How To Create A Subtle Halloween Vignette. I have a few simple ideas on how to use what you have to add a bit of Halloween spirit to your fall vignettes.
September Pinterest Challenge
I hope you’re ready for our September Pinterest Challenge, because fall is officially here. Time to start decorating with all those autumn ideas we have swirling around in our heads. If this is your first time to join us for a Pinterest Challenge, this is how it works. Our host Cindy over at County Road 407, selects a photo for us to recreate, and each participant puts their own spin on the photo.
The best part is seeing how everyone interprets the image, and we always have an interesting variety. Be sure to click through all the links at the end of my post.
To see last year’s September Pinterest challenge, click on my post Classic Fall Decorating For A Small Porch.
If you’re popping in after visiting my friend Niky of The House on Silverado, welcome to Thistle Key Lane. Niky has a Halloween spin on her post as well. Great minds and all of that! 😉
Our inspiration for this month’s PC comes from The Cottage Journal featuring Gloria Parker’s 1830s home. I don’t know about you, but I just want to crawl inside this photo so I can study every detail of the room.
Gloria’s table top fall vignette is full of inspiring fall colors, shapes and textures. Here’s a list of what I’m pulling from the photo to create an arrangement on our secretary desk.
- oversized vase
- branches
- stack of books
- small frames
- mini pumpkins
How To Create A Subtle Halloween Vignette
Instead of just duplicating the fall vignette from the photo, I’m taking it one step further by adding a subtle Halloween spin on our Pinterest challenge. I’m doing this by simply adding a few details that I’ll share with you below.
I don’t decorate much if any for Halloween, but this year I’m getting more into the spirit. I’m also planing an easy Halloween project which I hope to share in October, if not this may be it.
With most of our Pinterest challenges I try to use what I already have on hand, which to me is part of the fun. It forces me to use my imagination, as well as use items I have around the home in new ways. I’m happy to report for this challenge, the mini pumpkins are the only new purchase.
Branches, Crows and The Man In The Moon
I finally went outdoors for some good old fashioned foraging. These small branches work really well in the large white vase. They are a wee bit spooky looking with the spiky stems, which in my opinion calls for crows.
Simple crow silhouettes are cut from thin black poster board. A small clothespin on the back helps to attach the crows to the branches. A good alternative would be bats, depending on which you like best.
The man In the moon face is far from perfect, but he’s as close as I could get to the images I found online. I drew it on heavy watercolor paper, and filled in the details with black marker. To get a perfect round shape I covered the face with a large mixing bowl and traced around the outside edge.
The lines drawn across the image are supposed to look like pieces of wood painted white. Placing him in the cabinet gives him a good spot to peer out behind the branches.
Books, Small Frames And Pumpkins
Books with orange, white and black covers are another nod to Halloween. I’m always using books in one way or another in vignettes, because they have become a natural part of my styling. In this case the orange adds a bit of color to the mostly brown and white arrangement.
For fun you can make book covers with interesting titles on the spines. How about My Spell Book or The Family Grimoire or 101 Best Curses?
Instead of using family photos in small frames like our inspo photo, I’m using a few pumpkin head drawings. I originally painted these in brighter colors then went back and painted a tone on tone for a vintage look. These are really goofy I know, but I really had fun creating them.
For something similar, make a copy of a black and white photo then draw a witch hat or black mask over the image.
The ghost holding the pumpkin is much more simple. It’s in an antique frame I found while rummaging through old family photos. I think it probably from the 1930s or 40s, and I love the carved details.
I couldn’t find any baby boo pumpkins but these mini white pumpkins have really good stems so I’m calling it a win. At the end of the season I can remove the stems, let them dry out and use them for a project next year.
Vintage Additions
Vintage additions can make the vignette even more interesting even though they have nothing to do with Halloween. I’m using the brass candle sticks for height and a skeleton key on the antique arithmetic book.
The open book is Aesop’s Fables circa 1900 with interesting old illustrations as well as short stories such as The Fox and The Crow. Just like the inspiration photo an open book can draw you in for a look.
Be sure to follow Thistle Key Lane on Pinterest, where the boards are up to date with ideas you can use right now!
Thank you for stopping by today for a look at my subtle Halloween vignette. Renae from Peacock Ridge Farm is up next on our Pinterest Challenge sharing her elegant vintage arrangement. I hope that you’ll enjoy clicking through all the links below. We have so many beautiful ideas for you to try this fall.
Cheers!
The Pinterest Challenge Continues…
A truly spooktacular vignette Michelle! I love the wee ghost. So cute!
Thank you Laura! This was a fun challenge for me!
Such a great vignette. I love the moon. Happy Fall, my friend.
Thank you Renae! Happy Fall!
I just bought some branches to do this too Michelle! I love how it feels festive but not too scary. It’s the perfect way to celebrate Spooky Season. Loving and pinning as always sweet friend! Big hugs, CoCo
Thank you so much for pinning CoCo! This was such a fun post for me!
Michelle
This is just the cutest vignette. I love all your paintings. You are so creative. Everything is lovely.
Thanks Rachel! My first time to paint a ghost and pumpkin head people LOL!
Your Halloween vignette is so stinkin’ cute! I cannot get over all of the hand-painted goblins! You are so talented and I really think the two up top (that you think look a little strange) are my favorites. It’s their big heads! 😉 I bet the littles love seeing this when they visit. It’s fantabulous!
Haha I like the big heads too! They were so fun maybe I need to paint some more! Thanks for the sweet comments Cindy!
I love your spin on the inspo photo, Michelle… and your pumpkin head prints are so cute and clever!
Thank you my friend! I don’t do that much for Halloween anymore so this was a fun post!
I love your vignette, Michelle! The man in the moon is so good. So creative. Happy Fall!
Thank you so much for stopping by! Happy Fall!
What a darling vignette Michele. I love how you added the Halloween theme with such great diy projects. The thorny branches are just perfect and add that little bit of spooky to the scene. Your pumpkin heads are my favorite! love how whimsical they look.
Thank you Wendy for the sweet comments! I really enjoyed this little challenge and the chance to get crafty!
Michelle, this is so creative and I adore your spooky cute take on the challenge! The painted pumpkin heads and little ghost are charming and quirky and I love every single detail!
Thank you so much Cindy! These little projects made this challenge extra fun for me!
Michelle, this is soooo fun with the crows and the man in the moon! 🙂 Very cute!!! I am amazed at your creativity and how adorable your desk looks! Great job!! Haven’t you found that it’s really fun to see how different each of this month’s vignettes turned out?
Happy fall to you and enjoy your beautiful spooky vignette!
Hugs,
Barb 🙂
Yes I love seeing what everyone comes up with each month! Happy Fall Barb!
I love how you turned your vignette into the perfect creation for Halloween. The crows in the sticks is genius and the tiny frames filled with ghost is just the cutest things. Love it all.
Thank you so much Marty! These projects were fun and easy!
I love this subtle nod to Halloween vignette, Michelle! And your art is too cute. I’m seriously crushing on that little ghost; do you have him in your printable library? You should seriously sell your art; I love your style!
Thank you Lora! I do sell some of my art through Society6, and I need to add these to the shop.
Hi Michelle hope you’re doing well! Your Halloween vignette is so adorable! I’m going to share it in my weekly newsletter on Friday! Happy Fall!
That is so sweet of you Donna! I appreciate the mention so much! Happy Fall!
LOVE this vignette, Michelle, and all of your tips and tricks! I especially love the mini art frames!
Thanks Beth! The vintage frames belonged to my grandparents. 😊 It’s fun to put them to good use again!