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Seven Spooky Things To Do This Week! July 27th - August 3rd

7/27/2020

Missing Halloween and the month of October? Me too! So from now until Halloween, each week they'll be a new 'Seven Spooky Things' post to ensure you can add a bit of Halloween to your day 365 days a year.

These Seven Spooky Things should keep you well spooked from July 27th to August 3rd.

Check out all of this weeks daily tasks below:

Monday

Let's still this week with a little up-cycling! As we're kick starting another spooky week with these tin can lanterns.

They're easy to make and take hardly any time at all. If you have a nail, hammer and some empty tin cans then you're pretty much all set. The tutorial does require print outs so you can hammer around your designs but if you simply draw the designs you would like onto the tin cans and then follow your own lines with the nails, you're all set.

Find out all the details right here.

Tuesday

Today's make is the opposite of yesterdays make... so instead of a quick and easy project, today we're going for something that will take a few days to make but looks a-ma-zing!!

This witch house is made entirely from cardboard and paint. The video tutorial breaks down every single step on how to make your very own house. This would look incredible as a table centrepiece or just a decoration around your house this Halloween (or leave it out all years because people need to see this!).

Check out all the steps right here.

Wednesday

Today we're cooking and this one is definitely a recipe you'll want to make over and over again. Whip up a batch of this slow cooker pumpkin chilli for a nice hearty treat.

Add a few tortilla chips for scooping and this dinner is perfect for a nice cosy night in. You can also freeze this too so if why not make a big batch and enjoy throughout Autumn?

Find all of the details for this tasty dish right here.

Thursday

I really love this make, its quick, simple but really effective and a whole lot of fun to put together.

This One Hour Broom Parking sign is made using wood, paints and hooks. You could make this for Halloween as a decoration you bring out year after year or just a general home decoration. Personally I would hang this above the door in my kitchen.

Make your very own parking sign right here.

Friday

Last Halloween one product that quite a few people went crazy for was eyeball plants. They were available in places such as Homesense and TK Maxx here in the UK and quite a few of you were on the hunt for them.

There is a chance they might be back this year.. but if not why not make your own? Now is the perfect time to make them too as so many stores have artificial flowers available for Summer decorations. This particular tutorial using plastic eyeballs that you should be able to get closer to Halloween from stores like Poundland, The Range etc or substitute these for ping-pong balls and draw the details on yourself?

You can also make the flowers without purchasing artificial flowers and use felt that you cut and wrap around the eyeballs until you have a flower. You can find out how to make these flower right here and a felt example can be found here.

Saturday

I have shared countdown calendars in the past and let's be honest... you can never have too many Halloween calendars, so here is another!

This Calendar will take a little time to put together but it looks fangtastic and is actually a lot of fun to make and also use throughout October. Each day is a little hanging tag then when removed has a new activity to complete each day.

A great idea to make for the kids or even just for yourself. Why not make one with a new project for you to do each day as you countdown to the best day of the year? Start day one with decorating a room, day two baking, day three a craft project until you have a completely spooky house for October 31st.

You can find out all the details on how to make this right here.

Sunday

It's the last day of the week and so to help you unwind after the end of this busy, crafty week, i'm making today movie night!

This weeks film is the brilliant Happy Death Day and if you have never seen this.... where have you been? Happy Death Day is definitely one of my favourite films of the last decade and it's a load of fun too.

The film follows Tree, a college student who ends up murdered... only when she dies, she suddenly wakes up starting the day all over again. The only way to break the loop is to find her killer and stop herself getting killed once again.

It's such a great film and although the sequel isn't as good as the first it's also a lot of fun too and definitely one to check out right after you have watched this too.

Who to Follow
As a bonus extra each week i'll feature an instagrammer who has a spooky profile that you might like. This way you can add even more spookiness to your instagram feed each week too.

This weeks featured instagrammer is: @thedyerghoulhouse
Check out her awesome instagram for guaranteed Halloween treats all week!

If you would like to be featured just follow the October 31st Instagram or my own (link below) and make some noise!

Thanks so much for reading this article! I actually share a whole load of Halloween things on my instagram so if you'd also like to follow my daily (almost) updates then head on over to HERE. You can also follow on Facebook now too!

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Ten MORE UK Small Businesses That Celebrate Halloween All Year!

7/21/2020

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Not too long ago I shared a list of Ten UK Small Businesses That Celebrate Halloween All Year and many of you really enjoyed checking out the list and discovering new businesses right here in the UK that stock Halloween goodies all year.

I also followed up this list with an international post, so those of your from outside the UK can also check out spooky stores near you too.

As the original list was so popular I have put together a new list of ten MORE UK small businesses that you should check out for Halloween treats. These stores stock Halloween products all year, so if you're after a spooky fix you're in luck.

For those of you who are in the UK a new page was also set up recently that monitors all UK stores that stock seasonal decor and this list will be updated as each store begins to put out this years Halloween ranges. You can check this list out (and add to bookmarks so you don't miss out) above via the Halloween UK link.

Halloween Horror Props

Halloween Horror Props is a UK based business located in Somerset. The store stocks heaps of Halloween props, decorations and more. My personal favourite item is the Tombstone chalkboards as the winged skull design is incredible.

What's great about this store is that they've also supplied products to well known companies such at Universal studios, Hammer House of Horror and even Channel 4!
Check out out of their spooky goods right here.

Simply Gothic Co

I have shared Simply Gothic Co a few times in the past but even to my surprise I didn't include this wonderful business on the original list.

So here it is! Simply Gothic Co sells loads of original spooky products and they're available in a wide range of different items. You can grab lots of newly added prints, jewellery, stickers and more!

The store is always adding new items too and if you're after a regular fix of spooky goodness then be sure to check out the subscription box that is available too.

Check out the store right here and be sure to follow on instagram and Facebook.

Hollow Hill Apparel

Hollow Hill Apparel is a small family run business that sells wonderful spooky clothing, mugs, badges and more.

All designs are designed by themselves and they are adding new treats to the store quite often. One of my favourite products in the store (and I need to grab one before they're gone) is the Pete's Pumpkin Patch T shirt. It's such an awesome design and it's perfect for my next trip to the pumpkin patch.

One thing that I think makes this business stand out is kids clothing, it's easy to find adult spooky clothing all year but clothing for children is much harder to find. So if you're after something for the kids then Hollow Hill Apparel has you covered.

Check out the store right here and be sure to follow on instagram and Facebook.

Grimly Fiendish Crafts

Grimly Fiendish Crafts creates some of the cutest spooky treats on Etsy.

The store sells loads of different embroidered creations and you can even swipe up adorable felt pumpkins to decorate your home with this Halloween. New products are being added to the store often.

It's easy to see that there is a lot of love that goes into each product. Check out the store right here and be sure to follow on instagram and Facebook too.

Cult Locations Ink

Cult Locations Ink sells all kinds of different hand-drawn prints from various tv shows and movies. New prints being added all the time too.

I grabbed this Hocus Pocus inspired print along with a print of Michael Myers house from Halloween and I know i'll be back for more soon too. One thing that I think makes this store stand out is that each print comes framed, so they're ready for hanging the moment you take them out of the both. Oh and they're a really good price too!

If you're after some brand new wall art then check this store out right here and be sure to follow on Facebook and instagram.

Olde Glory

I have known about this wonderful store for a few years now but only recently did I make my first purchase.

Olde Glory is a store that sells all kinds of products from bedsheets and pillows to seasonal decorations and more. The owners of this store moved to the UK from the USA and wanted to bring a little piece of home with them, so Olde Glory was created and honestly this store is bursting with so many amazing products.

When I took a trip to Salem last October, one thing I especially loved was the traditional Halloween and Fall decorations that were decorated all over the town. Knowing there is a store that brings classic American homeware and decorations to the UK really is a treat for us all and it's one store that you should definitely be adding to your list of favourites.

Check out this store right here and be sure to follow on Facebook and instagram too.

Spooky Hoot Studio

I came across this store fairly recently but absolutely love what it sells. Spooky Hoot Studio creates all kinds of different decorations from wooden blocks and signs to handmade shelf sitters and more.

So many of the current products available have major vintage vibes going on and all products really would look great in your home this Halloween or just leave them out all year long!

Check out this store right here and be sure to follow on instagram and Facebook.

The Black Craft Collectif

If you're after wall art then The Black Craft Collectif has your covered.

This store only launched this year but already it's bursting with all kinds of spooky and gothic prints that your haunted home would die for. Original designs and unique movie inspired prints are all available along with different sticker designs too.

I personally love this Haunted Home, Haunted Heart print that is currently available from the store.

Check out this store right here and be sure to follow on instagram too.

The Black Kraft

Another store that I recently stumbled across is The Black Kraft and it's a great little store for you to check out.

The store sells a whole bunch of different wall art, Jack-O'Lantern and coffin shaped pillows with new products being added quite regularly. One of my favourite products currently available is the Pumpkin Candy Bucket print.

With Halloween creeping just around the corner, why not take a look at this store for your decorating needs! Visit the store right here and be sure to follow on instagram too.

Dolly Cool

Dolly Cool creates amazing unique and original jewellery, pins, notepads, scarves and more. New products are being added to the store all the time and one thing I love, love, LOVE about Dolly Cool is that every year a brand new Halloween range is launched and each year it is incredible.

With Halloween only a few months away it won't be long until a new range is revealed. So if you're after some spooky accessories to add to your outfit or even just something a little quirky and original, check out Dolly Cool!

You can visit the store right here and be sure to follow on instagram and Facebook too!

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Seven Spooky Things To Do This Week! July 20th - July 26th

7/20/2020

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Missing Halloween and the month of October? Me too! So from now until Halloween, each week they'll be a new 'Seven Spooky Things' post to ensure you can add a bit of Halloween to your day 365 days a year.

These Seven Spooky Things should keep you well spooked from July 20th to July 26th.

Check out all of this weeks daily tasks below:

Monday

We're starting this week a little spooky. with this diy Ouija board decoration. This would look great as a centrepiece for your next party or just as something to hang on the wall in your haunted home.

Surprisingly it's really simple to make and also extremely cheap to put together, so you could easily get one of these made in a day.

To find out how to make your very own decorative Ouija board just click here.

Tuesday

Tuesday is all about lighting! Well more specifically, lamps and these easy to make paper lanterns look great. They have major gothic vibes and all you really need is card, paper and string.

The templates to create these are completely free and you can also find vintage style templates too. So if you're after more of an Halloween look then the black cat and moon templates are right up your street.

Check out how to make these right here and the Halloween templates here.

Wednesday

As of today (July 20th 2020) there are exactly 64 days left until it is officially Autumn/Fall, which is just over two months away. So for those of you who are counting down the days (like I am), why not bring a little fall into your home early?

Today i'm sharing a recipe for Gingerbread Leaf Cookies! These are a quick and easy bake too, so you can easily whip up a batch in no time. With Summer still sticking around for another 2 months, it means you have plenty of time to experiment and tweak this recipe as much as you like so you can create your own perfect leaf cookies when Autumn finally does arrive too. Personally I love adding my own twist to a recipe and I think I would add some iced details to these to really make them stand out.

Check out all of the ingredients and steps on how to make these right here.

Thursday

I am absolutely obsessed with this make. It's might take you a few days to put together but the finish is worth it.

Today you can read all about how to make your own Halloween village from wooden blocks! The how to even shows you full pictures of each building so you can easily replicate them yourself. What's more is that this won't break the bank at all to make and if you already have some thick wood you're halfway there already.

I will definitely be making these before Halloween and if you would like to do the same then head right over here.

Friday

Today's little make is actually a little up-cycle project. If you have even ended up with a broken shovel then why not give it a new lease of life as a cute little plant pot ghost?

A quick lick of paint and a spooky face will change a broken shovel into a spooky addition to your plant pots. You could easily do this without waiting for a shovel to break.... stores like poundland sell cheap shovels that you can paint yourself, so don't get breaking those garden tools!

Find out all the details right here.

Saturday

It's movie night and what better movie to sit down and watch than Elvira Mistress of the Dark!

This classic film was released in 1988 to mixed reviews and only made $5.5 million on a $7.5 million dollar budget... ouch! But with many flops, over time they develop cult status and this film has one hell of a cult following. The film is fun, camp and a little ridiculous but it's definitely worth a watch and hopefully one you'll watch over and over again.

There is also a sequel called Elvira's Haunted Hills that you can sink your teeth into too!

Sunday

You've made it through another week and we're going to end it with more baking... but this time time not the edible kind but the decorative kind of baking. Today we're making this wonderful Cinnamon Salt Dough hanging leaves.

As a kid I remember making all kinds of things with salt dough as it was so easy to mix together, so i'm actually a little excited to try and make these too. What I especially love about these are the fact they're scented. As a hanging decoration alone they're great but adding that cinnamon touch really adds a nice autumnal layer to them that will make your home smell amazing.

Find out how to make these right here.

Who to Follow
As a bonus extra each week i'll feature an instagrammer who has a spooky profile that you might like. This way you can add even more spookiness to your instagram feed each week too.

This weeks featured instagrammer is: @strictlyspoopy
Check out her awesome instagram for guaranteed Halloween treats all week!

If you would like to be featured just follow the October 31st Instagram or my own (link below) and make some noise!

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Twenty Seven Hocus Pocus Facts To Celebrate 27 Years

7/16/2020

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It's been 27 years right down to the day that Hocus Pocus first hit cinemas and what a wonderful 27 years its been!

From box office bomb to one of the biggest Halloween films on the planet, this film has definitely had a bumpy ride along the way.

It was originally released on this day (July 16th) in 1993, with the UK receiving the film during October of the same year. Over the years the film has grown with every Halloween and is even shown multiples times throughout October on tv.

So to celebrate one of the greatest Halloween films ever made, here's 27 bewitching facts for you to sink your teeth into.

1 - Hocus Pocus was originally created as a story by writer David Kirschner. He would read the story to his children before bed.

2 - Although a Halloween film, it was originally released in July 1993 and didn't perform as well as Disney had hoped. Created on a budget of $28 million, the film ended up making just over $39 million in the end.

3 - Sarah Jessica Parker absolutely loved flying on her broom, so much so that she would often spend hours at a time suspended on her broom while learning her lines.

4 - A scene cut from the film (but available on the 25th Anniversary Blu-ray) features Mary asking if the towns people can check to see if she left her cauldron on before she is hanged. When the Sanderson Sisters return from the dead she exclaims "I knew I left this cauldron on, didn't I tell you!"

5 - Bette Midler has stated that Winifred Sanderson is her all time favourite role she has ever played.

6 - Rosie O'Donnell was originally offered the role of Mary but turned it down as she didn't want to play a scary witch. Kathy Najimy also wanted the role as she was desperate to work with Bette Midler due to being such a big fan.

7 - Although featured in an original trailer a whole bunch of deleted scenes didn't make it to the 25th Anniversary Blu ray. These scenes include the Sanderson Sisters at the pool, in a supermarket and additional scenes with trick or treaters. They are referenced but the actual scenes are not shown.

8 - An original idea for the film was that the witches would trick the children by feeding them candy crows. In two deleted scenes (that once again didn't make it to the 25th anniversary blu-ray) we see the Sanderson Sisters at a supermarket buying ingredients for the candy crows and in another we see them handing them out.

9 - The Hocus Pocus sequel book isn't the only official Hocus Pocus book.... a novelisation of the film was released to coincide with the films release and actually features many of the deleted scenes and the candy crow storyline. You can still get your hands on the book from sites like ebay but expect to pay a pretty penny for a copy.

10 - The film has several alternative names. In Mexico and Venezuela it was released as Abracadabra and in France it was known as Hocus Pocus: Les trois sorcières which translates to The Three Witches.

11 - Hocus Pocus takes place on Halloween night in 1993. In the film there is a full moon but in reality there wasn't a full moon that night. The last time it was a full moon on Halloween was in 1974.

12 - Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimi have all agreed to doing a sequel and although there are many rumours of a sequel in production for Disney+, there hasn't actually been any official announcement from Disney themselves.

13 - Thackery Binx was actually played by two different actors. Human Binx was played by Sean Murray while his voice was from Jason Marsden.

14 - The Sanderson Sisters were hanged in Salem on October 31st 1693. In reality the Salem Witch Trials ended in 1692 and so no hangings would have occurred.

15 - The scene where Billy cuts open his mouth and moths fly out actually featured real moths. A special mouth rig was created and placed inside Doug Jones' mouth to stop him from swallowing any of the moths. When the time came he was able to breath out enough air to push the moths out of his mouth and create the famous scene.

16 - Towards the end of the film the Sanderson Sisters take flight into the night and Sarah begins to sing (The song's original title is actually Garden of Magic). The scene of all three sisters flying over Salem was actually created using puppets. Each of the sisters were created as miniature puppets on brooms/a vacuum.

17 - Satan and his wife were played by Penny and Garry Marshall. In real life they were actually brother and sister.

18 - The original title for Hocus Pocus was Halloween House. Early scripts even had this title, it was later changed to the movies name that we all love.

19 - Sarah Jessica Parker discovered that her 10th Great Grandmother was originally accused in Salem of witchcraft in 1692. Esther Elwell was accused of committing "Sundry acts of witchcraft". This was discovered when Parker took part in an episode of Who Do You Think You Are.

20 - The film was originally slated to be a Disney Channel original movie and there were no plans to release it in cinemas. Disney saw potential in the film and wanted to see if it would be a huge hit. Although it has reached cult status over time, maybe releasing the film in October and not July would have ensured it was a bigger hit in 1993...

21 - Real cats were used to play Binx. Kenny Ortega has stated that nine cats were used in total and each one was used for different scenes. An animatronic cat and cgi were also used. Even by today's standards, the effects created to bring Binx to life are still extremely effective.

22 - The song "Almost Unreal" by Roxette was written by Per Gessie as a theme song for Hocus Pocus. It was later scrappe and instead used for the live action Super Mario Bros film. Doesn't really fit at all though does it?

23 - A mini animated series was released via the official Hocus Pocus Facebook page for the 25th anniversary. The short-lived series is called The Brew and only consists of 5 episodes and they're extremely fun to watch. Personally I had hoped for more episodes the following year but it seems as though Disney has put the animated series to bed.

24 - The colours of Max Dennisons tie-dyed t- shirt all coincide with the colours of the three witches. Red for Mary, purple for Sarah and green for Winifred.

25 - During scenes where there are a large number of children trick or treating, various costumes are actually famous characters from different movies and games. Mrs Potts from Beauty and the Beast, Sonic the Hedgehog and even Michael Myers from Halloween all make a very brief appearance.

26 - In the scene where the witches suck the life force out of Emily Binx, she slumps over and is apparently dead. When the Sanderson Sisters begin to dance you can see Amanda Shepherd, who plays Emily, move a little.

27 - The house that Allison lives in was also used in American Beauty, which also stars Thora Birch. In reality the house is only a few doors down from the real Witch House in Salem.

Thanks so much for reading this article! I actually share a whole load of Halloween things on my instagram so if you'd also like to follow my daily (almost) updates then head on over to HERE.

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Seven Spooky Things To Do This Week! July 13th - July 19th

7/13/2020

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Missing Halloween and the month of October? Me too! So from now until Halloween, each week they'll be a new 'Seven Spooky Things' post to ensure you can add a bit of Halloween to your day 365 days a year.

These Seven Spooky Things should keep you well spooked from July 13th to July 19th.

Check out all of this weeks daily tasks below:

Monday

Let's start the week with a quick and easy recipe and one that will come in very handy as we slowly grow closer and closer to the spookiest month of the year.

Today we're making a super quick and easy Pumpkin Spice mix!

All you need is 4 teaspoons of ground cinnamon, 2 teaspoons of ground ginger, 1 teaspoon of ground cloves and 1/2 a teaspoon of ground nutmeg. Mix all ingredients together and store in a air-tight container for up to 6 months. Which is more than enough time to use it before Halloween! :D

Tuesday

Your next project for this week is another quick and easy make. You could easily make this in under an hour but use it for years to come.

All you need is a semi-circle door may, white fabric paint and a brush! Oh and some scissors or a cutting knife to cut a web shape around the edge as today we're making a Spiderweb Doormat!

Find out all the details right here.

Wednesday

I absolutely love todays make and once again it's easy, easy, easy!
All you need today are some old frames (charity stores will be your friend on this one), silver spray paint and some old pictures/ghost print-outs.

Spray the inside of the glass until its around 60% visible and then place your image inside and that's it! Once hung the picture looks more likely a ghostly mirror.

You can find out more details on all the steps right here. This make would be perfect if you're planning a Haunted Mansion themed party this year too.

Thursday

Today is going to be a chilled out reading day. Click right here to check out a list of some wonderful short scary stories for you to sink your teeth into.

These will definitely get you into the spooky spirit as Halloween season approaches, read one each night in bed and if you have your own scary story of your own then please do share in the comments below as I would love to read!

Friday

It might feel like Halloween is still such a long time away but it will be here in no time!

Stores are already beginning to stock Halloween goodies, so while we all wait for the best time of the year why not get making this great Halloween Countdown calendar?

It's easy yo make and great fun for kids. You could easily get this made up now and as more stores stock spooky treats you can purchase items to place inside ready for October.

Find out everything you need and how to make this right here.

Saturday

It's the weekend and so we're going to settle down with a documentary today and what better documentary to watch than The American Scream!

This documentary follows three families in Massachusetts who go all out every single year for Halloween. They create the most amazing home haunts that anyone can visit during October and the way they put everything together really is eye opening and such a fascinating watch.

If you love Halloween then you will LOVE this! I actually wanted more once it ended as I enjoyed it so much. You can currently check this out on Amazon Prime here in the UK and it's also available to download from Itunes.

Sunday

The final make for this week are these quick and easy paper pumpkins. These are able to free-stand so you can place them around the house this Autumn as an easy seasonal decoration or add string to the stems and hang them around the home too?

You can find out all the details on how to make these little cuties right here.

Who to Follow
As a bonus extra each week i'll feature an instagrammer who has a spooky profile that you might like. This way you can add even more spookiness to your instagram feed each week too.

This weeks featured instagrammer is: @batwife
Check out her awesome instagram for guaranteed Halloween treats all week!

If you would like to be featured just follow the October 31st Instagram or my own (link below) and make some noise!

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Five Ways To Celebrate Halloween At Home

7/9/2020

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I think we can all agree that 2020 hasn't exactly been the greatest year on record and with Halloween creeping closer and closer I have seen quite a few people stating that they won't be celebrating Halloween this year.

Although October 31st might be a little different in 2020, it does not mean that Halloween is cancelled, as there are plenty of fun things for you to do right in your very home. The ideas below will help you create a spooky night with your partner, family, housemates and just about anyone who you live with without leaving the house or inviting other people over.

So you can put those Covid-19 worries away and still celebrate the best night of the year.

Movie Night

A Movie Night is one of the best ways to spend Halloween night and there are so many ways you could easily make it as spooky as possible. The easy part is definitely picking what films to watch or even what shows to binge. Fortunately in this day and age we don't have to head to our local rental store to get the latest releases (Blockbuster we miss you!), instead you can find a heaps of spooky films and tv shows on Netflix, Amazon Prime and more.

Why not theme your night? You could decorate for a particular theme depending on what kinds of films you would like to watch. Create spooky foods like this Bewitched Popcorn or even stir up Halloween cocktails and make your own cinema tickets? Set your show times so the whole family knows when the film is about to start and turn your living room into a real spooky cinema experience.

If you're after some ideas then you can check out my list of Witchy and Horror films or Tv Shows to check out too.

Scary Story Night

If like me you made forts as a child, then you'll love this one. Instead of movies why not spend the night telling scary stories? You could gather together around a table of snacks with eerie music playing while each person reads a different story or why not take it one step further and build your own fort.

Grab some old sheets, peg them altogether over chairs and tables and create a spooky hidden hideaway. You could even throw lots of fake leaves around the floor to add an outdoor effect and why not make your own glowing camp fire to really bring it all together. Hot Chocolates and foods like toffee apples, bonfire toffee and S'mores Cupcakes are the perfect sweet treats for tonights tales. You don't have to stay indoors either, if you can head into your garden and set up a tent, why spent the night outside instead? Add a few glowing Jack-O'Lanterns to your set up and you're ready for one spooky night.

If you're after books bursting with scary stories then I highly recommend The Mammoth Book of Halloween Stories and 31 Nights of Halloween.

Games Night

Everyone loves a good games night and Halloween is the perfect time to have the spookiest games night of the year. I previous released a list of board games that are extremely fun to play and also have a spooky theme that would be perfect for All Hallows Eve. I personally highly recommend Smashing Pumpkins as it's a quick game (similar to snap), that has cute Halloween themed cards and is suitable for all ages.

Games Night doesn't have to just be about board games though, there are plenty of games you can easily play around the house that are fun for everyone. You could set up a fun treasure hunt game with various riddles and prizes hidden around your home. This can be done so cheaply too by purchasing small prizes from stores such as Poundland and Home Bargains. Write out the clues for your players to follow and see if they can track down all of the hidden Halloween treats. It's easy to make your own games too like Pumpkin Ring Toss or Ghost Bowling, check out both of those games and another 28 ideas right here.

Set up a table of snacks, fun prizes for winners of different games and have a really fun Halloween night.

Victorian Night

Did you know Halloween was hugely popular throughout the Victorian era? People would attend various parties and play all kinds of different games. The majority of these games would be fun fortune style games to predict what the year has in store or who your next love would be.

For Halloween this year consider bringing back some of old traditions and have a Victorian Era Night and make it a fun event at home. Dress in your best clothing, a suit or fancy dress, whip up a delicious Victorian Chocolate Tart, Trifle and finger foods like sandwiches and scones. Light candles or place battery tealights all around the room and turn off the lights to set a spooky atmosphere.

Apples were used for bobbing with the first person to successfully grab an apple with their teeth becoming the first to marry. The quality of the apple would also be a symbol of the person they would be with. Apple skins were also used to find out the first letter of a future lovers name. The peel would be thrown over your shoulder and the shape it made on the group corresponding with the letter of their first name. There are so many different games that were played on Halloween night and you can read up on even more fun games right here and also here.

Craft Day/Night

The final idea on this list is one that has endless ideas and outcomes on what can be done for Halloween night. You can easily spend all day making different decorations that are around a specific theme. Create spooky gifts for the next big holiday (which shall not be named *shivers*), start creating decorations for Halloween 2021 as it is never too early to prepare for next year. Why not hold your very own pumpkin carving/designing day or just have fun all day making whatever your mind can come up with and then decorate for the night.

You don't just have to carve a pumpkin for Halloween, there are so many different ways to decorate your very own Jack-O'Lantern with many ways actually prolonging it's life (did you know a pumpkin can last for up to a year if left in a dry, dark space?). Why not paint one in different colours? turn them into your favourite film/tv characters, cover in glitter? the ideas are never ending and if you're stuck... pinterest is your best friend.

You can find check out over 100 pumpkin decorating ideas right here and for a few easy crafty makes head over here.

Thanks so much for reading this article! I actually share a whole load of Halloween things on my instagram so if you'd also like to follow my daily (almost) updates then head on over to HERE.

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Seven Spooky Things To Do This Week! July 6th - July 12th

7/6/2020

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Missing Halloween and the month of October? Me too! So from now until Halloween, each week they'll be a new 'Seven Spooky Things' post to ensure you can add a bit of Halloween to your day 365 days a year.

These Seven Spooky Things should keep you well spooked from July 6th to July 12th.

Check out all of this weeks daily tasks below:

Monday

Let's start the week with a little bit of colour. With everything happening in the world right now it's so important to ensure that you're looking after yourself too. A great way to literally brighten up your day is with flowers and they've been proven to lift moods and create a more positive environment within your home.

So today it's all about trick or treating yourself with some flowers. Go grab a nice bunch from your local florist or supermarket and if you have an artificial pumpkin or an old pumpkin bucket you can use that as a vase. Alternatively place a vase inside a bucket or artificial pumpkin to avoid any water escaping and add a little touch of fall to your home.

You can check out other autumnal ideas with flowers right here.

Tuesday

Continuing with yesterdays nature themed day we're moving into Tuesday by making these super simple leaf bowls. All you really need are leaves, clay and some paint (spray paint is easier but it all comes down to personal preference).

To make these bowls all you need to do is roll out some clay and press a leaf into it, cut around and then gently rest the clay leaf inside a bowl, this allows the cut out to curl and create the bowl shape. Leave to dry and then paint in your desired colours.

So simple and yet so beautifully effective. Find out more details right here.

Wednesday

The middle of the week is here and so today it's all about upcycling! We're making these adorable little pet ghosts that also glow in the dark.

The main requirements for this make is definitely a jar and cotton wool for the ghost. The rest of the items you need will most likely already be around the house. Once you've made one, why not make a whole family of them? Or even create mini versions and gift them out as gifts?

To find out all the details on how to make your own spooky little ghoul, just click right here.

Thursday

Todays make is a lot fun and the end result looks so realistic. Today we're making giant edible eyeballs. This make would be great to do with the kids and is sure to be a huge hit at your next Halloween party.

Once made the eyeballs actually stay good for at least 3 days so you can easily make these in advance too.

Find out everything you need to get making these right here.

Friday

This week Friday is movie night.... or should I say binge night as today you need to check out Unsolved Mysteries on Netflix.

Originally airing in 1987 the series has been revived by Netflix with the first part of the first season now available. This 6 part series looks into the Unsolved Mysteries surrounding missing people, potential murders and even Aliens!

I personally really enjoyed this revival and cannot wait for more from Netflix already. If you also like this then why not check out the other 554 episodes from older seasons, which are also airing on Amazon Prime.

So that's your weekend and potentially the rest of this years binge watching sorted.... now let's go solve these cases together!

Saturday

It's the weekend and today we're not making or watching but instead we're going to be reading. Todays article is all about how to make your very own Witchy Garden.

The article includes everything you could possibly do to create your own sanctuary with the outdoor space you have around you. This could very easily be adapted for those who are inside too as you can easily great windowsill gardens. The in-depth article explains what herbs and flowers to plant, the best things you can go out and forage for and even how to synchronise your garden with the moon cycle.

Check out the article right here.

Sunday

We've made it through another week and we're going to end it with a quick and simply little make that would actually be great to use in your garden this summer.

These lanterns are made from old milk/juice cartons! You can easily hang them from trees/bushes with battery tealight candles inside or place them around the floor to give your garden a warm, autumnal glow throughout the warm evenings.

Find out how to make these right here.

Who to Follow
As a bonus extra each week i'll feature an instagrammer who has a spooky profile that you might like. This way you can add even more spookiness to your instagram feed each week too.

This weeks featured instagrammer is: @thehalloweencollector
Check out her awesome instagram for guaranteed Halloween treats all week!

If you would like to be featured just follow the October 31st Instagram or my own (link below) and make some noise!

Thanks so much for reading this article! I actually share a whole load of Halloween things on my instagram so if you'd also like to follow my daily (almost) updates then head on over to HERE.

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Trick-or-Treat A Vintage Inspired Collection From October 31st - Full Reveal!

7/3/2020

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Trick-or-Treat is a new original collection from October 31st that is inspired by vintage Halloween.

The collection contains over 30 brand new products and includes new mugs, tin signs, enamel pins and more.

Everything will go on sale at 1pm on Saturday July 11th via October31st.co.uk.
his new range is limited edition but if it proves to be popular many items will be restocked.

Your full preview of everything is below:

Tin Signs

Five brand new tin signs are part of this collection. They're available in 2 different sizes with the largest sign being a fun Halloween Fortune game.
The Halloween Fortune game is inspired by games that were available from the 1920's onwards and would usually contain a spinner or piece that could be cut/torn from the board and used to complete the game. This game only requires your month of birth and todays weather to predict your fortune for the next seven days.

All five signs have pre-drilled holes in the corners for easy hanging.

Enamel Pins

You'll be able to grab a Jack-O'Lantern and Ghost Enamel Pin when the collection launches. Each pin comes attached to a vintage style backing card.

Candles

Candles are back! The original collection of October 31st candles was discontinued this year so for those of you who grabbed one of the original designs you'll be pleased to know four new candles are coming soon! Tricks and Treats was the most popular scent from the previous collection and it's also back, the same scent but in a brand new design.

You'll also be able to purchase Pumpkin Spice, Autumn Leaves and Candy Apple scented candles in two different sized tins. These candles have been designed by myself but produced by The Candle Craft Co who also have a great range of original candles available in their store so please do check them out!

All scents descriptions will be revealed on the day of launch.

Coasters

Pencil Case

Four different designs make up this spooky set of coasters. These coasters are cork backed and include a ghost and pumpkin design that isn't available on any other product.

If you need a place to store your tricks and treats then this pencil case is perfect. Made from 100%, this could easily be used as a make-up bag too.

A4 Prints

If you're after more wall art then you're in luck as you'll be able to get your hands on two brand new prints. Both prints are printed onto high quality, glossy paper and are A4 in size.

Notebooks

Ever go Halloween shopping and forget what you wanted to purchase? Well fear not as three new notebooks are coming soon with one being the perfect pocket sized Halloween Shopping List Book. You'll also be able to grab a mini Little Book of Magic and an A5 Trick or Treat black cat notepad too.

Mugs

it's been a long time since the last original October 31st mug and so three new designs are on the way. The first is a full wrap around design featuring a haunted house with ghost, Jack-O'Lantern and flying witch. This design is also available as a tin sign and is also the design that wraps around the candles (see above).

Inspired by vintage plastic flash lights, the neon orange trick or treat mug is a double sided mug with a sad Trick and happy Treat face design.
The final mug is an all black mug with orange jack-o'lantern face design.

Greeting Cards

Three new A6 Greeting Cards will be available individually and also as a set of three (at a lower price). These new glossy cards will be perfect to send to friends and family this Halloween. The black cat and haunted house design are unique to the greeting cards while the Witch and Moon design is also available as a print and on a coaster.

Badges

Seven badges in six new designs will be hitting the store next Saturday. For those of you who purchased from the 2018 Halloween collection, you will recognise the grinning black cat. This design was so popular when it was first released that it was actually the first of the 2018 range to sell out in plush and wall hanging designs. The design was also available on a mug too (which will be back later this year).

You'll be able to buy these badges individually or as a set for a lower price.

Stickers

These new stickers include a unique haunted house design that isn't available on any other product. The stickers are all made from vinyl and are waterproof too!

Available individually or as a set of three for a cheaper price.

Wooden Decorations

Four Wooden Hanging Decorations will be available upon launch! Based off of vintage buckets that were used to place candles or candy inside, these 4 wooden decorations measure approximately 10cm high and can be hung by the wooden handle or via the included string.

Thanks so much for reading this article! I actually share a whole load of Halloween things on my instagram so if you'd also like to follow my daily (almost) updates then head on over to HERE.

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Trick-or-Treat A Vintage Inspired Collection From October 31st - Full Reveal!

Tin Signs

Enamel Pins

Candles

Coasters

Pencil Case

A4 Prints

Notebooks

Mugs

Greeting Cards

Badges

Stickers

Wooden Decorations

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