Ah, June. The official start of Halloween decor hunting season, at least in recent years. I am a Halloween ghoulie through and through, but admit I’m unsettled? exhausted? by the holiday creep. (Halloween stuff going out in June, Christmas stuff coming out as early as July?!?!?) And I’m saying this as someone who loves seeing Halloween stuff all year round!
What really frustrates me is the focus on and rush to buy things from the big box stores as soon as they start putting out pumpkins and skeletons.
I know I’m not alone in this frustration, and thankfully a lot of the spooky and Halloween focused creators I follow have stepped back from this. I appreciate their support of small and local businesses and artists, on thrifting and searching out preloved items. I also appreciate when they take the time to ensure their audiences that you don’t need to run out and buy the latest holy grail item.
What I really crave, though, is handmade Halloween, and I can’t seem to get enough of it. It’s not that I don’t see anyone doing crafts or making their own decorations—home haunters, for one, rule and do incredible work. I just wish it was more the norm over shopping trips and hauls. Am I just looking in the wrong places? Give me all your homemade sheet ghost costumes, your papier-mache masks, your creepy baked goods! I want to see what paper decorations people are sticking up in their windows. I wanna see more scarecrows and homemade props. I want to see Halloween party spreads!
That’s why I want to put my focus into making things, and sharing what I make. Be the spooky crafter you want to see in the world and all that. Plus making things is fun and you end up with unique pieces. And, I mean, I’m still watching all those Halloween hunting Code Orange videos. Taking notes, even! Seeing what’s out there and getting some ideas for stuff to make out of clay and trash.
I’m not immune from the retail bug, either. I’ve bought craft kits and the occasional clearance decor, and I love finding things second hand. But I can safely say that after getting a peek of what’s on offer from Michael or Joann…I have no plans to run out and buy any of it. There are other (imho) more satisfying ways of getting that Halloween fix. Hell, there’s so many great podcasts whose whole thing is Halloween and spooky stuff. I can brew myself some pumpkin spice chai and drink it out of my cauldron mug ANY TIME OF YEAR! Nobody can stop me! There’s books and movies that can scratch the itch, and yes, Halloween hunting videos.
I think the raddest part for me is that I can enjoy all (or at least most) of that from my little craft table with my messy little hands making messy little guys.