Halloween ideas
I wanted to give you a peek at this spooky Halloween village on page 42—one of my favorite projects in the magazine. The incredibly inspiring Claudine Hellmuth “built” the houses, and our super creative Senior Associate Art Director Deb Berger styled it for the photo shoot. Claudine posted the directions for the project on her blog last year, and she even offered some templates to make the process easier. Then Deb added some pumpkin stickers from Reminisce and a moon and bats from Martha Stewart Crafts. She also used a Martha Stewart Crafts border punch to make some fun black picket fences. Clever!
Mix and Mingle After dinner, invite guests to linger near the gloomy fireplace, where frightening wares continue the table's haunting theme. The vignette is swathed in icky spiderwebs, which are actually cheap white pantyhose that have been cut, ripped, and stretched, then held in place with puttylike tacky wax. Editor's Tip: The key to realistic cobwebs is in the stretching. Whether you're using faux webbing or white pantyhose, keep pulling so virtually every strand is visible.
Head on a Platter Invite this skull to the table to be the frightening centerpiece. Apply one or two coats of gray spray primer to a plastic skull for complete coverage; let dry. Apply two coats of metallic silver spray paint, allowing ample drying time between each coat. Place the dried skull atop a black cake stand, and coil a black feather boa (available at crafts stores) around it.
Dinner Is Served Customize a menu of dinner favorites with names that fit the party theme. (For example, buffalo wings become BBQ Bat Wings.) Give guests a taste of what's to come by printing menus on white cardstock and cutting them into tombstone shapes. Use plastic skeleton hands to hold the menus. To get the silvered effect, apply one or two coats of gray spray primer to the hands for complete coverage; let dry. Apply two coats of metallic silver spray paint, allowing ample drying time between each coat.
Spooky Arrival Halloween doesn't always have to be pumpkins and silly costumes. Take a walk on the elegant side and host a Halloween fete that's sophisticated yet suitably bone-chilling with overtures of mad science. Decoupage your house number with skeleton images onto white plates and stack in a plate rack outside your front door. Guests will know they've arrived at the correct house, and they'll get a glimpse of things to come.
spiders
love the one crow and those sweet tiny berries.
love the red feather
I love this!
Carved-Message Pumpkins Enter if you dare. Welcome guests with these words of warning. Using stencils, trace the letters onto your uncarved pumpkins. Scrape surrounding areas. Place the pumpkins on a walkway or driveway and watch passersby marvel.
the paint on the pumpkins
the chain
spiders
Cute hats
I'm scared!
BOO
the bat tree
Like those pumpkin towers!
Do this with your iron planter!
Candelabra's
Black-and-Orange Skeleton Candle Display These tall glass votive holders -- complete with a black jelly bean base -- hold black and orange candles. Spooky skeletons hang on the outside of the votive holders, ensuring an extra-haunting glow when the candles are lit.
Candy Corn Jar with Mums Are those spiders jumping out of that candy jar? Not quite. A spray of chartreuse spider mums tops a jar of candy corn. Insert a smaller, waterproof container filled with florist's foam and flowers inside a glass vase, then surround with candy.
Fenced-In Fall Centerpiece Let a trip to a crafts store inspire ideas for a versatile centerpiece to carry you through the season. Use miniature fencing or a shallow basket to frame a "yard" of Spanish moss, small hay bales, and gourds. A black cat and ghoulish signs stake the territory at Halloween; turkeys can gobble up space later.
Floral Jack-o'-Lantern Halloween Centerpiece A smiling jack-o'-lantern becomes the perfect Halloween vase when you place a container of water and flowers inside. A simple carving (or scraping) that forgoes the typical wide mouth will help the inside container stay hidden. Use a white pumpkin and orange flowers for extra pop.
Witch at the Window Silhouette This witch creeping in your front window gives the impression of a haunted house. The silhouette implies that something sinister is going on. Trace onto heavy black crafts paper. Cut out the silhouette and adhere to window with double-stick tape.
Mouse Chase Cutouts There's no waiting till the midnight hour for these little critters to make their presence known. Scattered along a stair landing, these cardstock cutouts will make guests' skin crawl. With a feline in pursuit, a game of cat and mouse ensues.
Going Batty Sconce This shelf-bracket-turned-sconce will shed new light on your nocturnal ways. A poster board bat supported by a dowel takes flight from the bracket. Dim the lights and let the candlelight glow to set a moody vibe.
Spiderwed fireplace
halloween table setting - FAB!
the black pumpkins
halloween table idea
Awesome!
Q