A Halloween to make you Scream

Halloween is here again and although it's been the second biggest holiday after Christmas for our friends in the U.S it only starting to grow more and more popular abroad in the last 10 years.

Here in my latest post I have found some suggestions for throwing an All Hallows Eve Celebration and included tips for decorating your home.

Use a large pumpkin cut in half and gutted for a festive ice bucket.

 Pumpkins painted with glue and covered in glitter make for lovely table ornaments.

 Or add a coat of paint like the gold ones on display here.

 The White pumpkins here are so easy to decorate all you need is a black marker and you can get really creative with your designs.

Imagine the kids delights at these smiling pumpkins, simply cut out a small rectangle for the teeth and place in the plastic vampire teeth found in party shops. Add two red pins for eyes. (see below)

 This lady had used cookie cutters and stencils to cut funky patterns in her pumpkins

 I loved this white pumpkin with the stem painted black and the pumpkin covered with black lace.

 Buy black cardboard and cut out creepy shapes to create an infestation. Simply blue tack the shapes to your walls.

Use the black cardboard creatures above a candle to create thrilling shadows on your walls.

Fill any glass vases or jars with black pebbles from garden shops and use chalk or white out pens to create goulish faces and words.

 Fill and square glass vases with black cardboard ravens but place vases upside down for caged look.

 These are just left over glass jam jars painted inside with bright colours then had drawn faces with marker on front and filled with tea light candles.

This chandelier was made from a broken old umbrella hanging from the wall with small garden lanterns hanging. Most party shops stock the faux spider web for quite cheap so go crazy.

 Cheesecloth is another faux spider web suggestion and with a few rubber spiders and bugs threaded through it looks fantastic.

 For your drinks destination I loved the idea of your cocktails being named different poisons, create labels with names like ACID and Rat Poison to go on bottles of wine or liquor.

 For mad scientist jars fill with unusual garden pieces like pinecones, seed pods and dead flowers and fill with water and a food colouring. If you can find faux skulls or get your hands on dog bones these would be also look amazing in red food dyed water.












You can't celebrate Halloween without costumes so here are some funky DIY suggestions for dressing up yourself or the kids this year.

 Human Lego Man made from a cardboard box and painted round containers glued on.















This his and her idea is hilarious and quite simple to create with a cardboard box and some clever stenciling.

How cool were these rock, paper, scissors chicks.

Sushi anyone with carefully selected cushions and cases and green seaweed coloured wraps. Wasabi hats very cute.

Girl with the pearl earring or mona lisa for the art lovers out there.

How good is this box painted xray with strange objects inside stomach.

 Easy blues brothers costumes with suits, ties, hats and shades.

 Run Forrest style in this get up and faux beard.

MnM's suits are easy to make with some plain coloured fabric cut into circles and stencil white m's onto.
















Thanks for checking out my blog everyone. For step by step instructions on any decorating tips or craft constructions please dont hesitate to contact me at melicrane@hotmail.com or you can check out some of these sights:

www.marthastewart.com
www.101halloweenideas.com
www.myhalloweenideas.com
www.amazingmoms.com
www.pinterest.com

Shower with Love....Babies in bloom this Spring

Baby showers are always a joy for expectant mothers but showers should be joyful for everyone. Pick a theme for the party and run with it. Here are some ideas and inspiration pictures.

    

Keep the decorations bright and fresh using lots of colour.
These poms are made from creche paper and can be purchased from most craft supply shops. eg Spotlight in Australia and New Zealand.
Dont be scared to be experimental with baby props for the decor.

Get crafty with the shower games. At this shower each guest received one plain white onesie suit along with fabric squares and paints to decorate an outfit for the baby.

Dont forget to create a little area to display the suits once complete.

 Have a calender board and get guests to choose when they think the baby will be born and time of arrival, have a prize for the winner after the birth.

Or even a baby guess quiz with questions like what colour the eyes/ hair/weight will be.

 This was a sweet idea with guests to fill out wishes for the baby and sign below. How nice to include at the back of the baby book.

 Another idea with wishes for the baby on little paper onesies or if your still not decided on a name yet get guests to write both boy and girl suggestions.

 Baby shower invitation suggestion folded envelopes to look like nappys are quite funky.

This mother keeps her favourite baby tops from her growing family and cuts sweet patches out from them and sews onto plain new onesies and bibs for friends expecting.

It's a fresh idea for hand me downs that arnt in perfect condition but had a lovely print.

 For catering showers keep it warm and welcoming the brunch styles are becoming more and more popular.
I loved the milk bottles and french toast triangles for something different.

Always have a lovely spread of treats for the guests.
Your food spreads and table decorations can be colour coordinated and fresh flowers adds an elegant touch.

Candy bars will always sweeten up any baby shower, love the vintage jars used here.







If your not into candy then go with cupcakes which is always a crowd pleaser and very much on trend. Cupcake shops are popping up everywhere now so check online for your closest store, most will do custom designs also.

Spring Life into your Garden.

Now that Spring is here for us in the southern hemisphere why not get back into the garden and get creative.

For step by step instructions on any of these tips please give me a comment and I'll send them through.

Use those old books as a fresh way to plant a little pot, imagine how cute sitting on your outdoor coffee table.

I loved this moss teapot for an indoor coffee table garden. You can purchase these from T2 in Australia.

Hanging pots are another suggestion for apartments or small spaces. Most gardening shops selling lots of styles and variations.

Hanging framed gardens are the new art staple for any garden, all you need is a deep frame, soil, chicken wire and herbs or flowers of choice.

Same as above only with some small cactus for a cute contemporary look.

Dont throw out some of those pre loved furniture pieces why not give them a coat of paint and create an art piece with your garden pots.

This san francisco artist uses all sorts of objects to create mini gardens for her industrial flat rooftop. Have a look in the garage and let your imagination run wild.

I loved the use of this wire cake stand to create levels for your little pots.

This is your typical wooden pallet transformed into a herb garden with long plastic pots nailed in behind for shelving look. 

Use those scrap 2nd hand tins to create a visual impact. An old suitcase also works well. Always drill a few holes in the bottom.

These are garden labels made from branches shaved and labeled with felt tip pen.

This chicken wire love heart with pebbles looks pretty hanging or sitting in any garden.

For those who are still flatting and want a little garden try the indoor vase garden, can also be made with old fish tank. Moss and cactus work best for this idea.

 Great way to display your house numbers is add a splash of paint to your standard clay pots.