Halloween

 

So, what do you do with some paper mache boxes you have stored, a paint brush and acrylic paints?  Of course, you make Halloween goodies!!

 

 

My first project was to paint these little 3" boxes.  I painted the bottoms all black and the tops - one burnt orange, one icky green and one off white.  Then I proceeded to paint the tops in various Halloween characters - Frankenstein, a jack-o-lantern and a skeleton.  I just free-handed these and then went around the edges with the black "stitching". 

These are the tops with a better view of the faces I painted.  I then took the bottom of the boxes which I had painted black and polka dotted them.  I use the rounded, wooden end of my paintbrush to make the dots.  You just need to make sure you have fresh paint because if it has sit out very long, it has a tendency to get thick and you can't make the pretty polka dots.  I used the burnt orange color for the dots.

My next project was using a larger paper mache round box and making a treat container. I painted the top and bottom in a flat black acrylic and polka dotted it just like I did the smaller ones. I then used a black felt witches hat that I purchased at Hobby Lobby for $1.99. I hot glued it to the top of the container. I figured it was worth my time to not have to make one.  

I then added a black tulle and checked trim that I also purchased at HL. I cut a small buckle out of orange felt and glued it on to the hat and added a black pom pom to the tip of the hat. Thinking it needed a little something else, I added the orange and white checked gingham ribbon around the band of the top.

When I finished, I sprayed the boxes with a clear acrylic spray.  (Not the top with the witch's hat on it). 

Two suggestions:  

1) The paper mache takes 2-3 coats of paint to cover. It really absorbs the paint.

2)  If you get hot glue "strings", use your hair dryer and it will melt them quickly.

Enjoy!

Till next time, Judy