Printable Halloween Mantel

I'm quickly learning that a blogger must live slightly in the future at all times.

For a born procrastinator like myself, that is a little baffling. I feel like in the past walking into stores with Halloween décor made me roll my eyes and think "ugh, it's too early! It's still September!"

But I suddenly find myself preparing to decorate for Halloween.

In September.

Me, the procrastinator.

And if I'm being perfectly honest, I even started planning three weeks ago. In August.

So without further ado (because by the time you read this I'll probably be pinning Christmas inspiration), here is my Halloween mantel.

I started with the idea of adding a collection of "spooky" prints. I basically searched The Graphic Fairy and the New York Public Library Digital Gallery for anything that included the following:

Skeletons
Skulls
Brains
Rats
Snakes
Spiders
Rats
Bats

I printed my favorites either as-is or after layering them on a parchment paper background which I found here.

I framed them using a bunch of old clip frames from Ikea I had leftover from a project. I was tempted to purchase new black frames, but I decided to work with what I had.

Next, I spray painted some sconces I had on hand a glossy black and then made bleeding candles to go in them. (You've probably seen tutorials using red candles. I used crayons!)

 

I reused some items on the display from last year and purchased a few new pieces for under $10 bucks from the dollar store and a little more for some small white pumpkins and kobucha squash at the grocery store.

Here it is at night.

So, is it spoooky? Have you started decorating for Halloween yet? Too early?

Linking up to the It's Fall, Y'all party with Thrifty Décor Chick and Remodelaholics Anonymous with Remodelaholic.