How to create a gorgeous gothic display in your home this Halloween
Betty Shin Binon shares how to transform any surface with a few macabre touches
Looking to add a little drama to your space this Halloween season? Here's how to transform any table or sideboard into a moody gothic display with black candles, painted pumpkins, weathered books, fresh fruit and, of course, a skull. Use the instructions below as a guide, but don't be afraid to swap things in and out depending on the items and produce that you have available.
Happy Halloween!
Materials
- 4 fresh mini pumpkins
- Masking tape
- Black craft spray paint
- 3 weathered books, from your own collection or secondhand
- 1 mini cloche or bell jar (or a small cake plate with a lid)
- 3 handfuls reindeer lichen moss
- 1 fake skull
- 7 small plastic Monarch butterflies (snakes, spiders or gothic creature of your choice)
- Clear tape
- 4 mini glass bottles
- 4 black taper candles
- 2 black votive candles
- Thin wire
- Decorative spider web
- 3 clusters black grapes, figs or plums (optional)
- Portable smoking gun wood smoke infuser (optional)
Instructions
To prepare the mini pumpkins, cover the stems with masking tape. Then, to achieve the ombre pattern on them, lightly spray the tops of the pumpkins with spray paint. Let dry according to the instructions on the bottle.
When ready to create your display, start by stacking the books in the centre of your surface. Set the cloche on top of the books, place a handful of moss inside and position the skull on top of the moss.
Attach a piece of wire a few inches long to the back of each of the butterflies. Arrange 3 butterflies inside of the cloche and set the lid back on top.
Place the taper candles in the glass bottles, using them as candle holders. On each side of the stack of books, arrange 2 candles, 2 pumpkins and 1 votive candle in a zigzag pattern.
Attach a remaining butterfly to each of the 4 pumpkins using wire to poke through the skin.
Carefully spread the spider web across the front of your display. Fill in any spaces with the remaining moss and fruit, if using.
Optional: To add some extra drama on the day of your event, use a smoking gun to fill the cloche and bottles with smoke.
Produced in collaboration with the CBC Creator Network.
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