Hanging Insect Specimens

$15 - $20 (based on 2018 prices)

Makes four specimens

For the witch den, which was part of my office’s annual decorating competition, I covered the walls in an assortment of framed specimens. To give the illusion of an eclectic collection, I created small groups of props with varying designs. For this version, I used vintage entomology illustrations and oversized plastic insects. You can, of course, cater the props to your specific needs by altering the size (a subtle statement with a small, cheap frame or a dramatic impression with something more massive and ornate) or specimens (an eerie mixture of rat skulls or a bizarre cluster of bat wings).

• Four 12” x 12” frames
• One 10 oz. can of interior/exterior, fast-drying spray paint in flat black
• One 2 oz. bottle of acrylic paint in metallic bronze*
• One 2 oz. bottle of acrylic paint in olive*
• Five pieces of 8” x 11.5” copy paper (four with vintage entomology illustrations printed on them and one with scientific labels)
• At least four tablespoons of black tea (e.g. Darjeeling, Earl Gary, English Breakfast, etc.)
• One pan large enough to soak the copy paper
• One 4 oz. bottle of all-purpose tacky glue*
• Five plastic insects in various sizes
• One 8 oz. can of oil-based interior wood stain in Jacobean*
  

1. Remove the backings and any glass from the frames and, on a newspaper-lined surface in a well-ventilated area, apply an even coat of black spray paint. Although I only used one coat, you may want more depending on your desired coverage. Keep in mind, though, that this is the base coat and much of the black will be covered by the metallic bronze and olive paint.

2. Once the paint has dried, detail the frames by apply a layer of metallic bronze. You want to give the illusion of worn metal, so gently brush the paint along the raised surfaces of the frames in a quick, back-and-forth motion. It may work best to experiment with a scrap of cardboard first. Also, to enhance the aged patina, randomly smudge olive paint on the frames with either a paper towel or sponge.

3. Boil enough water to completely submerge the copy paper 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 paper 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 of the paper to add spots. Remove the paper from the water and allow it to dry. Although it can be time consuming, this process works best if you stain each sheet of paper individually.

4. Glue the stained paper to the cardboard backings. To make it appear even more decrepit, crinkle the paper and create holes.

5. On a newspaper-lined surface in a well-ventilated area, stain the insects. I began by giving each one a light, even coat with a foam brush. After that, I applied heavy amounts of stain and patted away the excess with paper towels. You want the color to build up in the cracks and fissures. Although you may use whatever color of stain you desire, I chose Jacobean because it gives the insects an old, rotted appearance. Once you have achieved your intended look, allow the insects to dry. I let mine sit outside in the sun for three days.

6. Center the specimens on the backings and glue them in place. For a sturdier hold, consider using superglue.

7. Cut out the tea-stained specimen labels and adhere them to the backings. For this prop, I decided to use the genus and species of the insects, but you could christen each insect with a whimsical name or its role in a magical potion.

8. Attach the frames to the backings. For added support, glue the backings in place, particularly if you plan to display these in windy conditions. If the frames did not come with hanging hooks, you can add store-bought items to the back or fashion your own with steel wire.

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