[Greenwick]

Changing up my plans due to changes in scheduling. Instead of Golden Age Halloween with Lovecraft-inspired storytelling, I am instead planning on a science party, with actual experiments to do. I think this will provide plenty for my guests to do - especially if anyone brings kids.

I'm considering some of these, especially the diy lava lamps - http://sciencebob.com/free-halloween-science-ideas/

For indoor decorations, I'm going to try getting some beakers another typical science lab stuff. I'm going to try acquiring lights, apothecary jars, etc. I'll also add some typical harvest theme stuff, since we are growing all kinds of pumpkins and some flint corn this year. (Flint corn is also know as harvest or Indian corn, but I prefer this name.) I may try making some futuristic techno-themed scarecrows, and do similar updates to other classic Halloween icons. If I can, I'll try getting plasma ball and similar nifty items.

For the outdoors, I'm still not sure what to do. I want to have some graves with cheesey pun names. I'm keen on playing with lighting. Maybe building some decorative robots out of cardboard and spray paint - like something out of a super low budget horror film.

I may try making a diy film projector again, to either show classic silent horror films, or to do some cool effects. I didn't do well at it last time, but I think I used the wrong type of magnifying lens. Should have gone for a classic magnifying lens instead of a large thin plastic reading aid.


I'll be adding links and refining my ideas as time goes on. I'm trying to do this as a thing that doesn't take too much time to build, but is also fairly low budget. I figure between now and October I've got time to gather all kinds of stuff together.

 

[Greenwick]

I definitely want to try making some of these specimens - http://www.marthastewart.com/268406/specimen-jars

Also, I have a lab coat I'm going to incorporate into a scarecrow.

 

[Greenwick]

I've been turning a lot of bottles & other containers into creepy specimen holders & other such things. I have ideas for bigger builds, but the way everything is going, I'm going to have to scale down my ideas. This is what comes of planning a party for mid month rath r than Halloween - More guests can show up, l as time to build. However, since I decided to make my Halloween laboratory an ongoing thing I improve every year, I feel less disappointed. Ideas I want to try can be worked on throughout the year, & will be better without a panicked rush.

Given that I also have a secret reaper box to fill, and a friend's birthday to plan, I'm replacing bigger plans for paper & cardboard decorations. What I have in mind shouldn't take more than a day to make & set up. Then there will be the food to plan, which I've got a couple ideas for already. Hopefully later today or tomorrow I can make a formalized list of everything.

 

[ichasiris]

Oh, I saw at walmart the other day they have these little candy jar things with fake specimens in them!!! I almost bought them for my hospital themed party, but it was like bugs and animals. They are kinda small, but i think there were like 6 small jars for five bucks!!

 

[ichasiris]

I saw them again the other day and took a picture for you!!!!

 

[Greenwick]

OMG I love them! I will keep an eye out them in my area. Thank you Ichasiris!

 

[Greenwick]

I had my party this Thursday, and it turned out great! Had a few cancellations, but still a good number of friends showed up. Finally got people from my art group to meet people from my writing group!

I'm adding pictures to this album: http://www.halloweenforum.com/members/greenwick-albums-halloween-2015-a.html

i only set up two rooms, and I went simple since time ran out. But I am pleased! Everyone had a good time.


Now for some notes:

- At some point I opted to abandon the idea of vegan jello brains. I haven't made them before, and didn't want to waste time screwing it up. So instead I filled the brain mold with kale chips, calling them "moldy brains." The effect was great!

- in my rolls I slathered down canned pumpkin instead of butter, then added pumpkin pie spice & brown sugar. I'm doing this from now on! So much better than cinnamon rolls.

- ran out of time to make parting gifts, but the supplies I do have will be great for my idea next year.

- one of the beakers wasn't needed, so I filled it with juice from an olive can. It looked appropriately gross! Gives me ideas for potions to brew for next year.

- small amounts of a variety of candy was a great idea!

- After the party, it felt like when Halloween is over - except it's not! I get a whole half month more to enjoy! Very worth getting ready early.

- I need to get more novelty drinkware. I haven't collected more than a few spooky wine glasses before, and having more guests makes that not so fair. Plastic goblets is what I'm leaning towards.

- A dish was set out with small dog treats, so if people were tempted to feed the dog something, they had an approved healthy snack to give. I highly recommend this!

 

[ichasiris]

Yay, I hope you find them! I saw they still have them at my store today, so they must stock them pretty well.

 

[ichasiris]

I had my party this Thursday, and it turned out great! Had a few cancellations, but still a good number of friends showed up. Finally got people from my art group to meet people from my writing group!

I'm adding pictures to this album: http://www.halloweenforum.com/members/greenwick-albums-halloween-2015-a.html

i only set up two rooms, and I went simple since time ran out. But I am pleased! Everyone had a good time.


Now for some notes:

- At some point I opted to abandon the idea of vegan jello brains. I haven't made them before, and didn't want to waste time screwing it up. So instead I filled the brain mold with kale chips, calling them "moldy brains." The effect was great!

- in my rolls I slathered down canned pumpkin instead of butter, then added pumpkin pie spice & brown sugar. I'm doing this from now on! So much better than cinnamon rolls.

- ran out of time to make parting gifts, but the supplies I do have will be great for my idea next year.

- one of the beakers wasn't needed, so I filled it with juice from an olive can. It looked appropriately gross! Gives me ideas for potions to brew for next year.

- small amounts of a variety of candy was a great idea!

- After the party, it felt like when Halloween is over - except it's not! I get a whole half month more to enjoy! Very worth getting ready early.

- I need to get more novelty drinkware. I haven't collected more than a few spooky wine glasses before, and having more guests makes that not so fair. Plastic goblets is what I'm leaning towards.

- A dish was set out with small dog treats, so if people were tempted to feed the dog something, they had an approved healthy snack to give. I highly recommend this!

Oh snap! Are you vegan?! I'm transitioning, and will be putting stuff on my youtube channel about my vegan journey, so I'm hoping that next year I can provide more vegan treats. My goal is to have an entire vegan Thanksgiving too.

 

[Greenwick]

I'm going vegan, except for eggs. Taking my time about it, though.

I'd love to see what you come up with for treats! I'll be posting some stuff later too. So far it's not seeming as difficult as I thought it was gonna be - though that's probably because I already went mostly vegetarian.

 

[ichasiris]

It is a slow process. Definitely not an overnight thing. My party was last night and it was not vegan this year, but next year most likely I will put more of the effort for the food.

 

[morgan231]

Just loved it. Where did you find that?