DOUBLE TROUBLE...

Meet the newest members to my family, Vincent & Boris. Both are named after two of my favorite Horror Actors, Vincent Price & Boris Karloff.

I had to replace my older Styrofoam Gargoyles on top of my front entrance pillars, so I picked up these two bad boys at HomeSence on the weekend. I first painted them black and then two different shades of grey.

I built both pillars out of 3/4" plywood, added moulding on both the top and bottom, finally I inserted a 40 watt speaker in each pillar.

Now there ready to join the other seven pillars I've built that surrounds my cemetery with rod iron fencing.

AUTUMN IS FAST APPROACHING

Before the weather starts getting colder, I thought it would be a good idea to cleaned out my gardens this weekend.

I purchased these two fake pumpkins with decorated dry flowers at Michaels Craft Store. I wanted to give my two front entrance urns that autumn festive look.

I purchased some additional items to dress up the urns, Spanish moss and fall leaves. To protech the flowers from fading because there outside, I sprayed them with UV-Resistant Clear Acrylic Coating.

Best part of all, I used a 50% off coupon to purchase everything.

PUMPKIN SPICE

I purchased my favorite scented candle on the weekend at Michaels "Pumpkin Spice".

It reminds me of the fall and triggers my brain into thinking how close Halloween really is.

IN MEMORY OF MY FRIEND BRUCE EVELY

It was just over a year ago on August 23rd, 2009 that my friend Bruce Evely passed away suddenly.

(Bruce Evely and his wife Sherry)

Bruce was the creater of the Stittsville Haunt" in Ottawa, Ontario.

(Halloween 2008)

(Bruce & Sherry - Halloween 2008)



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Bruce was addicted to Halloween as Trick 'R' Treaters are to candy, he started his cemetery theme home haunt back in October 1998.

What started as a few simple lawn decorations, grew into an elaborate zombie wonderland spanning across his entire front yard, a dungeon in his garage that was filled with rattling skeletons, glowing skulls and eerie lights. He added Gothic window treatments, custom tomb stones, lighting, music, sound effects, ghosts, monsters, witches, dragons, demons, and a hearse in his driveway.

Bruce also generously donated money and food every year to the Ottawa Food Bank.

Bruce's wife Sherry and daughter Brianna came to visit me on the weekend and dropped off one of the four tomb stones Bruce was making for his home haunt for Halloween 2009. Sherry was kind enough to give me one of them in memory of Bruce; I've attached photos of how I finish detailing and painting the beautiful tomb stone Bruce never got to finish.

(Tomb Stone Before)

(Tomb Stone After)

I roughed up the edges with a hot Styrofoam knife, added some cracks and put one layer of dark grey paint, then finshed it off by sponging on a lighter grey paint.

Now I'll have a great tomb stone in Bruce's memory that we both worked on and it will be a tribute in his name for future Halloween's.

DEADLY ZINS

A friend of mine came over for dinner on the weekend and brought me a new wine I've never tasted before - 7 Deadly Zins.

When choosing a wine for dinner, most people will have red wine with meat dishes and white wine with chicken or fish. My friend Sherry bought this California Zinfadel for me because she knows how Halloween obsessed I am and said the name of the wine fit me to a tee.

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The first thing I found striking about this wine even before I opened it, was the label. The top and bottom edges of the label were burnt, there was a hallow over the number seven, the font was in a blood red colour, and lightly faded it the background of the label were the seven deadly sins. Gluttony, Sloth, Envy, Lust, Greed, Vanity, and Wrath.

This wine is the creative collaboration of Michael and David Phillips. Working with seven of Lodi California's best growers gave their souls and each of their old vine vineyards to contribute to the layered complexity of this fanciful blend. Soft, supple pepper and licorice-clove, notes merge into a sinful marriage of deep, brambly blackberries and lustful cherries. The finish is clean on the palate with hints of rich vanilla, cocoa and mild tannins.

Bottom line, it tastes great and I'm a new fan.

ZOMBIE PUMPKINS

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For the past three years I've been consistently asked, where do you buy your carved pumpkins from? I always tell everyone, I do them myself. "Oh" are you a graphic designer? No I reply, I'm just creative when it comes to sourcing out the best stencil carved pumpkins for Halloween.

I personally get really annoyed with myself when I purchase a great looking pumpkin and screw it up trying to carve something spooky and it turns out looking like crap!

So I'll let you all in on a secret of mine, here's where I get my pumpkin stencils from.

ZombiePumpkins.com offers its own breed of original pumpkin stencils which anyone can print out and use to create some of the most impressive pumpkin carving masterpieces that you could possibly imagine, in your neighborhood. You can dazzle anybody. You can really get that reaction for your pumpkins, as you're carving them this year.

When you put these carved monstrosities on your porch, you're guaranteed to be the hit of your block. It's hard to not love pumpkin carving when your entire neighborhood is showering your doorstep on Halloween night.

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Ryan Wickstrand (Owner), runs the Zombie Pumpkin Web site that sells the creepy pumpkin carving stencils of his own designs of typical Hollywood monsters, but also creates characters and designs based on people's requests.

He has created over 218 pattern options, you can download the ones you want for a small fee. You can also grab some pointers for making your carved creations even more creeptacular.

THE HALLOWEEN KID

I was excited to find out when I got home from work today that I had received a package in the mail. I knew by the size and shape it was the Halloween children's book I had pre-ordered back in July 2010 "The Halloween Kid" written by Rhode Montijo.

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The Halloween Kid is about a mysterious masked boy who wrangles Halloween hoodlums to keep the night safe for trick-or-treaters. All is well for years, that is, until a band of greedy goodie goblins gallop onto the scene - then even the Halloween Kid can use a helpin’ hand.

My two boys Ryan (6) and Matthew (3) have had me already read this rootin', tootin' tale of heroism to them several times, they really enjoyed the toilet-paper-tossing mummies and pumpkin-sucking vampires.

If you have kids, nieces, newphews, grandchildren, or just love children and Halloween, I highly recomend this children's Halloween book by Rhode Montijo.