questions, questions, questions . . .

So it seems I've been tagged by The Spooky Vegan. With eight questions. Although "Number Five" is missing. But it's okay. No one's judging your counting ability. I'll play along anyway:

1. If you could get away with one illegal act in your life, what would it be and why?

Stealing. Pumpkins from a local pumpkin patch. Just one year, I'd love to have dozens of jack-o-lanterns on my front porch. Without having it cost me a fortune.

2. What is your all-time favorite Halloween costume that you've worn?

Okay. This may destroy my credibility. But in my early twenties, my roommate made me a Sylvester the Cat costume which I wore that year and for several years afterward. Loved it. It was warm and always got a great reaction at parties.

3. What are five movies from your childhood/teen years that define you?

I didn't see a lot of movies as a child. It was back in the days before the VCR and we didn't go to the theatre often. So I'll modify this question as "TV shows". Night Gallery (It may have been the show that made me afraid of the dark. And many other things.) ; Batman (I wasn't old enough to watch its original run, but I watched it in re-runs throughout the 70's. I credit it with initiating my love of superheroes. ); Star Trek (I wasn't old enough to watch its original run, but I watched it in re-runs throughout the 70's. I credit it with initiating my love of sci-fi. ); Which brings me to . . . Battlestar Galactica (The original. Back when Starbuck and Boomer were men.); And finally, The Bionic Woman (Again, the original. Back when Jaime Sommers really was the first bionic woman.)

4. What character in a movie/book/TV show/etc. do you identify with the most and why?

At the moment, I feel like Linus, hoping the Great Pumpkin will grace his sincere little pumpkin patch.

6. What's your favorite Halloween-themed movie to watch around Halloween?

The only one I watch consistently each year is The Nightmare Before Christmas.

7. Who is your favorite horror movie villain/monster?

No contest. Lon Chaney Jr.'s Wolfman.

8. What is one "luxury" product you can't live without?

Hmmm . . . although I would like to choose something Halloween-themed, I've got to pick my MP3 player. It's my constant companion.

I'm going to remain true to form and not tag anyone. But if anyone reading this is intrigued by the questions and wants to run with them, I'll look forward to your answers.

Vintage Halloween Collection by Stampin' Up!

 

I created this journal and treat box using stamps and supplies by Stampin' Up!

US customers can buy directly from my business website: http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/kdstamps/  Check it out!

halloween countdown

Midnight tonight marks the beginning of another Halloween blog countdown. My third. I don't know which is more challenging: trying to create a post each day in October or trying to keep up with other bloggers' posts. It's going to be a busy month.

uh-oh

So it would appear the reports of a pumpkin shortage were true. Luckily, I have one can of pumpkin in my cupboard, purchased weeks ago. This will require selective baking.

Marie Antoinette Halloween Banner

I created this banner for a swap at Marie Antoinette Mail Art

it's not what it used to be

I picked up a copy of Martha's October issue yesterday. Without even opening the cover. I reasoned that, with no new Halloween issue this year, it would certainly be packed with creativity and inspiration.

But no. It wasn't. In fact, the most interesting part was the Grandinroad advertising insert. So then I began to ask myself: "Am I expecting too much?" "Am I being unduly harsh in my judgement?" "Am I the problem?"

For the answers, I turned to my kitchen shelf, where amongst the various cookbooks, I keep Martha's old Halloween and October issues. And I took a walk down memory lane. And I came to the conclusion that it's not me, Martha; it's you. It's definitely you. Ah well . . . there's always next year.

foamy

I like camping. But I will admit to being a fair-weather camper. I enjoy it most when it doesn't rain. And when the campground is equipped with running water and flush toilets. Otherwise, my needs are simple. A tent and a sleeping bag. Nothing extra.

My husband, however, does not share this view, and on every camping trip, he complains incessantly about his discomfort and his desire for a camp trailer. Or a fold-up camp cot. Or an air mattress. Anything that might fit between his sleeping bag and the cold hard ground. Being a reasonable and accommodating person, I offered a compromise. I bought foam camp pads to be placed under the sleeping bags. Problem solved. Or so I believed.

These foam pads were the most useless objects I have ever encountered. They ended up everywhere in the tent. Except under the sleeping bags. So the complaining continued and the foam pads were banished. And in the interest of future complaint-free camping trips, I may be required to reconsider the air mattress.

But back to the foam pads. It seems camping's loss is Halloween's gain. Because rather than live out their days at the bottom of the camping-supplies box, lonely, despised and forgotten, the foam pads have found new purpose. An opportunity to redeem themselves. As lovely flower petals in a haunted garden.

Decorative Skull Plates

Decorative skull plates. Amazing decorative skull plates.

And you can make them. They will show you how to if you visit the link!

It's getting to be Halloween -- I just love this time of year, when the craft blogs start to come alive with projects I actually care about!!!

Vintage Halloween Scarecrow Die

~Please feel free to save and use~

Pumpkin Pie

Thank the heavens! The nightmare is over.

Decoupage Pumpkins - like stenciled!

Bugaboo, Mini, Mr & Me has been decoupaging pumpkins. It's not the idea that's revolutionary, it's the exact materials and the result -- they look almost stenciled and they are so elegant!

Sounds like an easy (and relatively inexpensive) way to get some really gorgeous patterns on wedding pumpkins or general seasonal decor.

Happy hauntings, all.

Skull Candle Stand by Horchow

Isn't this creepily cool!  You can find it and more unique Halloween items at Horchow:  http://www.horchow.com/store/catalog/templates/HP3.jhtml?itemId=cat10760738&parentId=cat1210736&masterId=cat000000

Boris and Lon Jr. and me

Every year at about this time, my attention turns to my seasonal movie viewing. I like to give the month of October over completely to Halloween-themed or otherwise creepy viewing. And for me, creepy viewing means horror movies pre-dating 1960. Before the blood and body parts began to flow. During the past two years, I've devoted myself to the classic Universal monster movies. Now, having exhausted most of those, I need to look elsewhere. But where?

And then, suddenly, serendipity struck.

I was in my grocery store, en route to the milk which we always seem to be out of, when I passed a clearance rack of DVD's. No particular genre. No theme. No connecting thread. Other than that they were all DVD's the store wished to be rid of. And there, below Season 1 of Ellen and above the collectors' set of Bonanza, two DVD sets caught my attention.

A set of five Boris Karloff movies that I've never before seen. And . . .

. . . six Inner Sanctum movies with Lon Chaney, Jr. My favourite wolfman. Together with one of my favourite old radio shows. I had no idea there were Inner Sanctum movies.

So in that brief moment of chance, I solved my movie dilemma for October. And possibly for November as well. And I even remembered the milk.

ATC - Haunted

Final Question: What Door Am I At?

So, I won't say it's the smartest thing I've ever done, but I was feeling in the mood for some horror last night. And Scream (that postmodern horror classic) was in my Netflix instant watch queue.

Even though I was home by myself and have a ridiculously overactive imagination, I watched it.

I so desperately miss slasher flicks with a sense of humor.

Instant watch expiring on 10/1. Just saying.

DIY Standing Candelabra

A standing candelabra diy project, created for under $30. Wish I'd thought of that!

Creepy Clay Containers

I've never worked with Polymer Clay. After seeing these jars, I have become very interesting in expanding my crafting expertise to include it's usage:


Craftster user teag made these. There are tips on how to keep the plastic jar base from melting. If you are doing a witches cabinet this year, a few custom containers might be just what you need for your shelves! (Personally, I'm digging 'fur of werewolf').

Fancy Halloween Paper Shoe III

Vintage Inspired Halloween Party Favor

I just want to bust through that finish line

but someone keeps moving it forward!

BOO Pull Toy now in ETSY.

Vintage Inspired Treat Basket

Trick or Treat

Available in ETSY

Fancy Halloween Paper Shoe II

This is my second fancy paper shoe for the Marie Antoinette Halloween Shoe swap I'm hosting this month.

coneflower's last stand

I sometimes think there's nothing creepier than a dry withered coneflower on a cloudy day. One of these years, I might just leave the remains of my garden intact until the end of October, toss a few jack-o-lanterns around and call it a yard haunt. It could work.

Historical Pumpkin Pie Recipe

I just love Google Books. Why just this evening I found a book called The Dixie Cook Book, circa 1885. It makes me so happy for the internet and its very easy to follow recipes. I can't imagine making pumpkin pie with this being the entire entry:

Actually, it might be fun. I'd like to try it. :)

Now for a pumpkin article from Vegetarian times. I'm so ready to start cooking those delightful little gourds!

Fancy Halloween Paper Shoe I

old paper

Last winter, I did some experimenting with papier mâché. Using different paste formulations. Different materials. Wondering how the results would differ. Testing and comparing. Using old rubber masks as the base. No astounding discoveries were made, and I had no immediate use for them, so they found their way into the deep recesses of the basement storage area. There to remain for months and months and months. Until last month. When it occurred to me that they might make lovely flower centres.

New for 2010 - Bethany Lowe

You can find these and more fabulous vintage-inspired pieces at Fairy Tales:  http://www.fairy-tales-inc.com/store/products.asp?category_id=418

400

The Blogger dashboard tells me that I am about to make my 400th post. That seems a large and significant number, so I searched for something appropriate. Something memorable. Something truly worthy of Post #400.

Hmmm . . . 400 . . . 400 . . . I could think of nothing. So, instead, I've decided to go with something neither memorable nor worthy.

In honour of my 400th post, the acknowledgement that I've probably eaten well over 400 miniature bags of Halloween chips in my lifetime. A number that continues to grow annually.

ATC - Edgar Allan Poe III

ATC - The Pumpkin Dance

I created this ATC for a "Little Witches, Goblins & Spooks" ATC swap at VPI Yahoo Group...

ATC - Edgar Allan Poe II

I'm a winner

I was surprised and intrigued to open my mailbox and see there, amongst the bills and pizza coupons, a small square box wrapped in brown paper. So naturally, I hurried home and tore it open.

And there inside I discovered a votive holder and four Dark Candles from fellow blogger, PumpkinBrain. I cast my mind back. Back to a month ago when I casually entered his blog giveaway. Never dreaming that I would actually win. I never win anything.

As the aromas drifted upward from the open box, I examined each candle in turn and inhaled deeply: Haunted House, Bonfire, Autumn Harvest, Dark Carnival. I have heard of Dark Candles many times before but have never ordered any. After all, I reasoned, I can purchase scented candles at any one of a number of shops close to home. Why bother with on-line ordering?

How naïve I've been. These are no ordinary scented candles. Choosing a favourite from among the four was incredibly difficult. In the end, I opted to begin with Dark Carnival.

And now I'm addicted. Thanks, PumpkinBrain.

ATC - Edgar Allan Poe I

pumpkin-less

So this past weekend, I made my annual apple-picking journey to the Annapolis Valley. Typically, this is also a pumpkin-picking journey. An occasion to forage through a local pumpkin patch. In search of two or three prize specimens. Potential jack-o-lanterns.

But not this year.

No, this year, I traveled straight past the pumpkin patch. Stopping only briefly to gaze enviously at their impressive size and number.

I walked past the bins of pre-picked pumpkins.

Past the pumpkin wall.

Past the collections of assorted squash.

This year, I returned home pumpkin-less.

Because this year I will be carving my own pumpkins. Small though they may be. Pumpkins lovingly cultivated in the clearly inadequate soil of my front yard. Because with each passing day, the survival of at least a few of them seems assured, despite the recent unexpected death of one of the larger ones. Two more little pumpkins will likely be ready for harvest this week. They remain small but sincere. Small but sincere . . .

Cool Vintage Cat Die Cut

~Feel free to save and use!~

pumpkin pie

This weekend I made my annual apple-picking journey to the Annapolis Valley. Which included my annual stop at a farmer's market for pumpkin pie fudge. The only place I've ever seen it.




Pumpkin pie fudge and a hot cup of tea. No indeed. Life doesn't get any better than this.

A Zombie Ate My Cupcake

Hello, Lily Vanilli. Thank you for writing a cupcake recipe book just for me.

I know the title of my blog can be a little misleading: I am not cupcake-centric, nor am I creepy-cupcake centric. In fact, you'll find very few cupcake customizations on this blog. Carrie Mae loves cupcakes, but she's got other interests too.

So if you came here for your creepy cupcake fix, I'm going to forward you on to this book from now on: A Zombie Ate My Cupcake. This is like a bible of delectable mini horror cakes!

Next time you're in your local book store, hunt it down and flip through. You'll find it is a must-have inspirational guide if you like your cupcakes on the macabre side.

Somber Pumpkin Centerpiece

It's so hard to remember, but I feel like this time last year I was still worrying over centerpieces a bit.

These would have been kind of perfect for my black-and-silvery Hallowedding, so I must share them with my friends (all of you guys out there kindly reading my sporadic nonsense!): Martha's Glittery Gray Pumpkin Table.

She says the dusty miller is optional, but I rather disagree. You can find the plant at pretty much any home and garden store (at least around here), and it's so soft and ghostly.

The whole table on her project page looks divine. Makes me think that a gray table cloth is the way to go, rather than black, for any Halloween party this year. The stretched cheese cloth is just so haunted-house chic!

All-in-all, not a bad balance of spooky and elegant.

Ripsters

A year or two ago, I was walking through downtown Halifax with my son, a fellow Halloween enthusiast, when we saw a bright red Volkswagen Beetle zip past. On the side, in large white letters was the word, Ripsters, and beneath it, Halloween Shop. We both became giddy with excitement. And promptly Googled this new discovery. We discovered that it was primarily an Internet business, but that it did offer limited "walk-in" hours of service. On weekends. So bright and early one Sunday morning, we drove off in search of its physical location. The directions led us to a long deserted driveway in a quiet residential neighbourhood. No sign. No business-like entrance. No other cars. No indication that it was anything other than a private home. We both felt hesitant to drive up and to begin pounding on doors and peering through windows in search of skulls and cobwebs on a weekend morning, so we chose to return home and call ahead first. And then, distracted by a nearby Dairy Queen, we procrastinated and then forgot all about it. No more was seen or heard of Ripsters. Until now.

It appears the owners have opened a bricks-and-mortar location outside of their home. Likely to appeal to more reticent customers, like myself. And it worked. Because this time, I didn't hesitate to walk through the front door. That's the good news. The bad news is that, upon walking through the front door, I felt like I was in a smaller version of Spirit Halloween. Sure, there were a few exceptions. Notably a nifty little "brain" mold that I may pick up. But other than that, nothing spectacular. Nothing particularly interesting or unique.

On the bright side, however, it is a small local business, which I try to support whenever possible, and it's open year round. So I can take some comfort in the knowledge that, if I'm seized with a desire for a plastic chainsaw or some fake blood in the cold bleak days of March, I can satisfy my craving while simultaneously supporting the local economy.