paper bags or craft paper
large glass bowl
foil
small bowl
medium decoupage
Water
the stirring rod
to paint
black craft foam
tombstone and tree templates (at right)
light transfer paper
blue painter's tape
pencil
Cutter
foam glue
clothe pins
small black pom pom
black embroidery thread
sewing needle
White thread
scissors
little bird figure
craft black paint
bamboo skewer (optional)
1. Turn the container that will serve as the mold upside down and cover the outside with aluminum foil. Fold the excess aluminum foil inside the container.
2. Tear the bags or craft paper into about 2" to 3" pieces.
3. Mix four parts decoupage medium with one part water in a mixing bowl. Dip each piece of paper in the solution and place it on the outside of the foil-covered bowl, overlapping the foil to cover the bowl. Work with the bowl upside down over a can so it is easy to turn. Keep adding paper until 3-4 layers of paper cover the outside of the bowl.
4. Let the container dry for 24 hours.
5. When the paper bowl is dry, gently remove the foil from inside the glass bowl, freeing the bowl from the paper cover. Gently peel the aluminum foil from the paper.
6. Paint the paper bowl. We use black spray paint on the outside and red paint on the inside. Let the paint dry..
Note: Sometimes the bowl warps a little after painting. To restore the bowl to its original shape, wait for the paint to dry completely, place the glass bowl you used as a mold inside the paper bowl, and let it sit for a few hours.
7. Using a craft knife, cut out a spooky tree and three tombstone shapes from black craft foam. If using stencils, transfer images to craft foam with light-colored transfer paper, holding the paper in place with blue painter's tape. Glue these shapes to the outside of the container with foam glue. Use clothespins to hold the foam pieces in place while the glue dries for 24 hours.
8. Create a spider by threading black embroidery floss through a small black pom pom. Secure the "legs" of the embroidery floss by coating them with glue. Place the spider on a piece of white yarn and glue it to the tree.
9. Paint a small bird figure black with craft paint and glue it to the tree. If the tree starts to lean, secure it with a bamboo skewer that has been painted black and glued to the back of the tree and the top of the bowl.
