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Intro
As autumn arrives with falling leaves and cool, crisp air, Halloween enthusiasts excitedly get ready for the spookiest holiday of the year. For many, this means decorating their homes with ghastly ghouls and glowing jack-o’-lanterns. For those who truly want to take their Halloween creativity to the next level, though, there’s an event known as “Trunk or Treat.”
Trunk or Treat is a fun twist on traditional trick-or-treating where communities come together and decorate their car trunks in creative ways. They will then go to a school or an empty parking lot and let kids walk around collecting candy. This year, I joined in on the Trunk or Treat fun! I put together an enchanting trunk using a variety of items to give it a spooky charm that left everyone captivated. Join me on my journey as I share the materials I used and the lessons I learned along the way.
Before You Begin
Before diving into the details of my Trunk or Treat adventure, it’s essential to mention that this is not a step-by-step how-to article, but rather a narrative of my experience. I’ll be sharing the items I crafted and the materials I used down below!
I may have procrastinated a little too much with this project and was rushing at the last minute. There are a lot of things I would do differently next time, but overall I think this project turned out awesome! It was super fun too!
You can check out the video on it below!
Items I Crafted for the Trunk or Treat
Since I choose a “magical shop” theme, I wanted to get a little crafty with my trunk or treat decorations, and that’s precisely what I did! I wish I had more time to add those final touches, but procrastination can be quite a challenge sometimes.… Either way, I’m still thrilled with how everything turned out!
Dragon Egg Chests – One highlight of my trunk setup was a set of dragon egg chests. They were pretty simple to make. They added a mystical touch to my display.
Glow in the Dark Sign – To bring that enchanting “magical shop” vibe to life, I decided to hand paint a sign that let people know they could find spells and potions here. I think it definitely added a touch of mystique to the entire scene.
Potion Bottles – I also created a collection of potion bottles! I filled each glass bottle with colorful shimmering liquids made by using food dye and luster dust. I then labeled them to look like magical elixirs.
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Other Items I Used for the Trunk or Treat
In addition to the items I crafted for the trunk or treat, I gathered various materials to complete the whole experience. Here are some of the other elements I used:
Cube Storage – While I initially thought these storage cubes would fit the aesthetic, they didn’t quite blend with the overall theme. They were, however, needed to organize the display.
Halloween Spider Webs – No Halloween display is complete without spider webs. These added a creepy touch to the scene!
Gourds – I picked up a selection of gourds from the store for a rustic, autumnal feel. I would have preferred ordering and using fake ones, but I was a little short on time and this was a last-minute addition.
Old-Timey Books – I tied together a stack of old books with some twine to make a set available for purchase. I also added a few extra books and leather-bound notebooks to add to the witchy vibe.
Witchcraft Kit – The kit came with a bunch of herbs and gems, which definitely added an authentic touch to the setup.
Fairy Lights – These tiny lights created a magical, twinkling atmosphere. I made sure the ones I got had a USB adapter so I could plug them into my car or a battery pack.
Rune Kit – I bought a pouch of wooden runes off of amazon. I thought they fit well with my trunk or treat theme.
Tarot Cards – What magic shop is complete without tarot cards!
Gem Crystal Ball – For a dash of mysticism (and because I like shiny rocks), I included a crystal ball I bought a while back.
Flameless Tea Lights – I wasn’t sure if the fairy lights would be enough once it got dark, so I added in some flameless tea lights.
Black Mesh Fabric – I draped this over the top of my car trunk to create a last-minute canopy.
Tapestry – I used a tapestry to create a makeshift rug, allowing my display to extend out behind my car a bit.
Renaissance Fair Finds – A walking staff and a drinking horn that I had picked up at a Renaissance fair added a touch of fantasy to the scene.
Tote and Black Tablecloth – To neatly arrange the candy bowls, I used a tote with a black tablecloth as a surface.
Candy Bowl – Of course, I had a cute kitty bowl filled with candy for the kids. After all, Halloween is all about the treats!
Things I Wish I Did Differently
In every creative project, there are always things we’d do differently if we had the chance. Here are some lessons I learned:
I would definitely give myself more time than I did. I wasn’t able to put all of my effort into my projects because I was worrying about the time constraints.
As mentioned earlier, the storage cubes didn’t quite mesh with the aesthetic I had in mind. I should have either gotten small wooden ones or made my own. The plastic just stood out too much.
I loved the fairy lights! The tea lights, on the other hand… not so much. I should have either gotten black ones instead of orange and white or eliminated them altogether.
Because of the time pressure, I couldn’t conduct a test run before the trunk or treat event. This meant I had to set things up haphazardly and nearly ran out of trunk space. Fortunately, the tapestry came to the rescue, allowing me to extend my display behind my car.
Final Thoughts
Despite a few minor hiccups, my trunk or treat experience in 2023 was a resounding success! It was a lot of fun, and I couldn’t have been more thrilled with the enchanting and spooky atmosphere I created. The delighted smiles on the faces of the children and the appreciation of the parents made all the effort worthwhile.
In the end, Trunk or Treat is not just about the final result, but the journey of crafting a magical Halloween experience for all to enjoy. It’s an opportunity to let your creativity run wild and immerse yourself in the spirit of the season. So, if you’re considering taking part in Trunk or Treat next year, don’t hesitate. Embrace the challenge, let your imagination roam, and create a Halloween memory that will linger in the minds of your community for years to come!
And as always,
Happy Arting! 🙂
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