Oh What a Glittered Web We Weave

Here's another Halloween how-to so sparkly and sweet, Charlotte could have spun it herself!

Last Sunday, my friend Austin was having a few friends over for dinner at her place up in Sugar Hill, so I wanted to bring something sweet for us to have for dessert. With all the perforated pumpkins and ric rac trim on the mind, fall was definitely in full swing, so I decided to make one of my favorite desserts of the season—Pumpkin Cake with Brown Butter Icing. Martha did it years ago, so it's definitely an oldie but a goodie. Now I've made this cake on quite a few occasions, but this time, when I was lining the cake round with parchment paper, I messed it up a little and accidentally cut the folded piece of paper on a diagonal. When I opened it up again, there was something about it—the way it was folded and the angle of its edges—that totally reminded me of a spider web. So I thought, how cool could this be if it were made out of black paper? It's almost like a doily but handmade, totally simple and oh-so-spooky. All you need is black paper, a bone folder, spray adhesive, a pair of scissors and some glitter.

Using a bone folder, I folded the piece of paper as though I were to going cut it into a circle—half, half again, diagonal, diagonal again.

Then I cut the end into an asymmetrical half-moon shape, with one point higher than the other.

I continued making alternating cuts on either side of the folded paper to echo the shape of the outer one until about three inches from the tip.

After I was finished, I opened up the piece of paper, then used a warm iron to iron it completely flat. Check out the final results!

How simple was that? Now these—I like to call them "spider web doilies"—would be perfectly food safe, just as they are, for cookies, cupcakes and other creepy treats of the season. But because I like a little sparkle with my spooky, I thought I'd go the extra mile and glitter them up! First, I laid them down on craft paper, then did one quick coat of spray adhesive to cover them evenly. 

Next, I placed them in a baking pan lined with parchment paper, then sprinkled them generously with glitter.

Using the parchment paper, I pressed down firmly to adhere the glitter. After shaking them off a bit...

Check out the final results! What a simple but sophisticated handmade touch to Halloween entertaining, don't you think? And what about the bowls? They're Fire King peach lusterware, my newest obsession for the fall I first discovered at the flea market, then used ebay to fill out my collection. 

I was loving my new spider web doilies so much, I decided to scale up a few and use them as placemats. How chic would this be for a Halloween dinner party, especially paired with all that gorgeous peach lusterware, candies for a centerpiece and little paper cut-outs shaped like spiders? And best of all, it really was easy!

Here, I used the crown jewel of my peach lusterware set for a spooky holiday punch atop a large spider web doily. How perfect would this be for, say, a Classic Champagne Punch?

And finally, for a little fractured fun on the fireplace mantle, I stuck a little double-stick tape to the back of one of my doilies, then placed it in a corner where perhaps even Charlotte herself might have spun her magic.

And so, if you want to spook things up at your house this Halloween, but don't want to spend a lot of money or time in the process, grab a piece of paper, a pair of scissors and start glittering away! Oh, and let me know what you think! 

Comments

[Rachel]

These are gorgeous! How did I miss these last year??? I'll be linking.

[Amy @ Living Locurto]

I just found this post. These are so great! Thanks for such a fun idea.

[melissa stover]

love those! we'll have to try it.

[carol moore]

I have been looking high and low for
asian gridwork sections to put inside
an interior window. Help.....

[chez us]

followed some twitter crumbs over here - so glad I found you. i need pillows and a crafty halloween kid project, they will love these as they love the snowflake version! Thanks!

[JILL]

this looks so great! thanks for sharing. i'll be sure to do it for our halloween party.

[Shawn Herbert]

peach lusterware! Eddie, WHERE do you store all your collections? Love, love, love your ideas.

[Kimberly]

Those pictures are worthy of their very own magazine. I know you are made for much bigger things. Your ideas are tremendous and the way you carry them out is even more amazing. I love the doilies and then the added sparkle. Perfect!

[Laura Ingalls Gunn]

You are beyond brilliant!

[Catherine]

Eddie Rosski-lmnop I was just flipping thorugh the channels, HEARD you first, and then looked up to see Eddie on TV! You have certainly come a long way from decorating Jeff's mini fridge at school, and Jonathan's entire Apartment while he was at work!! I cannot stop laughing at your comments on the show, still the same Eddie:) Your work is great, but ease up on the Daisy dukes...
Would love to hear from you, use my email information!

[Becky]

The doilies are so homemade and fun. And I am loving on that lusterware!

[jill]

Ohhh this is charming as all get out!! I made that cake once for our company Thanksgiving Feast. I LOVED it and found it to be quite easy. My first time with the whole browning of the butter.

Loved last weeks episode... I need to start writing down your quotes, I find myself laughing out loud and so wanting the whole show to be JUST YOU!

[Karena]

What another great idea! You are endlessly full of inspirations!

[DecorPad]

I absolutely love this project, Eddie, LOVE!

[alia]

I love love love your blog, Eddie! You are a true inspiration every time I check in. Thank you for sharing your amazing eye with us.

[Elizabeth]

What a fantastic idea!

I have a stack of peach lusterware dinner plates that I was lucky enough to find in the basement of my boyfriend's old house...they had been left behind by the previous owners, along with a ton of other vintage dinnerware. I have only used the set once before, but you have inspired me to break them out for Halloween and beyond.

[Tabitha (From Single to Married)]

Amazing - I wouldn't have thought of that in a million years but it's totally easy and inexpensive. Very cool.

[shelly]

Another amazing idea!! LOVE IT:)

[Mike Davitt]

Eddie,

The peach lusterware punch bowl is totaly fab!! Love it.

[Mrs. Blandings]

Eddie, darling, do you ever sleep? These are fabulous, obviously. I adore the idea, but can't imagine how long I would be picking up bits of paper and sweeping up piles of glitter that the boys left behind.

[Stacilyn]

brilliant. love you. love the idea. love everything about this place.

[The City Sage]

Is it wrong that I want to throw a Halloween party just so I can make these inspired doilies?

If so, then I don't want to be right! GREAT project!

[hanako66]

you are so creative...I can't stand it!!! what a fab idea, I just love it and am totally going to try! thanks eddie!!

[Judy]

OMG Eddie, that is marvelous and so much fun!!!

[kristen]

oh, fire king lusterware. the perfect reminder that it's time for new dishes.

[Mimilee]

Beautifully creepy..............if there is such a thing!.....Well done, Eddie!

[Lindsey]

Genius!
They are so fab, I am totally using this idea Eddie!

{ Lindsey }
www.coveiter.com

[Renovation Therapy]

Well done!

[jessica claire]

eddie I have to ask if you ever pay up for the brand name halloween fare, like Pottery Barn's glittery skull for example. It's so cool but pricey!

Do you always DIY or do you buy the pre-made stuff too?

[Artie]

Wonderful Eddie!! Hope you don't mind if I borrow this. I'm thinking you could do the same sort of thing in the winter with white paper and snow flakes, right? Same idea. Maybe scatter different height crystal candlesticks with white candles through the center of the table, a fresh holly berry garland woven in and around those for interest, a silver egg cup - or better yet, milk glass egg cup filled with white roses and holly stems on each bread plate. Hmmm, now you've got me thinking!

[Mona from Toronto]

This is the most "chic" Hallowe'en setting I've ever seen! I love love love the peach lusterware!!!! The web placemats - FABULOUS!!!
That's why I check out this post every morning.

I especially love the spiders "climbing" up the punch bowl - it's your attention to all the little details that make you shine Eddie!

[LindsB]

Those are awesome!! I LOVE how they turned out...so creepy!

That idea could be used for all types of parties...like you could do round cuts in the paper and create a large flower- glitter it a pretty pink, yellow, or dark purple. How pretty would that be for a bridal shower, baby shower, etc.

Great idea again Eddie, thanks!!

[wanderluster]

What a simple but effective idea! Love it!

[Kim]

I love it as a placemat. I think they look better than my store-bought placemats for fall. I'll have to try it.

[Dianne]

Eddie, you constantly amaze me! I wonder...how much storage do you have? All these collections boggle my mind. Lucky you!!

[Suzanne Fall]

Eddie Eddie Eddie- you continue to amaze me- over the top -

[tricia welch]

Wow! Do you realize how totally awesome you are?

[allison]

"crown jewel of my peach lusterware set" is right, that is a beauty! Wow!

And now I want candy corn...hrmph.

[Lynn]

I found some already-glittered black paper at Hobby Lobby in the scrapbook department & made some lovely glitter bats which I'm using for a garland. I have an extra sheet...I might have to try the web.

[Roxanne]

Great project, Eddie. I love them with your dishes and the Halloween candy. Did you use construction paper or something heavier? Thanks for the inspiration.

[Beaux Mondes Designs]

Very creative. You did Charlotte proud.

[Jan]

What a BRILLANT idea -- and one that lots of folks can try -- and even do with kids! You are truly clever!

Jan at Rosemary Cottage

[Kimberly]

What an impressively simple idea! Thanks for sharing. And your photos are great too.