Scary Halloween '08 - Proceed with Caution

15 years ago

As mentioned in the other post, We finished the "No Quarter" hall this weekend. It's a square area between our pool room (Crew's quarters) and our TV room (Captain's quarters). We already have red velvet curtains on the pool room side, so we strung yarn across the TV room side, and hung black tablecloths up to enclose the space. Jute netting on either side gives us a nice backdrop for other hanging things (like bats and cleavers), and creepy cloth helps hide the cords for the strobe LED lights hanging above the heads to illuminate the whole thing. The idea is for the area to be completely dark and closed off, and a sensor for the lights will go off as people approach it from the pool room side. Lights go off, music, thunder and screams ensue as the heads are illumiated with the strobes. It's a very cool haunt area, if I do say so myself.

Now on to the pictures:

One with both sets of curtains open. The skulls that hang longer (red bandana facing away, and white facing towards) both light up with color-changing LED's:

The pool room is just beyond the red curtains, and is where most people will be coming from. Those tables leaning against the wall will move - those are our "bar tables".

The TV room curtains closed:

I'll put a red bulb in the lamp beyond the curtains for the night of the party...

A better picture of the jute walls and creepy cloth (we'll be adding items to the wall as we go):

And my attempt to get a picture with the strobes flashing. It's much brighter than the picture shows when the lights flash on. We have severed limbs on the floor, and will have bones and rats down there too for people to walk through as they make thier way between the rooms:

Fun stuff...I think the only other semi-gruesome spot we'll have this year is the Autopsy room (aka laundry room). I'll post pics of that later.

Feel free to add your own scary pics here...

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Comments (17)

donnawb
15 years ago
Wow, you are doing a fabulous job. You sure are creative with all this. I bet it will be some party.
luvstocraft
15 years ago
Jaime, you really know how to do it up right! Maybe you should think about having a "tour" before the party and charging admission. Your's looks as good or better than some of those other haunted houses. I can tell you and your DH really have fun with the creative process of finding just the right items and putting it all together. TFS. Luvs
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jamie_mt
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks gals. We really do get into the whole thing. We were discussing a potential "creepy cloth maze" for the front yard at lunch today...

No tours for admission though. For one thing, home-owners insurance won't cover anything you charge admission for or request donations for. They would have to be free. And only for people we know - I'm positive Hubby would say no to strangers in the house. We normally maintain a "kid free" zone, so there would be the issue of kids to deal with too. I suppose if some of our friends asked to bring thier older children through, that would be okay, but no young kids - my house just isn't really "kid proofed" for that. Sadly, parents aren't as watchful as they used to be...and kids will be kids (I get really tired of telling them for the 10th time not to tap on the fish tank, or play with this or that).

And there are a host of other issues to worry about as well, since we both work full time (yes, I'm posting from work), and the decor usually isn't even complete until the day before the party. Then after the party, we have a week until Halloween (during which time the bar is still "up" downstairs, and I'm not one to scurry around cleaning up the day after the party either).

I think we'll just keep it limited to the party guests and ourselves - much easier that way. The lawn is for the public, and it gets better every year too (pictures in a few weeks, in the other thread). :-)
dining_delight
15 years ago
Jamie, excellent results for all of your hard work! I was going to suggest the same as the others about "opening your place up to the public" since it is better than a lot of haunted houses out there but you have pointed out a lot of issues I wouldn't have thought of. Since both you and your DH enjoy doing it so much, I'm sure it is enough for you to just create the special effects for your party guests. Everything looks awsome! Can't wait to see your lawn pics too.

DD
prosperity66
15 years ago
I'm amazed by your decorations!
I plan to organize a Halloween party (it will be my first one and the first one for my friends too). Will try to refer to your decorations to decorate my home!!!!!
jamie_mt
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks again. :-)

Prosperity, are you organizing for this year? Got a theme? I'd love to read/see whatever you come up with too...always looking for more ideas!
ncnana
15 years ago
Fabulous decorating! - Gail
jamie_mt
Original Author
15 years ago
That is one great graphic, Gail. :-) Thanks!
judithva
15 years ago
Wow, your decorations are great, you really do go all out! Your friends are going to have such a good "scary" time. We want more photos LOL
jamie_mt
Original Author
15 years ago
Most photos are in the other thread, Judith...just the borderline(?) gross ones here on the "scary" thread. I'll post more on the original thread tomorrow - there's a photographer coming over tomorrow night (not sure how much I should say about that, but eventually I'll tell the story), and I need to get more done before then!
Cheri_C
15 years ago
WOW Jamie, How fun. I bet your guest will have a blast. I can't wait to see the outside.
Gail, Love your graphic too!!!
Cheri
prosperity66
15 years ago
Jaimie :)

Just contacted my best friend and asked to organize our first Halloween party. Don't know about the theme, will just ask peopel to wear a costume and maybe... some makeup, lol.
They seem a little dubious but two people have already accepted.

Basically, it will be a pot-luck party because I lost my day job and therefore I have less money than before.

This afternoon I will try to find some decorations as here we don't find a lot of different items - it is a very recent celebration.

But I'll post pictures if I can have during the party ;-)
jamie_mt
Original Author
15 years ago
Nothing wrong with a potluck! I have two friends who always feel better if they can contribute, so I let them bring some snacks and dessert. I can't wait to see your pictures...good luck finding decorations!
phonegirl
15 years ago
Looks like a fun place to go. Great job on the decorating. Can't wait to here more on the photographer.
jamie_mt
Original Author
15 years ago
Unfortunately, the photographer didn't happen. :-( I was interviewed by phone for an AP article on how to throw a themed Halloween party, and the journalist wanted to send a photographer over to get some pictures. But they didn't have anyone in my area (I live in Montana), so no go. I did take a picture of my invitations as I was putting them together yesterday, and sent it to her, but she wasn't sure if she'd use it or not.

So that's the story...everyone can look for that article in a couple weeks, and see if she uses anything from me in it! :-)

At least my decor is more organized now - I had to get things sort of straightened up just in case they found a photographer...
neesie
15 years ago
jaimie_mt, what a wonderful time you are going to have with your friends!

My BIL used to go all out decorating the outside of his house and incorporating inter-active scary things! The kids would be scared to death but always wanted to see the inside of the house (which, by the way, was normal!) So he'd hang a sheet to block the view inside his house where all his family and friends would be having a party and taking our turns playing grim reaper and ghosts out in the yard. Some people thought he was nuts, but in the end, he created some wonderful memories that we still laugh about to this day. Hope your party is wonderful as well.

Prosperity66, I'm so sorry that you lost your job. But it's great that you can still go ahead with your party. As far as I'm concerned pot luck is the best! My friends always look forward to a pot luck; we get to know what each persons specialty is and it is sometimes fun to try out a new recipe too! Less stress for the host, you'll be busy enough decorating and getting ready. Have you planned a costume yet?
prosperity66
15 years ago
Neesie, a friend of mine will bring the biggest pumpkin she found - it seems that we'll be able to make a pumpkin soup as well as a pumpkin pie with it - and we'll carve it too, hahaha.

Another friend will bring some sandwiches.

So, we already have the soup, sandwiches and the dessert. Just have to find some other who will bring some beverages and I will create the appetizers (ghoulish obviously).

And, good news, I found some fall decorations - not a lot - as well as Halloween decoration items too. I'm so happy as this year, it's hard to find Halloween stuff here!

About my job, luckily, we have a strong social security here so while it's a problem as I only earn 50% of my monthly wages, I'm fortunate enough for not losing more (my house for instance). Just hope a school will need my services before the end of the year, lol.

Scary Halloween '08 - Proceed with Caution

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