One More Room

I always decorate my guest bathroom for the holidays or season but I have never posted pictures before. Now I know why. This isn't a particularly large bathroom and getting pictures from the angles I wanted was nearly impossible. Never-the-less, I have a few to share with you today. I like to decorate this room as it is the one my grand children use when they visit and they enjoy seeing what is here.

It is hard to see, but even Colgate is co-operating now by putting out tooth paste in Halloween containers-gotta love it!




Yes, that is a Halloween shower curtain. As my husband would say "doesn't every home need one?". In my defense, I found this at Kohls 2 years ago the day after Halloween and it was probably 65% off. I really like it and now that I no longer have the curtain hooks built into the rod, changing it out is a snap! Oh yes, I also found the pumpkin curtain hooks at the same time. How could you possibly have one without the other?!


The tassel in the above picture is one I made back when everyone was hanging tassels off of everything. Nobody does that any more but it took so long to make that I can't bear to get rid of it. Hence, it now hangs here. For no reason other than it can.

As I look at these pictures I realize that the bathroom isn't really very imaginative. Maybe it will go on the list for renovations next year. Stay tuned.

And On We Go...

The kitchen is pretty much as usual. It sort of has to stay functional so most of the decor is also usable. Seems I do more cooking and entertaining in October than most any other month of the year!

The above cookie jar was a bargain from Target many years ago. In fact, I got a lot of my Halloween dinnerware and serving pieces from them. They don't have that kind of stuff any more but they do have some nice plastic stuff this year that I have picked up. I am so holiday crazy that I change even all of our dinnerware for the occasion. I have so many sets of Halloween dinnerware that it is almost embarrassing but most of it was bought at the end of a year, so I got lots of bargains...and I really use it...and who knows when I might have to serve 50 people a Halloween meal on "real" plates...and, there, have I justified my obsession yet?




I love this witch! I got her at a cute little shop in Mt. Dora. She is noise activated, so if a cabinet door closes too loudly or a pot lid bangs or a grandchild runs up and slaps the counter (which truly is one of the first things any of them has learned to do) she cackles and yells "Happy Halloween". Now, I never tire of hearing it although I will admit that she sometimes still scares me on occasion. My husband is another story!!! He is NEVER prepared for her cackle. I guess I should be worried about a heart attack but I still somehow find pure enjoyment in it. I guess I have a warped sense of humor. Yes, I am one of those people who laugh when you fall-but only after I know you aren't hurt. But, I digress!!

Anyhow, I think I have mentioned that I am out of town at least 2 days every week. My hubby and I have a bit of a game going during October. Every time I come home, the witch is missing and I set out to find where he put her this time. She is usually found facing some far off corner. I guess I could just show him how to turn her off but you think he would have thought of that himself by now so maybe he enjoys looking for new hiding places for her as much as I enjoy the thought of him walking around and doing the same! Did I mention that it doesn't take much to get a kick out of life once you pass a certain age!!!



I added the wine bottle candleabra this year. It is from Yankee Candle and matches the 3 wine bottle votives I bought last year. And, if you look closely you will see some small mice scurrying around. They were a gift from daughter #3.



This guy was going to hang in my living room this year, but after Morgan and Olivia made me the chandelier and I had a black & white theme going, he was relegated to his old spot-plus the nails were already in the right places. I really don't like the words behind his head-maybe I'll use some of my leftover over "creepy cloth" and cover that up!


This year I hit the $ Tree early and scooped up more of their $1 crows. There was something in the back of my mind from last year that I knew I wanted to do and needed many crows. Apparently it was so far in the back of my mind that I can't remember what it was so instead of just letting the birds sit in a storage box until I remembered, I set them in the branches of my twigs in the bucket. I actually like this as they are most often in silhouette when you come into this room because of the way the light enters from the sunroom. It gives a rather eerie feel and, after all, isn't that just what we're going for this time of year?

The bucket that the branches sit in was an inexpensive flower bucket from Michaels. I painted it with chalkboard paint and can write any message I want. I actually did this many years ago-long before everyone else started painting things with chalkboard paint. How about that-I must be a trendsetter!!!! Who Knew?!

I have a room or so left to show you and then I have done a bit of tweaking I want to share so stay tuned!

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!