DIY with mama saigh: Halloween decor.

People often ask me if I actually enjoying DIY-ing "everything". My answer is simply...

Hell. No.

While I do love making and putting together my own party, home, and holiday decor, I'm also a busy mom and wife, and I don't have the time to make everything myself. Halloween is a perfect example. I made a few cheesecloth ghosts with our 5-year-old, and screwed some old boards together to make a chalkboard sign, but other than that my "crafting" was minimal. I hit up a few of my favorite stores to buy some Halloween decorations, and pulled together some simple home decor for our dining room tablescape and mantle.

This week, I was back on The Jason Show with some Halloween decor ideas...

I showcased some "crafty" ideas for those of us who enjoy a little DIY, as well as some simple ideas that don't require any of the "dirty work". I truly feel that there's a Martha Stewart in all of us, but she doesn't have to show her skills every day. Because, let's be honest... That's NOT real life.

"SEMI-DIY" HALLOWEEN DECOR

I love me some white pumpkins, as well as a tablescape that will get me from September to November. This tablescape was SO easy to throw together. I found this neutral woven table runner at Target on clearance for $11. The hallow wood balls are also from Target, and I use them all year round. Then, I went to my local Jo-Ann Fabrics and Craft Store to pick up some white candles in a glass votive, and a couple varieties of "fake" hydrangeas. Jo-Ann Fabrics always has a good sale going on, or a 50% off coupon to use. After a pretty extensive search, I finally found mini white pumpkins at Trader Joes for like $.69 each (Target was asking almost $6 a pop for these little guys). And the antlers... Mills Fleet Farm! They have fake and real deer antlers of all shapes and sizes, and these bad boys added some beautiful rustic texture to my fall tablescape!

Our fall/Halloween tablescape, with our DIY cheesecloth ghosts on the back hutch.

Party City is my go-to store for easy-peasy holiday and party decorating. I found this movable/pose-able skeleton at Party City, and sat him on our porch in a rocking chair, waving to all of our neighbors. I put a top hat on his head, and a black crow in his lap to add a little more Halloween flair. Party City also had these great giant skulls that I put on top of some sheet moss in our planters.

Trick-Or-Treat! See, not everything needs to be DIY or crafty.

I found these cool paper mache skulls at Jo-Ann Fabrics, on sale for like $3 each. I also picked up two apothecary jars and a bag of Spanish moss, to create some spooky and simple "skulls in jars" for our fireplace mantle.

Add caption

CRAFTY DIY HALLOWEEN DECOR

My 5-year-old and I made these adorable cheesecloth ghosts one day after school. All you need is a water bottle and a ball (or something similar to make the ghost forms), wax paper, cheesecloth, fabric stiffener, and some black felt (or something similar to make the eyes). While this is a messy craft, it's also simple and fun. I've posted the directions on how to make these freestanding cheesecloth ghosts at home, on the blog!

By screwing a few pieces of scrap wood/boards together, and painting the front with chalkboard paint, I was able to make a Halloween chalkboard for trick-or-treaters. Using this sign, I can let trick-or-treaters know that "we have candy", and when our "candy bowl is empty". Plus, once we put the kids to bed on Halloween, we can leave a bowl of candy out on the porch, along with the chalkboard sign reading, "Please help yourself. Our little goblins are sleeping, so please don't ring the doorbell."