Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Purple People Eaters



Halloween. My favorite time of year. Never have the colors orange, black, green and purple ever looked so good together. (Or tasted so good)


I’ve tried to figure out this ghoulish obsession. I think it is linked with the part of me that LOVES to be scared in the movie theater, but not in real life (which my husband STILL has not figured out and continues to sneak up behind me or lurk around dark corners – I might actually hurt him one day if he’s not careful).

I have a large box full of halloweenie things. I haven’t opened it since we’ve been married (2.5 years now) because we were always moving every 3-6 months. On October 1st, this year, much to my husbands dismay, I pulled out the Halloween Pandora’s BOX!!

How I missed my friends!!


Home-made décor is always really fun.

These Jar-O-Lanterns were made from jarred artichoke heart containers. After washing I just poured some orange paint inside and rolled the jar around so the whole inside was coated and then let it dry for a day or two. Then I painted the black faces on the outside and used “rusted” wire to make the handle. Looking back, it would probably be better to paint the black faces first on the INSIDE (if you’re that good – I’m not, so I cheated) and then let that dry for several hours and THEN roll the orange paint around inside. I use the battery charged tea lights.


I kinda liked the idea of decorating my pumpkins differently

this year by covering them with black lace.


Use the leftover lace to make a creative centerpiece!


Okay, I honestly don’t remember exactly how I made this phantom face, but it’s one of my favorites. The head is a Styrofoam piece you can get at any salon supply store. Then I believe I took paper towels and dyed them with coffee or tea (I used coffee because I LOVE the smell. I got to smell it for hours since it was soaked into my skin after this project.) and let them dry. Here’s the part I vaguely remember – I think I made a thick, ever-so-slightly liquid sugar paste (just add a bit of water) and immersed the paper towels in there before molding it onto the face, covering it completely. Let the head dry out and it is as hard as paper mache. The hood-shroud is cheesecloth dyed in coffee also.


This too-cute-to-be-scary little guy was bought at a craft store

in the natural-wood craft section and then I just painted him.


I never get to do everything I plan, but that leaves more for the next year!


Oh, by the way, if you’re wondering about the layers of spotting on the windows that is all a part of the Haunted House effect, as are the spider-webs, dead flies in the window sils, and a light dusting of – well dust. I work on the effect all year :)