5 Ideas for DIY Theme Halloween Parties

You might think that putting together a haunted house party requires a lot bigger budget than an average Halloween event. Not necessarily. Going the DIY way can save dough and be just as fun. It might just take a little more pre-planning to keep it cost-effective.

Here are a few tips:

Pay homage to the Peanuts gang with an "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" themed party. It's a great choice for kids and teens and loved by most parents.

Of course, the evening should center around a viewing of this 1966 holiday classic. Instead of munching on popcorn during the flick, consider serving partygoers toasted pumpkin seeds. And instead of Halloween candy, serve a pumpkin-flavored treat, like pie, or pumpkin-shaped cookies.

Follow the viewing with a pumpkin carving or crafting event. Take-home goodie bags should, of course, contain a rock (pivotal to the Great Pumpkin storyline!).

Tip: Make it a costume party by asking guests to come dressed as their favorite character from the movie.

Give Halloween sweets a rest and throw a healthy dinner party for your friends and family.

To plan your menu you'll find more than enough Halloween inspired recipes on HowStuffWorks. "Bleeding" cupcakes, "eyeball" soup, pickled goblin fingers, guacamole "brains" and stuffed "cockroaches" are just a few creepy eats!

While this could be a nice break from a traditional Halloween costume party, why not invite both adults and kids to come dressed in their Halloween costumes. When else will Elvis get to share "severed hand" punch dine with Dora the Explorer?

Halloween can be quite a fright fest for little kids. It's basically a day where people don't look or act like themselves and, let's face it, a scary vampire with candy is still a vampire. So, skip the skip the creep factor this year by throwing an "unspooky" party at home.

Invite guests to come in their cutest costumes, serve toddler-friendly foods and plan to play fun games: think bubble blowing, outdoor races and pumpkin beanbag tosses. And since everyone will be looking as cute as can be in their Halloween threads take advantage of the photo opportunity -- have your camera ready to go and encourage other parents to bring theirs along too.

Calling all vampires, werewolves, movie monsters and other creatures of the night: you're invited to a monstrously fun Halloween party.

For the little ones: this bash is all about the monster-worthy activities:

For an adult party: consider one of these cool themes and leave it to guests to get creative with costumes!

Tip:

Add grenadine to your favorite cocktail to make it a "bloody" good drink to serve to guests.