decorations

Have I mentioned that I have a show on Sunday in Toronto? 

I've been working like a mad woman, trying to get everything ready.

It's going to be tight. 

I still have Halloween props to work on.

And sleep. Sleep is important, especially if I want to ditch this bug once and for all. I was sick on Halloween last year, and don't care for a repeat of that. 

So much to do, so little time!

This will probably be my last show for the year, so if you live in the area and are hoping to pick up some of my items for Halloween or Christmas, be sure to come see me at the Bazaar of the Bizarre!

On that note, I'll leave you with a set of images of items that will be for sale on Sunday.

Enjoy!

For this Misgivings Day Weekend, why not make one of these? It's super simple to make. And I mean, who doesn't need a Skull Candle Holder?

Closer to Halloween, I will be adding webbing (using a webgun), but for now here's the (almost) finished image. All you need is a skull (the ones from the dollar store work great), PVC pipe (or you could use a paper towel roll or tall can), hot glue gun, paint, and whatever you want to attach your skull to (I used fake books).

Most of the skulls you find at the dollar store look like they are from the the dollar store. But if the shape of the skull is good, then you can easily spruce it up with some paint.

When I first bought the foam skull, it was yellow (see the side-by-side image below). I took some watered down black paint (a wash) and added more shadows around the jaw, the eyes...basically anywhere there was a contour.

The second project with the jars was to make simple lanterns (or candle holders, if you prefer). Pictures and a quick how-to below.

Generally speaking, I don't do a lot of gore in my Halloween themes. This year, I need a bit of it for the story I'm going to tell. This was project one of the glass jars (the other plans are much less gross).

What I did was take a few of the jars from yesterday that had been glazed with watery glue. I mixed red and brown paints, watered them down, and mixed them with a touch of glue as well. I poured it into the bottom of the jars and swirled them around.

Then, I dipped my paint brush into the paint mix and splattered it on the insides of the jar.

I took my organs - 2 hearts, a nose, a brain, an ear, lips, fingers, eyeballs, tongue - and painted them as well to give them a more realistic aged look before placing them in the jars.

Today is the day we all hate. Decoration take down day.

It's depressing enough that all the ghouls and goblins are going away for another year, but the chore of hauling bins and decorations up and down the stairs is exhausting. I resent it with each step. With each ache.

I've suggested to Yetch that we consider getting charcoal or black drapes for the front room. Shockingly, he's open to the idea (we NEVER agree on decorating choices). I just love the look of the dark curtains and sigh when I take down my black fabric. And it would mean one less thing for me to wrangle with each year.

So while I'm putting away the final decorations (there's always a stray spider or two), you can sit back, relax, and enjoy the last set of pictures from this year.