Neighborhood Halloween Game and Decorating Idea

One night last week, at around 8:00 p.m., our doorbell rang. Since most of our visitors come to the side door under our porch, we couldn't imagine who could be ringing our doorbell that time of night.

By the time my husband opened the door, there was no one there -- but whoever it was left a package for us with this cute note attached.

This is what it says:

Good Evening! You’ve just been BOO’ed!

Since this is the time for goblins and bats,
For Halloween spirits, for ghosts and cats,
For weird happenings and witches’ brew,
These are the things I wish for you.

May the only spirit you chance to meet
Be the spirit of love and friends warm and sweet.
May the only goblin that comes your way
Be this Neighborhood Phantom you must give away.

“‘Tis much better to give than receive,” goes the old verse,
And something this easy won’t empty your purse.
It’s your turn to pass along a treat and a BOO!
Because now the Neighborhood Phantom is little ole’ YOU!

So by this time tomorrow, pick three friends sweet,
And give to them each a Halloween treat.
You have only one day – so you’ll need to hurry –
Leave a treat on the doorstep, ring the bell, and then scurry!

Signed,
The Phantom

Underneath the poem, were these instructions:

Now these are the things you will need to do:

Make three copies of this letter and a phantom ghost for each.

Post the phantom on your door or in your window until Halloween. This will ward off the phantom from returning to haunt you and yours.

Then take a letter, a phantom, and a treat and deliver them to three houses that do not have a phantom posted.

Attached to the note was this picture of "The Phantom" ...

And this is the treat our "phantom" left for us ...

Inside the bag was a pretty little Halloween hand towel, some candy bars, and a package of cute jack-o-lantern napkins. Isn't that a neat idea!

The next day, I went to Kroger's and had fun shopping for things to put in my bags. I bought some pretty fall napkins and a set of little plastic pumpkins, which I thought would make cute votive holders.

I bought black votive candles, put them in the pumpkins, and added a bag of corn candy.

On my way home from Kroger's, I stopped by Walgreen's and found some little Halloween treat bags to put my goodies in, and I was pleased with the way they turned out.

The next night, my husband, our granddaughter Avery Grace, and I played "phantom" ... I drove the "getaway" car and my husband jumped out, rang doorbells, delivered the bags to three of our neighbors' front doors, and made a hasty getaway without being seen or getting caught!

This was such a cute idea that I wanted to share it so those of you who would like to try it in your neighborhoods would have time before Halloween.

And here's another cute idea that I've seen on a couple of blogs (I'm sorry, but I can't remember whose):

I've had these Halloween candles for years and thought they would be perfect to use in an arrangement with corn candy.

I knew Avery Grace would want to eat the candy, so I put some in a jar for her (and anyone else who might want some). You can tell by the picture that someone has been enjoying it.