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.

xray halloween invitation

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).

cauldron haloween centerpiece

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

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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!

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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.

shocktail halloween drink station

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

halloween shocktail station

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.

halloween martini bar details

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

mini caramel apples

horsey shrimp cups appetizer

artichoke dip

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”

halloween party dinner menu

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).

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All in all, a SPOOKtacular evening!