Witchy Decor

I spent some time with a friend creating some magical Halloween witch's hats.

I had the paper mache hats in my stash - likely bought on clearance a couple of years ago. We painted them black and then started embellishing. I bought some sparkly supplies at the dollar store and my friend brought the beautiful spider web fabric.
 

I added a velvet spider to the web, with black tulle encircling the hat to give even more of a "web" look.

I added my hat to my little Halloween display in the entry.

 

They Come in Pairs

I had another spooky image of twins, so I made a little Halloween hanging.

I added a frame from Recollections on the front and ruffled crepe paper around the edge.

A sparkly piece of tulle along with some lace and black millinery flower add more texture.

Sisters

I found this spooky image of twins online and knew it would be perfect to feature in a little Halloween shadowbox.

I made the box using an old cereal box, then adhered My Mind's Eye paper on the background. Ruffled crepe paper, Tim Holtz tinsel trim, and a couple of glittery pumpkins add more texture. The moon is the same that I used on this card, The dangling spider is a sticker I had in my stash and I simply adhered it to a piece of thread.

The black leaves around the top and side are an older Prima product that I've been saving for just the right project. And finally, a pair of glittered skulls make the perfect "feet" for my spooky shadowbox.

Here's a look at my projects on display together:

I added a black fringed crepe paper garland and large millinery rose. I'm all set - let the festivities begin!
 
 

A Good Witch

Here is another card I made for Halloween.

I used My Mind's Eye paper for the background and added a strip of ruffled crepe paper. I layered vintage tinsel garland on top of the crepe paper.

The good witch image is another great one from The Graphics Fairy.

The sentiment is also from My Mind's Eye and I added a Martha Stewart cobweb doily behind it. The glittered stars are from a Thickers Halloween set I had in my stash. She's on display with my mercury glass pumpkins - my only little piece of decor that is out anywhere in the house.
 
 

Silly Skeletons

When we were kids, my sister and I loved watching old Disney cartoons. The songs and music were so sweet, and the stories were even sweeter. In honor of this spooky month, here is Disney's first Silly Symphony from 1929 - The Skeleton Dance.

Boo!

I can't believe October is already here. It feels like once October arrives, the rest of the year goes by in a blur.

I've been working in my little craft room on a few Halloween decorations, since I have no idea where my old decorations are.

Here's a little card I made using sweet images from The Graphics Fairy.

I used some scraps of paper, including an old book page that I distressed with ink. I made a paper rosette for the moon face and added black tulle and a couple of Halloween stick pins behind it.

I've been busy unloading some of my supplies into the craft room and have come to the conclusion that I need to commandeer one of the upstairs bedrooms as craft room storage. I'm sure Husband thinks I should store it all at the Goodwill!
 

Happy Halloween

I hope your Halloween is spooktacular!

 

Potions and Spells

When I was making my witchy gothic arches, I used a leftover image to make an ATC.

I used some paper scraps for the background, and gave her sparkly jewelry. I added a piece of bling and a title made on my old typewriter.
 

Beautiful Witches

I am participating in The Vintage Dragonfly's Beautiful Witches Gothic Arch swap. This project was a lot of fun, especially since I already had the perfect images to use. Here are the arches that I made.

I made them all a similar style, showing off individual members of the exclusive Witch's Club.

I decked each witch in a glitter hat and sparkly jewelry. If I were a witch, I would always be in glitter and diamonds, too.

 

Then I added some gray Prima bling that's been in my stash forever.

A gothic style ribbon is the finishing touch.

I couldn't leave the backs plain, so I added a club portrait.

I'll share the arches that I receive, hopefully next week.
 

Halloween Tiara

I have a couple Halloween projects left to share, and want to make sure I get them in before the big day!

I made a Halloween tiara out of black wire, crepe paper, tulle, and a few glittery decorations. I'll be wearing this when the trick or treaters ring my doorbell on Monday night.

I made the wire form and then added ruffled crepe paper and tulle. I didn't want anything to be too perfect and straight - for Halloween, the more raggedy the better!
 

White Pumpkins

When I was at Junk Bonanza, I saw beautiful fabric pumpkins that were embellished with vintage trims. I really wanted one several, but thought I'd try to make one instead. I found an easy pattern online and started cutting out my vintage chenille pieces.

After I sewed the pieces together, I started embellishing the top. I found a stick to use as the stem and then added crochet trim, lace, fabric, millinery flowers, and old buttons.

My pumpkin needs a few friends. Maybe I'll get to that next year. I'd also love to make some velvet pumpkins. I need to get out to the pumpkin patch and gather some errant stems.
 

Happy Halloween

wishing you a frightfully spooky, fun, and safe halloween

Halloween Inchies, Twinchies, and Tweenchies

This month's inchie theme was Halloween. Here are the inchies I received. (Mine is the inchie on the top left.) I love all the different styles, and of course the sparkle!

I also made Halloween twinchies to send to everyone.

I'm going to a crafty birthday party on Friday, and the two ladies requested that everyone make them two tweenchies ("between" an inchie and a twinchie). Here are the tweenchies I made - one with a Halloween theme and one with a birthday theme.

Halloween Decor

I never got a chance to put up my Halloween decor. What is out is what I made this year and the few crafts I had downstairs from last year. Hopefully I can get some fall stuff out in time for Thanksgiving. Here are some pics from around the house.

This is a little candy box on a stick made by the fabulous Ann-Denise. It was one of my party favors from the Wicked Tea.

A little vignette in the living room. I bought the lighted haunted house at Tuesday Morning this past summer. I put a large velvet spider climbing on the roof. The tombstones and glittered skull are dollar store finds.

The paper hat is also from Ann-Denise. It adorns a scary skull in the entry way.

Some tags and other paper crafts I made last year.

Halloween Cuff Bracelet

I wanted to make a Halloween cuff bracelet to wear to the Wicked Tea, but that didn't happen. So, I made one to wear for Halloween. We're taking our niece and nephew trick or treating, so this will substitute as my costume.

I used vintage and antique trims from my stash. I started with a pleated velvet trim and stitched a fancy Victorian trim on top. This trim was perfect for the bracelet because the last open loop became part of the bracelet's closure. I simply stitched an antique black glass button to the other end and put it through the loop to close.

Here's a closeup of the masked Marie Antoinette image.

I cut out the image, drew a black mask on her face, and then added Glossy Accents to protect it. The Glossy Accesnts caused the ink from the mask to bleed a little, but I didn't mind. I then glued her in the center of a vintage rhinestone brooch and adhered it to the center of the cuff.

Number 31

I bought a little Halloween kit from One Ripe Peach's etsy shop. It was so easy to put together and now sits among a little Halloween display in my living room.

Sadly, I haven't done much decorating this year. I just haven't had the time. Work has been super busy and I've been traveling here and there. Hopefully I'll slow down enough to get the Christmas decorations up!

Sparkling Witch Potion

The other swap I did for the Wicked Tea was a potion bottle. Of course, I have a stash of old bottles. I chose two (one for me and one for thee) to make my potion bottles.

I wanted to age the bottles even more. I poured dark alcohol ink inside and out.

I purchased images from Lisa's Altered Art and printed the text on my computer. Then I started blinging up the ladies. I added Stickles, German glass glitter, and used my sparkle pen for details. 

Once the ladies were ready, I adhered them using matte medium and started decorating the bottle. I added some rhinestones and drizzled melted wax here and there.

On the bottle top, I attached an owl button and dangled some charms on the side - an old vial of watch parts and a cool charm with a Witch Hazel label.

The back of the bottle has the "instructions" label. I didn't want to put any liquid in my bottle, so I filled it with mica flakes, silver sequins, glitter, and shiny silver bag filler.

The Voodoo Queen

I participated in two swaps for the Wicked Tea event. One was to make a voodoo book inspired by Marie Laveau. I made two books, one to keep and one for my swap partner Jan. I made them as old voodoo books that have been lovingly used for many, many years. Getting a little worn and distressed, but still magical. Here are some pics of the books.

Every voodoo queen needs a bit of widow's veil and purity candles.

I found some inspiring images and then made up spells, instructions, and ancient myths to go with them. I typed everything on my old typewriter to give it more of a worn feel.

For the pages, I used tracing paper, watercolor paper, and drawing paper. I liked the different textures of each. I sprayed, inked, distressed, even burned the pages to give them a well-used feel.

Here is the GORGEOUS book that Jan made for me. Her theme is of Marie Lavaeu writing a book to her daughter, passing along the recipes and needs of her customers. She wrote a beautiful story and included images of the "customers." It is so creative and beautiful. The book itself looks professionally made.

Each page is more beautiful than the next. Every time I go through the book, I see something new. What a talented woman! Thanks, Jan. I will treasure it forever.