Creepy Doll with Books

$25 - $30 (based on 2023 prices)
Makes one stack of books

In 2023, I was commissioned by a local theater to serve as a consultant and prop builder for their production of The Haunting of Hill House, which was based on Shirley Jackson’s novel. Being a fan of the books since I was a teenager, I jumped at the opportunity and spent several months creating a collection of items to decorate both the house depicted on the stage and the cemetery created in the lobby to greet patrons before they entered the theater. For this prop, I melded portions of Hugh Crane’s book with the creepy doll with candles props to create a stack of leatherbound tomes to adorn the set’s bookshelf.

• Two decorative storage boxes (8.5” x 6.5” x 2.1”)
• Three to four sheets of white tissue paper (20” x 20” per sheet)
• One 4 oz. bottle of decoupage medium
• One 2 oz. bottle of acrylic paint in flat beige*
• 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 white
• One 2 oz. bottle of acrylic paint in glossy white*
• One 2 oz. bottle of acrylic paint in metallic gold*
• One 2 oz. bottle of acrylic paint in metallic silver*
• 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*
• Four LED candles in varying sizes
• One hot glue gun and glue sticks
• One 10 oz. can of interior/exterior, fast-drying spray paint in flat black
• One vinyl doll’s head

1. Remove any decorative elements from the boxes to give them a smooth surface. Then, tear the tissue paper into small sections and roll them into tight balls. You want to create as many wrinkles as possible. Working in sections, apply a layer of decoupage medium to the box and then a piece of tissue paper. Leave their edges loose during this step because it will help to fashion creases during step two.

2. Once the entire box is coated with tissue paper, apply a second layer of decoupage medium to fully adhere the paper to the cardboard. During this step, you will want to ensure there are plenty of wrinkles to give the leather texture. Also, fold the excess paper over the covers’ edges and glue it down for a cleaner appearance.  

3. After the decoupage medium has dried, apply an even coat of white paint to the boxes. This will give them a uniform base coat to cover any images or writing and prevent them from showing through on the leather.  

4. Once the white paint dries, give the boxes three washes of brown paint followed by a wash of black. You may want to test 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.

5. To give the leather fuller depth, paint the boxes with the wood stain, applying a small amount to a paper towel or sponge and patting it onto the surfaces. I used Jacobian and red chestnut to add variety, but you can use the same color for each box to produce a uniform look.

6. Beginning with a base coat of black, stipple silver paint on the sides of the brown book and gold paint on the sides of the red book to make them look like worn goldleaf. Like step five, you can use the same color on both books for a unified appearance.  

7. Decide how you want the books stacked and where you want the candles. Then, trace the outlines onto the books. For visual interest, I clustered the candles together in towers, but you can place just one lone candle on the top book for an alternate look.

8. Cut out the openings, ensuring they are slightly smaller than the outline to prevent the candles from slipping through. After you do this, use painter’s tape to wrap the openings’ edges to stop the cardboard from continuing to fray. You can also use black duct tape or electrical tape for this process.  

9. Position the candles above their corresponding holes, ensuring you still have access to the power switch and battery compartment, and glue them in place. Then, use hot glue to build up layers of wax. 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 candle and allowing it to naturally run downward creates the best results.  

10. Give the candles two to three coats of glossy white paint. You can always use an alternate color to cater the prop to your haunt’s chosen aesthetic or use multiple hues to make it look like a random assortment of candles.  

11. Use a sharp knife to remove the doll’s eyes. For visual interest, make jagged edges. Also, purchase a doll made from thin plastic or vinyl to make this process easier.  

12. On a newspaper-lined surface in a well-ventilated area, give the inside and outside of the head one to two even coats of black spray paint. Keep in mind that this is just the base coat and will be covered with other paints, so you may not want to apply too many coats.

13. Use a stippling brush to build up layers of beige paint, allowing parts of the black to remain visible in order to give the head the look of aged porcelain. For an alternate look, you can apply a crackle-paint effect.

14. To give the head a layer of age, gently brush brown paint long the edges of the openings and the creases of the face, focusing your efforts on places where dirt would naturally accumulate.  

15. Assemble the books and head and glue them all in place. For a sturdier hold, consider using superglue rather than hot glue or tacky glue.  

16. The prop can be enhanced further to correspond with your haunt’s theme. For instance, the names of the books can be written on their spines or a swarm of spiders can be glued to the side of the face.

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