Better Homes and Gardens

As you saw by my post yesterday, I love a good Halloween mag. I bought yet another one, Country Living, at the grocery store. I have amassed quite a collection and I wanted to open up a few of them for you and share the projects I love inside!

The magazine I’m spotlighting today is Better Homes & Garden’s 2001 edition of Halloween Tricks and Treats.

While Halloween crafts have gotten more sophisticated even since 2001, I’ve noticed there are a lot of ideas in these older mags that are really timeless. I think that Halloween, in general, is a timeless holiday and that the décor is more timeless than a lot of others. Yeah, maybe things are a bit more flashy/foggy with the help of technology and a plug in these days, but Halloween crafts, esp. cute and creepy ones, never go out of style!

For example, these little character lollipops are soooo cute! They have so much personality! Could easily be achieved with some fun foam and Tulip® Dimensional Fabric Paint and/or a permanent marker!

These zombie tumblers are super fun too! I love how they take that drink to the next level (esp. the one with the cherry 🙂

These bone candleholders are bad to the bone. Sorry, I couldn’t resist.

I love the playfulness of stuffing your napkins inside and positioning this glove into the tablesetting. The little warts and painted red fingernails make for a nice touch too!

With my affinity for googly eyes, how could I not resist this simple costume. I have to show it to my friend Tacky Glue. He’d so be all over this!

And this gift bag would be a perfect 5 minute/gotta grab a gift/rushing out the door way to jazz up a Halloween gift or party prize!

Until next time Swellions!

Alexa

A few months back, I got a bracelet design into Simply Beads. Well, unfortunately, before it was published, the magazine ceased publication. The good news is that is is still available online for purchase at E-patterns Central. So if you are into jewelry making, I suggest you check it out. There’s a lot of cute cross-stitch, knitting, crochet, paper crafting, and other patterns on the site as well, so there’s a little something for everyone!

I’ve actually stopped seeking out print publications to get my work in these days. I simply have been too busy with my new job, blogging, and my other crafty interests. Another of the main reasons is that a lot of the magazines I really wanted to get into have ceased publication. It’s such a bummer. In my opinion, magazines that will stand the test of time have to be more technique driven and packed with a LOT of value. For example, I tend to buy Halloween magazines, because I love to look at them year after year and become reinspired. To me, there is a lot of value to them in the inspiration. Also, it helps that the photos are ultra appealing and make me want to want to make the project. Unfortunately, a lot of mags don’t have the beautiful photos like we see in Better Homes and Gardens (they simply don’t have the budgets for such great photography). Yes, I’m still a sucker for that mag. I just bought an issue yesterday. I always fall in love with their ideas and I appreciate that they really stay on trend with projects and for the most part always have new and improved content.

Speaking of content, I am disappointed by the new Martha Halloween mag that is out on newstands right now. Half of the magazine is old projects that were featured in that same mag one or two years ago, and then there’s a giant 16 page supplement of Martha Stewart ready-made gifts you can buy to decorate your home with. I would rather see more tutorials than a giant advertisement. It didn’t have much value to me, so I don’t think I will be purchasing that one this year 🙁

Well, it’s late and I have a full day of graphic design and crafts ahead of me!

Until next time Swellions!

Alexa

The Swell Designer

Random musings of a crazy, crafty, pop culture-obsessed girl!

Read ‘Em & Reap: BH&G Halloween Trick or Treats 2001

Tropical Twist Bracelet and Magazine Talk