| Mariah Thomas, Monique Valeris |
Candy Eyeball Chocolate Bars
These chocolate bars are far from normal. In fact, they’re a ghostly (and mouthwatering!) mix of chocolate, candy corn, gummy bears and candy eyeballs. Simply add candy to the melted chocolate after pouring your mix into break-apart molds.
Vintage-Inspired Tablescape
Consider decorating your dining room with a retro theme that’s just as spooky as any other! Blogger Michael hung black, white and orange fans from the chandelier. He used a black cheesecloth as the runner and DIY’ed vintage graphics onto candy treat bags.
Spiderweb Drink Umbrellas
For this quick craft, you’ll need a Cricut machine and 12×12 black craft paper to cut out a spiderweb umbrella template. Use a bone folder to score the straight lines that lead to the center. This will make it easier to fold into a 3D look. Fold the straight lines to make an umbrella shape before hot gluing the center of the webs to the skewer stick. Once your guests see their new drink umbrellas, they’ll want to use them all day!
Candy Corn Halloween Party
Skeleton Face Candy Packaging
Along with adding fake blood to the black utensils (use red spray paint or dip the ends in the paint), we also made these skull candy holders. Start by spray painting your egg boxes white. While they dry, cut these skeleton face templates out of black craft paper. Use tacky glue to attach the faces to your boxes.
Boo-zy Drinks
A cocktail as frightening as this one deserves to be on display. By adding stuffed olives or blueberry-stuffed lychees, your boo-zy drinks, or mocktails, will look infested with eyeballs.
Spooky Brownies
Decorate your brownies with cut-out white fondant. With so many designs to try out, including ghosts, pumpkins, bats and skulls, you can easily upgrade your baked or store-bought treats for a Halloween party.
Costume Trophies
“Pick Your Poison” Treat Display
Purchase black urns or cauldrons from your local Halloween store. Fill them with candy and download our calligraphy clip art to display on the front. Place your treat “bowls” around the house or on the front porch for guests to indulge in a quick treat before walking inside.
Pin the Spider
Instead of pin the tail on the donkey, let’s play pin the spider! Blogger Kristen found a spiderweb template online, printed it out and hung it on the wall for her kids to start pinning their spiders (use stickers or spider paper cutouts).
Dip Dyed Donuts
Pumpkin Punch Bowl
Cut open the top of a large pumpkin and scoop out most of the guts. Pour your drink inside and leave your new concoction in the fridge for chilling (or add ice). It’s an easy pumpkin carving idea that’ll add an earthy sweet flavor to the drinks.
Spooky Dinner Menu
When guests sit down for dinner, they’ll get a little spook after seeing the skeleton hands attached to their menus. If not menus, use place cards or photos.
Glam and Gothic Tablescape
A black gauze table runner and a skull centerpiece make for an otherworldly Halloween spread. Feature black napkins, black utensils and red flowers for “blood-inspired” contrast.
Char-boo-terie
Take your cheese and cracker platter to the next level with help from your spooky friend, Mr. Skeleton. Arrange an assortment of cheeses, meats and crackers around his bony frame for an eerie presentation.
Pumpkin Sweep Game
I See You Halloween Snack Mix
Spooky Bingo
Splatter Paint Candy Bags
Use these treat bags to dole out assorted candy as party favors! To make them, just mix water with acrylic paint until it reaches the consistency of heavy cream. Coat a craft brush with paint and then lightly tap it repeatedly over a small muslin drawstring bag. You can also try an old toothbrush by dipping it into paint and then, using your finger, flick the bristles onto the bag. Let it dry completely and repeat on the other side.
Mariah Thomas (she/her) is an assistant editor for Good Housekeeping, where she covers home and lifestyle content. Mariah has more than four years of editorial experience, having written for TLC, Apartment Therapy, Women’s Health and Avocado Magazine. She received her master’s degree in journalism at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism and published her first book, Heart and Soul: Poems of Thoughts and Emotions, in 2019. She’s also the founder of RTF Community, a platform for creatives of color to connect, learn and showcase their work.
Monique Valeris is the home design director for Good Housekeeping, where she oversees the brand’s home decorating coverage across print and digital. Prior to joining GH in 2020, she was the digital editor at Elle Decor. In her current role, she explores everything from design trends and home tours to lifestyle product recommendations, including writing her monthly column, “What’s in My Cart.”
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below