Halloween project
by Ginger Wyatt

Without a mini shop around I went to Michael’s and spent roughly $35 dollars on this project. I purchased boxes for caskets, cabinets, a package of decorations and pumpkins. I was tempted to get stencils and stamps and for a different project they would be interesting. I purchased paint, including purple, green, blue, brown, and Paynes’ gray. I purchased a small and a 1” inexpensive brush.
I used a plywood 2 story doll house I had never finished as the base for my work.
Tacky/Elmer's glue and stick to apply
Old scissors
Find interesting objects like foliage foam, scrap wood, thread, shingles or 400 grit sandpaper (use OLD scissors)

For ghosts
White thin gauze
1” Styrofoam balls
white or clear thread
Elmer's not thinned
plastic wrap

For display or photography
Dry ice from ice “plant”- handle with care….a small piece goes a long way
Flashlight to direct beams of light
200-400 ASA film, cinder block, brown fabric, late afternoon with shadows, turntable if possible to aid photography

Work began by painting the exterior to give it color, show stains, old boards, shadows, etc. Then with brown and gray paint the inside in a swirling motion. Once dry I added tacky to the front and sprinkled foliage foam on it. I also glued plastic decorations, being careful to age them with a thin coat of paint where needed.

I went thru the too good to throw out/to bad to use box of old furniture and plastic kits and added furniture and a sofa to the downstairs. In the back right I added tombstones cut from wood, broom bristles and Cinnamon’s shed dog hair. We cut thin strips of wood to be no trespassing strips for the open windows.

From your home, carpets from catalogs, as well as photographs, be sure to use the aging process of very thin gray paint.

For the rest of the project figure out what you want. How does the lady ghost stand out, how do you know which is the baby ghosts.

For ghosts and curtains, cut the thin white gauze into strips for the windows then cut diagonals almost thru the fabric strip. For ghosts cut in 2 or 3 inch squares, dip in water until completely wet, squeeze out excess water. Cut the Styrofoam balls in ½ or ¼. Pour a small amount of glue on the fabric, work in completely to the edges. Put the head in place, pressing it into shape, wrap white thread around the head, choose a pose and put the ghost on plastic to dry. Be sure the fabric is bunched up before leaving for 6-8 hours to dry. Paint eyes and mouth on. Attach clear thread to hang. Add any accessories, a paint brush for scale and for sweeping the floor, remembering the lady ghost does not need to stand on the ground. Continue adding and gluing  accessories.

Glue pieces in place, arrange as needed. For spiders tangle black thread in knots and cut off pieces for legs. For bats and cats, etc use black felt, stiffening them with toothpicks painted black.

If needed a piece of poster board painted and cut to shape can serve as the back of the house.

Unpainted haunted house in the woods.
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