Sherlock Holmes meets Edgar Allen Poe. Victorian meets Gothic. Mystery. Romance. Horror. Apothecary bottles, taxidermy, skulls, flowers, and candles …. what do they all have in common? They’re what make up this year’s Halloween decor DIYs! Dark Romanticism is the closest genre I could find that encompassed them all as I’m not sure how else to describe the style. (If you know, please offer suggestions!) I love this style so much that I could dedicate a whole room to it year round!
Skull Vase
I found this plastic skull at the dollar store and thought it was too cool to pass up. It wasn’t my ideal in appearance though so I gave it a more glamorous facelift. I’m so happy with the way it turned out and it was so cheap and easy to do! You could do the same with any generic plastic skull.
What You’ll Need:
- Plastic Skull (I found my skull at the dollar store!)
- Metallic Gold Paint
- Fake flowers (You can find them at the dollar store or at an arts and crafts store.)
- X-acto Blade
Directions
- Using an X-Acto blade, carefully wedge out holes in the top of the skull’s head. I found it easier to separate each flower step and create a hole for it but depending on your skull and flowers, it might be better to just have one large hole.
- Make sure the flowers fit snuggly in the hole(s) and then remove.
- Paint the skull in a metallic, gold paint (or whatever paint color of your choosing).
- Once the skull is dry, put the flowers back in and display.
Apothecary Bottles
I can’t get enough of apothecary bottles – I just love the way they look! After all, my last Halloween DIYs had Tim Burton inspired Nightmare Before Christmas apothecary bottles. This time I wanted to go with a more fantasy inspired feel – less Hocus Pocus and more Hogwarts.
What You’ll Need:
- 3 glass bottles/containers
- These labels
- Mod Podge
- Gold Glitter
- Mirror, Glass Filler (Michaels)
- Black food coloring
- Water
Directions
- Cut out and size your labels.
- Add the corresponding ingredients to the bottles for each label. I used mirror, glass filler for the Crystalized Pixie Droppings, black food coloring and water for the Kraken Ink, and gold glitter for the Pulverized Dragon Scales.
- Mod Podge labels onto bottles and display when dry.
In retrospect, I would have gone with a different bottle for the Crystalized Pixie Droppings, however a mason jar was the only one I knew would fit the label. I’d recommend resizing the label in advance or coloring your mason jar to give it an aged appearance.
Insect Taxidermy
Insects are creepy and crawly which makes them a perfect Halloween item, but what if they were also given a makeover? No insects were harmed in the making of this DIY.
What You’ll Need:
- Insect or reptile toys (Again, I got mine from the Dollar Store)
- Wooden bases (Michaels!)
- Sawtooth hanger with screws and nails
- Metallic Gold Paint
- Black Paint
- Hot Glue Gun
Directions
- Paint your base black and give it a gold painted rim.
- Add hardware to back.
- Paint your insect or reptile toys a metallic gold.
- Once both are dry, glue the toys to the base and hang.
Black Flame Candle
I know I said less Hocus Pocus with the apothecary bottles, but to be honest I’m on such a Hocus Pocus kick! This Halloween I will be dressed up as Sarah Sanderson with my new blonde hair. It felt like an obligation to DIY a Black Flame Candle.
What You’ll Need:
- 1 black ceremonial candle (Dollar Store!)
- Mod Podge
- This label
- Lighter
Directions
- Cut out your label and size it.
- Using a lighter, carefully burn away the edges of the label.
- Mod Podge the label to the candle.
I hope you enjoyed these Halloween Decor DIYs. After the positive feedback I received from my last Halloween post, I figured it was about time I did another! If you try any of them, I’d love to see them – just tag #goodmorninglovely in your posts.
