Gone batty with bats!

Behold~my flying bats project is complete!  I think it came out pretty good.  What do you think?  The decoration is simple, has great contrast, clean lines and is quite realistic in its own way.  It is very different from what I usually do every year.  Do you adore the mini pumpkins sitting on the ledge? 

This is my side entrance to my "tiny" mud room (that is a whole other story).  Decided to continue over here and tie it all together with my front door.  I think it was a success without much effort!  I may still work more in this area.  Have to do something with the two urns that I have in front of this door.  Needs something else.  Will post if and when I get to it.

Here are some photo's I managed to take of the project in progress.  Very easy to do.   You can find a link to the templates that is used for this felt bat by going here (Country Living).   I made three different sizes on my copy/printer.  I thought it would look more realistic to have different sized bats.  I bought the "stiff" felt at Michael's craft store for 99 cents each, I got ten sheets.  I was able to produce many bats, after you fold it, on one sheet.  I used a white pencil to trace, cut inside the lines.  You can use white chalk also.

Here is the template traced.  All you have to do is cut it out.

  

Here is the finished bat, very easy.  I used masking tape doubled over to adhere it  onto the outside of my house.

This is a decoration that I did several years back.  I really like using Millet to plant in my urns by the side door.  It looks creepy and is really tall.  However, it was sold out this year!  When done with Halloween, it still works for the rest of the season.  Found this bat at this amazing store in Alameda, California called Gaslight Emporium.  If you ever are in the San Francisco area and it is around Halloween, you have to go to this shop.  It is done up for the occasion with the best items to add to your Halloween decorating and collecting.  They also have a great sale at the end! (Correction:  friend in California told me that they sized down and are not displaying all of their spooktacular items anymore.  Closing shop?  What a shame!).

Here is my tiny, teeny mud room.  I have some ideas to make it appear more functional.  I will post about that later.  This paper mache pumpkin was something I picked up on sale.  It has another face on the other side.  It is from Dept. 56.  Isn't it cute?  I put our Halloween candy in it every year and let the kids pick out what they want when the bell rings...."Trick or Treat"!   The nest on the floor is from a Robin. They usually build one outside my back door every year.  I am collecting them now.

          

This was fun!

Have a great time decorating!

Jamilyn


{Photo's property of Living It At Home, taken via me}

Simple Halloween Crow Nest

Since I love my black crows for Halloween decorating, thought I would share this image.  This is a great way to showcase my crows!  Looks fairly easy.  Looking closely, it seems that they used a fake white pumpkin to carve out the nest.  Don't know if I can get to do this right now, will have to save it for next year.

*Image from Martha Stewart

Have Fun!
Jamilyn

Snow Already?

We had a steady snow fall for about 5 hours.  It was very cold and mixed with rain.  At times the snow flakes were huge!  I took this picture to show how we are just getting into the full swing of a beautiful fall foliage display.  I think there is something wrong with this picture.  How could it be snowing now?  Well, in New England, anything goes.  I had to dig out all our winter gear.

Took this photo this morning.  Turned out to be a beautiful day.  Thought I would give you a sneak peak at some of my outside decorating for Halloween.  Still finishing up.  Will update with more later, check back.  Oh how I love my black urns.  I buy all my urns at this little flower farm in Concord.  They have the best selection and prices (shop around).  I love how the white tiny pumpkins add a little something.

Enjoy~  Jamilyn

Fun on Halloween

Creating and making these costumes over the years has been a challenge but fun.  Ghost Girl was a last minute idea because I had some extra cheese cloth.  I usually stock up on cheese cloth every year because you can dye it, paint it, or easily rip it up to make it look old and tattered.  Also, it sells out at the craft stores!  These are just some of the costumes we have done.

Really getting into being a ghost here...

Phantom Princess was based on this mask I found.  Just needed a lot of  torn cheese cloth and some black spidery lace.

Love to use black crows in the design.

Our Spider Fairy Costume creation.  We have so much fun coming up with a new idea every year.  Bought the wings and mask at Party City.  I had a  black cotton dress that I cut short.  Also used a velvet children's dress that was too small and cut it up for the top.  Had purple material already.  Made a sash and hot glued a sparkly spider to the front.

Notice cabbage in my black urns.  They make a simple yet perfect display for Halloween.  I also used spanish moss, white pumpkins and crows.

I just love this headless costume.  It is so believable.  I can't take credit for this one.

Take one if  you dare!  Just stay away from the broken fingernail one.  That looks way to real!

Yes, these are edible.  I have been making these now for a couple of years.  They are very realistic.  So much that when I serve them to my daughters friends, they are hesitant to eat them.  If you do dare a bite, they are yummy!

One of my favorite stores

I love to browse in a shop called Hudson.  It is located in the Boston area.  I really am trying to study how they mix styles and periods.  There are no rules here.  For me, this is a very risky way to decorate.  You really need to let go when decorating like this.  It is something I have been working on doing over the years.  Certainly if it is something you love, and it makes you happy when you walk into your home everyday, then buy it and use it in your decorating.  If you look at this picture and the ones below, there is a great deal of layering and textures.  Furniture coverings are kept neutral, muted and simple.  Pillows add some fun and are easy to change later.

Love the idea of using oversized pillows!

Large platters and white ceramics are my thing.  These are fun to display.

Love this rustic mirror, using recycled wood from Vagabond Vintage Furniture.  They have other styles.

This image has some things that I am drawn to.  The picture stand with light is fantastic.  Large lamp is great for a console.  Also, very large picture divided up into frames is a great way to fill a large empty wall.

This sofa is from Oly.  Notice the textured material mixed with the different pillows.  It all just seems to work.  Love it.

This is the Hanna Chair from Oly.  I was thinking of getting this for next to my sofa in my living room.  Isn't it adorable?  Love all the nail heads.  Again, very neutral.  Comes in other fabrics.

I was thinking about this ottoman for in front of my fireplace.  I think it is a good idea, if you can, to incorporate an animal print piece into your decorating.  It doesn't have to be real fur.

This chair is so cute.  I thought it was antique, but it is a reproduction.  Notice the muslin material it is finished in.  Very simple, can throw any pillow on it.  You don't always have to have furniture with patterns on it.  The pillow is the accent.  Speaking of pillows.  Crate and Barrel has beautiful, reasonable, velvet pillows for your decorating needs!

Halloween Shopping

Images from www.grandinroad.com .  Martha Stewart does it again with some of the best Halloween decorations I have seen.  These are just some of the items you can purchase.  

Her window images can transform your cozy home into a spooky one.

Never thought of decorating with a white owl.

This costume is actually for sale, but I bet this can be made easily.

Brooms that actually move around the room by themselves!

These hands are fun.  Great way to showcase them.  

Get Spooky and Inspired

This picture makes me want to cut out some felt bats.

Images from Country Living.  Give it a try!  I am.

Got some lace?  Use a paper dollie for a stencil and get beautiful detail.

This is a fantastic display.  There are those felt bats again!  This image is from Holly at Life in the Fun Lane.  Check out how she spray painted old frames and used prints for the images.

There is so many ways to be creative in decorating your home!

Have fun!

~Jamilyn

Halloween Templates

Click here for templates used to create the pumpkins and bats from Country Living.

Halloween Templates

Posted using ShareThis

Easy Elegance for the Fall Season

 I love everything about this picture.  A bird in a nest!

Image from Country Living

This is very elegant for a buffet.  I am looking for a ladle like this one.

What a great picture.  I want that stand and how easy is it to pile up your pumpkins?

Wall of mirrors for an easy display if you collect them.  Mainly interested in this impressive centerpiece.

Maine dream vacation home

I feel the need to talk about our summer vacation in Maine.  The reason is because I fell in love, again, with that state!  It is so very beautiful there.  Rugged and breathtaking at the same time.  Quaint and adorable homes are everywhere.  Sometimes I feel I can't "take it all in" when I am visiting.  There are so many different ways to experience Maine, on the coast or near a lake.  It is hard to pick where you want to go.  Each is unique in its own way.  This summer, we decided to rent a home on the coast.  The absolutely lovely house you see in my header is how I would like my dream vacation home to be.  We came across this house and thought it was adorable. I took many pictures so I can always be inspired by it.  It makes me happy just to look at it.

This was at low tide.  Homes like these dot the cove.  Built in the early 1800's.

 

Don't you just love the green door?

View from back of this house.

Across the cove was John Travolta's house.  When we drove around we came across his driveway.  We drove up it and then decided we didn't want to stalk!  Don't worry John, I won't "kiss and tell"!

Jamilyn

*Images property of Living It At Home*