An avid bird watcher keeps an eye on her little owl with a pair of binoculars. Other than the hat and a canteen (available at camping-supply stores), this costume can be assembled entirely from ordinary street clothes: Choose an outfit that consists of neutral, outdoorsy pieces, such as the safari-style jacket and brown pants shown, and don't forget a pair of sensible shoes.
Fill old-style specimen jars with water, and add enough food coloring to produce a suitably supernatural tint. Arrange lotus pods, poppy pods, and coneflower heads within. No evil will darken your doorstep with these eerie elixirs on display.
Cast a sinister glow over any setting with a cluster of white tapers dripping with "blood" (actually red candle wax). Fill a cup or a small pail with sand, and plant white candles inside so they stand upright. Light a red candle and tip it over the white candles so the wax drips down the tops and sides, being careful not to burn yourself. Let wax cool completely before removing candles from sand.
Even if you tend to be scared of your own shadow, you'll still smile at your reflection, thanks to this friendly spirit on your mirror. The cutout is made of frosted-glass window film, which adheres easily and (like ghosts everywhere) disappears without a trace. Download the template, trace onto the film, cut out with a pair of scissors, and apply.
A gaggle of helium-filled jack-o'-lantern balloons hovers near the refreshment table. The simple features are drawn onto the inflated balloons with permanent marker. Choose an assortment of geometric shapes that are easy to create freehand.
