Behind the Scenes, or What I Learned THIS Year

1.  I love Hot Blood.  Her red hot glue sticks really DO look like blood, and they were so easy to apply, both on the fake weapons and inside the witch jars. I'm glad I bought lots, because I have tons left for next year, now that I know what to do with them.

2. Do NOT schedule a repairman the week before Halloween.  He may be fast, and he may be good, but inevitably there will be unforeseen circumstances requiring your presence and decision-making abilities (which are shabby by now), and drywall, paint, etc. that need to dry before the next step can be taken.

(Although I do love the new fan in my sewing room, and the additional light made the cat's eyes in the window really shine through.)

Looks cool from the inside, too.

3.  When Hallowe'en falls on a Sunday, be prepared to have just as many ToTs on Saturday as you expect on Sunday.  This means have the props all set up and ready to go by 4:00 pm Sat. afternoon.  Fortunately, that won't happen again until 2021--and as I will be 70 years old that year, it may just be a moot point.

4.  Board Tandi every Hallowe'en. Period.

5.  LoveLee soaps on Etsy makes awesome fake fingers , right down to the ragged cuticles. They're even a bit slick to the touch.  (Red hot glue looks terrific on soap fingers.)

They also make soap poop, for all you pranksters and 8-yr-olds in adult clothing.

6. Duct tape and safety pins can save your butt.



       6a. Duct tape sticks to itself better than anything else. (note bottom left corner of foam insulation board walls)

7. Carve jack-o-lanterns early, even if you have to put the finished products in the fridge or in coolers with ice.  I never got any carved, and my lighting wasn't really enough without them.



8.  Buy lots more extension cords and multi-outlet posts for next year.  Enough said.

9.   Punt.

With all those uncarved pumpkins, I had to come up with some way to use them.  I scattered the pumpkins, skeletons, and the ubiquitous scarecrow around the yard, as if something had come and destroyed the place. 

9a. Don't try to put together a new prop at the last minute.  It will always look last minute--to you, even if your visitors aren't that critical.

Unless you can use the dim lighting to your advantage.

10. Firepits come in very handy for old Gypsy Queens on cold Hallowe'en nights. You can even dance around them, if no one's watching.

(More pictures on flickr, top right column of this blog)