It’s that time of year! For long time readers, we will indeed be doing the Haunted Forest again this year, bigger and better, of course. By the time the Things are in college, it will be epic, then no one will care. Anyway, I created a tag for all DIY, etc… related to the Haunted Forest preparations here.
Last year we cobbled together a lighting situation that I am determined to improve upon for round two. We thought we’d have installed some low voltage lighting on the trail by this year, but the treehouse kinda sucked all the energy and resources for such a project. I saw this project below and wanted to do something kinda like it, but with a slight twist.
via eighteen25
I loved the idea of creating a big “moon” in the forest with bats affixed to it. When I discussed this brilliant plan with the Things, I was immediately shot down as Thing One said, “But there’s already a moon. It will look like Tatooine.”  I countered that it might be cloudy, and wondered since when has a touch of Star Wars EVER been a problem around here?! For proof, go here. They relented.
I ordered a 24″ yellow paper lantern to act as the moon and I already had some of these LED battery powered mini-lights. The less extension cords out there, the better, so I’m hoping if I group a few of the lights in the big lantern, it will give off enough light for impact.
 via Just Artifacts
To test my crafty plan, I happened to have both a small yellow and a white paper lantern up in the attic. They are a little worse for wear, but at least I could get an idea of how it will look before the big one comes. I can use them in other parts of the party as long as they are high enough to hide their flaws.
I used a bat template from Country Living, but it was too big for a folded piece of 8 1/2″ x 11″ paper, so I ended up freehanding them, and just looking at the template for reference. I used 80# black card stock.
Here are the “test lanterns.” I’m excited about how the big one will look in the forest…I think it’s gonna work! As you can tell, the dining room is officially, Halloween central. I think we’ll be eating at the breakfast bar, or outside for the rest of the month….
