All Hallow's Eve Table

When it comes to All Hallow's Eve, I lean towards spooky, not horror and I am a big fan of suspense.

Cute is not only discouraged, it is practically forbidden by my family of critics . . . 

SKULLS . . . Yes, Smiling Jack-o-Lanterns . . . not so much.  

The dripping candles were very inexpensive -- they are toilet paper rolls.  As as I see in the daylight, my impatience is showing as they all could of used another coat of spray paint (Oops!).

I followed these directions from Crafts Unleashed.  Super simple, all you need is a TP roll, scissors, hot glue and spray paint.  For the black candles, I covered the candle 'wick' with a piece of tape and I spray painted the battery operated light too.  I stuffed cotton balls inside the tubes to allow the little lights to be at the perfect height.  I even put a small bead of hot glue on the base of the black ones to adhere to the metal Lyric Candelabra -- knowing the hot glue will pop off of the metal when I want it to.

All the small crows are from Dollar Tree - bought just this past week. And the large crow I have had for years -- thinking I bought him from Grandinroad, but not completely sure.

Originally the center Tiered Stand was decorated for a Willow House WHINGO Party (Willow House Prized Bingo) . . . sorry for the shoddy picture, this was taken at the very end of the night . . . . zzzzzz.

I wanted to add to the centerpiece for an upcoming Halloween Party's buffet table.

The small cages are called Lollie Lanterns, and I spray-painted them as well

(pretty much nothing is safe with me) with a matte black.    I added an branch to mingle

with the stand to give it more of a tree-like appearance.

I love how the crows' and raven's eyes seem to follow you  . . . 

For the table covering, I picked up some cheese cloth at Target and 'grayified' it. 

I opened it up completely and then wadded it into a ball and put it in a bowl of water.  

I squirted out some gray craft paint into one hand and picked up the wet cheese cloth 

with the other, squeezed out some of the water and then wiped my gray painted hands all over it. 

I reopened up the cheese cloth, and hung it out to dry (which took no time at all).  

Cheaper than Halloween gauze.

I really like how the cheese cloth lays across the table like fog.

The smiling skeleton coming out of the coffin was purchased from Red Envelope years ago . . .

the candles always burn too quickly, so I will need to find small tapers with battery operated lights for it.

Thimble Domes hold another smiling skeleton buddy -- one that lost his head, on a bed of Spanish Moss.

Black Roses add an elegant touch in a 'Mercury Glass' Votive Holder

How do you decorate for Halloween?  Spooky, Cute or Horror?  I'd love to hear your tips!

As ALWAYS -- Thank You for Stopping By!

Tabletop Sources :::

•  White Tablecloth - cheap-y from efavormart.com

•  Raven flocked table runner - Pottery Barn several years back

•  Cheesecloth from Target 2 square yards $2.49 (in kitchen utensil area)

•  Lyric Candelabra from Willow House

•  Green Glittery Spider from Michael's

•  Willow Sprig Tiered Stand from Willow House

•  Manzanita Branch from Save-on-Crafts 

•  Lollie Lanterns from Willow House (spray painted black)

•  Spanish Moss from Hobby Lobby

•  Small Crows from Dollar Tree

•  Black Roses from Gumps

•  'Mercury Glass' Celestial Votives from Willow House

•  Small Skeleton Heads from Pier 1 Imports a few years back, Michaels had similar ones

•  Small Glass Amelia Thimble Domes from Willow House

•  Skeleton coming out of coffin from Red Envelope several years back

Linking Up With ::: 

•  The Lettered Cottage Fall Table Decorating Ideas

•  It's Overflowing with Creativity Party

•  One Creative Mommy's One Creative Weekend

•  Cedar Hill Ranch's Cowgirl Up Party

•  Coastal Charm's Nifty Thrifty Tuesday

•  Cozy Little House's Tweak It Tuesday

•  Salt Tree's Open Call Tuesday

•  Homemaker on a Dime's Creative Bloggers Party Hop

•  1929 Charmer's Sunday Best

•  One Good Thing by Jillee Share the Blog Love

•  I Gotta Create's Wildly Original Link Party

•  Mom on Creative Time-Out Link Party

•  Hookin' Up with the House of Hepworths

•  Tip Me Tuesday with the Tip Junkie

•  Bloom 

•  ADD Housewife Pin Party

•  Love Bakes Good Cakes Fall Link Party

•  The Style Sister's Centerpiece Wednesday

•  Savvy Southern Style's Wow Us Wednesdays

•  Between Naps on the Porch Tablescape Thursday

•  Fine Craft Guild Time to Party

•  DIY Project Parade at the DIY Showoff

•  Confetti Diaries' Wednesday Goody Bag

•  Pretty Life in the Suburbs Halloween Link Party

Christmas Cheer in July

Be merry all, be merry all,

With holly dress the festive hall;

Prepare the song, the feast, the ball,

To welcome merry Christmas.

~William Robert Spencer

rooms & walls were built inside a large showroom for our product showcase
-- the created 'rooms' didn't have ceilings, unless they were built for lighting purposes.
The Door Mat is from Target.

There is something about looking at Christmas pictures, ornaments in the store and football on the TV that causes the temperature to drop 15 degrees . . . or is that just me?   I ran to Hobby Lobby today to pick up some materials for our next Flower Power Happy Hour and made a point to avoid the Christmas section.  I can't bring myself to do it . . . it will be here soon enough.  

Willow Sprig Centerpiece hung as a lantern with our Simone Double Old-Fashioned as candle holders.

I can't resist sharing these (So Darn Creative) Pictures taken at the Willow House Annual Meeting (we affectionately call WHAM!) -- our creative team is the best!  They always surprise us with clever decorating ideas, and it is one of my favorite get-togethers of the year!

Turquoise door (Benjamin Moore - Baltimore Sky 760)

Our French Wire 3-Tier Stand created a Snowman Wreath - by separating the tiers.  

Boxwood garland was wired onto the tiers to form wreaths, 

and metal Bows, from our Berry & Bow Door Buckets (see mantel) adorn each one. 

These Holiday Door Buckets are adorable metal stockings -- so cute adorning a picket fence!

I'll limit this post to just a few Christmas highlights -- to bring all our temperatures down a few degrees (yes, even as we watch the Olympic Athletes sweat up a storm! 

Is the fake snow making you feel cooler?  I think it is time for a frozen margarita, or at least a snow-cone :) How about it I start reciting The Night Before Christmas . . . 'The stockings were hung . . . '

Shingle Paint Color - Benjamin Moore - Louisburg Green HC-113.

If I could have . . . I would of packed Mr.Snow in my suitcase!  Isn't he adorable?  

Mr. Snow (my affectionate name for him) is made from 3 sizes of glittery plastic ornaments glued
to 3 different sizes of Styrofoam balls.  His scarf if a satin ribbon with felt eyes and a paper cone nose.
He is resting nicely in our Odessa Planter.

Our Odessa Angel gracefully joins our Jackson Square Mirror (with boxwood star wreath),
Lady Jane Bottleneck Vase (large) and Wireweave Baskets with an assortment of turquoise ornaments.

Coronado Stone Planters are shown on the lower level with hydrangea blooms & berry picks.
Two Montcrest Adjustable Hurricanes adorned with ribbon stand at attention like nutcrackers.

Come into my Favorite Christmas Room!

Do you also LOVE all the color?

Red Rug:  Crate & Barrel.  Large Red Ornaments are from Hobby Lobby.
Slip covered Chair from IKEA and the trees are handmade - covered in fabric!

Very striking, yet easy to duplicate - right?  

Wall Color:  Benjamin Moore - Dune Grass 482
Mantel Painted: Benjamin Moore - Northern Cliffs 1536

Even with a 'fake fire' you'll want to show off your Cordova Firescreen :)

I adore the fabric covered trees -- I am already looking at our tree's many branches 

and thinking which one will make the best colorful tree for the game room . . . 

I suppose they could be wire & paper mache and not real branches underneath.

Mental Note:  Solid Bright Colored Wrapping Paper for Christmas this year!

The wall above the mantel is an instant attention grabber!

Three Portico Accent Plates with our Holiday Hanging Trio - each accented with red satin ribbon.

These bold pieces look striking together as a grouping!

11x14" frames filled with solid paper, looks like they added a little Rub'n Buff to the frame.

The Door Buckets are hanging from our Fireside Stocking Hangers, and our

Athena Crackle Vase is dressed up with Kermit Mums (thriller), 

Oversized Lollipops & Candy Canes (filler) and Green Berry Picks (spiller)

Remember the Berry & Bow Door Buckets that donated their metal bows to the front door's snowman?  Here they are . . . filled with tulips, carnations and kermit / button mums (so pretty!)  

I'm rethinking when I will actually 'hang' our Christmas Stockings now.  

I think I will hold them until Christmas Eve, and hang door buckets as a placeholder for them this year.

If Santa does make it down the faux chimney, he'll have some delicious sweet treats waiting for him.

The Wirework Treasure Box Ornament comes in an assortment of 3, with $2 from each set sold going towards CUT IT OUT, an organization dedicated to helping battered women escape abuse and rebuild a better life for themselves and their families.  We are PROUD to support CUT IT OUT!

Cordova Nesting Table topped with two of our Riverstone Platters and Harmony Tea Cups.

Off to the next 'room' -- a little Christmas breakfast nook!

Doesn't our Athena Crackle Vase make a perfect lamp base?  

See my facebook album for How To.

Teal Table from Nadeau Furniture.
Walls are painted:  Benjamin Moore - Smoke Embers 1466

Our Odessa Angel appears again - this time dressed up with a Pink Paper Cone for an 

added PoP of color, she is resting on our Jackson Square Pedestal next to our 

Belle Meade Entertaining Stand, Tuscan Accent Plates & Maribel Clock.  

The Zella Notice Boards are the perfect spot to display cards & holiday wishes.

I am in love with the Tinsel Tree (hobby lobby) tucked in our Lady Jane Vase, Small.

The tinsel tree is adorned with some of our large and small Prism Glass Ornaments.

Chevron Table Lines (Love these!) are from Smith Variety Store in Birmingham, AL
(wonder if they ship?)

Also shown on this colorful table ::: Adair Ruffled Glass Cake Stand, Simone Highballs, Amelia Thimble Domes, Piedmont Votive Caddy, Riverstone Tapas Platters, and Adelaide Flatware.

Lastly the dining chairs were adorned with our Avalon Accent Trees 

holding fresh flowers and silver tinsel for extra sparkle!

Silver Chairs are Custom Made -- cute, especially with the pink linen seat!!

I hope you enjoyed this Cheerful Christmas in July tour.

Is it making you rethink what color palette you use to decorate for Christmas?

It is, most definitely, for me!

I am Joining Cowgirl Up's Christmas In July

and Linking Up too!

Welcome Summer with a Seaside Garden Centerpiece {Tutorial}

Though inland far we be,

Our souls have sight of that immortal sea

Which brought us hither.

~William Wordsworth, Intimations of Immortality

Side Note ::: My father enjoyed reading Wordsworth's poetry.  I now have what I always thought was 'his copy' of Wordsworth Complete Poems :/ turns out he was borrowing the book while he was dating my mom, because it has 'property of _________ University' stamped on the inside.  I guess he was trying to impress mom with 'his' poetry!    

Let's gather in the garden and imagine the salty air and ocean breeze, with the sound of seagulls in the distance.  Tonight I will share with you an easy to recreate Seaside Garden Centerpiece.  Soon I will share the table we will be dining at.

I envision our dinner on the patio of a garden home set in The Hamptons.  Table is a large, rustic farmhouse table, with benches and cozy chairs (to linger in as the sun disappears) . . . I don't ask for much do I? 

I am using my imaginaaaaaaation of what the setting for our dinner will be like.

Won't you join me?  You'll also have to use your . . . Imaginaaaaaaation (a la Spongebob Squarepants Idiot Box Episode -- most moms & grandmas know this episode).

Source

I typically imagine the centerpiece for a table before I even plan what I'm going to cook (yes, I am the sister who likes to set a cute table).  

After all, the centerpiece is the crown of your table.  

And this table's CROWN will be a repurposed iron planter.

So let's gather our materials to make our latest crown . . . 

1.  Variety Pack of Moss ($5.99 at Hobby Lobby, use 40% coupon)
2.  [Coronado] Stone Planter and plants (keep reading for choosing plants)
3.  Assortment of shells in a variety of colors (if possible, otherwise -- use what you have)
About 1 1/2 to 2 cups of sand.
4.  Candles a must on ever table I set -- because everyone looks better by candlelight.
Please please use unscented when choosing candles for a table.
5.  Small ornaments (I keep some non-Christmas-y ornaments unpacked to use throughout the year)
6.  [Stiletto] Glass Pedestals -- to raise the candles up & away from the plant & moss.
and the most important piece to pull it all together . . .
an iron garden [Charles Street] Planter

Now, before I potted my plants, I wanted to make sure the stone planter I envisioned fit inside the iron planter . . . and it did, perfectly.

I imagined airy or wispy plants, or even tropical plants, will be appropriate to mix and mingle with shells.  

I approach my container gardens just as I do my door buckets -- I'm looking for a little Spiller (to tumble out the sides), the height of Thriller (to catch the wind and gather attention), and a bit of Filler (to fill in the gaps in between).  

1.  Filler = Palace Purple Coral Bells (love the hint of purple with the green & gray)
2.  Thriller = Autumn Fern
3.  Spiller = Goldilocks Creeping Jenny

Before you add your soil.  Line the stone planter with a coffee filter to stop soil from falling through the drainage hole.

Source ::: This Old House

It works like a dream!

Next, come the seaside details . . . play around with it until your happy.  I don't want our guests to look up from their takeout dinner amazing meal and see dirt . . . so I am adding some sea shells.

A large starfish, assorted shells and PB Mini Glass Buoys

Next we get mossy -- softening the hard surfaces of the stone, metal and glass.

First place your glass pedestals.  You want them to be on a solid surface.  

Second, rip open your variety bag of moss, and simply start placing it on top of the metal and the base of the glass.  I used about 1/2 of the bag and I probably used too much.  The purpose of the moss is not to cover the base, just soften it.

Almost done . . . 

Grab a couple of cups of sand -- and add a little to each of the two Glass Pedestals . . . 

. . .  add your candles (the pillar candle is from Michael's and it came with the twine 'bow'.), add a few small shells, starfish or ornaments if you have them handy.   Add larger, more ornate shells to the base.

Ta Da!  A new CROWN for  your table! 

I move the 'crown' to the server, while I set the table :)

The lighting is better here on this overcast day . . . so I think you can see the detail a bit better.

Of course . . . we all look better by candlelight . . . and I must admit . . . I love the textures of the moss and the sand paired with the metal and the glass.

I hope this tutorial inspires or encourages you to seek out an unusual centerpiece CROWN for your table as we welcome summer.

A few additional notes about the items used . . . 

The Charles Street Planter can serve many purposes.  I use one to house my kitchen canisters during many months of the year . . . 

Charles Street Planter with Belle Meade Canisters

. . . the Charles Street Planter also flips over to be used as a riser for a buffet during entertaining . . . 

Charles Street Planter, Riverstone Tapas Server, Tuscan Goblets & Gramercy Beverage Server.

. . . just pop out the removable tray and place on top of the flipped planter.  Of course you can dress-up and personalize the removable tray with a piece of linen or fun party napkins . . . and many other uses (besides being your table's CROWN or your patio's planter).

The Gramercy Beverage Server is also versatile.  This ceramic server can be used for both hot or cold beverages and comes with a cast iron stand as I used here . . . 

From Four Sisters Brunch with a Pig

. . . When not used for entertaining, it becomes an adorable cookie jar . . . 

. . . just by turning it around.  You can even write on it with a Sharpie or dry erase marker.  I prefer to use a sharpie -- and all you need is a squirt of Windex to remove it!

And these beautiful pieces are both on sale this month, along with many many many others.  Including the Stiletto Glass Pedestals I used within the Iron Planter.  

So to avoid being selfish, I wanted to be sure to share these deals and amazing sale with you!  If an item sells out, that you had your heart set on, please contact me -- I might just be able to track it down for you!

A HUGE Thank You for Stopping In and following along -- or skipping to the end (I understand you're busy ;).  Hope you have a wonderful day -- and don't forget to stop back in to see how the Seaside Garden Table turns out!

  

Linking Up With :::

•  Style Sisters Centerpiece Wednesday

•  Uncommon Designs Uncommonly Yours

•  Homemaker on a Dime Market your Biz

•  Mom on Timeout's Taking Timeout Thursday

•  Lil' Luna Link Party

•  Funky Junk Interiors Saturday Night Special

•  Between Naps on the Porch's Tablescape Thursday

•  Happy Hour Friday at Happy Hour Projects

•  Romantic Home Show & Tell Friday

•  Six Sisters Strut Your Stuff Saturday

•  At the Picket Fence's Inspiration Friday

•  I Gotta Create's Wildly Original Roundup

•  Sundae Scoop at I Heart Naptime

•  Dare to Share at Pam's Party Planning

•  A Vision to Remember Check me Out Saturday

•  Be Different Act Normal's Show and Tell Saturday

•  Summer Fun Party at Alderberry Hill

•  Rustic Crafts Link Party

•  Tatortots & Jello Weekend Wrap Party

•  Polka Dot Pretties Craft Create & Inspire

•  Restyled Sundays at Stylish Once Again

•  Positively Splendid Saturday Seven Party

•  Nifty Thrifty Sunday at Nifty Thrifty Things

•  Cherished Treasures Sunday Blog Love

•  Get Schooled Saturday at Too Much Time on My Hands

•  Serenity You's Serenity Saturday

•  Tickled Pink at 504Main

•  Sunday's Best at My 1929 Charmer

•  Homemaker on a Dime Creative Party Hop

•  Alderberry Hill's Make the Scene Monday

•  Sweet Anne Designs Sweet Sharing Monday

•  Debbie Doo's Newbie Party

•  Southern Lovely Show & Share

•  Inspired by Charm Random Link Up Party :)