Last Minute Halloween Decor, Instant Creepy Bar, and Exterior Decorating Ideas
LOVE THIS SEASON — everything about it — the fall leaves, the cooler weather and of course, Halloween! Thankfully, over the years, I have created DOZENS of Halloween crafts and DIY’s for HGTV and DIY NETWORK and other groups. Here are a few that you can make with items you have lying around the house or in the garage! Have fun! Happy Halloween! Joanne xoxo
Using an old vintage porch post, an antique wood bracket and some wood pieces — and fake crows and spiders from the craft store — I put together this creepy Haunted Hotel Sign. It was so fun to make and loved the kids and parents reactions with they saw it. It would be cool if you have a spot light — to really light it up at night! "
If the Sign Post seems like too much work — then you will love this easy Halloween Craft! I took some old picture frames I picked up at Goodwill and painted them black. I printed out some vintage Halloween images on Vellum paper and glued them to the inside of the frames. I covered them with packing tape (to keep them from getting wet) and then put the frames together with black duck tape — that’s right — I just taped those suckers together! Then in jars with sand half way up — I place a candle — if you feel this is not enough light — do a larger faux candle — or two.
Crafting with kids during Halloween is the best! This simple craft is beyond fun! Go outside with the kids and grab some dead flowers, branches and yard debris. Grab some jars and paint the covers black. Then with some Faux Plastic Spiders and some Cotton Balls and a Marker — and a glue gun — create a mini diorama on the back side of the cover — then screw it into the jar and put on display. Great ideas for a Kids Halloween Party Craft. Or even an adult party — seriously — how much fun!
Usually after Halloween is when I find all sorts of Halloween decor at my local second hand shop or Goodwill. I collect them and save them for fun DIY ideas. Here is one I created with faux pumpkins some spiders and yarn. With push pins and some glue — I created an instant topiary. — for this you may have to cut the tops of the bottom two pumpkins so they sit inside each other. Found the giant spider at Goodwill and added a faux candle inside. This DIY reminds me of the scene in Harry Potter where Ron and Harry meet Aragog, Hargrid’s giant spider friend. :)
I have the funniest story about this cart! I created this cart from a used restaurant metal dolly I picked up at the scrap metal yard — some of my Halloween décor I had around the house and the faux spider web gauze. Then I purchased some creepy Halloween labels and covered the bottles with the labels. Now the FUNNY STORY: After Susan Teare photographed this picture — another friend and I drank the “True Blood” wine — she loved it so much, when she went home to Connecticut she looked everywhere for the “True Blood” wine. She called me to tell me that no-one carried it — I laughed so hard — reminding her that those were Halloween labels covering the real wine label. I can just picture her going into her wine shops, asking for “true blood” wine. Ha Ha :)
All I did was print out an old family photo (some relative from the 1800’s — seriously) and added some faux gray grasses and a faux spider — instant creepy for a fun party display. You can find some old pictures online — black and white would be cool too — and just grab a frame from around the house and spice it up!
Cut out some flames on faux pumpkins, add some faux candles in them (a few for each pumpkin) — through some logs around them — done a FAUX BONFIRE for the front lawn during trick or treating time. Mic drop.
I used an old bicycle tire rim I had in the shed some scraps of fabric and yarn — and painted a Dollie black. Makes for a great wall hanging for the front porch instead of a Halloween wreath.
Old bottles, jars and cans wrapped in yarn I picked up at the second hand shop. Glue on some spiders if you want. Instant party display for table tops. This is also a fun craft idea for kids and adults alike!
MY PUMPKIN — her first year — 23 years before. :) Happy Halloween Everyone! Joanne