RedThreadDIY

Nope – this isn’t another boring post on how to make boring, regular food. This post is all about the DISPLAY of the food for Halloween and how you can make your Halloween party a real hit! My all time favorites (of which I’ve just discovered when researching for recipes) is the finger cookies. They look extremely realistic and are quite easy to make!

Click on the photo to get the recipe and how to.

Contents:

• Drink Tutorials
• Appetizer Tutorials
• Dinner Entree Tutorials
• Cake and Pie Tutorials
• Ice Cream Tutorials
• Brownie Tutorials
• Cookie Tutorials
• Cupcake Tutorials
• Graham Cracker Tutorials
• Candy Tutorials
• Marshmallow Tutorials
• Popcorn Tutorials

Drink Tutorials:

Bloody Brain Shooter: Fine Living

Medusa Ice Face and Hands Punch: Martha Stewart

Shrunken Heads in Cider: Martha Stewart

Boo-Nilla Shake: Martha Stewart

Fruit Drink Spritzer with Wiggle Worm Ice: BHG

Haunting Hot Chocolate: BHG

Ghoul's Punch with Frozen Hand: BHG

Gremlins Rule! Drink: BHG

Appetizer Tutorials:

Shark Infested Jello: Designs by Vanessa

Mini Witch's Brooms made from Pretzel Sticks and Fruit by the Foot: Family Fun

Monster Toes: Family Fun

Ladies' Fingers and Mens' Toes Pretzel Bites: Martha Stewart

Mummy Wraps made from Hot Dogs: BHG

Hot Dog Mummies: Family Fun

Forked Eyeballs made from Donut Holes: Family Fun

Apple Bites: Family Fun

Edible Eyeballs made from Carrots: Family Fun

Carrot Finger Food: Family Fun

Cheese Finger Food: Family Fun

Cheesy Corns: Family Fun

Whoo Hoo Hooty Appetizer made from cheese, apple slices, nuts, and capers: BHG

Guacamoldy with Creature Chips: Martha Stewart

Candy Corn Crackers: BHG

Ghost Toasts: Family Fun

Melon Brain: Family Fun

Dinner Entree Tutorials:

Adam's Ribs: BHG

Meat Hand: Not Martha

Spiderweb Eggs: Martha Stewart

Devilish Eggs: Martha Stewart

Creepy Peepers: Family Fun

Eye Popping Tomato Soup: Martha Stewart

Mashed Boo-tatoes: Martha Stewart

Grilled Cheese Sandwiches with Celery Broomsticks: Martha Stewart

Cake and Pie Tutorials:

Pumpkin Marble Cake: Martha Stewart

Pumpkin Cake-o'-Lantern: Family Fun

Chocolate Marshmallow-Ghost Cake and Mini Cupcakes: Martha Stewart

Haunted House Cake: Martha Stewart

No Bake Spiderweb Cheesecake: Martha Stewart

Spider Cakes: Martha Stewart

Spooky Lemon Pie: Crafty Crafty

Ice Cream Tutorials:

Witch Hat: BHG

Chocolate Witch's Hat and Ice Cream: Cathie Filian

I Scream Sandwitches: Martha Stewart

Wacky Witches made with Cheesecake and Ice Cream: BHG

Pumpkin Ice Cream Pie: Family Fun

Brownie Tutorials:

Almond Brownie Coffins: Martha Stewart

Halloween Brownies: Martha Stewart

Cookie Tutorials:

Dulce de Leche Bat Cookies: Martha Stewart

Hoot Owl Cookies: All Recipes

Midnight Moon Cookies: Martha Stewart

Bat and Cobweb Cookies: Martha Stewart

Fun Candy Corn Sugar Cookies: Stylish Cuisine

Spooky Witches Fingers: All Recipes

Ladies' Fingers: Martha Stewart

Puzzle Cookies: BHG

Halloween Tuile Cookies: Martha Stewart

Cupcake Tutorials:

• Halloween Cupcake Ideas: Bakerella

Scrumptious Skeletons: Family Fun

Sea Monster Cupcakes: Family Fun

Wicked Witch Cupcakes: Martha Stewart

Witch's Hat Cupcake: Family Fun

Sweet Skull Cupcakes: Family Fun

Stenciled Chocolate Cupcakes: Martha Stewart

Creepy Cupcakes: Family Fun

Brain Cupcakes: Family Fun

Batty Cupcakes: Family Fun

Pumpkin Cupcakes made from Hostess Sno-Balls and Green Tootsie Rolls: BHG

Pumpkin Cupcakes: Family Fun

Cauldron Cupcakes: BHG

Brain Cupcakes: Martha Stewart

Ghost Cupcakes: Martha Stewart

Monster Cupcakes: Martha Stewart

Hairy Daddy Longlegs Cupcakes: Family Fun

Creepcake Cupcakes: Martha Stewart

Pumpkin Patch Cupcakes: Martha Stewart

Witch Cupcakes: Martha Stewart

Frankenstein Cupcakes: Martha Stewart

Little Devil Cupcakes: Martha Stewart

Black Cat Cupcake: Martha Stewart

Cyclops Cupcake: Martha Stewart

Vampire Bat Cupcakes: Martha Stewart

Mr. Pearly Whites made from a Hostess Cupcake: BHG

Jack Skellington Cupcakes: Disney Family Entertainment

Mad Science Party Cupcakes: LivingLoCurto

Spider in a Web Cupcake: BHG

Graham Cracker Tutorials:

Frankenstein Mask: BHG

Candy Tutorials:

Chocolate Witch's Hats: Martha Stewart

Chocolate Mice: All Recipes

Graveyard Gravel: BHG

Invisible Pops: Martha Stewart

Monster Lollipops: Martha Stewart

Skull Pop: Martha Stewart

Candy Cats: Martha Stewart

White as Ghost Pops: BHG

White Chocolate Ghosts: Martha Stewart

Marshmallow Tutorials:

Halloween Marshmallows: Distracted Gourmet

Marshmallow Bones: Martha Stewart

Popcorn Tutorials:

Wicked Witch's Hat: BHG

Silly Popcorn Treats: BHG

Umm… Time to bake. Collecting links for this post was torture! I am STARVING now!

If you know of ANY other examples or tutorials, please comment below so I can add them to this list. Thanks!

Photo Credit: Jill on flickr

It’s October 23rd – STILL almost week before Halloween. Have you started your pumpkins yet? Haha – me neither. I’m going to the pumpkin patch tomorrow to pick out the perfect ones! Visiting some fun haunted houses too!

Why am I providing you with all of Martha’s links, you ask? Why don’t I just give you the links to the Martha Stewart website? BECAUSE – in order to view ALL of the pumpkins, you have to literally click on each link. Here, you can directly go to the pumpkin or gourd tutorial that you are interested in, without wasting a ton of time searching for the perfect one!

The first section will focus on carved pumpkin and gourds, and the second section is a whole bunch of ideas for no carve solutions.

Contents for Carved Pumpkin and Gourd Tutorials:

• Basket and Vase Tutorials
• Candy Holder Tutorials
• Non-traditional Carving Tutorials
• Engraved Carving Tutorials

Contents for No Carve Pumpkin and Gourd Tutorials:

• Object Attachment Tutorials
• Party Favor and Decoration Tutorials
• Glittered Tutorials
• Painted Tutorials

Carved Pumpkin and Gourd Tutorials:

Basket and Vase Tutorials:

How to Make a Pumpkin Basket: Martha Stewart

Pumpkin Vase of Fall Flowers: Martha Stewart

Pumpkin Cachepots: Martha Stewart

Pumpkin Vase: Martha Stewart

Candy Holder Tutorials:

Trick Or Eat: Martha Stewart

Cat Candy Container: Martha Stewart

Witch Candy Container: Martha Stewart

Pumpkin Lollipop Holder: Martha Stewart

Creepy Candy Containers: Martha Stewart

Non-Traditional Carving Tutorials:

Pumpkin Faces: The Basics: Martha Stewart

Gourd Shelter and Bird Feeder: Martha Stewart

Pumpkin Bird Feeder: Martha Stewart

Vulture's Cage: Martha Stewart

Choir Boys: Martha Stewart

Black Magic: Martha Stewart

Birdbath Family: Martha Stewart

Funkin Witch Carousel: Martha Stewart

Pumpkin Pie Potpourri: Martha Stewart

Cookie Cutter Pumpkins: Martha Stewart

Jack-o'-Lanterns Made Tall: Martha Stewart

OMG – I was WONDERING what I could do with my little rats! And now I have something! YESSS!

Mouse Motel: Martha Stewart

Celtic Knot Pumpkins: Martha Stewart

Peekaboo: Martha Stewart

Talking Pumpkin: Martha Stewart

Filigree Pumpkin: Martha Stewart

Pierced Openwork Pumpkins: Martha Stewart

Lace-Patterned Pumpkins: Martha Stewart

Pumpkin Snake: Martha Stewart

Stained Glass Pumpkins: Martha Stewart

Haunted Halloween Village: Martha Stewart

Gourd Family: Martha Stewart

Carrot Nose Jack-o'-Lanterns: Martha Stewart

Graveyard Ghosts: Martha Stewart

Pumpkin Porcupines: Martha Stewart

Pumpkin Cats: Martha Stewart

Masked Pumpkin: Martha Stewart

Crow's Foe: Martha Stewart

Spectral Scene: Martha Stewart

Bird of Prey: Martha Stewart

Flying Witch: Martha Stewart

Crazy Pumpkin Faces: Martha Stewart

Pumpkin Lantern: Martha Stewart

Pumpkin Chandeliers: Martha Stewart

Engraved Tutorials:

Starburst Pumpkin Sconces: Martha Stewart

Pumpkin Carving Basics: Martha Stewart

Pumpkin Spiders: Martha Stewart

Translucent Pumpkins: Martha Stewart

Pumpkin Raccoon: Martha Stewart

Spooky Silhouettes: Martha Stewart

Etched Victorian Pumpkins: Martha Stewart

Alligator and Snail Pumpkins: Martha Stewart

Spider Squash: Martha Stewart

Wise Owl Pumpkin: Martha Stewart

No Carve Pumpkin and Gourd Tutorials:

Object Attachment Tutorials:

Pumpkin-Patch Creatures: Martha Stewart

Pumpkin Candy Faces: Martha Stewart

Pumpkin Leaf and Tendril: Martha Stewart

Party Favor and Decoration Tutorials:

Gourd Garland: Martha Stewart

Flying Place Cards: Martha Stewart

Spray Painted Mini Table Pumpkins: Martha Stewart

Pumpkin Seed Necklace: Martha Stewart

Pumpkin Patch Cupcakes: Martha Stewart

Pumpkin Pudding: Martha Stewart

Punch Bowl Prop: Martha Stewart

Jack-o'-Clock: Martha Stewart

Fall's Tureen Topper: Martha Stewart

Glittered Tutorials:

Glittered Pumpkins: Martha Stewart

Painted Tutorials:

Golden Pumpkin Mantel Display: Martha Stewart

Inspiration, Ideas, and Photos:

Dead Heads: Martha Stewart

Welcoming Committee: Martha Stewart

Morbid Multiples: Martha Stewart

Harvested Scenes: Martha Stewart

Caught in the Web: Martha Stewart

Autumn Planters: Martha Stewart

Raven's Way: Martha Stewart

Fluttering Moth: Martha Stewart

Pumpkin Centerpieces: Martha Stewart

Hungry Jack-o'-Lantern: Martha Stewart

Hope this post has served you well!

Photo Credit: Mexican Wave on flickr

I was originally going to follow the Lowe’s tombstone tutorial to create my very own scary tombstones, but after starting I found that there were much easier ways to make an awesome tombstone setup without a ton of foamboard and extra time. So – here is the Halloween Tombstone Tutorial – RedThread style!

I made these AWESOME light-up ghost figures in a previous tutorial. They are SUPER easy and fun to make!

Check out my collection of links for other fun outdoor Halloween decoration ideas!

Materials Needed:

• Foamboard (I used a 1″ pink insulation foamboard sheet from Home Depot, which only cost me around $12. I made all 7 of my tombstones from that one sheet, with leftovers!)
• Serrated Knife (for cutting out the tombstone shapes.)
• X-Acto Knife (for carving the tombstone names and/or designs in the foamboard.)
• Spray Paint Primer (I used Rust-Oleum Painter’s Touch Ultra Cover 2X Coverage Primer – Gray, which cost around $3. We bought 2 and used 2. Don’t go too cheap on your primer! Cheap primers take a ton more time, and a lot of coats to cover the pink foamboard. It would actually cost you more using the cheap stuff, since you’d have to go through so many more cans to get the coverage you want)
• Hot Glue Gun
• Hand Saw
• Something to cut cheap wood with
• Hammer
• Wooden Paint Stirring Sticks (Home Depot offers these for free). Grab 2 for each tombstone to be safe.
• Spray Paint (Any color you want your tombstones to be! If you’re happy with how the primer looks, just leave it as is. I did this on a couple of the tombstones! You can get an array of cheap spray paint colors for $1 each at Home Depot or Wal-Mart)

Most of these materials I already had, so I only needed to buy the foamboard and the primer. Pretty awesome result for $20 and my time, right? Onto the instructions!

Step 1: With a pen or pencil, lightly draw your tombstone shapes onto the foamboard. I made straight lines with a T-Square (You can use a ruler and eye it!), and made rounded top shapes with a dinner plate.

You can also print out Lowe’s cutting diagrams for examples here. I printed these out really small and used them as a guide only. I avoided the bases and most 3-D effects. If this link stops working, feel free to contact me, as I’ve saved the PDF file and can send it to you.

There are also tombstone templates available here, which gives you wider variety.

Step 2: Once you’re satisfied with the shapes made, take a serrated knife, and start cutting! It’s easiest if you cut in a back and forth motion, rather than just trying to slice the foamboard. I tried a box cutter, but it made things very difficult. I don’t recommend a box cutter!

If you do have a jigsaw, it would probably be the easiest to use that. Since I don’t have one, the knife worked out just fine.

Below are the outcomes of cutting with a serrated knife:

Step 3: I experimented with a 3-D tombstone. To make a 3-D looking tombstone, cut out a normal tombstone (straight edges would be easiest) and then cut out 3 inch wide, long strips of foamboard. Match them up the best you can, and hot glue them to the tombstone once you feel that they are cut properly to fit the tombstone shape. I then waterproof caulked the seams for an even sturdier result.

Step 4: For a professional look, use a computer to print the desired name you want. I used different sizes of Palatino font, depending on the size of my tombstones. My sizes varied from 150 pt. to 300 pt font. I printed out several copies until I could decide which size font was best for each tombstone. There are so many different humorous tombstone names. I’ll include as many as I can find and list them at the bottom of this tutorial!

Step 5: Using tape, attach paper with desired name to the foamboard.

Step 6: Using a ballpoint pen, trace over the letters with enough pressure to cause an impression in the foam.

Photo Credit: Lowe's Creative Ideas

Step 7: Remove the paper. Using an X-acto knife, cut the foamboard inside the letters at 45 degree angles. Then, carve out the excess foam.

Photo Credit: Lowe's Creative Ideas

Step 8: If wanting to make cracks in your tombstones, score the foam with your X-acto knife. If wanting to cut out a shape in your tombstones, simply trace the shape that you want in pencil and cut directly through the foamboard. Examples of the finished look of these are below:

Step 9: Spray paint your tombstones with the primer! Be sure to have scrap cardboard or newspaper underneath your tombstones when using primer and spray painting in order to save your grass or cement! Use a back and forth, steady motion when priming and spray painting. Be sure to check out the video below if you don’t have a lot of experience. Let it dry, and then flip it over to prime the other side. Amazingly, this went pretty fast and the primer dried within 5 minutes. After the primer is on, you can choose to use spray paint for different effects, but the gray primer will also look fine by itself.

• Use the primer FIRST! Don’t only use spray paint. It will take a ton of cans to cover the foamboard color. Also, the spray paint without primer burns through the foamboard, creating an icky effect.
• Make sure that you are spraying at least 10 inches away from the tombstone. If you spray too close or for too long in the same place with the primer or spray paint, it will also burn through the foamboard.

Foamboard Burning

Before

During

After

Optional: Add different effects with different colors of spray paint  to your primed tombstones by lightly spraying on the color.

Step 10: Make stakes for your tombstones. These will be hot glued into your tombstones to make them stick into the ground! Take one paint stick and cut it in half with a saw. Then take a pair of wire cutters to cut off some of the wood to turn them into stakes. You can really use anything to cut them, as long as you can cut them at an angle. Make at least two stakes for each tombstone. If you have a huge tombstone, I recommend making three stakes for it. The picture below should explain it all:

Step 11: In this step – you need to make slots in your tombstones to be able to hold the stakes that you have made. I tried cutting out the holes, but found it very difficult. So, I used a butter knife that didn’t match any of our other silverware and sacrificed it. Over an open fire, I heated up the knife and stuck it right through the foamboard, as deep as I needed the stakes to go into. The picture and the video do a better job of explaining this below:

Step 12: Using a hot glue gun, secure the stakes into the holes you just made.

Step 13: When the glue dries, usually within 10 minutes, arrange your tombstones in your front yard. I live in Michigan, so the ground was pretty hard. When I tried to push them into the ground, I made the stakes go further into the tombstones. You do NOT want this! To fix the problem, I laid out the tombstones where I wanted them, and took an unused stake to hammer into the ground, and then lifted it out. When doing this, I could push the tombstones into my pre-made holes in the ground easily without cracking them.  To further make sure that the tombstones don’t fly away, you may want to surround them with a few heavy rocks, skulls, or in my case, a worthless chair hidden behind the largest tombstone sandwiched with the skeleton that we secured to the ground!

Step 14: Finished! Enjoy your awesome new tombstones. They RULE!

Click here to view my entire picture set on flickr.

Questions? Comments? More fun tombstone names? Other ideas? Make a set of your own? Let me know!

Some Tombstone Name Options: