Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Nancy Drew Halloween Costume Ideas


Nancy Drew Costume Ideas

People often ask me for costume ideas for Nancy Drew. Best accessories of course, are a magnifying glass and flashlight. But I often tell them to check out the vintage covers of the classics as that's a great start to inspire you to find items that look similar. Here's a few last minute costume ideas based on some popular classic covers! Check out the classic Nancy Drew covers here.




Jenn:)

Sunday, October 28, 2012

Nancy Drew Halloween Party - 2012 The Witch Tree Symbol


Nancy Drew & 
The Witch Tree Symbol
Halloween Party

While we weren't bewitched by any hexes or waylaid by a villain, we did have a lot of fun at my annual Nancy Drew Halloween Party! In keeping with a "spookier" theme, I chose #33 in the classic Nancy Drew series, The Witch Tree Symbol, as the inspiration for the party. In the story Nancy, Bess, and George travel to Pennsylvania to search for missing furniture and uncover the meaning behind the witch tree symbol hex sign that keeps appearing.

We had 14 attend the party including myself and my Mom a.k.a Hannah Gruen. Guests arrived to snacks and chatter then dinner was served. We dined on Parmesan chicken, ham, fall vegetable medley of potatoes, carrots, celery and onion, salad "bar," and french baguettes along with several snacks and dishes guests brought. We served a cherry punch and wine. Desserts included brownies, rice krispie "cupcakes," Reese's PB Cookie Cups, and an apple crisp.

After dinner, guests searched for a hex to win prizes which included Witch Tree buttons and Halloween mugs from our Cafe Press Shop. Then we had our Nancy Drew treat bag/container gift exchange. Here's lots of pics of the event:

 Nancy as a "witch" from the Cameo Witch Tree Symbol (see below) - I added a magnifying glass



Witch in the upstairs window and moon/stars

Front studio windows with skeleton, witch, owl in tree

Witch Tree w/ Symbol on Porch

 Setting the scene in the dining room

Lots of lanterns!


Witch Tree above dessert buffet inside

Ghostly Portraits guard the goody bags!




Good Bags were tree bags with witches, Cameo Witch Tree Trick or Treat Stickers, candy including "witchs' warts" plus a witch tree button, witch finger, and BrewBerry anti-bacterial hand gel from Bath & Body Works with cute witch image.


Some spooky framed art haunts the walls along with a flock of bats



Bess would approve of these snacks! I filled cupcake wrappers with rice krispie treats and a whirl of black/orange frosting. Cameo Witch Tree Cupcake Pick to top it.

The Reese's PB Cookie Cups are delish!



Villain Roger Hoelt warned Nancy and us away from Amish Country with his warning note from a scene from the book!


Searchers looked for an old antique table to find their hex. Hexes with '?' symbols received the 2 mug prizes and the rest got Witch Tree buttons. Everyone got leftover Nancy Drew silhouette/witch tree buttons from our '08 convention.


Here are gifts from the Nancy Drew Gift Exchange:

















Before everyone "flew" out of there on their "broomsticks," we took a picture of the Witch Tree gang in front of my Nancy Drew collection:


Jenn:)

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

September/October 2012 Issue of The Sleuth


September/October 2012 - The Sleuth

Our September/October 2012 issue of our Nancy Drew and series books zine The Sleuth is available! Preview the issue below and at our website. You can subscribe there, purchase back issues, or send in a printable PDF form from the website to:

Nancy Drew Sleuths
P.O. Box 128
Higley, AZ 85236-0128

Back issue special $4.00 ea through December 15, 2012. Not reflected at the website, so send in checks or money orders to the above address or send a Pay Pal to: nancydrewsleuth@aol.com or e-mail to request an invoice (sleuths@ndsleuths.com). If in Canada, add 1.00 per issue for additional shipping. If Overseas, add 2.00 per issue for additional shipping.

In This Issue:

Calling All Sleuths: Editor’s Note By Jennifer Fisher

The Clue Conundrum: Spooky Thief Match Game

The Monster Mash Report By Jennifer Fisher 

The Nancy Drew Crookbook Part XXV By Caroline Stellings

Crazy Eights with Michael G. Cornelius – The Secret of the Old Clock (OT) By Michael G. Cornelius

The Nancy Drew Sleuths’ Search in the Great City By Todd H. Latoski

Jumping Off the Jacket: Nancy Drew Models for Her Covers – Lilac Inn & Old Attic By Faye Kisker

The Centerfold Case: The Victoria Eye & Erin Springman Collections

Around the World With Nancy Drew Destination Greece – Part I By Lea Shangraw Fox

Deconstructing The Digests – Debunking The Misconceptions Surrounding The Nancy Drew Paperbacks #103 – The Stranger in the Shadows  By Todd H. Latoski
  
The Dean’s List – Other Nancy Series By Dean Burcham

Judy Bolton’s Family By Lorraine Rogers

Pop Sleuth…Nancy Drew Sightings

Clues From The Sleuthing Scene
   
Nancy Drew Collecting Scoop

Nancy Drew 2013 Boston Convention Info

Nancy Drew’s Survival Guide: Sleuth Lesson #37

The Scoop on Upcoming Issues, Clue Conundrum Answers

Classic Nancy Drew Book Illustrations Series #25: The Ghost of Blackwood Hall
Jenn:)

Monday, October 22, 2012

Nancy Drew Halloween Printable Party Kit


Nancy Drew Printable Halloween Party Kit

Get Spooky & Get a Clue this year for Halloween with Nancy Drew! Get our printable party kit at The Sleuth Shop featuring all the PDF files you need to create a festive and mysterious event :)

Print onto colored or white cardstock and other stylish papers and you're set. Images include fun silhouettes plus spooky classic Nancy Drew cover images from The Haunted Bridge, The Message in the Hollow Oak, The Secret in the Old Attic, and The Hidden Staircase.

From banners to gift purse favors to templates for pumpkin carving and cupcake picks, this kit will clue you into hosting a great Nancy Drew party! Included are a scavenger hunt and spooky bingo activities. See pics below of some of the items in the kit - the silhouette template was used to print out onto vellum and vellum was inserted in the neat black lantern.


















Jenn:)