WebSpinstress Gothic Halloween Blog

Cranberries and Pumpkins

Pumpkin season is not quite over yet – a Halloween full of ripping open thick orange pumpkin rinds and stringing out the guts contributes to a nicer version of pumpkin destruction called the oven!

This beautiful and delicious stuffed pumpkin recipe inspired me to search for the greatest cranberry and pumpkin fusions available as food for the soul and creative displays for the eye…

This hanging chandelier from Martha is one of the most elegant pumpkin and cranberry displays that I have found and would be suitable for the largest dinner event of the year.

An upside-down cranberry pumpkin cake would complete the look as the perfect finishing centerpiece and a grand finale of your Thanksgiving meal.

Glass jars never fail nor do tall pillars full of cranberries, according to BHG’s cranberry holiday displays.

Just add a few mini pumpkins in between…and a loaf of warm, freshly baked cranberry pumpkin bread set in a basket.

Elegant Halloween Displays

Only 2 more days until Halloween!

Create easy last-minute elegant Halloween decorations by using simple spooky supplies that are available everywhere such as flowers, leaves, pumpkins, ravens, and plastic skeletons. Here’s two examples of quick dark arrangements that I have completed within the last few weeks:

Gothic Masquerade Pumpkins

My masquerade pumpkin invitation cards have been popular on Zazzle for a little while, most appropriately used for Gothic weddings and Halloween parties. This year, I decided to make the real-life versions by hand-stitching them in Venetian style with elegant black cording and beautiful fabrics. I’m holding one in my avatar…after almost 15 hours of hand-stitching and yelling obscenities at these things in standard New England tradition. lol

My piratey renaissance neighbor and friend, Faustus, from FriedMush received his skull pumpkin version today…there’s 2 more available RIGHT HERE on Etsy. I decided to give Etsy a try for quick listings for my blog and we’ll see how it goes. Grab them quick if you’re interested – I only have a few days to ship them in time for Halloween. I’ll have them listed all year round though for Gothic and masquerade themed wedding decorations. These are the darkest, most elegant pumpkins available!

Pumpkin Topiary Displays

If you’re looking to add some extra height to your Fall and Halloween arrangements, a pumpkin topiary is fun to create and makes a memorable display for your guests.

Simply drill and shove a dowel through the middle of their innards and then embellish your stacked pumpkin collection.

BHG has a unique Halloween display of pumpkin topiaries using orange pumpkins, large spiders with painted diamonds and stripes. I love how a portion of the dowels are exposed and painted to continue along with the topiary design. It radiates with masquerade appeal…and I can think of a few special ideas to spooky up the design a little more.

I found this display from Imperfectly Beautiful, who created a tall and whimsical pumpkin topiary. It includes hand-painted black and white polka-dots, ravens, and an elegant birdcage design stacked on top of a planter with Spanish moss placed carefully around the edges.

Black and White Pumpkins are elegant and fun. These pumpkin arrangements are made with just stickers, but you can duplicate the same look by using swirly vintage rubber stamp designs or by painting them yourself. Beautiful collection of centerpieces, by the way…don’t forget to check out the complete blog post!

Halloween DIY Specimen Jars

To create your own specimens, you need a good assortment of clear glass containers. Use canning jars, potion bottles, apothecary jars, wine bottles, or rinse out the spaghetti sauce jar from last night’s dinner. The concept is simple – refill the jars with colored water, add a slimy and creepy specimen, and embellish with labels, paint, and twine.

Wilton makes a Halloween drink-coloring dye set with green, orange, red, and black already mixed for you, available at your local craft store. Hard-boiled eggs, cauliflower chunks, mini skeletons, and light-colored creatures work well in dark colored dyes for the added appeal of not being able to distinguish clear details apart from each specimen.

I found a very inspiring display of potion bottle specimen jars arranged on an antiquated bookshelf with a full tutorial included. Create your own Witches’ Kitchen this Halloween for a unique party theme that will have your guests brewing and bubbling over (with anticipation, I mean. I certainly hope you don’t plan to stuff them into the cauldron…).

Use vintage-style potion bottle labels for added authenticity, such as this beautiful set from the talent behind Love Manor: Bottle Labels.

As an added note, don’t forget your specimen jar necklaces…not just for Halloween! Specimen Jar Necklaces

Midnight Dreary Arrangement

A Dark and Dreary Halloween Arrangement

Midnight Dreary is the first Gothic Halloween arrangement I have created this year, to begin my soon to be over-crowding series of spooky adornments.

Ravens and silk black roses surround an elegant “Boo” word statue with silver skulls, LED pillar candles, and a tall candelabra. This arrangement is set up alter-style, to be placed on top of a bookcase or on a thin side table.

At night, the LED candles flicker in dark orange hues, dancing around the figures and casting shadows on the wall. For added ambiance, I have an additional set of orange Halloween lights set in front of the arrangement.

Black LED pillars are available HERE for only $5.99 to $9.99 and are definitely my favorite find so far…

Halloween Decorations Inspired by Nature

Some of the most festive Halloween decorations can be found in your backyard. With only a few extra craft supplies and a little creativity, you’ll have one-of-a-kind Halloween that can’t be bought in stores…

Twigs:
Thin branches can be arranged with flowers and leaves to create a festive centerpiece. Intertwine them together in circular form to create a base for a wreath. You can spray paint branches or dip them glue and glitter for a modern twist. A large branch can stand up in a tall floor vase for a natural Halloween tree.

Leaves:
You can keep them natural, or add a clear spray sealant on the leaves to make them last longer. String them to hang around your home, either by themselves or on a long string together. You can also use Fall leaves on your Halloween dinner table around your centerpiece and dishes.

Other findings:
You may be able to find stones, berries, seashells, or pinecones that will stand out with your natural Halloween decorations. Don’t forget about the little things – spray paint or glue and glitter them to match the rest of your accessories.

Food items such as fruit and vegetables also complement Fall and Halloween settings. Use pumpkins, gourds, apples, corn, grapes, squash, berries and nuts to create arrangements for guests to feast their eyes on.