I received my wonderful box from Jeanette! It was full to the brim with bright orange and black wrapped surprises! I got: a wonderful Halloween kitchen towel. I love to change my kitchen towels for the season and didn't have a Halloween-themed one - thanks! a cute pumpkin votive candle holder with a scented candle in it a black and orange paper lantern a wonderfully scented potpurri mix a halloween wind sock a spider web wine/champagne goblet (so cute!) a spider on a spring a silver starred Halloween hat (sorry Jeanette - no digital camera to take a picture - my daughter kept saying "you're not going to wear that in front of my friends are you? - LOL!" a spooky hanging ghosty that emits an eeery sound - scares the daylights out of my little dog......... mummy's passion fruit tea bags and a ghost tin of chocolate kisses (oops all gone - how did that happen he he) Thanks Jeanette! Sue G.

Karen, thanks! The "drapes" came in these packages for $1 each at the DS. I found that you really need to shop in mid-to-late September to get the best things there. Prosperity: Thanks! I bought those plain white bread plates at GW for 50-cents each. As for the colors, I have to credit all you here for inspiring me on that. OA: no, I just cut up the plastic door cover/mural and taped the pieces right to the glass that is covering the paintings. Luckily all were watercolors and pastels. I used blue painters tape, but would still be afraid to tape anything directly on an oil painting :~O As for my chargers, they're just cheap plastic ones from HL that I got on sale for $2 each several years ago. I had planned on using the spray paint made specifically for plastic, but their purple was too muddy and muted for what I wanted. To use a regular spray paint, you really need to, first lightly sand them, then use a base coat before the color coat; and finally a clear top coat so that the color doesn't scratch off. Lynne, Jane, Punk, Jeanne & Nana: thanks! DG: I took the sticky stencils that Luvs sent me and, first adhered them where I wanted the designs. I then used a long darning needle to peel up the middle pumpkin body part, leaving the eyes, nose and mouth on the plates. After I pounced them with black glass paint, I peeled up the adhesive eyes, etc. and there were my darling little jack-o-lanterns! (Sorry if those directions are as clear as mud; I'm still a novice at stencils!). As for the things I used to make the napkin rings, I sewed elastic, pulled taut, to the undersides of (approx. 7"), sections of Halloween ribbon. I then hand-sewed them together to make the rings and hot glued these 4" x3" cardboard pieces to them. I bought these wall hangings at TJM back in September (for $7.99 or $5.99), to use for napkin rings. I wanted to make my own one of a kind ones. Here's how they originally came: Luvs: thank you for the lovely compliments and for the stencils! I haven't hemmed the spiderweb tablecloth, but do plan on hemming it today before I pack it away . . . just in case. As for the thought process behind the painting coverings, those SW paintings just took the life out of my Halloween decorated rooms, and I knew I had to cover them up with something. I first looked at wrapping paper, but the patterns were all too small and repetitious. I then looked for inexpensive posters, but these days they all seemed to be cartoons and celebrities. Finally, I ran across several door cover/murals at the DS and knew that this specific one (below) would give me the coverage, variety and semi-realism I wanted. It was only $1, too. As you can see, I pieced it to give me four covers, but needed to use the added on cardboard cut-outs ($1 for all six @ DS!!) to a few of the plainer ones (cat, owl & skull). Well, I hope that I've answered all the questions. Now it's on to Autumn and Thanksgiving! Lynn

Very nice table Frou. I like the 'Traditional' look with Orange & Black. All your Halloween figures are cute, but my favorite is the Glittered Jack O Lantern man. He has a Vintage look that I like. Is that a Paper Mache Jack O'Lantern on your table? If it is, I have one just like it that I bought over 20 yrs ago. They're very collectable . I like your plates and bowls and think they're a nice combination with the napkins. Great look with the frayed edges. Your candy corn in the candle holders look very festive. Frou...with so many 'Dramatic Halloween Tables' we've done and seen, I think Traditional is still my favorite look. jane

Wish I could take credit for that spider--bought at a craft show many many years ago and one of my most favorite things. Sometimes I just see things that I can not resist especially if I know I will not be able to remember how to make one! I will take pics of him at all angles and post them in a bit. OA, the wire is thinner than a coat hanger, if you press on him, he "bounces" so the wire is flexible. Made of light weight wood too. Pics coming soon! ;o) Jeanne, the blocks are just old 2x4's cut to various lengths on the "chop" saw. Give them a coat of paint and cut a piece of scrapbooking paper and Mod Podge to the front. If you didn't cut your paper just right, use a nail file or sandpaper and just gently sand the edges. You can hand cut letters out of cardstock or buy some at the craft store. And don't forget that you can make them reversible too--like "boo" on one side and "eek" on the other. Bet your DH even has some 2x4's laying around already! Ladypat, I didn't make all these things THIS year! Many of the painted signs were from last year or prior. All the blocks were made this year however. Karen and Frou, I made three of the punkins with the black kitty--neighbor has one and so does little GD--and this time I kept one for me. The pattern came from a book for making cookie jar lids! Thanks to all of you for your nice comments, you sure know how to make someone feel good and I love you for it! Luvs