Halloween DIY Idea #1: Spooky Centerpiece

DIY “Makeshift” Spooky Centerpiece

Halloween threw up all over my floor, and it’s a serious mess. But I love being able to piece things together and create something new, without spending money. Let’s call it “cabinet diving: seasonal edition.” Case in point: this DIY centerpiece I put together using Halloween decorations and other items that I already had. You can do it too – just check out the DIY instructions below.

Materials

• Glass bowl
• Bag of assorted moss (from Michael’s craft store)
• Random spooky items that you don’t know what to do with

I don’t get too technical with the materials because my point is to show how you can pull this together no matter what you have on hand. So first, clear your glass bowl. Just to give you an idea, this is what it looked like before I began my project (and a big “thank you” to cousins Robert and Kim, since this was their wedding centerpiece!)…

The bowl, before

Step 1: Clear out the bowl. I took out everything away except for the sand (I left it there to serve as a base.)

Step 2: Place some foam blocks into the bowl. You can find these at any craft store, and they are great – you can stick your items in them and they will hold them in place (don’t mind the holes, they were from a previous cake pop project.)

Step 3: Bust out the moss. This stuff is great – not only is it cheap, but you really don’t have to know what the heck you’re doing. Even better is that since it’s a Halloween centerpiece, the messier it is, the better. Take it out of the package, start pulling it apart and cover up your blocks. Here is where the fun begins: you can start sticking things into the foam. I had an extra stem from a fake floral centerpiece, and last year my mother-in-law curled it around to look like a rat tail – perfect for this piece!

Step 4: Don’t be afraid to get creative. I raided my pantry and found these skeleton hand cocktail picks from last year, which I stuck in the foam blocks to give the piece a “cemetery” sort of feel. Same idea with the RIP coffin, and a glitter spider I had. I am not one for purchasing cheap “throwaway” items, so I was glad that these skeleton picks are sturdy and can be washed and used year after year. *Tip: since all of these items are small, they can get lost or overlooked  if they are placed just anywhere around your home. But bringing them into a centerpiece like this features them in a way that allows them to be seen and appreciated.*

skeleton hand picks purchased from Oriental Trading Co. – 72 for $5!

Step 5: As a last touch, I found these chalkboard markers I had bought from Michael’s to use for a friend’s wedding shower favors. These are great to have on hand also, since they can really be used for anything, during any season.

Purchased from Michael’s, 12 come in a pack – use them all year round

 Step 6: Add some finishing touches, such as a votive candle holder for ambiance and some cheap little plastic spiders, (you know the kind that come with the fake cobwebs?) and you’re done! Enjoy it for the month of October, then break it down and build a Thanksgiving and Christmas version!