Skull Flower Vase

$15 - $20 (based on 2017 prices)

Makes one vase

The Dia de Los Muertos portion of 2017’s haunted house required dozens of wreaths and flowers for an intricate funeral scene. Although some, like the funeral vase, were simple pieces used to fill space and add bright flowers to highlight the theme’s use of vibrant colors, others, such as this prop, incorporated eerie elements to amplify the creepiness. I was lucky enough to find this skull-shaped vase at a second-hand store; however, you can accomplish the same results by cutting the top off a cheap plastic skull and painting the item to look like stone (use the methods described in the stigmata statue’s directions to achieve this).

• One twenty-four-inch skull-shaped vase
• One 3” x 4” block of floral craft foam
• Artificial flowers in multiple colors and sizes (e.g. irises, lilies, petunias, poppies)
• Three gnarled tree sticks

1. Cut a block of floral craft foam to fit inside the vase. Depending on the depth and width of your chosen container, it might be more beneficial to cut the block in half and stack the pieces to provide needed height for the floral arrangement.

2. Arrange the flowers in the vase. For visual interest, use flowers in varying colors and shapes. Begin with the larger blooms and fill gaps with smaller counterparts. For more permanency, glue the stems to the foam.

3. Complete the arrangement by adding the sticks. You could cluster them together in the center or strategically place them in various spots and at alternating heights.

4. You can enhance the prop’s eerie appearance by adding creepy details: drape Spanish moss on the sticks and the edge of the vase, glue plastic insects to the vase and flowers, or string cobwebs between the sticks.