The last of the Halloween decor posts (for now)

So here are the paper mache pumpkins my husband ( I helped a little!) made for this year. This is Frankenpumpkin. He was pieced together from a bunch of different gourds to frighten and delight.

Here is a detail. My husband used bits of twine pressed into the paper clay to make the stitches. Yes that is a piece of watermelon. You use what you have when making a monster.

This is Mr. Longnose. My husband was inspired by the carrot nosed pumpkins that Martha makes.

I love his teeth.

This is our Day of the Dead pumpkin. Fun.

While trolling for Halloween sales, I found these ice cube molds that I just love!

Happy Halloween! 

Happy Haunting! 

Happy Trick Or Treating!

A trip on the Pumpkin Express

I get a little psychotic around this time of year where family type events are concerned. I am normally a pretty laid back mom, but come October I start really trolling for the family friendly activities.

We went on the Pumpkin Patch Express and loved every minute of it. As far as family events goes, it is a bit pricey, but it is sooooo worth it.

The trip includes a 45 minute trip to a pumpkin patch by train, an hour at the farm (complete with petting zoo and pumpkin picking), and then the ride back.  It was a great afternoon, made better by the company.  We went with another family and had a little picnic while we were there in celebration of our friend's little man's birthday.

The kids got really muddy and worn out. We came home with at least three pies worth of pumpkin and a lovely pumpkin grown by the amazing Kira, who not only has a green thumb, but 9 other green digits as well.

(Isn't it loverly?)

( He is going to be embarrassed, but I love a Daddy-Daughter pic. Look at how much he loves her. Makes me happy. My husband will be glad that for once I am not posting a picture of him!)

TIM CURRY!

This was my favorite Halloween special when I was little(er). I think it was when I fell for Tim.

This is not of the season, but Patrick Stewart is always in season.

I love this man.

Science Vs Superstition

Cool extra from the Batman vs Dracula DVD. Gives a lot of trivia about vampires, facts and fiction as well as some history.

Why do I do this to myself?

So, I can't just do anything the easy way. I can't just cut a few simple shapes out of a pumpkin, noooooo. I have to do Celtic knotwork.  The downside is the pumpkin below took about 3 hours to do. The plus side is that I used craft pumpkins, so I should have them for awhile.

I got the pattern for the square knot from Martha. I also used her method, and it was wonderful. I recommend watching the video if you plan to do any intricate patterned pumpkin. It really helped to see someone carving.
Here is the first pumpkin I did as a learning experience:

Now for what will hopefully be the last time I mention my Apothecary jars.We picked up battery operated LED lights at Ikea, and they made all the difference. Now I can't wait for the sun to go down so I can see these jars sparkle.

Baby D, very wee.

WARNING: The next image is so cute it could cause intense cooing.

(I love baby yawns!)

A pretty little girl came for a visit.

I think I am done with jars now.

So, the jars are filled, labeled and in place on the piano. I have to admit, I was not terrible happy with the results until I added the label with red ribbon. A little color was needed to make the whole thing pop.

The labels are made with chipboard labels I found on sale in the scrap booking section of my local superstore.  I dry brushed them with a mix of acrylic paint (raw sienna) and pearlescent medium. Then I added copy paper that I had tea stained to look like parchment to the back. I used a black pen to write with. I wanted a "mad scientist" look. I was sorely tempted to do labels like these, but I really wanted this to look like a personal stash of supplies.

So here are the much agonized over fillings, many of them came from my gardening leftovers:

Monster eggs - large pearl tapioca, a few drops of green food coloring and cooking oil.
Graveyard dirt - peat moss
Zombie dust - vermiculite
Straw from the tail of a witch's broom - hay
fairy skulls - skull vase filler from Target
Eyeballs, assorted colours and sizes - chocolate eyeballs
Feathers from an Angel's wing - feathers I picked up at a local theatrical supply house.
Giant's blood - test tubes filled with corn syrup colored with 5 drops red, one drop green food coloring
Vampire Fangs - Sculpey fangs
Pixie skulls - plastic skulls from the dollar store (9 for a dollar!)
Ashes from the Library of Alexandria - a bunch of my son's spelling word practice that I burned in a mixing bowl on the front porch
Werewolf fur - hair from a puppy dog ( the dog got a good brushing and we got a prop. Back off  PETA.)

In the rest of the house...
 Facing the piano is our mad scientist's desk.

The mantle is full of finds.

The bell jars, the frame hanging above the mantle, the brass candle holders and the cool candle all came from the thrift stores.

I love this little candle. I paid all of  $.05 for it!

I have been stashing creepy cloth for a couple of years. I love the way it looks over the bookshelves.

In the hallway, I have a collection of things I have picked up along the way, as well as a branch with prints of vintage Halloween postcards hanging on it.

In my boy's room there is a Halloween tree with some ornaments that the kiddos and I made hanging on it.

The tree is black with little orange lights on it and a skull base. How cute is this?

Here is my husband's first paper mache pumpkin. A liitle scary, yet cute at the same time.

I think that about wrap up all of the exciting things going on  inside the house. I am getting my silhouettes out from last year and draping the dining room chandelier in  cheese cloth (if  I get around to it), but all the new stuff is here! I am pretty happy all around. This is probably the closest I will ever get to living in Halloweentown, so I better make the most of it.