Laboratory Specimens

$35 - $40 (based on 2020 prices)

Makes five 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 repurposed a collection of plastic body parts and purchased a series of cheap containers from the secondhand store to reduce the overall cost. To maintain a sense of cohesion within the haunt, I employed several of the same techniques utilized while building the aquatic specimens, particularly the wood-stained glass and yellow formalin solution.

• Five glass jars of varying sizes (you can decrease or increase this number)
• One 8 oz. can of oil-based interior wood stain in Jacobean*
• 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*
• Five various body parts and/or severed limbs
• One 0.3 fluid ounce bottle of red food coloring*
• One 0.3 fluid ounce bottle of yellow food coloring*

1. Thoroughly wash and dry the jars and then, on a newspaper-lined surface in a well-ventilated area, paint their surfaces with the wood stain. I found applying a thin coat and patting it with paper towels produces a hazed appearance. Also, brushing the rims and bases with a swift downward motion creates the illusion of grime buildup.

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

3. After the paper has dried, cut out the labels, leaving a small border around their edges, and give your specimens names. To roughen the labels’ appearance, use sandpaper to fray their sides and create holes. You can also crumple the paper to produce creases.

4. 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 (apply a small amount of oil to your index finger and pat it on the paper).

5. Add the body parts and severed limbs to their corresponding jar. Since they will be submerged in water for an extended period of time, it is best to use items made from plastic or vinyl. Additionally, because the food coloring may stain, select items you won’t mind ruining.

6. Fill a large pitcher with enough water for all five jars and add a few drops of yellow food coloring and a tint of red to make it appear like a formalin solution. Since you still want the specimens to be visible through the liquid, gradually add the coloring until it reaches the hue you desire.

7. Pour the liquid into the jars, filling them enough to fully submerge the specimens. If you have an issue with the body parts and severed limbs floating, you can reduce their buoyancy by cutting small holes into unnoticeable areas and using the openings to fill them with water.

8. Repeat the process in step one with the jars’ lids, dirtying their surfaces with the wood stain. For the time-pressed haunter, it may be helpful to stain all of the items at once. For an alternate look, you could spray paint the lids with silver and use brown and red paint to create a rusted patina.

9. Reattach the lids to the jars. For permanency, you can seal the jars with hot glue or superglue if you plan to keep them for several years. Likewise, 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.