Masked Clown Skull

$15 - $20 (based on 2017 prices)

Makes one skull

As expressed in the introductions to both the skull with candle and swamp hag, I like renovating the dull Halloween props I buy on clearance at the end of each season. Most of the time, their obscured potentials are effortlessly revealed with a little glue, paint, and imagination; however, sometimes, as in the case of this particular build, the end result is even worse than the initial product. You can’t win them all, right? C’est la vie.

• One human-size ceramic skull with LED lights
• One 2 oz. bottle of acrylic paint in flat black*
• One 2 oz. bottle of acrylic paint in flat blue*
• One 2 oz. bottle of acrylic paint in flat green*
• One 2 oz. bottle of acrylic paint in flat orange*
• One 2 oz. bottle of acrylic paint in flat purple*
• One 2 oz. bottle of acrylic paint in flat red*
• One 2 oz. bottle of acrylic paint in flat yellow*
• One 2 oz. bottle of acrylic paint in flat white*
• One dozen pom poms in various colors and sizes
• One 0.49 oz. bag of multicolored feathers
• One 4 oz. bottle of all-purpose tacky glue*

1. On a newspaper-lined surface in a well-ventilated area, apply three even coats of white paint to the skull. Although it took three coats to adequately cover the skull’s original color, you might require more or less depending on the preliminary paintjob. Additionally, darken the eyes and nose and outline the teeth with black paint.

2. Utilize a variety of colors in your choice to paint laughter randomly on the skull. You want the wording to be haphazard. To achieve this, exaggerate curves, create sharp points, and elongate certain aspects. You could also write letters backwards and deliberately misspell words. Keep in mind, though, that the words need to be readable, so try not to overdo your artistic flairs.

3. Using a brush with splayed bristles, pat orange paint around the mouth to create a messy smile. You want this to look disheveled and maniacal, so do not overthink your application.

4. Accent the skull with pom poms, gluing a large one to the nasal opening to fashion the clown’s nose. You could use one specific size and color to achieve a unified look or vary both the dimensions and hues for a more chaotic appearance. Likewise, you can apply the pom poms in a random pattern or create an intricate design.

5. Make a mask for the skull by adhering feathers to the area surrounding its eyes. Akin to the pom poms, you can attain a homogenous look by using feathers in the same size and color or a wild appearance with plumage in multiple dimensions and hues.

6. The prop can he enhanced further with additional details, such as clusters of bugs, to correspond with your haunt’s specific theme.

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