Decorating With Paper Halloween Mice

October 24, 2011

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Using black paper mice for cute Halloween decor!


taking carpet of stairs

Well, you knew it had to happen…the mice are BACK!

Technically, I think they’re called rats:

That’s what Martha Stewart calls them anyway. Or maybe they are mice? Who knows.

I just LOVE THEM.

I got a little, teensy more creative with them this year…a couple of them are checking out the kids:

 

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And a few are rocking some sparkly witch’s hats:

I cut the hats out with my Silhouette, but they’re looking a little more like floppy beach hats then witch hats. Oh well. I still love them.

These cute mice cut outs are from an old Martha Stewart line, but you can find them way cheaper on Etsy! 

A few of you have asked if our stairs match the new hardwood floors:

mice silhouettes on stairs

No, not well. :)

The stairs are Bombay Mahogany (red) and the floors are Jacobean (brown). But I’m not complaining! I still love them both so much it hurts. ;) Someday I’ll have the stairs sanded down and restain them, but for now, I’m good.

Of course, I wanted to add a little glow to the fall stairs, so I added some DIY votives. I picked up some cheapy light covers at the hardware store last summer to do an outdoor project, but the warm season got away from me.

Since I already had them, I decided to make them work for this season:

They are the glass covers that go on light fixtures and they cost $2-something each. They’re nice and lightweight, which gave me another idea, so I got a few more today for an upcoming project. We’ll see how it goes. :)

I filled them with cutie acorns I picked up at Meijer weeks ago:

They look like acorns roasting on an open fire, but the candle is really just an LED light. I’m obsessed with these things. I love how they flicker like real candles. (You can find them just about anywhere anymore, but I’ve gotten most of mine at the dollar store.)

I still say, for $50, this wood stairway redo was the best DIY project I’ve ever done:

martha stewart mice silhouettes

Cause now I can put rats mice on our stairs and that makes me silly happy. I love these little buggers.

I was going to put little teeny pumpkins by their little mice holes (like it’s their front porch…get it???) But I decided I should probably calm down and reel it in Sarah!

The sparkly witch hats are plenty:

pumpkins and mice on stairs

(The pumpkins and votives are tucked under the railing so they aren’t a trip hazard.)

I can’t wait to get them all dressed up for Christmas! Don’t worry, I don’t keep 12 rats mice on my stairs at Christmas. I only keep a couple. ;)

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October 24, 2011

Comments

  1. Angela@the crazyness that is meOctober 24, 2011 at 9:42 PM

    How cute are they!! Love the one with the witch hat on!

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  2. designer1971October 24, 2011 at 9:43 PM

    I have always loved your mice. I think they are very creative. Love the hats too! I think it's the quantity that gives me the spooks. I lived in a NYC apartment with rats that size and they freaked me out. I think 3-4 Mice would be perfect. Love your new floors too :)

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  3. Amanda @ Serenity NowOctober 24, 2011 at 9:45 PM

    Delightfully creepy! And I love the ones rockin' the bling. Those are my kind of mice. My girls would love it because they've been listening to "The Tale of Desperaux" in the car lately.

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  4. flylikeabirdOctober 24, 2011 at 9:47 PM

    I love this so much! It is seriously adorable.

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  5. Thelittlebrownhouse.usOctober 24, 2011 at 9:49 PM

    How cute!! I don't find them creepy at all, I think they are adorable! Now if you put little black silhouette cockroaches on your stairs I might be bothered..

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  6. Anna@Directions Not IncludedOctober 24, 2011 at 9:49 PM

    Is it sad that the only reason I want stairs is for these rats? I love them and the ones with the hats are awesome. :)

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  7. sparrowgreyOctober 24, 2011 at 10:09 PM

    Such an awesome idea for stairs! Looks great; well done.

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  8. Catie @ Catie's CornerOctober 24, 2011 at 10:11 PM

    They're soo cute, Sarah!! I love their little sparkly witch hats. The acorns with the candles is a great idea. I live in Calgary (Canada) and can't seem to find acorns anywhere. I'd really some for decoration and to make tiny floating candles with. Have you seen those? They're really cute!

    Is that your stepdaughter in the picture? If so, how old is she? Mine just turned 13 at the end of August and the endless texting and chatting on facebook has begun. I'm hoping we make it through the next 5 years ok, hahaha. =)

    ~ Catie

    Oh, I can't believe it's almost November too. It's my 21st ;) birthday on the 4th! Yay for me!

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  9. KatieOctober 24, 2011 at 10:14 PM

    I really love your mice, and the jars of acorns. Makes me want to rip out the carpet on my stairs. I fear what's underneath though. That and I think my husband would kill me.

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  10. Kim @ NewlyWoodwardsOctober 24, 2011 at 10:15 PM

    I love them. And I specifically bought the Martha mice this year cause I loved yours last year. You are awesome. Bottom line.

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  11. Gloria FoxOctober 24, 2011 at 10:18 PM

    I love your mice/rats too. Never thought I would say that. lol

    Your floors are beautiful!

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  12. Rachel LundyOctober 24, 2011 at 10:33 PM

    That's so fun and adorable!

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  13. Rhee jOctober 24, 2011 at 10:45 PM

    Oh my gawd, I want some rats!!! Out of the cage that is, our dghtr has rats for pets and I love them too...but these are soooop much cuter by a ga.Zilll.Ion!!! I don't remember how you did it or where you got them. I loved them last year...this year love the Nara and how they interact with the pics. Super cuteness!!!

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  14. BrandiOctober 24, 2011 at 10:57 PM

    Oh my goodness, I remember the mice! I believe this was the post that drew me in to your blog! A year later and we're both still here! Oh lawd, listen to me getting all reminiscent and teary eyed! But seriously though, your stairs look great and I love all of your creative ideas!

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  15. My Mercurial NatureOctober 24, 2011 at 11:13 PM

    I wish I had stairs!!!

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  16. SusieOctober 25, 2011 at 12:06 AM

    Never commented before, but I had to one this one. LOVE the mice, I wish I could do them on my stairs. Maybe one day I will rip up that old carpet.

    ReplyDelete
  17. MichelleOctober 25, 2011 at 12:10 AM

    I love the mice!

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  18. MellodeeOctober 25, 2011 at 12:14 AM

    spiders would have been ok, or little ghosts, or even ugly little witches....but rats? The idea is great I love the little pumpkins tucked under the railing. I love the black start against the white....but rats? Using the riser of the stairs is a really clever decorating tool....but really, rats???

    ((( Shuddering here!!)))

    ReplyDelete
  19. KaceyOctober 25, 2011 at 12:15 AM

    I love the mice/rats! I'm dying to tear up the carpet on my stairs, but I have two wild boys. And they already make me nervous enough!

    ReplyDelete
  20. CaraOctober 25, 2011 at 12:16 AM

    Just darling! and thanks for your comment the other day :) on Twice Lovely. You've brightened my day many a time with your posts. thx.

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  21. LindaOctober 25, 2011 at 12:40 AM

    I cannot believe I am saying this...but those "rats"...are cute!
    I am one of those gals that would totally freak out if I ever saw a real one!

    Linda @ Truthful Tidbits

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  22. AnonymousOctober 25, 2011 at 2:31 AM

    i found VERY similar rats at our 99 Cent store in Southern CA! 24 rats and houses for $2~

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  23. AmySOctober 25, 2011 at 2:36 AM

    I can't believe how much I absolutely love your staircase (and the photo wall with the quote). Reading your blog makes me happy. :-)

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  24. missppfOctober 25, 2011 at 5:47 AM

    Greetings from Croatia! :)
    I like all your decorating ideas so much! The stairs are probably the one thing I've been checking out the most just because I wish to have them (just so I could decorate them in a similar way :D) - living in a flat. Atm I'm searching for some halloween decoration ideas so this seems like something that will come in handy as an idea :) my mum and I also like to try out new decorating options so I'm sure I'll be visiting your blog quite often! Keep up the great work :)

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  25. UnknownOctober 25, 2011 at 6:46 AM

    Tee hee... I love the mice! So cute & charming!

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  26. MollyOctober 25, 2011 at 7:31 AM

    i love your little friends. They are adorable. I have the
    real thing down here. They are not. The pest control guy and I are becoming best friends.....
    Your decorating is always the best!

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  27. Carpe DiemOctober 25, 2011 at 7:57 AM

    Love this, so cute! :)

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  28. Heather{Our Life In a Click}October 25, 2011 at 8:23 AM

    Your staircase looks amazing. I put them up one year and I swear it attracted mice to our house --so NO more! =)

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  29. ChrissyOctober 25, 2011 at 9:13 AM

    My boys have been begging for these. Yours look so stinkin cute, I am going to break down and do it. LOL

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  30. VonOctober 25, 2011 at 10:45 AM

    Ha! I kept 2 mice up for Christmas last year and decorated above the mouse hole with a garland of poinsetta and holly crafted with card stock and paper punches. After all: not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.....

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  31. UnknownOctober 25, 2011 at 10:58 AM

    I love them, they are super cute!! I love your stairs... mine need some serious attention. Thanks for posting about your colors. I will keep that in mind. How did you redo your stairs without peeps sitting on them? Cause, ya gotta go upstairs to bed, etc. Just curious. That's what holds me back, do I do one step at a time? Anyway, enlighten me please.

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  32. Gail {Simply Oney}October 25, 2011 at 11:11 AM

    I have always loved your mice! Love the addition of the witches hats and the ones on the wall checking out the kids photos =)

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  33. KristinOctober 25, 2011 at 12:50 PM

    I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your mice! Some day I'll tear up the carpet on my stairs and do exactly what you did. Your staircase is awesome, and did I mention that I LOVE THE MICE?

    Looking forward to Atlanta in June. :)

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  34. LisaOctober 25, 2011 at 5:09 PM

    OH I *love* them! and Please please please put the little pumpkins outside their mouse door - that is so totally ADORABLE!

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  35. Cupcake MamaOctober 25, 2011 at 6:16 PM

    A year later and these are still oh-so-cute!

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  36. Miss CharmingOctober 25, 2011 at 6:29 PM

    Cute idea! (I really like the moulding around your stairs, too.)

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  37. Anna @ A Good HomeOctober 25, 2011 at 8:06 PM

    I love the mice! Definitely mice, too, not rats. The "reel it in, Sarah" bit cracked me up. I think my husband wishes I'd "reel it in, Anna" more frequently than I do ;)

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  38. Eclectically VintageOctober 25, 2011 at 8:47 PM

    Love your mice! I have the spider silhouettes on my stairs. And my floors are also stained Jacobean!

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  39. about blue cedar laneOctober 25, 2011 at 8:58 PM

    I loved these mice last year, and this year they're even better! great work :)

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  40. mwimpOctober 25, 2011 at 10:02 PM

    luv luv luv them!! and i think the little glitter pumpkins for scrapbooking wuld be awesome next to their doors!

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  41. NatashaOctober 26, 2011 at 1:28 AM

    Love this idea! The witches hats add a special touch. Very cute!

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  42. Contemplating BeautyOctober 26, 2011 at 1:41 AM

    ABSOLUTELY AH-dorable! I want to come and visit JUST to see this in person, so super cute!

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  43. AnonymousOctober 26, 2011 at 3:48 PM

    How did you store them from last year? I"m getting ready to rat-ify the house for party this weekend and want to be able to use them from year to year. Thanks, Shannon

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  44. OnegirlrunsOctober 26, 2011 at 3:54 PM

    absolutely love the ones wearing hats! lol. so cute and humorous. also, the portraits of your children are gorgeous.

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  45. LauraOctober 28, 2011 at 2:10 PM

    omg! I thought they were still cute at Christmas, and I LOVE the HATS! :)))))

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  46. LauraOctober 28, 2011 at 2:12 PM

    I've been sitting here trying to figure out why we all love the rats er mice so much. We're all the Cinderella age. It makes me think of the cute little mice running around not gross giant rats. :)

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  47. I Play Outside The BoxOctober 29, 2011 at 8:27 PM

    In a convo with, Gail of My Repurposed Life...she mentioned the mice you had on your stairs....I had to seek you out and see yours. AWESOME is all I can say..your stairs are beautifully done...mice and all. Ü

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  48. UnknownMarch 6, 2012 at 7:11 AM

    Love love the decoration !! You have a lovely site :)
    Thanks for sharing ! Following you :)

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