ARTFULLY AVOIDING THE LANDFILL (& driving my husband crazy) ONE PIECE OF JUNK AT A TIME

10/6/10

Halloween Trickery

My husband made the mistake of leaving me home alone last weekend while he went to Kansas City with his buddies.  I didn't want to go with him or anything.  Believe me, I was happy for the no cooking, do what I want, snore-free nights his little trip awarded : )  His mistake was not being around to save the surroundings to which he has become accustomed.

It's Halloween and a girl just has to have a little fun, right?

The first thing I did was pull this $3 portrait I got at Dollar General from the closet.



I was attracted to it because in a maybe-it's-an-ancestor sort of way, this guy kinda looks like Glen.

I also went to Wal-Mart and spent a whopping $79 on a Brother sewing machine and made a couple of stockings to hang on the mantle.  It took me longer to figure out how to thread the dang thing than it did to make the stockings - and I even read the directions!


I have to confess my reason for making these Hallowing stockings.  For the first time in 34 years, I do not have any little kids to take trick-or-treating Halloween night and I want candy!  I figured maybe the Great Pumpkin would visit us Halloween Eve.  (I'll let you know how that turns out)

While I had the burlap out, I made a couple little pumpkins.



Then I got brave.  

I took down the $300 dog picture Glen purchased at an auction and put up what I thought looked much better hanging above the mantle : )


Let me tell you, the chain from one of my outdoor hanging plants worked GREAT for a broom holder!  A couple of old wood sewing thread spools Gorilla glued to a little pine crate serve very well for a place to hang the stockings.


While I was at it, I carelessly wrapped my $1 Dollar General feather boa around an old grapevine wreath that was headed for the trash can.  I needed a place to hang the beauty, so I swiped the master's fireplace tool stand and exclaimed, "this is good!"


I was also able to finish my second set of Halloween blocks (can you believe my mom HAD to have the first ones!?  Who can say no to Mom??) - see tutorial how to make them here.



But before I knew it, and before I was done with my Halloween display (it still isn't done) Glen came home and as you can about imagine....


He was a bit shocked to discover that I know how to sew : )

Have a great rest of the week!






7 comments:

  1. I'm glad you had fun while he was away. I used an inexpensive Brother sewing machine for years, in fact it's my backup machine for the times my Elna is out of commission. I love that broom over the fireplace. The crooked handle is perfect. I knew that the first person to see your set of blocks would want them. They're unique and can be arranged in so many different ways. Great job.

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  2. Love the picture of "Glen", ( you are right, it does kind of look like him! lol)

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  3. Too Cute Coleen... you always crack me up! What a face on that guy! Love your post! Did you make the broom, too? It all looks good... glad you had a fun "me time"!

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  4. lol, I say a little shock now and then is good for a relationship! It looks creepy cute! I bought some burlap today...Lezlee

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  5. You knew that picture would crack us all up. I'm glad you had fun. Using the spools for stocking hangers was a wonderful idea. You already know I <3 your blocks.

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  6. Hilarious! I love it! Serves Glen right..bet he won't go on a Nascar trip again if it means his pictures lose their place over the mantle :) I so wish we lived closer and you could teach me how to do all this wonderful crafty stuff you do. I haven't put out a single Halloween decoration...*sigh* Thanks for featuring a link to my blog too! How do I do that for yours???

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