Mummy Hand Wall Sconces

$20 - $30 (based on 2019 prices)

Makes two sconces

Part of 2020’s twisted carnival theme involved Dr. Victor’s Oddity Museum, a collection of bizarre artifacts meant to resemble the curiosity exhibits customary in turn-of-the-century travelling shows. To achieve this, I crafted a bevy of familiar oddities, from mummified mermaids to shrunken heads. For this particular prop, I wanted to complement the mummy hand by fabricating two wall sconces with a similar Egyptian theme that would light the entryway of the exhibition. Unfortunately, I underestimated their weight and the hanging hooks repeatedly broke, which meant they were never utilized in the final haunt.

• Two 5” x 7” frames
• One 10 oz. can of interior/exterior, fast-drying spray paint in metallic gold
• One 10 oz. can of interior/exterior, fast-drying spray paint in nutmeg
• One 2 oz. bottle of acrylic paint in flat brown*
• One 2 oz. bottle of acrylic paint in hunter green*
• One 2 oz. bottle of acrylic paint in navy blue*
• One 2 oz. bottle of acrylic paint in metallic gold*
• One 2 oz. bottle of acrylic paint in metallic silver*
• One 2 oz. bottle of acrylic paint in flat white*
• Six jeweled spider rings
• Two plastic skeleton arms
• Two yards of white fabric
• At least four tablespoons of dark roasted coffee grounds
• One pan large enough to soak the fabric
• One 4 oz. bottle of all-purpose tacky glue*
• Two battery-operated LED candles
• One hot glue gun and glue sticks
• One 0.44 oz. bottle of clear nail polish* 

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 metallic gold spray paint. Although I used one coat, you may want more depending on your desired coverage. To mute the color, water down brown paint and brush it on the frames (you can also use a spray bottle for the application). Allow the mixture to sit for a few minutes and then wipe it clean. You may want to experiment with the consistency prior to doing this: the more water you add, the fainter/lighter the wash; the less water you add, the deeper/darker the wash.

2. Detail the frames with Egyptian hieroglyphs written in blue and green paint. You could mimic deigns found in historical references or create your own patterns.

3. Shorten the legs on four jeweled spider rings, cut off the bands so they sit level, and paint them silver to create scarabs that will decorate the frames. I glued mine in the corners opposite the painted fern leaves.

4. Cut the joints on the hands of the skeleton arms and hot glue them in a grasping pose. For the best results, work each finger individually. You could also utilize a heat gun to gently mold the fingers into the correct shape. If you do use a heat gun, keep safety in mind by wearing heat-resistant work gloves while molding the plastic.

5. Glue the arms to the frames’ backing. To aid the process, use a sturdy object – a glass jar or tin can – to support them as the glue dries. Also, it might help to temporarily reattached the frames to guide their positioning and ensure they are properly centered. You may need to apply multiple coats to ensure a firm hold. 

6. Boil enough water to completely submerge the fabric and pour it into the pan. Add the coffee. The longer you allow the coffee to brew, the darker the stain will become. Likewise, greater amounts of coffee will produce a richer stain. Submerge the cloth in the coffee mixture and soak it until it reaches the color you desire. I soaked mine for four days and scattered the coffee grounds over the top of the fabric to add spots. Remove the fabric from the water and allow it to dry.

7. Tear the fabric into strips and wrap the arms and backing. You do not want the props to look pristine, so do not overthink your application and try not to aim for even strips and uniform coverage. Likewise, for visual interest, leave one or two strands free to dangle once the props are hung.

8. To enhance the aging process, dust the arms with a light coat of nutmeg spray paint. To give the illusion of dirt, hold the can over twelve inches away from the arms and make quick flicking motions. You can also apply a flecking of black paint and smears of brown.

9. Shorten the legs on two additional jeweled spider rings, paint them gold, and glue them to the pinkies of each hand to decorate the prop.

10. Nestle the LED candles into the hands to make it appear they are being held and, using hot glue, give the candles extra girth by building up layers and piping drips of wax down the sides and onto the hands. The process works best if you move in stages, applying one layer at a time and allowing the glue to dry between each application. Also, I found that pumping the glue along the top of the candles and allowing it to naturally run downward creates the best results.

11. Apply three coats of white paint to the candles. I used three, but you are free to use fewer (or more) coats. Once the paint dries, give the candles a waxy look by applying a layer or two of clear nail polish. If you want the candles to seem old and unused rather than freshly melted, do not add the nail polish, but give the candles a light brushing of brown paint to simulate dirt and dust.

12. 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 backs or fashion your own with steel wire.

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