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}

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!