Halloween falls on a Sunday this year, so it’s the ideal opportunity to throw a pumpkin carving party. To help plan your fright night and have a party that will wake the dead, the ghosts and goblins at Hallmark have come up with great ideas to set the stage for Halloween fun.
Use invitations to let your guests know about the party. When addressing the envelopes, insert a middle name with scary characters like “Mr. Hyde,” “The Grim Reaper,” and “The Headless Horseman.”
Decorate with Halloween themed napkins, paper plates, table covers and Halloween ornaments. Use Hallmark’s Spooky Greetings Treat Chest to set the mood. When the lid is opened, four spooky voices invite party guests to take a treat while the eyes on the top and the side move. Scary!
Make some seasonal treats, like mulled apple cider, caramel apples and toasted seasoned pumpkin seeds for snacking.
To prepare for the carving mess, cut large black garbage bags, separating the two sides. Line your table with the plastic and secure underneath with masking tape.
Set the mood with some spooky music. Try Michael Jackson’s Thriller, and soundtracks from the movies Beetlejuice and Ghostbusters.
Provide plenty of pumpkins, making sure there is at least one per person. Choose firm pumpkins that are uniform in colour and free of bruises and blemishes.
Make sure there are plenty of tools for carving as well as candles for lighting up the jack-o-lanterns. Use plastic carving kits, which are safe for children too.
You’ll also need templates for carving, water-based markers and sponges for wiping off mistakes. For kids, supply coloured markers, feathers, sequins, glitter and glue. Click here to download pumpkin-carving templates from Hallmark Canada.
Put bowls on the table for pumpkin seeds, which you may want to save for toasting later on.
Carving tips:
Cut an opening in the top of the pumpkin big enough to reach in and clean it out.
Cut the “lid” at an angle so the outside is larger than the inside (so it doesn’t fall in).
Scoop out the insides with an ice cream scooper.
Flatten a spot at the bottom for the candle or tealight.
When carving the face, start in the middle and work out.
Enjoy and have a Frightfully Fun Halloween!
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