When it comes to decorating I tend to put it off until the holiday is suddenly upon me and I realize too late I’m behind the 8 ball. The only reason my house is decorated for Fall this year is because of the Fall tour, otherwise I’d probably still have geraniums on my porch.
No lie.
But a while ago I found some cute and pretty easy Halloween projects I think are totally doable and thought you might want to check them out too, so here goes.
Got a trash bag? Then you’re good to go with this craft.
Don’t put those bags away just yet! This tutorial is a little more time consuming, but very, very cool!
Tutorial: Pop Sugar
Grab a few carrots, a marker and an accessory or two and you’ve got the makings of some mighty adorable characters.
I love these black painted pumpkins, and so easy to duplicate!
Some gauze wrapped around some cans with ‘eyes’ peeking out makes for some cute candy containers.
Another good use for ‘eyes’.
These are so elegant! Come to think of it, I have this exact ribbon :).
Maybe a little more time consuming than we would like, but a cute decorating idea for a buffet table.
Glitter does a great job of highlighting these pumpkins in both scary and simple ways.
Here’s a cool ombre effect!
Tutorial @ Martha Stewart
These bats are adorable, and easy to make with a printable available via the link.
To create some glowing ghosts, place a glow stick into a balloon, inflate it, tie it closed, and then draw a ghostly face on it. Leave it to Martha to think of this one!
Tutorial @ Martha Stewart
Pillowcases can be turned into trick-or-treat bags or easy decor by drawing or ironing on a ghostly expression.
Tutorial @ Martha Stewart
These cute little yard ghosts are super easy to make. Don’t have all the materials? No problem. You can use alternatives such as lightweight balls and old t-shirts to get the look without hitting the craft store.
Tutorial @ Practically Functional
Eerie silhouettes do a great job of dressing up your windows, and they get even cooler looking as the sun goes down and the glow from inside makes them stand out.
Create creepy Halloween candles from cardboard tubes and glue sticks that you can hang indoors or outdoors.
Tutorial @ Crafts Unleashed
If you have some chocolate brownie mix, marshmellows, and either decorating gel or chocolate chips, you can bake these adorably spooky, and delicious, brownies.
Having guests? Wrap up hot dogs in breadstick or croissant dough and bake them for the cutest darn little appetizers ever.
Recipe @ BHG
I just love these cute little tangerines turned into pumpkins!
Little marshmallows get into the Halloween spirit with cute paint faces with a food color marker.
And don’t forget your fur baby! I’m sure he will be about as thrilled as this pooch looks ;).
In other news…
I’m not sure if you know this about me, but I’m always trying to learn something new. I purchased a Groupon for a website called UniversalClass for $89, which entitles me to full access to over 500 classes on any subject imaginable. I’m currently taking a course for Adobe Photoshop Lightroom and I was having some issues with an assignment. The instructor directed me to an Adobe help link and well, to make a very long story as short as possible, my Lightroom crashed and it took me an entire night on the phone with Adobe to get it back. I thought my head was going to explode, but thank goodness all is well. I have a back up, but when I was restoring it, most of the pictures weren’t mine! Very, very weird.
In the meantime, Fisherman’s laptop COMPLETELY died. Nothing is salvageable (not much was on it so it’s ok) so he had to get a new one.
On a brighter note, I took an Etiquette class and received a 99 average, so now if you have any questions about proper etiquette, I’m your gal ;).
Sharing At
Julie says
Hi Doreen,
I LOVE all of these really creative and cute ideas for fall and Halloween! Thanks for sharing them and I’ll be sure to check them out.
That is too bad about the class and the computer crashing.
Well I do hope you have a wonderful weekend.
Julie xo
Amy @ Ms. Toody Goo Shoes says
I think I’m partial to the pumpkins – the ones with carrot noses, googly eye, and painted like cats! The mummy dogs and hot cocoa made me smile, too. Sorry to hear about your Adobe issue, and the fisherman’s laptop. 🙁 And, of course I’m not surprised that you aced the etiquette class!
Cyn says
These are right up my alley! We spent yesterday in this beautiful weather getting all gussied up for Halloween, and I hope we get more kids this year than in previous ones. We average about ten!
Thanks for giving me some more projects to try! 🙂
Deb @ Frugal Little Bungalow says
I like the glow stick in the balloon idea !! They are all cute but if I did anything it would just be for trick or treat day and that looks easy and cheap 🙂
Jane says
These decorations are soooo cute! I used to do a lot of Halloween decorating when the kids were little. Now I just do fall. But I loved learning about the food color markers! Damn!
Good for you taking he class’s. You really have a great zest for life. I admire that!
Jane x
Cecilia says
I’m feeling overwhelmed with decorating two places so this year I’m only doing Fall, not Halloween. But these are cute and make me think maybe I could do it!
Bummer on the computer crashes.glad you got yours back (mostly). Fun on the classes! I need to look into some. Have a good week!
Cecilia
carrie@northwoods scrapbook says
Such fun ideas out there right now! I’ve been gobbling things up out of my magazines and on pinterest too! Thanks for more wonderful ideas!
I think one of my favorite new decorating ideas I think I may try is to take the detailed patterned black stockings (nylons) and wrap it around a pumpkin and cut off the top and seal/ curl the top part to pumpkin. It will look like a stenciled pumpkin without any of that work. If I get to doing that I will share on my blog. 😉
Love that you keep yourself so open to learning new things (& so glad you got your lightshop back and that your head didn’t explode). 🙂
I’m so impressed with your etiquette abilities as well…not that I expected any less from you lovely Lady! I think there are days my kiddos (& hubby for that matter) could sure use some lessons. Lol
Blessings on your week. xoxo
Vickie says
Lots of fun ideas here! When our girls were young, I always found Halloween decor that we could make together. I love the cute tangerines as pumpkins! And now I’m hankering for a cup of hot cocoa!
Kelly says
I love all of these cute craft ideas. I wish I had known about them when my kids were little. I don’t decorate as much now for Halloween as I did when they were little and went trick or treating. I used to do a huge display outside with lights and sounds etc. Now, a couple of carved pumpkins and something on the door is about it. I love the cute food ideas too.
Jemma says
Doreen,
I am lovin’ the inspiration here, so many festive and fun ideas and these brownie ghosts are sooo cute!
I wish they would have had such adorable food when my kids were young-seems like the only cool foods then were popcorn balls.
You are so innovative and forward thinking-one of the many things that I really like and appreciate about you!
xo
Jemma
Doreen says
Awwwwwww, thank you my friend.
(You are so right! I remember those popcorn balls!)
Poppy says
All amazing ideas that I had never seen before! The facial features make such a difference on those pumpkins and really make them seem like animated characters! The easy peasy lawn ghosts make a great impression, without being too scary.
Kudos on your etiquette excellence, Doreen, and glad you were able to get your Lightroom back. As for Fisherman, I know how he must have felt – my laptop is no longer alive, having passed out permanently about a month ago, but unlike your hubby, it will probably not be replaced, for a while, anyway. I have been using Liberty’s, which despite being much newer than mine, (the dearly departed was 8, very old in laptop years!), is just not the same.
Poppy
Sue says
Dear Abby: May I politely say this collection has some of the cutest ever and I have to pin. I had a free trial for Lightroom and Photoshop that I let expire. I might buy it when I have the money. I am often going nuts in the background with something going wrong or not working on my website, so I can relate. Have a lovely weekend.
Benita says
I love these ideas and some of them are even in my scope of ability! 🙂 I’ve pinned quite a few of these so thank you for sharing! Hope you are having a great week! And awesome on the etiquette class! 🙂
Magali@TheLittleWhiteHouse says
I love the cat pumpkins!
handmade by amalia says
What a fun collection of ideas. I like so many of them but choose as my favorite the little tabletop candy tree. With different color candy it could be used for so many occasions.
Amalia
xo
Cindy says
Such fun inspiration. I haven’t posted my fall touches this year yet. I enjoyed decorating this year better than last. Can’t wait to show starting in a couple of days.
Cindy
Feral Turtle says
What a fantastic collection of ideas you have pulled together. I think I want to make those delicious brownie ghosts and the glowing balloon heads…actually I just want to do it all!!
Dewena says
My goodness you went to a lot of work to find and post all these great ideas for your readers! Looks like there’s something there for anyone. Even I might pull off the tangerine and banana cuties!
I hope everything is okay now with all the computer problems and you’re a better woman than I would be to deal with it. Without my son next door to help me out with minor things I’d be saying goodbye to the internet.
I hope all is well now and that you are enjoying beautiful autumn in your lovely part of the country. Peep a few leaves for me because we are still green, or brown, here.
Love to you,
Dewena
Doreen says
The leaves are gorgeous here now Dewena! It’s peak this week, and on Tuesday we went to Vermont and I took so many pics, a few of which I’ll share maybe tomorrow so come back :).
(I love the tangerine cuties too!).
Mary-In the boondocks says
Doreen I thought I would pop in and visit and what do I find so much Halloween fun. I love this holiday got to spend it in NY last year and had so much fun giving candy to the kids and eating lots of it myself. They are all really great ideas. As for your laptop, well what can you do? I have a big old tower computer that makes so much noise it sounds like it is also on its last legs. At least you were able to replace it and get your photoshop fixed. Good to visit you, have a great weekend.
Amy @ StowandTellU says
Well Miss Manners, this was a super fun share . My three faves are the cat pumpkins, the creepy candles and the mummy jars, but any and all would be welcome to spook up our Halloween. Too bad this holiday goes by so fast because the ways to decorate are endless. Too bad we can’t keep the Halloween-time weather around a little longer, too!
Carole West @ Garden Up Green says
Fantastic ideas I think those mummy cups with the tootsie pops are my favorite!
Kim says
Thanks for rounding up so many sweet ideas for Halloween, Doreen! I love those black cat pumpkins…too cute!!