{Fall}ing All Around

This morning it looked like this out my front door:

Which is funny because just a day-and-a-half ago our cute missionaries stopped by (around 4:30pm) after a bike-ride up the hill in near 90 degree weather. They were sweating buckets, so I offered them each a towel and a cold bottle of water. Honestly, I don't think I've ever seen two sweatier guys in my life. Today Winter Fall is in the air (I'm hoping the snow is temporary - just give me brisk!).

I've been putting up Halloween decorations the past few days. Not that I have so much it takes me that long, but just because I've taken a piecemeal approach. I think I'm done. I've made a couple of additions this year, thanks to my favorite idea source.

Please don't look at the dirty mirror - I cleaned it after I had taken the pic.

 I found the raven printable here, and managed to eek out enough black ink from my printer (it's almost OUT) to git 'er done. I printed it on some burlap-looking scrapbook paper I've had laying around for years, and put it in an old frame I had painted black a good decade ago (after removing the ancient family picture it had held for all that time). I love the way it turned out.

 While chatting to my sister as I was running around one day, I mentioned I was looking for ravens. With real feathers. (For cheap.) I could tell she thought I was a little crazy. I had already been to Hobby Lobby and Big Lots, and was feeling pretty hopeless that I would find any.Then I walked into Michaels. Yes, they had them. They were on sale, eliminating the need for me to make several trips to redeem their one-per-customer-per-day coupons. I initially only purchased two, but then returned a couple of days later for three more. Mauri, of course, loves them. I wouldn't be surprised if she asks to keep them in her room once Halloween is over.

 I was also in the mood to make a banner for my mantle. I found this one here. I had finally purchased a yellow printer ink refill (couldn't print color for over two weeks, people), but was still squeezing every last ounce out of the black, and was thrilled that they turned out just dandy. I had some extra glitter and shimmer paper from Britt's wedding for backing. Simple and awesome.

 This scarecrow/pumpkin guy has been MIA for the past few years due to being inadvertently decapitated. Billy-my-hero helped me wood glue and nail him back together (really, a super simple fix). He brings back good memories of days-gone-by crafting and Super Saturday-ing with my seester. We call those our "Craft Days," when we couldn't wait to get together, and, while the children all entertained each other, we would sand-and-paint-and-paint-and-sand, all while laughing our guts out about the silliest things.
  Those were good times.

So maybe I put the grapevines back on his hat a little crazy. I might need my seester to come help me fix it (wink)... she has a much better eye for that stuff than I.

I know I just posted about my hallway pics... I've done a little updating:

(idea here)

Here's my creepiest addition:

I bought the skull at Michaels ($3 with my coupon), and already had the moss and the hurricane vase. (Idea from here.) I just hope I don't scare the bajeebers out of the kids that will attending our Semi-annual General Conference Luncheon this Sunday. I may have to turn him to face the wall. Or take him upstairs.

Remember my styro heads from last year? I decided to distribute them around this year.

And these cute letters were made by my ultra-crafty-and-talented MIL and FIL. Those two never cease to amaze me with the fun things they create. Adorbs.

Of course I have reused my paper bats from last year, and Mr. Freaky is hanging in his usual spot.
I'm calling it good.