Altered Halloween Coffin

Hello! Happy Monday (make that Happy Thank Goodness It's Over Monday!) Hope everyone had a great weekend and that the week to come is a good one. :) Fall is in the air, the weather is getting cooler in the evening, colors abound, and everything is changing.

When colors change and things get a little chillier outside, I start thinking toward the upcoming holidays. Halloween, with all the little ghosts and goblins making their annual treks to the neighbors for sweet treats, is the first of the holidays on the schedule. Candy is bought, parties are arranged, costumes are made, and little people everywhere start getting excited to dress up. Wow, can it be that time already? Yes! Now, to steal the candy from the kids and not get caught; that is MY goal for Halloween. Shhh, don't tell, I don't want them to know I'm coming.

Along with all the preparations for the fun, us crafters like to get our projects out to celebrate the holiday. Witches, bats, ghosts, Frankenstein; you name it, there's a decoration for it. The decoration I'm sharing with you today is an altered coffin (actually, two altered coffins, if you want to be technical). Yes, you read that right, a coffin. A plain little inexpensive wooden coffin that can be found at just about any craft store this time of year. It can be dolled up just about any way you like: paint, paper, marker, etc.

It just so happens that with my two coffins, I painted and used Halloween paper and doodads. (Doodads is the official name of things that cannot be described any other way, in case you're wondering.) I spent a quiet Saturday in my craft room getting these coffins together. And, for once, I got smart and actually took the hardware off of them BEFORE I started on the altering part. Wow, who'd a thunk it? Me...actually doing something the easy way...well, I guess there's a first time for everything.

For both coffins, I used Making Memories Scrapbook Paint in Monarch.

For the "ghost" coffin, I used double sided cardstock from Heidi Grace Designs (Jeepers Creepers/Words Decor)to line the inside and to cover the top. The ghost die cut is from My Mind's Eye. Ribbon from American Crafts. "Boo" word and ghost buttons I have had a long time and do not know where I got them. I'm sure something similar could be found at any local craft store.

For the "spider" coffin, I used sparkle cardstock (Witches Brew) from Cloud 9 Design and shimmer glitter paper from Heidi Grace Designs (Tangled Web). Spider buttons are from Blumenthal Lansing. The black "ribbon" around the bottom of the coffin is actually a roller skate shoelace that I found laying around. "Boo" word and checkered button I have had a long time and do not know where I got them. Again, I'm sure something similar could be found at any local craft store.

As Halloween nears, be sure to find that perfect costume, get out those awesome scary recipes, and start coffin up the fun!