Innovative Invitations

Fold an 8½ x 11-inch piece of orange paper in half crosswise. Cut the folded paper in the shape of a pumpkin (for a pumpkin front and back). With other paper, cut out a lid and a purple stem. Cut a slit across the top of the front with a fine knife. Print party information on white paper, allowing room for a photo.

When trimmed, the printed paper should be no wider than the slit and no longer than the pumpkin. Glue a lid to the top of printed paper and slip into the slit. Use double-stick tape to adhere pumpkin shapes together. Place the tap close to the outside edge so the printed paper moves freely. Glue photo(s) in place and decorate!

Skeleton Place Card

You need six chenille stems (bones), eight pony beads (joints), a 1½-inch plastic-foam ball (skull), and a photo of each guest. Push foam ball onto end of first chenille stem. Twist the center of second stem (shoulders/arms) onto first stem ½" from ball. Slip a bead on one shoulder/arm; twist stem at the shoulder to hold bead in place. Repeat for elbow. Coil rest of first stem around a thick pen for rib cage. Fold third stem in half (spine/pelvis). Slip fold around neck and through rib cage. Wrap bottom of rib cage to the spine. For a pelvis, make a heart shape with the ends of the third stem; wrap to spine. Use fourth and fifth stems for legs/feet, adding beads for joints. For toes and fingers, cut four short pieces from the sixth stem. Use tape to secure portrait to skull.

Witch Hat Candy Cane

Make a hat brim with a paper cut band to fit around the wide end of a chocolate ice cream waffle cone. Fill with goodies.

Spooky Silverware!

Push the handles of plastic flatware into a 2-inch-diameter plastic-foam ball (place handles close to one another, but not in the same hole). Wrap ball with a large white napkin and tie the "neck" with ribbon.

Thank You Notes

Glue snapshots from the part to bright-colored paper. (The bottom edge of this thank-you paper is decoratively cut with paper edgers.) Write a message and add a few Halloween-themed stickers.