Salem Signs

Well here I am back with more... (see I told ya!) LOL I've been thinking about some signs for my home since days before LAST Halloween. I knew I wasn't going to make any in time for last year, and I also knew that if I didn't get on it now, I wouldn't make it this year either.

My favorite thing or maybe better to say my theme for my Halloween Decor is mostly Witches. I like the hats, I like the black cats, the cauldron's, the green, the brooms, the spell books, pretty much anything to do with Witches. Then there is also the fact that I was born in Salem Massachusetts, I love history (especially local things), so the decision to go with Witches and references to Salem was an easy one to make.

Now, there are LOADS of great Sign ideas on the web for this theme, different styles, different sayings, here are a few that I have come up with.

This first sign I thought was a cute idea, I do have to admit that I am TERRIBLE at freehand painting! I did write the words (with pencil) first, then attempted to paint them. It turned out 'OK' but definitely could've been better, I still like the sign though.

This next one is my favorite of the three signs by far! The font I picked out looks great, and I am in LOVE with the little broom!!! I made it myself, used raffia for the bristles and I asked one of the boys to go outside to find a broken branch for me.... I didn't do anything to 'clean up' the branch, it was perfect just the way it was with all its little imperfections. My one and only complaint is that I am reminded why I NEVER put straight titles on my scrappy pages! It's because I'm not that great at it....LOL Now the 'm' is purposely on a slant to follow the line of 'Co.', but I don't know what the heck is up with the 'roo'....oh well, it was my 1st attempt, and it's for my house, so it's not like I am trying to please a customer (I'd never sell this with the letters looking the way they do), it's just a reminder to take more time to get it just right with the next one :)

With this sign I got a lil smart with the lettering.... I used welded words, so I didn't have to line up every letter, and as you can see, "Salem" goes every which way, (which is how I normally mask my poor lining up skills). I think even though this is a very simple sign, it has interest, with the two colors for words, different fonts and placement, and I even sanded and scuffed up this piece letting the orange that I painted under the black show in some places.

One thing I did that I am proud to admit is that I reduced the amount of materials I used. I actually painted the two pine signs, on the back sides of my Christmas decor signs I painted last year. So as soon as I'm ready to say good bye to Halloween all I need to do is flip the signs and say hello to Christmas! :)

I still have more ideas, but this will do for this year.... I'll leave something for me to do next year. haha

Happy Crafting!

~Jenn