Stump

We’re back with yet another Halloween decorating idea. We’ve already shared a DIY feather wreath and a spooky tree, but why not add a stump side table to an outdoor setting? We did. We have a huge woodpile in our backyard. Usually it helps keep us warm throughout the winter months, but I decided to make it work a little harder. I picked out a relatively level stump and rolled it to our front walkway and parked it next to our chairs. I didn’t do anything else to it.

Then, to Halloween it up a little, I topped it with a vase of pretty flowers, a paper mache skull from Michael’s that I spray painted white, a faux pumpkin from Hobby Lobby (also painted white) and a real baby pumpkin.

Stump decoration breakdown:

Stump: FREE

Paper mache skull: $1.49

Faux pumpkin: $1.49

White spray paint: Left over from our DIY dining table

Baby Pumpkin: FREE from a friend

Total for stump and decorations: $2.98

See the striped pillow? I made that. I had a few yards of white corduroy fabric left over from an earlier project, so I decided to use that rather than buy more fabric. First, I sewed the cover, (here’s a tutorial) turning the fabric inside out. I wanted the smooth part facing out so it would be easier to paint. Once I had my cover, I taped off 2 1/2 inch wide stripes.

After that, it was easy. Use black fabric paint and fill in between the lines. Remove the tape soon after and stuff with a pillow form when completely dry.

Pillow budget breakdown:

Fabric: Left over from another project

Fabric paint: Also left over from a previous project

Two pillow forms: $8.99 at JoAnn Fabric

Total cost for Halloween Pillows: $8.99

To add more spookyness on the cheap, I picked up a plastic skeleton from Dollar Tree.

I didn’t like the color, so covered that baby in white spray paint, too.

Then, my skeleton fell into the freshly cut grass. I let him dry and pulled off as much as I could and hit him with another coat of white. He survived – he’s already dead. Hang with fishing line and you’re done.

One thing I loved about the Pottery Barn inspiration image were the candles. Well, I wasn’t about to spend $30.00 or more on candles, so I looked around the house for suitable substitutes. I had a few vintage oil lamps, so I added those to the mix. Toss in a grapevine pumpkin and we’re done!

Miscellaneous decoration cost:

Skeleton: $1.00

White spray paint: Left over

Oil lamps: FREE (The black one was hanging on our fence when we bought the house and the red was a thrift store find a few years ago. I think it was $1.50 or so.)

Grapevine pumpkin: $2.50 at Target (but can multi-purpose for Thanksgiving, too!)

Miscellaneous Total: $3.50

Which brings our Halloween decoration grand total to…$20.45! And here’s how it all looks together.