Monday, October 17, 2011

Odds and ends

Thought I would just post some pictures of some of my things I have around the house.


 The floating candles were my friend Debbie's idea. They nearly knock a tall person out when the door swings them, but they are a fun piece.


 I made this witch several years ago, I wish I could give the instructions but I got them from a friend! My favorite part is that she has boobs! oh sigh! My friend was talking with me the other day and happened to look at her and exclaimed "Libby she has boobs!" (hee,hee) The reason for the pic, is actually the chair, I reupholstered it with this fun halloween print. The picture above is from Porter's(local  craft store) it has a motion detector and lights up and plays scary music. Jared is scared to death of it! The boys love to turn it on when someone knocks at the door so it will go off as the door opens. You have been warned!
 I love my entryway this year! I painted an old table black and put the gauze (dollar store) on it. The drapes are a bed spread that I died black/pruple (love the stripes!) I gathered it and put a wire around the top, then got a removable hook and put it on there. I then cut up the middle, hung the picture (Haunted Mansion, my friend Debbie gave me) and put the drape around the frame. The saying underneath says "Be Afraid of things that go bump in the night" (Michaels) I had to go on quite the search for the candy. The big lollipops I got from Taipan (pricey $3.95 each) I filled a short green vase with candy corn, got black and purple flowers from the dollar store and tied a ribbon around the vase and then put the lollipops in. The oldfashioned candy sticks I went out to This is the Place Heritage Park, they had purple, so I bunched them together and tied them with a ribbon, later I found the black and white at a local candy shop. The other vase i got the candies from See's. I already had the silver plater, but you could get one on the dollar store. The owl and skull I got at Taipan. The other picture is an original painting of the haunted mansion. The candles I got from Michaels using a 50% off coupon.
 My mom introduced me to these banners. I'm not sure what website she used but here's one that gives a good tutorial. Halloween banner  I used felt as the backing. So I sewed the front piece to the felt, just going around the shape with about an inch border. I then used pinking shears to cut the border.Notice I also used different ribbon and rick rack to add to the design. Thanks mom!
I used the same method to hang these drapes, I have siding which makes it pretty easy using binder clips to get things secured. The wreath is a grapevine wreath I just hot glued spanish moss on and added snakes (martha stewart). The potions have different colored water beads you can get at walmart or craft stores. When you add water they expand.


The sign and coffin lids I will share how to make in a different post. The orange things hanging are actually my "shrunken heads" I just peeled unusable apples and strung them on twine, I also put orange and black ribbon and gauze. At night I have lights that look like candles, it gives an awesome setting! My archway is a lattice, I took weeping willow branches and trimmed other bushes and put them in the lattice. Don't you love my big pumpkin? Jackson's parents grew it in their yard! That's it for now, but there is more! Can't wait to share!

The Candelabra

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I was so excited to see this post last year, but didn't have time to make it. So this year I made sure to set aside some time. It actually only took about an hour to make, because I lucked out at the DI store and found a lamp stand already to go, I just had to add the chandelier. I put black lace on it instead of beads and got my candles for not too much at walmart. The scary part was trying to gut the electric stuff. It didn't take long to see that a wire cutter was my friend. Save all of the screws and bolts, (you might need them later) and definitely use work gloves. Go here. Thanks Tatertots and jello! oh the little ornaments are from RodWorks in Draper and Lehi, Utah. I got them a few years ago, so I don't know if they still have them.


Another idea!
So when doing the mummy head, i thought it would look really creepy to just see a face in a jar. I didn't have anything big enough, so I went to my local DI store and found a lamp, (You know the 70's kind) that had this as a base. I tore all the cuts out and painted it black. I then sawed the face off of the manequinn and put it up against the glass, I put bay leaves on the bottom and then a flameless candle. At night it really does look creepy, especially because the glass has an orange tint that the candle lights. The black crow I got at the dollar store, I think it cost me $10 in all.

Mummy Head on a Platter

This is a very easy deocration to make! My dad gave me the cake platter, isn't sad that I knew exactly how I would use it and it wasn't going to be for keeping cakes fresh! (ok I will use it for that later!)
I had it on our refreshment table at our amazing race party last year and it got some cheese dip on it, but I think it only adds to it! Thanks to sewwoodsy for the idea! Go here.



My Addiction
So I have to place blame somewhere for this obsession, I believe it began with my mother. (of course!) She always loved decorating our house with fun little decorations and dressing up. I definitely have taken it up a notch. 4 years ago we started a tradition of having a haunted house halloween night. It has become a big hit, so much so, that when I tell people where I live they say, oh you live in the halloween house. Each year I try to make new halloween decorations and I have quite a few comments on the things I make. So I thought "why not post a blog on what I have made." Now let me make it clear, I AM NOT AS CREATIVE AS PEOPLE THINK! Almost all of my ideas are from other places, so as I post my creations I will give credit where credit it due! I might put my own twist on things, but it is usually someone elses talent that I copy! Hope you enjoy, and please feel free to ask questions, I'll answer them the best I can!