1. For props, do-it-yourself house haunters may want to consider fog machines, smoking cauldrons, coffins, sound effects, spider webs, prop tombstones, wigs and masks, black lights and of course plenty of jack-o-lanterns. Halloween themed lights, music and candles are a great touch as well.

2. Finding a suitable location

3. Set the proper mood for the haunted house, ncluding using lighting, candles and candelabras, music

4. Peeled grapes can quickly become scary looking eyeballs, while bowls of spaghetti can be brains, jell-o can be inside the body.

5. Get your people and props for scary dead people, scary animals, zombies, etc

Paper Mache'

Paper mache' (or papier mache') is an inexpensive way to make Halloween props and decorations. You can make heads, hands, other body parts, bats, spiders and more. The only things you need are flour, salt, water, newspaper or colored tissue paper, and acrylic paint. You will also need some type of form. Which form you use will depend on what you plan on making. Before you decide on a projects, however, you will need to know how to make the paste.

Good paper mache' paste should be the consistency of a thick soup or a little thinner than glue. You can use regular flour, but unbleached flour is supposed to work better.

1. Mix flour and water until it is a little thinner than glue or like a thick soup.
2. Add about a teaspoon of salt to the mix. The salt will help prevent mold.
3. You can add a little white glue to make the paste stronger.
4. Stir the mixture until you have dissolved most of the lumps.

An alternative recipe is to boil about five parts water to one part flour. Let the mixture simmer three minutes. Then add a teaspoon of salt and let it cool before using.

You can paper mache on balloons, styrofoam wig forms, pumpkin shaped lanterns, balls, chicken wire molds, etc.

Make a Spooky Spider -

Cut a circle of black cardboard (use a saucer as a pattern),
Glue two marshmallows for eyes,
Glue a small circle of black construction paper and put in the center of each marshmallow.
Make a crooked mouth out of any color string (glue on the circle)
On the back of the circle glue four pipe cleaners on each side for legs.
At the top of the face (on the back) glue a hook from a pipe cleaner as a hanger.
These can be hung around for the party or used as place cards for each guest to take home).

DIRECTORY

*Ghostly Straw Wreath