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How to Build a Pumpkin Stack Using Dry Ice

21/10/2019

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These stacked jack o’ lanterns were such a pleasure to create not only because they were easy to assemble but as a Halloween fanatic I already had all the plastic pumpkins scattered throughout my Halloween apartment!  Also, using the hot glue gun  allowed me to peel the dried glue off my plastic pumpkins without causing any damage to them at all.

​What you need:
  • Plastic pumpkin buckets
  • Glue gun & glue
  • Penguin dry ice
  • Warm water
  • Depending on how you go, I suggest small stones or something to weigh down the bottom jack*
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Step 1:  Decisions, Decisions
Decide how you tall you want to go!  For this project, I chose 3 pumpkins tall would be the perfect height for what I wanted.  Before I did anything, I stacked and arranged them to see how they fit on top of each other.  The snugger the fit the better but in the end, the hot glue will do the job so it’s okay if there are a couple of gaps between each one, like the one below.

If you’re stack has a jumbo pumpkin base like the one here in the lower right, and you’re not planning to go too tall, you can start gluing your stack together already.

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Step 2:  Keep em’ Steady
However, if your stack includes pumpkins that are all fairly the same size then you’re going to need to steady the bottom jack or else it’ll be way too top heavy (the dry ice and water go in the top pumpkin so keep that in mind).  For mine, I threw in some aquarium rocks in the smaller jack bases and that worked perfectly.
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After that, I just hot glued the pumpkins together by gluing around the rim and held them until the glue dried - about 20 seconds.  I repeated the process for the next pumpkin in the stack until it was the height I wanted.

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Step 3: Stacked, Glued and Ready
Your stack should be assembled and glued at this point – all that’s missing is the magic: dry ice. 

At this stage is where I recommend you really examine your jacks and make sure the stack can sit steady. 

​Remember: this is top heavy, and you’ll be refilling that top pumpkin so make sure your stack can handle the weight of water and ice.

Step 4:  Fill ‘em up!
Decide where you’re going to use your pumpkin stack and place it there. 

Using safety gloves, I put of scoop of dry ice in the top pumpkin in each stack.  TIP: Try to leave your dry ice as chunky as possible.  I hammered mine a bit too much and turned it into powder.  This ended up evaporating the dry ice so fast it didn’t give the effect I was going for.  The bigger your chunks, the better the effect. 
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After you place your dry ice in the top pumpkin, slowly pour warm water over it and voila!  You have a smoking jack o’ lantern stack!
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Step 5:  Where to Use
  • Halloween tablescape
  • An Instagram or Snap Chat photo op
  • Place in your garden for spooky outdoor party fun 
  • Makes a fun family project while learning about safety

Step 6:  Enter the Penguin Dry Ice Contest!
Show off your own Frightfully Cool Halloween creation by entering the Penguin Dry Ice contest!  This year there are not one, but two $1,000 grand prizes!  Head over to the Frightfully Cool website HERE for official rules, prize list, safety guidelines and find out where you can buy dry ice.  I found mine at Smart & Final.  
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I hope I inspired you to create your own Halloween scene!  Did I mention I also happen to be a judge for the Frightfully Cool contest again this year?  I cannot wait to see what you all dream up!

Halloween Hugs,
Venus aka @HalloweenXO
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Announcing HallowOuija Wednesday!

24/6/2019

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Many Halloween moons ago I was a crafting queen.  Every month you could find me at the Long Beach Artwalk selling my handmade buttons, ttv photography prints and resin jewelry.  Long before Instagram and long before HalloweenXO was even on my brain, our booth could be counted on to bring the spooky & fun vibes every third Saturday of the month in Downtown Long Beach.  Fast forward past the career changes, sudden apartment moves and health hurdles to this very moment - I'm 100% ready to throw anxiety to the wind and jump in the deep end....again.
Candy Corn Planchette HalloweenXO
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​If you attended Midsummer Scream last year or were following my adventures on IG, you might remember my Trick or Treat scavenger hunt extravaganza.  One of the Halloween treats I passed out were my handmade candy corn ouija planchettes.  At the time I wanted to open my online store but besides being hit by multiple episodes of CVS (cyclic vomit syndrome), I started to feel super insecure about, not only my creations, but my entire sense of self.

When I took some unexpected time off from IG, and social media as a whole, I was able to focus on my health and recallibrate mentally.  Introspection, soul searching and shifting my life lens... I NEEDED THAT.  This creative Halloween adventure of mine has been a VERY LONG time in the making, and I'm excited bundle of nerves to finally open the next part of halloweenxo.com - Halloween Lifestyle Accessories!

Starting today I will begin listing accessories in the shop and you already know which ones I'm revealing first: my highly requested candy corn planchettes! 

In order to balance my full-time job, my Halloween planner stickers and Halloween accessories I'm only listing accessories on Wednesdays which I'm calling:  #HallowOuijaWednesday - Once I get a better flow going, I want to start adding more throughout the week.
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​For now, head over to the shop to check 'em out or hit my Instagram.  SO many good things coming, ghouls... SO MANY GOOD THINGS.

Halloween hugs,
Venus 
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They're baaaack

14/6/2019

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I've been working hard to get my Spring in Gloom bundle back in stock and I am happy to announce, they're back!  Click below to get yours today.
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Spooky Thank You!

12/6/2019

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In the words of Ms. Blanche Devareaux - I am stunned.  Not only am I stunned but my Halloween heart is so full right now, it's taken me a couple days to find the words.   Not only did I sell out of my Spring in Gloom bundles.... I sold out twice.

​I want to thank each and every one of you for the support you've shown - whether it's purchasing, sharing a post or even just leaving a comment... it's y'all that push me out of my comfort zone and all of this became a reality because of the awesome Halloween community.​
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As of right now, all bundles are sold but don't fret!  I am working on restocking those as I type this out! 
Again, THANK YOU for all the spooky love I've received.  I'm tweeking the last few details for my next release and I hope y'all love the next set as much as I do.   

Halloween hugs,
V  ​
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Halloween Lifestyle Planner Stickers

31/5/2019

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For some, Halloween is October.  For others, Halloween is every day.

As a decorative planner ghoul, finding planner stickers that fit my year round Halloween lifestyle isn't easy.  For years, my method has been to just stock up during the Halloween season or hunt off-season sales and then incorporate those with my stash of regular decor... and I love doing that.  It's such a creative challenge but at the same, can a ghoul get some planner stickers for year round Halloween?  Well, instead of dreaming about them I decided to bring them to life myself. 
Opening an online shop again was one of my main goals for 2019.  I have been working towards this for over a year - dealing with all of the creative droughts, mental mishaps and all the insecurity that comes with that.  After a bit of soul searching and taking time to recallibrate - I am so excited to finally present my very first bundle of year Halloween Lifestyle Planner Stickers:  Spring in Gloom.
This set is inspired by hallowspring imagery like candy corn raindrops, Halloween planters and a jack o'lantern sun.  I also whipped up every day Halloween planner stickers that can be bought individually or combined in a bundle.  I'm really proud of these - each sheet is designed, printed and cut by me.  From concept, to design, to putting them online to shipping... this is all on me and I hope you spooky ghouls out there love them as much as I loved making them.​ ​

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I've got quite a few year round Halloween treats still left in my trick or treat bag that I will unveil in the upcoming weeks.  HINT: If you love my Pizza Night Planchette, hang on to to your witch hats because something wicked this way comes.  For now, hit my shop up HERE or stalk my Instagram HERE. 
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    ​HALLOWEENXO

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    a Halloween Lifestyle enthusiast celebrating her love of Halloween year-round. When she's not busy haunting your Instagram feed, you can find her puttering about her Halloween apartment hanging spiderwebs, hoarding jack o' lanterns or conjuring black magic coffee spells. ​

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