The idea for this project came while I was searching for a picture for another post. I had written a post about Classical Music for Halloween, and wanted to find the perfect graphic to go with it. I had it pictured in my head (which is how most of my ridiculous projects start)… a stack of old sheet music from one of my recommendations.

Well, I couldn’t find anything that came close. So I decided to make my own (and take a picture of it). The following is the process I used to make my paper look old. You can use this paper aging technique to make old sheet music of your own, or try it for parchment invitations, a pirate treasure map, scrapbooking, or stationary. Have fun with it!

What you will need:

How to Age your Paper:

1. You want to print or write anything on your paper BEFORE you age it.
2. Preheat oven to 200°.
3. Place the paper on a cookie sheet (I use an old one)
4. Pour tea/coffee over the paper until the entire sheet is covered, make sure it soaks in on both side.
5. If you want darker spots on the paper, sprinkle instant coffee on the paper and let it sit on the paper. Wipe it off after a few minutes.
6. Rub your finger around the edge of the paper to wear the edges.
7. Place the cookie sheet and paper in the oven for about 6 minutes until dry.
8. Gently loosen the the paper from the cookie sheet with a fork. Be careful, it will be hot!

Additional tips:

• If your paper smells too much like coffee and not the authentic “old paper” scent you want, stick the sheets in a box with some mothballs for a day or two.
• Experiment with different colors to achieve the look you want; coffee will turn the paper a darker brown, tea will be lighter.
• You can also wear holes in the middle of the sheet by rubbing it with your finger.
• You can let the paper air dry, but weight the edges or the paper will curl.
• I have also heard good things about Walnut Ink Antiquing Solution, just spray it on your paper to give it an old look. (It is inexpensive too)
  
  

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Halloween can be many things. It can be fun, lighthearted, scary and frightening. It can also be elegant. Elegant? Well, yes actually.

Picture this: You are dressed in a black ball gown (or tux, for you guys). You enter a setting akin to Dracula’s castle in Transylvania; deep red rose centerpieces on black tablecloths, spider web-laden chandeliers, low light with candles everywhere, and a glass of blood red wine in your hand. Nice, huh?

Now start playing Monster Mash in the background. Ruins the mood doesn’t it?

Don’t get me wrong, I love fun Halloween Party Music (Check out this list of my favorite Halloween Party Songs) but sometimes you are trying to set a scene, and Thriller and Purple People Eater just don’t cut it. So if your Halloween party is shooting for more “wine and cheese” versus “beer and pretzels”, try a few of these Scary Classical Music Selections that are perfect for Halloween:

16 Classical Music Selections for an Elegant Halloween Party

1. Bach - Toccata and Fugue in d minor, BWV 565
2. Brahms - Begräbnisgesang
3. Camille Saint-Saens - Danse Macabre, Op. 40
4. Gluck - Dance of the Furies
5. Grieg - In the Hall of the Mountain King
6. Liszt - Mephisto Waltz
7. Mendelssohn - First Walpurgis Night
8. Mozart - Requiem “Dies Irae”
9. Mussorgsky - A Night on Bald Mountain
10. Orff - Carmina Burana, O Fortuna
11. Paganini - Witches Dance
12. Grieg - Småtrold (Puck)
13. Rachmaninoff – The Bells, Lento Lugubre
14. Tartini - Sonata for violin & continuo in G minor, “The Devil’s Trill”
15. Webern - Variations Op. 27 - Ruhig fliessend
16. Williams - Devil’s Dance (composed by the same guy who did the music for Star Wars!)

If you would rather not hunt down the music, Devil’s Dance and Classics from the Crypt are fantastic CDs that will set the mood perfectly.

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I always start planning my Halloween party early. I have to say it can be hard to get into the late October mindset when it is still warm. So I dug out my Halloween Party Playlist and lit a pumpkin spice candle to get the fall ideas flowing.

The following songs are perfect for your next Halloween Party. It is a great mix of songs, everyone knows them (or they should) and they all fit the spooky, scary, evil, devil’s night theme of Halloween.

25 Fantastic Songs to play at a Halloween Party:

1. Thriller – Michael Jackson
2. Don’t Fear the Reaper – Blue Oyster Cult
3. Superstition – Stevie Wonder
4. Love Potion #9 – The Clovers
5. Witchy Woman – The Eagles
6. Bad Moon Rising – Creedence Clearwater Revival
7. The Time Warp - Rocky Horror Picture Show
8. I Put a Spell on You - Screamin’ Jay Hawkins
9. The Devil Went Down to Georgia - Charlie Daniels
10. Witchcraft - Frank Sinatra
11. Lil’ Red Riding Hood – Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs
12. Hungry Like the Wolf – Duran Duran
13. Monster Mash - Bobby Boris Pickett
14. Purple People Eater – Sheb Wooley
15. Dead Man’s Party – Oingo Boingo
16. It’s the End of the World As We Know It – R.E.M
17. She Blinded Me With Science – Thomas Dolby
18. Abracadabra – Steve Miller Band
19. Sympathy for the Devil - Rolling Stones
20. Black Magic Woman – Santana
21. Highway to Hell - AC/DC
22. VooDoo Child - Jimi Hendrix
23. Devil with a Blue Dress On – Mitch Ryder
24. Bat Out Of Hell - Meat Loaf
25. Super Freak – Rick James

If you’re looking for a great spooky sounds CD for background music, I highly recommend the Martha Stewart Spooky Scary Sounds for Halloween … I play it in my front yard as we pass out candy. It is realistic and not at all cheesy, like other “Halloween Sounds” CD compellations I have heard.

Or, if you are looking for music that is more elegant (but still spooky) try this list of Scary Classical Music for Halloween.

Happy Halloween!