Tag Archives: DIY
Halloween Games for All Ages!
You’ve got your music, your snacks, your drinks (and, for adults, your drinks), but what kind of a Halloween party would it be without games? Whether you’re throwing a party for your kids or your college buddies, here are some ideas that will really make your shindig a graveyard smash.
Mummy Wrap – split the guests into teams, preferably no more than 3 or 4 in a group. One person gets to be the mummy while the others each get a roll of toilet paper. Have the teams start wrapping their mummy at the same time. Whichever team runs out of toilet paper first wins!
Creepy Hide and Seek – You’re never too old to play hide and seek, especially when it’s in the dark! Make sure your food and drinks are out of the way for this one, so nothing gets knocked over. Turn off ALL of the lights (this can get creepy!) and have the hiders scramble around for a spot. Then, the seeker has to search for everyone in the pitch dark. The trick is to hide in really clever spots such as under the couch cushions or where the lamp is with the shade on your head (or even in plain view against a wall where they’d never expect to look!) so that even when the seeker’s eyes adjust, nothing stands out. Want to make it scarier? Play creepy Halloween soundtracks to darken the mood.
Bobbing for Apples – There are a few variations of this you can try. Just feel free to get creative! Play it straight with your regular tub of water and apples, or add some brains and eyeballs (cooked spaghetti and grapes) to up the “ick” factor. Want to spice it up for the adults? Carve numbers on the apples, representing how many Halloween-themed shots they have to take!
Pin the Tail on the Cat – You know the drill: blindfold the guest and spin them around three times before having them try to pin the tail on your Halloween cat. Want to make it funnier? Don’t let them use their hands!
Eyeball Pong – Funny addition to a classic party game. Just take some permanent marker to regular white ping pong balls to make them look like eyeballs. Play to regular beer pong rules or substitute with soda/punch/water for minors, and hand out prizes to the winning team.
Madam Fortune – Have someone play the fortune teller for the evening. If they have prior experience in palm reading, tarot cards, etc, then great! If not, get a Magic 8 Ball and paint it white to look like a crystal ball. Your other guests may see what it is, but they’ll get a good laugh!
Spooky Boxes – Here’s a contest that will keep people guessing the whole night! Gather a bunch of small cardboard boxes and cut a hole in one end big enough for someone’s hand to fit through. If you want, attach a fabric flap or “sleeve” around the hole to keep people from peeking. Inside the boxes, place items for your guests to feel and have them write their guesses down on a piece of paper. Keep it simple with grape eyeballs and spaghetti intestines, or get creative and add some gory touches such as red food coloring or cold hamburger to gross them out. Just make sure you have something for them to properly wash their hands after. Whoever guesses correctly at the end of the night wins a prize!
Quick and Easy Costumes on a Budget
Uh-oh! Halloween’s coming up and you don’t have a costume! Don’t be the lame ghost who shows up in an old bed sheet with two eye holes cut out. And who wants to be the fifth repeat Harry Potter or sparkly vampire at the party? Get creative and turn some heads without breaking the bank! Here are some ideas to get you started:
Greek god/goddess – White bed sheet (toga style), big gold-colored jewelry (Body Central, Forever 21 have cheap selections), leaf crown (look in the fake floral section of your local craft store for something you can bend into a circle), sandals. Props can really give your costume an extra punch – spray paint a fake apple gold for Eris, hold a bunch of grapes for Dionysus, throw around a cardboard lightning bolt for Zeus. Get creative!
Don't be distracted by the cute human child parts. We are closer to complete integration than you think.
Robot – Large box, two shoe boxes, two arm-length dryer hoses, gray pants (sweats work great), silver spray paint, pot or colander from your kitchen to use as a hat. Cut holes in the bottom and two sides of the large box for your arms and head and the bottom edge of the shoe boxes for your feet (just get rid of the lids). Spray everything silver. Find old buttons, wires, CD’s to decorate your box body. It’s okay if it looks funny; it’s a nice change from the normal “sexy” costumes, and everyone will get a good laugh.
Fresh from the shower – Towel or old shower curtain, shower cap, slippers or flip flops, cotton balls or pillow/stuffed animal filler (available at your local craft or fabric store). Wrap the shower curtain around you like you would a towel. If you want, lace a string through the rings to secure it. Stuff the white fluff or cotton balls around the top to look like soap bubbles. Spice up your costume with some props – rubber duck, shower brush, etc. Feel free to shorten the length of the shower curtain if you want to show some leg!
Miss America – That old prom/homecoming dress gathering dust in your closet, sash (if you can’t find one, they’re easy to make), crown (local craft or dollar store). Feel free to get creative with your theme, too. If you can pull it off, dress up like Miss South Carolina and practice botching up your speeches. Or have your sash say “2nd Place” and make your eyeliner drip down your face.
Worst ninja – Brightly-colored clothes and scarf for your head. Spend the night “hiding” in corners, perched on the tables, or splayed against the wall as if you’re waiting for your target.
Fortune teller – Scarves (the more the better), skirts, colorful top, Magic 8-Ball. Wrap the scarves around your waist, over your shoulders, and wrap one around your head. If you have a lot of big, clunky jewelry, wear as much as you can. Paint the 8-ball white (to make it look like a crystal ball) except for the viewing window, or leave it as is for a couple of laughs.
Box of free kittens – Large box (write “Free Kittens” on the side), cat ears and tail (normally available for cheap at the mall, Walmart, etc.), black pants and top, toy cats. Just a normal cat costume but with a twist. Cut a hole in the bottom of the box so you can stand in it and walk around. Tape the cats to the inside so that their heads and paws are poking out but so that they don’t fall out. Want to go as a group? Get a bigger box so that you and two friends can walk around with you. You’ll get tired of all being in the box, but the party’s initial reaction will be great!
Zombie victim – Lots of face paint. Get a little more creative with this one, because zombies are a popular one this year. Don’t just show up in jeans and a tee, covered in red paint and a lot of black eyeshadow; try having a profession or hobby before being bitten! Have an apron or a chef’s hat? Come with a baking pan full of “brains.” Got an old sports uniform? Bring a ball with blood splatters on it. Thought you were going to come as a fairy princess? Think again. Pour some red paint on your dress and mangle those wings.
If you want to be a little more recognizable, try dressing up as a famous character. There are many you can dress up as using things you can find in your closet! Some of these listed below are great options because they’re familiar to a lot of people, but you’re not as likely to run into someone else with the same idea.
Don't matter if your legs are whiter than paper. Show off what your momma gave you.
Quailman from Doug – Anyone who watched Nickelodeon through the 90′s knows this one. Tan shorts, white tee, green vest with red Q (just use tape), red blanket, tighty whities on the outside, and a belt around your head.
Rorschach from Watchmen - Tan trench coat, pinstripe dress pants, white scarf, tan fedora. For his mask, you can try BREATHEABLE white fabric with black spots painted on, or if you aren’t that crafty, just use white and black facepaint. The mask is definitely the hardest part, and you’ll get kudos for trying anyway.
Mary Poppins – Long skirt, ruffly white blouse, pea coat, black umbrella, hat with little flowers (this you may have to put together yourself, but you can find supplies at your local craft store). Bring a spoonful of sugar and, if you’re good with a paintbrush, paint a parrot head on the umbrella handle.
Wall-E – Same as the robot costume above, but paint the boxes too look like Wall-E’s parts. Lose the hat and find some big goggles instead.
Cruella Deville from 101 Dalmations – If you’ve got a little black dress (as most ladies should) and any fake fur, get yourself some red shoes, red gloves, and spray-in hair color in black and white. Glam up with some glittery jewelry and a long cigarette holder (or something that looks like one, at least). Carry a toy dalmatian around if you can.
Maude from The Big Lebowski – Green robe. Find a cheap red-head wig and cut it to length if you can. Or get your hair done.
Bart Simspon – Blue shorts, red tee, skateboard. Paint your skin yellow.
Any Family Guy Character – They all pretty much wear standard clothing, so this would be a great group costume! Also, toy Stewies are easy to find if you want to carry one around.
