Shop our Store! 
You've found our blog - now check out our store!
Get your kids thinking in creative, "outside the box" ways! Help them Learn with educational brainy kits, books, games, and toys! Let them Think, Explore, and Experiment - all while having Fun! Shop our unique selection of products, and experience our one-of-a-kind services and creative ideas. Expect adventures!
Visit our store at
www.EscapadeDirect.com for thousands of fun and unique educational products for children and families!
|
 “Shadows of a thousand years rise again unseen,
Voices whisper in the trees, ‘Tonight is Halloween!’” ~ Dexter Kozen
Tonight’s the night for tricks and treats! Take a break from all the candy, and create these fun and tasty treats with your kids!
Quick and Easy Pumpkin Ice Cream
What You Will Need:
- 1/2 gallon Vanilla Ice Cream, softened
- 1 can 100% Canned Pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling)
- 1/2 cup Brown Sugar, packed
- 1/2 teaspoon Ground Ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon Cinnamon
- 1/4 teapsoon Nutmeg
- 1 tablespoon Orange Juice
- 1 Large Bowl
- 1 Medium Bowl
- Mixer
What You Do:
- Place ice cream in a large bowl and set aside.
- Mix canned pumpkin, sugar, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and orange juice with a mixer on low speed.
- Blend pumpkin mixture into ice cream, stirring well. Kids love to do this step – just give them a large spoon (and let them lick it when you’re done)!
- Cover mixture and freeze for several hours until firm.
- When you are ready to serve, let the ice cream soften slightly before scooping and serving. Enjoy!
- Makes 8 to 10 servings.
Variations:
- Serve your ice cream in a Pumpkin Glass! Click this link for a quick and simple way to convert a regular glass into a pumpkin!
- Serve your sweet pumpkin ice cream with a slice of pumpkin bread!
- If desired, sprinkle a small amount of nutmeg or colorful Halloween sprinkles over the ice cream before serving.
- TIP: If you use pumpkin pie filling (which usually already has spices added), make sure to adjust the spices in this recipe to taste.
Candy Corn Trifles
What You Will Need:
- Angel Food Cake (store-bought or homemade)
- Prepared Vanilla Pudding (plus milk needed to prepare)
- Orange Food Coloring (mix red and yellow food coloring if needed)
- Prepared Lemon Jell-O
- Clear Trifle Bowl
What You Do:
- Crumble the angel food cake into the bottom of a clear glass serving bowl. This forms the white layer found on a piece of candy corn.
- Layer prepared vanilla pudding, tinted orange with food coloring, on top of the cake layer. This forms the orange portion of a piece of candy corn.
- Top the orange pudding layer with a layer of prepared lemon gelatin. This forms the yellow layer of the candy corn.
- Serve and enjoy!
Variations:
- There are many ways you can easily vary this cute and delicious recipe. For example, use a yellow cake recipe to form the cake layer – this will be the yellow layer of candy corn. Top the cake layer with orange-tinted vanilla pudding – the orange layer. Then top the treat off with a layer of whipped cream – the white layer. Embellish with a piece of real candy corn!
You May Also Like:
Copyright © 2007-2010 Escapade Direct LLC. All rights reserved. All content on this site is property of Escapade Direct LLC and may not be used without our written permission.
 Looking for a special way to package treats for Halloween? Create your own favors and treat containers!
Here’s an easy project that you can do with your kids. All you need are a few common craft supplies that you probably have around the house… and of course, the candy!
The Pumpkin Favors also make a nice holiday decoration. Create your own table-top pumpkin patch!
Pumpkin Favor Box
What You Will Need:
- Our free templates (click the link below)
- 1 Brass Brad or Glue
- Scissors
- Nail or Small Hole Punch
- Pencil
- Light Green Construction Paper or Decorative Paper
- Dark Green Construction Paper or Decorative Paper
- Orange Construction Paper or Decorative Paper
- Small Candies (optional)
What You Do:
- Click Pumpkin Favor Box for complete step-by-step instructions, as well as free templates that you can download and print.
Variations:
- Don’t have colored construction paper? No problem! Just use plain white paper and decorate the paper with markers or crayons!
- Use your paper pumpkins for holiday decorations. Place several pumpkins in a bowl for a centerpiece, or line them up on a window sill.
- Fill your pumpkins with wrapped candies and hand them out to trick-or-treaters!
You May Also Like:
Copyright © 2007-2010 Escapade Direct LLC. All rights reserved. All content on this site is property of Escapade Direct LLC and may not be used without our written permission.
“Double, double toil and trouble;
Fire burn and cauldron bubble…”
This bewitching game is sure to be a hit at your Halloween party! It’s an easy game to set up, but challenging to play.
Witch Hat Ring Toss
What You Will Need:
- 3 or more Witch Hats (either purchased or made – see variations below)
- 3 or more Glow Necklaces, activated and put together to form a ring.
- Crumpled Newspaper
What You Do:
- To prepare for the game, stuff crumpled newspaper into the cone portion of each Witch Hat. This keeps the hat standing upright.
- Place the Witch Hats on the floor in a grid pattern, spaced about 12″ apart.
- Measure about 4 to 6 feet from the Witch Hats and place a marker – this will be the “throw line” your guests stand behind for this game.
- To play, give the first player 3 or more glow necklaces and have that player stand at the throw line.
- Toss the glow necklaces and try to get them over the cone of the Witch Hat – a “ringer”! Score 1 point for each successful ringer toss.
- Give each guest a turn at the ring toss game, and award a prize to the player with the most ringers.
- How about awarding bonus points? Toss one ring onto each hat and that person gets double the points! Toss two rings on one hat and receive a special prize. You make the rules!
Variations:
- If you don’t have premade Witch Hats, make your own from two pieces of black construction paper. Cut a large circle from one piece of paper, and use the other sheet of paper to form a cone. Tape the cone onto the circle shape and you have an easy Witch Hat! For a sturdier hat, use black cardstock or tagboard instead of construction paper.
- Witch Hats aren’t your thing? Make them into Wizard Hats! Just add a couple of gold stars for decorations and throw glow necklaces (Wizard Wands) over the Wizard Hats!
- For a more challenging ring toss game, use Glow Bracelets instead of necklaces! The smaller diameter of the bracelets make them more of a challenge.
- Want to make the game even more challenging? Play it in the dark! The glow necklaces and bracelets will be easily seen, but the witch hats will blend into the dark, making this a game of chance and luck, versus skill. Especially fun for older kids!
We’ll be posting more game ideas leading up to Halloween – make sure to check back each day for more Halloween fun!
You May Also Like:
- Glow Sticks – Glow Sticks make great Halloween party favors and decorations. Click this link for our ideas!
- Glow Bracelets – Glow Bracelets are fun to wear for Halloween fun! Available in 5 glowing colors!
- Ein-O Science Luminous Mucus – This glow-in-the-dark slime making kit is eerie fun!
Copyright © 2007-2010 Escapade Direct LLC. All rights reserved. All content on this site is property of Escapade Direct LLC and may not be used without our written permission.
 “The truth it is, and not a myth
That once there lived a man named Smith.
And it became his mournful lot
To be murdered quite near this spot.
We now will pass out his remains.
You first will handle poor Smith’s brains…”
Peeled grapes for eyeballs, dried corn for teeth, a wet sponge for a brain…
Gruesome storytelling games at Halloween are made creepy, gooey, and gross when you add “remains” to the game! These props allow your guests to touch and feel the story as you read it. Classic spooky Halloween fun for all ages!
Click Storytelling Games for two spooky tales that you can print and use, as well as a list of props to use (for example, a dried apricot for an ear).
Have a fun party!
You May Also Like:
- Glow Sticks – Make your spooky stories even spookier and ready by glow stick!
- Noggin Bops – Lighten the mood on Halloween and dance along with the Noggin Bops! (Click this link to watch the video)
- Scary Stories Boxed Set – This collection of spooky stories is perfect for Halloween storytelling, sleepovers, camping, and more! Scary fun!
- Vintage Halloween Postcards – The postcards in this collection are fun to use for decorations, Halloween party invitations, or Halloween crafts. Vintage fun!
Copyright © 2007-2010 Escapade Direct LLC. All rights reserved. All content on this site is property of Escapade Direct LLC and may not be used without our written permission.
 Hotter than a devil’s heart or colder than a zombie’s touch – whichever temperature you prefer for your ghoulish Halloween drinks, we’ve got a recipe for you!
Make sure to serve your drinks in a unique decorated glass! Check out our Spirit Raising Pumpkin Glasses to find out how to make them!
Orange Hot Chocolate
What You Will Need:
- 12 ounces White Chocolate
- 8 cups Milk
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 2 drops Orange Food Coloring
- Whipped Cream and Chocolate Nonpareils for garnish, optional
- Medium-sized Glass Bowl
- Medium-sized Saucepan
- 10 Spirit Raising Pumpkin Glasses
What You Do:
- Coarsely chop the white chocolate and place it in a medium-sized glass bowl – set aside.
- In a medium-sized saucepan, heat milk over medium heat until bubbles begin to form at the edge of the surface (about 4 minutes).
- Pour milk over chocolate, and stir until chocolate is melted and the mixture is smooth.
- Whisk in vanilla and food color, then continue to whisk until a light foam forms on the surface.
- Pour into 10 clear glass mugs and garnish with whipped cream and chocolate nonpareils.
- Serve immediately.
Orange Halloween Punch
What You Will Need:
- 1 can (46 ounces) Pineapple Juice, divided
- 1 package (3 ounces) Orange Gelatin
- 1 carton (64 ounces) Orange Juice
- 1 liter Ginger Ale, chilled
- 1 quart Orange Sherbet
- Large Saucepan
- Large Pitcher or similar container
- Clear Glass Punch Bowl
- Spirit Raising Pumpkin Glasses, 1 for each guest
What You Do:
- In a large saucepan, boil 1 cup of pineapple juice, then remove from heat.
- Stir gelatin into the hot pineapple juice until it is dissolved. Allow mixture to cool slightly, then transfer it to a large pitcher or container.
- Add orange juice and remaining pineapple juice, then chill the mixture.
- Just before serving, pour the mixture into a punch bowl and add ginger ale and mix well.
- Top punch with scoops of orange sherbet.
- Serve and enjoy!
- Makes about 20 servings.
Make sure to see all our Halloween posts for party ideas, crafts, projects, and activities!
You May Also Like:
Copyright © 2007-2010 Escapade Direct LLC. All rights reserved. All content on this site is property of Escapade Direct LLC and may not be used without our written permission.
 Halloween parties are fun for children of all ages – the crazy costumes, the colorful candy… and the games!
This Halloween Game is a fun way to get your party started.
Have left-over Candy Corn? Make sure to see the recipe below!
Count the Candy
What You Will Need:
- Large Clear Jar or Bowl
- Candy Corn Candies
- Guessing Sheet (click here to download and print)
- Prizes, optional
What You Do:
- Fill a clear jar or bowl with Candy Corn – make sure to count exactly how many pieces you are putting into the jar and write down the quantity.
- Place the candy jar on a table, along with the Guessing Sheet.
- When your guests arrive, have them guess how many pieces of candy are in the jar, then write their name and their guess on the Guessing Sheet.
- The guest who guesses the exact number of pieces, wins a prize! If no one guesses the exact amount, you can award the prize to the one who guessed the closest amount high or low, or closest without going over. You decide the rules!
Variations:
- Instead of using Candy Corn, fill your jar with Green M&Ms or Eyeball Gumballs for ghoulish fun.
- Need an idea for a prize? How about this: send the entire candy jar home with the winner!!
- WHAT?!? You have left-over Candy Corn?!? Here’s a howling good recipe to make the sweet candy even sweeter! You will need: 16 chocolate sandwich cookies, coarsely chopped (Oreo cookies work very well); 1-1/2 cups yogurt pretzels, coarsely broken; 1/3 cup raisins; 2 6-ounce packages of white baking chocolate; 1/2 cup candy corn, and 1/4 cup of brown sprinkles. What you do: spread cookies, pretzels, and raisins on a lightly greased baking sheet. Melt white chocolate in a saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly. When chocolate is melted, drizzle it over the cookie mixture on the baking sheet. Top the mixture with candy corn and sprinkles, then lightly press into the chocolate mixture. Cool until firm, then break into pieces and serve. Store left-overs in an airtight container at room temperature. Yum! Make enough ahead of time to send some home with your party guests, too! Just package the pieces in a Glassine Bag – a perfect sweet treat party favor!
We’ll be posting more game ideas leading up to Halloween – make sure to check back each day for more Halloween fun!
You May Also Like:
Copyright © 2007-2010 Escapade Direct LLC. All rights reserved. All content on this site is property of Escapade Direct LLC and may not be used without our written permission.
Halloween is just around the corner – are you ready to scare up some fun!?!
We’ve listed our favorite party favors, unique gift ideas and Halloween decorations – as well as some of our fun ideas below. Make sure to visit our Halloween Shop for even more fun items! Mention our blog post when you place an order, and receive a FREE Halloween Gift with your order!
Happy Halloween!
HALLOWEEN PARTY KITS
Slime Party – This super cool and strange non-Newtonian fluid is a blast to mix up and play with, making it a perfect party activity! And… not only is this a fun party theme, but the slime becomes a party favor that kids can take home with them! Is that cool, or what?!
|
Glow Party – Use the components of this kit to create glow-in-the-dark paint and a cool glow stick! And… not only is this a fun party theme, but the glow in the dark creations become party favors that kids can take home with them!
|
HALLOWEEN PARTY FAVORS
Spooky Noggin Bops – Makes fun favors and spooky surprise gifts! Bop along with Drac, The Count; Mummy, The Wrapper; Jack-o-Bop, The Pumpkin; Skully, The Skeleton; Frankenhead, The Monster; and Cackle, The Witch. Click this link to watch the video!
|
Pumpkin Nyokki Pet Plant – Grow a pet just in time for Halloween; a fun project for kids leading up to Halloween! Easy to grow, contains everything you need. This is a limited edition Nyokki, and quantities are limited – get yours today!
|
Glow Bracelets – There’s almost no end to the uses of the 8″ Glowing Bracelet! The slim eight inch glow stick can be used as a glow bracelet or glowing anklet by using the supplied connector. Put two or three glow bracelets together for a great looking necklace.
|
Glow in the Dark Pigment – This cool chemistry bits kit helps kids learn about the chemistry behind phosphorescence – and the real quantum leap! Just add the glow powder from this kit to glue, paint, or slime for glow in the dark fun!
|
HALLOWEEN GAMES
Boooo-opoly – It’s creepy, and ghoulish! It’s a scream! This is a fun game to play at Halloween parties – or on the days leading up to Halloween! Buy your favorite Halloween properties, collected Haunted Houses and trade them for Full Moons!
|
Monster-Opoly – A fun game for little ghouls to play! Perfect for Halloween parties! Don’t be afraid of monsters – sit down and play a game to get to know them!
|
Jenga, Halloween Edition – Set this Halloween Jenga game out on your Halloween party table and let your guests have fun! A classic game, with a Halloween twist!
|
Spooky Tales Storytelling Game Collection – Gather your friends or family and see who can create the freakiest, creepiest, funniest tale with the Twisted Tales Storytelling Game! Start with a card that prompts you for the beginning of the story, a card that enhances the story, and a card that has a story ending. Use your imagination to weave your own tale.
|
HALLOWEEN COSTUMES
HALLOWEEN DECORATIONS
Halloween Stickers Box (Vintage Halloween Labels) – Create your own Halloween party invitations and decorations with this set of vintage stickers! Fun for kids and adults!
|
Human Skeleton Model (34 inches tall) – Not only is this life-like model educational, it’s great fun as a Halloween dinner guest!
|
Ice Dessert Mold – Use this easy-to-make mold to create creepy lights for your Halloween dining table! Freeze candy corns, gummy worms, or other fun surprises in the ice for a ghastly lantern! Of, if you prefer, make an ice dessert mold and serve green ice cream!
|
Glow Sticks – Not only are glow sticks fun for trick-or-treaters to use while outside at night, they make fun and spooky Halloween decorations, too! Place an activated glow stick in a test tube or beaker for eerie lights for a Halloween party. They look cool inside pumpkins, too!
|
Laser Stars – Light up the outside of your house with this cool light display of thousands and thousands of tiny stars! Fun for welcoming Halloween party guests – it will look like they are being sucked into a black hole as they enter your house!
|
Jack-O-Lantern Table Sprinkles, Black Bat Table Sprinkles, and Spider Table Sprinkles – Sprinkle a handful on a party table, or use as gifts in a treat bag.
|
HALLOWEEN DRINKWARE
Make sure to check out our Halloween Fun with Test Tubes article, as well as our Creative Ideas for Using Petri Dishes article for even more fun ideas!
HALLOWEEN BOOKS
Have a Happy Halloween!!!
 Autumn… leaves changing color, cool temperatures, and Halloween just around the corner. That means one thing: no, not candy. Pumpkins! Pumpkins are part of the festival of fall. But you don’t have to wait for the bumper crop of pumpkins this year. Instead, make your own ever-lasting pumpkins!
You may have created papier-mache pumpkins in the past, which are pretty light, and fairly long lasting. But this project uses plaster cloth to make a VERY sturdy, VERY light-weight pumpkin that you can use as a decoration for years to come. Plaster cloth is much more durable than papier-mache, yet is just as easy to work with.
What You Need:
- 9″ to 12″ Balloon, blown up and tied shut
- Yarn or String
- Small Bowl (acts as a base to hold the balloon on the table)
- Scissors
- Plaster Molding Cloth (Plaster Bandages)
- Water, in a small plastic dish
- Paper Towels (for quick clean ups)
- Large Plastic Tray or Cookie Sheet
- Paints
- Permanent Markers
What You Do:
- Cut the plaster cloth into 1″ x 4″ strips. The smaller strips are easier for kids to work with, and allow more flexibilty in design. Set the strips within reach of the work area tray (you will want to keep these strips dry until ready to use).
- Inflate a balloon to the size you would like your finished pumpkin to be. Tie a long piece of string to the neck of the balloon so you can hang the pumpkin up to dry after applying the plaster.
- To create the grooves (or ridges) found on a real pumpkin, wrap a length of yarn or string around the balloon, starting at the base (or nozzle end) of the balloon to the top of the balloon. Wrap the string tightly to make the balloon bulge out around the string. Continue to wrap the balloon in this fashion until you have grooves all around the balloon.
- Prepare your work area by giving each child a tray to work on. You may choose to lay down newspaper or an old tablecloth in case of spills outside the tray. Place a small bowl on the tray and put the inflated balloon into the bowl. The bowl will act as a base to keep the balloon from rolling or moving. Place another small plastic bowl on the tray, and fill it with warm water. The water will be used to dip the plaster cloth into. We recommend that you have a few paper towels nearby for quick clean ups in case of spills.
- To begin creating a plaster pumpkin, dip a strip of plaster cloth into warm water, just long enough to get it wet, then remove the excess water by running your fingers down the strip. Lay this strip on the balloon to begin building a pumpkin. Rub the strip gently until all the plaster is spread around and is covering the cloth completely.
- Continue adding strips of plaster, one at a time, until the basic shape of the pumpkin is completed. Make sure to overlap the strips so they are connected.
- Once the entire first layer of the pumpkin is completed, continue adding up to three layers of plaster cloth. Make sure to place the strips in opposite directions to give the pumpkin shell strength.
- If you want to build up shapes on the pumpkin, such as a stem, a nose, or a wart, use precut pieces of cardboard, crunched up newspaper, tin foil, cotton balls, or even molded strips of plaster to act as the form. Once the “form” is in place, cover it with plaster strips to make it part of the pumpkin.
- When the pumpkin is completed, allow it to dry thoroughly before decorating. We recommend letting it dry overnight.
- Use paints and permanent markers to decorate your completed pumpkin. If you would like, you can also use sequins, feathers, stickers – or other embellishments to decorate your pumpkin. Be creative!
- If you would like to seal your completed pumpkin, we recommend using a product such as Modge Podge or Acrylic Sealer.
Tips:
- We recommend using a fairly thick balloon for this project, this helps to ensure the balloon won’t pop before your project is done.
Variations:
- Make a vintage pumpkin rattle! Follow the steps above using a 4 inch balloon. When your pumpkin head is done, cut a small hole in the bottom of the pumpkin and place several dried beans inside. Poke a tree branch into the hole and attach it to the pumpkin using a hot glue gun. The tree branch acts as a handle, and now you have a cool pumpkin shaker that you can use for decorations or for play!
- Make an entire pumpkin patch! Create pumpkins of various sizes and paint them all differently. Place the completed pumpkins all around your house for a nice Autumn decoration.
- Create at least three pumpkins in three different sizes. When the pumpkins are done, stack one on top of the other and glue them together. Place your pumpkin stack near your front door for an inviting decoration!
- The plaster is very easy to cut after it has dried. If you would like, use a sharp Xacto knife (with adult supervision) to “carve” your plaster pumpkin! Cut eyes, a nose, and a wicked mouth. Place a battery operated candle inside the pumpkin to light it up. CAUTION: To avoid a fire, do not to use a regular candle or open flame inside the plaster pumpkin!
- Pumpkins don’t have to be orange! Paint your pumpkins any color you would like! How about painting one with chalkboard paint? Then you can “decorate” it over and over and over again!
You May Also Like:
Copyright © 2007-2010 Escapade Direct LLC. All rights reserved. All content on this site is property of Escapade Direct LLC and may not be used without our written permission.
 Everybody has a bit of Mad Scientist in them! Kids and adults alike enjoy letting their “inner Frankenstein” cut loose. We’ve got all kinds of great party ideas to let the Mad Scientist in everyone have a blast!
Mad Scientist Party Invitations
First things first: Get those party invitations in the mail!
- Wonder Tubes™ are perfect for delivering your mad scientist party invitations! Just create your invitation, roll it up in a Wonder Tube™ and mail! Yes, Wonder Tubes™ can be mailed! And what a fun surprise your party guests will have when they get theirs!
- Want another idea for an invitation? Use a Plastic Petri Dish! Create a round invitation, place it in a petri dish along with small candies or confetti, tie a ribbon around the dish, and hand them out to your friends! Silly scientific fun!
Mad Scientist Drinkware
Next, you need cool labware to serve your favorite beverages in:
- Labware Set: Test Tubes, Rack, Flask, and Pipettes – Every mad scientist enjoys mixing potions and colorful concoctions! This set of 6 glass test tubes and a test tube rack is a great way to get started! Just add a bit of your favorite beverages to each of the test tubes. Get your flask ready and start mixing drinks! Suction up a bit of this, then a bit of that, a dash of this, and several drops of that with your pipette… and POOF! You’ve got a tasty drink concoction! Drinking directly out of the flask is obviously very cool and perfect for mad scientists. Duh. Of course, pouring your favorite drink mix into the test tubes for your guests to drink out of is always a big hit, too! Our glass test tubes are large enough to get a big portion of potion, and they can be used again and again. Now that’s fun!
- Another great way to serve your tasty concoctions is with our Labware Set: Test Tubes and Beaker. Fill each of the 6 large glass test tubes with your favorite punch, then place the test tubes into this super-sized beaker filled with ice. Your beverages will stay cool, and the test tubes are fun to drink out of! Your guests will go “mad” for it! You may even want to add crazy labels to the test tubes, for example “Toxic Waste”, “Liquid Nitrogen”, “Alien Ooze” – you get the idea.
- Our Glass Beaker and Erlenmeyer Flask make mad science beverages look even tastier! Serve your favorite beverages in these cool containers! Replenish your guests’ beakers and flasks with our Large Glass Beaker – just keep it full of punch to pour! Better yet, fill several of these large-sized beakers and keep them on a buffet table for your guests to refill their own beakers, flasks, or test tubes. Everyone will love being a mad scientist!
- Depending on the age of your mad scientist guests, you may want to use our Wonder Tubes and Rack Set instead of glass test tubes. Wonder Tubes are made of indestructable plastic and will last for years! They’re perfect for younger scientists, whether they are mad or not!
- No mad scientist lab is complete without tubes and potion piping! Our DIY Drinking Strawz (available in four colors) are perfect for your guests to create their own mad lab drinking straws!
Mad Scientist Serving Dishes
Next, you need to serve your treats and goodies, mad scientist style:
- Our Glass Petri Dishes are perfect for serving mad scientist snacks! These super-sized petri dishes include a base and a cover – both of which can be used for serving snacks. For small snacks, include several Forceps for your guests to dissect and extract the snacks for themselves!
- For smaller servings – like candies, peanuts, or mints – use our Plastic Petri Dishes. Fill each petri dish with a colorful candy (like candy corn or M&Ms), then stack the petri dishes for a delightful snack tower!
- Use Beakers to hold utensils, as vases, and to hold snacks.
Mad Scientist Party Decorations
Make sure to set the stage for your party! With just the right decorations, your mad scientist friends will feel right at home:
- Set up our Human Skeleton Model (34 inches tall) for creepy science fun! This guy can be used to greet your visitors at the entrance to your party! Makes a great decoration for a buffet table, too!
- Another cool guy to invite to your party is our 3D Human Torso Model and Puzzle! Your guests can interact with this guy by taking him apart and putting him back together. Mad anatomy science!
- Place several snack filled Plastic Beakers on your food table, along with a bunch of Plastic Cylinders. Because these beakers and cylinders are plastic, they are perfect for mad science parties for kids!
- Plastic Forceps are perfect for eating small snacks! Set out a supply and let your guests pick away!
- Paint glow in the dark decorations around your room with our Glow-in-the-Dark Pigment Kit! Just mix this powder with any paint or white glue to create eerie fun throughout your party room!
- Set several Real Slate Chalkboards in Chalkboard Holders around your party room. Write scientific equations on the chalkboards, or encourage your guests to write their own concoctions and equations!
- Use a large white Drawing Paper Roll to line your buffet table and party tables, just secure with tape. Set out flourescent highlighter markers and encourage your guests to draw their own crazy experiments and equations on the paper. The drawings will glow under a black light – fun for all!
- Place activated Glow Sticks in beakers and bowls filled with ice for eerie glowing special effects.
Mad Scientist Party Activities
Need something to keep your scientists busy during your party? Try these ideas:
- Create Slime! Our Slime Party Kit has all the ingredients necessary to make 15-30 batches of slime. The slime is extremely easy to make, lasts a long time, and is a great party favor to send home with all your mad scientists! This kit even includes a Party Guide that’s FULL of slime party decoration ideas, themed food and beverage ideas, activities, games, and more. Our Slime Party Kit makes a way cool party all on it’s own – but combined with the Mad Scientist theme, it’s even more fun!
- Blow things up! You’re guests will have a blast with our Geyser Tube and Mentos Kit! Just add a bottle of diet soda and a place in your backyard, and you have explosive fun!
- Macabre Body Parts! Use our Small Craft Box with Lid to contain dissected body parts! We like to paint the boxes black and then label them with their contents. Place a plastic petri dish in the bottom of each box, then fill them with their contents: eyeballs (peeled grapes), brains (steamed chilled cauliflower), worms (spaghetti), nails (nutshells), teeth (small bits of chalk), bones (boiled cleaned chicken bones), hearts (latex, fingers pushed on the inside, filled with pudding and tied off at the end), and toes (large carrot ends). Guests get to take turns putting their hands in the boxes to feel the contents (no peeking!). So creepy!
Mad Scientist Party Games
Time for a crazy mad game!
- Colorful Concoctions Ring Toss – Set up either 9 or 16 Erlenmeyer Flasks in a grid pattern on the floor, with the flasks spaced about 4 inches apart. Fill each flask with water, then add our Color Splash Tablets to the flasks to create a variety of different colored water. Have all your mad scientist guests stand at least 4 feet away from the flasks and toss activated Glow Bracelets at the flasks to see how many they can ring. The scientist that ringed the most, wins the bracelets!
- Petri Dish Relay – To play, you will need a start/finish line, a turn-around line, a bucket filled with water, an empty bucket, and a plastic Petri Dish – one of each for each team. Line up each team’s runners behind the start/finish line. At the start signal, the first players on each team scoops a plastic petri dish of water from their bucket and runs to an empty bucket at the turn-around line, trying to avoid spilling any water. At the turn-around line, they pour the water from the petri dish into the bucket, and then sprint back to the start line. At the start line again, the players pass the petri dish to the next runner in line, who then scoops another petri dish of water from their bucket, and repeats the pattern. The team that transfers all their water from one bucket to the other bucket first, is the winner! TIP: To make this game even more of a challenge, place a block of dry ice into the start line bucket of water. This will create a wonderfully sinister fog effect, making it harder to see the water in the bucket. Just make sure not to touch the dry ice!
Mad Scientist Party Favors
Send all your mad scientists home with fun favors for lasting memories of your party:
- Wonder Tube™ plastic test tubes are the perfect science favor! For an extra special treat, fill them with small candies, such as Skittles or Pop Rocks.
- Glow Sticks are fun for kids of all ages!
- If you made slime at your party, send the slime home with each guest.
- Atom Balls can be used as party decorations and for games and activities during your party, then they can be sent home with your scientists as a party favor.
- Hyper-Flex Stretchy String can be used for party activities and games, and again, doubles as a take home prize.
- Icky Slick Capsules can be used for party activities, as well as take home gifts.
- Glow Bracelets are fun for party play and for gifts. Available in Blue, Green, Pink, Purple, and Red.
- Send your guests home smiling with test tubes of Touchable Bubbles!
- Slippery Spheres also make fun decorations for your science lab – just add them to a glass petri dish and let your guests play! Make sure to keep a few packets to send home as party favors, too!
Mad Scientist Beverage Ideas
Here are a few of our favorite recipes that pack an atomic punch:
- Periodic Punch – Mix 1 bottle (64 ounces) of chilled White Cranberry Juice, 1 bottle (2 liters) of chilled Ginger Ale, and 1 bottle (1 liter) of chilled Orange-Flavored Seltzer in a clear punch bowl. Tint with 3 to 5 drops of neon green food color. Serve immediately. Makes about 20 cups. NOTE: This punch is such a wonderfully evil tint, you’ll want to serve it from a clear glass punch bowl.
- Sludge Punch – In a clear punch bowl, combine 2 cans (12 ounces each) of frozen Pineapple-Orange Juice Concentrated (thawed), 2 cups of Water, and 1 envelope of Unsweeted Orange Soft Drink Mix. Stir in 2 liters of chilled Lemon-Lime Soda. Top the punch with scoops of Orange Sherbet and serve immediately. Makes 16 servings.
Mad Scientist Food Ideas
No science lab is complete with creepy things to eat! Here are some ideas:
- Chocolate Slime – In a medium saucepan over low heat, stir together 1 (14 ounce) can of Sweetened Condensed Milk, 2 tablespoons Chocolate Syrup, and 1-1/2 tablespoons of Cornstarch. Continue stirring over heat until the slime thickens, then remove from heat. Allow the chocolate slime to cool, then it is ready to serve, play with, and eat!
- Fresh Flesh Roll-Ups – You will need: Italian Herb Flatout Bread or flour tortillas; Seasoned Cheese Spread (we like to use Boursin cheese); Precooked Bacon Pieces; Baby Spinach Leaves; Sliced Turkey Lunchmeat. To prepare: Spread each piece of flatout bread or tortilla with a thin layer of seasoned cheese spread. Place slices of turkey on top of the cheese spread so that the entire cheese surface is covered. Top the turkey slices with precooked bacon bits. Layer baby spinach leaves on top of the bacon, then roll the bread tightly to form a roll-up sandwich. Slice the roll-up into 1 inch slices, then serve the bite-sized sandwiches and enjoy!
- Guacamoldy and Finger Chips – You will need: Vegetable Oil Cooking Spray; 24 Large Flour Tortillas; 3 cups of your favorite Prepared (prepackaged) Guacamole, and Coarse Salt. To prepare: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray. Use a knife to cut large finger shapes from the tortillas (don’t worry if they are not perfect). Arrange as many finger shapes as you can fit in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet. Coat the tortilla fingers with cooking spray and season with salt. Bake until the fingers are slightly darkened and crisp (usually about 10 minutes). Remove the tortillas from the oven and allow to cool. Continue heating tortilla shapes until you have the desired amount. To serve, spoon guacamole into our large glass petri dishes and place the finger tortilla chips in a bowl. Delightfully good!
WHAT?!?!?!? You want even more ideas?! Make sure to check out:
- Creative Ideas for Using Petri Dishes – Click this link for ten unique ideas. Includes free templates you can download and print.
- Fun with Test Tubes – Test tubes aren’t just for science! This article has lots of other creative ideas for test tube fun.
- Stop by our Halloween Shop for unique Halloween games, books, toys, and more! We’ve included additional Halloween ideas for our products at the bottom of each product page – come check it out!
STILL MORE???? Check back throughout the month – we’ll be posting lots more fun Halloween ideas and activities for kids and their families! Click the Posts or By Email icon in the upper-right corner of this screen to subscribe to our posts – you won’t want to miss a single thing!
Copyright © 2007-2010 Escapade Direct LLC. All rights reserved. All content on this site is property of Escapade Direct LLC and may not be used without our written permission.
Kids of all ages enjoy Halloween! Sure… Halloween Candy is sweet, but FUN (and educational) Halloween Party Favors are even sweeter!
We’ve listed our favorite party favors, unique gift ideas and Halloween decorations – as well as some of our fun ideas below. Make sure to visit our Halloween Shop for even more fun items!
Happy Halloween!
HALLOWEEN PARTY FAVORS
Spooky Noggin Bops – Makes fun favors and spooky surprise gifts! Bop along with Drac, The Count; Mummy, The Wrapper; Jack-o-Bop, The Pumpkin; Skully, The Skeleton; Frankenhead, The Monster; and Cackle, The Witch. Click this link to watch the video!
|
Pumpkin Nyokki Pet Plant – Grow a pet just in time for Halloween; a fun project for kids leading up to Halloween! Easy to grow, contains everything you need. This is a limited edition Nyokki, and quantities are limited – get yours today!
|
HALLOWEEN GAMES
Boooo-opoly – It’s creepy, and ghoulish! It’s a scream! This is a fun game to play at Halloween parties – or on the days leading up to Halloween! Buy your favorite Halloween properties, collected Haunted Houses and trade them for Full Moons!
|
Monster-Opoly – A fun game for little ghouls to play! Perfect for Halloween parties! Don’t be afraid of monsters – sit down and play a game to get to know them!
|
Jenga, Halloween Edition – Set this Halloween Jenga game out on your Halloween party table and let your guests have fun! A classic game, with a Halloween twist!
|
HALLOWEEN COSTUMES
HALLOWEEN DECORATIONS
Halloween Stickers Box (Vintage Halloween Labels) – Create your own Halloween party invitations and decorations with this set of vintage stickers! Fun for kids and adults!
|
Human Skeleton Model (34 inches tall) – Not only is this life-like model educational, it’s great fun as a Halloween dinner guest!
|
Ice Dessert Mold – Use this easy-to-make mold to create creepy lights for your Halloween dining table! Freeze candy corns, gummy worms, or other fun surprises in the ice for a ghastly lantern! Of, if you prefer, make an ice dessert mold and serve green ice cream!
|
Glow Sticks – Not only are glow sticks fun for trick-or-treaters to use while outside at night, they make fun and spooky Halloween decorations, too! Place an activated glow stick in a test tube or beaker for eerie lights for a Halloween party. They look cool inside pumpkins, too!
|
Laser Stars – Light up the outside of your house with this cool light display of thousands and thousands of tiny stars! Fun for welcoming Halloween party guests – it will look like they are being sucked into a black hole as they enter your house!
|
Jack-O-Lantern Table Sprinkles, Black Bat Table Sprinkles, and Spider Table Sprinkles – Sprinkle a handful on a party table, or use as gifts in a treat bag.
|
HALLOWEEN DRINKWARE
Glass Beaker (50 ml) and Glass Beaker (150 ml) – Serve your favorite beverages in a “mad scientist” beaker! Buuuhaaahaaahaaa….
|
Glass Test Tubes and Glass Beaker (800 ml) – Place ice cubes at the bottom of the large beaker, place test tubes into the ice in the beaker, and use the test tubes to serve a spooktacular beverage this Halloween! The ice in the beaker keeps your drink cold.
|
Glass Erlenmeyer Flask – Add a straw and serve your favorite “potion” in this “mad scientist” beaker! Kids absolutely love drinking out of these flasks!
|
Glass Petri Dish (with Cover) – Serve your party treats in these large glass petri dishes! Mad science fun!
|
Make sure to check out our Halloween Fun with Test Tubes article, as well as our Creative Ideas for Using Petri Dishes article for even more fun ideas!
HALLOWEEN BOOKS
Have a Happy Halloween!!!
|
|
