Halloween Wars - Season 3

Add to your Halloween television programming; Season 3 of  "Halloween Wars", Sunday, October 6, at 9 PM.
 

Photo courtesy of Food Network

 Got caught up into watching this seasonal Food Network program a couple years ago after watching a pumpkin carving competition involving master carver Ray Villafane. It was the first time I had seen Villafane's work and I was blown away by his creations. That same year Villafane competed in Season 1 of Halloween Wars which competed five teams consisting of a pumpkin carver, cake decorator, and  a candy confectioner, and challenging them to come up with various Halloween inspired masterpieces combining their individual crafts.

Although Villafane or his partner Andy Bergholtz aren't competing this year, associates of Villafane Studios, Sue Beatrice and Gabe Vinas are competing against one another on separate teams, so I'm sure there will be some exceptional pumpkin carving.  Food Network also always have some unique guest judges like Director Rob Zombie and "Goosebumps" author R.L. Stine. If you haven't watched it before, give it a watch, if you have, it's BACK!

First Monster Mud of the Season

Actually she is our only "Monster Mud" creation this year. Still working on the snake she is holding before sealing her with DryLok paint and giving the "stone" some aging. Still have to make her other resin foot this week as well ...

Anyone else running behind besides us?!

Sidetracked

Got sidetracked from our two larger props after Belinda's visit to the Spirit Store. She took the day and made a new monster from an inexpensive rubber mask, gloves and plastic axe. Sort of an "evil executioner" to welcome the trick-or-treaters at the main entrance. Overall I think he looks pretty menacing especially under the lights.

Visiting Spirit

Paid a visit to two of our local Spirit Halloween Stores this past Labor Day. Pretty much a clown theme this year although there were some assorted zombies and "jumpy" things like the jumping spider they came out with two years ago. I'm very cautious about buying Spirit's stuff after the dismal failure of the fogger we bought from them that lasted all of about 6 hours of use over two Halloweens. Still it's alway fun to see what they've come up with, and the pop up zombie and spider we have bought from them are still going after being used for three Halloween nights.

There were about 6 or 7 carnival props counting the clowns

Liked the guy on the left if you had a circus theme he'd make a good addition

This guy was my absolute favorite!

The Grim Reaper was an "exclusive" for this year. I only saw one box at this store and no boxes of them at the other store. He has a very creepy face though. "Exclusive stuff" is limited quantity the first year and Spirit will be the only one selling them. By the second year it will most likely be available in other stores such as Target at a much reduced price.

Jumping rat was pretty cool. There was also a jumping snake and of course the older jumping spider.

This is a poor photo but I thought the "Garden Gnomes gone bad" were a pretty unique concept

This weeping angel would have been cool if it jumped forward at you. Just moved it's hands to reveal an ugly face and talked though.

Diet

Damn you Krispy Kreme! You don't play fair!