Decorating on the Cheap: Halloween Candy!

I really enjoy decorating for the seasons and holidays, but it can get expensive.  For some parts of my decor every year and for every season, I use candy.  It's cheap, easy to find, and pretty.  There are hearts for Valentine's, hard and ribbon candies for Christmas and for Halloween..TONS of goodies!

(All of the containers I use in this post are things that I've had for years. Some of them you can still buy, but some you can't. I'll try to share where I got things when I can.)



This is the first thing I put together this year.  I've had these out for a little while (so forgive the fact that they're looking a little low.  Some of us can't resist the decorations :)

These are vases I bought years ago from Southern Living at Home. You could easily buy inexpensive bud vases at any craft or big box store, and candy corn (or Indian Corn, which is what they call this stuff with the brown on the bottom) is one of the cheapest and easiest things to buy this time of year.
I also bought these goodies...

The two bigger bags were 88 cents each.  The caramel filled chocolate eyeballs were more expensive, but they were just too awesome to resist.
Here are some things I did with those eyeballs :)

 This is a vase that I've had for a while, but I bought it for about $3 at Michael's and I'm pretty sure that you still can.  I added some super cheap paper from the dollar spot at Target to it and a couple of Halloween embellishments.  the skulls, mice and snakes?  A buck a package at either the dollar store or the grocery store.

 This is a mini ice bucket (again, I've had it for a while.  Bought it at an antiques store).  I just layered the stuff in there.  They layering would be really cute in a great bog apothecary jar, but I don't have any of those.  The crow is from Michael's.

This is just a cup that I bought years ago to drink my mudslides out of  :)  They're not cheap (about $6 each at Cost Plus) but I love the fact that it looks like a cauldron.

I dipped in to my stemware stash for these too:

I don't drink champagne that often, but these would be so cute at a place setting for a fall dinner.  The little pumpkins are cute and cheap for a little scatter/confetti for a pretty table.

I also layered the pumpkins and candy corn in the ice bucket for a different look.

Just take away the Halloween accessories and this can stay out to decorate through Thanksgiving.

I also keep these candle holders out on my dining room table all year.  Just switch out the candy and the ribbon for a different look for every season.

Those little acorns came in a bag at the dollar store.

Finally, a re-do of the first picture with the vases.  This time with a different fall candy in each one.  They were getting low anyway :)

I hope this helps if you are looking for some ideas for decorating for Halloween on the cheap!
My husband is going to be soooo glad that I finally got this post up.  He's been trying to eat this candy for a week!

A few quick quilt pics!

I said that I'd post the quilt once I finished the binding and took pictures, so here it is!

This is it, all finished.  I think I like it, and I would really like to take an intermediate class and learn more about quilting.  I need practice for sure, but I still think I'm missing something when it comes to getting my seams perfect.  I want to be able to make blocks with triangles!



 For the binding, I picked my favorite fabric of the bunch.  It's a pretty funky, modern one and I love it.  If I get to make other things for this room and need to buy something, this will probably be what I choose.

When I originally bought this fabric for the quilt, it was still full price.  When it was time to buy the backing it was half off.  Woohoo for that!  I usually just use muslin, so this is a treat.  My quilt is pretty on both sides :)

Tomorrow I'll be posting about a way to decorate for Halloween on the cheap!  See you then!

Echo Park and Glue Arts Halloween Decor

Echo Park sent the Glue Arts DT their Halloween line and I had a lot of fun working with it!  I love Halloween papers and scrappy projects.
This broom took me a little while to make, but it involves paint drying and that's a big part of the time.  Other than that it's fairly simple.  I bought the broom at JoAnne's in case you're wondering.  It's pretty cute and sparkly in person :)

 Boo Broom by Jessica Barnett
Supplies Needed:
Glue Arts Extreme Adhesive Squares

Glue Arts Glue Glider Pro and Perma Tac refill

Glue Arts U-Cut It foam adhesive

Echo Park Happy Halloween collection

4-5 yards of 2” wide black ribbon

Broom

Wooden letters for BOO

Staple gun and staples

Buttons

Embroidery thread and needle

Black paint and brush

Black pen

Scissors

Craft knife

Sandpaper

Pencil
Instructions:

1. Use the black paint to paint the edges of the letters and allow to dry.

2. Trace the letters onto the wrong side of the papers with the pencil and cut out using the scissors and craft knife.

3. Attach papers to the letters using the Glue Glider Pro and Perma Tac refill. Sand the edges to get a smooth finish.

4. Add the sticker to the letter B and trace with a black pen. For the other letters, attach the stickers to scraps of paper, then cut out and attach to the letters using Glue Arts U-Cut It foam adhesive.

5. Tie the embroidery floss through the centers of all the buttons. Attach buttons to the letters using Glue Arts Extreme Adhesive Squares.

6. Fold one-yard pieces of the ribbon in half, and staple the center of the fold to the backs of the letters. Tie the ribbon into knots , then staple through the knots to the broom. Tie a second knot and trim the ribbon ends. Attach a button to each knot with Glue Arts Extreme Adhesive Squares.

7. Tie a bow around the broom bristles and trim the ends of the ribbon.


This treat basket is the easiest thing to make!  I found the basket in the $2.50 section at Target.  I like making things like this with my scraps and leftovers after I'm done with a bigger project.

 
Treat Basket by Jessica Barnett

Supplies Needed:

Glue Arts Extreme Adhesive Squares

Glue Arts Glue Glider Pro with Perma Tac refill

Echo Park Happy Halloween collection

Paper trimmer

Scissors

Spellbinders Nestabilities scalloped circle die

Black chalk ink

Ringed Basket

Ruler

Bone folder and scoring board

Hot Glue gun

Instructions:

1. Use the ruler to measure the height of the two rings on the basket. Cut two strips from two different patterned papers that are 12 inches long and are a little less tall than the measurement.

2. Ink the edges of the papers with the chalk ink, then attach them to the basket using the Glue Arts Glue Glider Pro and Perma Tac refill. Use small Glue Arts Extreme Adhesive squares on the ends for an extra secure hold.

3. Cut two strips from a third color of paper that are 12 by 1.5 inches. Score every half inch, and accordion fold. Ink the edges and creases with chalk ink. Trim the ends of the folds at an angle to get the points. Attach the ends to each other with the Glue Glider Pro and Perma Tac refill. Shape into a circle and attach to a scrap circle of paper using the hot glue gun.

4. Cut out a scalloped circle with the Nestabilities dies that is just larger than the Oct. 31 sticker and ink the edges. Attach the sticker to the center and use Glue Arts Extreme Adhesive Squares to attach to the piece made in step 3, then attach the piece to the front of the basket with the hot glue gun.


Skull and Crossbones

My kids love the skulls!  Love them on their clothes, we have a blanket that they fight over with skulls on it, they even have skulls on their shoes!
My older two got little aprons as gifts that have a skeleton all over them, but my youngest doesn't have anything to wear when he helps me bake.  (And by "helps" you know I just mean that he eats whatever I'll let him touch). 
I made this one with my Glue Glider Pro with the fabric refill, some felt and a little kids apron from Hobby Lobby.  Total cost was under $4.  I cut everything out free hand, but it shouldn't be hard to find something online that you like and trace that onto the felt.  Or you could use a cookie cutter.  Those are my go-to patterns for Christmas stuff especially. 

Someone was being a ham for the camera :)

Pumpkins!

Every year I get that Martha Stewart Halloween magazine and drool over all the projects.  I have been loving the pumpkins that they carve using a bunch of different drill bits for as long as I can remember.  I had some craft pumpkins, and when I got my vinyl for this month's Glue Arts Halloween project I thought that I'd use them together! 
This is a great project that anyone can make because even if you don't have a die cutting system, you can still cut out circles for the pumpkins.

Glue Arts Car Accents pumpkins by Jessica Barnett

Supplies Needed:

Glue Arts Car Accents in Apple Cider and Blackout (Or choose other colors that you like. Purple, green, orange and black would be really cute too!)

Assorted craft pumpkins

Manual or electric die cutter or circle templates

Circle dies for manual cutter



Instructions:

1. Cut the vinyl into assorted circle sizes. I used my manual die cutter and a die that had four sizes of circles on it.

2. Stick the circles to the pumpkins and smooth out with your fingertips. If there are creases you can pull the vinyl back up a little and smooth it back out. TIPS: Use the larger circles near the center of the larger pumpkins and the smaller ones to fill in. The curve in the pumpkins at the ends will make it more difficult to get a smooth look on the larger circles.

Xyron+Fabric+Store Bought Purse=CUTE!

To show off the Xyron Fabric Adhesive for the Creatopia, I decided to alter a simple purse that I found at Target a while back.  You could buy and fabric purse (this one cost under $10) and choose from your own fabric scraps or use fat quarters to embellish it!
Pre-wash all fabrics before using.
Cut circles in different sizes out of the fabric(s) you choose using pinking shears.
Run the circles through the Creatopia with the Fabric refill.
Bunch the circles up as you place them on the purse to get a flower shape.  You can readjust until they're just how you want them because this isn't a permanent adhesive.
Sew circles or lines through the center of your flowers to permanently attach them to the purse.
And sew button centers onto the flowers.

Thanks for looking!

Quick and easy treat project!

I made this a year or two ago, but it didn't get used by the company I made it for.  I still think it's cute :)  If your child is having a Halloween party this would be a great treat to give to the kids!

I took a long, skinny strip of white paper and folded it in half.  I pretty much freehand cut out the skull shape, leaving in long on the bottom so I could fold it under for a stand.  Also drew the bones freehand on another piece of white cardstock.  The eyes were punched out with a 1" circle punch and I backed them with black, glittered cardstock.  I inked all the edges and inked on the nose shape and the lines for the teeth with a black chalk ink pad.  The bottom for the stand can be stapled or glued together and so can the little bag of treats.  Write a message on the back if you like!

See?  Quick and easy!  Have fun!