Halloween Decor--on the cheap GURL!

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Happy thirsty Thursday Girls!!!!  Wow, can I just say THANK YOU for all the support on my last World's Biggest Whiner post?  For those of you who didn't read all about my timing whoas on Halloween Decor, I was basically complaining that I don't have enough time in the day to hand-make all the things I'd like to, and OMG, am I really about to BUY Halloween bunting?!?  Well, here's the update:  I DID buy it.  But I also made my own.  I totally caved.  In fact, I caved so much that I pretty much did hand-make and upcycle everything.  What is my deal?  I don't know, it really didn't take me as much time as I thought it would, seems how almost everything I used I already owned, or had on hand. Except for being one felt sheet short for my bunting.

So....wanna see my crazy go halloween stuff???  OK!
The Mantel.....Isn't she a beauty?  This is my first ever holiday driven mantel, you know, cause J Chen gets a little territorial on such things.....

The Bunting:  Made using the Sily as a pennant stencil and cutting out of orange felt. The letters were also cut from the Sily and hot glued to the pennants.  I used Jute and then some other weird jute-like rope I had (when the jute ran out).

From left to right....
The Boo Mirror Tray:  I picked up the tray from my favorite thrift store on half-off day over the summer for about $2.50.  I added the orange "BOO" using vinyl and my Sily.

Left side of the Mantel

The Black Skull:  Picked up from $ Tree and spray painted a glossy black.
The Wreath:  I used a large wire frame and wrapped it in burlap.  Next I cut out the bats using my Sily and black poster board from the $ Tree.  Then I just hot glued them on.
The Gold Owl:  LOVE HER!  I picked them (there's another!) up a couple weeks ago from a vintage shop for $2 a piece.  Engraved in the clay on the back is "1975" and a name.  VINTAGE YO!  I spray painted them gold.
Gold Candle Sticks and Mini Pumpkins:  I picked up the candle sticks at the $ Tree over the summer.  I spray painted them gold and then hot glued one on top of the other.  The mini pumpkins are REAL!  I painted on white glue to the tops and added gold glitter.  You can't really see them that well though....

The right side of the Mantel

From Right to Left:
Gold Pumpkins and Risers:  The pumpkins are also from the $ Tree, spray painted the same gold as all the other items.  The risers were used at our wedding in December 2007 for our candy buffet.   We start trends, ok?  Ok.  :)
The Mirror with the Crow:  The mirror was a Christmas present from my Mom in 2006 or 2007.  I added the crow using orange vinyl and my Sily, silly!  J Chen said it looked like Edger Allan Poe.  It's not a RAVEN, ok?

I'm planning on making a tablescape for the actual party, but I won't be able to get final pictures of that until that day.  Cause we're using our kitchen table, and again, J Chen gets all territorial over common areas.....BUT, I am able to show you this custom sunburst mirror I made just for the spot!

Try it yourself with my sunburst mirror tutorial!  

I used a plastic skull platter from the $ Tree and spray painted it black--as well as all the wooden dowels I had laying around (broke in half).  I had the mirror from a previous trip to the Hobbit Lobbit.  The little gold things on the dowels are spider and bat rings from the $ Tree, spray painted the same gold as every. thing. else.

I can't wait to show you the rest of the tablescape then it comes together!  Sure, it will likely be past Halloween Party Time, but you know, there's always next year :)

PS, I'll be using the store-bought bunting on the tablescape ;-)

Big (why sleep when you can create?) Smile,