Country Candle

The last few blogs that I have done have been for fall and Halloween.  I am going to switch it up a bit and decorate a candle and vase that I have had for over a year and didn't really do anything with it- other than put the candle inside.

I gathered some supplies that I would need:   Some lace,  a vase, a star, dress makers pins, jute, and the nuts that I had left since last Christmas.

I filled the vase with the nuts.  Then wrapped the lace.  I used a small pin to hold the lace together at the join and the keep it on the candle

Then I added a jute bow.

I used another small pin and pinned the star onto the centre of the bow.  One final step.

Add it to the vase with the nuts.   I like it!

The Root Cellar: Goblin Watching the Door

The Root Cellar: Goblin Watching the Door: I was recently given a large supply of lace and material, so I decided to make something out of it. I wanted to have something at the top o...

Goblin Watching the Door

I was recently given a large supply of lace and material, so I decided to make something out of it.  I wanted to have something at the top of the stairs looking towards the door, so that when the trick or treaters come they can see it.

Here's what I started with:  A balloon on a stick, some fabric strips, white fabric and lace, and black lace.

I took a couple of pieces of white fabric and covered the balloon and used a strip of fabric to tie them in place.

Next, I attached a hanger to the back of the balloon to prevent the next layers of fabric from just falling down around the stick.  

Oops!  I forgot to take a picture of the eyes and mouth that I painted on the front of the balloon (head).  Oh well, you will still see them later.  

I took another piece of fabric and wrapped it around the painted face and tied it with a strip of fabric.  Spooky!!

 Then I added a little black lace and put it looking towards the door.  By the way, I used the stick on the balloon and put it in a wine bottle so that it would stand up.  Almost done.

Wait, some bats would definitely add to the atmosphere.  I have just the thing:  plastic bat belt buckles (how's that for alliteration?)  They were also a part of the boxes of craft supplies that I got.  I also have some pieces of black and silver that I cut off of something else-- but that's a different blog.  Can't post that one until after the Halloween party at my nephew's school.  Now, that's going to be interesting.  

Anyway, I need to get back on topic.

I pulled the material through the belt buckle to make it look like bat wings.

I added the bats to the rails, along with some lace and the result is the Goblin watching the door.  I can't wait for my dog to have her first encounter-- it will be interesting.  To be safe, I even tied a piece of lace around the rails to hold the goblin in place.  

The Root Cellar: The Haunted Pumpkin Patch

The Root Cellar: The Haunted Pumpkin Patch: In a previous blog, I made a pumpkin patch. Now I will build on this arrangement to make it more for Halloween and make it haunted. I beg...

The Haunted Pumpkin Patch

In a previous blog, I made a pumpkin patch.  Now I will build on this arrangement to make it more for Halloween and make it haunted.

I began with an old book that was destined for either the thrift store.  I painted the book orange and then added some wood crackle around the edges of the book.

After the crackle dried, I added some antique white paint (oops, I have Ivory White in the picture). Then I used the letters to put the title on the book, added a ghost and Jack-o-Lantern sticker, and finished it with some footprints.

Then of course, I placed the book next to the pumpkin patch.  However,  that pumpkin patch still doesn't look haunted.  Let's add a few ghosts.    

To make the ghost, I began by cutting out a template out of white material.  

Then I cut out two pieces of material and batting using the template.  ( I want to keep the template just in case I need it for another project sometime).

Then I stitched the three layer together without hemming the edges.  Pulled on the edges of the batting to give it a ghostly look and painted on a face.

I made two and added them to my patch.

One more thing-- a great place for the ghost tree. 

Okay, I think I'm done with ghosts and pumpkins.  For now.....

The Root Cellar: Ghostly Tree

The Root Cellar: Ghostly Tree: Another simple fall/ halloween craft. I used two twigs that I purchased from the dollar store and bent the twigs to make a tree. I twiste...

Ghostly Tree

Another simple fall/ halloween craft.   I used two twigs that I purchased from the dollar store and bent the twigs to make a tree.  I twisted the twigs around the main branch to hold the two together.  I put this in a  small vase that I filled with styrofoam mini balls to keep them upright.  Stick on some foam ghost stickers and there you have it- a ghostly tree.  So simple, fast to make, inexpensive, and adds to the spirit of Halloween.     I am not sure where I am going to put it yet, but as usual I will fine somewhere I am sure.

BOO!