Framed Newt

$20 - $25 (based on 2024 prices)
Makes one framed ingredient

 

To jumpstart the creative juices for 2024’s builds, I crafted this framed newt using an old anatomical skeleton and a spare sheet of potion ingredients from the sorceress wreath. Due to its simplicity, the prop can be modified in a variety of ways to cater it to your haunt’s theme. Additionally, you can use a collection of animal skeletons – from a bat and frog to a crow and snake – to fashion a series of framed ingredients to decorate the walls of a witch’s den.

• One 9” x 12” oval picture frame
• One 10 oz. can of interior/exterior, fast-drying spray paint in flat brown*
• 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 khaki*
• One 2 oz. bottle of acrylic paint in flat tan*
• One 4 oz. bottle of all-purpose tacky glue*
• One sheet of black cardstock
• One sheet of copy paper with potion ingredients printed on it
• At least four tablespoons of dark roasted coffee grounds
• One pan large enough to soak the copy paper
• One anatomical newt skeleton with organs
• Four plastic bones in various sizes
• 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*
• Two decorative pins
• One 0.3 fluid ounce bottle of red food coloring*
• One 4 oz. bottle of clear, all-purpose tacky glue gel*
• One yard of brown twine
• Six seashells in various colors and sizes

1. Remove the backing and any glass from the frame and, on a newspaper-lined surface in a well-ventilated area, give it an even coat of brown spray paint. You can always apply additional layers; however, this is merely the base coat and much of it will be covered by other paints.

2. Working from light to dark, build up layers of black and brown paint to make the frame look like wood. For a believable appearance, move the brush horizontally rather than vertically to create wood grain.

3. Cover the backing in a layer of glue and adhere the cardstock, pressing it as smooth as possible to remove any bubbles or creases. Once it dries, trim the edges. Although this step is optional, it creates a basic background in case portions of the backing shows after adhering the potion ingredients.

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

5. After the copy paper dries, tear apart the ingredients and decoupage the backing with the clippings. If you want certain elements to stand out, set them aside and apply them last, which is what I did with the eye of newt.

6. On a newspaper-lined surface in a well-ventilated area, paint the bones, newt skeleton, and organs with the wood stain to make them appear aged. I started with the red chestnut as a base and then dabbed Jacobean around the edges to darken them.

7. Position the skeleton and organs on the backing and glue them in place. Following this, glue two pins into the organs to make them appear tacked to the backing.

8. In a plastic container, pour in your desired amount of clear glue gel and slowly add red food coloring to the solution until it achieves the sanguine hue you desire. To give the blood further density, add blue food coloring and mix well. Then, smear the organs with the glue. Depending on your chosen aesthetic, this step is entirely optional. You can eliminate the blood for something tamer.

9. Glue the bones to the frame (for a sturdier hold, consider using superglue) and then warp twine around them to give the illusion they are lashed to the frame. Do not wrap the twine around too much, though, since a thick cluster of twine will make it more difficult to reinsert the backing.

10. Accent the prop with the seashells, tucking them into the twine to make it appear as though they are bound to the frame as well. While I used shells to correspond with the aquatic nature of the newt, you can use alternate items, such as feathers or wooden beads, to correspond with your ingredient.

11. Reattached the backing to the frame and glue it in place if you plan to display the prop in windy conditions. You can also enhance the prop with additional details, like clusters of Spanish moss or bundles of sticks.

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