Saturday, November 19, 2011

Halloween Party 2011

I’ve been so busy doing fun projects I haven’t had time to sit down and tell you all the fun things that I have been up to.  First, a few weeks ago was Halloween, I helped some friends host a party at their house and I used a project I found on Pinterest.com to make some party decorations.

Yarn Spider Webs

First, the supplies:

Yarn (I chose Orange, Purple, and Black)
Ribbon
Plastic Spiders (I used spider rings)
Modge Podge (or do what I did and make your own= 50% glue, 50% Water; and mix)
Balloons 
Scissors
A large trashbag (I used a 45 gallon)
Curtain rod/broom/sturdy long stick (whatever you have)
2 chairs

Then I set up a place for all my balloons to dry.  I secured the curtain rod to the chairs using some ribbon tied around enough times to keep it from sliding.  Then I slice the trash bag from the opening on both sides, to create one giant drop cloth (by the way this is my new favorite way to create a drop cloth, I will be using this a lot when I have kids).  Now you can see I pre-tied all the balloons to the curtain rod with ribbon.  Hindsight being what it is, I don't know if I would have done this had I known how often that ribbon got in my way while I tried to twist sticky yarn around the balloons; that being said it did make the process go faster, because I didn't have to stop every time to cut and tie ribbon with my hands covered in glue (maybe tie the ribbon to the rod and not the balloon until it is wrapped with yarn) .  The ribbon around the curtain rod was wrapped around twice followed by a slip knot.   
This is where it gets really messy.  My little 2 cups of homemade modgepodge was barely enough to do three balloons.  I learned quickly to make bigger batches.  

Have you ever been working with yarn and suddenly you had a huge knot to dislodge that felt like it took forever?  Now imagine adding glue to the equation.  Yeah, those moments were frustrating.  The key I discovered was to diligently wrap the yarn around three fingers, as much as you can.  Cut the yarn, and VERY CAREFULLY dip it into your glue mixture and keep it in the loop that you began with.  It is not impossible if you get a knot, I untangled every sticky nightmare, but GRRRRRR!  

Then wrap your balloon leaving a 1 to 2 inch diameter circle open, around the balloon's knot.  Once you hang the finished product leave to dry for at least 24 hours.  Make sure the drop cloth is spread out beneath, they will continue to drip for quite a while.  

**I didn't do this for mine, but I discovered a hint after the fact, to go back over all the yarn again using a paint brush to add an extra coat of glue.  Mine could have used a bit more for stiffness.**

Now this step is IMPORTANT...after 24 hours of drying, as carefully as you can, use your fingers and thumb to push the balloon (still inflated) inwards away from the yarn ball.  The yarn will have dried to the balloon, and if you just pop the balloon the yarn will deflate and twist with the balloon, destroying the perfect shape you had.  

When you are sure that you have adequately done the previous step, because one spot missed can be a killer,  use a pin (from your pin cushion) and slowly make a hole in the balloon, I kind of roll it slowly in a circle, once inserted, making it a slightly larger hole; if you do it right the balloon will slowly deflate through the semi-controlled hole that you made.  This will help you to find problems before they become disasters. 

When you are done gently add the plastic spiders (spider rings).
  
Another thing to know, these are SUPER FRAGILE.  I placed them all in a box with the top open, and I lost three in transit to the party location, due to complete structural failure and crushing.  I did eventually find success with putting each one in their own separate plastic grocery bag, but I will still not be shocked if they don't make it to next Halloween.

I also did most of the cooking for the party.  I made guacamole and laid it out on a platter to look as though a pumpkin (which I carved earlier that day) was puking the guac. onto the platter.  We had mummy dogs, and bone sticks with blood sauce (marinara), and a mummified calzone (made two, one pepperoni and one cheese).  



I froze (the night before) orange juice with grenadine and a bit of red food coloring in an inside out and brand new rubber kitchen glove.  Then I made a drink I found online called Sewer Water, find this recipe it is delicious!  I served the Sewer Water in a plastic Cauldron and removed the frozen hand (though most of the fingers fell off) and floated all of the pieces in the water.  It looked repulsive, but just telling you about it makes me want some.  I do not drink often, but I imbibed A LOT of that stuff.  We  soaked an entire jar of cherries in Everclear (not sure if that is right, like I said I'm not a big drinker), the night before, amazing! We also hollowed out a bunch of oranges and and filled the halved peels with jello shots.  It was a great party!

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