Let the pumpkinheads unite - it's time for Halloween!
I just love decorating for All Hallow's Eve. Not the disgusting, bloody, gory kind of decorating that seems to be taking over the stores these days...just the fun, quirky, orange/black/white look that doesn't terrorize my little ones. I seriously can't take my kids down the Halloween isle in some stores because it's too offensive...yet another example of the effects of a culture desensitized to violence due to overexposure to it via the entertainment industry. But anyway, I digress...
There are bats in my dining room (eek!)...
owls practically perched on dead tree branches (I have a little tutorial in the works for some fun ornaments for this tree, so stay tuned)...
pumkins squatting on my table...
and ghosts, black kitties, and spiders overtaking my front entry (ack)!
About a month ago I kept finding the cutest Halloween things at Ross and HomeGoods, and so I succumbed and bought some things. I was going to hand-paint a bunch of Halloween-themed plates this year, but since we're in the middle of a house remodel and these things are so dang adorable (and inexpensive), I played consumer instead. I feel a little guilty for not doing a bunch of handmade stuff this year, but my life has been upside-down with all the moving we've done in the past 9 months...and I promise I'll post some great ideas for handmade ornaments soon! I have some fun sewing projects lined up too, hopefully I'll get those done this week.
This is in my kitchen, I think it's hilarious. My favorite $3 decoration ever.
I really like this cheery trio of plates above my dad's oak tree sculpture (he made it for us as a wedding gift). Soon the tree will be bedecked with little ghosties!
These sweet little plates make me smile. They have a nostalgic, vintage feel that is quite charming.
I finally finished framing these black-and-white monotypes that I made over a year ago...yeah! I made the frames from brick molding, which is available at Home Depot or equivalent. Before I cut the mitered pieces, Steve and I ran the sticks through the table saw to create a "lip" for holding the glass and mats. I'll try to remember to do a little tut for making frames sometime, it's hard to explain without photos.
I found a self-service framing facility on a nearby Army base, which was very exciting - I was able to cut the glass for a bunch of picture frames with their very handy glass cutting tool, instead of using a little hand cutter here at home. Hazel was with me for that trip, so I wasn't able to stick around long enough to use their mat cutters. I ended up doing that at home after the kiddos were all tucked in bed.
It's great to see my monotypes all framed up and on the wall - they were getting lonely being all boxed up for so long.
Polly Pumpkinhead and Gary Gourd are grinning with the widest of wishes for a Happy Halloween!
ps. Until I get all of this year's Halloween things posted, I invite you to check out last year's posts, starting with the Goulish Grub I made for a neighborhood Monster Bash. Lots of ideas for costumes, decorations, and food lurk in my October 2008 archives, so beware...
I am in awe of your decorating talents! It just hit me today that if we don't get out the decorations we are in danger of missing the holiday completely! Thanks for the reminder. Your displays are spooktacular!
Posted by: Morgen | October 10, 2009 at 07:08 PM
Oh my gosh that looks awesome!!!! Can you please come over and fix my house up for me :-) Miss you!
Cynthia
Posted by: Cynthia Fontes | October 13, 2009 at 08:15 AM
I like the style of your article! I was shocked that you think it!
Posted by: Jordan 1 | August 16, 2010 at 02:25 AM