Hanging Clown

$15 - $20 (based on 2019 prices) 

Makes one clown 

The final build for 2019’s twisted carnival was this hanging clown, which I repurposed to hang above the haunt’s exit to usher guests out of the display. Along with the clown doll, clown masks, and clown pumpkins, it was just one of a few clown-themed props crafted for the event, as I endeavored to stick more toward a turn-of-the-century travelling show motif rather than a clown-heavy circus. If you cannot find a hanging clown prop for this build, a hanging skeleton prop can be easily refabricated to achieve the same results.

• One three-foot hanging clown prop
• One 10 oz. can of interior/exterior, fast-drying spray paint in glossy green
• One 10 oz. can of interior/exterior, fast-drying spray paint in glossy orange
• One 0.64 oz. bag of pom poms in varying colors and sizes
• One to two yards of Halloween-themed ribbon
• One 2 oz. bottle of acrylic paint in flat black*
• One 2 oz. bottle of acrylic paint in flat green*
• One 2 oz. bottle of acrylic paint in flat red*
• One 2 oz. bottle of acrylic paint in flat white*
• One 2 oz. bottle of acrylic paint in flat yellow*
• One cone-shaped party hat
• One 4 oz. bottle of all-purpose tacky glue*
  

1. Cover the nose with painter’s tape and the body with a plastic bag, leaving only the head and hands exposed. Then, on a newspaper-lined surface in a well-ventilated area, give the head a couple even coats of orange spray paint and the hands a few coats of green. The number of coats and colors can be altered to cater the prop to your specific needs. 

2. Modify the clown’s original outfit by gluing pom poms to the clothing. 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. 

3. Accent the cuffs and ruff with Halloween-themed ribbon, lining both items with the fabric and gluing it in place. For visual interest, I chose to use two different patterns – one for the cuffs and one for the ruff. You, though, can use the same pattern for all three to maintain cohesiveness. 

4. Detail the skull with polychromatic paints to provide it with a clown-like appearance. Your face can be as fanciful of frightening as you choose. If you struggle with drawing, find templates online and use a pencil to lightly sketch their patterns. Once the paint has dried, outline the designs with black paint to enhance the colors. 

 5. Although I crowned the prop with a curly red wig and party hat, you can use alternative items, such as a small top hat or multicolored periwig, to adhere to your haunt’s theme. 

6. If you plan to hang the prop in a display, where it can leer menacingly downward at unsuspecting guests, create a hanging loop with black wire strong enough to support its weight and fasten it to the back (where it will remain unseen). 

7. You can give the clown further detail by adhering a bowtie, fake nose, and glasses for more whimsy or blood splatters, plastic insects, and severed body parts for a more frightening appearance.

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