What to Wear to a Masquerade Party

A masquerade party is a chance to dress up in a beautiful costume and have a lot of fun. The planning of the costume can be as much fun as the party itself. There are so many different options for costumes that it will be hard to settle on just one. One of the most popular costume ideas is that of a character from the Renaissance. There are stores that offer King and Queen costumes from this time period.

There are also costumes for other members of the Royal Court. The costumes can range from something very simple such as jester, to something very elaborate the choice will be up to you. Some other costume ideas would be to dress as a fairy or an angel. There are also many costumes ideas available for the time period of the Civil War. Beautiful dresses like we saw in Gone With The Wind. Dashing uniforms and sabers. From the exotic to the outrageous A masquerade party is an opportunity to let your alter ego shine.

One of the most important things to think about will be your mask. These masks gained popularity in the 15 century when the Royals would give masquerade parties and they have been going strong ever since. there are many styles of masks to choose from. There are masks that will cover the entire face. Masks that cloak only some of the facial features that lend an air of mystery to the wearer. The mask can be very elaborate with scatterings of jewels and ones made of feathers. There are also just the simple black eye masks that are carried on a stick.

If you are on a tight budget one idea would be to buy a set of medical scrub uniforms along with a white coat a surgical mask and a stethoscope and go as a Doctor. Nursing uniforms would also be a good choice. You will want to start putting your costume together a week or more before the actual party. This will give you time to plan and time to make changes to the costume that you pick.

To learn more about hosting your own masquerade party, I recommend that you check out this article about Appropriate Masquerade Costumes.

Great Halloween Costume Ideas For Men

Are you tired of the same old Dracula, Elvis or grim reaper costumes? Perhaps you're looking to try something different this Halloween? Using your imagination and a few unique props you can put together, here are a few men's Halloween costume ideas that will make you stand out from the crowd this year.

Blackjack Dealer

Dress yourself in black dress pants, a black vest, white shirt, black bow tie, and of course a name tag. The blackjack table prop will take a bit of skill. Using heavy cardboard, cut out an angled U shape from cardboard. Paint the cardboard black and secure green felt along the top. Along the wider outer edge, draw rectangular shapes to indicate where the cards will be dealt. Closer to your body, add some information like "Vegas Casino", etc. in fancy script. Attach two long straps to the front and back of the table to slip over your shoulders. And there you have it... a portable blackjack table. Don't forget to carry a deck of cards with you!

Victorian Vampire

Instead of a typical Dracula cape, dress yourself in black pants and a long Victorian styled black coat. Line the collar in red velvet and stand it up. Attach a shoulder cape (some of these Victorian coats already come with the cape attached), add grey lace ruffles at the cuffs. Finish off with a grey lace cravat in place of a tie, and a black top hat.

Zombie Doctor

You'll need some doctor scrubs and a lab coat. Tear and rip the bottoms and cuffs of each clothing piece. Using fabric paints or dyes add blood stains to the garments. If you're feeling particularly gross, attach some fake "flesh" here and there. Cover your head with a surgical cap and zombie face mask. Wear "bloody" latex gloves to cover your hands. Don't forget your stethoscope doctor!

Chick Magnet

Cut out foam in the shape of a magnet and cover the magnet with a shiny gray material. Cover the last 6 inches of each end with black material. Glue or pin small toy baby chickens on the edges of the magnet. Place the magnet around your neck and shoulders.

(c) 2006. Rose Smith. Halloween Howl is your online Halloween party planner

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Birthday Invitation Phrases and Wording

Birthday invitations, and the wording and phrases that go in them, can run the gamut from witty and fun to serious and straightforward. The best thing to keep in mind when deciding upon birthday invitation verses and wording is who the birthday party is for. Age, personality, interests, and even profession can play a part. The invitation wording should represent the celebrant well.

Children's Birthday Invitations are typically fun and lighthearted, and usually play a part in a larger theme. Sometimes inspiration for a theme can come just by browsing through some birthday invitations.

Once a theme is in place, you'll want to include birthday invitation wording to match. For a Circus themed party with Circus party invitations the invitation wording might read:

The giraffe stretches his neck to see;
the elephant waves his trunk with glee;
the seal twirls his ball with joy,
in honor of the birthday boy.
Come join Cody in celebrating his seventh birthday
Saturday, April 20th at 1:00 PM
RSVP (509) 123-4567

The older the child gets it may become easier to decide on a theme, or even forgo the theme as the child gets into its teen years. A sweet sixteen, for example, is a theme all its own. For this kind of party, you should pick out some Sweet Sixteen invitations that fit the personality of the celebrant. If it's a girl, something pink and frilly might be appropriate, such as Princess Tiara Birthday Party Invitation, with the following wording:

Steer clear! Brianna's got a license to drive!
Come celebrate her sweet sixteen.
Friday, March 14th
5:00 - 7:00 PM
at Big Daddy's Bowling
2850 S. Ray, Spokane
R.S.V.P. (509)-777-7777

If the birthday person is turning 18 years of age or younger, it is considered okay to include the exact age they are turning in the birthday invitation wording. When considering including jokes about age, do so with much consideration and sensitivity. Consider the formality of the party and who's being invited. If it's a formal dinner for a coworker, you may want to nix any thought of light-heartedness. If it's a backyard barbecue party for a close relative or friend, this may be the perfect time for a light-hearted jab. Generally, the rule is to only make an age-related joke if the person who's birthday you're celebrating would make the joke themselves.

When considering birthday invitation wording when the celebrant is an adult, it is common to point out the joys of growing older:

Some things are better the older they grow.
Antiques, wine and someone special we know!

You should still keep in mind who is having the birthday. You don't necessarily have to throw a themed party, but the wording for the birthday invitation cards should show a glimmer of who the celebrant is. Let's say the celebrant enjoys Gardening. You'll want to get Garden Party Invitations and include matching wording:

Friends are flowers in the garden of life . . .
and we've "picked" a great bunch to celebrate Jackie's Birthday.

Another avenue you might pursue is the surprise party. In your invitation wording, it should be expressed clearly that the celebrant doesn't and shouldn't know details of the party. Here are some examples:

Shh! It's a surprise party!
Please join us in celebrating
Holly Roberts 30th birthday
On September 2nd
At 7 o'clock pm
The Smith's House
1201 S. Wesley
Madison, WI

Our good friend Jerry is turning the big 5-0
We're throwing a party, and you're invited to show.
If you can make it, here's a word to the wise,
Keep it under your hat, 'cause it's a surprise!
July 10th at 6 PM
At the Rock Bottom Brewery
560 Main Street
Seattle, WA

Please join us in celebrating
Tina Clarks Birthday
on May 22nd
Cocktails - 6:00pm
Dinner - 7:30pm
Scratch Restaurant
345 W Ivy
It's a surprise!

Overall, your birthday invitation wording should not only convey the details of the party, but should also be a good reflection of who the celebrant is.

Check out our entire collection of Birthday Party Invitations. Our cards are printed on high quality 100% recycled stock utilizing eco-friendly processes.

Tom Bross is a co-owner of http://www.MyGoodGreetings.com. MyGoodGreetings sells photo birth announcements, greeting cards, and party invitations, printed on eco-friendly 100% recycled paper.

Easy Pumpkin Painting and Design

Halloween is almost here and around where I live there are piles of pumpkins sitting on the front laws of farmers houses with signs indicating to leave a few dollars for each pumpkin. This always seems to be the start of the Halloween season and with that means easy pumpkin painting.

Below are a few ways to help you create an exciting Halloween experience this year for yourselves and your families by learning how to do some fast and easy pumpkin painting.

First of all, you will want to find some pumpkins that have a somewhat flat surface on one side of the pumpkin. This just makes it easier for younger kids to paint the pumpkins, it's not actually necessary for pumpkin painting.

After that, go to your local craft store and look for an acrylic paint. This is the easiest to use for pumpkin painting and often you can find acrylic paints in larger bottles, which means enough to go around for everyone. In addition, these are usually easy paints for kids to use and come in a wide variety of colors in case you or your kids want to get crazy with their pumpkin painting.

Next, you will want to think about what it is that you want to create. Be sure to include the kids in the step of the easy pumpkin painting process. Do you want something scary?-possibly something funny? There are many pumpkin painting designs on the internet and you and your kids can get some great ideas by looking around the net for a few minutes.

Some personal favorites are creating pumpkins to look like celebrities. This isn't exactly pumpkin painting, but it goes over well each year as the pumpkins sit in all their celebrity glory on my front porch. For instance, I had a goofy looking George W, on one side of my porch, while on the other I had a Bill Clinton pumpkin. I put wigs on the pumpkins and painted some distinguishing features and added a tie to each for good measure. The kids didn't quite get who they were, but the parents thought it was great!

Easy pumpkin painting doesn't just have to be about painting the pumpkins either, as in the case above. Think about your pumpkins as Mr. Potato Heads and you are instantly drawn back to a younger time and may have some great ideas to use. For instance, take two pieces of corn and stick nails into them. Next drive them into the pumpkin on either side and when people ask you why you have corn stuck to the sides of your pumpkin, tell them that they are not corn- they are the pumpkins ears.

There are as many ways to paint your pumpkin and dress it up as you can come up with. Have fun this Halloween.

If you want free pumpkin painting designs, templates, Halloween recipes for you and the kids, and a many free pumpkin painting ideas, go to http://www.amazingsalestechniques.blogspot.com and click on the links to get a variety of free Halloween products.

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Medieval Knight Costume - Create Your Own

Dressing in a medieval knight costume for a night is perhaps one of the wildest dreams of almost every man. Saving a damsel in distress or a princess is generally the scenario of knights to the rescue of their greatest love.

But how are you going to play a knight, if you're not familiar as to how you can create your own medieval costume? Worry no more.

Your dream of becoming a knight will surely come to reality with these simple steps in creating your own medieval gear:

1. Medieval Clothing for a Knight

The most common of all medieval knight costumes is a long sleeved top. However, this is not the usual long white sleeve but a more striking, glittery, and stunning couture. Apart from the long sleeve that comes in various rich colors, a knight costume also comprise of velvet, leather, or linen tunic that is worn on top of the long sleeved garb.

Some also have the lion heart tunic and gambeson embroidered on their clothes to match up with either velvet or courtly pants. Of course, the entire outfit won't be complete without a knight cape, robe or hood.

2. Knight Weapons, Armor, and Accessories

As part of the medieval knight costume, creating a sword replica would be best. You can mimic the sword of King Henry or the Vikings and look for materials that will make up a sword-like appearance.

You can also create your own knight armor. Making a breastplate of your own or gauntlets as sheer protection for the forearms, whether an embossed gauntlet or etched steel, will help you change the entire look of your costume.

Making your own medieval knight costume can be a lot of fun. All you need is some artistic creativity and a little imagination to come up with a believeable medieval knight ensemble.

David Lawson is a proud contributing author and writes articles on several subjects including medieval knight costumes. You can also read more of David's articles on renaissance costumes.