A Halloween Mantel and Some Projects for You

When I showed our Halloween mantel at Vanessa’s party last week, I promised to come back this week and show some of my easy-on-the-budget craft projects, and give a little peek into how I made them. I’m joining Nifty Thrifty Tuesday and Tabletop Tuesday today to show off my crafty Halloween creations.

 

 

This really needed to be a low-to-no cost project, and let’s be honest, I just don’t need too much more Halloween stuff! With five boxes in our attic, bulging full of Halloween trinkets, there’s plenty to choose from. My very favorite is of course the kitty collection, and it’s pure fun to find a new place and a new way to display them every year. (You can find last year’s display here.) I mixed them up with these few simple crafts to get a new look this year.

 For months now I have wanted to copy Manuela’s Mod Podge candles. And seriously, I haven’t seen a Halloween-themed taper candle around at all. This tissue that I found at Hobby Lobby has become my favorite Halloween paper, so I copied her instructions, and love the end result. Thanks Manuela, for the inspiration!

 

 

The decoupage clay pot project marks the third time this year that I have used the dollar-store pots on my mantel! (You can see the other two here and here.) Honestly folks, this took only minutes, and added such a punch of pattern to my mantel.

Begin by making a paper pattern of the bottom part of your pot. Trace onto the tissue or paper you are using, then cut out. Decoupage that piece on first, then cut a strip to fit around the top and add it when the bottom piece has dried. On mine, a strip of the clay still shows through, and that’s OK for what I’m doing here today. If you wanted, you could always paint those areas first with some craft paint, then add your tissue. Next I added two bunches of dollar store roses, creepily black with an accent of red glitter, some leftover fall leaves, and painted branches from our backyard tree.

 
 

But here’s a warning, if you plop those tall, heavy branches into your pot with just a piece of Styrofoam, you run the risk of this . . . a broken pot that has just tumbled to the ground!

 
 

Don’t know what I was thinking! A couple of handfuls of river rock helped to anchor the pot, after I glued it back together (badly, as you can see) and got it all propped back up on the mantel. I’m super lucky that it only broke into two pieces, and didn’t take any kitties with it on the way down. Glad I only paid a dollar for that one!

 Next, I finally hopped on the vintage paper wreath train. The only item I purchased for this project was an old book from the thrift store, for 59 cents. I found the vintage cat and girl image here. “Aging” the edges of the rectangular layer with a little watered-down brown craft paint helped to make the paper look older.  It was so fun to layer the papers and figure out what I wanted to create! This is going to be an addictive hobby, for sure.

 

 

Lastly, these paper mache letters give a big impact, are super inexpensive and are a lot of fun to do. The regular price on these is $2.47 at Hobby Lobby, which is good enough – except that they go on sale half price all the time! 2 sheets of scrapbook paper and a little orange glitter later, they’re a fun addition to our mantel. I decoupaged the paper on the fronts only, and the glitter is only on the sides and insides, just held on with a quick coat of craft glue. I also painted the backs with some black craft paint so the paper mache wouldn’t reflect in the mirror.

 
 

That’s it! I hope you enjoyed seeing our mantel, and the simple crafts that went into it. Please visit Marty here for this week’s Tabletop Tuesday, and Linda here for this week’s Nifty Thrifty Tuesday. Thank you ladies, for hosting such great events every week. Have a good week, everyone!

xo, Andrea

 

p.s. Sorry that my links are difficult to identify this week . . . I’m still doing battle with Typepad’s new editor! It doesn’t seem to like any color that I insert, even though I am following the new instructions. Anything that’s italicized and bold is a link to the site. Here they are again:

Manuela’s candle tutorial

Free images on Vintage Holiday Crafts

Marty’s Tabletop Tuesday

Linda’s Nifty Thrifty Tuesday

and go here for my original Halloween mantel post

Comments

[deb newton]

So pretty!
*hugs*deb

[sweet violets]

You are very clever....nice job, love the candles and the wreath!!! Guess I'll have to jump on that same train with you, it looks great!!! hugs...cleo

[Lacy McKettrick]

I think this is my favorite Halloween display I have seen this season. The harlequin patterned candlesticks and pots, plus the polka dot letters and those kitty's are just perfect together! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE IT!
Lacy

[Lynn@HappierThanAPigInMud]

Everything is very pretty! I'm lovin' your paper Halloween wreath:@)

[Vicki at Rusty Rooster Vintage]

This is a really great collection of handmade Halloween! I love it. Thanks for sharing your photos with us. Great work! I'm here from NTT at Coast Charm. Nice to meet you!

Vicki at Rusty Rooster Vintage

[Becky]

Great projects!!! Love your mantle!!!

[Karie Jackson]

Love it! Everything looks great. Thanks for sharing.

[Linda@Coastal Charm]

Thanks so much for sharing with us at NIFTY THRIFTY TUESDAYS...love that pot...I'm going to be a copycat and whip one up!

Blessings,
Linda

[Brenda Kula]

I love your pot projects. You know I totally copied that shell pot from you! And I've got to do one of these wreathes. Manuela is a font of inspiration, and so are you!
Brenda

[Glenda/MidSouth]

Looks great - lots of cute projects. Thanks for sharing.

[Rachel]

LOVE LOVE LOVE the mantle... love the harlequin pattern! Reminds me of MacKenzie-Childs! Fabulous!!!!

[Confessions of a Plate Addict]

Wonderful mantel! So full of fabulous projects! You are so talented! I hope you are having a great week!...hugs...Debbie

[Jacqueline]

I am dying to make the harlequin pot and candles. These are just gorgeous and sound oh so easy. Thanks a ton. I love your mantel.

[Chari]

Hi Andrea...

My friend, your halloween mantel is one of the prettiest that I've seen all season! What a creative and talented lady you are! I love that you used the black and white harlequin...love your pretty clay pots and candles! Wow...I really do love the candles...so easy and yet sooo pretty! It really IS in the details...don't you agree? Love your book page wreath as well! Ohhh...it's gorgeous! I have been wanting to try my hand at making one! Well my friend, your halloween mantel is gorgeous...I adore it!!! Thank you for sharing it with us...as well as all the tutorials for those great projects!

I also wanted to thank you for stopping by and taking a peek at my autumn leaves vignette! I really enjoyed your visit and sweet note, my friend! Thank you!!!

Warmest autumn wishes,
Chari @Happy To Design

[Dreamgoddess]

Oh, I love the candles! I'd never heard of decoupaging candles before...that is so cool and is something I'm definitely going to try. I love how you have decorated your mantle.

[The Pleasures of Homemaking]

Your mantel is so darn cute!! I really love it! I love how low cost it is and yet looks like a million bucks - two things I always strive for. It is just gorgeous and those candles rock!

Manuela

[Ames]

You're an inspiration. I'd like to follow your blog. I don't see a follow button. I'll figure it out. ~Ames

[Kristen]

Your Halloween mantle is so cute! Your mirror is stunning....
Happy Halloween!
Kristen

[Cindy]

LOVE the mantle! Its absolutely wonderful! And thanks for the candle idea, I'm loving that too! :)

-c