After much pleading from my two assistants, Boswell and Archie,
I agreed to post their 'ScalaWAG' pirate costumes and the card that
they sent to their vet.

Today's post features clever and inexpensive Halloween decorating ideas.

I hope you find these worth remembering for next year:

A spray painted large pumpkin for the carriage and four

little squash pumpkins for the wheels - Cinderella would

be proud to ride in such a noble vehicle.

What a darling wreath of Kleenix ghosts!

Repurpose thrift store hard backs into ghostly reading.

Toothpicks make perfect scary teeth.

Spoiled Sponge Cake

This charming idea has 'floated' around the internet for several years.

Hang vintage dresses with flashlights inside them to illuminate the

dressy ghosts.  They can be hung on a tree or from the porch.

These 'mummy globes' started out as inflated balloons

wrapped with papier-mache cloth bandages.  After hardening,

pop the balloons and insert votive candles.

Better Homes and Gardens

Spray thrift store goblets with black paint

then fill with sand to anchor yellow votives.

Speaking of votives:

The Idea Room

What could be simpler than pumpkins and a Sharpy?!  This

idea also saves your pumpkins for Thanksgiving pies.

Here are two more pumpkin-saving ideas:

Martha Stewart

Here's another creepy idea from Martha Stewart:

Dribble melted red candle wax onto white candles.

How About Orange

I love the Dollar Tree store!  For $2 you can

turn plastic spider rings into buggy ice cubes.

Save decorative bottles throughout the year,

fill with colored Kool-Aid then cork and label.

I hope you and your little goblins have a Spooktacular Halloween!

We all know that the #1 Rule of thrifty decorating is to use what

you already have.  And if you have lots of different types of art

then you're in luck 'cause one of the latest decorating trends is

Layered Art

The Decorista

Source

Source

Carla Aston

South Gate

The Decorista

Simple Every Day Glamour

The Decorista

A mix of framed prints, photos, and hand

painted art make a charming combination.

Hiking In Stilettos

Hello, Metro

Lonny

ELLE DECOR

Source

Desire to Inspire

ELLE DECOR

Everything LEB

Comfort and Luxury

Apartment Therapy

The Pursuit Aesthetic

Dream Green

Coop


So dig through your stored items and pull out those works
of art that you haven't used in a while.  You might be
surprised at the appealing eclectic look they create.

no.  No.  NO!

Here's the 'logic' behind these free-standing sofa arms:  people

like to sit on sofa arms when they're attached to an actual sofa so

they'll like to sit on sofa arms that aren't attached to a sofa.  No.

Emilie Voirin

New York artist Do-Ho Suh created lightweight sculptures of the appliances
found in his Manhattan apartment.  Full-sized replicas of his bathtub, toilet,
medicine cabinet, radiator, refrigerator, and kitchen stove, also known as
Suh's Specimen Series, will be exhibited at the Lehmann Maupin exhibitions
in Hong Kong from November , 2013, to January 25, 2014.

Ur Design

For those on your Christmas list who seem to have everything

I present to you the suggestion of a Neiman Marcus Falconry Kit:

Neiman Marcus

Priced at $150,000 the package includes two Chatwin chairs with
canvas tote bags, a folding table, a leather perch scale, a decanter
and cigar carrying case (ask yourself, "Should I really be drinking
while working with wild animals with talons?"); a Backgammon
board, leather hoods for the birds and arm 'savers' for you, and a
dose of antibiotics.  Okay, I made up that last one.  (Model and
falcons not included.)

 

Neiman Marcus


Vogelhuiseje's handmade birdhouse is being marketed as "a palace
for birds and a jewel in the garden".  I call it a milk carton turned
inside out with a twisted stick in it:

Six Life Style

The packaging is kind of cool, though.

Want to be part of a growing trend by entrepreneurs
seeking backers for their products?

Kickstarter - Beau

Check out this Kickstarter offering - a hand cast and polished concrete
bat 'sculpture' to hang on your wall.  Or conceal under your coat
when you walk through dark alleys at night.  Or not.

Tuesday's Miss Money Pitt Update
Big interior doings on Lytle Street today - the original hardwood floors
are being sanded in preparation for the stain and sealer.  

Light fixtures were installed in the small bathroom yesterday and the new
vanity and counter top will be installed later this week.  I'm starting to
tingle as we see a move-in date at the end of the tunnel!