Challenging Times Ahead

Alice in Wonderland AHAO Challenge

Sneek peek...check back on Tuesday for more details.

Created By Hand Challenge - Coffin

http://createdbyhandchallenge.wordpress.com/ ....to see all the spooky submissions this week!

ATC - Bewitched

Vintage images and background collage by Kelly Burton at Collagevision: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5945339

Halloween Hall of Fame Voting Closes this Weekend

The voting polls will close this Sunday night (September 27, 2008) for the Halloween Hall of Fame inductee for 2008. This is your last chance to vote on which nominee should be inducted into the Halloween Hall of Fame. Tim Burton is currently leading with 30% of the votes. Followed closely by fellow film maker John Carpenter. To cast your vote. go to: www.halloweenhalloffame.org today!

The list of 2008 Nominees:

Jaime Lee Curtis
Ed Wood
Mary Shelley
Rick Baker
Wes Craven
Rick Baker
Sam Raimi
Vlad the Impaler
Fred Gwynne
John Carpenter

Halloween Hall of Fame Members:

Bobby Boris Picket
Elvira
Vincent Price

Theme Thursday - Numbers

http://themethursday.wordpress.com/ ......to see all the wonderful submissions this week!

Kevin Smith's...Horror Movie?

Kevin Smith is abandoning Jay and Silent Bob in favor of slasher-style horror in his new movie, "Red State."

Currently experiencing funding issues, Smith is determined to make the darkest, bleakest horror film possible.

Read the whole interview here.

World of Warcraft Costume Masks and Makeup Kits Now Available!

AnniesCostumes.com is proud to be a select distributor of Official World of Warcraft merchandise! We are big Fans of the World of Warcraft game and we know you have been searching for those big elf ears and other WoW merchandise, so we helped develop World of Warcraft masks and makeup kits available in time for this Halloween.

Now available at Annies Costumes:

Tauren Masks



Orc Masks



Undead / Forsaken Makeup Kits



Night Elf Makeup Kits



Blood Elf Makeup Kits


Sweeten the deal with some extra WoW!

Are you "FOR THE HORDE!!"? Use coupon code: RIG at check out for FREE ground shipping! Maybe you fight for The Alliance? Then you can use coupon code: DINKE for FREE ground shipping!

Just Added!

Rule the Holidays with these mini Glitter Party Skull Batons with

Top Hats. Just added in my Etsy shop plus a few other creepy
Halloween goodies. Click here for link!

Halloween Wines

There are those who spend a lot of time researching the perfect wine
to compliment a meal. And then there are people like me who
buy bottles to compliment the decor. Sad but true. Here's a peek of
just a few of the Halloween wines that I've collected over the years.

Talk Like a Pirate, Tweet Like a Pirate, Dress Like a Pirate, & Blog Like a Pirate too!

Yo Ho, Yo Ho! Today is International Talk Like a Pirate Day!

For those of you who might not have known, today is a day of particular importance. No, it is not Halloween (just yet), nor is it Christmas or Mother's Day. For some, this is a day that is far more important, and provides a wealth of more amusement and joy. It turns out that today is Talk Like a Pirate Day, and it is apparently celebrated throughout the world, at least among pirate aficionados and those in the know. Recently put into practice as far back as 2002 (although it was celebrated by a small circle of friends since 1995, when it was first established), this holiday seems to be on the rise to claim a spot next to Secretary's Day. So grab your pirate hats, hoist your Jolly Rogers, and may today be filled with the spirit of adventure for you!

More information can be found at: http://www.talklikeapirate.com/piratehome.html

Not only can ye have fun with friends a co-workers, but you can also have fun online with www.tweetlikeapirate.com and the many blogs and websites dedicated to this fun day!

---

TGIF Challenge - Minimalize Art

This week's challenge was to make minimalized art. I made 5 Vintage Halloween inchies and then incorporated them into a card. You can see all the wonderful submissions at: http://thankgoditsfriday.wordpress.com/

Ahoy There, Matey!

Today be talk like a pirate day, ye scurvy dogs!

Celebrate by dressing up in pirate garb and swashbuckling the office.

Annie's Costumes has you covered for all your pirate costume needs.

Dream Box - The Crescent Family Halloween

(Click on Picture to see details close-up!) This dream box was created using vintage images by Kelly Burton at Collagevision: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5945339
Dream Box by Artchix Studios

Paris Hilton Plays Horror Villain

Paris Hilton has traded in her blonde hair for black locks, thick gothic make-up and leather bondage gear for her role as a villain in a horror movie.

Hilton is pictured as villain Amber Sweet, in Repo! The Genetic Opera.

Set in 2056, the horror movie is about an epidemic of organ failures that threatens the future of mankind.

The movie is set for release November 7.

Get her look just in time for Halloween from Annie's Costumes.

Halloween Costume Contest Tips

How to Host the Perfect Halloween Costume Contest:

1. Announcement - let guests know that you will be having the contest on the invitations so they know to dress creatively.

2. Voting - set up a "voting booth" at the party so party-goers can choose their favorite costumes.

3. Categories - consider many categories so you can have many winners: Funniest, Most Unique, Scariest, Sexiest and Best Overall.

4. Prizes - Whether it's a homemade ribbon, a trophy or a gift basket, give your guests a little something for their efforts.

Good Luck Planning, and if you're looking for the winning costume visit Annie's Costumes!

ATC - Be Afraid!

Vintage image by Kelly Burton at Collagevision: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5945339

Lucky 13 - Gothic Arch

All vintage images by Kelly Burton at Collagevision: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5945339

In the Pumpkin Patch....

Thanks to Louise Granlund for the wonderful image CD that this postcard came from....((HUGS))

Created By Hand Challenge - Crows

This is a large, chipboard crow (12" long) I created this crow for the Created by Hand Challenge: http://createdbyhandchallenge.wordpress.com/ Please visit the link to see all the wonderful submissions this week.

This crow is for the SDA Challenge #51 this week a well: http://www.stampindamour.com/messageboard/viewtopic.php?t=1524

There is a fabulous RAK involved for the winner of the SDA challenge. I hope you will check it out and join in!

Fate of Fortune

It requires a great deal of boldness and a great deal of caution to
make a great fortune, and when you have it, it requires ten times
as much skill to keep it. Emerson
Fortune Teller now on eBay. Click here for auction link.

Vintage Halloween ATC - My Pretty

I created this ATC for a Halloween swap at my Yahoo! Group site....the theme is "The Witching Hour"

Trick or Treat by the Light of the Moon

A Charmed Life

I created this card as a submission to Stampington & Co. and it didn't make the cut for publication but I really like it so I'm posting it here.

Treat Yourself!

What is it about candy corn? My addiction began while shooting these
treat buckets for my Etsy shop. First it was just eating the pieces that
fell out of the buckets as I was setting up the displays. Then it
progressed to eating the entire content of the bucket and next thing you
know I consumed half the bag before lunch... uugghh! Now suffering
from a major sugar buzz I am regretting every single little piece.
You'd think I'd know better by now. I put myself in this situation
every Halloween and vow to never buy candy corn again...
at least not until next year.

Mistaken Identity

I LOVE pumpkins. I love to eat them. I love to carve them.
I love to display them throughout my house as soon as they hit
the local markets. From miniatures to monsters, bumpy or smooth
I am forever on the prowl for some new variety to spice up my
holiday decor. So when I saw this little red munchkin at the local
grocery store my heart skipped a beat. Could this be the elusive
Rouge D'Etant variety that I've only read about but never actually
seen in person? Much to my disappointment this little masquerader
is an heirloom tomato. Even so, I couldn't resist the purchase.
I predict that it won't take to kindly to a Jack O Lantern carving
but I do see a yummy dinner in the very near future.

A Must Read for Altered Halloween Enthusiasts....

Enthusiasts of vintage Halloween and altered art everywhere rejoice! This Somerset Studio edition is chocked full of fabulous altered Halloween projects. Absolutely amazing stuff!

Mixed Media Monday - Star

http://mixedmediamonday.wordpress.com/ ....to see all the wonderful submissions.

Obsession

This year I am just a little obsessed with the white pumpkin
also known as Ghost Pumpkin, Luminas, Caspers or Baby Boos.
There's just something about the eerie ghostly look of these
pumpkins that gets my imagination stirring.

Click here for Pumpkin Ghost eBay link!
New additions to my Etsy Shop!

ATC - I Want My Mummy

Make a Moo or Two - Pumpkins

http://makeamooortwo.wordpress.com/ This week's challenge was to make a moo or two using pumpkins.....mine had to be jack-o-lanterns of course!~

Vero Beach Halloween Costume Parade

On October 25th, The City of Vero Beach Recreation Department will present its 50th Annual Halloween Parade and Costume Contest.

The parade begins at 10 am and everyone is encouraged to dress up. Goodie bags and prizes for the best costumes will be awarded and entry is free.

For more information visit www.covb.org or check out last year's parade:



Get the winning costume from Annie's Costumes!

2008 Top Halloween Costume Videos on YouTube

Trick or Treat!



Halloween is on the way and we have the video proof to show it! Here are some of the top Halloween Costumes for 2008. So, think of this video as a preview of who will be knocking at your door this Halloween!

Popular Halloween Costumes for 2008:



We actually threw a Halloween Party and invited some friends, dressed them up and video-ed the whole thing. So you can get an idea of the most popular Halloween costumes for 2008 and see the Halloween party fun first hand!

All the costumes here can be seen on Extreme Halloween's Yop Halloween Costume List for 2008: www.extremehalloween.com/tophalloween.htm

All the costumes listed are available for sale (at a great price, I might add!) at www.AnniesCostumes.com

Stay tuned for some behind the scenes pics and recipes for the party snack we served!

This Thursday Challenge - Black is Back

http://thisthursday.wordpress.com/ When I saw the challenge I just had to pull out my new coffin box and alter it. This is a large box which can hold Halloween Candy. Please check out all the wonderful submissions at the above link. (***click on pictures to see details close-up.)

****I've had some request for where I got the coffin box. It's brand new at Stampington & Co. Here's the link: http://stampington.com/html/wooden_coffin.html Enjoy!~

Theme Thursday - Halloween

http://themethursday.wordpress.com/ to join in on this fun challenge and to see all the great submissions! I am also using this ATC for my monthly swap at Stampin' D'Amour

SDA September 2008 ATC Swap - Eeeeek!

Double, Double Toil and Trouble

We should all know by now that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Every good cook knows that having the proper tools makes for easy preparation. This hand painted grungy egg timer makes the perfect cauldron companion.

Click here for auction link! Pumpkin Head Egg Timer now on ebay!

Count down to Halloween!

If you are a Halloween collector, crafter, fan or fanatic then you already know what I'm about to tell you. The Halloween season is upon us. Festive magazines are hitting the newsstands, stores are filling their shelves with treats and treasures and black and orange is once again all the rage. Be still my beating heart. Collectors are out in force, scouring their favorite haunts for those one-of-a-kind Halloween finds. Here are links to my favorite hunting grounds: EHAG, AHAO, PFATT. Enjoy!

Framed Pumphead Ornament is now on eBay.

Spellbound Halloween Collage'

Witchy Woman, SDA Challenge #49

This week's challenge was to create a piece using buttons and lace:
http://stampindamour.com/messageboard/viewtopic.php?t=1513