July 28, 2010

Wedding Day Ghosts

Weddings are times of great joy and a gathering of a mix of family and friends. In these next photos, it seems that  deceased family and friends enjoy being there on the couple's special day too.

img033
Information about picture here
spirit-photo-oct-1972
spirit-photo
Information about picture here
[wedding-day-ghost+picture.jpg]
wedding ghosts
More information about picture here


Do you think these pictures are fake or real? Leave a note in the comments with your opinion!


July 27, 2010

Spider's Egg Sac Decoration


arach·no·pho·bia
Pronunciation: \ə-ˌrak-nə-ˈfō-bē-ə\
Function: noun
: pathological fear or loathing of spiders
Arachnophobia is one of the most common fears among us, so it is obvious why so many decorations are based around the scary little eight-legged pests. Today I will show you how to make a spider's egg sac decoration that will make Aragog proud!
Aragog, the giant spider from the Harry
Potter series
You Will Need:

  • A ball of any size (I usually use multiple golf balls for smaller sacs and one larger ball, like a softball.)
  • A few pairs of white stockings (must be footed)
  • "Spiderwebs"
  • Fake spiders (optional)
First, cut the stockings at the length you want the egg sacs to hang. I usually cut at the knee and go shorter if I want to later. Next, you put one of the balls in the foot and hang the stocking from where you want the sac to be displayed, adjusting the length of the stocking as you go. After the stocking is secured, web it up with the "spiderweb" stuff, covering every bit of visible stocking but letting the shape of the ball still be round. Finally, you can add fake spiders to the sac, and be prepared to send all the arachnophobes running for the hills! (We really do love you!)



July 26, 2010

Martha Is Just So Darn Crafty! (The Magic of Martha #1)

I have a confession to make - not all of the decorations I use during Halloween are designed and crafted by me (like the Halloween Tree) or are store-bought (be sure to check out the new products from Spirit online if you haven't already done so!) Some of the best ideas are from... wait for it... Martha Stewart! No joke! I actually anticipate her Halloween issue, which is chock full of really nifty decorating ideas, so I am starting a new segment on La Vie Macabre, and it is called "The Magic of Martha"! Each post, I will share a tutorial, recipe, idea, or inspiration photos from Martha Stewart's Halloween section on her website.

One of my personal favorites from a past issue (Halloween Issue 2004, to be exact) can be found at her website's Halloween Central, which has hundreds of pictures of her own creepy creations. It is called the Head Waiter Tray, and this serving tray is a sure fire way to make your next gathering a bit creepier.


You Will Need:
  • 10 paper towels (crumpled)
  • Enough swaths of gauze to cover the display surface of the tray
  • Brewed coffee or strong black tea
  • Two tablespoons flour
  • One tablespoon corn syrup or Mod Podge glue
  • Craft stick
  • Styrofoam head (A cheap one can be purchased at Sally's Beauty online for $3.99)
You will start by dipping the paper towels and gauze in the coffee or tea, wringing them out of they don't have any extra liquid, crumpling them up, and leaving them to dry for a couple of days while they are still crumpled. You will have to wait two days or so before they dry, but when they do, you mix the solution of two tablespoons flour, one tablespoon tea or coffee, and one tablespoon of corn syrup or Mod Podge. Mix the ingredients together with a craft stick, and you apply the mixture in a thin layer on one section of the head. This is when you take the dried paper towels, uncrumple them, tear them into smaller pieces or strips, and spread over the section of the head. Repeat until the head is covered, and then arrange the gauze at the base of the head on the tray. You are now ready to serve your guests in a scary style!

If you want more detailed instructions or would rather watch an instructional video, here is the original post on Martha's website.

July 25, 2010

First Encounters With Horror

I was recently talking to a friend about the first time we saw a horror/thriller movie and how old we were. She recalls being frightened by the first horror movie she saw and not being able to sleep for many nights afterwards, but I had a very different experience.

Even though I don't know which one I saw first, the first horror/thriller films that I watched were Psycho (1960) and The Sixth Sense (1999). I saw them about the same time when I was about seven years old, and I remember watching them in the comfort of my own living room with my parents. They warned me before both movies that they weren't real and that they could turn it off if I got scared, but to their surprise, I loved them.






What were the first horror movies that you saw as a child, and how old were you?