Happy Halloween!

No time to carve a pumpkin?  You don't have to when there are trims, ribbon, scrapbook embelishments, and paint available!

Projects from BHG, and No Fuss Fabulous.

Spells And Potions Soiree

I've got one more Halloween soiree to share.  This comes from Luna and Chloe Weddings and offers some great ideas you could pull together quickly. 

I love the "spells & potions" booklets that are an easy DIY, as well as the spiders inside the moss-filled mini cages.  The centerpiece is an array of small bottles filled with different 'specimen' sitting on a bed of spanish moss - easy peasy!  To see even more, visit Kristi's blog. 

Modern And Sophisticated Halloween

Maybe you're not the "spooky" Halloween type.  Maybe you're not the "cutesy" Halloween type.  Maybe you just want to have a chic & modern Halloween dinner party with friends.  This sleek design on Brancorprata is so stylish, it is perfect inspiration for ANY occasion - with a change in wording of course.
Paper flowers create an interesting and artistic table runner, while minimalist details are displayed just so.

Another note about this party design - it's very budget friendly.  All the signs and tags could easily be created and printed on your own home computer, and with pretty scrapbook paper.  Who doesn't love that?!

Family Halloween Bash

Jess of Party Box Design sent over some photos of her Halloween party done on a budget.  Her parties are always full of great ideas to emulate and this one is no different. 

I like how family-friendly this party is but also has a cocktail bar for the adults, made from a $60 thrift store find!

Jess used sticks from the yard to top candy apples, and designed lovely floral arrangements with a rustic feel.  There were activities for the kids and of course a costume contest - see the adorable winner above.  You can see lots more on Jess' blog.

Party paper designs - Party Box Design

Photographer - Ashley Hay Photography

Cookies - The Cookie Jar

Halloween Harvest Treats Table

I'm so excited that Nina of Nina Designs sent over this party, for a couple of reasons.  First of all it brings in more of a 'Fall Harvest' style to the Halloween table, which hasn't been seen much this season.  Secondly, she incorporated many festive details that you could certainly do yourself between now and this Halloween weekend.  The table is modern and sleek and would certainly work for Thanksgiving if you serve mini pumpkin pie and caramel apples instead of witch cupcakes and ghost cookies. 

Some of my favorite details:

• The Fabulous backdrop wall combining wall transfers, banner, and hanging lanterns.
• Incorporating a 'Woodland' element to the decor with owls and mushrooms.
• Wrapped 'mummy' bottles (love!).
• 'Pumpkin' and 'broom' treat bags.
• Waffle cone bowl. 

You can see even more great pics of this sweet table on Nina's blog.

Children's "Spooky" Treats Table

Katie Cassidy is a fabulous photographer who recently hosted her son's birthday party with a Halloween treats table.  When she shared the link with me I knew this would be a great party to share and inspire.  With some DIY spooky treats and sleek, modern decor, you could easily replicate this on a budget and in a time crunch.  See more details on Katies gorgeous blog.

Easy DIY tips:

• Dip Nutter Butter cookies in white chocolate and add eyes & mouth with black icing gel - instant "ghosts."
• Create "bones" by pushing 2 mini marshmallows onto either end of a pretzel stick, and dip in white chocolate.
• Wrap blow pops, or tootsie pops in white tissue paper and add eyes with a marker (or add googly eyes) for a "ghostly" take home treat.
• Use decorative stencils and colored sugar to decorate plain cookies.
• Wrap scrapbook paper into cones to serve popcorn.

"MAD" Hatter Halloween Tea Party

I don't know what inspired me to do this, but the idea came to me to create a "MAD" Hatter Halloween Tea Party.  The Alice in Wonderland theme has been all around the blogosphere for beautiful birthdays, showers, and weddings.  I thought it would be fun to pay homage to the theme for Halloween, and play up the "Mad" concept.  Fortunately at the same time I had my brainstorm I "met" Gwynn of Gwynn Wasson Designs, and she was happily on board to help out!  She created all the printables for the design (except the clock toppers on the cupcakes) and will be offering them to you for Free Here!  She totally got where I was going with this and designed some fabulous printables.

I hope it's not too late for you to be inspired by this party....once again I pulled this together in a week.  You can too!

I incorporated all the usual suspects, with a twist.  Check out the Mad Hatter and the Queen of Hearts below - they've seen better days!  The Cheshire Cat is on his 9th life, the Dormouse is now a Rat, the White Rabbit didn't quite make it on time (see bottom)...

Details of the design & those 'extra touches':

• Silver serving pieces I already own are set for tea...best part is I didn't have to polish it.
• Add googly eyes to playing cards and name cards for added creepiness.
• Tiny mushroom candies were placed in 'dirt' parfaits with the Caterpiller added on top; also a few butterflies lingering in the woods have found their way here.
• Get the party started with a vodka & cranberry shooter served in a test tube.
• A little adhesive 'bling' added to clock toppers & silver skull rings (used as glass charms) always add flair.
• Black flowers are part of the centerpiece pedestal.
• Favor boxes filled with candy bones and a chocolate truffle.  Add decorative paper to the inside of the box for an unexpected finishing touch.
• Icons from the story are used throughout: watches & clocks, key napkin rings, playing cards (hearts of course); combined with spooky Halloween decor: spiders, webs, skulls.
• My obsession with lace continues as I created a ribbon, lace, & trim table runner, and draped more lace and trim around the party.

See LOTS more photos in our Facebook Album!

Happy Halloween!