Photographer Meg Baisden already hosted her Halloween party. And what a fabulous party it was! Her Halloween decorations were fun, festive and so sophisticated. It has just the right amount of glitter to suit an evening event.

You can add glitter to any objects. This allow you to buy less expensive props knowing that you can upgrade their look. It can be messy, so choose the right spot in your home.

The event was planned by Meg and her employee Jamie. I like how they integrated Meg’s home decor into their festive decor. When you host a party at home, it is an important consideration. By making them a part of your party decor, you send a warmer welcoming message to your guests. This is not always possible to accomplish. The easiest way is to consider the style of your home decor before planning your party theme and decorations.

Since they are professional photographer, it comes to no surprises that the pictures they took of the decor and the food are stunning. Since I envy the quality of her party photos, I feel inclined to mention it anyway.

MORE:
+ photos by Meg Baisden Photography

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I scheduled brand new Halloween party mood boards for next week. But, in the meantime, have a look at what is still great ideas from previous Halloween. You could reinvent these ideas and use them as your starting point. I like those because:

+ It provides a warm welcoming with Bag-O-Lanterns. Find your own templates and you can craft the lanterns to fit any theme. Remember to use battery-operated lights, for safety reasons.

+ You can recycle these ideas for some many themes from the hospital to the obsessions. And it is super easy to make your own Candy favors in pill bottles. Simply glue a prescription tag to each bottle.

+ A Victorian Gothic feast is always fashionable. Plus, Halloween takes the stylish path instead of the scary road this year. You will see what I mean next week.

+ A Murder Mystery Halloween Party can lead to a fun game night.

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Weddings in a barn are popular. The Spring 2010 Chanel show in Paris will probably inspire many brides to be. Second to walking barefoot on a beach, I am curious to see if many brides and grooms will opt for walking the aisles barefoot in a hay path.

The gold basket could make an awesome container for the centerpiece. You could recycle the idea and make your own. I believe that the bride and groom must distribute one by one the party favors. Decorating a few baskets would add a fancy touch. It is more original than a tray.

To know more details about this fabulous presentation by Chanel, read what Garance Doré had to say about her experience at the fashion show.

October 15th, 2009 Update: you can see the construction of the barn in a video on Wallpaper. It took 6 weeks to create the concept of the barn and 38 men working full time for a week to assemble it.

+ photos: Jacky Naegelen/Reuters on Times Online, Garance Doré

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Every year, Christmasworld dedicated a section of their fair to 4 trends that represent customers’ desires according to style expert. The general theme for Christmas 2009-2010 is “Express your dreams”. It is declined in 4 decorating trends: Airy, Sweet, Comfort and Obsession. Each trend also represents a season. So feel free to be inspired by the Comfort decor theme to decorate at Thanksgiving.

Airy = Spring

Airy is characterized by lightness and transparency. It feels romantic in a modern way. Soft pastel colours, blurred motifs and fluid structures lure the observer into a fairylike fantasy world. Plenty of glass vases, baubles and crystal are a must.

The colour parameters are created by chalky pastels ranging from cream to pink and pale grey, all combined with lots of white. Transparent, translucent materials are as light as the colors.

Sweet = Summer

Sweet is the most feminine decor. It is unusual to see pink floral patterns at Christmas. Do not be afraid to use a multicolor palette. This decor feels fresh and girly with a hint of kitsch. The milky palette extends from sand, aqua and turquoise to violet, lime and slate grey. Materials include plastic, varnish and porcelain, tulle and satin ribbons. Surface are over-sugared, candied and glazed.

For me, this decor screams more bridal showers and tea parties than Christmas. For that reason, I am not sure about it as a good Christmas theme. On the other end, you will probably reuse most of decorative elements the rest of the year.

Comfort = Autumn

Comfort is an evolution of the birch bark, the deer and the natural theme that was popular on the last two years. Comfort plays with contrasts in textures, materials and styles. Make sure to include pieces made with natural materials. Feel free to oppose modern style objects with driftwood. A must are the touches of red or orange to enliven the decor.

Comfort is the only trend that is sure to appeal to both genders. I guess that it will be theme used by Boyd Ferguson (re: modern rustic kitchen).

Obsession = Winter

This is by far the most glamourous decor for Christmas. I see Obsession as the next wave of the Hollywood Glamour theme. You mix metallic colors. Quartz pink and mauve lighten up mahogany, aubergine, violet and gold. I am impress with the lilac against the silver and gold. It might be something I try this year. You will need to look for curved lines, ornate objects, luxurious materials and fabrics like velvet and silk to reproduce the Obsession look.

MORE:
+ via Christmasworld

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I recalled my excitement as a kid for Halloween. Going from house to house for treats was fun. But having a fabulous party at home with your friends is also great. Here a few craft ideas I gathered from Martha Stewart’s Halloween central. They will come handy for the school Halloween treats that your kid will bring or if you are hosting your own family-friendly Halloween party.

You can also go wildly fun like building a huge cat hole. Beware of the little kids who hide inside. As you can see, it is not that complicated to create a visual impact and set the mood for a great Halloween party.

Making an Impact with Simple Craft Projects

Cats, owls and pumpkins are classics that can always be reinvented. They are easy to make whether you cut a silhouette, shape them with food or stamp fabric. There is still plenty of time to craft these projects. Take a look at these for a head start.

Treat Bags

+ Creature Candy Dishes
+ Halloween Takeaway Treat Bags
+ Pumpkin Favor Pouches for Halloween

Party Decor

+ Bewitching Tree Decoration
+ Halloween Hang-Ups

Halloween Homemade Sweets

+ Invisible Lollipops
+ Halloween Lollipops
+ Black Cat Cookies

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Martha Stewart have joined Flor, the maker of the coolest tile rug system, for Halloween. Arachnophobia is a spider Web pattern available in two colors. Opt for the more sophisticated Raven and Ash color. Having 9 tiles of spider web feels a little redundant. You will achieve better results if you match solid and patterned tiles to create your own unique design.

For example, I decided to box in Arachnophobia with Skully, another festive Halloween pattern. I used Toy Poodle in Woof Woof Walnut for the two sides. If you are lucky, you may hand up with some tiles that you could put somewhere in my house the rest of the year.

Do not worry to be creative With the Design your Flor tool. You can get unexpected surprising results. The tool is not just test your design, it also speeds the ordering process. The configurator keeps track of your tile requirements with a ready to use Add to Cart function.

If you do not feel creative, you can always buy them in ready to use kits. If you have a boy living at home, they will appreciate the Funny Bones rug kit in their play room or bedroom. Know that you can order pre-cut quarter tile border tiles.

SOURCING:
+ Arachnophobia Raven/Ash Tile $15.99 USD
+ Skully Black and White Tile $13.99
+ Toy Poddle Tile $13.99
+ Funny Bones rug kit $129.99 USD
+ Velvet Rope Tilee $13.99 – I used the pewter and the red
+ thanks to @iancapstick for tweeting me this idea

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It is unusual to bring flea market furniture and old TV sets in a wild forest for a picnic. This is part of the charm. Do not be afraid to put objects in an unexpected context. It can be as simple as that to spice up a party theme. These fabulous pictures were taken by photographer Roland Bello. You can see more inspiring food and lifestyle pictures on his Web site.

+ photos by Roland Bello
+ via English Muse

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There are plenty of ideas to make yours from the styled pictures of Pottery Barn. Using small containers inside a tray is an excellent way to serve small candies. By keeping all the containers of the same color and made with the same material, you create a neater look.

I love the popcorn in clear cellophane bag tied with a ribbon. Having fruits in your table had variety. Also make sure to serve a mix of sweets, sour and salty treats.

Your station needs to integrate decorative elements with the serving ware. Garden urns and footed plates can be used to elevate not only food but also festive items to create a wonderful scenery. Play with shapes, colors and finishes to direct the eye at strategic places across your table.

Sadly, some of the items, like the galvanized tiered stand, are already out of stock for Halloween. It is time to think about what you need right now.

SOURCING:
+ Rattan Pumpkins $19-$29 USD
+ Spider Tealight Holders $18 for set of 2
+ Skull Cocktail Collection $19-$24
+ Crow Candle $10 USD

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Stamps and craft punches are great tools for making gift tags, buffet tags, place cards, and to decorate your goodies bags. The possibilities are endless.

I spotted on Art vs Craft the hand-carved work of TC Witchcraft Factory. They sell their stamps on etsy. These are produced by T&C, an Asian couple living in Twin Cities area in MN, USA. From the cute little witch, the Happy Halloween sign to the Nightmare before Christmas, their stamps are awesome.

I looked for more inspirations since I believe in the mix and match. Michaels is a sure bet to find crafts supplies. Plus, they carry many Martha Stewart Crafts products, including her craft punches. If you are looking for adorable Halloween stamps, check out the individual inkpads and the wood stamp sets for Halloween by Hero Arts.

Art vs Craft is the blog of Fanie, a Montreal based illustrator & graphic designer. I discovered Art vs Craft because Fanie watched the live streaming videos of my sessions at PodCamp Montreal 2009.

SOURCING:
+ Hand Carved Halloween Stamp, Cute Little Witch by TC Witchcraft Factory $16 USD
+ Pumpkin Head Scarecrow, Hand Carved Halloween Stamp by TC Witchcraft Factory $16 USD
+ Nightmare before Christmas Stamp on the blog of TC Witchcraft Factory
+ Halloween Fence Edge Punch by Martha Stewart Crafts
+ Flying Witch Craft Punch by Martha Stewart Crafts
+ Happy Bird Witch by Hero Arts

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I recalled how many of you looked for pumpkin-carving ideas last year. Do not worry, I will bring you more inspirations until Halloween starting with these wonderful pumpkins that I found on Martha Stewart. The key is to decide on a theme. You get an extra WOW when you create a vignette.

One thing that Martha taught us is to not simply rely on pumpkins. Gourds and squashes fit the occasion as well. One detail is to carve the gourds and pumpkins from the bottom. This way it keeps the stems intact. Mixing sizes and forms is another design lesson when you are planning your vignette.

Variations

The Arise for the Dead pumpkin was carved by a reader of Martha. Jacquie W. used photos of New England headstones as templates. You can shape animals (see top collage) by cleverly assembling several pumpkins together. Or roll lino ink over the silhouette to add a sophisticated touch to your carved pumpkins.

The headless horseman and the skeleton rider pumpkins were created by a master carver named Tomas Gonzales. Tomas is an artist.

GET THE LOOK:
+ Pumpkin Alligator and Snail
+ Birdbath Family
+ Pumpkin Raccoon Bandit
+ Spooky Silhouette Designs
+ Spider Squash

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It is that time again. Halloween’s boost in popularity may be due to the fact that it so fun to decorate. It is easy to imagine awesome theatrical scenes for Halloween. Kids and adults are fascinated by it.

I find that it is simpler if you start by looking at what is available as props for Halloween. Stores carry plenty of amazing spooky items. One of these stores with a great Halloween collection is Grandinroad. They also carry a Martha Stewart line.

Their elaborate styled pictures are to die for. Look at their pictures as a starting point. Adapt their ideas to your home or party theme. You want to put your personal touch.

Spooky Decor Ideas

Life-size skeletons are practical. Buy one suitable for indoor and outdoor usages. You can hang them from the ceiling, pose them in a chair, gather a few on the floor with rats, or let them drape eerily from a tree limb.

To be greeted by a group of owls at the front door should indicate to your guests that they are entering a mystery zone. An owl can also guard the bar station.

Ancient British Theme

Do not be afraid to experiment. Halloween is more than the pumpkins and old witches. You can go werewolves, vampires and used ancient decor ideas. I really like the headless 6 feet tall horseman. A motion sensor activates the sound of the thundering hooves and frightful neighing of his steed.

Old meets New

If you do not wish to buy an entrance sign, you can built an old looking sign with wood and paint. The shadows of a spooky tree creates a nice ambiance at night. This 51-inch tall three-dimensional tree feels more modern. It still goes well against old gravestones.

SOURCING:
+ Life-size Halloween Skeleton $79 USD
+ Flickering LED Halloween Candles $59 for 4
+ Crazed Halloween Cat $49
+ Watchful Feathered Halloween Owl $29 in white or black
+ Motion Activated Headless Horseman $559
+ Ancient British Halloween Crosses $49 – $79
+ Haunted Mansion Sign $49
+ Three-dimensional Spooky Halloween Tree $149

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I succumbed to the charms of these photos. It is a fact that the team of stylists at Martha Stewart often make us dream. Here why these photos are my favorite ideas of the moment.

+ Eating s’mores around a campfire is a treat. In case you were not aware of this tradition, the basic campfire s’mores recipe has been popularized by the Girl Scouts. It called for two pieces of chocolate bars sandwiched between two graham crackers. You toast the marshmallows and place it on the chocolate in order for the chocolate to melt. I find that it is simpler to spread Nutella and its adds the hazelnut taste. Martha found a way to make the process more stylish by making Star-topped s’more sticks.

+ I like the simplicity of the wild flower centerpieces. Plus learn how to make these Message-in-a-Bottle Place Cards. Go for flat surface bottles since they safer than using round glass bottles. Square bottles are not too hard to find.

+ How to illuminate your outdoor table can be challenge. The LED lights do not always works and they require batteries. Instead, you can built on the look of a chandelier by hanging a dozen heat resistant glass jars and votive holders from your umbrella. Be careful to position them so that your guests will not hit them with their head. Create a sense of movement by alternating the heights of each do-it-yourself lanterns. You will need chains and S hooks to create this project.

+ The Origami Picnic Basket is a space saver. Through a clever folding technique you will transform a five-foot square of oilcloth into a basket strong enough to carry your food and drinks from the car to the picnic spot. Make sure to use an oilcloth, not a regular fabric.

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