Halloween is starting to materialize! So get ready to celebrate with these easy Haunted Mansion DIYs!
We have two options to decorate your home, a Grim Grinning Garland and a Madame Leota Crystal Ball! Plus some fun tutorials so you can transform into your favorite Haunted Mansion characters!
Ready? Because there’s no turning back now!
GRIM GRINNING GARLAND
SUPPLIES:
- Foam and bristle paintbrushes
- Purple, white and black acrylic paint
- 1.5″ wood beads (around 50)
- Black twine
- White gel pen/ paint pen
- Scissors
- Craft knife
- Cutting mat or board
- Air dry clay
- Bamboo skewer/ toothpick
- Something to roll out the clay like a jar, dowel or rolling pin
INSTRUCTIONS:
Step 1: Paint your wood beads a spooky shade of purple and let them dry.
Step 2: To make the tombstones, take a chunk of air dry clay and roll it out to about 1/4″ thickness. Use a toothpick to draw different tombstones all over the surface. Carefully, use a craft knife to cut out the shapes.
Step 3: Use a toothpick to draw, “Tomb Sweet Tomb” and decorative shapes all over the stone. Get creative – add cracks and other wear and tear onto the clay. When you’re done, use a bamboo skewer to poke a hole completely through the clay at the top. Make sure it’s at least 1/8″ from the edge. Let dry completely.
Step 4: When the beads are dry, use a white paint pen or a white gel pen and draw sinister eyes randomly over the surface. Use different sizes for variation. See below for steps on how to draw these eyes.
Step 5: When the clay is dry, fill in all cracks and letters with black paint. Mix together various shades of gray using the white and black paint and add. Experiment using different brushes to add texture and decay onto the surface of the tombstone.
Step 6: Thread the beads through the twine and use that as a guide to cut your length. Add 5″ of twine to each end of your garland and use that to tie the loops to hang the garland. Cut off any excess twine.
Step 7: Evenly distribute the tombstone along the garland and use more twine to attach them. Hang up your Grim Grinning Garland and enjoy!
MADAME LEOTA CRYSTAL BALL
SUPPLIES:
- Clear 3.25″ sphere ornament
- 2 1/2″ multi-color LED tea light
- 4″ round wood base
- Black acrylic paint
- Red and gold felt
- Needle and thread
- Black tape and painter’s tape
- Frosted glass spray paint
- Printed Madame Leota insert
- Hot glue gun and glue sticks
- Craft knife/ scissors
- Foam paint brush
- Needle and thread
- Power drill and 3/4″ spade bit
For candles (optional):
- 3/16″ diameter dowel rod
- Orange and yellow paper
INSTRUCTIONS:
Step 1: Prepare the base
A. Mark the center of your 4″ wooden base, then use the drill and spade bit to create a 3/4″ hole.
B. Clean and paint the entire base using two coats of black acrylic paint and foam brush.
Step 2: Make a tablecloth
A. Take your red felt and cut out a 4″ square. The cut out for 4″ x 1/2″ pieces of gold felt. These will be for the edges of the tablecloth.
B. Glue the gold felt edges flush against all four edges of the red felt.
C. Take your scissors and make even cuts halfway up the gold felt. Continue around all four edges.
D. Center your wooden base over the tablecloth and trace the 3/4″ circle onto the center. Cut out with scissors.
Step 3: Create the tassels
A. to make the tassels, cut out four 0.75″ x 1.5″ pieces of gold felt.
B. Take a piece and fold it in half horizontally. Apply a dot of hot glue just below the fold, then pinch the two sides closed.
C. Wrap the thread around the middle of the tassel, tie and trim off the excess.
D. Use scissors to evenly cut the ends of the tassel. Sew a tassel to each corner of the tablecloth (or use hot glue).
Step 4: Assemble the table
A. Use hot glue to attach the tablecloth to the top of the wooden base.
B. Take the tea light and cover the sides and top with black tape. Place the tea light underneath the wooden base with the light in the center of the 3/4″ hole. Secure with hot glue.
Step 5: Candles (optional)
A. Paint the dowel rod all white. Cut 6 pieces of various sizes, with the largest being 1.5″ tall.
B. Align the bottoms of the three candles together and attach using hot glue. To create a base, pool hot glue along the bottom of the candles on a heat resistant surface. Let cool.
C. Drip glue down the sides.
D. Paint the drips white. Thin out some light brown paint and apply to add age. Cut out flames using the yellow and orange paper and glue to the top.
Step 6: Paint the crystal ball
A. Use painter’s tape to cover half of your ornament.
B. Spray two coats of the frosted glass spray paint onto the uncovered half of your ornament. Once dry gently lift the edges of the painter’s tape, leaving the center of the tape secure.
Hold the spray paint at a slight angle and lightly spray towards the edges of the tape to lightly fade the paint line. Let dry, then remove the tape.
Step 7: Conjure Madame Leota
A. Starting from the side of the template, gently roll the Madame Leota template over a pencil until it wraps around completely, but not too tightly.
B. Insert the rolled template into the ornament, tab side down. Slide it off the pencil while still holding the tab.
C. While holding the tab, use a pencil or small dowel rod to carefully unroll the template until it is fully open. Use the tab to adjust the angle until it sits center.
Step 8: Attach Leota to the base
Apply a small amount of hot glue to the tab to secure it to the ornament. Apply some glue to the inside of the hole in the base, then insert the ornament and hold until the glue cools. Glue the candles to the table.
Finally, turn on the LED light and call in the spirits, wherever they’re at!
But that’s not all! What about some Haunted Mansion inspired costumes? Check out these video tutorials to turn yourself into a Ghost Bride, Happy Haunt or Haunted Mansion Butler!
Happy Halloween foolish mortals!
Credit: Disney Parks
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