10 tips for a memorable Halloween party
October 30, 2011
Debbie Arrington
MCCLATCHY NEWSPAPERS
Here are some Halloween party tips from producers of HGTV’s upcoming Halloween Block Party and designer Sandra Espinet:
Pumpkins make great containers. If you don’t puncture the hull, they’re watertight for at least a day. Use a hollowed-out pumpkin as a bowl for party favours or treats. Or use it to hold a bouquet of flowers (dried or fresh). “We used a pumpkin to hold beverages with ice,” Amy Littlejohn said. “It worked great and didn’t leak. It was super cute.”
When party planning, come up with a theme, then make a detailed list. Include every step of the process from invitations to clean up. “I then put everything I’m going to need for each step right there on the list,” Espinet said. “Then, go shopping with your list and stick to it. Don’t get sidetracked in the store. You’ll save time and money.”
Get the kids involved as much as possible. Let them help with making invitations and decorations.
Clear space. Move furniture out of the party room(s) to allow costumed guests to freely mingle.
That also leaves more room for food and props. Look around your garage or closets (as well other people’s garage or rummage sales) for items that fit your theme.
Create temporary “food presentation areas” by duct-taping together sturdy cardboard boxes and draping with fabric. The boxes can be used to form tiers and are recyclable.
Fabric camouflages heavy furniture and a multitude of other things that don’t fit your theme. It also adds ambience (such as sheet-draped fabric in an abandoned mansion). Find inexpensive bolts of fabric on sale or plain old sheets. Use the fabric to wrap or drape. When the party’s over, wash and reuse.
Fabric can also be draped over a simple tent or sun shade to create a more dramatic effect.
When making a graveyard on the front lawn, lay down extra-large heavy duty trash bags (black or brown preferred), then cover with potting soil or dirt. Insert props (such as tombstones carved from Styrofoam or skeleton hands). The next day, scoot the soil into the centre of the bag for removal and use elsewhere in the yard. Or use mulch instead of soil. Afterwards, rake it over the lawn to feed and renew.
Espinet special-ordered many decorations for her “Day of the Dead” theme. Created digitally on computer, she had a photo backdrop printed by Kinko’s on large-format billboard vinyl. Her skeleton pinatas and cut-out papel picado banners were ordered from stores in Los Angeles’ Olvera Street. But Espinet suggested that shoppers try local stores that supply Mexican crafts.
Give yourself enough time, stressed Espinet. The show may look like it was done in a day, but it wasn’t. Many hours of preparation went into the production. Her advice: Do something for the party every day, and start weeks ahead.