Glowing Halloween Skulls Decoration

Try this easy Halloween skull project for some spooky, flickering, hanging decorations.

I love going to Michaels a couple months before Halloween because the upcoming holiday goods are usually on-sale. Find a bin of papier-maché Halloween skulls for a buck a piece and fill your basket with them. :)

At first I didn’t know what I was going to make with this pile-o-skulls. A quick brainstorming session with my hubby inspired this hanging, glowing Halloween skull decoration.

Materials & Tools

• papier-maché skulls (these came from Michaels or you could make your own)
• flameless tealight candles
• box cutter
• screwdriver or large nail
• gold acrylic paint
• foam paint brush
• newspaper or tissue paper
• black spray paint (I used Krylon satin black)
• orange Mardi Gras beads

Directions

On the base of each skull, trace a flameless tealight. With a box cutter, roughly cut out the circle. The goal is to have the hole be slightly smaller than the flameless candle so it holds tight in the hole without the need for tape or glue.

Once the candle holes are cut, poke a hole in the top and bottom of the skull. This is where the Mardi Gras beads will stick in to hang. Again the goal is for the hole to be slightly smaller so the beads squeeze in tight and hold well.

Paint the inside of the skulls gold. This doesn’t need to be completely perfect. This metallic paint will help reflect the light of the flameless candle for a nice warm glow.

Once the interior paint has dried, stuff the skulls with paper just enough to cover the holes. Remember you will be removing this paper later so don’t pack it too tight.

Paint the outside of the skulls with spray paint. I placed these skulls on upside-down tomato cages so I could spray paint all sides at once. Two coats should do.

Allow paint to dry overnight. Remove the paper from the insides. Push a tealight into each skull so it sticks tight.

Cut your Mardi Gras beads to your desired length. Mine are about 6″ long with the top sections varying in length so they hang at different levels. Stick the bead strand into the top and bottom of the skull.

These glowing skulls can be placed just about anywhere and look great flickering in the dark. SPOOKY!

To hang from the ceiling, I used bent paper clips and pushpins.

I love how these glowing skulls turned out! They would make a great doorway beaded curtain or photo backdrop at a Halloween party.