For Your Dining Pleasure

So let's start with the hutch in the dining room. I have definitely tweaked it a bit since last year. I put some new potion labels on some of the tired, old jars. I also added a new mercury glass candle holder and candle that I found at Target. The candle has silver skulls so it fits right in to the theme.

I also added a mercury glass votive holder that has a skull and a black, cut glass holder also. Both of them are from "The Barn" in Lake Alfred. They are really pretty when lit at night.




The votive holder that you see in this picture was made by my grand daughters Caitlin and Olivia. It is hard to see but it has a painted web and 3 dimensional spider on it. You can also see the skull that I downloaded from The Graphics Fairy and printed on an old book page.


The top of the jelly cupboard has a few new elements as well. I found the marker at Target and the skull candle and skull votive holder both at Michaels this year.




There's still more to see. You know me, more is more! Stay tuned!

And On We Go!

When I saw this picture, I realized how often I use the frames that I made from a tutorial from (I think as it was awhile ago) How'd She Do That? I made them for everyone as a gift for some occasion a year or so ago. The secret is that the front is a piece of metal and by just using decorative magnets, you can change out the image for any holiday or season or put in a family photo. I use these a lot for downloads of vintage postcards.


I must admit that when I saw this picture, I hated this coffee table. The large copper bowl was sort of a desperation move as I was running out of time. Just sort of threw in all of the left over "body parts" and thought I would eventually get back to it and do some fine tuning. Well, you know what they say about best intentions..... In any case, I did find time to make a witch's spell book that is now on this table and helps the balance a bit. I will get a picture when I take some shots of some other small projects I have managed to squeeze in.



I used to have more merchandising area on the bookcase, but Lego storage has taken over the bottom 2 shelves. Now, I could move the Legos somewhere else for the next month but since easy access to these once foreign objects (my first 4 grandchildren were girls preceded by my own 3 girls), I sort of enjoy being "cool Nana" as the boys rush into my house and straight to these shelves! Somehow, 2 more shelves of Halloween just doesn't seem necessary!!!


I should have bought more of this creepy gauze fabric when I had the chance. I have come up with a bunch of other ways I wanted to use some, but it seems as if all of my dollar stores have been wiped clean. And, since I only paid $1 for it, I can't bring myself to pay the price Wal-Mart, Michaels, etc. is asking. Apparently no one else can either as their shelves still have plenty! Note to self for next year!




I guess the family room didn't change much from last year. A few new pictures on the mantle, but how could you tell. I did make more changes in the dining room and we will head there next post. Stay tuned and "spook" on!

Let the Tour Begin!

We'll start in the living room. Most things are pretty self explanatory and lots are the same as last year. My plan had been to swap things up a bit this year, but life happened too fast and since I wanted everything done before the kiddos got here, I went with tried and true. Of course, there are a few new things slipped in here and there as I can't ever seem to totally edit myself where Halloween is concerned!




I did these sconces a little differently this year. I bought the ravens at HL when they first came out because I remembered how quickly they sold out last year. Then, I gathered up some of my headstones from the $ Tree. I like the way it looks and the LR has kind of become the Poe/raven room.


I did my Poe vignette once again. I did add the skull hand and candle and the Bethany Lowe vintage garland, but the rest is pretty much the same. Still on the hunt for a CHEAP, old typewriter. Think it would be fabulous!


I have discovered that I either have too many windows or too many mirrors as taking a good picture in my house without flashback or glare from something is nearly impossible! Please know that most of this stuff really does look better in person-if you're in the area, drop by and see for yourself.



The pumpkin heads got relegated to the top of the armoire. I actually like them up there all bunched together.





Yes, this provides many a "wise crack" from my three sons-in-law but I know it is always said in a loving way so I forgive them. And the first time it isn't, I will use one of my many spells to get them back-ha-ha!



(Look closely and you'll see the MS birds in the windows.)


And here is my new love! This is the chandelier that Morgan, Olivia and Presley made for me. I added candles and ravens and I absolutely love it!!!! It stops me dead in my tracks every time I enter this room. I had the old chandelier from a long ago dining room transformation. I cut out all of the electrical and used it for some time hanging with candles over a table out by the pool. When the tree that it hung from had to come down, I just had it out there as a sort of prop. All I had to do was spray paint it black and have the girls ties on strips of gauze. I think it makes the room!


That is about it for the big things in this room. I used my MS bird silhouettes on the windows and the mice along the base boards. I have also added a few more strings of lights since these pictures were taken. I'm one of those people who will light every light and candle if I am home-even in the daylight. I just love the feel of it and I figure if I can't enjoy all of this myself, what's the point!

Lots more to show you. I think I'll even try to show you the outside and guest bath this year if I can get any pictures without me looking back at you in the mirrors. Stay tuned. It should be an adventure!

I'm Baaaccckkk!

I'm finally back! Didn't mean to be gone so long, but the computer gods had other ideas and my computer was infected with a pretty mean virus. It had to be taken away, but we're both back now and chomping at the bit to get on with my favorite holiday of the year!


My house is all decorated and I have many pictures to share, but first I want to fill you in on last weekend at my house. It is the weekend we wait for all year long! We have all 7 grandchildren here and it is our official start to the "Halloween season" for our family!

Hannah and Morgan

Caitlin and Olivia

Hudson, Presley and Harrison



After a quick lunch, we started on our crafts. We have done this for so many years, it is hard to find something we haven't already done either here, in scouts, in church or in school. This year I saw this name plaque on Pinterest and thought the kids might enjoy making it.


My original plan was for them to make them pretty much as the sample was made on Pinterest-very simply decorated with painted polka dots and I even bought some glittery confetti in case they just wanted to glue those on and go really simple.


Silly me! The four oldest are just not the "go simple" type. Before I knew what was happening, they had invaded my paints, trims, etc. and were off on their own individual fantasies. It never fails to amaze me how much imagination they have!

These really did work well as a craft for a child. As usual, I did some preliminary work so that they didn't have to use the glue gun. They would have been fine with it, but I'm always wary of an accident. I pre-painted the plaques, made the tu-tus for the girls and hot glued the leg warmers. If I had only been working with the 4 oldest (ages 10-15), I would have let them do all of this but since the little ones were involved as well, I wanted it to be a good experience for all!

Presley's was the basic plaque and she was fine with that.

The boys didn't want tu-tus on theirs, so I cut out a witch's hat for them and they loved it. They painted their own dots-and believe me, they painted them where THEY wanted them. I have a round sponge dabber, so this is an easy task and always successful for little ones! And then, they wanted the glitteries as well. I think they all really turned out well and each was fitted to the individual's level and taste-truly a kid-friendly craft!

Next, we made worms. Notice the boys are missing for the making part of this although they did pop in and out but new Lego sets were just too strong a draw! Now these things are a bit of a hassle to make and until the girls figured out an easier way to unmold, a real paint in that aspect also, but SO WORTH doing! They truly look like the real thing and can gross everyone out-even the person who mixed it up and knows it is only Jello and heavy cream!

The big girls and the 2 boys absolutely loved these but Presley would have nothing to do with them-not even one little taste!


Here are my 3 helpers making a new item for my livingroom. I love it that these kids are getting to be so self sufficient (well, sometimes I still miss my "little ones" but growing up is inevitable eventually I guess). I simply told them what I wanted, cut the strips of gauze and they did the rest. You will see the finished product when we tour the livingroom.


Dinner was super easy this year. Since we have been doing this for so many years, we have tried about every Halloween food out there and I have finally learned that with everything else we try to cram into the day, we are usually pooping out by dinnertime and don't want to spent hours in the kitchen. This year we went back to a favorite-English muffin mummy pizzas. Each kid put their own together with jarred pizza sauce, strips of mozzarella and sliced olives. They also made celery fingers and we added mummy brains (broccoli and cauliflower) and fruit-by this time, we were out of catchy names. We also don't spend as much time on the table settings-just that much more to clean up. Hope I'm not coming off sounding jaded. It's just that we have learned what really matters over the years-not to mention that we were running late and had a Gator game to watch.

We ended up with candy corn pudding parfaits-so simple and they loved them!


While the 2 oldest and the 2 boys were outside tossing a football, these 3 made chocolate covered popcorn mix. It was a bit frustrating because we just couldn't get our Wilton candy wafers to melt so that they would drizzle, but these guys persevered and even though the mix didn't looks anything like it should have, everyone loved the taste. We bagged it up and sent it home for snacks.


Not everyone got the "scary" command but by this time, I think we had taken about 50 pictures, so as long as we were all there, it's good! So sad the weekend is over!! Already gathering ideas for next year!!!

Come back soon and I'll show you this year's decorations. I have made a few changes and am loving it! Stay tuned. And so happy to be back!