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Today’s Guest: House of Smiths

Sep132010 posted by 602 Comments

Hey eighteen25-er’s!
It’s Shelley Smith from
House of Smiths and Wonderfully Wordy!
Photobucket
I’m so excited to be participating in such a fun, “spooktacular” event! 🙂
First of all, I have to be honest… I’m not usually much of a “Halloween decorator”
so this was a challenge for me. lol.
Blood & Gore + Shelley = ……plugging ears, closing eyes, and nightmares…not so good. LOL
So I decided to take “Halloween Decorating” to the NEXT level, this year.
Classy, affordable, spooky, and just a little eerie.
Everything that I bought was done on a very reasonable budget!
Mostly because Halloween (for me anyway) isn’t the type of decor I leave up for long.
So if you like something you see… I’m pretty confident
 you’ll be able to implement a lot of the same ideas, in your OWN home,
and not have it leave your wallet empty 🙂
I started out this whole Halloween idea with this fun table candy display!
It’s a great way to bring color, and maybe a little “ew” factor into Halloween, with
fun homemade labels and some creative new candy titles 🙂
I even got my 4 year old twins in on this one.  They were more then excited to come up with
“creepy candy names”
Once we had them all written down, I printed them on a thick card stock,
in the CK Frankfurt font,
Cut them out,
Mounted them on some brown packaging paper (bought from the salvation army for $1.00)
Distress Inked the edges of the card stock, and slightly burned the edges of the
brown paper,
Put black eyelets on the outsides… ran some twine (also a $1.50 purchase at the thrift store) through them,
and tied simple knots on the ends, to keep them from falling out!
So easy!
*All of the Jars were bought from thrift stores for under $3.00 each
*I used Spanish Moss from my local craft store $2.99 for the entire bag
*And spray painted white, the corn husk pumpkin that I found for a $1.00, also from a thrift store.
Next:
Halloween-ing up our shelves! 🙂
All these fun plates were found on clearance or at thrift stores 🙂
the smallest plate is actually the bottom of a plant stand
All BUT the damask plate have vinyl decals, that I applied, on them.
You can buy these vinyl decals HERE 
Like I said… the Damask plate was bought, as is for $3.00 at Hobby Lobby,
and the skulls were purchased at Michaels Crafts for $1.99 and $5.99
I hung all the plates, using paper cutout guides first…
then used hot glue and ribbon to make a loop on the backs of the plates,
and small picture hanging nails to hang them on the wall.
ya… this plate was like .38 cents. LOL.  I love it 🙂
Here’s the breakdown for the bottom shelf!
I found this wood stand from Salvation Army for $1.50, and sprayed it gloss black.
Then bought a $3.00 pumpkin/gourd from Michaels Crafts, sprayed it with a couple coats of white,
and then took some sandpaper to it, to bring out the original green/yellow tones.
Used some more of that Spanish Moss and made sort of a centerpiece 🙂
This small frame was .50 cents.
I designed my image in photoshop and then put it in the frame.
Easiest project to date. lol
Halloween Subway Art:
Subway art is EVERYWHERE.
I hadn’t jumped on the “bandwagon” yet…
So I thought… better late then never 🙂
This is MY take on it.
Bought a $3.00 frame with glass, from the thrift store,
spray painted it flat white…
and then took sandpaper to it, to distress the edges.
Applied my mirrored vinyl decal, that again, you can get HERE
backed the cardboard with brown packaging paper…
…and WA-LA!
Found this cool bottle at the thrift store, also…
adhered another small vinyl decal, some twine, food coloring, and “drink me” tag to it, that I made.
I filled this thrift store vase with Dollar Store small skulls and shells I found from
our recent trip to Bear Lake
total cost = $3.00
TIP:
If using small shells like these, from a trip.
boil them first, to get rid of all the “yucky-ness”… LOL
and then lay them out to dry for a few days.
Dollar Store crow, Thrift store bird cage… and more Spanish Moss.
total cost about  = $5.00
The book of spells is actually an old photo album, covered in brown packaging paper, again…
with a small vinyl decal on the side. 
FRIGHT Garland
Used (yes again) the brown packaging paper and white cardstock printed letters in
Circus Font
Cut about 3 inch strips, accordion-ed them, and then glued the two ends together,
to make a circle.
Cut out the printed letters in circles, and distress inked them, 
punched a small hole in the brown paper, and strung some more of the
twine through each of them, to make garland.
WHEW! lol.
You ladies get all that!? 🙂
Hope so.
This was a BLAST!
And I have to say… I’m pretty excited to be READY for a holiday almost 2 full MONTHS before it even gets here!!!… that NEVER happens. ha!

 GIVEAWAY

So… because I know how GREAT it feels to get my Halloween holiday decorations up and ready for those fun parties and trick or treaters, I thought it would be great to start YOUR Halloween off with a bang! I’m offering one lucky eighteen25 lady the chance to win a  Halloween Subway Art Decal, of their very own!!!

 
To enter: Simply leave a comment on this post!

Thank you SO much, Jennifer, Jamie, and Jodie,
and ALL you fabulous eighteen25 readers,
for letting me share all my fun ideas!

Feel free to stop by
Our House anytime…

 

and say hi! 🙂

THANKS!
~Shelley Smith

*******************

is this awesome or what?
i’ve been a good girl and withheld from pulling out all my halloween decorations so far this month. BUT after this…. i had to go dig it all out! who says you have to wait till october 1st anyways? not me!!
thank you so much Shelley for sharing all your creative goodness with us here and on your blog.
 i love every post of yours! (and your dancing is pretty good too  🙂 )

forgot to add:
giveaway will be open till friday night is now closed and the lucky winner will be announced on saturday!!
good luck!!

Jodie and Jen

Jodie and Jen

I'm Jen Sedillo, one of the bloggers behind Eighteen25. I love creating and crafting, reading good books, visiting new places and being with family!
Jodie and Jen
Jodie and Jen

Latest posts by Jodie and Jen (see all)

Comments

  12. Oh my heck. I LOVE this entire display…LOVE it. I had already clicked over to the site to buy the subway art before I read about the giveaway…so I guess I'll wait a couple of days to see if I'm lucky. If not, I'll still consider myself lucky because I can order it anyway! Thanks for the great ideas! :o)

    Reply

  21. Love everything! Love the step by steps. It's my perfect Halloween decor. Just eerie enough. Thanks for the great ideas. I would love to win the subway art!

    Reply

  26. Loved every bit of it! I think my favorite part would be the vinyl plates. What a great idea. You could change them for each holiday so easily. Thanks for the ideas 🙂

    Reply

  28. I love all the light brown used in these decos. It's the color of corn husks! Thanks for all the cool ideas. I think I'll actually decorate my home for Halloween this year with more than a few decals and a wreath now.

    Reply

  48. this is wonderful! gave me great ideas for my halloween decor. i especially love the subway art and the book of spells. I need to get myself a vinyl cutting machine BAD!

    Thanks for the inspiration.

    Reply

  52. Oh my gosh,it's hard to say what I like best! Love the garland, love the subway art, love that you bought things at the thrift store. Thanks for sharing and I believe there's some garland in my future.

    Reply

  53. I want that no. 9 Potion bottle so bad, that there might be a heist in the making!! So cute! And I'm gonna need to keep a more discerning eye open to make Halloween decor. Shelley's ideas are amazing. Every time. Loved dissecting every ounce of this post!! Thanks all around!

    Reply

  62. I love your decorations, especially the fright garland AND the subway art! I like decorating for Halloween, but I'm not a big fan of the creepiness factor, so I think your decor is perfect! 🙂

    Reply

  63. LOVE these ideas! I don't normally do it up big for Halloween either, but I can incorporate some of what you've done into what I already do. Would love to win the Subway vinyl to complete my decor. Great ideas…I love your blog!

    Reply

  65. I am a big fan of decorating for Halloween/Fall. I have been anxiously waiting bringing out my totes, but I feel the need to do so right now! With a new baby due in 6 weeks, I think I have excuse to get started early. Love the ideas and will try some this year. thanks!

    Reply

  66. I like you do not love Halloween, but I have to say that your display is very tastefully done. And I LOVE LOVE LOVE the subway art, just what I was wanting to do for some Halloween decorating myself this year. Love your blog and ALL your stuff, I need to hire you to come do a consultation with me in my house, I would LOVE to have your help. 🙂

    Reply

  67. LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT!!!!! Every single detail! SOOOO creative:-)
    And THANK YOU for sharing the fonts you used… I wish everyone would do that:-)

    Reply

  75. Wow, I've been looking forward to seeing Shelley's Halloween ideas and I'm definitely NOT dissappointed! AMAZING! and so inexpensive, I can't wait to start making my own decorations now!

    Reply

  88. I am so digging your salute to Halloween! I look forward to a hew post every day! I start planning my Halloween decorations and costumes for the kids in July! The subway art is neato!

    Reply

  89. I am so digging your salute to Halloween! I look forward to a hew post every day! I start planning my Halloween decorations and costumes for the kids in July! The subway art is neato!

    Reply

  115. Adorable! I love it all! I'm not a total Halloween decorator at all but I can handle this.

    Shelley… can I goo thrift shopping with you?! You have found some awesome items wherever you shop! I never find stuff like that!

    Reply

  125. Some pretty phenomenal ideas here! It would be even greater if the "book of spells" contained photos of past halloween costumes and such. The plates have to be my favorite part! I can't wait to get my plate collection going 🙂

    Reply

  141. Your halloween decor ROCKS! I have my fingers, toes, and eyes crossed in hopes of winning your subway art giveaway! Keep it going!

    T. Wolfe-Varney (thecornerhouse@cox.net)

    Reply

  142. LOVE the subway art! I've been doing a bit of digital dabbling in this but haven't gotten anything physical yet. Would love to have this up at my house! My grandma (who lives with me – really!) will turn 88 on Halloween this year!!! Would be a perfect way to celebrate.

    Reply

  151. You are fantastically creative…I visit your regular blog often. I really hope I win because otherwise I may have to attempt to make my own "version" of it, that would probably be SCARY, and not in a good way.

    You ROCK!!!

    Reply

  158. What a classy halloween display – I love reading all your posts and I have twin girls too… though mine just turned 3. Thanks for all the great ideas!

    Reply

  169. I love the candy ideas! I'mnot a big Halloween decorator in my house, it's not my favorite holiday, but I have been inspired to actually do a little something this year. Thanks for the ideas!

    Reply

  175. Love, love, LOVE it! Thank you for breaking down the cost of it all, as well! Definitely helps to know that decorating for the holidays can be cute AND thrifty!

    Reply

  178. If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery – I think you're going to be blushing. I'm stealing ALL your ideas. Such fun! And a great compliment to my style – frightful yet in great taste. (And thanks for the chance to win the subway decal.

    Reply

  195. I love all of your ideas. I especially love the subway art and would love it for my house too. I wish I had time to actually browse at thrift stores and find all the cool stuff that you get.

    Reply

  197. looks fantastic! wow..what a detailed tutorial..thanks for the inspiration. I too have already gotten my Halloween decors. out..i ♥ Halloween..so i just couldn't wait!

    Reply

  201. This blog post comes at the perfect time for me. I just recently went through my Halloween decorations and realized many things were broken or just out of date. So I have been shopping for new items. I love your displays! The subway are would look awesome on our mantle!

    Reply

  217. Oh my goodness, this is the BEST DIY Halloween decor I've ever seen! I can't wait to try all these out myself! Thanks for the great ideas, can't wait to go to your blog!

    Reply

  222. Oh…this is so cute! Of course I have my mind on CHRISTMAS so I am thinking about how to take your Halloween display and taylor it completely towards Christmas. LOVE love love it. Thank you for sharing!

    Reply

  225. This looks amazing- halloween decor at it's best! I love how the decorating is fun and spooky not halloween gore and blood : )Amazing use of the vinyl on those plates too. Love it. I think I need to make a book of spells…

    Reply

  229. I L-O-V-E the decals and my kids would think I was the coolest mom ever for these decorations. I'm going to have to copy some of them! Thanks for the great ideas!

    Reply

  242. I'm in love!! Halloween is one of my favorite holidays!!! I love the amount of detail, the work put into doing it, and I love the prices on alot of the stuff she picked up!!! SO FABULOUS!!!

    Reply

  248. I've been waiting for this post! I looove Halloween decorating (nothing gory for us, either!) and knew Shelley wouldn't dissapoint! Would love to add the subway vinyl art to the stash!

    Reply

  250. Love you post, Shelley! I love your blog. I'm actually waiting for my first order from you. I followed you to eighteen25 and I have been checking everyday to see what goodies you girls post. I made the fun spider the other night! Great football watching activity!!!! I'm off to see what I can pull out to decorate my own shelves for Halloweeen! Totally inspired…at houseofsmiths and eighteen25! Forgot how much I missed crafting!

    Reply

  251. Love you post, Shelley! I love your blog. I'm actually waiting for my first order from you. I followed you to eighteen25 and I have been checking everyday to see what goodies you girls post. I made the fun spider the other night! Great football watching activity!!!! I'm off to see what I can pull out to decorate my own shelves for Halloweeen! Totally inspired…at houseofsmiths and eighteen25! Forgot how much I missed crafting!

    Reply

  261. Incredible! I am in awe! That's what I wish I could do but you have so much more talent than I! Almost makes me want to buy myself a Cricut or craft cutter too. I will definitely bookmark this one and try to steal some of your ideas for my home. We have Halloween decor up year-round so some of this would fit in perfectly.

    Reply

  262. holy inspiration! shelley, you are AMAZING! I love everything!!! I just never seem to have the luck that you Utah ladies do at thrift stores–i will try again this week…
    I love your subway art vinyl and I am particularly fond of brown paper, its so cheap and it goes with everything and every color!
    *kelly
    kelly-tillotson@hotmail.com

    Reply

  269. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your ideas! My daughter and I sat together and went through each one carefully. Thanks for sharing! These are the best ideas I've seen in a long time. I really want to win the vinyl decal. It's awesome!

    Reply

  270. WOW, Halloween just gets better every year, so many wonderful ideas. I cant wait one more day to get my halloween stuff out and take inventory, I would love all these creative items in my home.

    Reply

  282. Me, I'm not so excited to get my Halloween decor out, because none of it is nearly as cute as this display! I've looked at this post twice already today! Love the SUBWAY ART!

    Reply

  286. I love the whole set up! I was never big on decorations for halloween since my neighbors go huge in there front yard and it is a little much for me. I love what you have done!!! It is getting me in the mood to go to Hobby Lobby and start fresh this year. Thanks for sharing!!!
    Shannon
    shannonalyselangley@gmail.com

    Reply

  288. Your creativity is amazing. Love all the semi creepy decorations.
    By the way even when your children are grown you never get over wanting to make sure your child doesn't get his feelings hurt whether it be by classmates or even the inevitable girl/boyfriends.
    npechinski@gmail.com

    Reply

  289. I love your halloween decor and love the subway art. I've had NO time to try and do some myself, due to I've had 4 b-day parties to prep for and 1 baby shower. This would be GREAT!

    Reply

  298. Wow, I love all those ideas. Halloween is my favorite holiday, and I am not allowed to decorate for it until after my birthday, September 24th. I don't know how much I will be able to do this year, though. I'm in nursing school, and studying takes up all of my time right now.

    Reply

  323. So cute!! Halloween is one of my favorite holidays to decorate for. I'm with you I love the cute, but a little eerie stuff as well. Love the subway art, totally going to have to make that!!

    Rachel N.

    Reply

  327. When you said it felt good to have your decorations up early and were doing a giveaway, I thought for sure it was going to be for you to come to my house and put up all my decorations for me! Even though it's not, I would still love me some Halloween subway art!

    Reply

  330. These ideas are ridiculously cute!!! I'd love the subway art…what a cute (and classy) addition to Halloween decor.

    Thanks for the giveaway!

    lindsazockoll(at)gmail(dot)com

    Reply

  338. shelley has amazing idea's. i love this Halloween decor. i am not one to put out decorations for Halloween but there has been soo many great idea's i am this year!! thanks for sharing

    Reply

  351. lovin' the whole darn thing! The plates are especially great. Oh, and I'd love to get my spook on with the subway art, so count me in for the giveaway!

    Reply

  353. love the subway art! I havent jumped on the bandwagon yet either. Halloween has always been a big holiday at my house as long as I can remember!

    lindsayecu @ hotmail.com

    Reply

  356. We love everything about the Halloween decorations. Very "spooky chic"!
    Fingers crossed for the Halloween subway art, it would look great with our Halloween decorations that are out already 🙂

    Reply

  364. Wow! Your display is classy and creepy at the same time! You are definitely one of the most talented bloggers I have seen. Thank you for giving us the chance to win your subway vinyl!

    Reply

  365. OMGoodness, that is an adorable display for Halloween. Shelly you always do such a great job. I am new to this site. Love it. I would love to win the subway art from Shelly. Thanks for sharing such a great idea.

    Reply

  374. I love everything! All my decorations are put away right now but these are things that I could do without having to pull them out. Thanks for the great ideas!

    Reply

  387. oh I love the subway art! And what a perfect giveaway for the Halloween season! I am just now getting my fall decorations and can't wait to start doing some fun things for Halloween. Thanks for the wonderful ideas! I might just have to borrow/copy some of yours!
    hawaiianchic@gmail.com

    Reply

  391. LOVE IT! LOVE IT! LOVE IT! Halloween has become our favorite holidays to decorate for. Thank you for your unique ideas!!! What talent!

    Reply

  401. Such cute, great ideas! I've been waiting until it was "closer to Halloween" to decorate, but this post has me so excited, I think I'll go ahead and do it now:). Thanks for sharing and also thanks for the subway art giveaway. It's super cute!

    Reply

  403. Have just recently started following your blog..and am hooked!!! Love your inspiration and creativity for so many things!!! Would love to add some of your ideas to my holiday decorating!!! Thankyou for sharing your time and ideas with all of us!!!!

    Reply

  424. This is my favorte to date of all the guests on eighteen25! I love the vintage look on Halloween so of course I LOVED your wall! Thanks for the ideas, and yes hopefully the vinyl decal 🙂

    Reply

  429. Ooohhhh spooky but fun. My son would love it especially the candy! I will attempt a recreation. Thanks for hte inspriation and getting us into the SPIRIT (no pun intended;))

    Reply

  430. These decorations are amazing, you are so talented. Thanks for the chance to win the decal. I usually don't decorate too much for halloween but now I really want to.

    Reply

  437. Oh my goodness! The subway art is the one thing I fell in love with immediately!!! All of these ideas are definately 'spooktacular'!! You ladies are all wonderful! Enjoying the ideas!

    Reply

  439. I love this! And it's great that you used white (instead of the bright orange and black) and brown kraft paper for these decorations! So classy! Thanks for the great ideas!

    Reply

  464. This has me really excited to dig out my existing Halloween decorations and add a few new things to give it all a new twist. I love, love, love your Halloween subway art!

    Reply

  465. I am in total love with the #9 Potion and Drink Me label! I'm totally taking this and running with it 🙂 I love decorations for this season as long as they aren't gory.

    Reply

  500. Insipring since Halloween isn't something that I like to purchase decorations for either… But that subway art is the bomb! Makes me want to get on making my own little nook in the house for a set up like this!
    Thanks!

    Reply

  503. Some of my friends and I are having a girls night craft night this weekend! We just might have to scratch our previous ideas and follow this tutorial, so stinking cute!!!

    Reply

  508. So cute and I hate Halloween so that's saying a lot! LOL I like the gummy pumpkins and the costumes, but that's about it. The subway art and vinyl lettering on the plates is a grand idea! Thank you for sharing – very fun to see your creativeness shining ever so brightly once again!

    Reply

  513. Everything is spectacular, I LOVE it all! I sure wish I could score some of these great deals you all find. I am inspired to start my decorating early, thanks a bunch!

    Reply

  515. What an elegant room you already had – the perfect background with the black table and gray walls. I love it!!! I'm going to have to try something similar! I have a dollar store crow from last year . . . now I want a little cage!!
    bloses3@yahoo.com

    Reply

  519. I love your blog! I am so happy I was able to come across it one day. You are so very talented, thanks for all the wonderful ideas!

    Reply

  526. That is so awesome! I wish the thrift store was open right now so I could go hunt for Halloween treasures. I never decorate much, but you are inspiring me to think about it differently! Oh, the ideas…

    Reply

  535. You have totally inspired me! I'm going to decorate this year for Halloween. I normally don't like the cheap, scary dead animals or witches but this is totally original and classy. I love it!!

    Reply

  553. This is AWESOME! I LOVE it all! Can I just say I never get that lucky at thrift stores to find all the cute jars and stand like you did:) Thanks for the great idea!

    Reply

  555. I would sooo love that halloween subway art. i was actually studying it trying to figure out how to do it myself and wahla… you are giving it away as a prize! pick me!

    Reply

  568. For someone who doesn't decorate for Halloween, you did a fabulous job. One would never be able to tell that you weren't a try Halloween junkie. Everything looks great and I love that you used thrift store finds and didn't spend a ton of money.

    Reply

  569. I love Halloween! It is my absolute favorite and you have some great decorating ideas! I love the skulls in the glass jar and the shells look like little skulls! So Cool!

    Reply

  576. WOW! I am so glad I found your site through Becky Higgins! I am a TRUE Follower now! I am in charge of Craft night this month with my friends and you better believe we are making ALL OF THIS! Hopefully I can find everything I need!
    Thanks for the chance to win!
    Natalie Park
    St. George Utah

    Reply

  577. Beautiful! I love subway art, and your banner, and the book cover (what an easy way to pull in the holiday) It might not feel like Fall here in the South yet, but I've been burning my pumpkin candle for a month now 🙂

    Reply

  590. This has gotten me SUPER amp'd for Halloween!! Just got all my stuff from AZ to TX and I'm ready to go through allll my decorations and craft stuff. My boyfriend may not recognize the house once he gets back from out of town this weekend 🙂

    Reply

  591. This has gotten me SUPER amp'd for Halloween!! Just got all my stuff from AZ to TX and I'm ready to go through allll my decorations and craft stuff. My boyfriend may not recognize the house once he gets back from out of town this weekend 🙂

    Reply

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