Halloween Decor - Vintage and Otherwise

When I bought milk last week, I noticed that the expiration date was November 1st. Holy crap - how did it get to be almost November already?  It has still been pretty warm here - in the 80's most days.  And, the leaves are just starting to turn colors.  I can't believe it is almost Halloween.  I've been pretty busy lately, but I decided that if I didn't get some Halloween decorations up NOW, there wouldn't be any this year.  And that wouldn't be right.  Not at all.

My rusty old grid is covered in vintage graphics.  I love those bright colors.

Not my usual vintage decor - but I do like this vignette.  A mortuary business card, photo of the hearse we owned when I was a kid (Were we Funeral Directors?  No.  We were morticians?  No.  Did my Dad buy any car that was cheap and unusual?  Yes.  Did he ever pick me up from school in it.  Yes.  Did he do it a second time?  No!)  Where was I?  Oh yes, a black glittery skeleton, old poison bottles, medicine bottles, a vintage party game book and some other black, orange and creepy themed things round it out.

A mish mash on my picnic baskets.  The ceramic pumpkin was the very first Halloween decoration I ever bought on my own.   He has a big crack down the back of his head and every year I am afraid he will break in two.  But, KNOCK WOOD, he has survived another year.

I got these hologram photos at the Dollar Tree.  They were really tacky and in these hideous plastic frames. But they had potential.  I cut them out of the bad frames and put them in black cardboard photo holders.  They look like normal photos one direction, but evil corpse blood sucking zombies from the other direction.  Niiiice. 

All my favorite vintage inspired little cuties. 

That giant rocking cat was one of my very first 90% off scores at Target a few years ago.  I just love him so much.  I think he still cost about $5.00, which means he was $50.00 originally.  *It took me forever to get all those little cobwebs strategically spread out on my popcorn ceiling.  Ha! 

I bought these two vintage costumes on Etsy last year in Beth's Shop, Dime Store Decor.  I wished I would find a few more this year.

And, then at the big sale two weekends ago - I scored five more and a bunch of vintage masks too.  I only put out three of them this year.  Notice the vampire'd up photo of The Bean.  I framed a photo of him a few years ago and let him decorate it.  Bloody teeth, a scar, and some googly eyes are what he chose to creep it up. 

A big orange Pyrex bowl (my one and only piece of Pyrex) full of tiny tick or treat pails, a vintage blowmold pumpkin and a few other favorites.

The whole shelf all at once.  I want to find an awesome corner shelf to replace this prefab shelf someday.  It was in my apartment in college and I am so over that fake wood.  But, it works to hold my junk and I am happy to have it.  I just wish the Junk Gods would send me a big fabulous chippy white shelf.  For $1.99.  :o)

I love these silhouettes that I made last year.  They are super simple.  Go ** here, print them out, frame them and you are done.  I have been lucky to find two great old Halloween noisemakers for 25¢ each to add into the mix. 

I got this funny guy last weekend.  I know he's not a Gurley, but he's vintage and he's cute.  What more could you want?  (Besides a Gurley, of course!)

I found this fun pumpkin today at the Salvation Army under a pile of random Halloween dollar store crap.  Can you tell what he is?  He is a coconut.  I love him!

Here are a few of my favorite vintage items:

 This little devil figurine is a cutie.  I've never known if he should go in my Valentine or my Halloween decorations.  I think I like him in the Halloween best.

She's not vintage - but she's made of all vintage items. 

I was very pleased to have found an Ouija Board this summer.  I remember having one when I was a kid and doing it with my Mom.  It always answered the questions!

A box of old Jack O' Lantern Candles.  I found these at a pathetically junky sale where the promise of finding anything looked quite bleak.  I grabbed them, paid my 10¢ and left smiling ear to ear!

Lastly, my 1950's Buster Brown mannequin dressed in her Halloween outfit.  She's all ready to go trick or treating with her pail.  It just occurred to me today that I should actually get her a costume to wear. 

Be sure to go visit Joan at Anything Goes Here for the Vintage Halloween Blog Party!

***The silhouettes are on the Value Village page.  That link is last year's ideas.  Here are this year's ideas.  I've never even been to a Value Village, but I love their site.  They have ideas for every season and every holiday and they are all thrift store based.  Thrifting, crafting and decorating?  Yes!  Please!