Last week’s Halloween fun didn’t end with that post. We had a few more simple, inexpensive ideas to share, and one of our favorites was an easy lamp makeover inspired by a Martha Stewart trick: black bat silhouettes tucked inside our living room lamps.
It was quick and virtually free. We completed the project in under ten minutes using materials we already had on hand (total cost: $0). Here’s how we did it. First, I sketched a few bat shapes on small white pieces of paper. A quick online search provided inspiration. Tip: cut the paper into rectangles roughly the size you want your finished bats to be so your sketches stay on track.
After sketching, I cut the shapes out to make small white stencils. Then I traced those shapes with a pencil onto black construction paper—black cardstock works well too if you have some. Once traced, I cut the bats out and ended up with crisp bat silhouettes. If you want the exact shapes we used, feel free to print and enlarge the photos as stencils.
We liked that one of our bat designs could be flipped to face the opposite direction, giving us three distinct-looking bats for the time it took to make two. That small variation makes the display feel less formulaic and more natural.
To attach the bats inside the lampshades we used two small loops of Scotch tape—one on each wing—and pressed them firmly against the inner fabric of the shade. A safety note: make sure the paper is secured well and placed away from any hot bulbs. Compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) and LEDs burn much cooler and reduce any risk. You won’t really notice the tape from the outside; you only see the bat silhouette, which gives a polished, subtle effect without much effort.
When the lamps are off the linen shades hide the bats completely, so the shades look ordinary. Flip the switch, though, and the silhouettes glow—perfect for casual Halloween ambiance. We’re planning to place these lamps in the front window when trick-or-treaters arrive on the 31st. It feels like a modern twist on pumpkin carving. (Yes, we carved pumpkins too and will share those photos soon.) If you want an extra pop, try an orange bulb—our shades already cast a warm, yellow-orange glow that works nicely.
We didn’t stop with the lamps. Our beloved concrete greyhound got a Halloween touch as well. Using an old necklace and a few wisps of spiderweb from another porch project, we gave the statue a dark, chain-like collar and a slightly spooky vibe.
The whole thing was easy and free. The only downside: our real dog, Burger, might be a little jealous of all the attention the faux greyhound is getting—don’t worry, Burger has a costume lined up too. We’ll share that, plus our porch decorations and pumpkin carving photos soon. With the holidays coming up fast, Halloween always seems to sneak up on us. Do you have any fun costume ideas for you or your pet, or any pumpkin-carving or porch decoration plans in the works? We’d love to hear what you’re making this season.