Vintage Halloween Décor

Creative Touches

Keep food festive! Present cubed cheese and olives on skewers secured in a pumpkin.

Magical Ambience

Illuminated jack-o'-lanterns line the walkway to the dinner table.

The Masquerade

Everyone plays a part, donning costumes that nod to the lavish Halloween traditions of yesteryear.

 

Butternut Squash Soup with Pomegranate Seeds

Butternut Squash Soup is served from a hollowed-out pumpkin tureen for a lovely autumnal touch.

 

Halloween Collectibles

Festive Table Setting

Spooky Table

Getting into the Halloween Spirit

How to Make a Scarecrow

Traditionally, scarecrows were created to keep crows away from farmer's crops. The appearance of a person in the cornfield or garden would, ideally, trick the crows into thinking that someone was guarding the tasty food that was growing beneath them.


Today, scarecrows are also used as a decorative item that appear mostly in the fall. Halloween scarecrows are quite common, but you can also set up a pretty fall display with a scarecrow or two and a few bales of hay or straw.


Making a scarecrow is quite simple, and a lot of fun for the whole family. Definitely get the kids involved and make it a group project. For something really fun, let each family member create their own scarecrow in their image, and then display your scarecrow family prominently in front of your house.


You don't have to use traditional outfits for your scarecrows. They can be dressed in old suits or formal wear, or even dressed up in costumes! Make both male and female scarecrows if you'd like. Hang them up on bamboo stakes, or arrange them on your lawn furniture, on hay bales, or even your front steps. Use your imagination to make your scarecrow a truly individual craft.


For each scarecrow, you'll need:
•two bamboo poles, one 4-feet long and another 6-feet long (for stake, if using)
•twine
•florist wire
•safety pins
•glue
•long-sleeved shirt
•long pants or overalls (jeans are commonly used)
•socks or boots
•gloves (either winter gloves or work gloves can be used)
•yarn or straw for hair, if desired
•hat
•pillowcase (without a pattern)
•waterproof paint and paintbrushes
•old newspaper, pillow stuffing, or straw to stuff clothing
•accessories, such as bandanas, costume jewelry, or glasses (optional)
Place the 4-foot bamboo pole across the longer pole, about one and a half feet down from the top. Secure in place by wrapping the cross point with twine and tying tightly. Set aside.


Paint the scarecrow's face onto the pillowcase. Besides paint, you can add glitter, makeup, felt or fabric cutouts, or use magic markers to add detail and decoration. Set pillowcase aside to allow the paint to dry completely.


Using twine, tie off the ends of the shirt sleeves and the cuffs of the pants. Using your choice of stuffing, stuff the shirt and pants. Likewise, stuff the gloves and socks and tie off the ends securely. Attach the gloves and socks to the sleeves and pant legs with safety pins or florist wire, or tie them on with twine. If you're using boots, attach them to the socks or pant legs with shoelaces or pins.


When the paint on the pillowcase head is dry, stuff the pillowcase and firmly tie off the end of the case with twine, leaving at least a couple of inches of fabric hanging down. Attach the head to the top of the shirt with wire or safety pins, tucking the ends of the pillowcase inside the shirt to prevent stuffing from escaping.


Using glue or wire, attach yarn or loose straw to the top of the scarecrow's head for hair. Place the hat on top and secure firmly with safety pins. Make sure the hat won't blow off the scarecrow if the weather turns windy.


Add extra touches like a bandana tied around the neck, or a pair of sunglasses tied on. Use glue, twine, or florist wire where necessary to secure loose adornments.


If you're using a stake, firmly press the bottom end of the bamboo stake into the ground, deep enough so that it won't blow over. Tie the scarecrow to the stake at the neck and waist with twine. Use florist wire to secure the scarecrow to the bamboo if necessary. Stretch the arms out along the shorter length of bamboo and tie the wrists to the pole with twine.


Alternatively, arrange your scarecrow in a lawn chair, bales of hay, or anywhere you'd like to place him (or her!). At the end of the season, store your scarecrow in a dry place in your home to use again and again.


Tip: If you're not hanging your scarecrow on a stake, you can use a hollowed-out, carved or painted pumpkin as the head.

Creating a Halloween Garden

Halloween is a fun time for kids and adults alike. If you want to create a Halloween garden that tends to be a little macabre, consider creating a Gothic garden.



Turn your Yard into Creepsville


Instantly transform your current garden into a Gothic garden by adding a few accessories, such as a moon dial and gargoyles. Place a few concrete urns along a garden path or driveway and create a gate by using a panel of wrought iron. Spooky metal-ware can be purchased at garden centers and novelty stores, as can screaming masks that appear to drip blood and CDs of ghostly voices. Use these things to create a chilling effect near your door. Add a resin coffin and a few tombstones to turn your garden into a graveyard.


Creepy Creatures


Creepy creatures are a must for a Halloween Gothic garden. The perfect spooky creatures are bats. They will send chills up the spines of your visitors and they should be welcome in all gardens because they eat beneficial insects. In order to attract bats to our garden, grow plants that will attract night-flying insects. Remember to provide a roosting area for bats. You can make your own bat roost, or purchase one at your local garden center or online. Search the Internet for plans to make your own bat house. If you live in the South, don’t prune cabbage palm. These make great roosts for bats.


Garden Plants for Bats


Plants to grow to attract night-flying insects that bats will enjoy include cornflower, phlox, salvia, silene, spearmint and stock.


Toads


Toads love slugs and they will give your garden a warty appearance. Provide a water source where toads can lay eggs and raise their young. Also provide a toad house for shelter. A loose stack of rocks in a moist area is sufficient or prop an old flowerpot up on a rock or stick. Having toads in the garden is said to bring the homeowner good luck.


Spiders


Your Gothic garden wouldn’t be complete without a few resident spiders. These creatures are a great source of pest control. When you find them in your garden, leave them be. Don’t kill them. Spider webs lend a spooky effect and are perfect for the Gothic garden.


Praying Mantis


Praying mantis is welcome in a Gothic garden. They are strictly carnivorous and will eat non-beneficial insects. Some garden centers and nurseries sell praying mantis eggs. Attach the egg cases to twigs and branches that are approximately one foot above the ground. It will take the eggs about eight weeks to hatch in warm weather. Each praying mantis egg case will produce about 200 insects, so you won’t need many.

Snakes


Snakes can be both a blessing and a deterrent. They consume rodents, which are good, but they also eat frogs and toads. Be sure any snake that takes up residence in your garden is of the non-poisonous variety. To attract snakes to your garden provide a rock, wood or rubble pile. It won’t be long until at least one takes up residence.


Dragonflies


Dragonflies are beautiful creatures. They cannot hurt humans, but they are frightening to some people. Dragonflies are beneficial insects that feed on mosquitoes. They also bring color to a garden. Attract dragonflies to your property by establishing a moving source of water. This could be as simple as installing a portable fountain. Place stakes in the yard so dragonflies will have a perch where they can rest. Remember, bug zappers will kill dragonflies and other beneficial insects, as will pesticides.


Ladybugs


At one time ladybugs were considered to be both holy and magical creatures. People today associate ladybugs with good luck. They love to feast on aphids and other non-beneficial insects. Like praying mantis, ladybugs can be purchased at garden centers and nurseries. They can be stored in the refrigerator when they aren’t needed and released at any time. Ladybugs are always thirsty, so mist the garden with a fine spray before releasing them in the early evening.
Once you have completed your Gothic garden, you will see the dramatic impact that the accessories and creatures will make on your visitors. Your Halloween Gothic garden will be the talk of the neighborhood and people will flock to your yard to experience some real thrills and chills. Happy Halloween!

Halloween Yard Decoration Ideas

Halloween yard decorations and tree faces would be a ghoulish addition to your Halloween plans this year. Tombstones, ghosts and grim reapers are the reason for the season and if you are one of those that plots and plans year-round to figure out the best way to scare the wits out of unsuspecting trick-or-treaters, then this post is for you.


Here are some links to Halloween yard / lawn decorations, tree face ideas, papier mache, vintage decorations and more...
If your neighborhood is anything like ours, then you know that there are always one or two homes that go all out.


They have scary sound effects like harrowing screams, creeky doors, chains rattling and werewolves howling.
That sets the stage for what's to come when you step foot on their property.
Beware! Your kid firmly grabs your hand as you urge them onward. They might seem a bit anxious at the prospect of what tricks they have to go through to get to the front door for the treat. Scares the wits out of 'em sometimes but, as parents, you secretly want to see what's in store so you drag them up to the door. Shame on you!! (hee hee)

So, you want to make a Halloween yard? Halloween yards are a GREAT way of celebrating Halloween! If you are having a Halloween party, a specially decorated yard is even better, since this will help set the mood for your guests.


For a great Halloween yard, it helps to have a medium to large sized yard. But even small yards will work. To get started, you need a plan for your yard. Do you want major props and decorations in your yard or just a few things scattered here and there? Do you want a fully developed yard, or simply one specific area containing your Halloween decorations? You will also want to consider whether you want a particular theme for your Halloween yard, or something more general. A special theme might be a haunted house look, ghosts and witches, or something along a fall seasonal yard that includes some Halloween items.
When you have some ideas nailed down, you might want to sketch out a rough draft before actually buying or making props, and before starting to put out all of your decorations. Decide where and how you want the yard to look. Figure how and where things will fit, and if you might want to change something. It's much easier to make changes on a piece of paper, than to pick up and move several armloads of props and decorations. It's easier, still, to see how your plans will look on paper, and whether or not you want to make changes, than trying to arrange as you go. This can get confusing and very frustrating.


Once you have at least a basic idea of what you're trying to accomplish, you're ready to assemble a host of decorations and props. If time is a factor, you might want to go out and buy what you need. This will save on time, and could even save some money, if you don't forget to look beyond the traditional stores. There are usually some great items to be found in thrift stores, yard sales, and flea markets. Don't overlook any possible source. This allows you the best possible prices, and a neat assortment of things from which to choose.
Or, you may choose, instead, to build everything from scratch. Yard decorations are not hard to make. Groundbreakers are decorations made to be partially buried, like zombies, vampires and other "living dead" props that you want to appear as though they are coming up out of the ground. And these are a great idea! They are usually unexpected and can cause quite a fright for your visitors, especially if they are partially concealed behind something your guests must pass around. You might even consider adding some movement and sounds to your props, to further the scare factor enjoyed.


Tombstones are also a great idea to use. You can make them with relative ease, using Styrofoam sheets, cardboard, etc. And, with these, you can build a grave quite easily. You may dig a hole, place solid objects (i.e. rocks, cans, etc.) and cover them up. This allows your "grave" to be raised above the ground, appearing more realistic. If you'd rather not do any digging, simply use sand, potting soil or other dirt, to pile into a grave-shape, adding more realism to your gravesite. If you choose a buried grave, or one actually above ground, you want to pack it down carefully, especially if you think visitors to your yard might happen to walk across them. You don't want any guests to accidentally fall. And, even without accompanying graves, a yard full of tombstones makes the perfect "graveyard."

Another good idea is to buy or make skeletons to place around your yard. Dummies are not a bad idea either, and are quite easy to make. Simply take old clothes (the older and more tattered the better!) and stuff them with whatever you have handy. Add a mask, and you're all set. Then, prop them up around your yard, in whatever poses and actions you think will best fit with your theme yard. You might even want to use skeletons or dummies to be temporary drivers for your vehicles. Prop one up in your car, truck, open trunk, or on top of a tractor, the list is endless. Just take a look around your yard. What do you have that would work well with this idea?

Ghosts are really easy to make, as well. Take white fabric (old sheets work really well!) and cut or tear them into the size appropriate for the size of your ghosts. Find something of substance and cover with the sheet. You may use a ball, stuff newspapers, almost anything that achieves the size of the "head" that you want. Then, place the object in the center and draw the edges and corners of your fabric around, allowing the excess fabric to hang down for the flowing effect. Once you have a good selection to work with, simply hang them anywhere you can find space. Use tree branches, edges of the house, antenna of a car, off the mailbox. Just use your imagination.

Other decorations to consider would be bales of hay, stuffed scarecrows, pumpkins, scattered straw, monsters, spider webs, witches, etc. Use whatever materials you have at hand, and decorate it all to your heart's content. You might want to scatter all of the decorations, place them all in one central decorated place, or design a type of haunted yard that your guests must wind through to reach your door. If you want to have at least a little something, but don't want to go to the time, work and expense of an elaborate set-up, a simple Halloween flag hung by your door is decorative and appealing. It's all up to you, depending on what you want to do, what materials you have to use, and how you want your yard to look.