DIY halloween decor: decorating ideas

Halloween in our country began to celebrate relatively recently. The Eve of All Saints' Eve has become most popular in the countries of North America, but even for these states it is not “native”. Since the witches in spiky hats and luminous pumpkins on October 31 began to appear more and more, we have become more serious about the holiday. At first, those who dressed up were considered mere eccentrics, then they began to organize theme parties. Halloween was gaining momentum. For its celebration requires a themed decor. Some companies even compete, whose costumes and attributes will be more realistic. In stores, you can buy an artificial web or imitation orange pumpkins, but the festive decorations made by their uroks are much better than stamped props. Of course, a certain part of society belongs to the "alien" Halloween with skepticism, offering the same Christmas time as an alternative. Recent years have shown that both holidays can coexist peacefully with each other. We will get acquainted with the history of the All Saints' Eve and consider master classes on making Halloween decor.

Holiday history: symbols, attributes and traditions

Halloween was first celebrated in Scotland and Ireland. Subsequently, this tradition spread throughout the UK, and immigrants from the Old World brought it with them to America. The eve of All Saints Day is considered a holiday of exclusively English-speaking peoples. This is part of their culture, which was inherited from their ancestors - the Celtic tribes. Halloween is a new holiday name. In ancient times, the Celts called it "Samhain" or "Samhain." October 31 was the last day of the year. This date marked the end of the harvest, the onset of winter and the contact of two worlds: the living and the dead. When the "doors" were opened, the evil force in various guises quietly walked on the ground and in every possible way fouled people. To protect themselves from the attacks of devils, ghosts and witches, the Celts went to the tricks. They extinguished the fire in the houses, and in the courtyards left treats for evil spirits to appease her. People dressed up in animal skins and painted their faces. In such a tricky way, the person hoped to conduct evil spirits, pretending to be one of them. Then everyone gathered around the fires that had been lit by the priests, made sacrifices (animals). Everyone took home a piece of fire, which was considered sacred. Pumpkin has become the main symbol of the holiday. She was associated with the harvest and carried sacred fire to her house. Here you can draw parallels with the Slavic New Year (New Year), which was celebrated on September 14 in Russia. After the completion of field work, the Slavs turned off the lights in their homes. In the morning they lit new ones who "started talking" for the winter. In a similar scenario, in the post-Soviet space, Yuletide was held - the festive period from Christmas to Baptism. These days they wondered, walked in "creepy" costumes, caroling. By the way, customs came from paganism. After the adoption of Christianity, they were simply timed to church dates, as people did not want to give up the usual holidays.

So, Samhain was marked by the Celts until the time of their conquest by the Roman Empire. After nearly a century, Halloween gained new traits, as it managed to blend in with two Latin holidays. Pomona Day - dedicated to the goddess of plenty. One of its symbols was considered an apple. Many have suggested that the Halloween game “catching apples” has become a direct reference to this holiday. Feralia - Memorial Day of the Dead (Parent's Day). Later, when Christianity began to supplant pagan beliefs, the Catholics created a new holiday. November 1 was announced All Hallows Even, which literally translates as "The Mass of All Saints." Subsequently, the long name was reduced to a concise "Halloween". De facto, it is a church Christian holiday, but it tightly merged with the legacy of pagan rituals (coaxing spirits, dressing up). They fought against “wild” customs for a long time, but they could not eliminate them from Halloween. On this holiday, children dress up, take baskets with them, get together in a company and go to neighboring houses, begging for sweets. More precisely, they offer a choice: either a treat, or a dirty trick (trik or trak). Girls guess on apple peel or with the help of candles and mirrors (this is very similar to the tradition of Christmas divination). Adults also dress up, decorate apartments, invite guests to home parties or attend clubs where they hold thematic meetings. In large American cities on this day, large-scale masquerades are arranged.

Halloween decor should be scary. The “blood in the veins” is unlikely to freeze from him, but the design should evoke a slight fright and awe. The main symbol of Halloween is a hollow pumpkin. In the states it is called Jack-o-lanterns (Jack's lamp). On it cut out various faces, which illuminate the inside with flashlights. The houses are also decorated with cobwebs, bats, skeletons, glowing bones, silhouettes of ghosts, chests with sinister predictions, mummies, witches, spiders and wreaths of snakes. Jewelry can be very diverse. They are borrowed from native cultures and beautifully adapted to the classic attributes of Halloween. The main thing is that the decor was scary.

    

Holiday colors

Design room in the style of "Halloween" is performed in the traditional colors for this holiday. Since the design should be as gloomy and frightening as possible, the main role is given to the most dynamic combination - black and red. Complement the composition with "hues of autumn", that is, tones of yellow, brown, orange, pumpkin, dirty brown, burgundy, wine. No need to combine all these colors in one room. It suffices to choose only two or three tones. They will be the basis of the composition. To bring harmony into the interior, use "dusty" gray (asphalt and mouse hues), blue (dark colors) and less often purple or lilac.


    

Create a festive lighting

Halloween lighting should be dim and sinister. If the lamps in the room are too bright, then they are replaced with candles and decorative lamps. You can also wrap the light source in a matte ceiling. Halloween light is diffused. It is desirable that it be painted in red, yellow or blue. The hue depends on the situation of the zone, which is illuminated by a light bulb. For example, for stone crypts with ghosts or grave mounds with bony hands of zombies sticking out of the ground, suitable blue light. Red and yellow emphasize the "bloody" scenery. Violet shade more suited to the subject of "ghouls."

How to make bloody candles

The ideal option for the decor of the festive table would be "bloody" candles. Make them simple enough. All work will take no more than an hour. To create a decor will require:

  • Plain white paraffin candle.
  • Office knife matches.
  • Paraffin candle, painted in red.
  • Paper (work surface) and a flat saucer.

A white candle is cut across into several pieces of different lengths. Use a stationery knife. Cut must be carefully, so that the paraffin does not crumble. Then on each miniature candle free "tail" of the wick. Now they are placed on a saucer asymmetric group. The red candle is set on fire and generously dripped with “bloody” paraffin on the “plate” composition. Using the composition, they decorate and fix the group on a saucer. The composition is set up in the center of the festive table. Additionally, you can pierce the candles in several places with black pins or put miniature spiders near the saucer.

Red candle should be painted completely. When buying this nuance should pay attention. There are candles that are painted only on the outside. The effect of "bloody stains" from them is not obtained. You can purchase plain white and add a dye to the melted paraffin wax.

    

Pumpkin: traditional lanterns and other design ideas

Jack-o-lanterns also did not originate from scratch. Jack's lamp illuminates the path to Purgatory for restless souls in darkness. It is precisely this symbolism that the Celts endowed with the pumpkin head. The Scots had a legend about the drunkard-Jack, who once decided to skip a glass with the Devil. There was nothing to pay for the drinker, so he offered his companion to turn into a coin. Instead of giving it to the innkeeper, Jack threw the coin into his pocket, which already had a silver cross. The devil was trapped, as he could not regain his former appearance because of the closeness of the sacred Christian symbol. As a result, Jack made a deal and released the Devil. He in return promised a whole year not to make tricks in retaliation. A little later, the unclean again fell for the tricky blacksmith-drunkard and gave a new promise not to hunt his soul after death and give him another 10 years of life. Perhaps Jack would have really spent those years if he had not died. He was not accepted to heaven. To hell too. The devil remembered his promise and sent Jack to wander around the world in anticipation of the Day of Judgment. Finally, an unclean threw a blacksmith ember, which he lit his way.

Jack's lamp is made from ordinary pumpkins. In a vegetable, cut off the "lid", clean out the middle part (pulp and seeds), then lightly dry. Now on the pumpkin peel cut "faces". The most common expression is an ominous grin in the grin of sharp teeth and frowning eyebrows. To make it easier to cut, first draw the picture with a pencil. Even if the image of the face is difficult, then use templates. After working on the pumpkin face, put a candle inside the vegetable and close the lid. By the way, Jack's lamp can be made from papier-mâché. To artificial pumpkin turned hollow, paper-glue mass is applied to the balloon, which subsequently "burst". Those who are grinning pumpkin faces are very frightened, decorate the vegetable differently. They paint it, sprinkle with sequins, decorate it using decoupage technique, wear knitted sweaters and hats.

Jack's lamps were originally made from turnips and rutabagas, and were turned to pumpkins much later. If this vegetable is not available, then there is a great natural alternative. Sometimes the lamp is replaced with a balloon, which is painted with a black marker.

    

Branches, snags and fallen leaves

Branches and snags gather right in the park or in the forest. The future decor is prepared for future use, shaken off litter and dried thoroughly. Then the surface of the twigs and coagules generously covered with black paint. This color looks the most gloomy and spectacular. After the decor is dry, make up the composition of it. Twigs are collected in "bouquets". They are supplemented with cobwebs of thread or gauze and artificial spiders. Snags are simply put on the floor or on the shelves. Effigy crows sitting on the branches will look realistic and ominous. From the branchy snags can be a luxurious lamp. It is decorated in the manner of the New Year tree with tiny pumpkin balls. Fallen leaves are also collected in parks. They only need to be slightly dried and can be scattered artistically on the floor, window sill and shelves. Creative vases and cans filled with leaves will look creative. If they are strung together on a string, then an autumn garland will come out.

Wall decoration and not only

The walls are decorated with various Halloween decorations. The artificial living creatures include bats, spiders and snakes. This is the top three of the most "vile reptiles", and therefore the atmosphere surrounding them is appropriate. Bats and spiders are easily cut out of cardboard. Enough a pair of stencils with animals of different sizes, so that the decor does not look like stamping. The patterns cut out the traces of human legs or paws of animals. These black prints are glued to the walls, floors and ceiling with chains. On the windows black silhouettes of ghosts cut from paper are fastened. Very hangy and unusually look figures "hanged", illuminated from behind the curtains. A group of wall-mounted mirrors of various sizes are pasted over with images of "creepy" faces, as if peering at guests from the other side. A very "evil" door will welcome guests if it is decorated with a frowning grimace. At the top, they fix tissue strips that will become hair. Under them stick eyes. A strip of mouth glue masking tape. From it also make severely shifted eyebrows. Real trees decorated with a flock of artificial crows, rags and candles in glass flasks will look great. From some walls can grow clawed witch hands. You can beat the story of Snow White, and in one of them put a fake apple. Under the ceiling, ceiling lamps made of black polyethylene in the form of pointed witch hats with flashlights are suspended.

The simplest decor for the walls, which can be built in just a couple of hours, are garlands. If you make a lot of them, then other decorations will not be needed.

    

How to make a stylized garland with an inscription with your own hands

Halloween garlands are very simple. The paper will require sheets of cardboard of three colors (usually orange, white and black), patterns, scissors, hard thread, glue, tape, pencil and marker. First you need to print stencils of crows, bats, skulls, cats and simple triangular flags. No need to choose complex figures. For example, the silhouettes of spiders with numerous legs will have to be cut long. Then the templates are applied to sheets of cardboard and outlined with a pencil. Now you can cut. To make the inscriptions, take a white cardboard, draw circles on it, circle the outlines with a black marker and write the letters. These elements are cut and pasted on triangular flags. All parts of the garland are fixed on the stubby thread with adhesive tape squares.

Tips and ideas for setting and decorating the table

The design of the table begins with a tablecloth. The perfect snow-white fabric for Halloween will not work. Choose a tablecloth of bright colors (orange, red, black). The stores sold special matter with thematic drawings. Instead of vases for bouquets of scarlet or white flowers, papier-mâché skulls coated with gray or black are used. Sparkles which sprinkle a decor, having previously sprinkled it with a varnish will bring a drop of fun. White candles in black candlesticks and currant berries in transparent vases will add to the atmosphere of gloom. Pumpkins are used as fixtures. In the center of the table set a small tree with bare branches in a pot. You can use a different composition of the twigs, ears and dried flowers. From the components of the collected bouquet, which is dipped in black paint. It is then suspended to allow excess composition to drain. After drying, a bunch of put in a pot. To make the festive table soaked with the spirit of Halloween, use snow-white dishes, silver appliances and black napkins. On each plate for guests put on the "scroll", tied with a dark ribbon. It may contain a greeting, a prediction, or an assignment if a fancy game is planned. The legs of the table can be “shod” in striped stockings and witch boots, and on the backs of chairs put on “backpacks” for gifts.


    

Terrible dishes for the holiday

You can beat the Jack-o-lanterns theme differently and serve dishes in pots in the shape of a vegetable. For the first fit and real pumpkin. In some restaurants, traditionally this is how dishes are served at the table. Decanters, glasses and bottles can be painted black or orange. It is enough to cut the template and stick it on the place that should not be painted. The whole container is dipped into the paint. After drying the composition of the sticker is removed. Most often in such a way on the bottles and glasses cause "faces", expressing different emotions. Complex forms (skulls, for example) to recreate independently is not always possible. It is better to purchase such dishes in advance in a specialized store. Glasses and cups can be decorated with "bruising" paint (non-toxic). Concisely, the scarlet napkins rolled by a straw and fixed with special fanged jaws will look frightening. This decor is put on each plate. The blood-stained material with black dishes contrasts best, which also emphasizes the whiteness of the “teeth”.

Sweetness or passion

The menu should surprise not so much taste as appearance. No Halloween table can do without cookies. They need to stock up for children, who in the ultimatum form will require sweets. For cookies, you should buy special molds in advance (in the form of skulls, brains, teeth and skeletons). Prepare pastries for your favorite recipe. Candies should also be added to the cookies. The treat is wrapped in orange crepe paper or mesh pieces and tied with either green ribbons (pumpkin tails) or satin stripes. From cold drinks, preference is given to tomato juice for children or "Kiss of the Vampire", "Bloody Mary" for adults. In the favorite cocktail "bloodsuckers" add slippery lychee berries that resemble eyes. To impress guests with an unusual serving of drinks, they are poured not into glasses, but into syringes. Tools filled with pomegranate juice and put like spoons in glasses. "Кровавый" соус из клюквы великолепно подойдет к закускам (курице или к мексиканским начос). Из зефира делают привидения, подрисовывая им глазки и ухмылки шоколадом. Такими малышами украшают тыквенный пирог. Дополнительно его можно декорировать "ведьмиными пальчиками" с крошечными коготками.Stuffed eggs are decorated with olives spiders: one half on the body, and the other cut into strips for legs. The chocolate cocoa cocktail with a scattering of ground cocoa perfectly imitates "loose earth". A pair of jelly worms is placed into it: the disgusting drink is ready. On skewers for canapes or toothpicks strung grapes. "Muzzle" vile caterpillars adorn with eyes from cloves. Miniature brooms are made from straws and pieces of cheese with a fringe of stripes. Serve salads can be in cups of oranges, which are prepared, like pumpkins. Scrub the pulp (go to the juice), cut a face on its side and fill it with food.


    

Making a Halloween wreath on the door

The Halloween door wreath is created on the same principle as the Christmas one. For work you will need:

  • Wire;
  • Vata;
  • Scissors, cutting pliers;
  • Thread or fishing line;
  • Black feathers;
  • Christmas balls;
  • Paints, glitter, brushes;
  • Black satin ribbons.

Making a wreath is not so difficult, so it may seem at first glance. Begin with a wire frame that needs to be shaped into a regular round shape. Then it is thoroughly wrapped with cotton to give volume and secured with a thread. Next to the fishing line tied up Christmas balls. It is also wound on a wreath in a circle so that the decor is evenly distributed. Balls are painted in black, gray, orange and covered with sparkles. Now black feathers are collected in bunches. Each bouquet is tied to a thread that is wrapped around the frame. Feathers are used a lot so that the wreath does not form voids. They can easily be replaced with autumn leaves.

A wreath can be made of twisted branches or wrapped around a skeleton with bats of cardboard on a thread. Red pendant eyes complete the dark image of artificial animals.

Bringing, spider webs and other ideas

The ghost is easy to make from balloons and gauze. Also, the job will require a marker that draw a face. Balls filled with air. Then painted and tied to the ceiling. Now they are covered with a "cloak" of gauze, the ends of which freely dangle in the air. An artificial web is made from the same material. She is soaked in a bucket of diluted black gouache. Get a grayish fabric, as if covered with a layer of dust. For a thick, old web, a pair of holes in gauze and artistic hanging in the corner are enough. To get a thin cobweb, the material will have a long time to dismiss the thread. For witch stocks will need bottles of various sizes. They are poured liquid (tinted water) and put "creepy" objects: artificial fingers, spiders, rat claws and other witch paraphernalia. The covers are decorated with twine, burlap, gauze cobwebs and bloody paint stains.

Ideas decorating the facade and garden of a private house

The main decoration of the porch of a private house will be a composition of traditional pumpkins. Often the courtyards are decorated with groups of cute ghosts that greet guests. Add a halloween entourage to the site will help curves snags, compositions of bare branches, a handful of autumn leaves, and even shoes forgotten by some unlucky witch with a "parked" broom. On the steps stick cardboard silhouettes of mice or spiders. Garlands of black and orange balloons are placed above the entrance. The veranda or terrace is covered with a layer of gauze web and creepy hairy spiders. A wreath of dry branches on the front door will immediately show guests that they are waiting for "big Halloween trouble." You can highlight the decor using the backlight.

Conclusion

The holiday will be remembered only when it is held in its original setting. It is not necessary to spend large sums on luxury decor in specialized stores. You can decorate the house for Halloween with the help of available tools. It is enough just to connect the fantasy and ordinary things after a series of manipulations will turn into terrible decorations, from which blood runs cold in the veins. And it does not matter at all whether this holiday is “native” for our country or not. This is an excellent opportunity to get together in company and have great fun with friends and family.

Watch the video: 10 DIY Halloween Decoration Ideas - HGTV Handmade (March 2024).

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