Charming Halloween Baskets in 4 Easy Steps

Looking for a simple, inexpensive way to add a bit of Halloween charm to your fall decor?

This summer, I bought up a lot of peat pots of various shapes and sizes at an estate sale. I've made simple peat pot baskets before and have enjoyed incorporating them into vignettes. With my latest acquisition of peat pots, I decided to go with a Halloween theme.

As usual, I forgot to photograph the "in progress." But, I can assure you this project can be completed in 4 easy steps.

Choose the images you want to use and print them on card stock, sized to fit your peat pots. I found my images at The Graphics Fairy.

Paint your peat pot the color of your choice. A light coat of paint works best. Don't worry if the original pot surface peeks through. The charming result is a slightly distressed and rustic appearance. Peat pots are absorbent, so a heavy coat of paint can cause the pot to warp when it dries. 

Adhere your  image to the peat pot with craft glue or Mod Podge. Again, the absorbency of the pot comes into play. It will soak up some of the glue, so cover the back of the image completely with a thick coat. Let the application dry completely before beginning the decorating phase.

Now, embellish, embellish, embellish! I used vintage buttons, paper flowers, glitter, twine, paper doilies, rick rack and vintage lace. Some pots are finished off with rustic, wrapped wire handles and vintage lace from a 1940s wedding dress and filled with Spanish moss. Others are topped with glittery tulle inserts I made from extra wide tulle ribbon.

Make it a great day!

Linking to:

Moonlight and Mason Jars Link Party
What's It Wednesday

Project Pin-It
Thursday Favorite Things

Vintage Inspiration
Inspiration Spotlight
Bouquet of Talent

What Is It About Vintage-Style Bottle Brush Trees?

What is it that's so appealing about bottle brush trees? 

Maybe it's that they take many of us back to our childhood when our mothers decorated with small bottle brush trees, often handed down from their mothers.

Maybe it's that they're easy to work with. Because the more contemporary versions come in so many colors and sizes (from large to teeny tiny), they can make a nice addition to almost any holiday vignette.

Maybe it's that they're simplistic. Nothing fancy, even when embellished with fake snow, glitter or a few vintage glass balls.

Whatever the reason, I've grown to love this versatile addition to my holiday decor and thought I'd share some of my bottle brush trees with you.

On the buffet, accompanied by vintage glass ornaments and tree toppers . . .

A nice grouping of three creates a simple, peaceful scene sprouting from among vintage silver ornaments in a large blue Mason jar . . .

This one was among a shoebox full of trees I picked up at an estate sale. It started out a hideous blue-green color. I doused it in Clorox before giving it and some of its cohorts a home on the family room mantel alongside my eclectic group of snowmen . . .

Some of my trees are tucked inside drawers around the house  . . .

Some are planted in vintage aluminum molds on the basement hearth and in a vintage wooden cheese box on the Hoosier cabinet  . . .

And some are nestled in glassware . . . 

If you're looking for something simple to tie things together in your holiday decor, try using a few vintage-style bottle brush trees. You can find them at any craft store. And, if you prefer to decorate in shades of white, go ahead and buy the green craft store trees. Drop them in a bucket of bleach until the color is gone, rinse, let them dry and you're set to go.

Make it a great day!

Linking to:
Saturday Nite Special

Nifty Thrifty Sunday
Cowgirl Up!
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday

Knick of Time Tuesday

Ornaments Have a Flipside

Who among us doesn't like surprises? I certainly do, which is one of the reasons I couldn't resist participating in  the Button Floozies Christmas ornament swap--create three ornaments and swap with three partners. (Read that carefully.)

For the foundation of the ornaments I made, I chose three beautiful images from The Graphics Fairy, mounted them on pretty card stock and embellished them with vintage lace and fabric, glitter, and, of course, buttons. The backside of each is Christmas-related sheet music so each is actually two ornaments in one.

The variegated blue lace around the Santa image is an old piece of tatting that my grandmother made. The netting adornment is from an old crinoline that I picked up at a local thrift store. The hangers for this and the bird ornament are made of vintage seam tape from an estate sale.

The photograph doesn't show the glitter around the mitten image very well, but it creates a finished look around the graphic, which is mounted on a piece of painter's canvas drop cloth.

Creating these ornaments was so much fun. But, I think the best part of participating in swaps is meeting and sharing with other artistic women from around the country.



Jeanelle created the sweetest holly ornament and packaged it using a page from a vintage 'Twas the Night Before Christmas' book. She hails from Colorado Springs, which is my absolute favorite city in the nation. Wish I could join her for an early morning walk in Garden of the Gods. Denise created two ornaments: one an of a 1940s vintage postcard featuring a long-established park in my community; the other a granny-circle crocheted Christmas tree with wispy yarn garland and great buttons. What Denise couldn't have known is that I collect vintage postcards and the park shown on the postcard has personal significance to me. Michelle created a wonderful ornament that looks as if it were designed specifically to coordinate with the rustic and primitive ornaments I already own.

If you've ever wondered about joining a swap, don't sweat over it. Jump in and give it a try. I think you'll be glad you did. You can see more wonderful ornaments at Button Floozies.



Make it a great day!

Linking to:

VIP Party at Designer Garden

Farmhouse Friday at LaurieAnna's Vintage Home

Fridays Unfolded at Stuff and Nonsense

Pink Saturday at How Sweet the Sound

Button Floozies Christmas Ornament Swap

Sister Sunday at Sisters of the Wild West

Motivate Me Monday at Keeping It Simple

Brag Monday at The Graphics Fairy

Categorically Crafting at Someday Crafts

Savvy HomeMade Monday at Home Savvy A to Z

Cowgirl Up!