Friday, October 19, 2018

Decorating for Halloween: Black & White Magic


    It seems some things one never outgrows. For me, the enchantment and magic of Halloween is something I still admittedly look forward to with child-like, (if not immature) anticipation.
 Although I can't abide horror movies and shy away from ghoulish and gory decor, I eagerly embrace the elegantly mysterious, mildly eerie and slightly gothic school of Halloween design.
While recent years has seen lively purples and even fun neon greens added to the traditional black and orange go-to palette of the haunting season, I thought I'd shift into neutral this October, keeping the ubiquitous blacks and grays but forgoing the bright orange and vivid yellow tones for softer ivories, mellow creams, and touches of muted old world metallics.
a dollar store raven, natural elements and embellished mini tombstone become
a fun focal point under a glass cloche. I borrowed the crown from my Christmas decorations.
    
 Of course Halloween just isn't(!) without some sweet treats. Black licorice, white mini meringues and cookies in dark chocolate and cream fit the color scheme. Just beware of mischievous mice.
 
a black and white playful pumpkin and
masked mice add whimsy to a mini dessert bar display


Having vowed to scale down my growing stash of holiday treasures taking up residence in my basement, I went with a 'use what I already have and make do' approach this holiday, scouring through my rubber bins and repurposing trappings from Halloweens past, so longtime readers may recognize some familiar faces and feathers.
mini battery operated lights add a magical glow to an urn of faux cobwebs
the ever popular raven is perched with vintage costume pearls and old books 
         
an eerie faceless, flea market photo adds spooky seasonal flair

                                       glittering black ravens mark the witching hour


For our crafty Trick or Treaters,
I thought I'd share some spooky samples of downloadable printables from my 
Etsy Shop
Le Beau Chaton
Fun for tags, scrapbooks and paper crafting


Gothic Wings features designs using copyright free vintage images and original photography by CPaul, from Pere Lachaise Cemetery, Paris, France.

Happy Halloween Hauntings
from 
PennyWise