Halloween Mantle 2011

Hallow's Eve is fast approaching and I finally got around to doing some spookyfication around the living room. This years mantle look similar to last years, mainly because, um, well, I'm using the same stuff...but I did change it up a bit and I hope you're inspired!

Hopefully you remember the painted pumpkins, well two of them never made it out to the porch. I decided to use them up on the mantle instead (I really loved the b&w ones!:).

The two tall white vases I've had for years are perfect for permanent leaves and real branches. For a fun addition I printed some Halloween images (from the Graphics Fairy) onto book paper and randomly hung them on the branches (I just poked the branches through the paper). Cheesecloth spiderwebs really add to the spooky effect.

I get a lot of questions about my owl silhouette. I got it years ago at TJ Maxx and I have never seen another like it or even similar. I really wish they would make them again.

For the chair, I just used a white knit blanket to give it that 'ghostly' look, so easy to do.

To finish off the mantle, I clustered several in the center, repeating the candles in the fire box...you'll see it all lit below.

The Trick or Treat banner if from Martha Stewart Crafts

I love my little collection of pumpkin men, they come out every year

This is my fave. :)

If you liked the pumpkins on a stick, I made a different size, this one is a glittered one inch pumpkin on a stick, so cute!!

This was a new piece for this year, I found him at Home Goods. Since I've got a thing for owls, he certainly made it home with me! I think the little white owl behind him is a little jealous. :)

And since a Halloween mantle wouldn't be right without some evening shots with all the candles lit.

This is a non-working fireplace, so I love having the candles in there, nothing earth-shaking, but I still like the look. I used a combination of tealights and column candles. I get questions about the mirrors in the background, I bought four inch mirror tiles and hot glued them to the inside of the fire box. A non-permanenet solution to an ugly fire box.

A spider crawling across my book of Shakespeare which happens to be opened to Macbeth...Double, double, toil and trouble fire burn and cauldron bubble.......:) Love it.

I hope you are inspired !

I'll be back next week!

Get the look:

Painted Pumpkins

Pumpkins on a Stick

Glittered Spiders

Halloween Mantle 2010

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Painted Pumpkins

I had to write this post pretty quick because somehow, I clicked 'publish' and all I had done was uploaded the pictures. I was trying to knock out a post and have a quick snack but I think the Oreo cookie package hit ctrl and I pressed 'P' to type painted pumpkins and it published. I should probably not dip Oreos in milk and try to type/write at the same time. That's my tip for the day from me to you. :) Anyway, what I really want to show you are my upcycled painted pumpkins. You know me, I like to use what I have on hand and really get a fresh look by using what you've got. Not that I am against buying new, but refurbishing/upcycling is like a challenge to me.

I have had these 'funkins' for oh, about ten years now, they even made the move from NC, and they are looking a little worse for wear. They are the kind that are carvable, but still artificial. Since I'm on some kind of pumpkin kick this week, and I've never actually carved into them, I figured I could do a little painting.

I spray painted this one flat black and a smaller one flat black, and the other big one in pumpkin orange, all of which I had on hand. Looks better already!

After I let them dry, I used chalk to draw out a design that I liked. This is great to do because you can get an idea of what you want without committing to the paint right away. Don't like the design? Damp towel takes it away.

I pretty much let the pumpkin be my guide.

This one turned out to be my least favorite. It would have turned out much better if the pumpkin orange was a flat paint, but all I had was glossy, so be it. I knew I wanted to do a chevron pattern on one of the big pumpkins, so I used chalk to draw out a fairly simple design. It's not perfect by any means.

I ended up really liking the black and white designs the best, they look really cute with the chalkboard front door (Take a look at the door HERE). I put a crow on the top of this one.

and a spider on this one.

I took pictures of them inside, even though they are for outside, but it's been raining this morning. So a few indoor photos instead.


I did manage one, although you don't really get the full effect with the close up. I'll have to get a wide shot later.



I hope you are inspired to give painted pumpkins a try!

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Pumpkins on a Stick

I suppose that I could come up with a title a little more creative than 'pumpkin on a stick' like pumpkin wands, or pumpkin scepters, but somehow saying pumpkin on a stick just seems more like me. At any rate, this is an upgrade to the candy sticks that I made last year, you can check it out HERE. I was/am enamored with the black and white candy sticks, but decided to make some that would last forever by wrapping painted dowels with grogain ribbon and securing with glue

And because I can't leave well enough alone, this year I decided to add pumpkins especially after seeing something similar on Country Home. I made it my own by glittering the pumpkins and went with a more whimsical look vs. a primitive look. There is something magical about glitter that takes even the ugliest pumpkin like these, and turns them into pretty glittered darlings.

I love Martha's glitter, it will cover anything and everything.
I slathered the pumpkin in Mod Podge....

Used Martha's Fire Opal fine glitter and let them dry. Because they are styrofoam, the candy stick goes in the bottom pretty easy. I secured with just a touch of hot glue.

Once they are all dry, tie two bows with black craft ribbon (or any color of your choice).

I glittered some in black too and used ribbon with white stiching. Really, you could do any combination you wanted. I wish I had had green ribbon, I think that would be cute, but I just used what I had on hand.

I displayed them in an urn I got earlier this year at Hobby Lobby. I wasn't even thinking about it for Halloween, but it sure works!

I think I am ready to cast some Halloween spells, what do you think? :)




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Barnyard Days 2011

As you probably know, there are fall festivals nearly every weekend at this time of year. So last weekend the family and I (minus one teenager who refused to go) headed off to Neosho, MO. to enjoy Barnyard days at Circle R Ranch. Click HERE to see our last visit.

Now I am not a barnyard gal by nature (I grew up coastal...clam digging and oyster beds :), but something deep down makes me want to enjoy a little rural aestheticism from time to time.

I love all the variety of pumpkins they have displayed, some are really neat like the knucklehead pumpkin (above).

And of course you can't have barnyards without tractors, an impressive display (of course I had to photograph the orange one :) dating from the primitive times to today.

Logan rode the horse, twice actually, and really enjoyed it




He kept seeing all the kids with their faces painted and decided that he wanted to give it a try too. The women painting faces did a really great job and really quick.

He selected a tiger:





Didn't she do a great job? He loved it. The funny thing was, as we continued walking around, people kept looking and commenting on his tiger face....saying "Hey Tiger!" and Logan turns to me and says "Why does everyone keep calling me tiger?" I about died, I don't think he realized how dramatic he looked! Too cute.




It was a great day, eating brisket, petting animals, haunted houses, and shopping....a great festival if you ever get the chance to go.

Feed your inner farmer! :)

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