Tired of the same ol’ sleepovers?
This Saturday, throw a spook-tacular slumber party when you make your own haunted house.
It's frightening AND fun!
Gory Graveyard
You can easily transform a boring ol' basement, den or living room into a scary graveyard. Just take some gray cardboard and cut out tombstones shapes, one for each guest. Write a personalized spooky epitaph for each pal. Make ‘em silly but still a li’l scary. “Here lies Holly who loved shoes. She's lying under here for an eternal snooze."
Even better? A fog machine adds a freaky haze to the graveyard.
Scary Soundtrack
Getting the sound effects down is a must! Check a local party store to find a CD that has spooky noises on it or record scary noises of your own. Find a creaky floor board, wear clunky shoes and walk down the hall, record your best scream and download some horror movie theme songs. Let the sounds add to the eerie atmosphere.
'Twas a Dark and Stormy Night...
Get ready to transform your bright house into a spooky cove! Replace all your normal lights in the house with colored light bulbs (try red for somethin’ extra scary) and black lights. Strobe lights and Christmas tree lights are also great.
Spooky Scenery
Deck your house out in scary extras. Make a laboratory with mystery objects. In a shoebox put a pile of cooked, cold spaghetti. Cut a hole for your guests’ hands in the side and label that box “BRAINS.” Repeat this for: “EYEBALLS” (slightly mushy grapes) and “GUTS” (Jello!).
You can also use Halloween decorations like spider webs and witches to spook out a room. Try hanging bats and ghosts from the ceiling, for a scary surprise!
Terror At Every Turn
Enlist your BF and his buds, your ‘rents or your sibs to dress up in scary outfits and hide behind something (psst! Promise ‘em a share of your Halloween candy for helping out!). Then they can jump out and scream at random intervals to really freak your guests out! Give one of your creepy crew members a digital cam to snap pics of your pals when they least expect it.
An even spookier trick? Have one of your eerie employees stand under a table or box with a circle cut in the box/table that will fit his or her head. Your horrific helper should stand under the table with their head through the opening. Put a silver serving top over their head. Your guests will be expecting food but they’ll get a real fright instead!
Frightening Fortunes
On different pieces of paper write some freaky fortunes. Your friends will be scared for sure when they read, “You will encounter a ghost from a past life." Put all the fortunes in a witch’s hat, and then pass it around. Turn the lights off and use a flashlight as your future is determined.
Eatin' Like Igor
Halloween is all about the candy, so have a variety on hand, You can also make a witch’s brew, by mixing together purple grape juice and club soda, then adding grapes to look like eyes and small apple chunks to look like teeth. Put this yummy drink inside a witch cauldron and enjoy! Other fun ideas? A vat of "Blood" for all the vampires out there (fruit punch!).
Shocking Stories
Before you and your guests hit the hay, go around and tell the spookiest story that you know—made up or true. When every girl's taken a turn, go around and guess what's real and what's not. When you're done guessing, it's time for lights out (if you can even sleep!).
Creepy Candids
The next morning take a look at all the spooky snaps that your helpers took. You're sure to have some super funny ones of everyone's scared faces. Laugh it up and enjoy some warm pancakes in your PJs. Happy Halloween!
-Eryn Greaney
BY CAITLIN R. ON 10/23/2009 7:00:00 AM 61 COMMENTS