**Celebrate Halloween the Martha Stewart Way: Craft, Decorate, and Enjoy the Spooky Season**
In the inaugural Halloween episode of *Martha Stewart Living*, Martha Stewart attends a lavish Halloween costume party, dressed as a many-plumed bird, at an equally extravagant — albeit eerie — castle in the Hudson River Valley. As clips show Stewart preparing for the event, she shares the rich history of Halloween, exploring its origins and diverse global traditions.
It’s no surprise that Stewart is so knowledgeable about all things Halloween. The holiday has held a special place in her heart since childhood. Reflecting on her past, she recalls,
> “When I was growing up, we had the most wonderful tradition at our school, which was right around the corner from where I lived. Every child would make a lantern out of a cardboard box. The sides would be cut out in scary faces and [we’d] paste colored tissue in the openings. Then, we’d be given a candle at school and we’d go on a great, big parade around the playing field. At the end, [we’d] throw our lanterns into a great, big pile and have the giant bonfire which reminds me of Guy Fawkes Day in England.”
Stewart also provides tutorials on making those iconic boxed lanterns and shares ideas for a variety of Halloween-centric treats and decorations — including candied apples, homemade costumes, pumpkin-shaped iced cookies, and classic carved pumpkins.
—
### The Queen of Halloween Has You Covered
While Martha Stewart is known as the “Queen of Domesticity,” she’s also earned the esteemed title of “Queen of Halloween.” With Halloween fast approaching, let Stewart guide you through every aspect of the holiday—from creative crafts and costumes to festive foods and beverages.
—
### Carve the Perfect Pumpkin (Or Try Fabric!)
Carved pumpkins are a must-have for Martha’s Halloween guidebook, but she admits that carving a pumpkin freehand with a sharp knife isn’t always easy. To help, Stewart offers **41 pumpkin stencil designs** including options like a fairy house, haunted house, and scaredy cat. These stencils make it simpler to decorate your porch pumpkins like a pro.
If you’re not a fan of traditional Jack-o’-lanterns, Stewart suggests alternatives:
> “Use paint, appliqués, and accessories to give your gourds personality.”
You can also create fabric pumpkins, perfect for indoor displays such as mantelpieces or centerpieces. Stewart uses assorted fabrics — like silk, linen, and velvet — along with a needle and thread to make these long-lasting decorations.
Here’s a quick method to make your own fabric pumpkin:
1. Cut a fabric rectangle twice as long as it is wide.
2. Stitch the short sides together to form a pouch.
3. Fill the pouch with batting, then stitch and cinch it closed.
4. Finish with threaded floss and a fabric stem.
The beauty of fabric pumpkins is that they last year-round without spoiling and can be reused for countless Halloweens to come.
—
### Get Creative with Porch and Outdoor Decorations
Pumpkins aren’t your only option for spooky décor. Go wild with string lights to create an enchanted tree in your backyard, or adorn it with creepy critters like snakes, bats, and spiders to boost the scare factor.
For a quick and easy “spookify” touch, Stewart recommends adding big googly eyes to your outdoor plants and bushes — an effective way to create a fun yet eerie atmosphere without much hassle.
Want to go big on your decorations? Skeletons, gravestones, and inflatables can transform your home into a bona fide haunted house.
Martha shared her biggest Halloween no-no with *Vogue* last year:
> “The thing not to do? Don’t be insipid. A little jack-o’-lantern on the table that’s not much of a Halloween gesture. I think you have to sort of go all out.”
—
### Play Festive Games for Endless Fun
Hosting a Halloween party or celebrating with your loved ones at home? Try making a handful of DIY festive games to keep everyone entertained well into the night.
Stewart recommends:
– Pumpkin piñatas
– Bobbing for apples
– Nibbling on doughnuts hanging from strings
If you have tape and some prop spiders handy, create a homemade spider toss game by turning your living room floor into a huge cobweb — perfect for a fun and spooky challenge.
—
### Don’t Be Afraid to Go All Out with Your Costume
Costumes are a big part of Halloween, and Martha Stewart is no stranger to outlandish and creative looks. Over the years, she has appeared as Fairy GrandMartha, Motha (a chic moth), Ghostly Equestrienne, Medusa, and Black Widow — just to name a few.
Dressing up isn’t just for kids; adults can and should join the fun. The scarier and more elaborate, the better!
Best of all, putting together a stellar costume doesn’t have to break the bank. Stewart encourages getting creative with the clothes and accessories already in your closet. Here are a few ideas:
– Clip hair extensions to shoe cuffs to mimic werewolf legs.
– Combine a little black dress with black sunglasses, rhinestone earrings, and a pearl necklace to channel Audrey Hepburn.
—
### Serve Up Spooky Treats (Like Shrunken Heads in Cider)
Freaky foods are a Halloween necessity for Stewart. She told *Vogue* that these touches transform a great celebration into a stellar one.
Stewart shared a memorable party moment:
> “I remember going to one party with a lot of CEOs and big, big, big business guys, and the hostess was serving butternut squash soup. I just put little plastic cockroaches in everybody’s soup. I saw a man pick it out and look at it, put it back, and then take it out again. He was quite horrified, but then he realized it was Halloween. The more little pranks you can play, I think the better for Halloween.”
Adding fun and spooky elements to your food and drink — like “shrunken heads” served in homemade cider — is a fantastic way to elevate your Halloween celebration.
—
With Martha Stewart’s expert tips and creative ideas, your Halloween will be truly unforgettable. Whether you’re crafting decorations, carving pumpkins, hosting friends, or dressing up in costume, let Stewart guide you in celebrating this spooky season the right way. Happy Halloween!
https://www.salon.com/2025/10/30/how-to-celebrate-halloween-martha-stewart-style/
