Welcome to the 31 Days of Halloween - DAY 15

 

For the better part of 2024, I have been anxiously trying to get to my Cloud backup, where I put ALL of my photos and digital stamps from my old laptop. We're talking pictures of family vacations, weddings, when my husband was alive; images from years of designing for teams on blogger; every scrapbook page I created on my own and at several scrap meets. I was frantic, not getting any response from the host except the message "we no longer support this version of...".

Just a month ago, I found a way to get in, and there everything was!! My most precious memories, a history of my growth as an artist, and all the images I collected and bought and received. And the first thing I did was buy a 128 GB flash drive. I am still in the process of copying EVERYTHING onto that drive. I don't think I can ever trust the cloud again...

My project today is a Design Team make for Halloween & Other Occasions All Year 'round.  I used an image from my "once lost but now found" inventory of digital images from Bugaboo Stamps. It's part of a series, and this one is called "the chosen one". I colored him with Copics and fussy-cut him out to place him into the scene, which is a cool and creepy  paper from Rucola Designs via Mischief Circus (from her Dead or Alive Series).

The paper is leftover from a DCWV stack, as well the assorted stickers. The spider web is a tiny piece of lace I cut off a larger piece. The crow is a silhouette from Google free clipart, and I printed my greeting in Algerian font.

I don't make a lot of Halloween cards as I don't send them out, but I often bring a handmade treat or gift to a neighbor during the holidays - any holidays!! LOL

Challenges I am Entering:

Welcome to the 31 Days of Halloween - DAY 14

 

I finally broke down and made one of those quaint road crossing signs I'm seeing everywhere on Pinterest. It actually turned out cuter than I thought it would. I dug into my bin of wood pieces and puled out a bag of thin wood pieces about 6"x2.5". After painting them with acrylic paints, I used my Posca markers to letter some of the "mysterious destinations" and also sticker letters for others. I made six, but the ones pictured here are my favorites.

I also dabbed on some Tim Holtz alcohol inks to "age" the signs so they look a tiny but weather-beaten. Instead of spending an hour looking for the "perfect stick" to attach them, My eyes spied a very old 12" ruler that had seen much better days. I hot glued my destination signs onto it and it looks pretty cool up against one of the bushes, half in and half out of the sun.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas Halloween here at the Martin homestead. Do you decorate for this Autumn holiday? Do you make cards and send them out to neighbors and friends? Or do you just wait until Thanksgiving and Christmas to let your creativity soar? In my neck of the woods, Halloween is getting to be as popularly decorated as Christmas. 

Challenges I am Entering:

Daisy Chain - Autumn and/or Halloween

Halloween & Other Occasions - Halloween

Welcome to the 31 Days of Halloween - DAY 13

 

Today is October 13th! It would be cooler if it were a Friday instead of a Sunday, huh?! Anyway, today's make features the stars from Tim Burton's Nightmare before Christmas classic movie. Since I started decluttering the basement, I have found things I never even knew I had. Among my discoveries was a bag of (old) ping pong balls. 

I painted a face corresponding to a NBC character onto each ball. Meet Zero the dog, Sally, Jack Skellington and Oogie Boogie. I also painted the bases of battery-operated tea lights black. Once everything was dry, I popped the "flame" part of the tea lights into the holes in the balls and I have lovely window decorations for the Big Day!!

Welcome to the 31 Days of Halloween - DAY 12

 When I go into my basement to find craft supplies, I sometimes feel like Mary Poppins reaching into her carpetbag. I can pull out the most amazing things to work with, most of which I often don't remember having. Today's project uses one of those magical finds.

It was a very used  Halloween wreath made from painted, clipped clothespins on a wire wreath frame. A little burla, some dirty stickers and a crushed bow were all that remained on the original DIY  someone worked on to delight their children in times gone by. I had my work cut out for me...

Taking all the clothespins off I repainted them in bright orange, purple and black colors.. Some had originally been green but the ribbon I used didn't have a speck of green in it, so change of color scheme. While they were drying I rummaged around my Halloween supply box and found some wooden shapes that would look well on the finished wreath and cleaned them.

The wire frame consists of three attached circles. I clipped the pins orange, purple black so that in theory the same order would go around the whole wreath. I didn't allow for the broken clothespins I had pulled off and didn't replace. Their empty "slots" would be where the large orange and black ribbon and bow are hiding them...

Once pins were in place as well as the ribbon, I hot glued the wooden shapes asymmetrically, adding some small skull buttons to fill in what I though of as gaps. I used black carabiner rope for a hanger and my door now showcases a "new" Halloween wreath. I think I gave this wreath the fresh breath it needed. What do you think?

Challenges I am Entering

Creative Artiste - Anything Mixed Media Goes

LeighSB Designs Inspiration - Anything Halloween Goes + optional twist Catoween

Moving along with the Times - Autumnal Colors

Classic Design - Autumn/Fall

Welcome to the 31 Days of Halloween - DAY 11

 Today I decided to upcycle this fashionable witch I had found from one of my many trips to local thrift stores. Her hat was torn, her broom needed  re-strawing (is that even a word?) and her shoes "were last year's, dahling."...  So I gave her a makeover.

I repaired her dress, added a belt, made a new hat for her, styled her hair, painted her shoes and the base on which she stands, and re-strawed her broom. I even added a black cat in front of her right foot, tho' it's hard to see. I didn't have to dig into the air dry clay I discovered while decluttering my supplies, so it was an easy upcycle and she's ready for Fashion Week in Paris. I hope she can get a good price on airfare. Oh, wait, she doesn't need a silly plane to get there... 

Welcome to 31 Days of Halloween - DAY10

 This happens to be one of my favorite projects this Halloween. I bought these yard flamingoes way back in May or June from the Dollar store and kept them tucked away for this month. I sprayed each with black chalk paint. I loved using my Posca markers to draw the birds' skeletons on both sides. Then made sure to seal them with gloss varnish so they would last more than the first year.

They came with small metal rods to stick in the yard. 

While I was at the Dollar Store last month, I heard 2 moms talking about how most of the Halloween decorations were scary and grotesque and they weren't buying them. I thought about all the younger kids who love to trick-or-treat in my neighborhood, and decided to put on these over-sized googly eyes to lessen the grotesqueness of them. Personally, I think the eyes make them look like naked chickens now, but that's just me and my overactive imagination (or do you see the chickens, too?).

Only 21 days left before Halloween! Did you buy enough candy to go around? If you like this idea, mark your 2025 calendars to buy the flamingoes in Spring!! I have three more to add to my flock if I have the time...'

Challenges I am Entering:

Craft Rocket - Autumn/Halloween

Crafty Gals Corner - AG w/optional Make It Spooky

Shopping our Stash - Halloween

Crafters' Cafe - Include a Critter

Crafty Animals - Must include animal

 

Welcome to 31 Days of Halloween - DAY 9

 

Here's my second Dollar Store DIY using plastic partyware and a little creativity. Today I used a leftover ghost from last year. He stands atop one of two plastic trays whose bottoms I painted black. Between the tiers is a glass lined with lace. The top tray is lined with gold jewels. Simple but plenty of spirit for a Halloween class party, party or to entertain friends over an afternoon snack.

My only regret is that I had to use E6000 glue in addition to hot glue so that my trays wouldn't fall apart, which makes them difficult to store. But can you just see the finger sandwiches I can serve to my friends...

welcome to the 31 Days of Halloween - DAY 8

 

I went to one of Amazon's reject stores, this one called Arlington Heights Treasure Chest. It's where Amazon dumps a lot of their returns and sometimes defective or "missing pieces/parts" items. They rotate every 7 days, where Thursday is their RESTOCK day. Then the prices stat high and by Wednesday items are $1 each. I've gone twice, once on a Monday and once on a big bargain Wednesday. 

I picked up a closed package for a buck and didn't open it until I got home. Sometimes you can open the packages. Often they're already opened. If you're lucky you can even test them before you buy. I got lucky that Wednesday. When I opened my box, I found a dozen witch's hats -- for $1! I immediately wanted to string them up to add to this year's decorations.

It took a plastic needle, invisible fishing line and large paperclips before I had my line of Halloween hats to hang outside. 

Chicago being the kind of city where the weather is full of surprises right up to the day of Halloween, I plan to put these up only a few days before trick-or-treating starts. Nothing worse than a wet witch's hat (except a wet witch...).

Welcome to 31 Days of Halloween - DAY 7

I got out my canvases and acrylic paints today! Although I used black canvases, I always like to paint them black as well. That's so the rest of the paint doesn't get soaked into the canvas. After the background paint dried, I drew out the shape of my ghost with a white Posca paint marker, then his eyes.  

After painting the ghost and letting it dry, I used the marker again for the letter B and my BOO canvas is complete. I created three of these and put them in frames. Easy, peasy. One for each window in my living room...oops, just sold one to my neighbor!! 

Welcome to the 31 Days of Halloween DAY 6

 

Today's project is a craft that comes from several different leftovers. I had the swag made of sticks that I had to re-tie. The pumpkins came from a nasty wreath that I had tossed, keeping the wooden pieces for later (or rather now). I had to repaint them to give them life (call me Mrs. Frankenstein).

The leaves are the last of my collection of felt Fall leaves, which I adhered onto the branches after wiring the pumpkins to to sticks . I also made a loop of wire from which to hang my decoration. It was an assembly job, for sure, but worth scrounging around for all the pieces. 

I love to decorate my front porch for Halloween. I put things in the windows, on the door, along the railings, even in the corners of the stairs. Since I created several wreaths, I'm putting the Pumpkin trio in one of my windows this year.

CHALLENGES I AM ENTERING:

Crafty Calendar - ANything Goes

Sisterhood of the Snarky Stampers - Halloween

Creative Fingers - Anything Goes

Craft Rocket - Autumn or Halloween

Welcome to 31 Days of Halloween - DAY 5

 

Are you hosting a Halloween party? I love a good costume party. The last one I hosted featured a toilet boiling over with smoke from Hell, a buffet of body part foods, music, dancing and a scavenger hunt (never again, we lost 2 couples during the hunt).

Our house was decked out from bathroom to bedroom, family room to kitchen. It helps to have creative serving dishes to offer creepily delicious treats to your guests. Like my cupcake/treats tower shown above. Can you believe it started out Barbie pink?!

I spayed painted my tower black. After drying I used a box of thin plastic bats in various sizes along the lowest tier's edge. I adhered larger bats to the top. You can fill it with cupcakes, but I like to put various treats like nuts, chex mix, popcorn, etc. in cupcake liners for guests to carry around and munch on. You can even hollow out real mini pumpkins, line the insides and fill with whatever snack you want (you can also use plastic pumpkins for the same ghoulish look).

I love this holiday season! So many entertaining ideas to get into the spirit of the occasion!! 

Welcome to 31 Days of Halloween - DAY 4

 

Today I want to shine the light on my, well, Halloween Light!! I inherited a handful of candlestick lights one can place in windows. I decided to glam it up for Halloween by placing a skull onto the lightbulb. To cover the dull black base and stem, I wound floral branches from top to bottom. On the base I adhered green moss and a few well-placed spiders and it looks cool. I can't wait to set it in my front window and wait for the kiddies!!

Welcome to 31 Days of Halloween - DAY 3

 

This summer I had bought several plastic serving trays and glasses with which to make tiered dessert trays for an event. Before I had made them all, I discovered that the pastries being plated were going to be too heavy for my platters to hold up. Instead of returning all the pieces, I reinforced the trays and created Halloween hospitality cookie trays.

This first tray uses two thick clear plastic trays held together with a sturdy plastic champagne glass in the middle. Before attaching the two, I spray-painted the bottom of the trays orange. The tops of the trays are paint-free and safe to place cookies or candy on them. For decoration, I simply added a ceramic pumpkin using hot glue and E6000. Isn't he a cutie?! I can see this being used during a school class party.  My days of hosting Halloween parties is over, but I have plenty of neighbors whose kids are in grade school...

Have you ever made Halloween-themed foods or drinks? For the kids, I've made hotdogs wrapped with Pillsbury biscuit slices to look like mummies, a cake that was decorated to look like a graveyard and pumpkin juice, which is just orange soda poured over a scoop of vanilla ice cream. For adults, I've made a few cocktails and Jello shots. The RV park where I have my trailer hosts a Halloween weekend and the treats for both kids and adults is crazy out of this world! My nephew went out with his wife and came back completely snockered!

Welcome to 31 Days of Halloween - DAY 2

 

Last year I found a bundle of dream catchers for a steal at a thrift store. This year I put one of them to good use. I first sprayed it with black spray paint, including the outer rim. I pulled out three large black flowers and covered the middle of each with a plastic skull. Before adhering the flowers to the catcher, I slipped a Fall leaf behind each black bloom. After gluing on the sparkly orange bow, I decided it needed something extra. I rummaged around my button jar and pulled out several stars and ghosts and glued each onto the "web" part of the dream catcher. I added a tiny skull to the bow and now I have a Nightmare Catcher for Halloween this year! 

Do you dream in color or black & white? The first time I realized I dreamt in color was when I woke up remembering my dream of bright billowing purple smoke coming out of the fireplace (which I don't have, by the way). Ever since then, I've tried to pay more attention, but most mornings I forget my dreams very quickly.

CHALLENGES I AM ENTERING:

Unicorn Challenges - Autumn or Halloween

Halloween & Other Occasions Craft all year 'round - themed card or craft

Welcome to the 31 Days of Halloween - DAY 1

 As in previous years, I'm attempting to offer Halloween hand-mades every day in October culminating in All Hallows' Eve. I love this holiday only second to Christmas. In fact, the craft fair at which I sold my hand-mades were specifically Halloween and Christmas artwork and crafts. 

This year, Dollar Store has wizened up and their offerings are better than ever, making it tougher for crafters to offer nice decor at a reasonable price. Also, Pinterest and YouTube has helped clear the shelves of seasonal items, and there is nothing left at my store for Halloween (and very little for Christmas). But you can still use everyday items for holiday hand-mades. Just think ahead...

In the meantime, I have a question for you---When do you start decorating for Halloween? My daughter loves to start on the 1st of the month. She's a crafter herself, so I'll be interested in what she brings to the table. I have all kinds of goodies to show you. Some are from Pinterest, and some are originals from my own diabolical mind. A few of them are supplies I had to buy early this summer...

Today I'm offering up an accidental decoration for my living room. I had a witch's hat left over from my craft fair and placed it onto our living room fan (it's still fairly warm weather here in Chicago. The eyes were already on the fan, thanks to my daughter). 

Check out my blog daily for new Halloween craft ideas. As always, have fun and keep crafting...