A Hocus Pocus-Inspired Mantel
“Hey, Mom. Can we do a Hocus Pocus mantel for Halloween?”
So began a recent conversation with my oldest, who always enjoys some good holiday decorating. On the one hand, it sounded like a really fun project for us. On the other, without much witchy decor, I was afraid the idea would lead us down an expensive path.
Unwilling to let my son down, I got thinking about what I could do with what I already own. I hauled out black candles, brass fixtures, and last year’s handcrafted (and laminated) bats. Then, I called my Halloween-loving mother-in-law for assistance with the rest (a wooden raven, some witches’ hats, and an authentic Salem broomstick).
The result is a fun Hocus Pocus-inspired mantel that my kids simply love. Our favorite part? The cauldron full of green potion. The “cauldron” was actually a $5 Lowe’s garden center clearance pot that we reimagined with a green light my husband had on hand and some tissue paper. It’s so fun!
I also love the brass bird cage. In the film, a bird cage is actually used by the witches to hold an obnoxious teenager hostage. Absent a human to fit into it, I settled for a cute little wooden raven.
Clearance items from Hobby Lobby (fake pumpkins) and Homegoods (those awesome skeleton battery-operated candles and the stems) rounded out my very budget purchases.
I love involving my kids in our cottage design. It always results in something fun and fresh. In fact, I plan to write more about this next week.
This mantel might be my new favorite design. For someone who isn’t big on Halloween, it was truly a dream to create something so fun (and customized) for my boys. I hope they grow up with memories of their mom trying to make their home cozy and festive for all holidays, even the ones she’s not crazy about.
