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Now that the stores are fully stocked with Halloween merchandise.  It’s time to start shopping for your party supplies.  Don’t forget to keep track of your purchases on your Party Budget Planner.

Step 8:  Shop for Your Clue Hunt Supplies
Colored Paper:  In order to help the teams find their ingredients and clues, you’ll assign each team a color.  The clues you’ll create to lead the teams to the various locations will need to be printed on colored paper.  You’ll need about 10 pages of each of the following colors: red, green, blue, purple, orange, and gray.  If you have a Wal Mart nearby, you should pick up this multi-pack of paper in the office suppliessection.  It’s got all the colors except gray and it’s priced under $4.  While you’re there, pick up a pack of greeting card size envelopes (you’ll need at least 36).  You’ll use those to seal the emergency clues for each team.

Colored Electrical Tape:  Chances are, your teams will be hunting for their ingredients in the dark.  In order to help them find their team’s ingredient in the darkness, you’ll add a bold stripe of color with electrical tape.  Lowes seems to be the best place to find electrical tape.  They offer a multi-pack of white (I use that for the gray team), red, green, and blue for under $5.  You can also find single rolls of orange and purple in the electrical aisle.

Team Cauldrons:  These little plastic cauldrons are a great, weatherproof way for your teams to store their brew ingredients and keep track of their emergency clues.  I found mine a Target a few years ago.  I’m not sure if they’re stocking them this year.  If not, you should check your local party store or buy them on Amazon for $2.24 each.  You’ll need to pick up one for each team and then add a stripe of color to the neck with electrical tape.  You’ll also need one large cauldron for the ending location.  You can usually find these at party stores or on Amazon for $10.11. 

Brew Ingredients:  Generally, I like to have at least 5 clue locations (the 6th one will lead to your party destination) that means you’ll need 5 different types of brew ingredients.  You’ll need to pick up 6 of each, (ie 6 mice, 6 eyeballs, 6 bats, etc.)  When the teams open their clue, they’ll see a description of their next clue location as well as a small silhouette of the ingredient they’ll find there.  For that reason, it’s important you choose your five ingredients from this list of choices: pumpkin, eyeball, snake, skeleton or bone, mouse, spider, bat or bear hair (cut from a brown wig).  Don’t worry, they’re easy to find once you start looking.  Wal Mart, Target, Craft Stores, Drug Stores, and Dollar Stores are all great places to find inexpensive ingredients.  Whatever you pick, make sure your ingredients are small enough to hide easily and weatherproof.  Once you’ve got 6 of each type of ingredient, add a stripe of each color with the electrical tape and store them in a ziploc bag.

Sprinkler Flags:  If you’ve seen The Amazing Race, you’ll understand what these little flags are for.  Essentially, they’re a way to signal your teams that they’re in the right spot.  The clues can be tricky to discern at times, so these little flags can prevent your teams from getting too far off course.  I picked up these simple little sprinkler flags at Lowes and then used a magic marker to trace one of the Grand Witches’ Council logos onto the flags (you can find the file download for the template below).  Plant one deep into the ground at each clue location and you’re teams will know that their ingredient can’t be too far away.

While you’re out, you should also pick up a pack of inexpensive black spider rings and a ball of twine or a spool of thin black ribbon.  You’ll use these to attach the clues to the ingredients (more on this later).  If you’re planning to hide any of your clues under water, you should pick up a spool of fishing line as well.  You may also want to purchase your paper goods for your ending party.  The day of the party is a little crazy so I try to keep my refreshments simple.  I usually offer cider and hot cocoa with a variety of doughnuts.  Consequently, I usually purchase 50 small plates, napkins, and cups.  Good luck on your shopping adventures.  If you have any questions or find a great ingredient you’d like to share please post it in the comments area.  Just thought I’d pass it on.