You've got your witch hat and striped stockings, a fully-stocked candy arsenal and an iPod full of the most chilling horror soundtracks. Everything is in place for your spectacular Halloween party, but how spooked will guests be in your cozy abode? Dress it up right with some frightful DIY decorations that are so quick and easy you'll scream.
Chandelier Ghouls
Invite a crowd of grinning skulls to haunt your house simply by picking up some Styrofoam skulls at the craft store and hang them from a chandelier. Spray paint them black (with sparkles!) for a gothic look, or experiment with other creepy colors. If you prefer a friendlier look, shape a scrap of cheesecloth dipped in fabric-stiffener over a Styrofoam ball (or inflated balloon) on a stack of cups, let it dry, apply a couple dots of black felt, and you have the beginning of a flock of ghosts.
Pumpkin Bowls
That classic Halloween staple, the pumpkin, has many practical uses outside of its artistic carving potential. Cut off the top and fill a whole pumpkin with ice for a festive cooler, or dig out mini pumpkins to hold candles, casting a spooky glow on your gathering.
Spine-Chilling Silhouettes
Cut Halloween-y shapes from black card stock to cast eerie shadows on your walls. Tape the shapes to pieces of sturdy wire with circles formed at one end to anchor under the candles. Make sure the shapes stand just behind the candle and well above the flame to create a truly frightening form.
Sweet-Faced Pumpkins
A well-carved pumpkin is a thing of beauty, but you may find more creative freedom and a fresh, fun look in forming your pumpkins' faces out of colorful candy. Treats of all shapes and textures can be fixed onto the pumpkin with pins, or metal wire in matching colors. Just be careful to warn snacking guests!
Spider Toothpicks
Creep out your guests with a hors d'oeuvres platter crawling with spiders. Cut the loop off some plastic spider rings and punch a hole through the body with something sharp, like a needle tool from the craft store. Stick the end of a toothpick through and voilà—a bug with every bite.
