any neat halloween craft/decor ideas

[yarborough house]

Hey all- yes halloween is a bit off but with my schedule I need to jump on it now. So, any new decor ideas or crafty ideas you are willing to share?

[Zuzu's Garden]

OK, don't laugh, but I'm experimenting. I gathered kinnickinnic berries and used a needle&thread to string them together. I'm waiting to see if they stay pretty, or dry up into ugly little lumps on a string. So far, they look pretty good.

Also, (remember - don't laugh!!!) I'm playing around with paper mache. I made a pumpkin-shaped form out of aluminum foil (1/2 pumpkin), put kleenex over it and sprayed it with water - did this with about 4 kleenexes (is that even a word?) Anyway, it takes about 48 hours to dry. Peeled it off and used a brush to apply glue+water to the inside while adding more paper to give it strength. When both halves are done, I'll glue them together, paint and add glitter. Sounds like it might work. Hubby just laughs, but sometimes my crazy ideas work great! Candy molds or a wire form might work better, but I'm cheap. :p

I'll let you know how these experiments come out.
Zu

[yarborough house]

Sounds fun Zu, Why do husbands laugh and mock our creative sides ?
I can't wait to see some pictures of them. Hey it would be neat to do some gourd shapes that way also.
hmmmm

[Zuzu's Garden]

People stopped thinking I was nuts when what I made started selling. ;) Hubby laughs because some of my ideas are a little out there but at the same time, he completely supports my artsy side.

The thing with making your own forms is that you control the size and shape, and each one will be unique (I'm not a fan of mass-produced crafts). If the idea works, then the possibilities of what to make are endless.

Between these projects and cutting more firewood, I'm working on something for this Friday's Cloche party (http://astrollthrulife.blogspot.com/2009/07/another-cloche-party-september-11-th.html). I LOVE hand-dyed ribbons and fibers and vintage millinery. Yummy! Check it out...

[yarborough house]

Very pretty Zu..Oh and thanks for reminding me of the cloche party - another thing to add to my neverending to-do list this week.

[CohenCottage]

i want to do something classic and tasteful for our outdoor decorations for fall so that i can enjoy them from now until thanksgiving (i know, i'm lazy). other than grouping pumpkins down one side of the steps and adding a wreath, does anyone have any other ideas for fall? maybe a string of gourds on the porch or something to replace the ferns in the planters?

p.s. this is my reveal for our new door color...do you like it? i want to paint the chairs on the porch next weekend, and we will eventually add shutters and a window box to that left window.

p.s.s. heather, since you are a garden expert, can you suggest something to jazz up my front beds for fall? they currently have christmas ferns and hellibores which are both evergreen.

[Heather]

CC I think your house would look great with ornamental grasses...
http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/20459/

[CohenCottage]

That's what I was thinking too, but I didn't want to bias you!!! It's what we have in the backyard too, so it would be nice and cohesive...

[Heather]

It just looks like your house would suit it!

[yarborough house]

Hmm I like the idea of string of gourds...maybe intersperse some of the big pinecones in that string too - it would go well with your colors.
I have always done the cornstalk, etc..up by the house door. But this year I am going to keep the front gate locked and set up my display down there. Keeps the smell of the cornstalks away from me and my allergies..

I tried to paint one of my fake pumpkins the metallic paint with specks of black on it to get the mercury glass effect today- not sure I am liking it though.

I am going to string some big pinecones, some indian corn and some tiny pumpkins together and put on my front gate..we'll see how that comes out.
that is my plan for this weekend..

CC- does the front of your house get lots of sun? Because some bright green hostas would really pop out there? Also, maybe some mexican heather - it would give a bit of blue/purple look.

I like the door.

[CohenCottage]

I like the idea of pine cones and indian corn...wonder if you could make a wreath out of the corn?

Tammy, our front yard is entirely shade, and we do have some small hostas in those beds, but I would love to get some larger ones too. The rest of the front yard is hostas, ferns, and oakleaf hydrangeas.

[yarborough house]

I have seen wreaths made of the indian corn. You need to get one of those wire wreath forms then wire the corn to it..It does look quite smashing I must say.. :) My neighbor has lots of shade and they do wonderful hostas, and then eye grabbing pink azaelas...it looks soo good. They also have a huge rosemary and sage in the mix..

[RoseMary]

I haven't done any fall decorating yet. I did buy some fake fall leaves that I'm going to make a garland out of to go over my dining room windows~maybe add a string of white lights in them. I also bought a few fake pumpkins and gourds to put in a little clear glass pumpkin I have.

It's hard to do much with a kitten in the house. She thinks everything is fun to play with and eat, so I have to be careful.

I also want to make some decorations for the porch~I thought maybe a scarecrow or large 'pumpkin man' to sit in a chair.

[annielinz]

Well even tho it was over 90 degrees and I had the AC on I tried to do my Fall mantle. This was the best I could come up with...I think the heat was sapping my decor mojo. Oh, and thats not a soccer ball... its my "whimsical polka dot pumpkin":rolleyes:I made last year. No doubt it'll be tweaked in the coming weeks.
I don't even put out my Halloween stuff till its closer to Oct 31st.

[RoseMary]

I think it looks great, annielinz! I need all the inspiration I can get. I've been looking at magazines~just can't really seem to get into doing any of it. I do have my leaves strung up, but I'm still working on getting the lights in them the right way~but who knows, that may be overkill or look too Christmasy.

[yarborough house]

Mary Ann - I LOVE the quirky pumpkins. They are so much fun.

[shabbychick]

How cute! The mantel looks fabulous. I haven't gotten around to getting my fall stuff out of storage yet. Maybe next weekend...

[Lisa S]

I filled my window boxes with gold mums and planted burgandy mums in the two old urns that sit on the front stoop.

I have boxes of decorations, but it's just too darned hot to think about it.

[Breezy]

I thought I'd post a pic of the little table with fall decorations - I love the colors.

[Lisa S]

Breezy ~ your table looks great!

The weather is turning here. In the 80's yesterday but today is supposed to be a high of 68. Now, that's more like it! My decorations are calling to me now...

[Zuzu's Garden]

Very fun decos everyone! Now we're starting to get in the Fall mood!

Here are pics of my handmade paper mache pumpkins & kinnikinnick berry garlands. I liked the pumpkins better before adding glitter, but I had fun playing w/ paper mache and am looking forward to more projects with it. ~ Zu

[yarborough house]

I love those pumpkins..you should use them in the swap- hint hint..

[Heather]

I like the berry garlands too! Are they cranberry? I've never heard of kinnikinnick.

[Lisa S]

Wow Zu, those are beautiful. Are you selling them or can you post instructions?

[RoseMary]

Wow, those are great, Zu. My paper mache always looks like something a first grader made:o.

Linn, I love the table decorations. The colors are so pretty!

[Zuzu's Garden]

Sorry, Tammy, I couldn't do the swap this time.

Hi Heather - these are definitely kinnikinnick berries. They grow all over the south hill next to our house - thousands of them!

Hey Lisa - I closed down my online shop and will be reopening under a new name in a few months. I wasn't real happy w/ the pumpkin results, so I started making more today. This time I won't smother them with mica glitter! :rolleyes: The instructions are on my blog here:
http://a-cottage-in-the-woods.blogspot.com/2009/09/3-projects-in-3-weeks-challenge-project.html

Thanks for all your sweet comments!
Zu

[Lisa S]

We'll try it ~ thanks, Zu!

[Zuzu's Garden]

Lisa - I'm trying something different with the pumpkins this time. I'm making paper pulp in the blender, applying it to the foil forms, pulling moisture away w/ paper towels, and drying them in the oven. So far, I like this method better.
:)
Zu

[cheapdiva]

ZU -
Love the pumpkins and the berries! It is cooling down here - in the low 60's during the day and upper 40's at night. Long range forecast is a HIGH of 48 for Sunday! Yikes! And of course, that is the day of our courtyard fall clean-up.

I have not done any fall decorating and probably won't. I actually have scheduled on my calendar when to do the holiday decorating or it won't get done. Since we moved, we still go back "home" to spend the holidays with the kids and we don't host the holidays anymore. I am even going to a 5' table top tree this year (though my kids are betting I'll change my mind).

We do an open house the first Saturday of December every year and I CAN'T give up having a live tree.

So all of you keep those photos coming!!

[vintage girl]

I completed my fall decorating last weekend. I love this time of year and it is finally cooling down here. Last night we actually had to use our comforter for the first time in months. Our whole house is decorated and I just love it. I leave the fall decorations up until Thanksgiving and than comes christmas. It takes me 2 full weekends to decorate the house. We used to go all out on the outside and were part of our towns tour of houses, but 2 years ago, hubs said he did not want to do that anymore, as it takes at least three full weekends, so now we just put up icicle lights. He is a lot happier and more relaxed about the holidays now.

[craig2009]

Sounds fun Zu, Why do husbands laugh and mock our creative sides ?
I can't wait to see some pictures of them. Hey it would be neat to do some gourd shapes that way also.
hmmmm

Hi all!
I've just visited this forum. Happy to get acquainted with you. Thanks.