Last Halloween Post!

Last minute ideas for your HALLOWEEN festivities! I only have 1 one more day to decide what I am going to make for our work party! So many choices! Hopefully the following things will inspire you!

These adorable bat napkin rings are so easy to make, they would be the icing on any Halloween tablescape! Directions (and photo) on www.Eddieross.com

How super simple, yet fantastic are these table cards?  Black paper, silver marker and cheap, plastic spiders covered in glitter! Source: Hostessblog.com

For a stylish tablescape, try spray painting cheap plastic spiders with metalic paint you can find at your local hardware store.  Source:  Hostessblog.com

Very adorable "pumpkin" drink - orange drink topped with a slice of orange, a dyed almond slice and green rimming sugar.  Source: dawnypoo.blogspot.com

More Halloween!

Back to HALLOWEEN! Below are some more ideas I have run across and excited to use for this year for that extra "icing" on our Halloween celebration.  Also, visit your local Michael's Craft Stores, good 'ol Martha has a fantastic line of stuff out this year and it's all currently on sale!

ADORABLE! The octopus is a little weird, but I am in love with the ghost and Frankenstein! Recipe/Photo by BettyCrocker.

Do it yourself spiderweb glitter placemats! Just cut out of paper like a snowflake and add glitter, ta da!  Easy step-by-step instructions are located on the source's website:  Link

While you still have the glitter out.... these fantastic treat bags would be the icing to any party favor!  From Martha Stewart

Autumn Centerpieces

I am not much on decorating for holidays, but just a few touches around put a little fall "icing" on the house for the season. Here are some great AUTUMN CENTERPIECES that would look great throughout the fall without going overboard with bats and pilgrims hanging on the walls ;o)

A beautiful white pumpkin stuffed full of flowers in shades of fall would look lovely on the table, but also on an entry table, fireplace or even on a bookshelf - you could do smaller pumpkins to get a less expensive option or treat yourself! Source:  Martha Stewart (of course!)

This is an arrangement I did myself many Thanksgivings ago to give as a hostess gift.  I started with a wire pumpkin frame that many use for a candle, put in some floral foam and started filling up! The hostess could then use the pumpkin frame after the arrangement had died off.

This one from Country Living will last all through the fall with minimal cost (maybe replace the apples every few weeks)... so simple, but a HUGE impact!

Autumn Party

The perfect thing to go with the trees turning beautiful shades of red, orange and yellow is an AUTUMN PARTY!  The following ideas would be the perfect "icing" to dinner party on a brisk night with hot cider and good friends...

These placecards are fantastic - I love the fall tones of gold and rust.  If you have horrible handwriting like I do, consider printing out the names out on the printer.  A craft punch can save you the painstaking time of cutting out leaf shapes.  You could modify this with any shape to suit any event.  These are from Martha Stewart (link)

This is an adorable and almost FREE! fall place card holder.   From Martha Stewart (source), these would be great in any tablescape... and best thing is it doesn't take any crafting skills or tools to complete!

I had this clipping of these fantastic pears from so long ago I don't know the source :o(  I am trying to figure out what was used to make these because how beautiful these would be on a table!

Pumpkin pops are adorable and a great way to keep portion sizes under control during the holiday season approaching! These are from Beau-Coup but with a little imagination, these would be easy to make.  Either use brownie pop molds or just use a round piece of cake you cut, dip in chocolate and do some finishing touches.

Package Presentation...

I feel the best way to put the "icing" on a present is PACKAGE PRESENTATION.  It allows you to take something relatively inexpensive to make and make it look high-end gourmet. Below are a few ideas I have come across...

Good 'ol Martha! This fantastic gift is simply cookies and tea bags, how easy, but it looks like you purchased from a gourmet shop! Find instructions here 

These are perfect for all the slices of pumpkin, pecan and sweet potato pie that will be dished out! How amazing would this be to hand out at work at the holidays? So much nice then a slice of pie on a paper plate, right?!?  Again, Martha Stewart! Directions here 

  This is one of the simplest ideas - just make an envelope out of any type of parchment or light paper and slide a special cookie inside... one cookie becomes a thoughtful treat!  (source)

These cupcake holders are perfect for Halloween or any event - they can be bought at Etsy but just using a double-sided scrapbook paper you could whip up endless possibilities! 

More Halloween!

Ok, I am becoming borderline obsessed with all the things I want to bake for HALLOWEEN.  I hope you can find one or two things to put the "icing" on your work or family celebration!

OMG, I am dying with how cute (hello!?!? and easy!) this cupcake is! (source)

This one looks super fun too, but I think I would do a witch instead of the ghost (source)

Mummy cookies! (source)

More pop options, these are so big right now! Super simple and great to make with the kids! (source)  These are pumpkin spice, but you could really do any cake or brownie pops.

Chalkboard Fun!

CHALKBOARD PAINT can be easily bought at a craft or home improvement store and can really help put that special fun "icing" on your home decor or event... (don't forget to look under the first wine post for another chalkboard paint idea!)

Chalkboard paint covered coasters! From Beau-Coup (source) or you can just buy some inexpensive ones and paint them yourself.  How great for a lady's happy hour on the deck or even just your daily dinner with the family!

This idea is just to use black paper with chalk to create a fun table cloth.  If you aren't a very good drawer (I am horrid!) then try tracing cookie cutters or any shape as a template to make this idea even more fun! Source: Divine Party Ideas

This adorable name "card" would be a great gift for your guests to take with them! Terracotta mini pots are so inexpensive - this would be such a cheap, but fantastic addition to your tablescape. (an old clipping, not sure the source)

Fun chalkboard paint covered candles - I am not sure I would do the time on them, but using inspirational or theme related words would be very cute and again, VERY inexpensive! If you want to cheat, go to the source of the pic, though they are $20! Source

If you really want to add some unique "icing" to a home office or family resource wall... how fun is this!?!?  It would take some patience to tape off all the squares and mix up a few different shades of chalkboard paint, but the look is FANTASTIC! Sure beats a free sales calendar thumbtacked to the wall!