Happy Halloween!

Last Chance!

Last Chance for a great Halloween Giveaway...visit the SilverMoonWitch blog for the last day of her 31 Days of Halloween Giveaways. Today's number 2 is my favorite, from OctoberFarm blog.

Thrifty Thursday

A few more thrifty finds for the week....this worn and beat up tray with a Z monogram was found at a thrift store.
and this is the evil witch from Snow White. It is tiny, only about 2 inches high, it matches another larger one I already have. Found this at Goodwill for $0.49. Perfect to sit out for Halloween.

Linked up to Tales from Bloggeritaville's Thrifty Thursday.

Favorite Halloween Outdoor Decor Ideas

Looking through magazines and online, I've seen some really great Halloween outdoor decor ideas and inspiration. These are a few of my favorites.
Above image Martha Stewart.
Martha Stewart
Country Living
Country Living
Country Living
Better Homes and Gardens
Better Homes and Gardens
Maybe some ideas for next year??

Linked up to A Southern Daydreamer's Outdoor Wednesday.

Halloween Thrifting

As Halloween approaches, I certainly don't need more decorations, however there were a few items I could not pass by. Very unique, some possibly one of a kind. Above is a heavy iron black cat. I think it could be used as a door stop. It has scary yellow eyes. Found at a local occasional sale.
This appears to be a shelf, and made out of chalkware. It is quite heavy. It reminds me of the type of architecture seen in Paris.
The face is some type of devil/angel or green man. If anyone has an idea of what it might be, please let me know! Found at a thrift store.
Another possible architectural piece, this also is some type of green man. This is VERY heavy, stone or concrete. I think it is quite old, and is has been attached to a newer piece of wood.
Some sheet music. Cat theme again. It will sit will other sheet music.
Halloween themed, of course. All found over the years at thrift and antique stores.
And last, is this child's spoon with a witch in a basket and a spiderweb. I've never seen anything like it, and it doesn't have any identifying marks on it. But it's cute! Found at an antique store.

Linking up to Cottage Charm and Family Inspiration's Junkin' Monday!

Halloween Crafts

There have been so many cute Halloween decorations out there this year, I decided to try my own version.
I started with this mirror, picked up for next to nothing at a garage sale. I painted it black with a foam brush, so that some of the gold just barely showed through.

Using regular white glue, I then attached an old vintage Halloween postcard to the mirror. It shows 3 witches dancing around a cauldron. And that was it, new wall decoration.

For the next project, I wanted a coffee table type of book. I found this book of quotes (heavy on the Shakespeare) at a thrift store for $0.80.
I also found mini women's heads at the thrift store. I glued a head to the cover of the book, cut out a witch's hat from black foam core and glued that on as well. Painted the whole book cover black.
And then stenciled on the word Quote. A new Halloween coffee table book, for much cheaper than anything in the stores.

Linked up to Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch.

October Farm's Salem Giveaway

If you haven't been to OctoberFarm blog, you must go now! Not only is it a great blog, there are great giveaways too!
This one features super cool items from a trip to Salem. I hope I win!!
There is also a very cute dog often featured often on OctoberFarm, I love that.

Halloween Party FOOD!

Continued on from previous post, here is some of the food served at the Halloween party. Individual pot pies with hands reaching out of them!
The hands were puff pastry cut with a hand cookie cutter.
Salsa served with sour cream and olive eyeballs.
More eyeballs... mozzarella balls with sliced olives sitting in pesto, served on a vintage escargot pan.
Cheddar cheese cut into pumpkins with mini pumpkin cookie cutter.
Served with other scary cheeses on an owl cheese board.And of course Halloween cupcakes.

Here is the recipe used for the pot pies (you can skip the chicken and add extra veg to make vegetable pot pies):

• frozen pie crust or homemade
  
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 roasted chicken, shredded
• 1/4 cup chopped red sweet pepper
• 2 medium shallots, thinly sliced
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 cups milk
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1/3 cup dry white wine
• 1 1/2 cups peas, blanched
• 1 1/2 cups carrots, blanched
• 2 potatoes peeled, diced, and boiled
• 1 egg plus 1 tablespoon milk, for egg wash

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

Roll out pie crust and use ramekins as a template to cut 6 rounds.

In a large skillet melt butter over medium-high heat. Add chicken, sweet pepper, and shallots and cook 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Stir in flour, salt, and black pepper. Add milk and cream all at once. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly. Stir in wine, peas, carrots and potatoes; heat thoroughly. Transfer the hot chicken mixture to a 6 ramekins. Place pie crusts over the hot chicken mixture in dishes. Brush crust with egg wash then cut slits in the pastry to allow steam to escape. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 45 minutes.

*for the hand effect...fold one edge of crust back slightly and then added the cooked puff pastry hands when they are done baking.

Linked up to Designs By Gollum's Foodie Friday.

Halloween Party Table

Halloween Party Tablescape! Black cat placemats (some are spiderwebs).
Spiderweb napkins with bat, spider, skull and crow napkin rings. Scary!
Orange carnival glass plates.
And, as always, mismatched silverware. The one on the above right is Georgian 1912 pattern by Community. It looks like a spiderweb on the tip, I used all I had of these.
The bar area. Skeleton bottle opener.
Interesting wine.
Come back to see what frightening food was served!

Linked up to Between Naps on the Porch's Tablescape Thursday

One Tree Color and Halloween Decorations

It's been a strange fall. It was very warm, then very cold, lots of snow, then warm again. I think the poor trees are confused. Many have dropped their leaves without turning colors first. This is one of the only bright colored trees in my area.
Another owl to add to Halloween decorations.
A witch on a bench greets guest on the front porch.
And a haunted hotel sign hangs above her.
Halloween is just around the corner...

If you like Halloween, check out the blog OctoberFarm.blogspot.com. Halloween is her favorite holiday, and she has many clever Halloween inspired posts. OctoberFarm also is having a great Fall Giveaway....check it out!

Linked up to A Southern Daydreamer's Outdoor Wednesday.