Halloween Hocus Pocus

I have a little confession to make: I did my Halloween decorating at the end of September. I know. My intention was to start small with just a few pumpkins to get in the mood, but while I had the box out I just went for it. For some reason, this year summer seemed to vanish in a flash and it was suddenly full on fall with no transition time at all so just moving right into Halloween so early didn't seem too out of place. I only decorated one small space: my china hutch and used all things I had on hand with the exception of the black and white striped balloon lights (from Target - $12). Come to think of it, I think it was the desire to get those lights out that got me going on this project so early in the first place.

Crows are all from the craft store, pumpkins are craft store and Joann's Fabrics, platter is part of my iron stone collection picked up at thrifts here and there.

Crow silhouettes are from Dollar Tree last year or the year before - I looked for them again this year, but no dice. 

Bat print is a cocktail napkin from Target from last year or the year before.

Nest is made from a feather boa with plastic bag stuffed underneath to keep the eggs from sinking, and the eggs are raided from the Easter box (I pulled all the putrid green ones).

Crow silhouette tapped onto a plate with a printed black border - this is actually a new addition for this year - picked it up at a thrift with just this in mind for it. The owl is a Christmas ornament from Target last year.

The owl candle (he's battery operated and works on a timer!). I picked it up at a thrift for a few bucks, but when I couldn't figure out the timer (you don't set on/off times, it just runs for 5 hours from the time you first turn it on, and then turns back on at the same time every day - so simple!) I started googling and it turns out, he's still available at QVC for $18! 

The wooden candelabra is from a thrift and picked up thinking it looked kind of spooky and Halloween-y. I was going to paint it gray, but I'm grooving on natural wood as of late, so I'm glad I left it (besides, it would probably be half finished if I'd tried to paint it). The glittery witch hat, I have no recollection of ever buying or getting - maybe it came in some flowers? I tried to put it on Chloe when she was little to take her "Halloween  portrait" but she just keep trying to eat it. 

So anyway, that's it for this year's Halloween decorations - just pretty much used the same things I do every year (I have way too much Christmas cwap to start in on a huge Halloween collection), just rearranged a bit for variety.

I'm linking up at:

   

eighteen25

Design Dazzle

A Key Change

On a quick trip to Target the other week for cat food I spied a whole slew of cute accessories from Target's new house brand, Threshold. The current collection features classic equestrian and menswear inspired themes and fabrics, lots of texture, and great warm, fall-inspired colors. I couldn't resist this doormat, featuring the skeleton key from their logo to spruce up my front entrance. 

I had actually seen a really similar one a year or so in a Garnet Hill catalog, which was actually on sale enough for me to consider ordering it, but it was sold out by the time I got my catalog and logged on so I was beyond thrilled to find this one at Target for the really reasonable price of $12.99. 

Just for fun, I pulled together a small collection of some of the other items I really loved too - the chunky felt basket with nautical rope handle, the herringbone basket with equestrian-inspired leather trim, the leaf/flame print doormat (I seriously may go back and get this for the back door), the orange fox pillow and cozy orange plaid throw.

Fast Fixes: Christmas Dinner No More

Like everyone else, I have a mile long list of quick projects I never make the time for, so I'm going to try and force myself to get a few of them done, especially the ones I already have the supplies on hand for. My first project was actually not really even on my list, and something a lot of people likely wouldn't bother with, but it was so easy and fast and I like the results so much, I don't know why I didn't think of it sooner.

The cats have a big tray in the pantry to corral the loose kibble they like to scatter everywhere. It was one I picked up at Ross years ago for around $10 I think. It's nice wipe-able plastic, but the problem was it had a winter scene on it, so not really appropriate for nine out of twelve months of the year, even though I do think it is pretty.

Enter roll of "faux bois" contact paper and voila, they now have a swanky new look which I think looks great with the white sides of the tray and is still wipe-able and can be removed if I ever want to change the look.

I also considered the grass cloth wallpaper I used on this bathroom toe kick project, but decided the contact paper would be more functional for this particular project and easier too since I wouldn't need to break out the sizing. The blue cat food bowl was Chloe's first Christmas present way back in 2003 and from Target and the green polka dotted water bowl is a Sur la Table cereal bowl I picked up at a thrift for .90 or so - love the two colors together. Wet food is served up on paper plates.

While I had the contact paper out, I did do another quick project with it, but still need one craft store supply to finish it up so we'll get to that later.

I'm linking up to Thrifty Decor Chick's November Before and After Party. Hop on over to see all the great inspiration.

Chalk One Up

I can't believe I've lived here almost three years and have just now figured out I can draw on my slate hearth with chalk! I have to say I've never been a huge fan of the chalkboard paint trend - it seems like so much form over function - I mean really, are you going to take your pantry door to the grocery store with you so you have your shopping list?

From HERE

I do like the look for erasable labels though - cute and practical.

From HERE

But back to my little quickie fireplace makeover. You may remember where we left off with painting the firebox and the doors and other metal parts. The plan for the hearth was to faux marble it and maybe mark off a herringbone or chevron pattern, but well, I'm pretty slow about getting things done (darn working). In the meantime, in the meantime I saw an awesome blog project that involved a dark wood top and a chevron pattern drawn freehand with a paint pen ...

I can't find the original inspiration project, but the effect was similar to THIS

... and thought, hmmmm, I could do that on my hearth, with chalk. And it will be fast and easy and reversible and I will actually get it done. So I dug out my chalk and went to town. I probably should have used a ruler or yardstick and I may search out thinner chalk at some point, but for now it is done and I like it and I can always redo it down the road, either with a different pattern or the original planned on faux painting.

For some reason the cat was fascinated with the process so it got a little smeary in places where she walked on it, and a day later it looked like someone had rolled around on it a bit too. Oh well, at least it wasn't wet paint.

I'm linking up to Thrifty Decor Chick's Before and After Party. Stop over and see all the great transformations.