Friday, October 30, 2009

Making My Home Spooktacular for Halloween

Although it's not a huge holiday for us, I always try to find the time to prepare for Halloween. It goes by so quickly, but I still get pleasure in finding fun, creepy projects in which to decorate the house. Jason couldn't really be fussed with Halloween unless we are going to a party, but this year, we have decided to stay home and pass out treats to the neighborhood children who will come knocking on our doors tomorrow night.

Last year, I purchased fake spider webs and hung large, furry spiders across the front porch entrance. This year, however, I wanted to kick it up a notch.

After having seen this idea on Martha Stewart's website, I decided to try it for myself (but with some minor changes).

To complete this project you will need:
  • colored cellophane wrapping paper (preferably red or green)
  • black craft paper on a roll
  • scissors
  • tape
  • marker
  • creepy imagination

How to Make Your House Spooktacular


To begin, cut and tape a sheet of the colored cellophane wrapping paper to the inside pane of your home's window.

Next, cut a sheet of the black craft paper and use a marker to draw your choice of silhouette. Make sure that the paper is curling toward the floor. For my design, I drew a witch stirring a nasty brew in her cauldron as a feisty bat flies over her head.


Witch with Bat Pattern

They are up to no good.

Once you have your silhouette mapped out, cut it out carefully with scissors. If you want to spell something out, I advise writing it backwards. After your pieces are cut out, adhere tape to the side of the cut out that curls toward the floor. When you position the pieces on your cellophane window treatment, the curl in the paper will keep it flat against the window. (Otherwise, you risk having your design curling up.)


Sneaky Bat

He's a bit batty.


Almost Finished

Stirring up some trouble.

Make sure you have a bright light on in the room. This will help to sharply define your Halloween-inspired silhouette.


The Finished Product

BOO! indeed.

Once all of your windows are completed, the final effect is having an eerie glow coming from your home with creepy suggestions of terror and mayhem. Happy Halloween!

Our Spooktacular Home

"Where there is no imagination, there is no horror."
- Arthur Conan Doyle, Sr.

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Words to Live By: Week 20

My friend Jeanine has cancer, but cancer does not have Jeanine.

Sometimes no matter how positive we try to remain, bad things can still happen to us. This week, Jeanine discovered that she was robbed while away for a restful weekend with her family. The cretins trashed her home and took her jewelry, her husband's golf clubs, and an important safe containing passports, social security numbers, birth certificates, and other hard-to-replace documents. Talk about getting kicked while you're down. I know she is probably ready to dub 2009 the crappiest year of her life... But I know she'll get through this. And for the perpetrators - karma is a b#tch.

Week 20

Week 20

Saturday, October 24, 2009

Words to Live By: Weeks 18 & 19

My friend Jeanine has cancer, but cancer does not have Jeanine.

I have been feeling crummy lately. I am pretty positive that I have the flu (body aches, fever, coughing, congestion...), but I can gladly report that my symptoms are packing up and making their way out the door. It has been the lingering symptoms, however, that have been keeping me from working diligently on new paintings for Jeanine, but here they are. Enjoy!

Week 18

Week 18

Week 19

Week 19

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Words to Live By: Week 17

My friend Jeanine has cancer, but cancer does not have Jeanine.

She could always see the beauty in the world... Now she has uber super powers.

Week 17

Week 17

Friday, October 9, 2009

Words to Live By: Week 16

My friend Jeanine has cancer, but cancer does not have Jeanine.

On October 3rd, Jeanine, along with her Team Jeanine members, walked three miles on a beautiful October day for the Making Strides for Breast Cancer walk in Raleigh. Our team raised over $10,000 for the American Cancer Society, and Raleigh raised over $300,000 overall. What an amazing day it was!

Week 16

Week 16

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