Last year it was a last minute sort of thing. I'm lucky enough to own Sydney the Spider...thanks Dad. So he went on top of the Subaru lift gate (think Forester) and we put a spider web taped to the inside Everyone thought it was one of the cooler cars--SYd made it. (oh and our carved pumpkins along the car side lit up.
This year, without much to keep me busy at work--I am making Visio drawings, and hunting for just the right junk to look COOL! :) Syd will be prominent. The first choice is a) Tiki Luau Halloween? or b) traditional creepier (but not gory--little kids will be there, and I don't like gore).
Cindy nixed the Tiki idea, it's not halloweenie enough.
So, here's the trail of visio drawings that has led to what I think will be the display this year:
Viso 1:
So the planning important things here are: a) Kristi gets some space this year from the kiddos pressing in on me trying to get candy! (Last year I ended up cowering under the lift gate and almost in Syd's Car Web!) it's a little much. b) add lights, it was WAY too dark last year--we had a couple lights (battery powered pumpkin lights and a lantern). But the dark adds to the claustrophobia with the kiddos.
(oh and there should be a vulture involved this year...do you know how hard it is to FIND a halloween vulture?)
Planning step 2: keeping the kids at bay--the KrisTiki barrier
I'm thinking at this point that i'll have the lift gate up, need poles to hold it up, add a vulture to the top, Syd inside the car, a halloween 'fence' in front so the kids can't push on me. and a bench to the side, so they don't COME into the 'KrisTiki area'. Pumpkins on the bench and solar yard lights along it...hmm...not bad. how do I make a fence???
Part 3: finding things at the hardware store that are on clearance (old summer stuff) and look 'gothic'...
adding: Vulture from the pattern I found/drew/copied; Trellis idea from harbor freight; and the cheapest bench idea I could come up with- buckets with a board across them (and added candy storage!)
Planning Part 4: Reality!
Those trellis are a cool idea--they were cheap at $30 each, and i could reuse them. The catch: the shipping for them was $200! (and the store would not get them!) Ok--what do I have already that I can make work?? I have Ikea Laiva shelves that were $15 when I moved here and have served their purpose well-they live in my closet. Paint them black, add a plywood circle at the top or wire and I have it. Plus Pumpkin display shelves AND they stand on their own. just need to paint them black or dark!
Planning Part 5: VIsit to Goodwill store--Eureka!
One of the things I have had my eye out for (we went on the Fox Island Garage sale day last saturday--did not find these!) was some plant stands that would double in the house as helpful and also work for halloween...went to Goodwill's "Boo-teek" and they had for $4-$8 these plant stands (right side of the car in the drawing!)
Planning Part 6: Hmm...wouldn't it look neat with lightweight old TREE's?
Enter Craig's list...you know if you wish for it, and look on craig's list...you will find it. I wanted something lightweight, reuseable, and tree like--gnarly old tree like. I found 2 of these:
Let's add this to the Visio:
and finally, I need to just get to work painting, making some vultures, and making the bench...so for now, here's the photos into the Visio drawing, and i'll take photos as I build. I'll have to set it up before Trunk or Treat, just to play with the lights and get them correctly set up. (love low wattage lights and battery/solar lights!)
Happy Halloween Planning!
PS. Anya wants to be a 'Watermelon princess'. UGH. it's a catalog order frilly tutu costume. I think we need to spook her up about halloween! Last year's Perry the Platypus costume was a HUGE HIT! People talk about it still today!--I was introduced at a party last week as "this is the lady that MADE Perry the Platypus!" I'm famous for my work. *guffaw*
