Oddity Museum Sign

$20 - $30 (based on 2019 prices)

Makes one sign

 

I fashioned this sign to adorn the entrance to Dr. Victor’s Oddity Museum, which was part of 2019’s twisted carnival theme. I wanted something to reflect the eclectic nature of the display, with its shrunken heads and mummified mermaids, so I detailed the prop with a variety of random items, from doll parts to tarot cards.

• One 20” x 30” foam board
• One yard of burlap
• A random assortment of patches in varying colors and sizes
• Three to four yards of brown twine
• One 10 oz. can of interior/exterior, fast-drying spray paint in flat black
• One 10 oz. can of interior/exterior, fast-drying spray paint in flat brown*
• One package of two-inch letterboard letters
• One 2 oz. bottle of acrylic paint in brown*
• One 2 oz. bottle of acrylic paint in gray*
• One 2 oz. bottle of acrylic paint in white*
• One 4 oz. bottle of all-purpose tacky glue*
• Seven plastic centipedes
• Two severed fingers (learn how to make them here)
• Two doll limbs
• One rat skull
• One tarot card
• One 0.3 fluid ounce bottle of red food coloring*
• One 4 oz. bottle of clear, all-purpose tacky glue gel*
• One yard of steel wire

1. Trim the burlap to 22” x 32”, sew patches randomly to its surface, stretch the cloth across the foam board, and glue it in place. I found it works best to glue one side to serve as an anchor and then work the fabric from there, ensuring the surface is as smooth as possible. Although I gave myself a one-inch border to work with, you may want to leave additional fabric to give you more leeway.

2. Using a darning needle, thread the twine along the outer edges of the board. Since the fabric is already attached to the foam, this will give the illusion that it is haphazardly sewn on. You want the needlework to look messy and uneven, giving the sign a disheveled appearance.

3. On a newspaper-lined surface in a well-ventilated area, dust the sign’s surface with black and brown spray paint to give it a cohesive level of age. You want to create the illusion of dirt, so a random application is best. I found that holding the can roughly twelve inches away from the sign and making quick passes produced the finest results.

4. On a newspaper-lined surface in a well-ventilated area, give the letterboard letters 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, this is the base coat and much of the paint will be covered up by other colors. Once the paint has dried, give the letters an aged patina by gently brushing brown, gray, and white paint over their surfaces. Try not to overthink your application. A random pattern is ideal.

5. Arrange the letters on the board and glue them in place. It might work best to pre-position everything on the board to determine their desired placement before permanently affixing them.

6. Detail the sign with a random collection of doll parts, insects, rat skulls, severed fingers, and tarot cards, using superglue and twine to attach them. The menagerie can be easily altered to modify the prop for your specific needs, so do not feel limited to the items I chose for my version.

7. In a plastic container (because the food coloring will stain, use something disposable or that you won’t mind dying), pour in your desired amount of clear glue gel and slowly add red food coloring to the solution until it achieves the sanguine hue you desire. To give the blood further density, add blue food coloring and mix well.

8. On a newspaper-lined surface, apply the blood glue to the sign to accent the severed fingers. You can use an old spoon or plastic utensil to dribble the liquid around the stump or pour it haphazardly for a gory mess.

9. Use steel wire to create a hanging loop and attach it to the back of the sign.

10. Because of its versatile nature, the sign can be enhanced with a variety of details, from aged bones and voodoo beads to rotten teeth and severed ears, to make it unique to your display.

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