Thursday, September 23, 2010

HALLOWEEN INSPIRATION

After two weeks of being completely and totally inspired by all that I've seen on the blogs that I follow, I headed out this morning with a distinct mission... find items (on the cheap via Family Dollar and Dollar General) to decorate for Halloween. I've never really decorated for Halloween before now, except to sit out a few cheezy things that I've collected over the years. But now that I have children, I figure I have a couple more people in the house who will appreciate what I've done... well as much as a 1 year old and 3 year old can.

The other MAJOR dilemma is that I literally have NO surfaces... no tabletops for decorating upon. Well except one, so I went all out on this small 36" space.
The "sub"mission within my main mission this morning, was to find spiders. How hard would it be to find spiders? Well, I didn't find spiders, but I did find THIS... and so the inspiration begins. Isn't he cute?
At Dollar General, I found these cute little skeletons. It's actually a garland of twine with 4 skeletons... for $1. Can you believe that? A dollar!!
At Family Dollar I found a "Shroud" (mesh netting). It's 30" x 96"... again for $1. I cut off a part of it to use as a backing for my "Boo"sign.
I already had the frame so all I did was take out the glass and matt, but left in the cardboard backing, which I hung the shroud over. I used my Cricut to cut out the letters and the little spiders (since I didn't find any to buy).
Yesterday, while out in the yard collecting acorns with the boys, I found this really cool branch. I think that's really where my inspiration began.
I really hit the Jackpot at Dollar General. Along with the skeleton garlands, I also got 3 rats ($1 each) and 3 little tombstones (also $1 each).
One of the garlands, I took apart so I could sit the skeletons around the vignette.
I already had the 2 raffia pumpkins, pumpkin bucket and candy corn dish. I covered my "famous" cake stand with brown craft paper, and then used the remainder of the shroud to drape over it and the table.

The container for my Candy Corn Tree was a square glass vase that I already owned. I just wrapped it with a torn and wrinkled piece of brown craft paper and cut out "EeK" on my Cricut.
I'm not sure that rat is going to share his candy corn.
I saw the Candy Corn Tree here last week, and I knew the minute I saw it I would be attempting to re-create it. So easy, and nearly free... bag of candy corn - $1 / branch from yard - free. The bats in the light are something I got from Martha Stewart Living probably about 9 years ago. I believe at the time, there was a pattern in the magazine you could trace or cut out for tracing. So, 9 years ago, I cut all those little bats out by hand - out of black construction paper. These are still those same bats. You should see how faded they are... not really black anymore. Anyway - I digress. They are taped to the inside of the lamp shade.

I have to say, I LOVE my little "Ode" to Halloween. I know there's a lot going on in this small space, but you gotta work with what you got. Also, what do you think of my crow on top of the frame? I know, it doesn't even come close to looking like a crow, but it was the only "bird" shape I had for my Cricut. I thought cutting it out on black paper would help with the illusion... not so much.

So for $9.00 (plus the five $1 bags of candy corn)... I mean - for $14.00... VOILA, Halloween Inspiration.

Hope you're inspired. Happy Haunting!!

I'm linking up here - go check it out and see all the other fabulous ideas.
giveawaysJoin  us Saturdays at tatertotsandjello.com for the weekend wrap up           party! UndertheTableandDreaming SYS Thurs

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24 comments:

  1. That is awesome! I love it! How do you keep the little hands away from stuff like that???

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  2. Looks like something I might see featured in a magazine. You are very talented. And yes, how do you keep little hands away? Let me guess...they're afraid of spiders ;)

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  3. Such a great idea and so cute and inexpensive.

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  4. I love what you did in that little space! So creative! Might have to go up in the attic now and drag out Halloween stuff down...

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  5. I love your whole Halloween set up. Great job!

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  6. Ahhhh, creepy and cool. I love what you did with your lamp shade.

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  7. Oh my goodness! This is adorable! I love seeing Halloween decorating ideas that aren't run of the mill, and this certainly fits the bill. :)

    I LOVE the candy corn tree! Too cute!
    Erin :)

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  8. That's really cute! I love it! I don't have much space to decorate either, especially with a 17 month old who gets into everything! Thanks for sharing!

    Tashia @ http://homeinspiredbliss.blogspot.com

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  9. Well for someone whose never decorated for Halloween before...you've created one pretty fantastic display!! :)

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  10. I love your spooky display. My daughter is chomping at the bit to bring up our decorations. One more week!

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  11. love this! come on over and link up to MMM :)

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  12. I love your whole halloween display, I think it looks great all crammed in together! I love all your cut-out paper details, I have got to get me a cricut!

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  13. I love your display too! I really like your Boo sign. I have a Cricut but nothing for halloween on the cartridges I have. I have to get SCAL. I may ask for that for Christmas!

    -Karen

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  14. I love your Halloween display :-)

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  15. that is REALLY cute! It all meshes so well together.

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  16. I love it! It's fabulous. I really like that you spent little money to turn out such a great vignette. Good job!

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  17. this looks AWESOME!!! thanks for the great ideas :)

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  18. Kristol - You did a fabulous job putting this together. I love the boo sign - so cute! Thanks so much for linking to the sunday showcase party. I have featured this here: http://www.bystephanielynn.com/2010/09/clean-mama-printables-giveaway-reminder.html
    Stop by and grab a featured button if you like.

    Hope you are enjoying your week! ~ Stephanie Lynn

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  19. Just wanted to let you know that I featured this today on my blog!

    http://adventuresofthemichelenafamily.blogspot.com/2010/10/feature-friday-4.html

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  20. LOVE all your decor. Dollar Store rocks!!

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  21. i LOVE it!!! I too am cramped for space, and you give me hope! what a shrine for THEE best day of the year! :D

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  22. Looks Great!! Would love for you to share at my "Creative Halloween Party"
    http://jeana-marie.blogspot.com/2011/09/creative-halloween-ideas.html

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