Antlers: A Budding Romance

I have a new crush: Antlers.

Good looking, useful in so many settings, unique, natural.  What's not to love!?!

Halloween I add them to displays and mobiles, their twists and points seemingly sinister.  For Fall, they add some sculpture and nature to a wreath.  And for Christmas, stockings get a new place to hang.

They're so universal!  If you're antler-crazy like me, bookmark this post.  I expect this post to grow as I discover new ways to integrate these stunners into holiday decor for EVERY season.   I walk around my house holding antlers now, looking for places to add points.

Get started with your own antler obsession by picking some up on eBay.  There are lots of sellers - antlers make great chew toys for dogs - so there's options at nearly every price points.  Here's my favorite seller - they'll accommodate your needs quantity and quality wise.  Just let them know what you'll be using them for and they'll hook you up.

Can't wait to dress this up for
Halloween next year.

Antler Candle Holder goes from Halloween...

...to Thanksgiving...

...and right into Christmas.

Fall-ing Forward from Goblins to Gobble Gobble

Don't toss those uncarved gourds just yet!  Keep the festivities going by gathering them together and adding corn cobs for a festive Thanksgiving display.  These corn cobs were on my cornstalks from Halloween which was an extra bonus.

Or...add some succulents.  This nifty project my mom just finished and I think it's fantastic.  She hot glued some clippings directly to the pumpkin.  The succulents will grow through the skin of the pumpkin and as the pumpkin decomposes, it provides nutrients the plants.  The more deformed the pumpkin the better, tucking the clippings into their twists and turns.  What a great Thanksgiving table centerpiece option.  Can't wait to try this myself.

Antler Shed Wreath - I'm actually not much of a wreath person but I do adore how they can mark the passing of a year through the holidays.  I took my antlers (eBay) and feathers (craft store/found) from my haunt set up and picked up this grapevine wreath at Joann Fabrics ($6.99 minus a 60% off regular price coupon).  A silver cuff bracelet adds a nice touch of metal along with some rusted bell stems I found on 70% clearance last year.   Moose ribbon a result of years of hoarding gift wrap ribbon to the point of embarrassment.

Pumpkin Bush into Turkey Topiary - My first year doing these so need to tweak but I'm already all about these silly and amazing turkey topiaries.  Left the pumpkin bush part as is and added a shepherd's hook, old trellis and some tomato cages.

Above the Cabinets - The antler candle holders were a Christmas purchase that goes from Halloween, to Thanksgiving and right into Christmas.  Owls transition from "Boo" back to "Who" when nestled among the fall harvest.  My mother was amazing at marking the year through the holidays with window & door decals and decorations.   Bringing the cheer to the space above the cabinets is my way of carrying the tradition on.

From Halloween spooky...

To Thanksgiving toasty.

Haunter Hoarder

A sauce jar turned Witch's Jar and
former libation & oil bottles create a
creepy corner

Sigh, the Most Wonderful Time of the Year has passed and the post euphoria melancholy begins to set in.  The antidote?  Planning for next year!

Repurposing everyday items falls perfectly in my cheap & easy decorating philosophy.  Stockpiling these empty or used household items keeps the DIY supply high and always at the ready when inspiration hits and time allows for prop making.  Check out this list of items and how to use them in your haunt.


Tin Cans - Hold onto the cans from everything from coffee to baked beans to acquire an assortment of sizes.  Pierce a design in with a hammer and nail and then rust them up with a salt & vinegar rusting solution for fantastic luminaries.  Add a creepy label to a rusted can to stock an apothecary.  Add some rusted cans to a Cabin in the Woods haunt to give it an "abandoned, no help is coming" feeling.  Note: be sure to hammer down any sharp edges leftover from removing the lid.

Baked beans...swirly luminaria

Glass Jars - Gonna need glass jars for Witch's Jars.  Large pickle jars are fantastic as well as supersized jars of spaghetti sauce.  Use smaller jars like olive & pesto jars and add labels for an apothecary.  I love Oui Yogurt jars for tea lights sized holders.  Ball sells metal tops with hangers that fit some wide mouth jars allowing you to create hanging lanterns for a cemetery, Pirate Ship, or Priestess Shack.

Oui Yogurt jars (2nd from left) have
a lovely shape

Glass bottles - Wine, olive oil & liquor bottles and their unique shapes add visual interest to an apothecary.  Remove the labels and add your own and wrap raffia around the necks.  Or leave the labels, age them and add to a Haunted House or Pirate Ship.  Hold onto the corks so they can be placed back in to appear still full of vintage libations.  Cider bottles are perfect for Pirate haunts or Cabin in the woods.  Stain the inside of clear bottles with Modge Podge dyed with food coloring and bake for 1 hour at 200 degrees for a cool stained glass look.

Tin Containers - Mints, tea, spices, hot chocolate; tin containers can be rusted or simply add a label and added to a Haunted House, apothecary, Pirate Ship or Cabin in the Woods.

Medicine bottles - Remove labels and use a glue gun to write the contents on the side.  Paint with silver, gold or bronze paint and distress to create potion ingredient bottles for an apothecary.

Flowers/Bouquets - If you're fortunate to get flowers show them new appreciation by adding them to a haunt.  Hang upside down to dry after enjoying their fresh blossoms.  Add to an apothecary, Shack or place in a aged vase (use the one it came in!) in a Haunted House display.

Vases/Gift Baskets - Speaking of flowers, vases are more than glass.  Metal, birch, wood, baskets, and more.  Hold onto the cool one's and toss the tacky to add to Pirate Ships, Haunted Houses, Swamp Shacks, Cabins in the Woods...honestly, they can find a home just about anywhere.  The wood box shaped one's can be turned on their sides, stacked and glued together to create a shadow or storage box display.  Gift baskets can be added to Witch's Lairs, Swamp Shacks, Haunted Houses, Undertakers, Tombs/Crypts and more.

Rust this pail up with a salt & vinegar solution

Naturals are perfect for a Witch's Lair or Swamp Shack

Stack these on their side to create a multi-compartment display

Fill with dried fruit or skulls. Age the wood with an
SOS Pad/Steel Wool solution and metal band with a
salt & vinegar solution.

Food & supplies for the Pharaoh in the afterlife were stored in
baskets not too dissimilar to these.

Bottle Caps - Make a hole and add to a mobile or create a wind chime.  Place in the eye sockets of a fake skull.

Ribbon/Yarn/String - This can get overwhelming so be sure to only hold onto the good stuff.  Wrapping these days is so "cool" it often means twine, burlap & yard.  The pieces may not always be big, but you only need a little to wrap the neck of a bottle or to hang a mobile.

362 days till Halloween....