Paper Goodies

B. Shackman has been making amazing paper creations since the 1890's and these fantastic paper designs have become the traditional "look" of most holidays. Keep these little paper ornaments in your mind while you decorate for this Halloween. They are wonderful pieces to buy, but also fairly easy to make yourself.

Give your Halloween party an old-fashioned hint with this take on the traditional children's game, Pin the Tail on the Donkey.
"Pin the Tail on the Cat!"

Find both of these designs and more at the B. Shackman wholesale site HERE

Dead leaves on your door

Believe it or not, wreaths are one of oldest adornments of man kind. Dating all the way back to Roman times, wreaths were initially inspired by the God, Apollo. The plants often used symbolized strength, health, and immortality. Evergreens were used for wreaths due to their ability to survive harsh winters and conifer trees, which symbolized remembering the dead, were employed for burial wreaths.

They became a common door decoration when they were appropriated into an advent wreath by Christianity. Wreaths may seem a little motherly, or homey but they are a great way to decorate. You can also get pretty creative with them.

Here are a few Autumn/Halloween themed wreaths I recently came across:

I love the wheat and golden leaves. Simple, chic, and obviously looks great in golden light.
This wreath may be a little springy, but I like the juxtaposition of golden flowers with the twigs.

Berries!! That are most likely poisonous.

This leaf wreath is a Martha Stewart design that you can pick up at Michael's. You don't even need the kit to make this wreath, just some paper, glue, and a wreath mold. If you want to give it a darker twist, try spray painting the leaves black and silver and then alternating them.

It's a little hard to see but there are two little ravens at the bottom of this wreath. Don't you love the twigs?!

Another dark twig/berry wreath.

This one belongs on a dreary looking victorian house.

I really wish there was a better photo of this one but, alas, their wasn't. A simple twist on the twig wreath with a few embellishments. Easy to make at home.
Another Martha Stewart wreath. Very easy to make. Again, try spray painting the materials different colors to give it a more macabre feeling.

This wreath reminds me of the eyeballs on the stone wall in The Labyrinth. Best part: The eyeballs glow.

Cardboard Safari designs some amazing stuff, including these skull wreaths. My fave is the white one. They also have standing skull sculptures.

Thrilling Trims: The Halloween Feast

Every beastly Halloween feast needs the proper accessories to complete the atmosphere. The hostess in me couldn't resist these decorative, vintage-inspired plates and napkins. With a wonderfully tasteful design, and the ease of being paper, these plates make the perfect Halloween party addition. Find them HERE along with other fun designs. They are available through Amazon as well, HERE