An Uncomplicated Life Blog: Semi DIY Haunted Fireplace Mantel

Monday, September 5, 2016

Semi DIY Haunted Fireplace Mantel

When you want to decorate for the holidays but you're not super crafty, use a semi DIY decorating method to save money AND get the look you want


In the most basic of ways, fall is my favorite season. But not for the pumpkin spice lattes and blanket scarves... I'm here for Halloween! My birthday falling on October 16 is a plus too, but mostly Halloween. I actually might enjoy decorating for Halloween more than Christmas! Black, orange, green, purple and everything seems to be covered in glitter... What more could a girl want?! I enjoy a good craft, but these days, I have limited time for my hobbies. Yet buying decorations from a store is expensive. I've found the semi DIY decorating method to be the most efficient and cost effective for a great Halloween fireplace mantel.

If decorating your home seems too expensive or like too much work, check out this semi-DIY method! It saves money and time so your home can be seasonally decorated easily #fall #Halloween #seasonaldecor #homedecor

Ever since I could remember, I've been fascinated with Halloween. Not for the death and gore, but a fascination with ghosts and spirits and life after death. I know some people don't celebrate Halloween because "it's the devils' work" and that's so outlandish to me I have to hide a snort laugh. I don't want to laugh at anyone's religious beliefs, but I don't believe in devils or hell and I find it absurd that others do as a way to put fear into a person to "do good." I'm getting a bit off topic and going deeper than I intended to here, so I'll end saying this: Halloween was created in the early 10th century to remember the departed. Throughout the centuries, tall tales have been added about ghosts and ghouls of those who have passed and everything has gotten covered in about six layers of glitter. To me, it's all in good fun. Decorate on!

Have you ever been in a craft store, or Target, or anywhere really - and have seen all the great decorations, but choked at the price tag? And then you think, oh heck, I can make that myself! So you start to fill your cart with the individual pieces, and before you're even 10 minutes into it, you're so overwhelmed with how time consuming it's going to be, you leave your cart in the aisle and walk away? Hey, I've actually done that. I really thought I could build my own haunted house and share a tutorial on it and before I even had $30 of supplies in my cart I was like, "I CAN'T" and moved on.



What I COULD do, however, was this semi DIY haunted bouquet to round out my Halloween fireplace mantel. It's so simple: I used a Mason jar and leftover moss I had to form the base. Then I selected some favorite pieces of glitter-covered Halloween faux-flowers/plants from a craft store. I formed the bouquet in the store so I would know what would look good together. Boom! Insert moss in Mason jar, form my bouquet and you're in business with the semi DIY haunted bouquet. I spent $21 on supplies for this. Had I bought it pre-made from the craft store, it would have easily been $50. Semi DIY saves you tons of money and you get it to look the way you want!



I also semi DIY'd the garland for the fireplace mantel. It's actually four garland pieces I've strung together to make it thick, then I added the pumpkin lights. A robust, pre-lit garland is outrageously expensive, but if you semi DIY it, you can get it to fit just the right space with just the right colors for a fraction of the cost. It only takes you a little bit of thought and some time to put it together.




For the rest of the haunted fireplace mantel, I used pieces and decorations I've collected over the years. A skull cookie jar. A glittery haunted house. My fall DIY pumpkins got a Halloween face lift with some new ribbon. Now if only I can get Henry to leave them alone... They're reachable down on the fireplace hearth, but since they're plastic, he hasn't been able to destroy them. Yet.

If decorating your home seems too expensive or like too much work, check out this semi-DIY method! It saves money and time so your home can be seasonally decorated easily #fall #Halloween #seasonaldecor #homedecor

What's your favorite holiday to decorate for? I know there's more than a few of us die-hard Halloween and fall lovers out there! Whatever holiday is your jam, try out the semi DIY decorating method. It's just enough of a craft to be fun without the frustration. It saves a bunch of money compared to the pre-made items and you get to make it just the way you want to fit your home and style. My semi DIY haunted fireplace mantel is right up my weird, Halloween loving alley!

27 comments:

  1. Okay I am LOVING this. I love how creative you are. Want to come and decorate my house (when I buy one of course) lol

    ReplyDelete
  2. This looks awesome! I need to pick up some more Halloween decorations!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I absolutely adore it! Halloween is my favorite holiday! I love decorating for it, the time of year and just everything that goes along with it. I love your decorations here!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I'm so with you on your Halloween sentiments! It has always been a favorite holiday of mine, and I love your semi-spooky decor.

    ReplyDelete
  5. So fun! Love these decorating ideas! One of my favorite memories is decorating for Halloween with my mom when I was a kid. She was an interior/landscape designer, so we not only got to decorate our home, but I got to go with her and help decorate at her high end clients homes. Her favorite holiday was Halloween, so it holds a special place in my heart.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I am so happy to be halloween posts! Fall is almost here!

    ReplyDelete
  7. This is awesome! I'm so bad about holiday decorating. I don't have a mantle but I do have an entertainment stand that this would look great on. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I'm so with you on the semi DIY. I'm horrible at crafts but I always think they're so pretty and wish I could do stuff like that. This is a great solution! Definitely doing this!

    ReplyDelete
  9. This is so cute! I'm definitely lagging on starting to decorate!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Looks so good!! I love how you enjoy creepy stuff. You won't need that stuff at the English manors, btw :) x

    ReplyDelete
  11. I love how much you love Halloween. That used to be me back in the day, but now I just decorate for general fall. And with our house under construction I probably won't get any fall decorations out for a while, if at all.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I've been so excited about Halloween and fall lately! I used to be such a die hard summer fan and it's not that I don't like it anymore, I'm just so much more excited for fall. :) ESPECIALLY decorating! I have a few pieces I've bought throughout the years and I love using them to decorate the place. Your mantel looks AMAZING! :)

    ReplyDelete
  13. LOVE THIS!!! It all looks so good! And it's festive without being too much, it's just perfect. :)

    ReplyDelete
  14. Your mantel is so cute! I love that it's not too scary. I love decorating for Christmas! My daughter loves looking at the lights and anything with glitter or sparkles so Christmas decorating has become very exciting! Thank you for sharing your DIY!

    ReplyDelete
  15. I don't celebrate Halloween but this is really creative! I love the leaves and pumpkins though. I actually just dug my fall leaves out and plan to put them up soon!

    ReplyDelete
  16. So cute & festive!! Love it!
    Kelsey
    www.thepeacockroost.com

    ReplyDelete
  17. Oh my goodness! Hands down, the cutest Halloween mantel I've seen this season!! That little house! Those pumpkin lights! Ugh! I'm gushing!

    ReplyDelete
  18. I definitely wish we had a mantle for this reason!

    ReplyDelete
  19. I also love seasonal decorating! Halloween and Fall are awesome. I totally use this semi-DIY technique to decorate too!!

    ReplyDelete
  20. I don't celebrate Halloween, but I do LOVE decorating for Fall. I love your little pumpkins and the glittery "leaves" in the centerpiece on the mantle. Super cute!

    ReplyDelete
  21. I love decorating my home for the holidays and seasons! Second to Christmas, I have the most decorations for Halloween. I do the same thing as you when I comes to DIYing my decorations. I want them to fit my style but I hate spending $30 on something I could easily make for less.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Christmas is hands down my favorite holiday to decorate for, but I love that you are SO into Halloween. It's what makes you YOU, Paigey.

    Also - I'm impressed with your decor skills. You and Annie need to hop on over to my house in a month or so and help me decorate. :D It'll be an easy trip. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  23. I can set up my new idea from this post. It gives in depth information. Thanks for this valuable information for all,.. As a fuel a dangerous LPG or natural gas

    ReplyDelete
  24. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  25. the best Korean dandruff shampoo A very awesome blog post. We are really grateful for your blog post. You will find a lot of approaches after visiting your post.

    ReplyDelete
  26. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Creating a DIY haunted fireplace mantel can add a spooky and festive touch to your home, perfect for Halloween. As you embark on this creative carpet cleaner houston texas project, make sure to protect your carpet from any potential mess by covering it with a drop cloth or plastic sheet. This precaution will ensure that your carpet stays pristine while you unleash your ghostly decorating skills on the fireplace mantel. Happy crafting and cleaning

    ReplyDelete