I’ve found out the hard way I can’t buy Halloween candy even one day before October 31st! But it has been raining cats and dogs here for two days, and all I want to do is curl up on the couch with a bowl of fun-sized candy bars! The gloomy days do add to the Hitchcocky feeling of our Halloween mantel, though.
The front porch and mantel are pretty much the only areas that change with the holidays around here…mostly because they are my favorite spaces to decorate. (Next to coffee tables, of course.) My method is to pull out any decor I have for the holiday, then stare at it until inspiration strikes.
And again, since Halloween season is so short-lived, I either craft the decor, or pick up creepy accents at the Dollar Store. This year I shopped my house and Mother Nature.
Last year’s mantel was Black & White minimalist…this year is kind of more-is-more. And I’m kind of cuckoo for it.
The felt spider garland is the only new addition, found at Target, and the striped tapers are HomeGoods goodies.
We take a lot more walks now that we have Maggie, so the kids and I gathered quite a few sticks, and I gave them a light dusting of matte black spraypaint. Then we stuck them in glass vases, and clipped crows to the branches. Funny thing is, I have a severe aversion to birds en masse.
I’ve had the skeleton heads from the Dollar Store for a few years, but we added googly-eyes to them. For no reason other than I have a thing for googly-eyes.
Last year we used yarn to spell out ‘Boo’ on the craft store foam pumpkins, and this year I made stripes with thumbtacks. I try not to permanently alter them so I can use them year-after-year.
Here are the bug votives from yesterday. Martha Stewart‘s people even tweeted me about them….Holla!
Remember my DIY Faux Birch Logs? Now they’re stacked in a basket with more crows.
Having these fun touches around the house is just adding to the kid’s
excitement. Have you already bought your candy? Is there any left?!
Other projects shown in this post:
Mirror Makeover | Painting the Fireplace | Painting the Mantel | Faux Birch Logs | Styling Mantels
Your mantels always blow me away! Love the striped candles!!!! And how did I miss the birch logs?! How cool to be bffs with Martha. 😉
what a fun mantle!! i lvoe the black and white combo. and im the same way about (all) candy! xo jillian – cornflake dreams
Love it! I think my favourite part is the goggle eyes on the skeleton. so funny!
I love the studded pumpkins! As someone who loves pumpkins but hates carving them, I can't wait to try this!
~Sarah @ 702 Park Project
Love the simplicity of the white and black. Looking great.
Love the simplicity of the white and black. Looking great.
Super cute!! I love the black and white striped candles too- did I miss where those are from? May have to whip some up myself with some black electrical tape or something, they're adorable. I love that you're scared of birds but used those to decorate… channeling your fear for a scawwy Halloween mantle, that's perfect! : )
Love this! Especially the candles! They add a little extra something spooky!
I love it! It's so pretty and classy! That mirror is to die for too! 🙂
xoxo
I love that you went with simple black and white. I saw your bug vases on a linky party, but they are even better with small tea lights in them! And those striped candles are to die for! Thanks for sharing.
This really is the best Halloween mantel I've ever seen – you just outdid yourself! And how in the world did I miss the fake birch log treatment??? Glad you linked it – xox
Looks fantastic Cassie! Super creepy. Hoping the rain clears out before we head that way on Thursday!! Homecoming Parade + Rain = No FUN!!
I think this is my favorite fall mantel I've seen this year – love the birds and branches. Nice work Cassie! I'm not a fall mantel person (no clue why, that's just how I roll) but I am kind of inclined to "borrow" your good ideas…
ooh love the B&W and the glow and the height!
Love the black and white, but I think the crows take the cake! They add the perfect amount of spooky your mantle.
Oh my gosh. This is absolutely stunning! Love the black and white.
Love it! Your mantel looks amazing! Love the black and white!
xo, Dez @ lifeasdez.blogspot.com
Love the striped candles and the crows. Where did you get both? Love, love, love
You amaze me daily! Loving the black and white awesomeness you have going on! You didn't miss a detail!
I am SO not a holiday decorator. Crafting isn't usually my thing, usually, but mainly I'm just too cheap and lazy to do something that is temporary. Ha! I do love your Hitchcock mantel, and it would go perfectly in my black and white living room. My husband would NOT let me put birds in our house though. Let's just say he and birds don't get along! Those crows would freak him out to no end!