Spooky Halloween Hutch

I am on a roll this week. I've posted more times in one week than I think I did all Summer. Probably as I finally have something to blog about.

Today I'm sharing my Halloween hutch.  Seems all I ever blog about is my mantel or my hutch.  But they are my two favorite things to decorate. 

I'm calling this years version: My Spooky Halloween Hutch.

Oooooh, so original. 

I decided to go with a black, white & silver color scheme this year. 

I am again using my "Happy Halloween" sign that I made a couple of years ago. 

I picked up a few magnifying glasses from Dollar Tree and the 99 Cent Only Store to make my Spooky Magnifying glasses.  This one has a "31".  I got the print outs and the idea from Family Circle website. 

The mercury glass pumpkin was found at the Western Eagle Bargain Store in Temecula.  I think I paid $3.00 for it.  It was the only one they had.  So I had to get it. 

Hubby & I found this antique rusty lantern at Granny's Attic antique store in Old Town Temecula a few years back.  I only use it at Halloween.  I put it out in my graveyard in my front yard on Halloween night with a battery operated candle inside.  

The mercury glass votive holder was another Western Eagle Bargain store find.  It was a buck. 

The jingle bell spiders came from TJ Maxx a couple of years ago. 

The white vegetable/gourd thing was a freebie from a friend of my son.  I have no idea what kind of vegetable/gourd thingy it is.  But I thought it would make a cool Halloween decoration.  If you know what it is called, let me know.  I need to be enlightened. 

I made this "Spooky" garland a few years back.  I pieced together a couple of different free printables I found on the Internet.  I think this is the first time I've displayed it on my hutch. 

The black & cream striped plates came from Target this year.  I thought they were too plain.  So I taped some Halloween coasters that I also found at Target this year. 

If you have followed my blog for very long, you know I love my cloches.  I love to find glass items at the thrift store that can be used as a cloche.  I have a skull sitting under this one.  There is an almost identical one on the right side of this shelf as well.  The skulls are actually salt & pepper shakers that I picked up at Tai Pan Trading last year.  All of my ironstone came from thrift stores. 

The larger black plates with the cream pumpkins came from Target this year.  I love anything that has a vintage look to it.  I was afraid these wouldn't look good up against the black background.  But I think they still stand out.

The cream pumpkins also came from Target this year. 

 

Another spooky magnifying glass.

The owl came from Dollar Tree.  I got 2 different versions (one for the left side, and one for the right)  I wasn't digging the orange, green and purple color they originally came in.  So I spray painted them Heirloom white.  Much better. 

I found these stacking skulls at the 99 Cent Only store. 

Here is the other owl I made over and another spooky magnifying glass.

We have finally reached the bottom.  I used another of those vegetable/gourd thingies.  This time I put it under glass.  I think everyone has made a cloche out of a cheese dome.

The other cloche is made from a light cover.  Another thrift store find. 

The mercury glass owl came from Marshall's last year or the year before.  I still love mercury glass stuff.  How about you?

I used a vintage image I had.  I just printed it out in sepia tone.  I use an old flower frog to hold the print. 

I've had these apothecary jars for years.  Didn't change anything out for Halloween.  I still love the items I have displayed in these jars.  Which translates to, I was too lazy to change them out. 

And the right side.  The cheese dome up top is filled with vintage casters/wheels.  I found all of them either at the thrift store or at the Habitat ReStore. 

I love this little pumpkin.  It came from Target this year.  I wish they would have had more in different shapes and sizes like they did the past few years when they had the orange ones.  There is just something about a cream pumpkin that I can't pass up. 

I found this little glass jar a couple of weeks ago at the thrift store for like 50 cents.  I thought it would make the perfect little cloche.  And I was right. 

The Witch is In sign came from Tai Pan Trading a few years back. 

This grave stone actually has candy inside.  It came in a set of three at Dollar Tree.  It was just the right size to fit under this cloche. 

A complete shot of the bottom. 

And one final shot of the hutch. 

I hope that you enjoyed this years Halloween hutch. 

Before I let you go I have to tell you a little story.

I just love Halloween.  I already have way too much Halloween stuff.  But does that stop me from buying more?  Heck no.  So while I was at Target shopping for new Halloween stuff, I ran into this woman.  No I did not literally run into her.  I do know how to drive a shopping cart.   But she was shopping and I was shopping.  And I just happen to mention that I don't know why I am buying more stuff when I already have too much.  She said she does the same thing.  Imagine that?  Anyhoo, she says about 15 or more years ago she said to her hubby that she would like to open a Halloween store.  And sell nothing but Halloween stuff.  But her husband talked her out of it.  He said, "Who would buy Halloween stuff besides you?"  She thought he was probably right, so she let her dream die.  And now she is kicking herself. 

Do you have a dream that you have let someone talk you out of?  Do you like Halloween as much as me and this woman I met?  And are you a Halloween hoarder like me?  Do tell. 

Linking to:

SNS-Funky Junk Interiors

Weekend Wrap Up Party-Tatertots and Jello

Last years Halloween party

I'm having a Halloween bash this coming Saturday. So in preparation I decided I would post photos of last years party. It was my first ever Halloween party.   Well, the first one I've hosted.  I have always wanted to throw one, but just never have until last year.

Now don't get too excited.  I'm not one of these super organized, plan everything months in advance and everything has to be perfect kind of gal.  I'm a last minute, do it easy, do it cheap kind of gal.  So my party was pretty basic. 

For my punch I just used Shasta Tiki punch, straight from the bottle.  I like to live dangerous like that.  I did add this skull shaped ice.  I purchased the skull mold from Walmart.  Everyone loved it.  The ladle came from Party City.  The glass punch bowl was a thrift store find from about 6 years ago. 

 

This is my attempt at a cool seven layer Mexican dip.  Click on this link to see the inspiration photo.    You basically just layer beans, sour cream, guacamole, tomatoes, cheese, lettuce & olives.  I just left off the olives as I think they are yucky. So mine is actually a six layer dip.

I then cut out a tree, some tombstones and some fence posts from flour tortillas. I did use a cookie cutter for the tombstones, but the tree, I just winged it.   I then baked the tortillas in the oven until they got crisp.  Turned out pretty good for my first try.  It would have been better if I would have used a darker brown tortilla for the tree like in the inspiration pic, but I am too cheap to buy a different kind of tortilla just for one stinkin' tree. 

I did buy Halloween shaped tortilla chips and had nacho cheese as well.  Just not showing you a photo. 

This was a pot luck party.  I just told everyone to bring something Halloweeny. 

My neighbor brought the chicken from KFC.  I was calling them bat wings. 

The same neighbor made these spiders on a log.  Aren't they cute?  It's peanut butter piped onto celery.  Not sure what she made the spiders with. 

I made the bone breadsticks.  They were pretty easy.  Just buy ready made breadstick dough, cut the ends & turn them under and bake.  Easy, peasy.  The wrapped hotdogs were suppose to be mummy dogs.  But I had too many things going on so they got wrapped like normal, not like a mummy.  My niece made the funeral potatoes (at my request).  I just love funeral potatoes.   

My husband cooked pork riblets.  It was fun to serve them from this cast iron witches cauldron. 

We also had some desserts that I forgot to take photos of.  The most favorite dessert was my fossil cookies.  I got the recipe from Martha Stewart.  Click on the link to see what fossil cookies look like.  They were a hit.  I actually used some pre packaged sugar cookie dough mix from Costco.   I got my plastic insects from Dollar Tree.  You really have to press the insect into the dough pretty deep.  When they cook, the imprint lightens up. 

We ate, sat around the fire pit, relaxed in the jacuzzi and watched a Halloween movie by the pool.

We also had a photo booth set up.  I had asked everyone to come in costumes.  Not everyone did.  But that was OK, I had props to use for those who did not dress up. 

My hubby dressed as a cowboy.  He is holding our friends little boy who was also dressed like a cowboy. 

Some of my neighbors.  They even brought a mystery guest. 

This is my brother and my niece.  My brother stole part of the costume from his son.  My niece Danica dressed up as Danica Patrick, the race car driver. 

My other niece (on the right) and her good friend.  They did not dress up so they used some props I picked up from Dollar Tree.   Who doesn't love a good fake mustache, nose and glasses?

My niece again, this time with her hubby.  My niece was pregnant last year, so her hubby tried to make it look like he was preggo as well.

Some friends.  We had to drag their oldest son out of the pool for this photo.  This photo had a combination of costumes and props.  I got all of my props from Dollar Tree.

My nephews.

Hubby and me.  I ran out of time so I did not get my costume done.  So I just put on some props. 

Some more friends.  They are actually friends of my niece and her hubby.  But they are more than welcome at my house anytime. 

My neighbor.  Everyone thought he looked so scary.  Took him most of the night to get ready.  Better late than never. 

My neighbor's son as Freddy.  Another scary costume.

Afterwards we just hung out in my family room talking.  I did buy glow necklaces for all the kids at Dollar Tree. 

Now I am finally getting excited for my second annual Halloween party this Saturday.  I think this year I am going to do Halloween theme pizzas.  And who knows what everyone else will bring. 

We will again sit around the fire pit, relax in the jacuzzi and watch a Halloween movie at the pool.  And of course we will have the photo booth again.  That to me, is the funnest part. 

I'll be sure to post photos next week. 

Are you planning a Halloween party this year? What will you be eating or doing at yours?  Do you go all out, or do you keep it pretty basic like me?  Do tell.

My Vintage Victorian Halloween Mantel

 

 Can you believe that Halloween is in 2 weeks?  I can't either.  Halloween is one of my most favorite holidays.  I'm usually chomping at the bit to decorate.  Now here it is the middle of October and I'm just now decorating for Halloween.  That is how lazy I've been this year. 

I have been working on my Halloween decor for two weeks, but I just was never happy with anything I put together.  I decided this past weekend that I better "get 'er done" as I am having a Halloween party at my house this coming weekend.  So I "got 'er done". 

 I had visions of making my own garland this year.  But then I remembered this one I purchased from TJ Maxx a couple of years ago.  It originally was hung on silver tinsel, but it was too long for my mantel.  So I cut off and pulled off the tinsel and strung the letters on some good old cheap twine. 

I love how this garland has a "vintage" feel to it. 

 I decided to go with a spooky vintage photo theme this year.  Maybe even a bit Victorian.  Here is the right side of my mantel. 

I had a couple of these wooden frames that I picked up from the thrift store at least 10 years ago.  The only problem is that the opening is for a 9" x 12" photo.  My printer will only hold 8 1/2" x 11" paper. 

I found this Victorian looking skeleton photo on Gorey Details.  Cut it out in an oval shape and placed it on top of some Halloween paper.  The little "boo" garland is actually some cupcake toppers that I found at Michael's last year.    

The little pumpkin is actually from my garden.  The crow from Dollar Tree.  The magnifying glass is from either Dollar Tree or the 99 Cent Only store.  I bought them at both places.  I decided to make some spooky magnifying glasses like the ones I saw on Family Circle website. 

What really started me on my Vintage/Victorian photo path were these lenticular photos I found at Dollar Tree.  They actually came attached to a butt ugly plastic frame.  I just cut off the ugly frame part and put them in my own frames. 

See the next photo to see how he changes from a good looking young man, to a creepy skeleton. 

This frame is actually a plastic one as well that I found at Dollar Tree a few years ago.  I painted it black and then used chalk to highlight it.  Loved how it turned out.

I made this paper lollie a few years back.  I just change out the middle part for different seasons.

 I found this skeleton necklace at the 99 Cent Only store.  It came in a "two pack". 

The thing I have found about the dollar stores, they will have different stuff at the beginning that they never seem to get back in.  I went in last month (when they first put out their Halloween items) and found stuff that they no longer have.  And they now have stuff that they didn't have when I first went.   

I hung my old book page wreath to my chicken wire frame.  The skeleton face is actually attached to the ribbon.  I purchased some creepy cloth from Tai Pan Trading a few years back and it was tied up with this ribon with the skeleton face.  I still like having the chicken wire frame propped up against my antique mirror. 

I decided this area needed a little garland.  I found these images on The Graphics Fairy website. 

I then used a website called Photofunia to make the images look more vintage.  They have lots of cool effects on this website.  I went to the "Lab" section and used the "Vintage Photo" effect.  

I then added the orange tickets to the garland as I thought it needed some color.  I have no clue where I got the orange tickets.  I somehow ended up with a huge roll of them.  Probably got them from a thrift store or a garage sale.  They are fun to decorate with at Halloween. 

Here is a close up of the wreath with the "scream" face skeleton.  I still love the look of my book page wreath. 

Here is the left side of the mantel. 

Here is another of the lenticular photos from Dollar Tree that I cut out and put in a different frame.  The only problem with using chalk to highlight the raised parts is that it easily rubs off.

Here he is all "spooky".  Since there is glass in this frame, I couldn't seem to get a good picture without getting a lot of reflection.  You have to stand in just the right spot to see the "spooky" image.

I think that this is my favorite of all the photos.  I found this on Pinterest.  It was taken from someone's Tumblr.  It doesn't have an original source.  Here is the link to it on my Pinterest. 

I did the same thing as the skeleton print on the right side of my mantel.  I made a small garland that spells "Eek" using some Tim Holtz mini flash cards.  I found mine at Hobby Lobby. 

The spider web came from Dollar Tree this year.  It is sort of like those spring action window covers for your car.  It came all compact & it springs open to this size.  You can twist and fold it smaller to store it when Halloween is over. 

I found the spider at Target over the weekend. I thought my web needed a spider. So off to Target I went. This smaller one was $5.00. They have a larger one for $10.00. I love how the spiders legs can be rolled up to make him smaller to pack away as well.

The burlap pumpkin came from Hobby Lobby.  It would be pretty easy to knock off.  I'm just too lazy.  I have it on a thrift store urn that I painted.   And another spooky magnifying glass.  I think this eye one is my favorite.
 

And a few final shots

I hope that you liked my spooky vintage Victorian Halloween mantel. 

 

Linking to:

SNS-Funky Junk Interiors

Weekend Wrap Up Party-Tatertots and Jello

Halloween Mantel Party-Home Stories A2Z

Vintage Inspiration-Common Ground

Wow Us Wednesday-Savvy Southern Style

Halloween linky party-Craftberry Bush

Fall Nesting Party: Mantels & Porches-The Inspired Room