Think Halloween decorations have to be expensive? Make these spooky crystal ball decorations with items from the Dollar Tree Halloween section.
The future isn’t looking too bright!
The smoke is clearing in my crystal ball… I see screams, scares, spiders, skeletons and scorpions in your future.
Outlook, not so good!
How dreadful! (Or delightful, depending on how you look at it!)
If you’re a regular reader, you know how much I love decorating for Halloween. And the Dollar Tree Halloween section is my hands-down favorite place to find decorations, party supplies and craft supplies to set a spooky scene for Oct. 31.
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So, I was thrilled when Dollar Tree asked me to create a Halloween craft to share with my readers and their customers.
I came up with these incredibly creepy crystal balls — or maybe they’re the preserved specimens of a wicked madwoman!
Judging by how much fun I had making these, the latter may be truer than I’d like to admit. I got to conjure smoke, behead some (faux) skeletons and wrangle some spiders and scorpions all in the name of crafting!
Supplies
- Iron oil warmer
- Round glass floral bowl
- Creepy Cloth
- Plastic hanging skeleton or plastic rat skeleton or plastic skeleton garland
- Tape
- Rubber spiders and scorpions (available in Dollar Tree stores
- Super Glue
- Candle and matches (optional)
- Oven mitt
- Wooden clothespins
- fishing line
Instructions
To give your crystal balls an extra spooky look, I recommend adding a little soot to the interior. But if you’re hesitant about working with an open flame, skip this step.
To smoke the interior of the glass bowl, run the edges of the glass bowl over a candle flame. Be very careful when holding the glass over the flame. It gets hot quickly. I recommend using an oven mitt or potholder so you don’t burn yourself. Also, do not allow the glass to get too hot as it could break.
While the glass bowl is cooling after being smoked, remove the head from a plastic hanging skeleton. (You can also use a rat skeleton, a bird skeleton or one of the miniature skeletons from the plastic skeleton garland available at Dollar Tree.) String the head on a short length of fishing line, tying to secure.
Once the glass bowl has cooled completely, use tape to hang the skull from the bottom of the bowl. (If there’s soot on the bottom of the bowl, you may have to wipe some of it away to make the tape stick.)
Next, apply a thin line of super glue around the edge of the glass bowl and glue, upside down, to the iron candle warmer.
Use Super Glue to attach rubber scorpions and spiders to the base of the oil warmer. It’s helpful to use clothespin to hold the creepy creatures in place while the glue sets. Just don’t leave the clothespins on too long, or you may glue them to the iron! A minute or less should do the trick.
Finally, wrap a strip of creepy cloth around the base of the iron warmer and drape more on the top of the crystal ball. Embellish with more rubbers spiders and scorpions. You can use a bead of glue to hold them in place.
I love how delightfully spooky these turned out!
I found so many fun Dollar Tree Halloween items to use in my seasonal decorating!
This silver metallic skull was a favorite. (He’s also available in gold and black.)
I added the black stand by spray painting a glass taper candle holder matte black and gluing the skull on top with Super Glue.
This entire Halloween display cost me just $15 to make, including craft supplies and the spooky black-and-white scarf, another Dollar Tree find.
To buy the items listed in this project and more go to DollarTree.com or your local Dollar Tree store today! If you’re shopping for Dollar Tree Halloween items in late September or October, please shop at your local store, as online items are removed to stock stores.
For more holiday inspiration using Dollar Tree Halloween items, check out these posts:
bonnie M says
I have a globe for the yard, one that sits on a stand. all the paint has come off, so it looks frosted blotchy. I am going to try that. using full size head and put in my graveyard scene .