Last year at this time, Chris and I were on our European adventure. It was well into October by the time we returned, and we were both playing catch-up after being gone for so long.
So I didn’t have a lot of time to focus on fall decor for my front porch, but I did pull together a quick and very inexpensive look for Halloween.
I thought it would be fun to share it with you today.
Over the years I’ve become very selective about how much decor I buy (and then have to store) for any given holiday. That’s one reason I like working with natural elements in fall decor: When the season is over I just compost them.
But I found a small Edwardian-looking skull at a dollar store that I could not resist. It inspired my little front porch vignette.
I cut some florist foam to size and placed it into a little clay pedestal (it’s on the left in the photo). Then I concealed the foam with sheet moss and pushed a small wooden stake through. I placed the skull over the stake. The stake would hold the skull in place.
Then I covered a large clay saucer with sheet moss. This would serve as the base for the vignette I was creating.
The vignette consisted of the skull on a fancy pedestal, a small white pumpkin, and my favorite creepy plant, a cushion bush (Calocephalus ‘Silver Stone’).
Then it was just a matter of shopping my own garden for twigs, mosses and lichens to add.
Looking at it now, I wish I would have put a bow tie on the “neck” of the skeleton. Maybe this year.
A Viking Pumpkin
Last year I chose pumpkins with interesting stems. I thought this one was fun.
And this one, with its crazy stem, would make a fierce viking.
By the time I was finished with him, he looked more punk rock than viking.
I added some twine to his stem and put him on the same black-painted grape wreath that I used as a nest for my haunted hatchlings a few years back.
Masks
My summer plants were still going strong last October, so I dressed up a potted fuchsia with a mask that I had on hand.
Another mask that I found at the dollar store glammed up my lion statue.
They greeted trick-or-treaters as they walked up the stairs.
I added a few creepy lights to the mix and I was done.
I’d spent two dollars at the dollar store, and a bit more for some pumpkins. The rest I had on hand.
Fall decor might go by the wayside this year too because, in early October, I will be kicking off a (hopefully) fun special project – something that I’ve wanted to tackle for a long time. So stay tuned!
Posts on this website are for entertainment only and are not tutorials.
Here you’ll find seasonal goodies, my current decor obsessions, and more!
Want to see more? Browse my photo gallery or check out these categories:
Our Kitchen Remodel SeriesOur Master Bath Remodel SeriesEntertainingMy ShopDan’s WorkshopDecorating and HolidaysOur Little Sunglo GreenhouseFloral DesignGarden DesignThe June Bug DiariesOur Laundry Room Remodel
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
That mask looks so cool the way you have transformed it Heidi.