Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious

I've been planning our Halloween costumes this year.  We always try to have a matching theme as a family.  We've done Alice in Wonderland, Nightmare Before Christmas, The Snow Carny, The 50's and I'm sure there are more (my brain is shot, I've had 2 kids and a husband with strep throat, and I can feel myself getting sick as I type.  

Who knew fingers could weigh 5 pounds each).  

It's funny how much my kids love dressing up as a family.  I know the year will come when one of them will finally protest.  But a couple weeks back my girls both came to me asking what "WE" were going to be for halloween this year.  

I love it.

So if you're looking for a costume idea here is what we did last year…

K… I'm going to admit something.  Most young girls have crushes on the Justin Beiber's of their day.  I had a crush on… I'm almost embarrassed to admit this, but it's the truth. 

Dick Van Dyke. 

Yep.

No lie.  

My dad owned a video store, one of the first in our town.  Back then you had to rent the movie and then the 50 pound VCR just so you could watch the video.  

It was called Video Express.

I still remember adding the "be kind rewind" stickers onto the tapes, (most of the stickers made it onto my clothing and face rather than the videos) and helping myself to the candy and soda pop in the store.   I also remember thinking the teenage employees were soooo cool.  There was particular girl with long gorgeous blond hair who would wear it in a side pony tail that twisted.  

I felt "like, oh my gosh, so totally rad" when my mom would do my hair like hers.

(I still remember when she came to our house and taught my mom how to do this hairstyle on me.  I felt so special).

One of the first "kid" videos he purchased was 

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.  

We would watch it over and over.  Perhaps that's where it all started.  But man, I thought (and still think) Mr. Van Dyke was darling.  Now the funny thing is… I kind of married him.  

People who know J will laugh in agreement.  

J walking around dressed as Bert, interpreting his gait and attempting that cockney english accent was perfection. 

He honestly could have gotten a job at disneyland.  

Then we have…

A bit of a stretch, but it works.

I found this pattern for the wings 

At llevoelinvierno.blogspot.com

The skirts & masks I just made up on my own. And then there is me as...

 I had the coat.  The hat is a bowler hat (from a costume store).  I beat it up, added a few staples here and there and then glued on the flowers and cherries.  The umbrella was the only big halloween costume purchase of the lot.  I got it at the Disney store.

Now if only I could snap my fingers to clean the house.  (Although I don't know if I could manage to snap… remember, they feel like they weigh 5 pounds each).

Halloween… such a jolly holiday! 

Mr. Copperpot

There is a chill in the air! 

I have to slip on socks first thing out of bed to warm my froze toes.   We open our windows on friday nights to listen to the high school kids cheering at the football games.  (We know if they are winning or not just by how loud they get).  The kids are back in school, wearing sweaters and jackets that are clearly not needed yet… but they like to layer as much as their mommy does. Night is creeping up earlier and earlier.  And I get all giddy.  

Fall is here!

I debate it every year… how early is too early to set up halloween?  I seriously can't help myself.  

This post is a halloween decoration I've had for a couple years now.  Don't worry, these photo's are from last year…. I have not set him up yet.  

Soon though… very soon.

In the two times I've been to Disneyland in the last decade I've made sure that we go when the Nightmare Before Christmas is set up at The Haunted Mansion.  If you know me, you know I'm a fan of Mr. Burton and his crazy dark artsy-ness.  I wish I could just magically decorate my house like the mansion for halloween.  Alas I have not the funds or enough waking hours to attempt it. :)

On the outside of the mansion it's decorated with all of these fabulous cartoony skulls.  They are both a tad creepy and a bit comical & dopy at the same time.  I know, it sounds weird, but it works.

I wanted to add my own.  Instead of making several small skulls (as they have on the Haunted Mansion) I made one very large skull.  

Here is Momo next to him.  He's not small, he measures about 4.5 x 3 feet. My husband often states that my motto is "Go big or go home".  As much as I'd like to say it's not true, 

I think he might be very very correct. 

I painted him on masonite.  My neighbor who is always coming to my… "help me I need to build something" rescue cut him out with his jigsaw.  

(For the love, I need to finally just purchase a jigsaw). 

After the skull was painted and dry I added a coat of matte varnish (just from a spray can).  I think this will be the third year (maybe forth) we've put him up.  

He has made it through wind, rain & snow.  

He still looks good as new.

I love putting him up every year.  He makes me smile every time I pull into the driveway.

Perhaps I should name him.  

Any thoughts on a good name????

Maybe I'll call him Chester Copperpot.

K, before the skull was drawn and painted onto the masonite, I first sketched him out on paper.  Here is the drawing… you're welcome to use it if you'd like.  If you have a projector you could shine him up on your own board and make your own. :)  I can't give painting lessons though… that would be a bit too intense of a tutorial. 

Again… it's just the rough sketch, not a masterpiece or anything.  Be forgiving, at least I cut off the grocery list I had written on the bottom of the paper. 

Although, I believe it still carries the creases from where I sat on this grocery list because I left it on the front seat of the car.  Ooops.

And yes… I'm listening to my Halloween soundtrack while I write this post.  

Here is what's on  my soundtrack (incase your looking for some music to add to your own)…

✭Corpse Bride Soundtrack✭

✭Coraline Soundtrack✭

(End Credits & The Supper)

✭Nightmare Before Christmas Soundtrack✭

✭A few Harry Potter Favorites✭

 Dementors in the Underpass (Order of the Phoenix), Double Trouble (Azkaban), 

Story Continues (Goblet of Fire) & Finale (Azkaban)

✭Beetlejuice Soundtrack✭ 

(a few select songs)

✭Edward Scissorhands✭

(Ice Dance, The Cookie Factory & The End)

✭Tales from the Crypt✭ 

Danny Elfman is 90% of my soundtrack.  

Sure beats listening to The Monster Mash… (although it was a graveyard smash).  

Just thinking about that song gives me a headache.  

Happy Fall All!

Polyjuice Potion

I've mentioned before I'm kind of a nerd.

I think this post may provide proof of my nerdiness. 

I love the Harry Potter books.   

No seriously… LOVE them.  

Don't you worry, I've got my tickets for this weekend!  I can't wait. 

So it turns out it's also genetic, because my siblings are huge fans themselves.  

I'm sure we could argue for days about who is the bigger fan, who actually loves the books more and ultimately no one would be crowned king or queen of Harry Potter nerdiness because we are all extremely stubborn so no one would surrender the glory of that title.  

And that was a huge run on sentence.  

Anyway…

So back in November we got together for a party.  It was in celebration of the upcoming Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows part 1.  (Although the movies in no way replace the book, how could they?  We do enjoy the movies).  Naturally I saw it as another chance to decorate something, and I set up a potions table. 

Complete with a potions book!

These photo's don't include the food.  Everyone brought potluck Harry Potter style (treacle tarts, pumpkin pasties etc…)  And we set it up around the decor.  I was busy stuffing my face and attempting to destroy my siblings in a game of "Harry Potter Scene It."  I couldn't be bothered with photos;).

Now I hope you are all forgiving.   Sometimes I spend so much time making sure something visually looks right that I totally mess up.  For example… I SPELLED INGREDIENTS WRONG.  Honestly!    Even better... it's large text and very noticeable.  Unfortunately I'm not a witch, so I can't just wave my wand and say Reparo.  So "ingredents" will stay.  Oh well.
(Shhhh... don't tell, but I goofed somewhere else too. I don't know where my brain was at when I was making it). 

I did some research for this one.  Piecing together what I could from both the book and the movie to get the polyjuice potion as correct as possible.  With the exception of the word ingredients… gggrrrrrrrr… I think I'm pretty spot on.  I purchased a medical book from the thrift store.  After roughing it up (getting it wet, taking sand paper to the edges and just beating the snot out of it), I ran black and brown ink pads over the edges.  Then I added a little yellow and brown paint to a cup of water and painted with it all over the edges.  I created and printed out the polyjuice potion recipe and glued it into the book.  For the final touch I splashed a bit of that yellow/brown water onto it as well.  I wanted it to look like a little of the potion from the caldron had splattered on it.   I didn't forget the outside either.  I painted it and titled it Most Potente Potions.  

It will make a fun addition to my halloween decor.

I labeled a bunch of thrift store find bottles with Harry Potter potions and ingredients.  I also grabbed a couple of extra old looking books at the thrift store and gave them titles of books from Harry Potter.  Then I added a bunch of my halloween stuff and there you have it!

I think the half blood prince would be proud! 

Just incase you're wanting to create your own... here are the fonts I used.

VTKS Black Label (normal)

Ligeia

Cardinal

A Retro Halloween

Ride

Sock Hop Sweetie

Scooter

Car hop Dolly

J & Momo

Rusty circa 1962 & Elvis

Me

Rosie the Riveter

The Retro Family

Hail to the king, baby.

THIS IS HALLOWEEN

The magic begins when my little girls squeal with delight as decorations are pulled from their resting place. They breathe new life, new energy into our home. Some of my most precious memories are when my house is filled with holiday trinkets, lights and ribbons. JOY!

I have a few theories about holiday decorating.

1. Take what you’ve already got and add seasonal ribbon. I also will use scraps of fabric as ribbon or to put under stuff. Wrap candles, candlesticks, frames, lamps etc… Also the fabric comes in handy for making things taller. For example…I’ll use a can of beans

(if you’re not a bean fan, corn will work just as well ;)

under the fabric to set a vase higher.

2. Make it yourself. So much more fulfilling.

Even the stuff I’ve bought I alter to my liking.

Adding as much personal touch as possible.

3. Rummage through your house to see what you’ve got. Pull things from other rooms, go through old boxes and storage rooms. Some of my favorite decorating inspiration comes this way.

4. Never underestimate the power of images printed out on paper with

a little glitter, embellishments and ribbon added.

5. Purchase goodies that can be used for more than one holiday. Lime green glitter candles for Halloween & Christmas, fake pumpkins with fun Halloween things painted or drawn on one side that you simply turn around for thanksgiving. Red accents from Christmas that can be used for valentines… you get the picture.

6. Speaking of picture… take them. Photo your decorations up. It will help you reset it the following year. And even if you don’t set it up the same way it gives you a great starting point.

Plus it never fails every year when I pull my stuff out that I’ll come across something and think…

"What the….” Then I’ll look through my photo’s and think…"Oh.”

All that being said, I in now way claim to be a pro. I also am not claiming that everything I have is an original Anj idea. I love to do creative things. I love to see what other people create. I think creative people feed off of each other. And this is why I’m posting photos of my home at Halloween. Enjoy.

JACK & SALLY

This years major undertaking. I'm so pleased with the outcome.

Each is 2'x4' Oil on hardboard.
To give credit where it's due:
I didn't create the Sally image.  I found one I fell madly in love with.
The original is actually a marker sketch and only about 5 inches tall.
The artist who created the original gave me permission to display my rendition on this blog.
(Seriously, what a stud.  Most artist aren't that kind).
His name is Charles Holbert Jr.
You can find him on deviantART under the name KidNotorious.  

The Entertainment Center

On the corners are 2 skulls. I made them last year out of paper mache.

Flour, water, a phone book and balloons.

I think the whole thing cost me a buck. I had to buy a pack of balloons from the dollar store. The printed labels on the jars of goodies you can find at houseof3.com.

My neighbor uses the same candy corn every year.

She puts it in a zip lock and freezes it.

Brilliant, I say! I'm going to give it a whirl this year.

The green liquid in the lemonade glass bottle is made from a highlighter. It glows in the dark with a black light.

Super cool. I filled photo frames of Halloween pictures of years past. Added ribbons and fabric to the top.

Little Ditties

These are projects from this year.

Mr. Skeleton Man is a wire form from stampington.

He's only like 12 bucks.

Spray him orange, add some glitter... and ta-da!

Well I had to make the little Seasons Screamings sign.

Then we have my spooky banner.

There is a lady on etsy.

Her site name is sugar sugar, or something like that.

She makes these unreal banners. I basically copied her.

A little paper, ribbon, glitter, streamers,

and embellishments and your good to go.

Fireplace & Mantel

Oh dear, where to begin. How about the top. I made a sign

(out of some strange foam meets wood composite, dirt cheap too)

that hangs from the ceiling that reads "This is...".

Then with smaller pieces of the fake wood stuff I spelled out

H A L L O W E E N. Using a skull to represent the O.

The letters are on both sides, because the letter blocks spin freely.

On the mantel itself I have 2 white fake pumpkins. (This was a project from last year). Using a sharpie I colored Jacks face on one and wrote "Life's no fun without a good scare" on the other.

Hmmmm... what else.

Oh, I'm thinking a few people may have those black boxes.

Mine usually say "this and that" they are pretty popular around town. I replace the small this and that signs according to the season.

Right now they say trick or treat.

(If you don't know what I'm talking about please ignore me).

They are great for stacking things at different heights.

(And cuter than a can of beans).

I use a black light in the lamp. It casts a wonderful purple glow. The lamp shade is one I picked up at the D.I. for a couple bucks. I ripped off the material down to it's skeleton and tied black, white and orange ribbon from one end to the next.

Now the black light really shines through.

(It doesn't translate as well in a photo).

Then I've draped material below, using black roses in the corners,

for added drama.

Aragog his minions and their victim

I'm thinking this is my oldest Halloween decoration.

Not much to say. It is displayed on and above the kitchen table.

I'm actually coveting these...

Martha Stewart Glittered Skull and Bones Set - Grandin Road.

I'd love to replace my walmart guy for one of hers...

or maybe I'll just glitter mine to death.

Lighting

Here is my front entry chandelier and my sconce that hangs on the wall. I had replaced the lamp shades just after we moved in, but thank heavens I didn't toss the old ones. I came across them last year in my basement. I simply tore up old fabric, stained its edges, and then wrapped it around each shade. I mummy-fied them. Then on the chandelier I draped it with ribbons and trinkets. On the sconce I hung a bird cage and then added Martha Stewart paper crows. 4.99 at Michael's... add a coupon and it's cheaper than buying paper & cutting them out yourself. I covered them in black glitter and added a little bling for an eye. Oh, and then I added black feathers,

which I bathed in glitter as well.

Photo Wall

Used the same Martha Stewart crows, also with the added bling eye.

Then added feathers again. Love it.