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10 frightfully wonderful Halloween tips

Tips to help you pick a costume, carve a pumpkin in record time and more.

Alina Bradford
Alina Bradford has been writing how-tos, tech articles and more for almost two decades. She currently writes for CNET's Smart Home Section, MTVNews' tech section and for Live Science's reference section. Follow her on Twitter.
Alina Bradford
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1 of 11 Alina Bradford/CNET

Make this year's Halloween so good it's scary with these spook-tacular tips. 

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2 of 11 Screenshot by Bonnie Burton/CNET

Make a pumpkin keg

Nothing like a custom keg to add a little pumpkin spice to your party. Here's how to turn an average pumpkin into a keg like magic.

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3 of 11 Alina Bradford/CNET

Carve in record time

Power tools make everything better, even carving pumpkins. Clean and carve using your handy dandy power drill with these tips. Umm, heck yah! 

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4 of 11 Alina Bradford/CNET

Use the right light

On windy Halloween nights your Jack-o-lantern's candles can blow out. Instead, use LED lights that look like candles. You can buy them in most grocery, hobby and discount stores for just a couple dollars. They're usually found right next to the tea candles. 

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Light your pumpkin

You could also light your pumpkin with colorful battery-powered LED string lights. Plus, you get to use your drill to make it. Score!

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6 of 11 Screenshot by Alina Bradford/CNET

Make an oozing pumpkin

If you're looking for a Jack-o-lantern that's a little, well, different, then you'll love this little spewer. All you need is some dishwashing liquid, baking powder, food coloring and vinegar. Here are the directions.

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7 of 11 Tania González/CNET

Pick your costume

Need some help with your costume? Wonder Woman is sure to be hot this year, but if you're wanting something a little different, we have 20 genius costume ideas here.

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8 of 11 Screenshot by Gael Fashingbauer Cooper/CNET

Ask Siri

Still not sure about your costume? Just ask Siri for her suggestions. Mostly she'll just offer some laughs, but sometimes she actually comes up with a winner. An eclipse is actually a great idea for Halloween 2017!

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9 of 11 Screenshot by Alina Bradford/CNET

Create a monster garage

This is any easy and awesome way to decorate your house for Halloween. Just add eyes and teeth to your garage door like this artist did to create a car-eating monster.

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10 of 11 Alina Bradford/CNET

Make Jack-o-lanterns last

To prevent your Jack-o-lantern from looking like a maggot-filled zombie in just a few days, spray it inside and out with clear enamel paint. Spraying the inside with WD-40 also helps elongate Jack's life.

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11 of 11 Alina Bradford/CNET

Build a pumpkin scarecrow

Make your yard unique this year by building a pumpkin-headed scarecrow. Use sticks or broom handles tied together to form the body. Then, dress it in old clothes and then stick a pumpkin on top. Draw on a face using markers or craft paint.

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