Sweet Paul’s Last Minute Pumpkin Carving Ideas

So those of us who have been busy with work, it’s not to late to get started on some last minute pumpkin carving. Thanks to my friend, Susan, I’ve discovered a new and terrific blog called Sweet Paul. This past week, this ?ºber-crafty genius featured a number of brilliant pumpkin carving ideas. I loved them so much I had to post on a Saturday.

Sweet Paul's brilliant pumpkins

Here is just one of several ideas from Paul. You’ll enjoy all his ideas – even those not related to pumpkins. Be warned, you might find yourself engrossed in Sweet Paul’s posts that you run out of time for pumpkins.

That’s on my To-Do list today, along with my third assignment for Apartment Therapy’s Kitchen Cure. We’re supposed to do a deep cleaning. Fortunately, I did that while I reorganized. I have one more cabinet to tackle and then all I have left is my kitchen island to style. I’m saving that for my trip to New York in a couple of weeks. Wouldn’t you know, I threw out a bunch of those little trees (see pumpkin, above) last week.

Closet of Terror becomes the pantry

Enjoy Sweet Paul and let me know how your pumpkins turned out.

Halloween Doors of Grosse Pointe

It was such a beautiful day today, I took the afternoon off to take the dog for a walk through the beautiful, falling leaves. Along the way, I photographed a few door decorated for the season.

See that tan fuzzy guy? That’s Jack, the best Border Terrier in the world.

Dual-wielding pumpkins is an emerging trend here in the Pointes (there are five).

I like the brickwork on the house on the left. And I like Mr. Pumpkinhead.

The brown paint with the teal shutters gets a thumbs up from me. The violet mums are the perfect accent color.

Colonial mixes it up with… what style is that? Tudor, I think.

Cottage goes head to head with grand stucco. Grand stucco wins.

I’ll be knocking on this door on Saturday. I want my free broom ride. Isn’t this a pretty entrance? The trees are cooperating nicely.

Have a wonderful Halloween weekend! We’re celebrating our son’s birthday all weekend long. Did someone say Guinea Pig?

Chair of the Day: Pumpkin Head

Too bad this chair is sold. Mister Pumpkinhead called dibs on it.

I like the bird house aspect here. If you sit really still a little bird will peek out. Since this is a child’s chair, it might be useful for hiding peas and other nasty side dishes. On another note, wasn’t there a horror movie about Mr. Pumpkinhead?

Haunted Grosse Pointe

It seems that it’s not just the car industry that’s dying around here. Cemeteries have sprung up all over our little suburb of Grosse Pointe. No one knows how to dress up the yard like Grosse Pointers, as I discovered on a walk last weekend.

Grab your wooden stakes, silver bullets and Monster-B-Gone and let’s take a tour.

This hotel seems inviting. The Dead End Inn is actually a Dead and Breakfast. There’s always a vacancy, so I’m sure the rates are good.

I like the monochromatic scheme here. I missed the shot of the giant bat hanging above the grim reaper. I fear that pumpkin looks a little too happy. Just my opinion.

Why the caution tape? They’re just dead people! Oh, could it be the guillotine? No, it’s a clever maze tricksters must brave to get to the front door.

I liked this idea. Ten points for extra creativity.

Care to scream? That ghoul is fairly ghastly.

This is the last house on the left and the end of today’s tour. Stay tuned for more Halloween haunts as Design Hole enters into the spirit of the season.

Did you know that we (the US) spend more on Halloween decor than any other holiday? How are things in your neck of the haunted woods?

FLOR’s Spooky Halloween Carpet Tiles

Everyone has gone Halloween crazy. That includes FLOR. They’ve added a new design to their Halloween collection. Arachnophobia ($15.99) joins Skully ($13.99) in their collection of carpet tiles.

If you’re really into Goth, I recommend Skully for year-round style. Or, buy solid black and stencil it with crosses, etc.. For Halloween, either square would make a great floor mat just inside the door (called a walk-off in the biz).

Everyone is going wild over Halloween these days. At the Mitchell’s we don’t have to decorate because we live on a dead-end street. How about you? Do you have a graveyard in your front yard? Pictures please!