A Halloween Use for Your Longaberger Umbrella Basket

Longaberger's retired Umbrella Basket is a unique shape with uses far beyond holding umbrellas.  Striking holding any tall thin item, I've enjoyed my Umbrella Basket holding a tree at Christmas, and now here it is for Halloween!

Many of my favorite Halloween decorations came from Dresden, Ohio shops or Longaberger Homestead. When Longaberger Consultants attend the Bee in Dresden in late July, those fun shops always have tempting fall and Halloween decor that we just can't resist.  It's fun to remember those trips as I put out my decorations.

This black tree and wooden ornaments came from The Basket Shoppe, where we always seem to leave any money we have left after Longaberger Homestead shopping.  

Besides holding traditional long umbrellas and unique canes, what do you use your Longaberger Umbrella Basket for?  It's very helpful at Christmas (and year 'round) holding rolls of gift wrap, and if you weight the bottom and pack it with newspaper or some other fill up to about 8" below the top, it can hold a big fern in its pot.  I've also seen the Umbrella used as a side table, with a purchased round glass table top added.  

One year I painted a large tree branch white and put it in the Umbrella Basket (with lots of weight added for stability), then hung the Horizon of Hope Baskets on it and tied on all sorts of pink ribbons.  You could also make some sort of fall tree, and at your Thanksgivign gathering, add leaves that family members have written on.