Specimen Jars (Version One - Alternate)

$20 - $30 (based on 2015 prices) 

Makes three jars

I wanted to do something with an assortment of body parts which rarely fit into my haunt’s themes. I finally settled on the idea of transforming them into jarred specimens. For the majority of the project, I used larger jars and glued the labels to their surfaces (see that version here). For the smaller items, I decided to attach the labels with twine. Although the decision was primarily out of necessity (the labels were too large to adhere to the jars and hid most of the specimens), the variation added an interesting aesthetic to the entire collection.

• Three glass jars of varying sizes (you can decrease or increase this number)
• One 8 oz. can of oil-based interior wood stain in Jacobean*
• At least four tablespoons of black tea (e.g. Darjeeling, Earl Gary, English Breakfast, etc.)
• One piece of 8” x 11.5” cardstock with specimen labels printed on it
• One pan large enough to soak the cardstock
• Two to three yards of light-brown twine
• One 4 oz. bottle of all-purpose tacky glue*
• Three various body parts and/or severed limbs
  

1. On a newspaper-lined surface in a well-ventilated area, paint the jars with the stain. I discovered that applying a thin coat and patting it with paper towels produces a hazed appearance. Likewise, brushing the rims and base with a swift downward motion creates the illusion of grime buildup.

2. Boil enough water to completely submerge the cardstock and pour it into the pan. Add the tea. The longer you allow the tea to brew, the darker the stain will become. Likewise, greater amounts of tea will produce a richer stain. I found that a combination of English and Irish Breakfast brewed for over ten minutes produces a nice, deep brown. Submerge the cardstock into the tea mixture and soak it until it reaches the color you desire. I soaked mine for eight hours and scattered the loose-leaf tea over the top to add spots. Remove the cardstock from the water and allow it to dry.

3. Wrap the necks of the jars with twine and knot the ends, trimming one and leaving the other with a two- or three-inch excess. To reinforce it, glue the knot.

4. After the cardstock has dried, cut out the labels, leaving a small boarder around their edges, and give your specimens names. To roughen the labels’ appearance, use sandpaper to fray their sides and create holes. Once you have achieved your desired level of distress, punch a hole into the top of the label and thread the twine through it, knotting the ends and trimming the excess.

5. You can use olive or vegetable oil to add further stains to the label. I discovered that applying a small amount of oil to your index finger and patting it on the paper works well.

6. Add the specimens to their corresponding jars, positioning them so they are prominently displayed. For this version, I elected not to use the bloodied cheesecloth; however, you may incorporate it.

*You will not use the entire bottle’s content for this project.