If you don't have the time and you do have the money, I'll be happy to share the name of some party pros to put everything together for you. Just write to me at PartyPlansPlus@aol.com and tell me what type of party pro you need and where you live and I'll send some recommendations.
However, if you do have the time and only a little money and are a DIY person, let me give you my thoughts on what you can do.
My FAVORITE store for all things affordable for Halloween or any party is Dollar Tree. There's probably one near you but if there isn't, you can go to http://www.dollartree.com/ to order their products.
I can spend HOURS in that store and find all sorts of things that I can use to create a great party. And best of all, since everything is a buck it's very affordable (and, no, I'm not getting paid to advertise for them, I just think they're a great resource).
Since it's getting a little late for sending invitations, an e-mail or phone invitation would probably work best. And there are services like http://www.evite.com/ that can add a little atomosphere to your invitation.
Let's get to the party.
There is no rule that says a Halloween party has to be strictly about a haunted house. In fact that's why we came up with our "Halloween Terror with a Twist" page which you can find at http://www.partyplansplus.com/partyplansplus.com/holidays/hallowtheme.htm.
The great thing about the ideas you'll find on that page is that you can incorporate party props from other celebrations you may have had in the past such as a western theme party, luau, beach party, '50s, '60's, '70s, fiesta or other theme party. Remember, recycling is good for the planet and your budget.
But let's say that you want to do a haunted house, here are some ideas to try.
Have a ceiling fan? Cover it with spider webs and suspend lightweight spiders from the blades and set it on low.
While you're at it, cover almost everything - especially corners - with spider webs. You can suspend with them straight pins. The pins will leave virtually invisible holes and won't damage your walls like many tapes will.
You can buy gauze fabric and tea-dye it, sheets from a thrift store, rolls of black plastic sheeting or drop cloths to cover your furniture. Or cover your dining chairs in oversized black leaf bags. Not only will it add to that haunted mansion look, it will help keep your couches clean.
Light your home entirely with candles - just be sure to keep them in places where they won't touch anything flammable, can't be jostled and keep a fire extinguisher nearby.
Don't have enough candleholders for taper candles. No problem. Just fill a glass or container with sand, kitty litter or pebbles to hold up the taper.
If you don't want to use all candles, colored light bulbs are affordable and will add an eerie effect. Or drape lampshades with a fabric or scarf to give a subdued glow.
Tuck holiday string lights behind furniture and behind curtains for a unearthly glow.
Dig through your family photo albums and find pictures of your great or great great grandparents. The way they took photos of unsmiling family portraits can be pretty creepy. Blow these up on a copier in a sepia tone and replace your artwork with the photos. Or dig around the Internet for uncopyrighted creepy photos.
Now for the food!
Make bony fingers by cutting finger shapes out of whole wheat bread. Cover in peanut butter and strawberry jelly. Use slivered almonds as finger nails.
Make hard boiled eggs. Cut them in half lengthwise. Add a slice of a green pimento olive to the center yolk and you have eyeball eggs.
Guacamole served in a cleaned out pumpkin or gourd will look like Pumpkin Puke. Grizzly but yummy!
Lady finger cookies with red fruit rollup finger nails will be a bloody sweet treat.
Red velvet cake with green icing decorated like a giant bug will have guests screaming for more.
Use dry ice in your punch bowl and trim the rim of the bowl with gummy worms.
Make diagonal slits in hot dogs and fill the slits with relish and ketchup to look like slithering snakes.
With just a little preparation and a few dollars you can host a Halloween party that will have guests talking about for years.
Hope it's a boo-tiful party!
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