The Homesteading Cottage: Design

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Monday, October 15, 2012

31 Days :: Prepare for Halloween with Over 21 Entertaining Ideas - Day 15

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My parents gave the best Halloween parties when we were growing up! Both Mom and Dad were very creative and put a lot of thought into each and every event. We had different stations set up inside and out for activities, buffets with fun food and a haunted house in our basement.

As we prepare for Halloween this year, I wanted to offer a LOT of inspiration for entertaining reminiscent of those parties from my younger days. I'm a visual gal and photos really help the wheels turn (; The examples below are filled with ideas on how to lay out a fabulous party. We've got everything from DIY Halloween dinnerware to simple tablescapes that look amazing with little effort. We even have traditional dinner examples with a touch of elegance.

Natural elements blend so well during this harvest time of year. Baskets are used to hold beverages and food, and pedestals allow items to be displayed at different levels. Simple swags can be made with tissue paper or fabric and hanging globes offer a pop of hover color above the table.

Printables make it so easy to create a beautiful display with little effort. Hop over to Better Homes and Gardens to use this set of free Halloween printables including cupcake toppers, candy bar wraps, party favors and more. Simply print, trim and assemble!

Jamielyn over at I {heart} Nap Time also has free Halloween printables to get your party going.

Both adults and kids alike will enjoy celebrating Halloween with these easy to make decorations and buffet foods.

Need more space for your Pumpkin Patch party? Use metal garbage cans as a table base and add a large piece of plywood for the table top. Then cover with a tablecloth and you've got a scene set for partying fun (;

Pottery Barn's children's party offers inspiration for adult parties too!

Create a tattered tablecloth with a torn sheet and black paper cut-outs. Add those same cut-outs to the edge of cake plates for a pulled together design.

Orange balloons accented with jack o'lantern faces create floating pumpkins around a witch's brew table.

Bring back the days of old with vintage inspired Halloween decor.

Outdoor entertaining has never been so easy. Let the surrounding fall foliage be the backdrop and then add natural elements like a burlap runner. A few well placed black painted twig trees in pots filled with candy corn finishes things off.

Party prep doesn't have to be time consuming. Embellished hanging rounds to create cats, owls and pumpkins. A simple orange runner over a black table says instant Halloween!

Plan a haunting night of "groan-up" thrills and chills. A spooky buffet in a not-so-ordinary display is sure to keep your guests talking for years to come.

This display from Lora Lee Lewis is sure to inspire!

Individual witch hats pull double duty as place cards and decor.

This spooky tablescape is sure to enchant and delight guests.

For a more traditional evening, simple touches of pumpkins with orange and black elements offer Halloween accents without getting too ghoulish.

Black and white dinnerware with simple pumpkins complete this elegant night of Halloween dining.

Stefanie from Brooklyn Limestone gives a tutorial on how to make your own Halloween dinnerware. This technique is so simple you'll want to make custom pieces for the other seasons (;

If you're having a sit down dinner, add a little something special with trick-or-treat gifts for each setting.

This cookie display is amazing! If you're not gifted in the cookie creation realm, the same haunted house can be made from cardboard and paper cutouts. Don't forget to add a small light behind to illuminate the windows.

Cover chairs with wisps of black tulle for yet another layer.

And there you have it! More than 22 ideas for Halloween entertaining. I hope you'll continue to join us for our 31 Days of Preparation journey. Tomorrow we'll be sharing ghoulish goodies and treats so don't forget to come back for our last two Halloween prep posts! Enter your email below and each post will automatically be delivered to your inbox. Don't forget to stop by the many other 31 Dayers for additional inspiration!

Ÿ Day 1 Ÿ Day 7 Ÿ Day 12 Ÿ Day 17 Ÿ Day 22 Ÿ Day 27

Ÿ Day 2 Ÿ Day 8 Ÿ Day 13 Ÿ Day 18 Ÿ Day 23 Ÿ Day 28

Ÿ Day 3 Ÿ Day 9 Ÿ Day 14 Ÿ Day 19 Ÿ Day 24 Ÿ Day 29

Ÿ Day 4 Ÿ Day 10 Ÿ Day 15 Ÿ Day 20 Ÿ Day 25 Ÿ Day 30

Ÿ Day 5 Ÿ Day 11 Ÿ Day 16 Ÿ Day 21 Ÿ Day 26 Ÿ Day 31

Ÿ Day 6 Ÿ Day 12 Ÿ Day 18 Ÿ Day 1 Ÿ Day 22 Ÿ Day33

In Gratitude,

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Sunday, October 14, 2012

31 Days :: Prepare for Halloween with 23 Display Elements - Day 14

Have you ever started decorating a space only to be left feeling that there was either too much or not enough? It's all about the layers and elements. Yesterday we shared a few wreath ideas for inside and outside the home and today we wanted to build on that with 23 additional DIY Halloween elements. These can be used on their own or put them together to create a beautiful holiday display.

As you already know, I'm in love with black birds this year. A bird cage with ravens, pumpkins and ribbons is the perfect Halloween touch!

I thought this display was cute with the candy corn sprinkled like bird seed.

Gail has a neat crow art tutorial. The first part shows how to create the art and the second part shows how to make the frame. I can't wait to try this one!

The aged look of this Witch's Inn plaque is just right for the cackling crowd (; Think out of the box and use an old kitchen cabinet door to create the same look.

This is one of my favorites! Shadow boxes are easy to make and can be done in so many different ways.

Eighteen25 shows how to make three dimensional art using pumpkins and seasonal fruit.

This witch plate is in our kitchen and it comes out every year. Gather the family and make something custom together that can be brought out each holiday.

This Boo! charger plate can easily be created by taking a plate and gluing on aged paper with words in your favorite creepy Halloween font. If you don't have a plate in your desired color, simply give it a coat of paint.

Switch out your everyday decorative plates and add in plain plates or oval plaques of wood decorated with Halloween scenes. Use sharpie markers to draw on designs or try vinyl stickers for an easy application.

We added bat silhouettes cut from black vinyl to the white plate above our kitchen chalkboard. Once Halloween is done, the bats come off and a Thanksgiving design appears (;

Swag a banner over mirrors, mantels or windows.

Create a festive bouquet with candy corn in the base.

LOVE this sign!! Scare your guests as they're reading...too funny (;

The Crafty Chicks show how to make these DIY boo blocks.

Kim at All Things Simple has that must-have holiday subway art...you can find her free Halloween printables here.

Create a versatile centerpiece with gourds, moss, mini-fencing (popsicle sticks) and little bales of hay. A black cat and ghoulish sign stake the territory at Halloween and turkeys can gobble up space later (;

Hovering bats on an old twig tree are sure to turn heads...

Now, pair that newly created bat tree with a pumpkin base and candles with "batty" details.

Centsational Girl shows how she made this forest with glowing eyes...

This Pottery Barn mantel display should give you tons of ideas! I love the haunted house and staggered picture frames with odd photos.

Hop over to Landee's site to see how she used different DIY elements to create her Halloween mantel.

Kristyn has one of the most adorable Halloween wall displays I've see so far and she shares step-by-step how she did it.

Don't forget the risers on your stairs...a few creepy messages or rat silhouettes are just the thing for Halloween (:

We hope these ideas will inspire you to create your own Halloween displays. Use one or several to develop your design.

Our 31 Days of Preparation journey is still full steam ahead! Join us again tomorrow as we prepare for Halloween entertaining...party ideas and what to serve will be coming up next. Enter your email below and each post will automatically be delivered to your inbox. Don't forget to stop by the many other 31 Dayers for additional inspiration!

Ÿ Day 1 Ÿ Day 7 Ÿ Day 12 Ÿ Day 17 Ÿ Day 22 Ÿ Day 27

Ÿ Day 2 Ÿ Day 8 Ÿ Day 13 Ÿ Day 18 Ÿ Day 23 Ÿ Day 28

Ÿ Day 3 Ÿ Day 9 Ÿ Day 14 Ÿ Day 19 Ÿ Day 24 Ÿ Day 29

Ÿ Day 4 Ÿ Day 10 Ÿ Day 15 Ÿ Day 20 Ÿ Day 25 Ÿ Day 30

Ÿ Day 5 Ÿ Day 11 Ÿ Day 16 Ÿ Day 21 Ÿ Day 26 Ÿ Day 31

Ÿ Day 6 Ÿ Day 12 Ÿ Day 18 Ÿ Day 1 Ÿ Day 22 Ÿ Day33

In Gratitude,

New to The Homesteading Cottage? Don't miss a post and subscribe here...

Friday, October 12, 2012

31 Days :: Prepare for Halloween with Holiday Curb Appeal - Day 12

Yesterday our prep focus was pumpkin inspiration and today we're shifting to curb appeal to get our homes ready on the outside.

Since you probably don't have a spell handy to turn your house into a pumpkin cottage this year, we've collected a few great ideas to conjure up a designer's recipe for Halloween delight.

Show your Halloween spirit with these great window silhouettes. They're easy to make and you can find the patterns here.

I love the idea of adding plaques to step riser fronts. This particular tutorial mentions using paper, but I'd recommend something more substantial like a thin piece of wood so the plaques can be used again and again. They would be great for any time of the year too...simply change out the message with the seasons.

Adding a Dead and Breakfast Sign in the front yard is so fun!! The ravens are the perfect touch and a must if you make this sign! You can find the templates and tutorial instructions here to make one of your own.

Orange is not one of my favorite colors, but for some reason as soon as fall hits, things shift and I LOVE it! The backdrop of crisp white with that pop of bright orange and black accents feels so right...and what about those potted "trees!!" Such a simple project...they could be created by using limbs that are probably already in your yard.

The fall elements of leaves and pumpkins are perfect for Halloween, but they also transition well into November for Thanksgiving. Not only is it a frugal option, but a time saving one too! No need to decorate twice (; Just remove the ravens and your set!

A flock of bats swirling about the front door is something to see! Hop over to Country Living for the templates to design your own spooky entryway.

It's always good to have valet parking for any witchy friends that might stop by on Halloween night (;

We've all seen them...those upside down legs in the ground that always make an appearance for All Hallows' Eve. I've never really been a fan...it's a little too creepy for me, but for some reason these make me smile so I had to include them (;

Every homestead needs a mason jar somewhere in their Halloween design (; The glass jars make perfect candle holders...fill with candy corn and then perch in wire baskets.

Create an outdoor dinner area for those cool fall evenings. Autumn foliage, crows, candlelight and plenty of jack o'lanterns cast a welcoming spell for an outdoor buffet. I don't quite know how they made this pumpkin chandelier, but I'm on a mission to figure out how to create this look for next year! Sooooo cute (;

I love everything about this photo! The big BOO with the witch's broom on the back wall, the rich tones and textures, the comfy velvet victorian chair, the pumpkins and black birds...oh my! Who wouldn't want to curl up on this front porch with a spooky good book (;

Give your porch pillows a makeover with new Halloween covers. We made these quite easily with orange fabric, black felt, buttons and ribbon...and it didn't even require a stitch of sewing (;

Jessica over at Chapman Place has a great tutorial for Halloween pillows. Amazing what canvas drop cloth and paint can become with a little creativity (; We love the long narrow Frankenstein shape...it would be perfect for our front porch bench!

Jessica also created these trick-or-trick pillows, but flip them over and...

you're ready for Thanksgiving!!

Cast a spooky spell over your garage door by treating it as a canvas for a Halloween scene. Use black contact paper, which sticks well and comes off easily. You can find the ghostly garage pattern template here.

If you want to operate on the creepier side, use cardboard cutouts to create mysterious silhouettes. Paint them black and make sure to cut out holes for the eyes to give the illusion of glowing peepers (;

I hope these outdoor inspirations will encourage you to cast a spooky spell over your neighborhood this Halloween. Try something new and add a little fun to the holiday. Please join us again tomorrow as we continue our 31 Days of Preparation journey...we'll be sharing some great wreath ideas for inside and outside of the home so stayed tuned!

Enter your email below and each post will automatically be delivered to your inbox. Don't forget to stop by the many other 31 Dayers for additional inspiration!