Thanks! And anyone is welcome to come over. Just come a week or 2 before so you can help out
The party was really good. My wife's friends are really into it. So, next year ought to be bigger number-wise. I might really try to organize actual trick-or-treating in the neighborhood. That would be new and might get the reporter out again. We'll see ...
I did get a pretty nice comment from an adult student who came. He mentioned the thought, costumes, decorations, food, prizes, organization, and execution, basically everything. It was nice to hear that someone saw all of what went into the party.
The eyeball was made with milk jell-o. We bought an eyeball mold (maybe from Yankee Harvest) about 3 years ago.
In japan we have a gelatin powder you can add to juices or milk. That's what we use. It's great because it stays solid at room temperature. I believe there may be something similar in the States and elsewhere.
The iris is just instant coffee, grape, lemon, jell-o etc. The pupil is more difficult. Our best results came with black cocoa powder mixed with a drop of water. Then we dip a toothpick in that and stab the iris. That's been the best as far as dark and not running into the iris.
The new bumpy/diseased eyeball was made with tapioca. My wife cooked the tapioca and then soaked it in cassis juice (also called blackcurrant.) That made them nice and red. We put some of them at the bottom of the mold and then poured the milk gelatin over them.
My wife doesn't like to use food coloring. so, she uses cassis, black cocoa powder, real fruit juice, etc. If you don't mind food coloring, it gets a little easier.