DIY WEDNESDAY: Halloween Projects From $0

Quick. Easy. Cheap. Budget friendly Halloween decor you can create yourself from $0 to really no more than $10. Reuse items you already of on hand - scrapbooking scissors, black spray paint, wine bottles out in the recycling bin, or trimmed tree branches. Use any of these five projects in multiples to add impact and drama not only to your decor, but for added ambiance for a Halloween block party...

Black Painted Wine Bottles

Used Arbor Mist MATT glass bottles (but any could work)

Spray painted black SATIN finish

Attached Haunted Wine Labels (packs of mixed labels from Dollar Store)

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Project total: Under $10 and ya get to drink the wine!

NOTE: Only two shown here, but you can create a MASSIVE centerpiece for party with the same concept, except vary the size of the bottles, and add taper candles to bottle necks. For even more drama - get the tapers that DO DRIP - and let the wax layer & drip onto the painted bottles.

BOO Re-Painted Canvases

Re-Used painted canvases from a prior project

Previously turquoise - now spray painted black semi-gloss

Hung onto 2" nail covering existing NYC letters on wall

Attached w/foam tape 8x10 printed letters

(purposefully not mounted flush to be reminiscent of PB's book pages on crow tree)

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Project Total: $0 because reused items on hand

NOTE: BigLots sells canvas boards in various sizes for under $5

The letters below are what I had used (found through Google)

RIGHT CLICK to copy all these letters. Save it. Upload image to Picnik. CROP the letters you need. Use "touch-up - clone" to cover any clips of other letters for the one you need. Edit image with features such as "Vignette" or "Inverted". Save at 300. Print at 8x10.

NOTE: craft this one step further - print letters onto cardstock, cut out to make a stencil,

use white & cream latex or acrylic paint to stipple-stencil lettering onto canvas.

Edit Lettering Using Picnik and Special Paper

Change the look of the printed lettering using Picnik photo editing site features:

Rounded corner frame

Vignette

Vignette and Inverted

Print letter as 8x10 on special or colored paper (like parchment or watercolor) for a more aged look or sticky-back paper to create easy decals

Give your sheets an added detail by using your scrapbook edging scissors

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Total project cost: $0 because using paper & tools already on hand

Martha Stewart Bat Template

Print template

Cut a template from a file folder

Use a silver or white pencils to trace

Fold back craft paper in half

Three (folded) bats fit to a sheet

Cut away!

Attach to walls with pins or double sided tape

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Total Project cost: I think maybe $5 for the package of paper (got last year)

(35 sheets - 3 per page yields 102 bats!)

Wausau Classics Cardstock

Pottery Barn Inspired Crow Tree

Trim your own tree OR pick up oversized branches the from side of the road

Trim off all leaves

Spray well with bug spray

Allow branches a day to roast in the sun

Bring into house and secure inside an urn (stuff with rocks & newspaper)

Pick-up a bag of Spanish moss at the Dollar Store

Open moss bag and PULL APART in kitchen sink (helps with the mess)

Put your moss parts in a grocery bag and bring to your branch location

Nestle dripping moss naturally into "Y" of branches

Zig-zag moss placement in branches for a well spaced natural effect

Nestle crows into some moss spots

Start with small crows at top of branch, to medium to large at base

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Total project cost: Only depends on the price of the large & medium crows: I got my large crow last year at Michael's - on sale & with a coupon for only $8. The medium crow was only $3.50 and this years addition of 5 small crows only $1 each at the Dollar Store along with a bag of moss for only $1.

No crows? No problem: Use the bats hot glued to branches!

I have a few more I'll be sharing shortly...

Happy Fall and Happy Halloween!

BOO-BYE!!

(I love this time of year)

LINKING TO:

Somewhat Simple - Strut Your Stuff Thursdays

Fireflies and Jellybeans - Show Off Your Stuff

The DIY Showoff - Project Parade

The DIY Showoff - Last Minute Halloween Fall Festival

Somewhat Simple - Halloween Blog Party