Archetypal orchestra music works great with a haunted house theme venue. Since a bright lighting is not at all fitting to Halloween parties and you can't party in pitch black, a dim and animated lighting is just perfect.

There are varieties of ways to capture that frightening mood with lighting effects. Halloween lights, LED lights, skulls and skeleton lighting and the classic candle lighting are all wonderful options to transform your house into a realistic, fear-provoking party venue.

Setting up the Halloween mood during costume parties or trick-and-treating is not difficult as long as you don't limit your ideas to the traditional party decors. There are tons of inspired and fresh Halloween decors out there! You can use the technology in carrying out cool lighting and sound effects.

Bedazzle your guests with realistic, scary Halloween decorations by really thinking on the concept and stick to it. Prepare your budget so you won't end up with a poorly decorated Halloween set.

As you can see, there are loads of scary Halloween Decorations to choose from to make your home the envy of your neighborhood. Don't miss out on what's hot by visiting my favorite spooky decoration website at http://spookyhalloweendecorations.org/.

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