HowToDoThings.com Recent Halloween Articles

How To Make a Last Minute Halloween Costume

bronwyn — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 18:52:51 -0500

How To Make Couples Halloween Costumes

Staff468 — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 13:33:00 -0600

Visualize this: A man and a woman each wear plain black pants. The left leg of one is tied to the right leg of the other, as in the game, "Three-Legged Race." Together they wear a giant oversized t-shirt that they've clearly had custom-made. The punch line is the t-shirt slogan: "Co-" reads one side; "Dependent" reads the other.

I saw this very Halloween costume once and in my mind it doesn't get any better than this-brilliant, inspired and conceptual. But hey, you can dress however you'd like come Halloween; it's the one holiday that really has a place for everyone. So if you're considering going en deux, here are some ideas to get you started:

How To Decorate Your House for Halloween

Beth141 — Sat, 28 Oct 2006 11:49:00 -0500

Halloween is one of the most "decoration friendly" holidays. From the new colors of fall, to traditional Halloween icons like jack-o-lanterns to new fads like "Halloween trees", there's a lot to choose from. A well-decorated house can make Halloween a special and fun time of year for families. And who couldn't use a little more family fun? Here are some suggestions for Halloween house decorating based on different motifs we all commonly see when people decorate their houses for Halloween. (Use the stores noted at your own discretion, I haven't shopped at them personally...)

How To Create Holiday Cards

Tonya249 — Wed, 25 Oct 2006 18:02:00 -0500

You look out the window and see sparkling snow drifting gently past your window. What could be more perfect on such a day than opening your mailbox and discovering a unique, handmade card from one of your best friends? It can be difficult to find the time to make your own holiday cards during this crazy, frenetic season, but the smile that your card will bring to the faces of your loved ones is worth it!

How To Roast Pumpkin Seeds

Tonya249 — Tue, 24 Oct 2006 19:38:00 -0500

When you carve a pumpkin for Halloween, don't forget to save the seeds! Pumpkin seeds are a valuable source of many minerals, and they're yummy, too! They are a rich source of phosphorus, magnesium and manganese, and a good source of zinc, iron, copper and protein. Although they are somewhat high in fat, eighty percent of a pumpkin seed's fat content is monounsaturated and polyunsaturated, which are considered the "healthy" fats. They also contain tryptophan, which may help in the treatment of depression, and phytosterols, which help lower cholesterol levels. With all of these potential health benefits, it seems well worth the time it takes to remove them from your jack-o-lantern!

How To Decorate a Haunted House

Beth141 — Tue, 24 Oct 2006 07:30:00 -0500

Haunted houses are a staple of Halloween celebrations. They pop up all over the place from elaborate shows put on by civic groups to the ones families make right in their own homes. Here are a few of the many things you can do to create a great haunted house.

Check out the venue. Certainly there will be a difference in the space the local Rotary Club or high school will be decorating and what a mom might set up for her grade-schooler's Halloween party. Before you start picking out the details, check out the venue where your haunted house will be setting up. Once you know the space you can use, including square footage, number of rooms, electrical outlets, emergency exits, staircases, all that kind of thing, you can start to make your plans.

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How To Create Halloween Party Invitations

Tonya249 — Mon, 23 Oct 2006 18:32:00 -0500

Halloween parties can be a great way to kick off the holiday season! Schedules have not started filling up yet, the weather's not too cold, and everyone is in the mood to have fun. After you've decided on all of the important parts of your party, such as date, time, theme and place, you need to let everyone know about it! Creating Halloween invitations is an opportunity to let your guests know what to expect at your party.

How To Stay Safe on Halloween

Brian263 — Wed, 04 Oct 2006 14:44:00 -0500

Ready for a spooky Halloween? Ready for a safe Halloween? I know what you might be thinking - you can't have both. But contrary to popular opinion, the two aren't at all mutually exclusive. Here are some tips to stay safe on Halloween and have fun doing it!

How To Carve a Pumpkin

Brian263 — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 11:34:00 -0500

So you've gathered together the most expendable parts of your local newspaper. You've got "Night On Bald Mountain" on continuous loop on the stereo, or maybe a Vincent Price movie playing on the television. Or maybe you prefer to work with minimal noise and want nothing to distract you from one of the most cherished of fall rituals. Yes, all you ghastly children of the night, it's time to carve a pumpkin! Time at last to roll up your sleeves and plunge your fist awkwardly into the belly of the pumpkin, wrist-deep in slimy pumpkin goo and stringy meat as you try to grab every last pumpkin seed.

How To Gift Wrap

Brian263 — Fri, 25 Aug 2006 14:20:00 -0500

Is there an intimidating gift sitting before you, taunting you with its irregularity? You have to gift wrap it... but how? You may be wondering if you'll ever learn how to wrap a gift.

Don't give up hope - Rome wasn't gift wrapped in a day. In fact, Rome was never gift wrapped, which is why it was successfully attacked by the Visigoths. Don't believe me? Then you're smart enough to learn how to gift wrap.

Let's start off with the basic technique for wrapping regularly shaped gifts - the rectangular kind. For this, unless the gift is enormous, wrapping paper will do the trick nicely.

Choose a roll of wrapping paper. Your choice may be determined by the season or occasion - holiday, birthday party, anniversary or retirement, to name a few. Unroll some of the paper face-down on a flat surface.

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How To Choose Halloween Decorations

Elizabeth69 — Thu, 01 Jun 2006 18:56:00 -0500

Under normal circumstances, your house is a bright, cheerful place. But this isn't a "normal" circumstance; this is Halloween! If you want to create a delightfully spooky environment, here are a few tips for choosing, making, and buying Halloween decorations:

Consider the ages of the residents and regular guests in your home, and decorate accordingly. Very young children can be easily frightened, so if you have toddlers at home, you may want to select happy looking pumpkins and Halloween decorations. For households with teenagers and adults, feel free to indulge in the creepy stuff!

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How To Choose a Halloween Costume

Elizabeth69 — Thu, 01 Jun 2006 17:30:00 -0500

Halloween costumes are fun for kids and adults, alike. Since Halloween comes only once a year, most people put quite a bit of thought into their costumes. Here are a few tips for choosing, making, and buying Halloween costumes:

When deciding on a costume, there are several factors to consider. Safety matters most. Be sure that the costume or mask doesn't impair vision or mobility. Comfort matters, too. Be sure to choose a costume that leaves room for warm clothes underneath if the weather will be chilly, and try not to choose thick, furry costumes in warm climates.
If you are choosing a costume to wear to a Halloween party, consider the guest list. If it is a grown-up get together, feel free to wear whatever you like. If there will be children in attendance, keep it G-rated!

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How To Throw a Halloween Party

Victoria116 — Thu, 01 Jun 2006 04:14:00 -0500

A Halloween party can be a great way to celebrate Fall with your family and friends. Never thrown one before? Here are some tips on how to throw a great Halloween party:

Pick a date. Remember, Halloween is a busy season and many neighborhoods have trick or treating on Halloween night. When selecting a date for your party, try to choose a date that won't interfere with your guest's other Halloween plans. The weekend before Halloween is often a good date for a Halloween party.

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How To Choose Halloween Masks

Elizabeth69 — Wed, 31 May 2006 17:33:00 -0500

Part of the fun of Halloween is dressing up to be someone other than yourself. From silly to scary, Halloween masks allow the wearer to protect his true identity and for a short while, become an entirely different person. If you are in a Halloween mood, here are a few tips for choosing, making, and buying Halloween masks:

Safety should always be the first consideration. For children, especially, you do not want to choose a mask that impairs the vision. Trick or treating is a fun and exciting tradition for many children, but it is vital that they can see well to maneuver sidewalks, walkways, stairs, and traffic.

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How To Choose Halloween Music

Carrie122 — Sun, 30 Apr 2006 07:02:00 -0500

Halloween music is an essential element for a Halloween party, and makes a great addition to the ambience if you decorate your home to welcome trick or treaters. There is a wide variety of Halloween music available to purchase, and it can be fun to look through the titles and listen to your ghoulish soundtracks when you get them home. Here are a few tips to help you make your choices.

Consider the age group you're targeting with your music. Some young children will be frightened of scary sounds, so if it's a child's party, keep the music on a lighter note. Lots of children's entertainers and familiar characters have seasonal music CD's, so take a look for these.
On Halloween night, you might want to have two different sets of music; kids' music as mentioned above for the early trick-or-treat crowd that tends to be the youngest, and spookier, more frightening music for the later visitors.

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How To Play Halloween Party Games

Carrie122 — Wed, 26 Apr 2006 16:49:00 -0500

A Halloween party just wouldn't be complete without some spooky games to play! Whether you're having a party for kids or grown-ups, crank up the kitsch and get downright ghoulish with these suggestions.

For an adult Halloween party, murder mystery games can be a lot of fun. Pick up the game at a toy or department store, and when you're ready to send out your invitations, assign each character to a guest. Include a card with the character description in each invitation, and ask guests to dress the part for the party.
Halloween trivia can be fun for all ages, and the best part is that it's not too active so costumes won't get in the way. Use subjects like Halloween history, horror movies, vampires, monsters and witches and create trivia cards. Then divide your guests into teams and play.

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