Tricks, Treats, Trash, or Treasure?

Decorating for Halloween started early at our home this year. Since I am retired and have time, I decided to get the decorations up by October 1st so that we could enjoy them for the entire month. I find myself collecting items throughout the year (Goodwill is one of my greatest resources!) and I was like a child in a candy store when I opened my boxes of Halloween decorations this year. I had acquired several "new" items and was excited to find just the right spot to display them. The lamp on the Hoosier cabinet above is filled with candy corn. I use this lamp throughout the year and fill it with things like candy corn, peppermints, conversation hearts, marbles, and even crayons. It's a great conversation piece and sheds "light" on the season.

A painted window above the mantel sends a Southern message to those witches who've left their special ingredients behind, ready for the potions of the night! I use this window throughout the year; using acrylic paint makes it very easy to clean and repaint another saying for another season.

And, what do you do with all those stuffed animals that your children collected over the years? You dress them up for Halloween, of course! Large bears are particularly eager to be donned with hats and masks and Halloween "Beanie Babies" are great sidekicks.