Smashing Plates Tablescapes

Wednesday, October 19, 2016

Halloween & Dia de los Muertos Decor

I'm still working on my Halloween tablescape, tree and other decor for this season. I thought I would share several pictures from previous tables, wreaths and other decor I have used around the house.

Halloween tablescape a few years ago.

Halloween place setting.

I hung a deco mesh wreath over the dining room table.

I used twine and to make a web in the wreath frame, painted it black and added a spider. It looked really cool while sitting at the table having dinner.

A few years ago Dollar Tree had the coolest skull chargers/platter. Another blogger friend posted a tutorial on how to paint and make the platters look like stone. I tried it and loved it.

I painted the two that were used on the patio to look more like metal/pewter.

Patio Halloween table.

A few items I used on the tables. The candle was made out of PVC pipe and I inserted a battery operated Christmas candle.

The Dia de los Muertos table. I painted the plates and plastic skull in the center with Sharpies.

Dia de los Muertos place setting.

This was my Halloween/Die de los Muertos combined tablescape last year. I had just moved and had no time to really decorate like I normally do for Halloween.

Dollar Tree carries large felt skulls. I glued it on black heavy foam board and painted. It makes a great door hanger.

I used a piece of reclaimed wood and a Dollar Tree door knocker to make the Keep Calm sign a few years ago.

One of my favorite projects. I spray painted a Dollar Tree plastic skull with white gloss paint then used Sharpies to paint on the design.

Dia de los Muertos wreath. I used two of the Dollar Tree door knocker skulls and a Dollar Tree cross I had purchased at Easter for this wreath. The skulls were painted with Sharpies.

Day of the Dead plates I painted with Sharpies.

I found these large/fat acorns in a friends yard in North Carolina a few years ago. The minute I saw them I knew exactly how I would paint them for Halloween.

This was my Halloween house display a few years ago. I have added several more to the collection. I painted a Fisher Price doll house that I found at Goodwill for $1.00 to look like a haunted house.

The doll house I repurposed for Halloween.

I hung this fun deco mesh wreath from the ceiling in my living room.

This poor little witch tried to get in my door, but she didn't make it. The pool noodle legs are covered with children's tights. I used an old pair of my black pumps and painted the bottoms red. She's a fancy witch!

I made this little deco mesh ruffed witch wreath for my front door. I made the legs and handmade the paper shoes.

This Dollar Tree pumpkin was covered with leopard print Dollar Tree duct tape.

Home & Garden Thursday - A Delightsome Life

422nd Tablescape Thursday - Between Naps on the Porch

Thursday Favorite Things Link Party - Katherines Corner

Grace at Home #224 - Imparting Grace

Snickerdoodle Creat-Bake-Make Link Party #154 - The Blue Willow House

Pink Saturday - How Sweet The Sound

Dishing It & Digging It Link Party #119 - Life and Linda

Wednesday, October 12, 2016

Hail to the Chief - Election 2016

Election day is upon us. I don't know about you, but I look forward to the end of a presidential election. I was inspired to create this tablescape using the RNC/DNC fabric I found at Jo-Ann Fabrics . I knew it would make perfect charger plate covers for the conventions that were held in July. I had several old campaign buttons and bumper stickers packed away in my memorabilia container so I started designing the table in my head immediately. A few of the campaign buttons belonged to my late Grandmother Dorothy Smith. I think she would have loved this table as she was a proud member of the Republican Women in her home town. I enjoyed this theme and didn't want to take it down after the conventions, but I packed it away and will use again in 2020. I hope you will enjoy and go VOTE on November the 8th.

RNC/DNC election year tablescape July 2016

GOP place setting. My Grandmother Dorothy Smith was a proud lifelong Republican. I have a few of her campaign buttons that she collected over the years displayed on the table. The fabric is currently on sale at Jo-Ann Fabrics and Crafts.

Democratic party place setting. My Grandfather Curry was a proud North Carolina democrat so I created a place setting in his memory at the table. The Democrat button fabric is on sale at Jo-Ann Fabric and Crafts

Several accent pieces I collected for the table. My sister in law and I were shopping in a local antique store in my home town and found the White House plate. I found the eagle plate in the top right corner at a local consignment store in my home town in NC. The Mount Rushmore Salt & Pepper Shakers were purchased this Summer at Cracker Barrel.

The White House ornament was purchased many years to use on my Christmas tree.

Assorted items used on the table and server. The Pez dispensers were found at Cracker Barrel this Summer. The miniature Presidents are metal and were found on Ebay. I believe they are rather old, but not sure of the manufacture date.

RNC/DNC tablecscape.

Democratic place setting.

Republican place setting.

I found this little house at Goodwill a couple years ago. I pull it out to use at all Patriotic holidays. It lights up and is so pretty at night.

Don't forget to vote!!!

Catherine

This post is linked to the following parties:
Home and Garden Thursday - A Delightsome Life
421st Tablescape Thursday - Between Naps on the Porch
Thursdays Favorite Things Link Party - Katherines Corner
Foodie Friday & Everything Else- Rattlebridge Farm
Home Matters Link Party #108 - Life with Lorelai
Grace at Home #223 - Imparting Grace
Flaunt it Friday #327 - Chic on a Shoestring Decorating
"Anything Goes" Pink Saturday - How Sweet The Sound
Creative Collection Link Party - The Crafted Sparrow
Saturday Sparks Link Party #189 - Pieced Pastimes
Share Your Style Link Party #87 - 21 Rosemary Lane
Snickerdoodle Create Bake Make Link Party #153 - Blue Willow House
Dishing It & Digging It Link Party #118 - Life and Linda
Amaze Me Monday #185 -Dwellings- The Heart of Your Home
The Scoop #235 - Stone Gable
Inspire Me Monday #250 - Create with Joy
Make it Pretty Monday Week 196 - The Dedicated House
347th Inspire Me Tuesday - A Stroll Thru Life

Wednesday, October 5, 2016

Fall Hunting Dogs

I'm in the middle of a hurricane warning here in So. Florida. The eye of Matthew will be at my front door by 8 PM tonight. I decided to go ahead with my Fall Hunting Dogs post and as I have time I will add more details about the items on the table. I expect our power will be gone as soon as the tropical force winds start hitting early in the morning. Our last major hit was 11 years ago when Wilma paid us a visit. We were without power for over three weeks. I'm across the street from the water and near the ocean & intracoastal waterway. I'm not a fan of water so I'm gathering up my four legged child Cooper to ride out the storm tomorrow afternoon/evening at a friends house about 1/2 mile away and not on any type of canal. Palm Beach is just 30 minutes North of me and they may have a direct hit by Matthew.

I enjoyed putting this table together. I love waterfowl and I've had these two decoys for many years. The larger one is a Duck Unlimited edition from the late 80's. I found the hunting dog plates awhile back while junkin' for plates and fell in love with each one. They are by Homer Laughlin.

10-07-16 Hurricane Matthew update: South Florida was spared the wrath of the hurricane this time. After experiencing Wilma 11 years we were prepared to the worse. We never lost power this time, not even a flicker. My thoughts and prayers are with everyone all the way up to North Carolina as they had lots of wind and water damage. NOAA is saying Matthew is going to do a 180 and head back to the Bahamas then come in to So. FL again as a tropical storm. I sure hope he changes his mind.

Fall Hunting Dogs table

Hurricane Matthew is creeping up on me. I'm in the red (almost purple) area here in So. FL.

My Ducks Unlimted hand carved wood duck.

The top plates are part of the Homer Laughlin collection. The navy blue rimmed salad is from Whole Home Colormate colletion. The dinner plates are Lacey from Pier One. I purchased the plate rings from Wisteria a couple years ago. I use them often.

I've had these mallard napkin rings for over 30 years. The napkins were found while thrifting and were made in India. I loved the colors and knew they would go with lots of tablescapes.