As I mentioned in a previous post, they have chocolate bats at Sainsbury's this year. So when I also got this bat cupcake decorating set (above) from Asda, I decided to combine the two and make some spooky cupcakes (below)!
They're really simple, so I didn't do a proper tutorial about them. Just use whichever cupcake recipe you prefer and, once cooked, then leave them to cool.
Following that, ice them all, put a bat-topped cocktail stick in and spider chocolate on each one and you're done! :)
This year spiders seem to be everywhere for Halloween - even the food is full of them! Sainsbury's have some milk & white chocolate spiders (okay for vegetarians too, but sadly, no dark chocolate for vegans).
They come in packs of 12 and are each about 2cm long. I think they'd be great at parties or as a spooky surprise for someone!
Halloween is fast approaching (finally!) so there will be quite a few posts about Halloween haul over the next year month here on HSL. I've decided to start with this little creepy-crawly candle holder, since I know how much you all love our arachnid friends! (They're adorable. Seriously!) Anyway, this is called a Shocking Shadow Maker and it's from a shop called Marks & Spencer in the UK.
In a softly-lit scenario it's glittery and unassuming, adding a subtle scariness to your decor. However, when back-lit it casts a shadow that's sure to send cold shivers down any arachnophobic's spine! The position of the legs - with one raised a little higher - particularly makes it startling I think.
It comes with a tea light candle in the holder, which is supposed to provide the shadow-casting illumination. However, if you don't want to light the wick, the same effect can be achieved by simply shining a well-angled lamp at it.
Obviously, white / light backgrounds work particularly well with this item, as both the candle holder itself and the shadows are dark. However, if you use the candle provided, the silhouette can be seen in the shadow maker's self-produced glow, even against a black backdrop (though in my great wisdom, I didn't take any photographs of that...).
As well as the main product, on the label tied to it, there is also a mobile phone tag, which you can scan and be taken to a short, animated Halloween song / video. It's just an extra little Halloween surprise to make you smile.
Marks & Spencer don't seem to stock this particular item online (I bought it in-store), but they do have other Halloween goodies in their webshop: HERE. I guess if you're from the US, this will seem like a poor selection, but to be fair Halloween still isn't that popular over here and M&S do carry lots more in their physical stores. :)
It's a dark and stormy night; a thick fog rolls in, distorting everything in sight, including your own reflection in the steam-covered mirror in front of you. Everything is silent and still, except for the low gush of flowing water. Suddenly, through the eerie mist, you see zombies, bats, spiders, skulls, brains, and all sorts of horrors in front of you! A shiver of terror creeps down your spine, but, being the knowledgeable spook slayer you are, you know just what to do...dissolve them in your bathwater! For these are no ordinary ghouls, dear devils - oh no! These are the fantastically frightening soaps from The Soapy Shop of Horrors, where "horror isn't just for Halloween...it's for bathtime too!"
Each of these creepy cleaners are designed and handmade in the UK, by Soapy Shop of Horrors founder Suze Laing. She started the shop after "buying some “Halloween” soap for friends in the U.S.A" and, after finding that the UK selection was somewhat limited, she began to make her own. Following this creative soap crafting, Suze had a breakthrough moment, and realised that "maybe, just maybe, others would want some oddly shaped soaps too, and not just at Halloween!". She was right!
As well as the products being gory and gorgeous, they're amazingly detailed, and most look like little sculptures rather than soap! This level of detail, together with with the ability of the buyer to choose the colour and scent combination desired, for most of the items on sale, and really affordable prices, make The Soapy Shop of Horrors a very unique and delightfully strange find. Moreover, the little facts about the featured soap horror character, at the bottom of each page, are a great bonus, and make the website interesting and endearing too!
This charming crocheted table adornment (left) and devilish Dead Fairy decoration (right) would be ideal for everyday use, or even Halloween parties. The doilie first appeared on Lipstick and Laundry and the decoration is by user Varifiresis on on the Craftster.org forum. Dollar Store Crafts also gave tips on how to make them, both, although the Dead Fairy guide on Craftster is very thorough. Whilst you're on the Dollar Store Crafts site, you might also want to check out the guide on how to make a styrofoam spider and post on spooky Halloween decor.
Thanks to Kei for sending the Dollar Store Crafts link to me!
