Merry Halloween! Plus a $50 Giftcard Giveaway! (GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED)

** GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED **

Soooooo, almost every other blogger I know already has their Christmas tree up. And then there's me. Showing you Halloween decorations. So, yeah. Just think of it as an enormous head start for next year.

Anyway, as may know, I've been working with Apartment Guide to share some of their great tips and tricks on how to make your apartment greener and recycling and good stuff like that. So I thought I'd share this little project that falls under the 'recycling' umbrella for me: altered books!

I started with a bunch of outdated textbooks from my husband's school that were headed for the dumpster. The DUMPSTER! I couldn't let that happen, not even to outdated textbooks, so I rescued as many as I could. This involved me pushing a broken shopping cart full of books through downtown Phoenix in a windstorm. You really should have seen it.

Once I was safely home with my pile of books, a glue gun, and some cheapie Halloween toys from Wal-Mart, this is what I did:

(You've seen glimpses of this already if you follow me on Instagram, @lnzallen).

This is what I used:

The paper towel is actually the most important part. After you get everything glued to your book the way you want it, you dampen the paper towel and just mod-podge it right over the top for that leathery look.

The spiderwebs were made with hot glue, and I just cut the letters out of cardstock and glued them on too. They really picked up the paint nicely and looked authentically embossed.  Matt actually asked me if "Venomous Potions" was the original name of the book. No, they don't typically teach that in high school these days, dear.

 (Inspiration was found here.)

Fun!  I'm glad they live with me now and not in some sad, old dumpster.  

I hope you liked my little project.  File it away for next year, and be sure to check out Apartment Guide whether you're living, looking or moving.  Apartment Guide has the photos, floor plans, features and tips to help you search for green apartment communities.

And good news!  Apartment Guide is giving away a $50 gift card to The Home Depot to a Better After reader just for being so cool.  

Awesome!  Just leave a comment here to enter!   Easy.

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 You can find Apartment Guide on:
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for real-time tips and updates on how to make the most of your small space.
And check out their "Friendsgiving" Pinterest Sweepstakes going on now until November 21.  Create some "Friendsgiving" themed boards for a chance to win some holiday cash!  Find out how to 'Pin and Win' here.



Disclosure Statement: Apartment Guide and owner Consumer Source, Inc. partner with bloggers such as me to participate in blogger programs. As part of that program, I received compensation. They did not tell me what to purchase or what to say about any products and believe that consumers and bloggers are free to form their own opinions and share them in their own words. Consumer Source’s policies align with WOMMA Ethics Code, FTC guidelines and social media engagement recommendations.

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