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DECORATING the LIVING ROOM |
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Decorate with antique photographs
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| What's creepier than antique photographs? Click on one of the small photos above to get a large printable version. Place the photo in an old frame if possible. Off setting pictures at an angle gives them an even spookier look as if time caused them to lean. | |
BANNERS:This banner tape was purchased at a party store. It looks great and is also a way to keep people out of areas where you don't want them to walk. Use it indoors and out wherever you need to keep folks out. The good news.....it's inexpensive |
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COBWEB:Place lots of cobweb on the stairs, doorways, windows, and photos. It looks best in corners stretching out to furniture. The more you use the better the look. A nice inexpensive decoration Please use safety precautions when placing cobwebs around any flames or electrical devices. |
COUCH:Decorate the couch with a plastic skeleton. It looks great and is a wonderful place for taking photos of your guests sitting with Mr. Bones. If you want folks off the couch, have the skeleton laying down. |
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COUCH:Decorate your couch with a Halloween couch cover. They can be purchased at bedding stores when in season. It looks great and is a wonderful place for taking photos of your guests sitting with Mr. Bones. If you want folks off the couch, have the skeleton laying down. |
FURNITURE COVERING:Use some old material or sheets and wash in gray clothes dye. Rinse and wash them repeatedly until you are sure there is no extra dye that will get on your furniture. Tatter the sheet edges to make them look old. Now you can drape them over chairs and sofas for that "haunted house" look. These same gray sheets make a great window curtain and give your home a real haunted look. You could use a gray sheet as a tablecloth too. This is a great idea for keeping your good furniture covered during a halloween party so it doesn't get ruined. Make sure the sheets don't run colors if you are putting them on furniture. |
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PAPER ROLL:Use a roll of black plastic table runner. Use an exacto knife to cut out different size bats to hang on the walls. I also use the table runner to cut out stalactites to hang over doorways and overhangs to give the inside of the house a "bat cave" look and feel. When you combine the bats with the stalactites, it looks really great and is very inexpensive. jjljhome@aol.com |
PICTURE FRAMES:Here's a nice touch. Dress up an old photo of a loved one that your quests know and are familiar with. Taping a paper pumpkin to the frame gives a regular frame a Halloween flavor. |
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PILLOWS:The Halloween pillows can be used on the couch or chairs. You can find them at stores like Marshall's or on the web. There is Halloween fabric available at hobby stores if you know how to make them yourself. |
TABLE MATS:Halloween place mats are found at party stores. They come in many styles like Jack-o-lanterns and haunted houses. They look spooky and they protect the furniture too. |
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RUBBER MOUSE:Place a rubber mouse or snake on the floor, where it is out of the way but can still be seen. Place the mouse in a real mouse trap if you have one. |
STUCK in CEILING:Sew some socks to the end of a pair of old slacks and than stuff the socks and slacks with newspaper or fiber stuffing. Put a board lengthwise inside the waist and attach the slacks to the board with nails on each end. Put a long board inside the ceiling above the ceiling tile for support. Now attach the stuck guy to the board above with 2 nuts & bolts. |
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WINDOWS:Add Halloween spirit to the windows, try some spooky curtains. Use old material or sheets and wash them in gray dye. Rinse and wash them immediately until you are sure that there is no extra dye. Tatter the sheet edges to make them look old. Or decorate your windows with some pictures that you make yourself. Go to the "Coloring Pages" on this web site. |
CENTERPIECE:Cut off bottom of a 6" or 8" foam sphere to make a steady base. Soak the sphere in cold water until completely soaked. Make holes in the foam 1 inch apart with a pencil. Leave space to insert a pumpkin stem at the top of the arrangement. Insert marigolds or mums into the holes. (about 65) When the sphere is covered, place it on a cake stand or platter with a lip that will hold water. Add water to base. |
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HALLOWEEN TREE:First you will need to find a dry branch that has fallen to make your tree. Find a branch with a lot of smaller branches. Anchor the branch in a bucket of earth or floral foam. The plastic ghosts, bats and jack-o-lanterns were purchased from a party supply store. You could add any decorations you like of course. |
GHOSTS:Helium balloons covered with an old sheet or white trash bags make great ghosts. Paint or use magic marker to make scary faces on them. Anchor the balloon with a small bag of sand at the end of the string. The wind moves them and seems to give them life. Paining the ghosts together in small groups of looks even better. The faces can be drawn on with a marker if you don't find balloons with faces. Put up some plastic spiders on the curtain also. |
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GUEST BOOK:Have a guest book near the door for your guests to sign. This is nice for a keepsake and is an excellent place to put any photos that you may take at your gathering. Don't forget to get your camera ready. |
JACK-O-LANTERNS:Decorate the living room with a smiley Jack-o-lantern or two. Placing a Jack-o-lantern with a scented candle gives the room a nice decorative Halloween motif and it smells nice too. Illuminating the Jack-o-lantern with a battery or glow stick is always safest. |
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