Entries in halloween (55)

Monday
02Nov2009

Halloween's over.. now what?!

Got some great Halloween snaps? Send them in to us!Two days after Halloween night and your house may still be a mess. Or it may be completely cleaned up, refreshed, and showing no signs that two days ago there was a party to end all parties being held. Whether you've now got a head full of memories that'll stay with you forever, or fragmented glimpses of the night that you wish you could forget, we're sure all your guests had a blast.

Now that the big night is over, what can you do?

Photos page
First things first, break out your digital camera and see if there are any colossal snaps that showcase you or any of your friends in fancy dress glory. If you look like you're having the time of your life (or even if you don't!), we'd love to hear from you, so check out our photos page and submit your best images so we can feature you on our website!

Facebook
Check out the All Fancy Dress Facebook page as we'll be showcasing the best Halloween costume photos and also keeping you up to date with all the things that are happening at the AFD HQ. You can also chat to fellow fancy dress fans and discuss the latest scoop!

Twitter
For an easy way to keep up to date with all that's going on in the fancy dress world and how to ensure you always look the best, follow us on the All Fancy Dress Twitter page. We keep it regularly updated with content and information, so there's always something new for you to read about!

Christmas!
Start gearing up for Christmas! We're going to be starting our Christmas costume coverage soon so keep checking back to the blog for all the best festive info and advice in the run up to December 25th!

Saturday
31Oct2009

Happy Halloween!!

Happy Halloween folks!!Happy Halloween from all of us here at All Fancy Dress! We hope your party is fun, your costumes look terrifying and you keep the memories with you for years to come. If you've taken loads of snaps, why not show them off on our brand new photo gallery? We love to hear from anyone who had an amazing experience in any of our costumes, so send them in today and you could soon be featured on our website.

Friday
30Oct2009

Five 5 minute jobs to enhance your Halloween party atmosphere!

Spooky music can MASSIVELY increase your party's scare factor!HALLOWEEN IS TOMORROW! If you're organising a party you're probably running around frantically trying to get props set up, food cooked and costumes perfected. If you're a little worried your party is not quite the scare-fest you were hoping it would be, here are 10 quick fixes you can make to help it on its way.

  • Turn more lights off!
    The key to creating a spooky atmosphere is soft, low key lighting. If your fire's roaring and everyone's bathed in chandelier light, it's not going to be very effective. Turn everything off and then turn on a few strategic lamps that create a dingy, dark atmosphere to really set the mood.
  • Break out the fake blood
    Mix clear corn syrup with red food colouring to create a realistic home-made fake blood solution. Then apply it liberally! Streaked down fridges, spilled over the kitchen table, on door handles. Turn your house into an abbatoir! It's a great atmosphere builder.
  • Put on some scary music
    Everyone who watches films knows that music creates tension. Think of Mike Oldfield and Tubular Bells! Grab a specialised CD of scary tunes or make your own mixtape of madness and play it all night to add a sinister edge to your party.
  • Put on some scary movies!
    If there's a lull in the action or everyone gets a bit tired, suggest watching a scary movie together. Everyone's got at least 1 in their DVD collection although we're sure there'll be some on television tomorrow night! Alternatively, have one running in the background to add to the chilling atmosphere.
  • Make a Hand of Glory
    With a rubber glove, an instant pack of jelly and a few other accessories, you can make a spooky Hand of Glory as a centrepiece of your party - it'll soon become a talking point! Alternatively make a couple and place them around your house to scare guests out of their wits!

How do you make you Halloween party super scary? Let us know in the comments!

Thursday
29Oct2009

Last minute Halloween makeup themes!

Jet black face paint: A GREAT choice for all Halloween themes!You've checked out our awesome Halloween costume ideas and bought your amazingly cool Halloween outfit. It's coming up to your party, so you've got your food sorted, your decorations sorted and all your friends are buzzing with excitement.

But you feel like you've forgotten something, and when you catch sight of yourself in a car window you realise what it is - your makeup. Doh! After all, no Halloween outfit is complete without a terrifying facial look to back it up. Thankfully we've got some last minute themes you can knock up using only the most basic of face paint kits, so read on to find out how to ensure your rosy complexion doesn't shine through when it's time to turn the scare on

  • Zombies
    A realistic zombie look can be achieved very easily in limited time! White makeup is a great choice - after all, you're supposed to be a member of the undead and nothing says you're feeling a little deathly than a pure white complexion. Wipe streaks of fake blood (try mixing clear corn syrup with red food colouring if you're on limited time!) on your cheeks, then apply dark black face paint under your eyes for the sunken, gruesome look. Marvellous!
  • Witches
    The witch is an incredibly versatile look, so the face paint theme you choose depends on what type of witch you're going to be. For scary witches, a great colour is green, particularly when applied to your entire face. Add a couple of giant moles with brown face paint, discolour your teeth with black face paint and you're laughing!
  • Devils
    Red is obviously in when it comes to devil outfits. Red goes exceptionally well with black, so combine the two in a weird and wacky style to create a satanic look that won't fail to impress. If you're really feeling courageous, buy a studded collar and spray paint it red - it's a great unique look for Halloween night!
  • Frankenstein
    Monster facepaint is always a good choice. A dark, dark green is the best bet, although you can also use brown if you wish. Slather it onto your face and neck so that it blends in perfectly with your costume, then add dark black circles under your eyes - after all, you've been stitched together from body parts, and that's enough to make anyone look a bit sleepy! Then use silver facepaint to paint two bolts onto your neck and you're ready to go!

Have a great scare-inducing Halloween! THREE DAYS TO GO!

Wednesday
28Oct2009

Halloween Food: Whip up some delights in a flash

Warming Witches Potion Soup: A great choice for the Halloween munchies!When you're partying all night, you need sustenance. And the best party hosts provide this for their guests because not only is it the kind and considerate thing to do, but the awesomeness can only really begin when everyone is properly fed and watered! Not to mention, it's so much fun to whip up spooky Halloween treats that you'll have a blast just making the food, let alone eating it. Read on to find out about some of the best Halloween foods around!

  • Witches Potion: This one is a sure winner! Buy an authentic cauldron (check out our range of Halloween party accessories to see ours) and then make a huge batch of tomato and red pepper soup. The thick red colour will look like a bubbling potion and you can surround it with chunks of bread that look like firewood. Absolutely fantastic, and a GREAT centrepiece for your party!
  • Fried Brain: With a little preparation you can add a 'Silence of the Lambs' edge to your party - fry walnut halves with paprika for an authentic, gruesome look.
  • Bloody Eyeballs: This really is a horrifying one! Cook medium sized meatballs with chilli sauce, apricot jelly and worcestershire sauce for a bloody, jellified look that'll turn your stomach! Fantastic!
  • Mummy Dogs: Use miniature frankfurthers, wrap them in biscuit dough and leave a small space to paint two horrified eyes on with mustard! A superb food with a funny twist.
  • Spooky Sandwiches: Special Halloween-shaped cutters are available from most good supermarkets. Make a selection of sandwiches and cut them into spooky designs for everyone to enjoy!

For a grand finale, carve out a small pumpkin, fill with hot, melted chocolate and provide strawberries and mango for dipping. Mmmmmmmmmmmm! Have a great tummy-warming Halloween folks!