Halloween Mantle Decor

Last year I created a Halloween vignette

with a nod to The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe.
After all, what's creepier for Halloween 
than Poe?!?


This year, I added to it & 
changed the color scheme to all
black, white, & grey.

The "Oct 31" sign is made from old book pages
{sent through on my computer}
& this garland from the Michael's craft store . . .

It had little ghosts on it
 {which I didn't want--so I cut them off}.
I sewed the "Oct 31" pages to the garland
with the zig-zag stitch on my sewing machine.

I also used whatever grey & white ribbon 
I had on hand on the corners. 
The rosettes are sweater flowers.
{CLICK HERE to learn how to make them.}


I made the chalkboard last year from a
piece of wood - painted with chalkboard paint.
{By the way, I like the chalkboard paint you
paint on more than the kind you spray on!}

You can find the rest of the poem The Raven HERE.
I just chose an excerpt & went with it.


I also framed a picture of Poe {above} for the mantle.
CLICK HERE to get one for yourself.
{I just printed it out on my computer printer.}


The large jar is kept on the mantle most of the year
with greenery in it. For Halloween, I spray paint
some branches black & poke them in it.
{I just trim some branches from a tree out back - FREE!}

The candles are battery-operated with timers.
They come on for a few hours every night &
they even flicker.
I LOVE THEM & I use them all year long.
Costco is selling them right now . . .
RUN, DON'T WALK to buy some!
They DO sell out.

I created this pumpkin with 
Mod Podge & napkins.
{Click here to learn how.}


I topped it all off with some vinyl crows
which I won last year.
{Thanks Mandi at Vintage Revivals!}

I'm off to decorate some more!