Oct 25, 2011
Ghoul’s Night IN is one of my favorite Halloween Party themes. In fact, I throw one almost every year for my girlfriends. It gives me a great chance to hang out with my girl (and really, it’s good excuse to put together a themed evening). This particular party has some of my favorite details ever – including the “medical record/x-ray” invitation and the “shocktail” station.

The invitation, mailed in a manila envelope, is a fun play on a medical examiner’s record. I printed the x-ray of a skull on vellum and attached to the “Medical Record” with a paper clip. The medical record reveals all of the party details: Patient admitted, date of admittance, cause of death – too much fun of course!, time of death (party starts at), attire, evidence is conclusive of – dinner, dessert, fun, libations (all of the above), name of responsible party, contact address, and emergency contact to notify (or to RSVP).

A simple floral arrangement in a plastic cauldron makes for a nice centerpiece.

For the table, each place setting is framed with a black paper shoe (originally in PaperCrafts magazine in October 2005, you can download the template here). The shoe is garnished with a striped stocking filled with candy and a personalized tag. Such an easy (and fun) place setting idea – that doubles as a party favor too!

A cocktail cart is a great way to get any party in gear – it gets people involved! Guests are given the opportunity to mix their own “shocktail” – in this case, with Black Vodka (Blavod), while they mix and mingle.

I love using dry ice to make the “potion” come alive…

The evening’s cocktail options included a Black Widow (ice + cranberry juice + black vodka), Bad Moon Rising (truffle + black vodka), and Olive You to Death (a traditional martini with olives + black vodka). Cute paper straws with “Drink Me” flags complete the look.

Appetizers included Mini Caramel Apples, Horsey Shrimp Cups, “Choke” Dip with Salty Bones and Spicy Meatballs.



For dinner, guests were served “Heart” (of Palm) Salad, Pumpkin Gut Soup, Grill (Chicken) Legs, Scream Beans, Stuffed Shells and “Coffin” Cake with “Eye Scream”

As a party favor, guests took home “Spiderwebs on a Stick” (white cotton candy wrapped around a rock candy stick and garnished with a tag and spider ring).

All in all, a SPOOKtacular evening!
Sep 26, 2010
Halloween isn’t always just about the kiddos! What could be more fun than throwing a small dinner party for your girlfriends – a Ghoul’s Night In, perhaps? This is a glimpse of my very first Ghoul’s Night In, when I was still living in Dallas. I hope it gives you a few ideas for your next Halloween Party!
The centerpiece for this table is simple, but with the addition of colorful stemware, a few candles, a decorative menu and place card/party favor, this party is frighteningly simple and fun!

One of my favorite details from this Halloween tablescape is the Witch’s Paper Shoe. Not only does it serve as a place card, but it’s a fun party favor too (the stocking is filled with candy). This paper shoe project is from a Papercrafts magazine several years ago. {To download the shoe template,
click here.} Adorned with a grosgrain ribbon and small silver buckle, these shoes are simply adorable – your girlfriends will love them!

And for the menu?

To Start – Pumpkin Gut Soup (a delicious Pumpkin Soup recipe from the
Walkerswood Caribbean Kitchen Cookbook)
Main Course – Scream Beans, Scalped and Mashed Potatoes, and Grilled Legs (chicken legs with dry rub of course!)
For Dessert – Coffin Cake (coffee cake) with “Eye Scream” and Blood Sauce (Raspberry topping)
You can even keep drinks for the party in-theme with Vampire Vineyards wine and martinis made from Blavod (black vodka) with “eyeballs” (pearl onions).

Just a few of these details are sure to make for a spooktacular evening!