Impaled Vampire Heart

$20 - $25 (based on 2025 prices) 
Makes one heart 

After 2023’s vampire graveyard, I started toying with the idea of doing a larger vampire theme and this impaled vampire heart is what I hope will become the first in a long line of props for that haunt. Although I went with a small frame, you can go bigger for an impressive statement piece. In fact, you could pair this with the mounted vampire head to create a massive display with several impaled hearts and decapitated heads. 

• One vinyl heart
• One 7” x 10” oval picture frame
• One 10 oz. can of interior/exterior, fast-drying spray paint in flat black*
• One 2 oz. bottle of acrylic paint in burnt umber*
• One 2 oz. bottle of acrylic paint in flat olive*
• One 2 oz. bottle of acrylic paint in flat purple*
• One 2 oz. bottle of acrylic paint in flat red*
• One 2 oz. bottle of acrylic paint in khaki*
• One 2 oz. bottle of acrylic paint in metallic gold*
• One 2 oz. bottle of acrylic paint in mustard yellow*
• One 2 oz. bottle of acrylic paint in tan*
• One sheet of copy paper with Baudelaire’s poem “Le Vampire” printed on it
• At least four tablespoons of dark roasted coffee grounds
• One pan large enough to soak the copy paper
• One two-inch wooden disk
• One two-inch wooden spool
• Eight inches of metal chain
• One silver cross pendant
• One 0.3 fluid ounce bottle of red food coloring*
• One 4 oz. bottle of clear, all-purpose tacky glue gel*

1. Remove the backing and glass from the frame and, on a newspaper-lined surface in a well-ventilated area, give its surface one to two even coats of black spray paint. How many coats you apply will be determined by how much of the original paint needs to be covered to prevent it from showing.  

2. Moving in small sections, use a sponge or paper towels to pat gold paint onto the frame. Then, dull the sheen and add distress by randomly patting olive paint along the frame. You could also apply a wash of brown and flecks of black to create the illusion of dirt.

3. Add the coffee to twelve cups of boiling water. The longer you allow the coffee to brew, the darker the stain. Likewise, greater amounts of coffee will produce a richer stain. Since I wanted irregular spots rather than a unified discoloration, I placed the copy paper on a baking sheet, splashed coffee onto its surface, allowed the liquid to sit for a few minutes, and then moved it to a space to dry.

4. Apply a light layer of glue to the frame’s backing and adhere the copy paper to it. Although I pressed it as smooth as possible, you can create folds and wrinkles for further distress. Then, trim the excess paper to conform it to the backing’s shape.

5. Give the entire heart three coats of mustard yellow paint. This will serve as a base for the other colors, so you may need less depending on the thickness of your coverage.

6. Working from light to dark, stipple the heart with red and purple paint, building up layers to give the organ depth. If one color becomes too overpowering, you can use the other to dial it back.  

7. Form the stake by gluing the wooden disk to the top of the spool. Do not worry about the other end because it will be hidden inside the heart. For an alternate look you can use a scrap of wood or a thick stick.  

8. Starting with a base coat of burnt umber, stipple khaki and tan onto the stake to make it look like old wood. Then, complete the patina with light lines of burnt umber for wood grain.

9. Cut a hole in the center of the heart and insert the stake into the opening. For visual interest, nestling it at an angle with the disk facing upward.  

10. Use a sharp knife or pair of scissors to cut the back of the heart open and bulk up the organ with bubble wrap or foam. This will give the heart more heft and also keep the stake in place. Following this, glue the opening closed to prevent the stuffing from coming out.

11. Center the heart on the backing and glue it in place. It may be beneficial to temporarily reattached the frame to the backing to ensure the organ is actually centered before permanently adhering it.

12. Remove a link from the metal chain and use wire cutters cut it in half. Following this, use a 5/64 bit to drill two holes for each of the half links and run the chain across the heart. The chain’s length will be based on the size of your heart, which means you may need to decrease or increase the measurement to accommodate your version.

13. Detail the top of the stake with the cross pendant. This embellishment is entirely optional. You can choose not to incorporate it or use a different item, like a decorative brooch or a date burned into the wood.  

14. 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 reaches the sanguine hue you desire. Then, reattach the backing to the frame and, on a newspaper-lined surface, smear the heart with the blood.

15. The prop can be left as it is or enhanced further with additional details like a plaque with the name of the vampire, a rosary, or a string of garlic.

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