5 small businesses to shop for Creepmas this holiday season

For some people, Halloween isn’t just one day, it’s a way of life. There’s Valoween instead of Valentine’s Day, Summerween (thanks to an episode of “Gravity Falls”), and in the spirit of Christmas, there’s Creepmas, a celebration of the holidays with a spooky twist. 

Even Spirit Halloween, known for its yearly Halloween pop-up stores, created a new pop-up under Spirit Christmas. It has a Creepmas category filled with plushies, sweaters, decorations and more.

Unfortunately, Spirit Christmas isn’t available nationwide and their items are only sold in-store. 

There is no need to worry though, because Los Angeles is the home to many small businesses that sell items meant for Creepmas gifts and decorations. 

Here are five Mexican, Latino and other small businesses in the L.A. spooky community to order from for the holidays. 

1. Stephies Doodles 

Stephanie Orta is an East Los Angeles Mexican small business owner. She started her business Stephies Doodles in 2016 and is working on it full-time. Her art style is known for its vintage twist inspired by Betty Boop, which people of any age can appreciate. And that’s who her products are for, individuals of all ages. 

Orta’s brand has spooky items that are dark and cute. There are also fairytale-inspired goods up for sale. Her goal is to have products to cater to different types of customers. She wants people from other professions to have products available for them to wear, such as teachers and nurses. 

“I know everyone is not into gore. I want to make it cute. I want somebody like a teacher to be able to hold an Exorcist mug while she's teaching, and that people have to do a double take,” Orta said. 

You can find Orta selling her Stephies Doodles products at pop-up events and conventions. The next event she’ll be participating in is at Plantiitas in Long Beach on Sunday, December 22. 

“Gothic people come in and even though they look so dark, they'll buy something cute. I like seeing different kinds of people of all ages coming to my table to buy. That's so versatile,” Orta said. 

There are items such as paper Krampus ornaments, vintage cat tote bags, creature prints and stickers, and even heart-shaped mirrors meant for “glam ghouls.”

2. Rattlehead Crafts 

Made for the undead, Rattlehead Crafts is a Los Angeles business operated by Mexican artist Mariana Chavez. She stands with members of marginalized communities, including the LGBTQ+ and BIPOC communities. 

The face of her business is Stoney, a skeleton that appears on various products and is the mascot. Trash metal band Megadeth is the inspiration for the business name because of the band’s mascot, Vic Rattlehead. 

Rattlehead Crafts is known for the horned beanies, which are the best sellers. Socks and stickers are also popular. Other types of products sold are tote bags, pillows, shirts and more that feature different types of art. 

When you see Chavez’s work, you’ll notice her love for clowns and the color red. Her Mexican heritage influences her line of work and art. 

“I think that in Mexican culture, like death and spooky themes, are a lot more playful and a lot more fun than they are here in the United States. When I look at my art, that's really what I want it to feel like. I want it to be kind of spooky, but not in an intimidating or scary way,” Chavez said.

“I think it has to do with Dia de los Muertos, Frida Kahlo, and like a lot of other Mexican artists, [There’s] little devils and they’re not scary, they're just silly little guys. That's what I want to do with my art,” she continued. 

You can shop Rattlehead Crafts online, at conventions, and pop-ups. 

3. Backstitch Bruja 

Yvette Aragon-Herrera, a Queer Latina whose goal is to make her products gender-fluid and ethnically-made, is the creator of Backstitch Bruja. She started her business back in 2018 after teaching herself how to sew and showcased her DIY items on Instagram. 

Aragon-Herrera graduated from the University of California Santa Barbara with a degree in Chicano/a Studies. 

Some of her Creepmas items for sale are sweaters, cardigans, shirts, pins, keychains and more. Other types of products sold are coffin bags, satchel bags, berets, hats, and more. 

You can shop Backstitch Bruja online, at conventions, and in-store at the Bruja Bootique in San Dimas located at 153 East Arrow Hwy., San Dimas, CA 91773. 

4. Love Pain and Stitches 

Love Pain and Stitches is a mother-and-son team that has created unique, custom bags for the macabre lifestyle and for the spooky at heart since 2013. 

The handcrafted bags feature a variety of jack-o'-lantern expressions that have caught the eyes of many people, especially in Los Angeles. 

There’s also an apparel line, stickers, jewelry, stockings for Creepmas and more. 

The business is well-known in the spooky community and is actively participating in local pop-ups and conventions around the county. 

Love Pain and Stitches keeps growing and is there for its supportive customers. 

5. Coolsville, USA 

Located in Montebello, Coolsville, USA (formally known as Spitfire Interiors) is one of the best places to visit locally in-store for your Creepmas shopping. The shop was established back in 2001 and has been a staple for the horror community ever since. 

You can find a variety of products featuring famous monster icons. There are many spooky decor items for the house such as lamps, shelves, coasters, and more. Webbed ornaments, haunted house ornaments, holiday trees and more for sale to include in your Creepmas decor. 

To shop at Coolsville, USA visit them at 1428 W. Beverly Blvd, Montebello, California 90640. The shop is also available online for purchases.