B-Movie Star

The dramatic life of a B-movie star.

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Posts Tagged ‘ halloween ’

EDITOR'S NOTE - DAMMIT! I WROTE THIS POST AND IT DIDN'T PUBLISH CORRECTLY! grrrr I hate when the computer outsmarts me AGAIN!!!! Well, anyway - it was supposed to be posted on Halloween, but it's never too late for a horror movie right? So I guess you can just consider this a little Halloween Hangover cure! See ya NEXT YEAR!!!

and go!!!!!

I almost forgot to mention this year several "newer" movies (and by that I mean movies made AFTER 1959!)  that I suggest you watch. It might be a little late to get them for Halloween, but if you're looking for some good horror it might be time to look at some foreign films.

I suggest Guillermo del Toro.  I've never seen Hellboy, one of his best known movies,  it just didn't seem like my cup of tea, but after seeing Pan's Labyrinth a few years ago, I was impressed and intrigued with him as a director.  So I gave a couple of them a whirl, and I think you should too. So, here are few of his movies that you must absolutely watch - you must - they are so much better than the recent horror films being released in the U.S. *coughparnormalactivitysuckscough*

The first one I'm recommending is the 2001 movie, The Devil's Backbone, that was written, directed and produced by del Toro. I was nervous to watch it, not sure what I was going to get myself into, but I am so glad that I tried it. I love the layered story lines of the movie. I love the look of the movie and the effects that are used when we see the ghost.  It's a haunting tale in both the scary and the lingering sense. It's truly terrifying - you will be on the edge of your seat, and it's also a sad and poignant story. Watch it, you will not be disappointed - at least I don't think you will be. If you have any taste at all you will love it!  hee hee - no pressure there right?! You may have to read subtitles, the film is in Spanish, but seriously I got so caught up in the story I didn't even think about the fact that it was subtitled.

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It is 1939, the end of three years of bloody civil war in Spain, and General Franco's right-wing Nationalists are poised to defeat the left-wing Republican forces. A ten-year-old boy named Carlos, the son of a fallen Republican war hero, is left by his tutor in an orphanage in the middle of nowhere. The orphanage is run by a curt but considerate headmistress named Carmen and a kindly Professor Casares, both of whom are sympathetic to the doomed Republican cause. Despite their concern for him, and his gradual triumph over the usual schoolhouse bully, Carlos never feels completely comfortable in his new environment. First of all, there was that initial encounter with the orphanage's nasty caretaker, Jacinto, who reacts even more violently when anyone is caught looking around a particular storage room the one with the deep well. Second, and more inexplicable, is the presence of a ghost, one of the former occupants of the orphanage named Santi. Not long after Carlos' arrival, Santi latches onto Carlos, badgering him incessantly at night and gloomily intoning, "Many of you will die." As if that wasn't enough to keep the orphanage's occupants in an unrelenting state of terror, there's the un-exploded bomb that dominates the orphanage's courtyard, still ticking away; With the orphanage left defenseless by its isolation, and the swift progression of Franco's troops, the ghost's prediction seems depressingly accurate. Nevertheless, with every step of the plot, it becomes apparent that the ghost's predictions as to who (or what) will die, the real source of danger and even the definition of death itself may be more ambiguous than first thought. - fromIMBb

The next movie you should go see is the 2007 film, The Orphanage which was produced by del Toro and directed by Juan Antonio Bayona.  This was actually the second one of del Toro's films that I watched. It's a great, suspenseful tale. It's a beautifully crafted film and well written. There are some definite moments that make you jump out of your skin, but overall it's an atmospheric horror movie where the scariness is more in the head than jumping off the screen. Don't be fooled though, it was a disturbing film, and I'm not sure I could watch it again, but I'm glad I was able to see it once. I think you'll like it too. It is also subtitled.

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The former orphan Laura raises her adopted son Simón with her husband Carlos in an old house and former orphanage where she was raised. Simón is HIV positive and tells Laura that he has five invisible friends, and she believes they are fruit of his imagination. Laura decides to reopen an orphanage for handicapped children in the location and during the opening party, Simón calls her to show the little cabin of his friend Tomás. The busy Laura does not gives much attention to her son; then she sees a mysterious masked boy and Simón vanishes. Laura feels the presence of other persons in the house and months later, the desperate Laura invites a team of parapsychologists to try to unravel the mystery. from IMBd

Have a spooky Halloween Weekend . . . .

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Tonight we are carving pumpkins so I was scouting out the internet looking for some inspiration and I came across this photo on the Skull a Day website (which you should check out if you haven't already!) Isn't this the coolest? People are so creative! It's too late in our area to buy any white pumpkins, but I'm keeping this in mind for next year! It's just so perfect!!

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I also found this site, My Parents Loved Halloween, where there are some really great old photos - and you can post your own. Go over there for some Halloween inspiration!!!  I've also thought, isn't it funny how the costumes were not as "sophisticated" as the ones we have today, yet they are so much more scary! Really scary! I mean check out this one - I don't even know what she's supposed to be - Little Red Riding Hood, a witch? I don't know but it's freaking terrifying!!!

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I"m so excited about this! I don't know if you've heard of a site called "SheSpeaks" It's own description of itself is, "SheSpeaks is the community where smart and insightful women come together to share their opinions and see the power of their collective voices in action."  I have tried out several products for them and it's so much fun - you should check it out for yourself. The most exciting part of this story is that I was chosen to be one of their "Snickers® "Coolest House on the Block" reps for Halloween! This is so exciting!!!!
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I received my "Coolest House on the Block" packages yesterday - it came with bags of a new Snickers® candy, Snickers® Peanut Butter Squared, as well as bags of regular Snickers® candy bars to hand out to Trick or Treaters, a "Coolest House on the Block" Yard Sign, a strobe light, a fog machine, plus a bunch of Halloween decorations like crime scene tape, spider webs, window clings SQEEEEEE! Seriously? They chose the perfect house for this mission! If you're in my area on Halloween make sure to come by and get some new Snickers® Peanut Butter Squared candy! Of course I will have photos and I'll be posting them after Halloween to let you know how it goes. I LOVE HALLOWEEN!!!!

You should also go check out SheSpeaks - there's other cool programs to apply for - maybe something that's perfect for you!

Here are some reviews of the new candy - if you don't find some on Halloween, keep your eyes peeled - it's coming to a store near you!!!

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Elizabeth's Candy Blog

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Over at Designs in Digital, they host challenges that anyone can participate in - there's color challenges, word art challenges, template challenges - all kinds - and they are so much fun, I encourage you to go check it out.  This month they are having a "Hybrid Challenge" - which combines using digital art to create something in the "real" world - and this month's challenge is to create  little "Treat" or "Goody" Bags from envelopes! It's so simple and cute!

Basically you create a design and print it on a #10 business sized envelope. Then you cut the envelope in half and -viola! You have two little treat bags.  This is the design I made using the Sugar Moon Kit, Don't Look Under the Bed (which is 30% off this weekend, incidentally) and the spider and bat were created by Missy's Bits.  Then I sealed the envelope before printing it.   The entire set of instructions can be found HERE, the challenge was designed by one of the Designs in Digital Creative Team Members, "rschwetz".

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Here's how they came out after printing:

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Sugar Moon has a new kit out for Halloween! Yes, I know that probably comes as a shock! I've tried to include many of my favorite things about Halloween, but I also tried to keep it mysterious and classic so you could use it to make it your own.  It has lots of fun stuff inside - 26 papers, over 50 elements  and one alpha. You could use this for scrapbooks, making Halloween Decorations, Halloween Invitations, or even party favors! What ever your little black heart desires!

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AND as a special little gift I've made a lovely little frame cluster for you - it goes with the kit AND it features a bust of Edgar Allen Poe - perfect for a lovely keepsake of your nearest and dearest! Just click on the image below to download this frame.  If you are interested in getting the kit for yourself - and who wouldn't be! I mean LOOK at it - it's awesome!! Just head on over to Sugar Moon Designs at Designs in Digital and pick it up! It's on sale this weekend - 30% off!

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(background paper and photos of Vincent Price not included in the download)

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Hurray! It's October 1st and this is my Third Annual Halloween Countdown! I'm hoping it's going to be a lot of fun for everyone! I have several great gifts for you this month, plus all my usual orange and black tinged ramblings!

To kick this awesome month off I've created a fun FREE DOWN LOADABLE Halloween Party Pack for  you! Just click on this image to download a zip file that contains all the high res PDFs that you need to print off for your own Halloween Party.

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This pack contains a fun Halloween invitation. I've made one that can be printed front and back, and folded in half, and one design that is singled sided.

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There's also cupcake toppers - glue back to back on toothpicks or popcicle sticks and insert them into cupcakes. You can also punch two holes in them and thread them through straws for a fun drink decoration.

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The party pack also comes with goody bag toppers! Print these, cut them out, fold them in half and staple or glue them to paper sacks or plastic baggies full of party favors or candy! Your guests will be delighted with these!

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Don't forget - there are past year's designs still available if you would like something a bit different! Just click HERE to see the old invitations, and click HERE and HERE for past treat bag toppers.

UPDATE: Here's a great idea for how to use the cupcake toppers, over at JaeBellz

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Well, of course I love owls - whoooo doesn't?  (Oh, wow. THAT was cheesy)  So, okay then, here are some really cute and great owls for this Halloween pre-season!

Did you know a group of owls is called a Parliament? Yeah, I just looked that up. That's not to be confused with this Parliament:

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or this one

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Any-whooo . . . . here is a cool parliament of owls - and all the images are linked so you can get directions or find out more about them!!!

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Halloween Origami Owl

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Here's a couple of ways to start getting ready for Halloween - and it won't cost you a thing! click on the images to head over and get your free stuff!

Free Ghost Stories! Enjoy the top 10 Weekly, Monthly, and All-Time Best True Ghost Stories from Around the World from the top-selling paid app -- for Free!

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Requirements:Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. Requires iPhone OS 3.0 or later.

Classic Literature goes high tech!  Dracula by Bram Stoker for Kindle,  FOR FREE!

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Here's a cute game for a Halloween party. I found it over at Martha Stewart.  Don't get me started on Martha's Halloween stuff!  Anyway - this looks like a blast - it reminds me of those old fashioned carnival games.  There is a tutorial if you want to make one. You could also fill the balloons with confetti and small candies and include a paper with a number written on it. Whatever number the child gets in a balloon would correspond with a "Trick," (something they have to do, i.e., tell a riddle, do a cartwheel) or a "Treat," some kind of party prize. I think kids would love this game - I know I would!  You could also make the balloons into the shape of a skull, using black and white balloons - I'm sure you can think of other things too!

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Sure, I know you think we're going to discuss green fuzzy mold - how you can grow it, how it can be used in your next haunted house . . . and that really sounds like fun, but today I'm going to show you some different, yet just as awesome molds for food!

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First, I saw this cake on Not Martha.  OMG really! Isn't this just the coolest? I mean this is the kind of cake that could be made year round! When ISN"T a skull cake appropriate?  Birthdays! Family Reunions! Mother's Day! Okay, well that might depend on if your mother is closer to Morticia or Mrs. Cleaver. But anyway, she has a tutorial for this lovely orange cake, which got me to searching, and look at all these adorable molds I found on Amazon! Who Knew!? Not me obviously.

This pan, from Wilton, is the one that Not Martha used to make her 3-D skull cake - there are just so many decorating possibilities too! A day of the dead decorated skull would look fantastic!

wiltonskullpanI also discovered this pan, which appears to be a more traditional cake pan - one that would lie flat - still it would be awesome!

skullcakepanI also discovered these little skulls! How cute is this!

skullpanAnd here's one for skull cupcakes. Awww CUPCAKES!

skullcupcakes Then I also saw that they have skull ice cube molds - I think these are awesome too!

skullicecubesLastly I found a few other molds, not skulls, but still Halloween related - first some bony fingers!!!

fingermoldand lastly, some harmless little pumpkins . . . or are they . . . guess that would be up to YOU to decide!!

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