Inspiration for me comes from the strangest places … this year for Christmas I decided that I would make some lovely felted ornaments, in the shape of gingerbread men. Then I thought how cute it would be if the ornaments had “bite” marks in them; I had seen a set of cookie cutters a year or so ago, in the shape of “half eaten” gingerbread men, and thought they were hilarious.

So on a slow evening I retreated to my sewing room, sat down with a piece of cardboard, some brown felt, and various odds and sods and within two hours I had made my first three “zombie gingerbread” ornaments. (Hmmm … I seemed to have missed a step … OH, did I mention I was watching “The Walking Dead” at the time? No? Well, I was. Great show.) It wasn’t that much of a mental stretch, to be honest … half-eaten gingerbread men … back for revenge … zombie gingerbread.

Supplies needed:

• Cardboard
• Fine tip black marker
• 1-2 yards of brown felt (depending on how many ornaments you decide to make)
• cotton batting for stuffing
• sharp scissors
• sewing machine
• needle for hand sewing (if desired)
• (for decorating) rick rack, ribbon, buttons, fabric paint

The first step is to decide how big you want your half-eaten gingerbread ornament to be … I think up to about 5-6 inches long is good, and about 3-4 inches across…this will make the figure large enough to add enough gory detail, but small enough so that they will not instantly be noticed when visitors come to admire your tree. My little guy below is about 6.5 inches long and about 4.5 inches across.

Figure 1

Trace a basic gingerbread figure, with missing appendages, on a piece of cardboard, (Figure 1). This will allow you to use the pattern over and over again without the pattern getting ripped and torn. Along one of the sides of the figure, make two notches to indicate where you will leave the seam open to lightly stuff the figure with some cotton batting.

Figure 2

Place your pattern onto a piece of brown felt, and trace the pattern with a fine tip black marker, (Figure 2). The outline should be just barely visible on the felt; this will help when you go to sew the felt together. Place the traced felt piece on top of another piece of felt, and pin the two segments together, with the outlined piece on top (Figure 3).

Figure 3

Using your sewing machine, sew the two pieces of felt together, following the outline of the gingerbread figure, (Figure 4).

Figure 4

Take special care around the “bite marks” … lift up the presser foot and adjust the material as needed to get the best bite impression. By the time I did the third ornament it was super easy. Also remember to leave a small opening along the side to stuff … (Figure 5)

Figure 5

Once the felt pieces are sewn together, use a sharp pair of scissors to cut around the outline…try to cut as close as possible to the seam. (Figure 6)

Figure 6

You now have a half-eaten gingerbread figure. Now all it needs is a little stuffing, (Figure 7), and a hook for hanging (Figure 8). When you stuff your zombie ornament with batting, you may also want to leave a little hanging out, like entrails. (Remember, not TOO much stuffing…most gingerbread men are fairly flat when they come out of the oven. Use just enough stuffing to give it a bit of a body).

Figure 7

Figure 8

You now have a blank slate in front of you. It’s time to unleash your inner zombie freak! For my first attempt I stuck with the very simple-to-use 3D paint markers. These are fabric pens that give a great 3D effect, and are SO easy to handle. If you are making zombie gingerbread you will most assuredly need the following colours; red (blood), white, black, green (gangrene), and perhaps a little yellow (gangrene/pus). Just remember to let the paint dry for a day.

If you are more creative, you could also hand-sew scraps of rick rack or ribbon to simulate a zombie gingerbread man’s torn “clothes”, a spare black button for an eye…the possibilities are endless.

One last note…zombies need a victim to chase, so it doesn’t matter how many gingerbread zombies you make…remember to make a terrified looking victim or two!!

If buckets full of candy at Halloween leave you shuddering and your dentist rubbing his hands in glee, then you need to get into healthy Halloween treats for your kids. Just because it’s healthy doesn’t mean it’s tasteless or that your neighbourhood kids will shun your home during ‘Trick or Treat’. Healthy eating and healthy treats can be just as much fun as store bought candy, as well as being a lot easier on your pocket and your health.

These treats are great for a Halloween party you are hosting, for a school snack, or to give out to the kids and their parents you know (give packaged goodies to trick or treaters you aren’t familiar with.)

Yummy Mini Pizza Mummies

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Pizza is always a treat, and you can make mini pizzas that are healthy and look scarily like the head of a mummy. Spoon a small amount pizza sauce onto small rounds of pizza dough and use small olive slices to make the eyes. The mummification of the mini pizza comes in the careful placement of cheese strips across the ‘face’ to resemble the mummy wrapping. You can make up a tray of Pizza Mummies and bake them in an oven at 350ºF for about 10 minutes, or until the cheese is all melted.

The great thing about making healthy treats is that your kids can help you in the kitchen and your Halloween festivities can turn into a fun filled afternoon of cooking with Mom.

Frightening Freaky Cheese Fingers

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A real spooky treat that children will gobble up in seconds. Using a white cheese like Mozzarella is perfect for this Halloween treat. Cut finger sized sections of Mozzarella cheese and carefully carve out the lines to represent the joints below the nail and the first knuckle. An adult should always perform this task, as you’ll want to use a sharp paring knife to get the best effect. Cut a small ‘finger nail’ out of a green pepper and use a dab of cream cheese to stick it onto your cheese finger. Absolutely a smash hit with kids and the only drawback is you’ll probably run out of them quickly!

The Phantom Toast

This is probably the simplest healthy Halloween treat ever. You can’t have a Halloween party without ghosts, or in this case toasts! Simply toast some bread and cut out a ghost shape when it is cool. Lather on some cream cheese and add a couple of olive sections for the oval mouth and scary eyes. Kids love working on this one as much as they love eating their ghost shapes.

‘Dem Bones, ‘Dem Bones…

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If you’re looking for sweet treats that are still healthy, and want to avoid cake and other candy, then why not meet in the middle with Skeleton Gingerbread. You can buy gingerbread cookie dough or even ask your bakery to create you a batch of gingerbread shapes without any decoration on them. When you get them home, you can use white icing or frosting and then pipe a skeleton onto the gingerbread for a sweet but relatively healthy treat.

Caring for your children means watching what they eat all of the time. You can create wonderful healthy treats for any holiday celebration. Getting your kids involved in the kitchen with you means so much more than a quick trip to the candy store to satisfy a sweet tooth.

This guest editorial has been provided on behalf of Chessington Holidays; Official Provider of short breaks to Chessington World of Adventures.

It’s that time of year again when your mom frantically searches through closets for scraps of material and seldom worn clothes whilst all the while screaming: ‘Why didn’t you tell me it was tomorrow?!’

You’re sure you did tell her that the school Halloween party was tomorrow and, to be fair, isn’t it always around October 31^st anyway?

You’d love to help her out but hey, it’s not your fault that you’re not allowed to use scissors, glue or anything else that may come in handy for manufacturing a costume that doesn’t look like you just bought it from Walmart.

Moms tend to get a bit precious about these things anyway and the best help that you can be is to stand around and wait while she circles you with pins sticking out of her mouth and a tape measure draped over her shoulder.

Of course, throughout our early lives we rely on our moms for so many things and from making sure we have food in our bellies to taking us on school trips, there’s not much that these women won’t do to ensure we’re out their cleaned, polished and representing the family team.

In tribute to mothers everywhere the top ten list below is designed to cut corners, push boundaries and give the old girls a helping hand when it comes to knocking out their little darling’s next Halloween costume.

The quick and easy mom’s guide to making Halloween costumes

Count Dracula

This is basically a pair of black pants, a white shirt and a black bin liner tied around the neck for the cape. For the authentic pasty white look: throw a handful of flour in their face. Top the costume off with a pair of fangs that can be carved from a white vegetable such as a potato or a daikon.

Wicked Witch
Bin liners are your friend and from a dress to a cape, you’ve got yourself a little Halloween witch before you can say take out the trash. Of course, every wicked witch needs a pointed hat so roll a newspaper into a cone, stick it in place with tape and then either make like the Rolling Stones and paint it black or, you’ve guessed it, wrap it in a bin liner. For that green glow – rub your witch’s face with a cabbage.

Frankenstein
Dig out that old Crystal Carrington blazer and you’re pretty much set! All you need now is a pair of wellington boots (great for perfecting the lumbering gait), a tight pair of black pants and a tank top. Scars can be drawn on with a marker pen and the all-important bolt through the neck can be achieved by giving your child a couple of corks and telling them to hold them to their neck every time there’s a photo opportunity. For green face see Wicked Witch.

Casper the Ghost
It’s a sheet over their head and eye holes cut out – easy!

Zombies

Most kids tend to get that zombie look after a few hours in front of the TV or game console so just go that extra mile and let them watch or play all night. The next morning you’ll find your little zombie has a thoroughly glazed stare and is more than hungry for brains.

Jason from Halloween

It’s a guy in a hockey mask with a big knife. He also wears a dirty shirt and pants (gasp!)

Werewolves

You know that old hair brush that’s got a habit of collecting your long hair? Well, now’s the time you’re gonna need it. Kit your kid out in jeans, Converse sneakers and white shirt. Next, stick your fallen hair to the collars of the shirt and blam – Teen Wolf! Of course, you’re going to need fangs so, as in the Count Dracula costume, cut up a potato. Note: If you don’t have any old hair lying around then head to the local barbers – I know, it’s easy when you think about it!

Harry Potter

This little wizard doesn’t go on senior class trips or have a magic hat however, he does have a stick (aka: a wand) which is basically what you’ll need to get started with this modern-day classic costume. Again, good old bin liners come to the rescue as the cape, followed by black pants, a white shirt and a striped tie. Top your Harry off with a pair of round-rimmed spectacles made with five black pipe cleaners and ‘Avada Kedavra’ you’ve nailed the opposition!

Pirate

Ahoy there! Stick your young Jack Sparrow in a pair of black wellington boots (or green for Caribbean pirates), an old frilly blouse and tie a sarong or shawl around their head. For a cutlass you can give them a roll of aluminum foil (no one will notice) and if they simply must have a pirate parrot then stick a cabbage on their shoulder and they’ll be ship shape and ready to sail the high seas.

Black Cat

Black tights, long-sleeved black top and a black tie tucked into the back of their waist band. A dab of black paint for the kitty nose and three stripes either side for whiskers. Forget the kitty ears, just say they got bitten off in a fight.

So there you have it – Halloween made easy. Look out for our next article entitled: “What do you mean you’re in the Christmas play!?”

Halloween is a festival that dates back over 2,000 years, with origins in Celtic celebrations marking the beginning of winter. Believed to be a night when the boundaries between the living and the dead world are blurred, this night of magic and mystical happenings is steeped in traditions and superstitions. Join us as we explore some of the age-old Halloween customs and where they came from.

Trick or treating

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This playful pastime dates back to the British Hallowmas practice of ‘souling’, where the poor would visit houses singing songs and offering prayers for the dead in return for ‘soul’ cakes made of bread and currants. At the time, it was believed that dead people remained in limbo, and prayers would help them to safely reach heaven.

A similar custom took place in Scotland, known as ‘guising’, which began as an attempt to scare off malicious ghosts. The earliest known use of the term ‘trick or treat’ appears in 1927, and in those days tricks involved blocking chimneys, blowing smoke through keyholes, setting horses free and vandalising vegetable patches.

Dressing up

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The druids thought that spirits returned to the realm of the living on the night of November 1 and it was a common fear that they would take living people back with them at the end of the night. As a result, people wore gruesome masks and costumes to disguise themselves and to fool evil ghosts into believing they were already dead. Early costumes were gothic in nature, but later became based on popular characters from film and literature.

Jack-O-Lanterns

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The custom of carving pumpkins into lanterns is thought to stem from an Irish folk legend about a prankster named Jack who tricked Satan into climbing a tree and trapped him there. On his death, he was denied entrance both to Heaven and to Hell, due to his dishonest deeds and trickery. Instead, the devil gave him an ember placed inside a turnip, to light his way in the darkness, so the lantern has come to symbolize a wandering soul in purgatory. Lanterns in Scotland were originally made from cabbage plant stems and other root vegetables.

Apples

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When the Romans conquered ancient Britain, they brought with them the now pervasive apple tree. A symbol of fertility due to its associations with the Roman goddess Pomona, it was assimilated into Halloween customs, the most notable of which is apple-bobbing. Young bachelors and fair maidens would try to bite an apple floating in water, and it was thought that the first to bite would be the next person to marry. These days it is more of a light-hearted party game, and the apples are often suspended from string instead of floating in a bowl.

Marriage rituals

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In days of old, young romantics would perform rituals on Halloween in the belief that the spirits would help them see the future. Heartsick hopefuls would eat an apple at midnight in front of a mirror while combing their hair in order to see your future husband in the reflection. Girls were told to carry a lamp to a natural spring in order to see their true love in the water, or carry an egg in a glass if they wanted to see their future children. Doubtful partners were advised to sleep with a love letter under their pillow in order to dream about whether their other half was faithful, and young ladies slept on rosemary sprigs and a silver sixpence in the hope of dreaming of The One. Weirdest of all, it was thought that if you catch and ensnare a snail on Halloween, by morning it will have written the first initial of your future spouse in its trail.

Dumb supper

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A solemn affair held in honour of the dead, dumb suppers were by definition silent, with guests forbidden to speak at any point during the meal. A seat at the head of the table was reserved for spirits, who would even have their own place setting. Traditionally held at the hour of midnight, it was thought that the dead would be present, and that if words were spoken; they would speak back in response.

Nut Crack Night

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In ancient times, nuts were used to divine the future, and at one time played such a crucial role in Halloween that it was often known as Nut Crack Night. Plentiful at this time of year, hazelnuts were roasted in a pan over the fire and the time and manner in which they popped open was meant to symbolise future romantic success, or the lack thereof. Nuts were often ground into flour and made into special halloween cakes or bread that were eaten before bedtime in the hope that they would invoke prophetic dreams.

Witches

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Why do we associate Halloween with witches? Folklore tells of covens gathering at this time of year, a myth that springs from Wiccans – early pagans who would meet on October 31 to celebrate one of the two major Sabbaths of their calendar. It is thought that if you want to meet a witch, you must put your clothes on inside out and walk backwards on Halloween, and at midnight one will appear before you.

Black cats

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Ebony felines get their connection with Halloween from their association with witchcraft. Due to their nocturnal habits, they were believed to be spirits of the dead, witches’ servants, or even witches in animal form, which has led to their notoriety as an omen of either good or bad luck, depending on which side of the Atlantic you hail from.

Bats

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These blood-sucking beasts are not just associated with Halloween due to their vampiric connotations. Festivals at this time of year would often involve bonfires that would attract insects, and therefore bats. It was often thought that bats indicated the presence of ghosts or spirits, and if a bat flies around your house on Halloween, it is thought to signify death.

Halloween Superstitions is a guest editorial put together by Alton Towers Breaks; official providers of short UK breaks to Alton Towers.

I love Halloween, and I love Halloween projects.

And by the way, I’m seriously lazy.

So when a friend of mine told me he had a great, terrifying-looking, gory, easy prop to show me, I was all in! But even I (the corner-cutting queen) was rather delightfully surprised at how easy this really was. Together, my friend and I created three creepy decaying skulls in less than 10 minutes.

And the best part? They were cheap to make…very cheap. Yet they looked incredible. Want in on my friend’s and my little secret? Follow the directions below.

How to Make Your Skull

You will need:

• A plastic novelty skull, any type you’d like (check your local dollar store)
• Saran Wrap or bargain/store brand cling wrap
• A heat gun OR a hair dryer with a “high” setting
• Any medium to dark color wood stain or crafts paint
• Paint brush, sponge/crafts brush or stippling brush

Directions:

1. Wrap the plastic wrap COMPLETELY around the skull, including the bottom, at least 4-5 times. (The more you layer, the more “decaying skin” you’ll get, but don’t go overboard. We found 4 times was our minimum to produce a really good result.)

2. If your gun or hair dryer has settings, start on the lowest unless it is a “cool shot” setting. Wear protective gloves if you wish; otherwise, WATCH OUT, YOUR SKULL WILL GET HOT. Hold the heat source approximately 4” from your skull. The plastic wrap will begin to shrivel in some areas; in others, where the heat is concentrated for more than several seconds, you will achieve holes (see pic, below). Don’t overdo this; melt a little bit at a time, all around the area of your skull.

3. Do NOT hold the heat source directly against the plastic wrap/the skull. If the wrap is melting too slowly, turn up the heat source in increments and/or hold it closer to the skull, but never closer than 1.5” away.

4. When you have the effect you want, set the skull aside to cool completely.

5. After your project is cool, dip your paint brush into a small circle of paint or dip no more than 1/4” deep into your wood stain. Begin painting your skull. You will want to paint it all over; inconsistencies in color are a good thing and add to the realism, so don’t worry about painting “perfectly.”

6. Allow the project to dry completely, about 10 minutes.

Where Should Your Skull Rest in Peace?

You can do practically anything with this cool skull. Here are a few ideas:

1. Have it be a prop in your witch’s kitchen.
2. Set it up next to a candelabra (I suggest battery-operated flicker candles for safety) with faux cobwebs all over to make an awesome, spooky and very realistic-looking party centerpiece or decoration.
3. Straighten the curved top of a wire hanger using wire cutters or a bending tool. Stuff the head with cotton balls or cheese cloth; anything to create bulk and resistance. Stick the point of the straightened end at least halfway up into the skull, so it’s on the hanger firmly. Drape cheesecloth from the “shoulders” of the hanger, allowing them to float. Hang so your decaying ghost floats in the autumn breeze.
4. Using the above idea, hang an old shirt from the hanger’s “shoulders.” Stuff the shirt with any material you have on hand to bulk it up. Place the torso on a chair near the area your trick-or-treaters will be approaching. Now take an old pair of pants and stuff them similarly; place on the chair, bending the knee area and placing the cuffs at ground level. Gather each cuff and stuff it into a shoe. Very scary and very cool!
5. Stuff the head with cotton balls or pieces of styrofoam. (If using cotton balls, stuff very firmly.) Stick a tall dowel – 5-6 feet – into the cotton or styrofoam. Carry with you as an evil walking stick or wizard’s wand; dress in draping clothing and, if you wish, a scary mask.
6. Remove the head from a life size (or at least 4′) plastic poseable skeleton. Carefully remove the head that came with the skeleton using the easiest and safest means; some pop right off – if so, you’re in luck. If not, you may have to cut to remove the skull – BE CAREFUL. Stuff your mummified skull with any method mentioned above; stick firmly down onto the now-empty top of the spinal column of your skull, replacing the manufacturer’s skull with your mummified one. Set up your creeped-up skeleton in a faux spider web, leaning against your front steps to scare the ghost out of trick-or-treaters, etc.

Have fun with this prop. It’s versatile and if you pack it away carefully after Halloween, you can reuse it year after year. And it’s so inexpensive, you can create a whole army of ghouls if you wish. Happy haunting (and creeping-up)!

You’ve heard about it, the idea of “steam” plus “punk” intrigued you, but you really have no clue what it’s all about….well, friends, you aren’t alone. Steampunk falls into that mysterious, difficult to define place between fantasy and fact, which is absolutely ideal for the geek in all of us that seeks adventures in uncharted territory.

Let’s begin with the essential ingredients of Steampunk:

• 1/3 whimsical Victorian past
• 1/3 clunky, adventurous future machinery (if oil fuel was never invented)
• 1/3 punk mayhem, anarchy, and unrest
• 1 generous helping of corsets, bustles, petticoats, and vests
• 1 scoop of flying machines, clockworks, optical apparatuses
• 1 sprinkle of Final Fantasy, 10,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Mad Max, and the Labyrinth

Keep in mind that this recipe is only the starting place. Like any good formula, variations on a theme can produce magnificent results! To really pull off the Steampunk look, time, energy, and odd adornments are required- this realm is for the brave costumer only!

You in? Let’s get started with these tips and ideas for becoming your Steampunk fantasy:

“Steampunkize” a familiar character…perhaps one for which you already have the “ingredients.” For example, dress like a historical figure gone futuristic such as Steampunk Honest Abe. You need a top hat, beard, black coat, and a few Steampunkish trappings like a pocket watch, goggles (search: welding goggles on Amazon.com), and old typewriter keys for buttons. Spray paint an old vacuum cleaner hose gold or silver and affix it to a similarly colored small backpack to mimic a futuristic jet pack.

Makeover a favorite past persona. Do you love old Westerns? Burlesque? Explorers a la Lewis and Clarke? Take a basic costume such as this burlesque outfit and add Steampunk flair with suitable gadgets like vintage gauges, brooches, and clocks. Add a hat adorned with clockworks or googles for the perfect Steampunk touch.

Work from a favorite item. Have a beloved corset? Own a killer bowler hat? Know where to get a debonair handlebar mustache? If so, you’re halfway to your Steampunk dream. Browse the web for inspiration and consider what items you already have that can be dressed up with a little help:

• Etsy
• Steampunk Emporium
• Clockwork Couture
• Designing Your Own Steampunk Costume
• Steampunk Costumes at Costumecraze

Peruse your local thrift and antique stores for more inspiration. Afterall, this is a movement made of creativity, and customization is key!

Still having trouble with your Steampunk costume design? Check out these ideas for inspiration:

First, raid your local thrift store or shop online for Steampunk accessories. Depending on which look you want, gather a variety of metal gears, buckles, clock faces, and brooches. You’ll also want to keep an eye out for old lace or leather gloves, garters, and handlebar mustaches (always a plus for the fellas).

Steampunkers love to include images of octopuses, owls, and peacocks. Jewelry or other gear that reference those fantastical creatures is a major plus!

Future cowgirl/cowboy

1. Invest in a cowgirl/cowboy costumeor put together your own outfit with a short leather or denim skirt/distressed jeans, a brown or black leather vest, and some rugged boots.
2. Accessorize with a cowboy hat, lasso, and toy gun (plus holster!) Note: as a Steampunker, your weaponry is now known as a “raygun.” No pistols here!
3. Add that Steampunk touch by affixing machinist goggles to your hat and various vintage accessories to your belt of sleeves.
4. Customize your toy gun with metal gears and spray paint it gold or silver for a futuristic look.

Aeronaut:

1. Get a basic flight costume.
2. Wear an aviator helmet and glasses.
3. Put a Steampunk touch on this great costume with vintage metal pilot’s wings, affixing several old brooches to your belt, and distressed leather gloves.
4. Add a futuristic jet pack:

• Spray paint a small cardboard box or backpack and various hoses gold
• Attach these hoses to the box along with two straps, which you can create with old belts or rope

Mad Victorian Scientist:

1. Wear a vintage suit or dress under a white lab coat.
2. Add futuristic over-the-coat shoulder plates by affixing small portions of scrap metal or spray-painted cardboard pieces
3. Attach a stopwatch to your lab coat pocket and wear a monocle.
4. Carry an old cane and an outdated medical book in your lab coat pocket.

Go forth and steampunk!

By Tara Fox Hall

“Where do we start first?”

“Near the far edge,” I sighed. “We’ll work our way back.”

As we trudged toward the edge of the forest, my thoughts lingered on how far I’d come in the months I’d had my new house. I’d cleaned up the broken glass, the rusty nails, and the garbage. The new roof was on, the small garage in its first stage of becoming. But there was still the edge of the woods to fix.

The previous owners had tried selling firewood when other funds ran out. They’d gone about it by marking the biggest trees with paint and cutting them down. Then after cutting up a few into pieces, they’d decided the work was too hard and quit, leaving the rest to rot.

The moment I’d seen that, I’d made plans to get a woodstove. The problem was, the trees had been down at least a few years, if not more. I was now in a race against time to harvest as much usable wood as possible.

That was where my friend Rick came in. I didn’t know jack about cutting firewood, but he did, having grown up on a farm.

“Do you want to start with those small ones?” I asked, indicating a small pile of logs. “Or should we work on one of the big trunks?”

“That basswood,” Rick replied. “We’ll be lucky if we can get half of it. That stuff rots quick.”

Nodding, I went to his side as the high-pitched whine of a chainsaw cut the air.

***

That night, we sat on the porch after dinner, talking.

“You could have horses,” Rick said musingly. “Or cows. You’ve got enough land. You could even rent out the stalls, or the pasture.”

I gave him a wry grin. “Those fences are falling down. No, I’ve got my hands full right now. But thanks for showing me how to handle the chainsaw. I appreciate the help.”

“You and me both,” Rick said, rising stiffly to his feet. “I’ve got to go, I’ve got work early. You have a good night.”

I gave him a hug goodbye, then watched his taillights fade into the blackness.

He was right; there was a lot of possibilities. But there would be time enough for that in the fall. I had too much to do now to think about it.

Maybelline, my calico cat, hopped up on my lap, letting out an almost inaudible mew.

“I don’t know either,” I said, absently stroking her. “I’m beginning to feel that I’ve bitten off more than I can chew, May.”

May’s only answer was a slight purr, her paws kneading rapidly.

***

In the next weeks, I made a lot of headway in the forest. Much of that was Rick’s frequent visits with his own chainsaw. When we cleared the downed trees and brush piles, we saw what lay under them.

“This wasn’t a tree, this is cut wood,” Rick said, hefting a large rotted beam. “Do you know what was here?”

I shrugged. “They told me that there was a barn here once that burned. But that was up by the existing barn, where the rock wall is, not down here.”

“Whoa,” Rick exclaimed, reaching down. He pulled off a part of a tire to reveal a three-foot silver saw blade, the steel teeth dotted with rust. He bent down. “That’s what this was,” he said, setting down the beam. “This was the brace for the saw.”

I nodded. “They built the existing barn by hand.”

Rick replaced the tire. “We’ll pull this out of here later. Falling on that would be easy. Let’s get back to work”

I nodded, glad to turn my mind away from all those sharp steel teeth.

***

As the summer progressed, we made more and more progress, not only in cleaning the deadwood up, but also in dragging out the junk we found, including the saw blade, which we stored in the barn, complete with its tire covering. In addition, we discovered mattress springs, old floodlights, several types of old rusty drags for farming, and other pieces of metal. I put out everything for the garbage man, save one of the drags that still worked, and a hooked piece of metal that appealed to me. Those I painted silver, and leaned against the woodshed for decoration.

Rick admired them on his next visit. “You know you could probably sell those, if you wanted.”

“No, I like them,” I replied. “Where do you want to start today?”

“There’s only that one brush pile to deal with,” Rick said. “Now that you’ve got the tractor, that shouldn’t take long. Then we’ll see a movie.”

A weekend that was actually relaxing was an oasis. “Sure.”

We walked to the edge. “You know, I’m not going to be able to visit for a while,” Rick said. “School’s starting.”

“That’s okay,” I said. “It’s almost winter, anyway, and I’ve got enough wood. We can meet in town and visit at movies, or lunch. Thanks again for all your help. I couldn’t have done it without you.”

“No problem,” he said, beaming. “What are friends for?”

“It’s made such a difference,” I said, surveying the trees. “The younger trees covered with brush or bent under fallen trunks are now reaching for sunlight—”

“Do you hear something?” he interrupted.

“No.”

“I do,” he said, pointing. It’s coming from that brush pile. Something’s growling.”

“Brutus was sniffing that last night on our walk,” I said, backing up. “I didn’t think anything of it, but you’re right, he was acting like there was something in there.”

Rick lifted some brush off the pile. Something inside growled louder.

I’d been reaching, but now I snatched my hand back. I had on leather gloves, but whatever was in there was angry.

Rick lifted off the top brush to reveal a furious groundhog. “You stay where you are. I’ll get him out of there.”

The groundhog seemed aware of what we planning on doing to his beloved home. When Rick poked him with a stick, but he snapped at it, breaking it. When Rick used a metal bar, the groundhog grabbed it in his teeth, and wouldn’t let go, growling loudly.

“Let’s have lunch,” I suggested. “Maybe if we go, he’ll leave.”

***

An hour later, we returned to find the groundhog still angry, still waiting to take us on, his eyes blazing, and his growl rumbling.

Conceding defeat, we left to see a movie in town to sooth our sore egos.

***

Everything was quiet for a few weeks, as fall deepened, the trees becoming colorful in the cooling evenings. Then one evening in October, I was awakened by the throaty growl of a chainsaw. Brutus began barking excitedly, his paws on the window ledge, his tail stiff.

That was coming from my land; it had to be. Swearing, I hustled into some clothes, and grabbed a flashlight. My hand was on the doorknob when I heard a high-pitched whine, then a bloodcurdling scream.

I took my hand off the door. No way was I going out there.

Another scream sounded. I dropped the flashlight, heading for the phone.

***

Lights flashed red and blue in the darkness, the black bag disappearing into the ambulance. The engine started, then it moved away slowly over the rough field road.

“So you heard nothing?” the policeman said for the fourth time.

“Nothing,” I echoed, my eyes still riveted on the bloody saw blade, chunks of flesh and hair sticking to the inch long teeth. “My dog barked, and then I heard a scream. Then I called you.”

“Horry was an idiot for trying to saw in the dark,” the sheriff said, coming up to us. “It’s easy to see he was poaching wood. Not a surprise; he’s been arrested twice this year for doing it.” He looked over at me. “If you don’t mind me asking, ma’am, what is that saw blade doing out here? It looks like you maintain it well.”

I looked over the oiled contraption, the rough-hewn wood frame sturdy and solid. The blade had been in the barn last I saw, the frame in rotted pieces. But he wasn’t going to believe that. “I had a friend up last weekend. We got through cutting, and must have forgot to put it away.” I shrugged. “I can’t move it by myself.”

“That’s a fact,” the officer said. He turned to his deputy. “The coroner is calling this an accident. Had to be. No fool would lay down on a moving blade.” He tipped his hat. “You best go inside ma’am. Use some Clorox on that saw tomorrow, before it rusts.”

“Will do,” I said, flashing a nervous smile.

***

“That’s unbelievable,” Rick said, after I related my story.

“I know,” I said. “So I did some digging.” I took out a sheet of paper. “There was a guy who lived here in the seventies. He was big into forestry, and built his own barn and furniture from this forest. He had a business selling woodworking. He died of a heart attack when he was out here cutting one day.” I showed him the picture. “His name was Red. They called him the Saw Man.”

“His ghost killed that man for poaching his wood,” Rick said slowly. “So why hasn’t he killed us, or the other owners over the years?”

“He must recognize we have a legal right to the trees,” I said, shrugging. “But maybe he did manifest before. The person I bought this from; the guy who left those cut trees to rot? He broke his leg out here. It was ruled an accident, but maybe it wasn’t. He put the place up for sale right after.”

“I’ll help you get the saw inside and cleaned,” Rick said, standing. “If the ghost left it here, he must want you to take care of it.” He paused. “Did this Red like groundhogs?”

“It doesn’t say,” I answered, giving a small smile. “But we’ll leave him be, just in case.”

Tara’s educational background is in math and science, and she is currently employed as a safety inspector in a metal fabrication shop. Her writing credits include over thirty short stories published in the nature magazines Catnip Blossoms, Meanwhile, and On The River. Her short horror stories have appeared in Deadman’s Tome, Flashes in the Dark, Halloween Alliance, Black Petals, and Ghastly Door. She also coauthored the essay “The Allure of the Serial Killer,” published in Serial Killers – Philosophy for Everyone: Being and Killing (Wiley-Blackwell, 2010). Mélange Books published both a short e-book romance, Surrender to Me, and a short horror story, “The Origin of Fear” in their Spellbound 2011 anthology in October 2011. Return to Me, another short e-book romance, is also due out in October 2011 from Mélange Books. Dark Moon Books will publish both “Night Shift” and “Hold Your Breath” in their Frightmares Anthology coming out in November 2011.

You can visit her website at www.tarafoxhall.com

If you know anything about trends in Halloween costumes then you do know that Zombie make-up is hot! Just look at all the Zombie walks that take place all over the world in big cities like Toronto, New York and London.

The first thing you need is a clean slate so be sure to wash your face. Apply a white powdered base all over your entire face so you get that ghostly, sickly pallor. You can use very porcelain colored light liquid or porcelain make-up, or you could buy commercial grease paint or pancake in a ghostly green, white or yellow color. Be sure to do your neck down to where you will be covered in shabby clothing.

Next, get a dark eyeshadow, eyeliner or stick of black grease paint and hollow out your eyes and your cheeks. Make yourself look as deathly as possibly. Be sure to black your eyes completely. You can experiment with gray shades as well to get the most rotted and haunted look possible.

Zombie, by Brendan Lally/Flickr

You also have the option of drawing rotted teeth and gums on your upper and lower chin areas. Following your natural gum line, outline where your teeth are using a black crayon until you achieve that grinning skull-like effect. You can then fill in the teeth with a bit of white or yellow grease paint to teeth.

Applying false lashes is also appropriate because the hair keeps on growing after you are dead. If you can find white false eyelashes, that is perfect.

Yet another nice touch is to pack on the baby powder or a loose gray powder. A bit all over the face and in the hair makes it look like you are covered in graveyard dirt. You could try mixing a little black food coloring with flour and pat it on your face and hair as well for that crusted look.

No Zombie look is complete without some fake blood. You can buy the commercial stuff from a store or you can make your own. All you need to do is add one to two tablespoons of red food coloring, a drop of blue or green food coloring and a bit of chocolate syrup to one cup of corn or pancake syrup. You can mix this well with small amounts of water until your blood has the desired consistency. You can then drip or smear the blood where you look. A good idea is to dribble blood into your hairline and let it dribble down your head. You can also have it dribbling down your checks and, of course, your mouth.

If you want your blood to be less runny you can try using honey mixed with red and blue food coloring.

If you want to look like you have just been eating your neighbor’s brains then you should pour some fake blood onto the palm of your hand and them slurp at it to get a smear of blood on your mouth. You can also let it dribble down your chin, onto your chest and all over your costume to achieve a very convincing zombie like effect.

Happy moaning!

Check out a more advanced video tutorial if you wish to have scars and rotting flesh on your face as well – yum!

The holiday season is creeping up on us all. First to come is Halloween, and this year you’re hosting a Halloween bash. While you would like a party that all the boys and ghouls continue talking about for years to come, you’ll settle for an enjoyable time that goes off without a hitch. The only problem is that you have no idea where to start; you’ve never done anything like that before. You want your party to be creative and fun, with just a hint of spookiness and fright. But where should one begin? With a little time and inspiration, your party will be one of both taste and flair.

Fortunately, there’s a complete Halloween guide for you, called Party Halloween – go over there and check it out! I’ll wait … okay, did you buy it? Great! Here’s some more ideas …

Once you’ve decided on a Halloween party theme, it’s time to set the spooky mood with a fun party invitation. If you’ve gone all-out and turned your house into a specially decorated haunted house, you want partygoers to know your bash is going to be the real deal; spooky gatherings call for equally spirited invites. You can order custom invitations, use the variety of templates in the Halloween ebook, or access your inner artist and create some yourself.

Whatever you decide, consider some miniature plastic spiders inside the envelope for an extra surprise. If you can deliver the invitations yourself, have fun with props. Stick the invite in an apothecary-style bottle or have mini boxes filled with fake, gummy body parts. However, if time is of the essence there are numerous online retailers offering some great selections of spooky Halloween invites, Storkie is a retailer I have used with success.

Many people are under the impression that decorating for a holiday has to be expensive, but that could not be further from the truth. It is possible to find spooky décor ideas to fit any budget. Buy some plastic spiders and fake cobwebs and go to town on your house. Add a colony of bats to your walls, guiding guests to the main party area. Just find a bat template (or draw one of your own) and cut out various sizes of bats from black cardstock. Fold the bats in half and attach to your walls with double sided tape (or duct tape if they’re outside), keeping in mind that bats generally fly in a stream, following one another. For the exterior of your house be sure to find a lot of pumpkins. Add some fake ravens, found at many craft stores, to your front yard for an eerie entrance to your home.

Once you’ve got your decorations figured out and placed, it’s time to figure out party fare. Finger foods are generally ideal for Halloween parties, as they are easier to eat while in costume. Make some ‘bones’ out of pretzel sticks with mini marshmallows attached to each end and dipped in white chocolate. Create ‘mummy’ pizzas out of English muffin halves, topped with tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese strips, with olive eyes peeking out. Serve salsa or pico de gallo with a sour cream ‘spider web’ over the top. Simply put some sour cream in an icing bag and draw a web over the top and be sure to add some plastic spiders for added effect. And no Halloween party is complete without some caramel, candied, or chocolate covered apples.

Of course all the devilishly delicious food will leave the goblins feeling thirsty. If you’d like to serve some apple cider, up the fright ante by adding some ‘shrunken heads’. Fill a large cauldron with apple cider, either homemade or store-bought, and add apples that have been peeled and have faces cut out of them. As you simmer the cider, the ‘heads’ will shrink.

For a bone-chilling drink, serve punch with a ‘hand’ inside. Fill a non-powder surgical glove with water and freeze. Remove the glove, and add your hand-shaped ice to the punch. This works best with ‘blood’, or red punch. If you’d rather serve bottled drinks halve a pumpkin, scoop out the insides, fill with ice, and use as a party cooler.

Andrea Boley is a writer, blogger and a mom to twin boys (who love Halloween!). Her educational and parental backgrounds given her a solid foundation from which to draw experience and expertise in an array of topics, and she is always happy to share her passion for life and experiences through her writing.

Strawberry Shortcake seems to only get sweeter with age. She’s come a long way since her original greeting card days in the 1980’s. Created as a card cartoon, she quickly gained popularity as a children’s doll with her trademark scented hair. She made a few friends along the way with the equally delicious names of Blueberry Muffin, Lemon Meringue, and Raspberry Torte, to name a few. A story subsequently developed around Strawberry Shortcake, her friends, and their pets living together in Strawberryland and they all enjoyed immense fame as an 80′s fad. Not even fragrant hair, however, could keep the Shortcake craze alive and her popularity began to wane in the late 80′s.

Yet for a “berry” sweet girl, she’s tough to keep down! The Shortcake franchise has been revived several times and Hasbro recently put out a new line of toys featuring Strawberry and all her friends. Now, three decades after her birth, you can see the dessert darling in television series, feature films, video games, dolls and adorable Halloween costumes.

With her revival has come an entirely new look and it’s created a kid-friendly, fun, and pretty costume series for young girls this Halloween. Girls can go as Miss. Shortcake herself in a silk dress with a built-in, high waisted, pink polka-dotted skirt. To match with the strawberry theme, the dress comes with green and white striped stockings and, to top it all off, a strawberry brimmed hat. Good accessories to consider would be a bright pink wig and a strawberry Trick or Treat pail that is as functional as it is fashionable.

Whatever your sweet tooth, there are plenty of choices in her friends’ costumes. Blueberry Muffin, the studious one of the bunch, has an ensemble which features a tiered pink and blue dress with a silk blue jacket attached, fastened with a blueberry detail. Striped green tights are included as well as a headband with matching blueberry detail. Blue would be the wig of choice for this outfit.

Shortcake’s fashionable friend, Raspberry Torte, is stylish in a pink and green, long-sleeved dress with dark pink bolero overtop. She has a striped green belt with raspberry detail, and matching tights and headband. Like her fellow berry friend, she can wear a bright pink wig as well.

Strawberry’s sunny friend, Lemon Meringue, looks positively radiant in a yellow and blue dress with a high waisted skirt, green bow, and lemon detailing. She has brightly coloured tights and a lemon-wedge hair clip. A yellow wig ties the sunshine-fresh feel of this costume together nicely.

If you remember the good ol’ days of Strawberry Shortcake, there are classic costumes available with a striped top featuring a Strawberry Shortcake logo, simple blue plants, and her trademark hat with a plump strawberry in the brim.

Whether your young lady goes as a shortcake, muffin, meringue, or torte, she’s sure to look deliciously adorable in a Strawberry Shortcake themed costume. Indulge in dessert minus the calories!

• View all Strawberry Shortcake costumes at Buycostumes.com