07/5/17
Creepy Halloween Books - Adding Texture with Paper Towels

Creepy Halloween Books – Adding Texture with Paper Towels

Spooky, atmospheric decorations are part of what makes a Halloween party so much fun. I love creating objects that my guests can pick up and examine, and that add that next level of creepiness to a display. Last year, I made a couple of spooky books and expanded on my bottle collection by experimenting with a texturizing technique using paper towels and glue.

Creepy Halloween Books - Adding Texture with Paper Towels

Creepy Halloween Books – Adding Texture with Paper Towels

Continue reading

07/4/17
2016 Halloween Invitation Showcase

Halloween Invitation Showcase

My favorite thing to design each year for Halloween is my annual party invitation. I usually get started brainstorming ideas over the summer, and make sure to get the invitations delivered in September so my guests have time to plan. Every year the invitation is different — some years it’s on paper, other years it’s via email, and yet other years, like 2016, the invitation is an actual object, usable as a decoration itself.

2016 Halloween Invitation Showcase

2016 Halloween Invitation Showcase

Continue reading

09/25/16

Spooky Skull & Roses Wreath – A Halloween How-To

My sister-in-law is almost as obsessed with Halloween as I am. Almost. When her birthday was approaching this year, I knew exactly what I would make as her gift, for the front door of her new house. This spooky yet classy wreath will be greeting trick-or-treaters in style.

Halloween wreath project

Continue reading

09/4/16
Intro to Carving and Painting Foam Board

A Basic Introduction to Carving and Painting Foam Board for Halloween Projects

From tombstones and signs, to pillars, columns and coffins, foam insulation board (also known as rigid insulation) is an incredibly useful and versatile material for Halloween projects. You can find it in home centers and stores that sell building materials and it comes in varying thicknesses, most commonly 3/4 inch and 2 inch. It’s lightweight and easy to carve, melt, distress, and paint, which makes it perfect for constructing Halloween decorations. Many of the handmade tombstones you see all over the internet are made with foam insulation board. Today I’m going to show you the basics of carving and painting this foam board with a tutorial for a simple small sign with a faux stone look.

Intro to Carving and Painting Foam Board

Continue reading

08/26/16
Halloween label - free download

Halloween Label – Free Download!

Some of the most popular indoor Halloween decorations I’ve seen online and in stores are those spooky apothecary jars and potion bottles that make up witch-themed displays. I love creating labels like the ones you see in these displays, they can make any ordinary piece of glassware into a frightening decoration. You can also use them for food and drink labels at Halloween parties. I’ve designed many of these labels over the years, and today I’ve chosen one to post here for you to use for your own decorating. Read on for the link to download.

Halloween label - free download

Continue reading

07/12/16
Halloween Home Tour

Halloween Home Tour

Welcome to the Raven Hollow Designs blog, version 2.0! Halloween is the best season of the year (although some people call it fall, or football season), don’t you think? Over the years I have created and acquired many dark and spooky items which I use to decorate as much of my home as possible for Halloween (and usually throw a big party to show it off). So for my first post, let’s go on a Halloween Home Tour!

Halloween Home Tour

Continue reading