Hand Made Halloween Cards
My Little Goblins
The Three Bandits
The seasons in Southern California certainly exist, but they change on more subtile terms than they do for our neighbors to the east. We embrace those subtile changes just the same. With Fall and Halloween upon us, I enjoy seeing many of the elaborate decorations people put up around their homes and front gardens; I do miss the little goblins that used to roam the streets, but I understand that safety is far more important.
My decorating for fall usually starts in September, but I am slipping. I have only just put out some fall decorations. One tribute to Halloween I do incorporate is a picture of my little goblins from more decades ago than they would prefer acknowledge. I keep the picture of them heading out to Trick or Treat in their cheap, drugstore-bought costumes (they insisted they wanted to be like the other kids), posed among some fall pumpkins and vines. The picture is part of my annual decor; it always appears somewhere in my home, not always in the same place—that is part of the fun of decorating!
I do have the good fortune to have a very talented cousin, and I made it to his special Halloween Card list several years ago. His cards are always handcrafted, and his imagination and talents are honorably displayed each year somewhere in my home. This year, I felt the black china cabinet was the perfect place to enjoy them; they stand out in spooky fashion against the black background.
Whatever your preference for fall might be, you should embrace what you have and love. Whether it is a few photographs or natural elements from your garden, you can always find a place to show off the fall season in your home. Naturally, candles enhance fall with their spicy scents and fall colors. Placing them around your favorite photographs, gourds and vines will bring you hours of delight as they flicker in the now cooler evenings coming earlier and earlier.
Wreaths are another favorite of mine. I have several on different doors and in windows around my house— inside and out. Your front porch is a perfect venue to welcome your guests. A wagon full of real or realistic pumpkins from the crafts store sitting on a bed of straw, along with branches from your trees and vines from your yard, will add to the authenticity of your display. Additionally, you can pop in treasures from your past here as well, like a goblin toy or trick or treat bucket your children carried.
If you have a collection of lanterns, your front porch is a good place to gather and display them, again, using natural branches, vines and pumpkins to complement your display. The lanterns can hold candles and safely bring beautiful light to you entry.
Remember, you have lots of memories stored away in your home. All you need to do is pull out the photo albums and frame a few favorites, bring your fall and winter throws and quilts out of storage, and add some natural elements to your design to create a uniquely personal fall display.