New H'ween Decor
Lucky for me, I don’t really need a single thing for my upcoming Halloween party… Unlucky for me, I can’t stop wanting to add to my large collection of decor, props, ambiance, etc. At this point, however, most of the items available at normal retailers don’t interest me. Sure, there are a plethora of cute things to be found, but I’m not after cute. My decor tends to lean more toward an authentic creepy vibe. Also, I am definitely not a fan of the gory animatronic atrocities at the Halloween superstores: i.e. crawling, moaning legless torso.
The goal this year is to spend as little as possible on new props. I haven’t set a monetary cap or anything, but I’m also not going out of my way to look for new things. I have, however, found a few things that I couldn’t bear to pass up.
First up are a pair of ornate plaster sconces. I got them at the Goodwill for 3 bucks apiece. They were originally a pukey green, but applying a coat of black paint and then dry-brushing with gray makes them look extra spooky. Next is an apothecary jar that was also purchased at the Goodwill for 3 bucks. I just love the idea of filling the jars with icky liquid, but new glass jars are too damned expensive!! The last item from the picture is a painted wooden skull from Pier 1. My mother-in-law mentioned that they had a nice Halloween display, and I was skeptical at first. Their Halloween stuff has been non-existant over the years. I popped in on a whim this afternoon, and saw this guy sitting on the front table display. From the looks of it, he was the only one in the store. A picture message, a quick call to Mike to confirm the purchase, and moments later he was ours. Score!
I have a couple of items on my wish-list this year (not counting the handful of small house-projects I want done before the party). Namely, a bottle of Crystal Head Vodka. Yeah, I know it’s $50+ bucks a bottle, but it’s not just an expensive alcohol: it’s booze AND a cool prop! In my mind, that equals pure perfection… Now that I think of it, other people may have the same idea and buy it up before the holiday. Mental note: must put that on my list of to-dos this week so that I don’t miss out this year!
WHAT a haul! That jar shines with possibility!