Home Tour: Living Room [Halloween Edition]
Allow me to preface this post by saying, I feel dumb even including "Halloween" in the title because I have, like...5 Halloween related decor pieces that make up the sum of my ghoulish decor. I know I had more, and I'm positive it got lost somewhere crossing the Atlantic. Sadly I believe this to be the case for my Autumn decor in general as well as some of my Christmas cheer!Getting on, I began taking photographs of my living room to share with a friend, when I thought "Oh blog post!"I think it's cool to see what other spaces look like, and homes in other countries. Here is a look into my Italian living room.
This is actually a garland I made from old sheets, and a dress from Old Navy that had a stain I couldn't get out. I'm using it as a radiator cover and a nesting place for some Fall-ish things. Above that sign used to hang my collection of vintage plates. However the walls hate me and they (mostly) fell down.
I purchased this Halloween themed pennant banner at Target a few years ago. [I miss Target.] The white round table in the corner I thrifted when we lived in Virginia and painted it white. The table and chairs (and pretty much everything else in this space is via Ikea). I'll show you the tiered tray I made and the cutting board I stained in a future post as I failed to snap those details.
This console table I scored at a bargain here in Italy from another Air Force family who was PCS'g. Those grey buckets were a thrift store find from Pottery Barn Kids, originally they were pink. The starfish dish is a gift for my Mom I've not yet sent. I really love the silver candelabras with the burlap shades that have script on them. I scooped those up when I had a coupon for Hobby Lobby online.
The walls in my home are concrete a.k.a. my Kryptonite. My husband spent all day drilling the holes. I only got one chance at this arrangement and so it had to be just right. I plan on sharing how I got it so in a future post. As for the pictures they are all pretty dated 2009, right before we sold our home in Virginia. I do have to admit that it's sort of sweet to have the reminder of when my boys were teeny-tiny. I'll update a few of them. The center "eye chart" I made in about ten minutes. I used one of my favorite E.E. Cummings poems.
I love these pillows. The green ones I scored on clearance at Target [have I mentioned that I miss Target?]. The chevron pillowcases I purchased at Hobby Lobby online. I found the pillows to go inside them at a local grocery store called Coop.I am very pleased with my Ikea Ektorp sofas. They are so easy to maintain, and really don't get all that dirty, even with my bouncy boys.
This is a very SPOOKY porcelain pumpkin set on some very good books. I love using books as decorating pieces. 
My haunted house. It's filled with things that go bump in the night. I brought down a few scary stories from my library to set the mood. I figured I couldn't go wrong with Anne Rice.
This lovely vintage dresser I purchased a few months ago for $25. I painted it a lovely shade of grey. I'm still debating on the knobs. Party of me likes them just the way they are because up close they have a nice patina to them, and part of me wants to spray paint them white. For now it serving it's intended purpose as linen storage quite well.That's it for my living room and dining area. Hope you enjoyed it!xo,nicole
Halloween Cupcake Wreath Tutorial
Originally posted on 10, October 2011
Check out this cute little wreath I made today.
I was in the Dollar Tree the other day looking for (what else) some craft supplies when I came across these cute little mini-cupcake wrappers and thought they would be perfect for a cupcake wreath.This entire craft was made using items purchased at the Dollar Tree for a total of $5. Florists' pins and the purple ribbon I had on hand. This is a great inexpensive wreath that you can make for any occasion, gift etc.To make this 8 inch wreath here is what you will need:1. 8 inch foam wreath2. 2 packages of 100 each mini-cupcake wrappers3. Ribbon. Depending on how wide the ribbon is you will need less or more. The ribbon I used was about 1 1/2 inch wide. I used one role of ribbon totaling 3 yards.4. Wire embellishment (optional) feel free to use what other embellishment items you like!5. Glue gun6. 4 Florists pins or straight pins. You can pick up a pack of 100 at Wal-Mart for $1. I had these on hand. This is optional you can use glue gun. I like to use the florist pins because they really secure the ribbon to the foam.To make the wreath:Plug in your hot glue gun.Begin by wrapping your wreath with the ribbon. Secure one end of your ribbon with one of the florist's pin. If you are using one of those green foam wreaths leave the plastic on it and just cut out the centers. It's less messy that way.Once you're wrapped your wreath secure the other end with one another florist pin.Next take your cupcake wrapper and fold it in into a quarter: fold it in half and then in half again.Gently fold over the tip of the wrapper to create a tiny base for your glue to go. Dab on a small amount of glue onto your wrapper and place it on your wreath. Continue placing the wrappers creating clusters that are close together.Once you've covered your wreath in the cupcake wrappers (I used about 120 individual wrappers.) turn the wreath over and secure a piece of ribbon for the hanger. Use your judgement for length based on where you plan on hanging the wreath. Take the remaining two florist pins cris-crossing them over each other to form an "x". By doing this you firmly secure the pin in place. I leave a little "tail" in the ribbon to fold over and hot glue to cover the pin.Next create a bow and secure another pin by pushing it through the back.That's it your done!
You can hang your wreath practically anywhere of course there are doors, but other nice places include over mirrors and windows.
This wreath is currently for sale in my etsy shop.
Love & Making Pretty Things,
nicole
I Booed My Neighbors-Neighborhood Boo! Cute Ghost Halloween Craft!
*Originally published on October 22, 2009On Monday my little goblin otherwise known as Evan and I went to reciprocate our Boo and Boo a few neighbors-three to be exact. It was a lot of fun! As a bonus I got to be a little crafty which I love!I made these cute ghosts as a treat and a little holiday decor.I also left a few extra treats in a little bag for our Boo recipients.Making the ghosts is so easy it's scary! You too can start a Neighborhood Boo! It is a lot of fun and really helps you get into the holiday spirit!Supplies:
- lollipops for the mini-pumpkins I used DumDums
- pumpkin
- tissue paper (you can use napkins if you're using a bigger lollipop)
- black marker (fine tipped works best)
- clear scotch tape, white twist ties, or white string
To create the ghosts:Place one tissue paper over a lollipop secure the tissue paper at the base of the ghost with tape, twist-tie, or string. For the smaller lollipops I tore the tape in half.Draw little ghost eyes.To insert ghosts in pumpkin:Using a skewer or other thin pointy object gently puncture holes in your pumpkin. Its best if you puncture then place your ghost into the hole so that you can see where to place your next ghost for optimum prettiness.That's it! I told you it was so easy it was SCARY!For this Booing I used mini-pumpkins but a larger pumpkin can be used as well -I'd just recommend using a bigger lollipop like a Blow Pop or a Tootsie Roll pop.To Boo my neighbors I printed out this cute poem on cardstock in a spooky orange font and decorated the paper with Halloween stickers and taped it on their doors
The air is cool, the season fall,
Soon Halloween will come to all.
Ghosts and goblins, spooks galore...
Tricky witches at your door.
The spooks are after things to do,
In fact a spook brought this "Boo" to you!
The excitement comes when friends like you,
Copy this note and make it two.
We'll all have smiles upon our faces,
No one will know who "BOO"ed who's places!
Work your spell,
Keep it secret, hide it well.
Please join the fun, the seasons here .
Just spread these "BOO's" and Halloween cheer.
Great poem right? I didn't come up with it myself. I snatched it from this website.
Here is what my little "Boo" looked like when left on a neighbor's doorstep.
I Do Impersonations
Highlights from last night's Trick or Treating escapade!We opted to do a short run with regards to Trick or Treating this year...We zoomed through our neighborhood in about 45 minutes when we decided to call it quits as our bellies were grumbling (must have been the chilly air and the bag full of delicious yum-yums). We decided on Chinese take-away and a spooky flick all in the comfort of our nice and warm living room was the way to go. Before we picked up our dinner we stopped at Target as my husband as was in need of some cough medicine.While he was gone the boys and I danced in the car to Lady Gaga's Paparazzi. My son Michael convinced me to hand him the camera and he took this picture.In case you didn't know...I do impersonations. There never really any good-but that doesn't stop me. Here's my impersonation of a Rockette.