There’s something beautifully eerie when you mix layers of lace to Halloween! I’m not really sure what it is…the romanticism of eras past or the delicate ghost-like sheerness of the fabric…but it provides some sort of mystery for me and I really wanted to incorporate it into my decor this year. The wonderful thing about lace is that you can buy it from the bolt at any fabric store…and there are plenty of patterns to choose from–and price ranges too! But for holiday decor I prefer to dig through the remnant bin to see if there’s something cheap that suits my fancy! You may remember the adorable fabric banner I saw on my trip down Highway 127 checking out the endless sales. Well, not wanting to wait until the 4th of July to make one similar AND the fact that I’m enamored with lace right now…I decided to try and make one (and some other “lacy” crafts) for Halloween! Check out how I added some “old” lace to my home for the holiday…
softly spooky…
i love the idea of these fabric banners! scraps of fabric go a long way in making something wonderful…and it’s so easy to do!
i used strips of lace, old burlap, cotton duck, and black twine…once you determine how long your strands will be–cut and tie them on! it’s as simple as that! i used a long strand of twine to attach to the hooks under my mantle and tied the fabric pieces on right in place. a strand of fairy lights add some twinkle…and it was easy to tie the battery box right on the twine and hide it behind the fabric! i was not careful AT ALL in making my strips even in width or have straight edges…once you get them all together they look great! and for Halloween, the ragged edges work perfectly!
so what to do with the left-over lace? hmmm…
how about some decoupage? a dollar store plastic skull gets a new look…
a little mod podge was all i needed! with what turned out to be the crappiest scissors i owned, i cut the lace into approximately 1 inch pieces. as it turned out, the crummy shears worked to my advantage making the lace ragged around the edges.
i saturated the little lace pieces with glue and just layered them on. some areas needed super tiny pieces to fill in little spaces…but it never needs to be perfect for Halloween!
a single tea bag did wonders for making it look old!
i could have tea-stained the fabric first but i waited until i was finished with the decoupage and then dunked the bag in hot water, squeezed it out, and dabbed it all around the skull. it created a mottled effect…and tucked under a cloche lined with spanish moss…he looks old and mysterious!
a perfect accompaniment to my tray of mugs and paper products ready & waiting for guests…
and a REALLY simple garland made from wood craft skulls–originally intended to make single ornaments! i love the wood in its natural state and the pre-punched holes for the hangers make it super easy to string up like a bunting! i try to think outside the “package info” when buying crafts…you can almost always find an alternative use!
dried flowers, wood bunting, holiday serving pieces…and “old” lace! simple items that easily create a naturally spooky display…inspired by the fabric garland!
it softly whispers…
Happy Halloween!