Red, white and black eco-friendly Halloween decorating

October 24, 10:43 AMSeattle Green Interiors ExaminerAmy Woidtke (woid-key)

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Red, white and black Halloween eco-friendly table top
Amy Woidtke

I put these Halloween table top decorating ideas together for a red, white and black Halloween theme using things I had around the house, and re-purposing a few others.

How I did it
This was fun!  I went "treasure hunting" throughout my  home, looking for red, white and black items. Then I spent some time trying out different ideas until I liked the outcome  Hint:  As you treasure hunt, grab even the more unlikely items, and don't try to figure out what you'll do with them until you're at the table. 

Candle Lanterns
This idea cracked me up when I thought of it and it's so easy!  You know those stretchy mesh veggie bags that garlic, avocados and tomatoes come in? Rather than throwing them out, turn them into lantern covers!

• Grab a few vases and jars.
• Cut or untie both ends of the mesh veggie bag.
• Slip it over the top of the glass and try different styles: double it over, fold over only the top edge, wrinkle it in the middle, until you get what you like.  You can even use 2 or 3 in layers side by side or on top of each other if you want.
• Add rice, beans, pebbles, glass drops, glass beads, or a mixture of any of these.
• Add your wax or electric tea light.
• To spruce up the edges of the lantern, use necklaces, earrings, bracelets, ornaments over the edges and around the necks.

Flower and Feather Utensil Holder
Talk about easy re-purposing: This is simply one of my flower-feather hair clips, clipped over the edge of an ornate red glass!

Placeholders and Food Labels
This idea works as both place holders for table settings and for labeling your party food dishes.

Binder Coil Placeholder
I knew one day I'd find a use for all those metal binder coils I saved!

1. Simply curve it in half, tuck the ends in a small votive holder, jar or cup.
2. Place the card in the open slotted end of the coil.  (This idea will only work with the coils that have the vertical open end on one side.)

Clothespin Placeholder

1. With a flame, lightly burn the edges of the clothespin.
2. Run it under some water to stop any residual burning.  Let it dry. 
3. Clip the name card in the clothespin. 
4. Put clothespin upside down in rice, pebbles, beans or other holding material contained in a small vessel: cup, votive holder, jar, etc.

Old Business Cards and Wedding Cards as Place cards

1. If you have old business cards or leftover wedding name cards, glue the print sides together and write on the blank sides.
2. For a spookier appeal, rip the edges off.  You could even do a burn edge on those.  BE CAREFUL!

Other items on my table:

• Feather boa wrapped around lantern base
• Pumpkin lamp on top of a vase with lace from an old costume dress, flowing out of a vase.
• Rocks from a free Craigs List find! (This is my umpteenth use for these beauties.)
• Lace tablecloth
• Red table runner
• Red satin napkin
   

Have fun with this and when you're done, you can pack it all up for the next event or holiday to re-purpose into new designs, pass some decor to friends or recycle it to your local charity or second use store!