October 31, 2009

Boo!


Well it's just past 7:30 p.m. here on Halloween and nary a trick-or-treater in sight! We got a handful earlier but the circling cop cars lead me to believe that the holiday was not being supported by the local authorities this year. The worst part is the large bowl filled with chocolate within reach of me right now. Last year we had tons of kids come by, so I bought accordingly. Great. I think I feel my butt growing already.

I thought I'd show you what I did with all of the decorations I found in the trash during the summer.

I stuck the legs in my mailbox, and the ravens are perched on a branch I dragged home while on a walk with the dog last weekend.




I did buy a pumpkin, and used two of the buttons I bought in Brussels as eyes.



That way, tomorrow I can take the buttons off and the pumpkin will be able to hang out on the porch through Thanksgiving.

I did buy this flag, but for $8.95 including shipping (eBay) I think it was a great purchase.


This little guy was in my box of trash treasures, and he's perfectly at home climbing the flagpole.


And let me tell you, a little cheesecloth goes a long way! I bought four packages at the supermarket and cut and shredded it over almost everything in sight. It was a cheap and easy way to make a splash. And a home for Mr. Spider.


The nighttime photos don't do my "project" justice. The house is rigged up with blacklights and strobes and tombstones that "talk" when you walk past them. I'm pretty happy with how it came out. Here's a couple of shots...





Mr. Ghost is a damask yard sale tablecloth ($3). I always snatch those up. You can use them for everything from the intended use to craft projects (pillow backers or tote bag liners) and Halloween decorations! Plus they are totally wash and wear -- a little Oxi Clean and they look like a million bucks. Or at least more than the three or four dollars I pay for them.

He also got a pair of eyes, compliments of my Brussels button collection.


Inside the house I put together a few little vignettes with more cheap and found stuff. This curly branch came off the tree in our backyard. I have no idea what kind of tree it is (curly and thorny branches) but I love using the branches in flower arrangements and here I thought it looked holiday-appropriate all by its lonesome. The black candles are from the Dollar Store.


My great-grandma's cut crystal bowls glow thanks to these battery-operated tea lights, two for $1.19 (half off last weekend at JoAnn's).


In the photos you can see the tea lights, but in "real life" you don't see them at all; just their soft, flickering orange glow.


A vintage trick-or-treat bag turned art:


And a little pumpkin from the farmer's market (50 cents) rounds out the little scene.


I hope you're enjoying a safe and happy Halloween. And that you're not stuck staring at a bowl of chocolate like I am!

29 comments:

Jean Martha said...

LOVE the pirate flag!!!

heidi said...

awesome decorations! LOVE the glitter halloween card. Whatever you do, don't put the choc in your desk drawer. xoh

Blondie's Journal said...

Laura~~

You did such a wonderful job decorating. I love the tree branch. I was just in a restaurant that had tree branches with white lights for the decor.

You really go all out~and you are sitting there alone?? No way!! Eat the Tootsie Rolls...they are supposed to be the lowest in fat...

xoxo
jane

svelteSTUFF said...

Bootiful!!
Thanks for sharing - I got some GREAT inspiration for next year. Your mentions of JoAnne's reminded me that I 'need' to go hit the sales today - which I'm sure DH will thank you for 8-)

Purple Flowers said...

I LOVE LOVE your decorations, especially the vintage trick or treat bag!! You did a great job decorating!

Formerly known as Frau said...

Your decorations are great love them. Maybe your outside scared all the kiddies away! No Halloween here to celebrate miss it and feasting on leftover mini candy bars.

The Quintessential Magpie said...

You sure3 went all out, girl! And I loved the button eyes from Belgium, no less! ;-)

We got fewer trick or treaters last night as well, but the ones we got were C-U-T-E.

I've had a migraine, so I was glad to get to bed early. I want to go back to bed now as the fall weather finally got here this morning. YEA! Yesterday, parents were trick or treating in shorts with their kids. We were all remarking on the heat. Then this morning with the time change came cool, blissful cool.

XO,

Sheila :-)

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Sorry about all the typos. I don't know what came over me. LOL!

black eyed susans kitchen said...

You did a wicked good job decorating the front porch! We had all of 4 trick or treaters (said with lower lip pouting out). That is the price we pay for living on a dead end...which you would think that daring children would want to come down here just by the fact that it is a DEAD end...but no. Anyway, hope you had a great Halloween.
♥, Susan

preppyplayer said...

Now that is what I call recycling! Great job.
I nominate the pirate flag is used all summer to signal cocktail time.
Does anyone second that?

Maya said...

Wow. Your decorations are a hoot. Love the pumpkin with the button eyes! Well it's Sunday, or say early Monday now..., suppose all the creatures are coming down now!

Lisa said...

Laura, with Halloween being my fav holiday, I wish I was at your house for it! What an amazing Halloween set up!

On another note..get ready for #27!! WHOOOHOO!!

Tina said...

laura, everything looks so wonderful!! I would be totally defying the cops to get to your house. Awesome.
T

j.cro said...

Argh!

Aimee said...

Love all of it!!

We didn't get many trick or treaters either. Too much chocolate around here as well. ;)

Sue said...

I don't even bother to buy candy anymore....No one comes by...Did you see Miss B went to the Opera and had on all her costume jewerly from the SPCA thrift store....she made quite the Coco Chanel statement.....and I love the flag...Only at the Jersey shore do you still see real flag poles....

Linda Lou said...

What great decorations you managed to find--love them...we only had about 6 trick or treaters, and of course, I ate what was left...and have managed to stuff down much of what my daughter considered "throw aways"!

Joyce said...

WONDERFUL!! Great decorations Laura! xoxo

Anonymous said...

I look forward to reading blog and follow it consistenly not only because you are the best NJ blogger but it is interesting and I love your ideas!
ESH

Maureen said...

Not only am I stuck with a huge bowl of candy I bought, but the kiddos each came home with a stash. I need to get it out of here before I eat it all.

Love the decorations - sorry to hear there weren't mobs of kids to check it out. Everything looked great - inside and out.

And... I am saving my cheesecloth from the mummy bowling... I can use it next year like you did! Thanks!

pve design said...

Wow. look at your hallowed shorehouse!
Looking spooktacular!
pve

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

Your houe looked fantastic for Halloween, Laura! Love it all!
We had so many T or T er's that I ran out of candy...it is either feast or famine...lol

The Yankees better win tonight ... I can't take it anymore either. I want them to rock the new house!

Thanks for the sweet comment about L --he was a cutie pie Lion! :-)

Anonymous said...

LOL, yep, I would have avoided your house at all costs. Nightmares! But that is a compliment-what great decorations! I love the pumpkin...that is a wonderful idea.
We have a ton of chocolate left over too...boo!

Decor To Adore said...

I absolutely adored the legs stuffed into the mailbox! So much fun.

You did a wonderful job of decorating.

Julia @ Hooked on Houses said...

Love your decorations--especially that flag. How fun is that?! If I had a flag pole, I'd get one.

Next year I'll send some of our trick-or-treaters your way. I always run out of candy before it's all over and have to hide in the house with the lights off.

Kwana said...

Great job! That was downright scary.

Lorrie said...

What a great decorating job Laura. I can't believe you didn't get any little ghosts and goblins coming by to get some chills and thrills as they rang your bell. I understand how tempting leftover candy is too...

Thrifty Cents said...

You did such a great job with your decorations! I SO love Halloween too! I'll have to steal your cheese cloth idea next year! Thanks for sharing!

Thrifty Cents said...

You did such a great job with your decorations! I SO love Halloween too! I'll have to steal your cheese cloth idea next year! Thanks for sharing!