A Wee Cradle...

The kids need a place to sleep too, you know? So Brent decided to make a little cradle for a couple. This is a bit more sophisticated than the cut up box we have for a few of the larger ones...

 An idea starts coming together...

 Rusty paint gives it a nice touch, don't you think? 

I think these two will be very happy hanging out in the new crib...

Need a new bed?

We've got some really fun stuff planned for the Scaryview Cemetery this year. Here's a sneak peek at the layout:

What? You didn't think I was going to make it readable, did you? Not that it matters. My scribbles are nothing compared to how it will all look in 3D. ;-) We're doing a haunted mansion theme this year - the yard being our "mansion". There will be a dining room with a feast and entertainment, a sitting room/nursery for the babies and their nanny, a bedroom for the Master & Mistress of Death, and of course, a private graveyard for the estate. You never know what else we'll throw in just for kicks, so plan to stop by if you're local to the area!

Brent's been working hard on some of the "hardscape" props we need this year. Anyone need a new canopy bed? Ours is built of scrap wood, foam insulation, PVC pipe and pipe insulation.

 Bottom Frame - we needed it off the ground for...ah...well, that's a surprise.

 PVC canopy frame over a "foam" mattress (luckily, the undead aren't picky about hard surfaces)

Canopy frame covered with dark gray PVC insulation, which will not only make it disappear in the dark, but will provide a bit of friction for the fabric we'll be hanging off of it.

Next up, something a big smaller... 

Long Time, No Post!

Wow. The 2011 party pics are the last things I got up here? I am seriously slacking, I tell you what. The thing is, last year we decided to skip the party and dash down to Florida for Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights, and it was seriously fun, I tell you what. When we got back, we decked out the yard and handed out candy, but it was all pretty low-key, overall. A few pics, you say? Here you go...

 Like our new nanny? I think the zombie babies dig her...or dug her, rather. ;-)

2012 Nursery

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Photos from Halloween Horror Nights

 Brent (foggy)

 More Brent - the lighting and streets were just super-cool!

 Street walker - reaper!

 Just another creepy street at Universal Studios...

 Yours truly, in front of a mausoleum mid-street.

 Very cool shaking/moaning caskets, and pumpkins lit high in the trees.

The Entrance, which was the plainest part of the whole trip but still very cool. Here's where I learned that my fingerprints do not work well with biometric scanners. Good to know...

For 2013, we decided to skip the party again (I know, I know - I hear you groaning out there - sorry!), and focus on making our yard haunt totally awesome. Next up, pics of the props we're preparing for this year's yard display...

Heaven & Hell Party Photos 2011

The party's over, and it was a great time for all, methinks! Thanks to Maicie Wolfe for taking pictures this year - she did a far better job than I could have, for sure. You should be able to click on the photos for larger versions, I think. I haven't identified anyone just in case they'd rather remain anonymous (relatively speaking).

 A Dark Angel (tied for 1st place), a flower, and dirt (funniest costume award).

 Eek! Devils!

 An evil (?) wizard...

 Um...

 Ooo...now there's our very dapper looking host!

 Your split-personality hostess (why yes, my halo is leaning...).

 A lovely good 'n evil couple. :-)

 Trouble x 2!

 Now that is one scary devil!

 Dark Angel #2 (tied for first place)

 A not-so-angry bird...and look! A geisha and a nun!

 Our esteemed photographer and her lovely (?) date...

 Need to get to heaven? These two will drive!

 Busted by the emperor! Or was it Caesar? Hmm...

 Knockin' the balls around (there's a reason this party is adults only...)

 That specter is fixing to drag this guy off for not wearing a costume...

 Another costume slacker. Watch out guys. Just try that next year. I dare you! ;-)

Dark Angel #2 again, and our Blue Angel...

Very dangerous to do at a party...passed out! 

And a lovely swirly skull to end the evening. :-) 

Thanks to all who came - it wouldn't be a party without you! 

Next up, Halloween night in the graveyard out front...if you're local, stop by, & bring the kids. :-)

Decor Progress!

The new carpet is in (well, mostly), and we spent Tuesday putting the outside power outlets back on the new siding (with help from my dad) and getting the new entertainment center delivered. So today was the first real day we had to get on with cleaning and actual decorating, and we worked most of the day and a few hours tonight as well. A lot of cleaning, so tomorrow will be the main decor push, but we met the Devil:

Don't worry. If you're coming to the party, you'll meet him soon enough. ;-) 

We also helped a ghost get off the ground: 

Ooo...good pic of the new carpet too! 

And then tonight, I put up one of our Halloween villages in the new entertainment center. This picture doesn't really do it justice, but you get the idea: 

So a busy day all around, and tomorrow will be a lot more decorating as it's our last day to really work on the indoor decor (we still have a graveyard to put out, you know...). 

Two days to party time! :-)

How to Make Your Spiders Happy

Just eleven days to party time this year, and we've barely started decorating! We've had some issues getting new carpet in (it won't be installed until next Monday - eek!), and it's been a bit slow starting because of that. But we're moving now, and tonight it was time to make the spiders a cozy home.

First, of course, they needed a welcoming environment. Enter the webs!

Ignore my socks there. This is a work in progress, after all...my feet were hot! 

Once the webs are in place, it's time to set the spiders. But be sure to put the biggest ones out first. They get jealous otherwise...

Then it's time to put the medium spiders out. They normally like to hang around, so I hook 'em up with curtain rods and whatever shelving I can find. 

I have a little dropping spider - his specialty is "Boo!". He'll need to hang...somewhere spooky for the party, but for now, this hook will do. 

Then it's time for the tiny spiders - they're happy just hanging out on the counter top, which is handy. Now we're almost done...

Still, I feel like I'm forgetting something. But what? 

Oh, right. Food! Don't forget to leave your spiders a nice big snack. Wouldn't want them to get hungry and start munching on party guests now, would we? 

I think we can safely say that the spiders are happy now. :-) 

What's next? I'm not sure. It may or may not involve skeletons...