Spooky Inspirations...

Hosted by Susan and Leigh
A little too busy again so I thought I could just regale you with delectably spooky inspirations for Halloween! *cackling* It's FREE (being thrifty) and CREATIVE (inspiring tables)...

Magick Rituals dot com

Semi Homemade dot com

E How dot com

How to Make a Halloween Tablescape (E How dot com)

Things You'll Need:
A roll of cork, approximately one quarter inch thick
Black poster paint
White poster paint
One foam brush
A retractable utility knife or equivalent
Fake rubber snakes, bugs and spiders
An old glove
One old newspaper or magazine
A piece of thick cardboard or a cutting mat
A vinyl tablecloth
Double stick tape
A costume ring or bracelet
Silk or paper leaves

Place the vinyl tablecloth onto the table where you want to make the Halloween tablescape. This will be used to protect the table. An old sheet or old tablecloth may also be used. Place strips of double-stick tape on the vinyl tablecloth. The double-stick tape will help keep the cork layer secure.

Unroll the cork onto the dining room table. Place the cork in a horizontal direction to achieve a flat surface. The cork may be unrolled just in the center of the table, to create a Halloween tablescape that will also accommodate dinner guests. Or, place unrolled cork on all surfaces of the table to create a complete Halloween tablescape.

Cut any excess pieces of cork from around the edges of the table. There will be more cutting required if the table is round, than if it is square. Use the retractable utility knife to carefully trim off the excess cork. Save the larger cork pieces for other projects.

Create openings in the cork for a three-dimensional effect. Draw a square near the center of the cork. From the center of the square, draw a large letter "x" which creates four triangles. Cut along the letter "x" leaving the outside of the square intact. Fold back the cork to create a creepy opening in the Halloween tablescape. Make more openings like this in different sizes.

Paint the cork with the black paint using the foam brush. The paint can be dabbed on or brushed on with a dry bush. Brush on white to create a cork surface that is a blend of white, black and gray. Use a rag or cloth to dab off excess paint.
Stuff the glove with pieces of crumpled newspaper. Paint the glove black. Add a piece of costume jewelry to the glove. Set the glove aside until it's dry.

Decorate the Halloween tablescape with the fake bugs, spiders and the hand. Stick the fake creatures slightly under the cork and through the openings in the cork. They will look as if they are crawling out of the ground. Also set the hand in the largest whole, to look like it is reaching out from the ground.

Scatter silk or paper leaves around the openings, and the table. Add any other Halloween gourds or miniature pumpkins to the Halloween tablescape.

Thanks to our hosts, Susan and Leigh once again. And to all of you, have a great weekend! Thank you, thank you!