Better Homes and Gardens BH&G Halloween Tricks & Treats 2022

IT’S TIME TO GET YOUR SPOOK ON! One thing I’ve discovered over my years of working on Halloween magazines is that everyone does it a little differently. Some love the Goth and macabre terror of the holiday; others like to celebrate it at a sweeter level. This year’s issue covers all of it. Whether you like to pull out the bones and crows like Oscar Bravo, page 54, or put your spin on a pastel, kid-friendly look like Amanda Escoe, page 28, you’ll find ideas within our pages. If you adore budget-friendly projects inspired by thrifting or going bananas on elaborate charcuterie trays, you’ll be inspired to find your style. The beauty of Halloween is that it can be whatever you want it to be for your home, your family, your parties. Wishing you a…

GINGERBREAD CUTOUTS PREP 50 minutes CHILL 1 hour BAKE 6 minutes per batch at 375°F ½ cup shortening¼ cup butter, softened½ cup sugar1 tsp. baking powder1 tsp. ground ginger½ tsp. baking soda½ tsp. ground cinnamon½ tsp. ground cloves¼ tsp. salt1 egg½ cup molasses1 Tbsp. cider vinegar3 cups all-purpose flour 1. In a large bowl beat shortening and butter with a mixer on medium to high 30 seconds. Add the next seven ingredients (through salt). Beat until combined, scraping bowl as needed. Beat in egg, molasses, and vinegar. Beat in as much of the flour as you can with the mixer. Stir in any remaining flour. Divide dough in half. Cover and chill about 1 hour or until dough is easy to handle. 2. Preheat oven to 375°F. On a lightly floured surface, roll out one…

This most magical of holidays originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. The Celts believed that October 31 and November 1 marked a time of year when the fabric between the world and the great beyond was at its thinnest. As a result, fortune-telling, bonfires, and animal sacrifices abounded. Those who feared misadventure dressed in beastly costumes to beguile the ghouls. Fast-forward 2,000 years and this time of year has become a completely commercial affair filled with costumes, candy, and decorations galore. Happy Halloween! SOURCE: HOLIDAPPY.COM YOU’RE NOT ALONE! NEARLY TWO-THIRDS OF U.S. PARENTS ADMIT TO STEALING HALLOWEEN CANDY FROM THEIR KIDS. SOURCE: STUDYFINDS.ORG KEEP YOUR HOUSE TRICK-FREE BY GIVING OUT TRICK-OR-TREATERS’ FAVE NIBBLES: SKITTLES REESE’S PEANUT BUTTER CUPS STARBURST M&MS HOT TAMALES SOURCE: WALLETHUB.COM GET YER DOG COSTUMES HERE! HOT DOGS! BURRITOS! PIZZA SLICES! TACOS!…

INSTRUCTIONS WHEN CLEANING OUT PUMPKINS, CUT THE OPENING ON WHAT WILL BE THE BOTTOM OF THE FINISHED DISPLAY. SECURE THE PIECE WITH TOOTHPICKS WHEN FINISHED. IMPISH WHITE NOISE PAGE 12 MATERIALS • Pumpkins• Painters tape• Printable Ghost Faces patterns (go to BHG.com/FunGalore)• Washable marker• Crafts knife• White spray paint INSTRUCTIONS Thoroughly wash, clean out, and dry pumpkins. Tape off stems. Print Ghost Faces patterns, enlarge as needed, and cut out. Use a washable marker to transfer the outlines to pumpkins. Using a crafts knife, cut out the shapes. Carefully cut out eyes, leaving pupils in place. (If you accidentally cut away the pupils, use toothpicks to secure them back in place.) Replace the eye and mouth cutouts, or fill openings with paper towels to temporarily seal. Spray-paint the pumpkins white; let dry. Remove cutouts. If necessary, scrape any paint…

INSTRUCTIONS BEGIN ON PAGE 26. Junk Junket Round up a friend, pack a few snacks, wear comfortable shoes, and head out on a hunt for inexpensive treasures. → DO A LITTLE RESEARCH A search engine will help you find live and online estate auctions, garage sales, flea markets, and antiques shows on specific dates. Mark your calendar. → MAP A ROUTE Organize your destinations on a route that allows you to hit as many as possible during open hours. Include local consignment shops, resale stores, and nonprofit organizations, such as Goodwill, Salvation Army, and ReStore. → KEEP AN OPEN MIND Anything black will fit into your decor. That said, most items can be changed with paint. Look for pieces that are structurally sound, clean, and safe. → BUY THE BEAST It’s easy to spot the beautiful…

FOR AMANDA ESCOE, HALLOWEEN is all about little-girl giggles and making magic—pretend magic in a giant cauldron near her daughters’ playhouse and real magic for the future holiday memories of Raine (4) and Rosie (2). Amanda shares her not-so-spooky, 100 percent creative take on the holiday (and life) on Instagram @amandaescoe. And while Amanda lets her artistic talents shine through her decorating for every season and holiday, Halloween holds a special place in her heart. “It is very nostalgic for me,” she says. “Growing up, it is the only holiday you get to be creative and do something different every year.” As an adult, “I love all things design,” she says. And she wants to pass her love of creating and making along to her young daughters. The family’s recent move…