Trend Watch | Fashion & Home Decor Motifs for Halloween

Fashion and home decor motifs have completely invaded Halloween, and I love it! I first noticed the trend toward sophisticated patterns in last year's crop of Halloween lines, and this year many releases from CHA Summer 2011 have taken it to the next level with some truly stunning collections.

Newcomer Authentique kicks off our tour of eerily elegant Halloween designs with their Glowing line. Damasks and fleur de lis reflect the home decor influence in this collection, while the harlequin (diamond) pattern gives a nod to the fashion industry.

In the newly released Apothecary Emporium collection, Echo Park lends its graphic influence to damask, chandelier, and harlequin patterns by pairing them with unexpected b-side prints such as grids and chemical formulas. A touch of distressing - not normally found in Echo Park's designs - gives the line a slightly grungy feel.

Echo Park also offers digital cutting files (though iDiecut.com) to coordinate with Apothecary Emporium (and many of their other collections). The files are available in a variety of formats (including those compatible with the popular Silhouette cutter) and include several home decor influenced shapes.

Apothecary Emporium also turned out to be the perfect paper line for me to use when scrapbooking photos of the geeky pumpkins carved by my husband and I last fall!

Supplies | Patterned Paper: Echo Park Apothecary Emporium (Alchemy Press, Skull & Bones, Under Your Spell, Black Magic). Letter Stickers: Echo Park Apothecary Emporium. Decorative Stickers: Echo Park Apothecary Emporium (Element Stickers). Color Mist: October Afternoon (Tin Type), Studio Calico (Orchard). Buttons: Papertrey Ink.  Brads: My Mind's Eye (Mischievous). Rhinestones: Imaginisce (i-Rock). Date Stamp: Office Supply.

I couldn't help but think of the rich (and slightly eerie) sets of Phantom of the Opera while browsing through Pink Paislee's Phantom line.  The lush Halloween collection, licensed from House of 3, is rich in damask prints and ornate frames with a few chandelier and birdcage elements thrown in for good measure.

Damask and chandeliers have long been part of Teresa Collins' signature style, so it's no surprise that they make an appearance in her newest Halloween collection, Haunted Hallows. The Damask, Chandelier Crows, Candelabras, and Frames prints from the line are laden with the motifs along with a selection of spooky scrollwork frames.

Cricut fans will be delighted to find that Teresa Collins' Halloween designs are also available on a special seasonal cartridge, Chic & Scary, which includes a number of home decor related images.

Bella Blvd shows that a paper line doesn't have to have a Gothic, distressed, or vintage vibe in order to include elements from the fashion world. Bella's Too Cute to Spook collection is brightly colored, whimsical, and fun, and is still the perfect home for this sophisticated damask print (found on the back of the Borders sheet).

Fancy Pants' Oct 31st line includes both home decor and fashion elements in the form of damask and harlequin patterns (as found in the Eerie and Spooks prints).

Tim Holtz's new Halloween releases from CHA Summer 2011 reflect a home decor influence, as well. One of Tim's newly released Sizzix Bigz die sets includes a candelabra, and his Halloween Background and Borders Texture Fades set features a fleur de lis border plate.

Whether you're scrapbooking photos of costumes, spooky decor, or making cards, the current crop of fashion and home decor influenced Halloween lines will add a touch of spooky sophistication to your projects.