Makes ten pins and two balls
To give the games portion of 2019’s creepy carnival more visual interest, I made these circus pins and purposefully glued them together into clusters. My decision to do this, in turn, spawned from two factors: simplifying the setup process and alleviating any safety concerns. You, though, can bypass this step and leave the items free for more grander schemes, such as hanging them from the ceiling with fishing wire to make it appear as though a skeleton is juggling or giving them to scare-actors to wield as menacing weapons.
- One toy bowling set (ten seven-inch pins and two three-inch balls)
- 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 10 oz. can of interior/exterior, fast-drying spray paint in flat cream
- One 2 oz. bottle of acrylic paint in flat brown*
- One 2 oz. bottle of acrylic paint in flat red*
- One 2 oz. bottle of acrylic paint in flat white*
1. Thoroughly wash and dry the pins. If there is any sticker residue, use rubbing alcohol to remove it (soak a paper towel in the solution, let it sit over the area for a few minutes, and wipe away the remaining glue). After cleaning the pins, you can roughen their surfaces with coarse sandpaper to help the paint adhere.
2. On a newspaper-lined surface in a well-ventilated area, give each pin three even coats of cream-colored spray paint. The number of coats, of course, depends on your desired level of coverage. Likewise, the color can be catered to fit your haunt’s needs. I chose a light cream to mimic the old-fashioned pins of turn-of-the-century travelling shows, but you can elect for more vibrant and varied hues.
3. Dust the pins with a light spritz of black and brown spray paint to add age and distress. To give the appearance of dirt, hold the cans over twelve inches away from the props’ surfaces and make quick flicking motions.
4. To enhance the level of grime, create a wash of brown paint and allow it to run down the pins. I found that creating a small puddle on the tip of the head and permitting it to naturally pour down the sides produces the best results. Also, the shade of dirt depends on your ratio of paint to water: less water will produce a darker brown; more water will yield a fainter hue.
5. Utilize red paint to write words like fun, games, ha ha, laugh, play, and win on the pins. You want the wording to be haphazard. To achieve this, exaggerate curves, create sharp points, and elongate certain aspects. You could also write letters backwards and deliberately misspell words. Keep in mind, though, that the words need to be readable, so try not to overdo your artistic flairs.
6. On a newspaper-lined surface in a well-ventilated area, give the balls an even coat of black spray paint. Akin to the pins, your coverage and the color can be modified to adhere to your haunt’s theme.
7. Use white paint to draw a skull onto each ball. You can make the faces as whimsical or frightening as you desire. You can also paint bloody symbols or cryptic messages on them for a darker motif.
8. Divide the balls and pins into clusters and glue them together. For a sturdier hold, consider using superglue. Although this step is optional, I found it much easier in the haunt’s setup to have these groupings permanently assembled, preventing guests from accidentally knocking them over and tripping on loose parts.
*You will not use the entire bottle’s content for this project.
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