Aquatic Specimens

$10 - $15 (based on 2020 prices)

Makes two jars

 

The laboratory for 2020’s haunt required dozens of jarred specimens, so I created a variety of props to provide the doctor with a vast assortment of subjects. For this version, I used expandable sea creatures for a collection of marine experiments. Although the package said they would reach full size within a matter of days, they actually took over two weeks to do so. Because of this factor, they barely made it into the haunt. My advice for the time-pressed haunter, in turn, would be to either start this project at the beginning of the building season or purchase larger specimens that do not need to grow.

• One sixty-four-ounce glass jar
• One twenty-five-ounce glass jar
• One 8 oz. can of oil-based interior wood stain in Jacobean*
• One 8 oz. can of oil-based interior wood stain in red chestnut*
• One piece of 8” x 11.5” paper with specimen labels printed on it
• At least four tablespoons of black tea (e.g. Darjeeling, Earl Gary, English Breakfast, etc.)
• One pan large enough to soak the paper
• One 4 oz. bottle of all-purpose tacky glue*
• Two expandable sea creatures
• One 10 oz. cans of interior/exterior, fast-drying spray paint in metallic silver
• One 2 oz. bottle of acrylic paint in flat black*
• One 2 oz. bottle of acrylic paint in flat brown*
• One 2 oz. bottle of acrylic paint in flat maroon*
• One 0.44 oz. bottle of glossy green nail polish*

1. Thoroughly wash and dry the jars. If there is any sticker residue, use rubbing alcohol to remove it (soak a paper towel in the solution, let it sit over the area for a few minutes, and wipe away the remaining glue). Then, on a newspaper-lined surface in a well ventilated area, paint their surfaces with the Jacobean wood stain. I discovered that applying a thin coat and patting it with paper towels produces a hazed appearance. After that, dab the glass with the red chestnut wood stain to create spots of dried blood.

2. Boil enough water to completely submerge the 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 to add spots. Remove the paper from the water and allow it to dry.

3. After the paper has dried, cut out the labels, leave a small border around their edges, and use sandpaper to fray their sides and create holes. Once you have achieved your desired level of distress, glue the labels to the sides of the jars. You can use olive or vegetable oil to add further stains.

4. Fill the jars with water and add a few drops of yellow food coloring to make it appear like a formalin solution. Since you still want the specimens to be visible through the liquid, slightly tint it with the coloring.

5. Add the expandable sea creatures to the jars and allow them to grow to your desired size (you may need to add additional water over the course of the growing process as the sponges absorb the liquid).

6. On a newspaper-lined surface in a well-ventilated area, give the lids a few even coats of metallic spray paint. I used two, but you may apply more or less. To achieve a nice coverage, select a paint which adheres to metal.

7. After the paint has dried, dab maroon paint onto the lids. I used an old paintbrush with splayed bristles; however, a sponge or paper towels will work well. As you do so, concentrate your application on areas where rust would naturally form, particularly along the edges.

8. Once the maroon paint has dried, repeat the process with brown paint. During this application, be careful not to cover too much of the maroon paint.

9. Apply a slight flecking of black paint to complete the rusted patina. You can do this by either quickly flicking a paintbrush or using an old toothbrush and strumming your finger across the bristles. Since this process flings paint everywhere, it’s best to perform it outside.

10. Reattach the lids to the jars and use hot glue to create a dripping effect starting from the center and spreading outward. How much of the glue you want to drip down the sides depends on your chosen aesthetic. Keep in mind, though, that this process will permanently seal the jars, so, if you want to make their contents accessible for future uses, either skip this step of limit the amount of glue used.

11. Color the drippings with one or two coats of glossy green nail polish. To achieve a more translucent appearance, limit the coats to two.

12. The props can be enhanced further with subtle details, like biohazard or poisonous labels, to cater them to the specific theme of your haunt.

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