Thread: Backyard Party

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Okay, so I have this plan to have a backyard party (hoping to save my house from total distruction,lol) and I have my plan all mapped out. Problem is although there may be a few little ones there I still want it to be creepy and fun. Here is my plan...please give me your opinions and advice...bare in mind this is our first party for adults and I am having to craft all the props myself (this means low budget and medium talent).

We have 9 trees in our small backyard, including a large weeping willow, and no street lights...so that helps. Entering the fenced backyard you will be greeted by the grim reaper pointing to the path that will lead them under the willow.

Behind the reaper you will find a graveyard, outlined with faux fence and backdropped with landscaping fabric (so they cannot see the rest of the yard). I will have a fog machine, lots of moss, spiderwebs, crows and possible 1 or 2 black light ghosts. (Also I was thinking if I take the tops off my solar lights I could sprinkle them in front of the graves for eerie blue light, NOT SURE). Oh and I do have some small heckling props I will hide on the other side of the path (as they will not even be looking in that direction, should make for a great laugh.)

Once in the party area they will find a food tent...engulfed in webs and homemade large spiders, I plan on using the spider theme to death...spiders and webs everywhere. I also plan on making paper mache pumpkins and a creepy pumpkin/scarecrow for my garden (which is where my web covered picnic table will also be). We will also have a firepit (in the side yard) as everyone loves to bring their chairs and just hangout...where I will continue the theme (mindful of the flames). This is where we will set up a huge Pic-tion-SCARY game.

Photo Op...sticking with the theme...cobwebs, spiders, shaking cacoons and a surprize drop down spider.

Other games I planned:
The one with the donuts on a string (still need a name for this one)
Killer Instinct (once we open our back gate we have an entire hillside to play tag).

Is this too much of a diconnect from the graveyard?

It sounds like you have a lot of room in your backyard! I think it's good to have different areas in your backyard stand out from one another. That way your guests are always drawn to something as they mingle.

Your graveyard sounds like it is a bit isolated, which is like a normal graveyard -- this can work in your favor -- it will add a creepier vibe to that area. Also, since it's at the entrance of your party, it helps set the mood.

And, I like your idea of using the heck out of webs and spiders - very inexpensive.

Wow, that sounds like a great party.

Just got back from Dollar Tree loaded up on moss, skeletons (for trophies) and even ordered my crows

Sounds like fun! I wish I had the budget to decorate inside, front and back yards. Since everyone will most likely be out back (near the kegs), I'm gonna make some games. Giant outdoor Jenga and some cornhole boards. Simple enough and fun for any kind of party.

I wish I had the room to put up a few of these: http://www.wackyarchives.com/offbeat...elf-ghost.html
I think they'd work well with your theme - maybe even lightly covered with GITD paint.

And I'll do some of these for sure, with small strings of lights, maybe covered in webs or moss.
http://www.theartofdoingstuff.com/glowing-orbs You could just put the solar lights inside. I find these globes all the time at Goodwill for maybe $1.

But it sounds like you've got everything well thought out and flowing smoothly.

Awesome suggestions RunawayOctober....my budgets tight too, but I may just have to squeeze these in. What are cornhole boards and how are you doing the Jenga that sounds fun

Actually to stay on budget I have to make most of my props from paper mache (pumpkins and fence columns) the actual fence will be made out of cardboard re-enforced with paper mache, for my webs I will buy some poly-fil from the craft store (as I have heard this is much cheaper), cheesecloth ghosts (about $5), I will be making my tombstones out of foam insulation but may just paper mache to save money. Really and truely my largest expense is on the reaper, but Im hoping with recycled items and old sheets I can maybe use the mud method to pull it off. Biggest tip to stay on budget....Make guests bring their own beverages...I know Im cheap,LOL

I love the lights in the globes! Great idea!

Hehe. I agree. I've been trolling the liquor aisles at grocery stores for the last few months, buying stuff that has a really good sale. My husband caught me hiding a bottle of vodka in my panty drawer in my closet. He thought I was nuts! LOL I gotta hide it or it will disappear before October because of all my family around!

This is the giant Jenga. Sounds really easy, especially if I can "borrow" my FILs woodshop. All it takes is 8 or 9 2x4s which I may also "borrow"
http://www.instructables.com/id/Giant-Jenga-tower/

This is cornhole: http://www.playcornhole.org/whatis.shtml (Jeebus, I really hate that name)
I may again "borrow" the lumber for it (it's great having a general contractor in the family), and I have plenty of fabric I can use. There are tons of diagrams and plans online to build your own.

Are you planning on that Monster Mud reaper? I saw that tutorial and would love to make it, he's super neat! I would have no where to store it though. :/

I too am planning on lots of webbing, cheesecloth and moss and whatnot. A lot of little stuff adds up really. I've been keeping an eye out on our trash bulk pickup days for wood and Styrofoam and buckets and stuff.
Oh, here's a cool spider how-to, also. http://www.instructables.com/id/Realistic-Spider-Prop/

Yep, the mud reaper looks fairly easy I just hope my hubby doesnt make me toss it after Halloween...I am beginning to take over his garage
Love love love the spiders...I was thinking about making some extra large ones too with some expanding foam, paint, wire hangers and yarn.

I too have been scanning craiglist freebies and every trash pile I pass, just hoping for some materials,lol