Spook Spotter: Scary Halloween Miniatures from Michael’s

If you haven’t purchased your ceramic black Christmas tree from Michael’s yet, it’s probably too late.  The vintage-inspired tabletop tree from Mr. Halloween (Mr. Christmas) is reportedly gone at many locations across the country.  They have literally flown off the shelves.  But there’s still plenty of other goodies in store this year that are just as ghoulishly great.

Take for example, these Halloween Miniatures from the Tiny Treasures line.  These are the best ones ever released at Michael’s, and some of the best miniatures/Halloween village accessories ever created.

Tiny Treasures Michael’s Halloween Miniatures

 

Ranging in price from $4.00 to $8.00, the miniatures are spectacular in detail.  A haunted carriage is one of the larger accessories you can purchase.  It is available for $15.00.

The best of the lot are the witch with the cauldron and the mysterious reaper with the crystal ball.

Tiny Treasures Michael’s Village Accessories

 

These are selling fast, so head down to your local Michael’s and grab your favorites before they’re gone!

Michael’s Halloween Miniatures

Monsterville: Target’s Universal Monsters Line

For those of you who don’t know, Monsterville is Target’s new line of officially licensed Monster Movie merchandise featuring the Universal Monsters.

I have managed to get mostly every piece I can find, and I can’t tell you how awesome they are. These are the best Halloween decorations I have found in a big box store in years! Not only do they have movie-accurate likenesses, but they play dialog from the films and trailers… Plus the stuff is just genuinely well-designed. Here’s what I have found so far.

First up is the Boris Karloff Mummy Head, probably the best piece. It moves side to side, the eyes light up, and it plays phrases from the movie and trailer when you walk by..

Target Monsterville Universal Monsters Mummy Talking Head

 

Next are the Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein Cloches (globes) The burning windmill is one of the best Halloween decorations I’ve ever owned. Such amazing detail! And the sound effects are great. The LEDs in these are super bright. They light up the whole room!

Target Monsterville Universal Monsters Bride of Frankenstein Cloche Globe

Target Monsterville Universal Monsters Frankenstein Cloche Globe

Target Monsterville Universal Monsters Frankenstein Cloche Globe

 

The Frankenstein, Mummy, and Creature Screamers are really awesome and a great steal at 5 bucks each! They each play about three movie phrases, lasting about 10 seconds each. The Mummy and Creature are my favorites. Really awesome little shelf-sitters! Again, these are crazy bright!

Target Monsterville Universal Monsters Frankenstein Mummy Creature from the Black Lagoon Screamers

 

The Frankenstein Door Greeter moves its eyes and mouth, says spooky phrases, and lights up as it greets Trick-or-Treaters at the door!

Target Monsterville Universal Monsters Frankenstein Door Greeter

 

Finally is another great piece, the Frankenstein Head in Dome. This is a really beautiful piece. Fantastic sound and lights, but an even better Karloff Monster sculpt. Sooooo cool! I cannot recommend these enough!

Target Monsterville Universal Monsters Frankenstein Head in Dome

Target Monsterville Universal Monsters Frankenstein Head in Dome

Feel free to post your finds here!

 

 

Scary Soda and Chilling Chips

There’s a spooky new soda in the city…  Halloween Crush: Eerie Orange!  Check out that vicious vampire and that happening haunted house.

And Pringles is getting in on the frightful fun!  Check out this box of Pringles Singles complete with tombstones.  With 24 single-serving sized containers in each box, these would be great for Trick or Treaters.

Halloween Pringles

The Creepiest Candy for Halloween ’16

With so much candy out there, it’s hard to pinpoint exactly what kind of candy will be both satisfying to Trick-or-Treaters and those who treat them.  The best suggestion is to get candy that you and your family enjoy!

This year, there are a few really cool offerings as well as some classic candy that you can never go wrong with!  This year, Hershey’s has decided to add recipes and ideas to the back of their Halloween candy bags as part of their “Celebrate with Hershey’s” campaign.  As such, when you pick up that bag of Kit Kats, York Peppermint Patties, or Reese’s, you will also be getting a cool idea to take your treats to the next level.

In addition to the treat tips, Hershey’s has revamped some of its candy bags.  Check out the penguins on the York Peppermint Pumpkins!

2016 Halloween Candy Bags

Finally, Snickers is back with its ghost-laden X-Scream bars.  What is your favorite Halloween-themed candy?  Share it with us in the comments below!

All that (Retail) Remains

There are a few more Halloween items we would like to let you know about before the end of this spooky season.

A creepy and cool item is this faux-flame jack-o’-lantern that is sold at Lowe’s.  This ghoulish guy looks like one of those new age fireplaces when turned on, making for quite the lighted spooktacular.  It’s like a Halloween bonfire is burning inside of him.  Eerie and impressive all the same.

Lowe’s Faux-Flame Jack-o’-Lantern

 

Next is a very unique item from Dollar Tree.  Dollar Tree and similar discount retailers are the ones most likely to have really cool items that other major retailers simply won’t stock.  Take for example this beautiful 5 ft. jointed vampiress cutout.  Now who could this possibly be?  Looks like it’s Sam Dracula’s Daughter, a resident of 1313 Mockingbird Lane, doesn’t she?

This beautiful, fully-jointed homage to the classic monster sitcom is available for the modest retail price of $1.00.  Here’s hoping more like her pop up in the next few years.  We wouldn’t mind having the whole Munsters Family lining our haunted halls.  Would you?

Haunted HomeGoods

One of the best retailers to find menacing merchandise is HomeGoods, part of the TJX chain of stores which also includes TJ Maxx and Marhsall’s.  This year, HomeGoods has a few items that will be sure to satisfy even the most savvy of home haunters.

First is this fantastic vintage-style Halloween bucket fashioned in the shape of a black cat’s head.  This fiendish feline is extremely reminiscent of the papier mache Halloween treat pails from the early 20th century.

Vintage Style Black Cat Treat Bucket from HomeGoods

 

In addition to some vintage-style decor, HomeGoods is also offering a  variety of boo-tiful busts and statues.  One of the most popular is the Headless Horseman statue.  This year, the Horseman comes in two colors (silver or black) as well as two sizes.  The smaller one is perfect for a book shelf, while the larger one would be great for an entryway.

Headless Horseman Statue from HomeGoods

 

Michael’s Monstrous Merchandise

As usual, one of the coolest places to find petrifying products is at Michael’s Arts and Crafts.  This year, Michael’s continues with its Spooky Town line of haunted houses and village accessories from Lemax.

New Addition to the Lemax Spooky Town Collection

 

But Spooky Town isn’t the only musty must-have at Michael’s this year.  Check out this Witchy Woman Tabletop piece and the Raven candle holders.

Michael’s Haunted Home Decor

 

Both the centerpiece and candle holders come in alternative styles.  There is a black cat centerpiece and the candle holders also come with bat bases.

 

World Market’s Frankenstein Collection

The Universal Studios Monsters are invading Cost Plus World Market once again this year with some truly astounding additions to their home entertaining and decor collection.  The new offerings feature the Frankenstein family: the man, the monster, and the mate!  A brand new tote bag featuring the likeness of the great Colin Clive (Dr. Frankenstein) on the front and Boris Karloff (The Monster) and Elsa Lanchester (The Bride) on the reverse is available in stores now.

Universal Studios Monsters Home Decor at World Market

In addition to the new tote, a fang-tastic series of pillows is also on sale.  They feature Dr. Frankenstein, Fritz (his mad assistant portrayed by the amazing Dwight Frye), and the Glenn Strange Frankenstein Monster.

The pillows join several new trays, platters, and even coasters.  These designs are available online as well as at local World Market retailers.

Trader Joe’s Spooky Selection

Trader Joe’s has been bringing Halloween delight to customers for several years now.  This year, the store has really outdone itself, though.  In addition to the Haunted House Cookie Kit and the traditional Pumpkin and Halloween cookie varieties (called Joe-Joe’s), they are now offering Trader Joe’s Ghosts and Bats potato crisps!  These crunchy potato snacks comes shaped like the Halloween staples that are their namesake.

Trader Joe’s Halloween Assortment

As an added bonus, the packaging for both the Haunted House kit and the Halloween Joe Joe’s comes with artwork found on vintage Halloween postcards.  Now if that doesn’t get you in the Halloween Spirit, I don’t know what will!

Spook Spotter: The Best Halloween Treats of 2015 III

The Countdown to Halloween continues with a look at some of the sweetest treats available this year.

The following does not constitute an endorsement of any product or retailer.   It is for information purposes only.

Halloween Treats are in abundant supply this year.  Rice Krispies Treats have gone into full-on Spook Mode this season.  The classic Kellogg’s sweets are now being offered as Halloween “mini-squares”.  Each box of Halloween Treats features 60 individually-wrapped snacks, all of which come in fashionably-freaky packaging featuring black cats, pumpkins, and spiders.  The fantastic box artwork is featured below.  These can be found at multiple retailers, including Target and Shopko.

Rice Krispies Treats (No Tricks!)

Stauffer’s is also getting in on the Halloween festivities.  They have released individually-packaged shortbread cookies.  But these are no ordinary shortbread cookies, they are Halloween-shaped shortbread cookies.  From ghosts to witch hats, these cookies are brimming with Halloween spirit.  Plus, the bags are absolutely boo-tiful.

Another company spreading Halloween cheer is Pillsbury.  The Dough Boy is bringing his inimitable Funfetti flavored cake mix to the Halloween Harvest Table.  This mix is certain to bring Halloween fun to a spirited new level.  So be on the lookout for these creepy concoction is stores now.  In the meantime, share your favorite Funfetti recipes in the comments below!

Halloween Shortbread Cookies

Pillsbury Halloween Funfetti Cake Mix