Spider Infestation: Quick & Easy Pipe Cleaner Arachnids

When I was doing the original Spider House theme for my house, I didn't want just a few spiders, I wanted a full on infestation.  There are plenty of commercially made spiders available in all colors and sizes and for the most part, they are a decently made prop that will last a good amount of years.  However it was going to get expensive if I wanted the place crawling so I needed an alternative.

Meet the pipe cleaner spier.  6 extra long pipe cleaners per spider.  They're not too hard, by the 3rd or 4th you'll have the technique down you can quickly crank out dozens while watching TV.

8 days till Halloween...


Supplies: 6 Extra Long Pipe Cleaners

Step 1: Fold 4 pipe cleaners in half.

Step 2: Fold these 4 in half again.

Step 3: Bend the tips slightly to create feet

Steps 1, 2 & 3

Step 4: Line up the "V" of two of the legs and wrap one of your straight pipe cleaners around it twice.  Make sure to pinch the initial wrap tightly to secure it and the legs together.

Step 4

Step 5: Wrap the pipe cleaner twice more, this time outside of the "V."  This is the "body" of the spider.  Again try to keep these wraps tight.

Step 5

Step 6: Line up the remaining 2 legs and wrap the pipe cleaner around the "V" twice.

Step 6

Step 7: Repeat the wrapping process with your 6th pipe cleaner.  This pipe cleaner is to bulk up the body and make it more sturdy so wrap and pinch as you see fit.

Hello spider

The feet can be pinched around fake spider web so you can hang wherever you want.  They also slide nicely into the spaces on a screen so cover windows and screened doors with them.             

And there you go!  Spiders!  Back when I was working on Dancing With the Stars was the first Halloween episode.  The Production Designer thought my spiders were so cool, he added some to the set including the background of Tom Bergeron's primary spot.  I was so proud!

Another option:

Pipe cleaners and egg shaped styrofoam balls painted black.  Pretty straight forward.  Key with these, and the others, is getting that bend right in the leg.  The right bend makes them look more realistic and highlights that elevated structure that causes chills.

Add a red glitter glue hourglass for a Black Widow

Threshold of Terror

The mood you've built outside can quickly be killed by a neglected, brightly lit interior.  Don't let all your hard work go to waste - hide the Keurig, it's haunting time!

Start by pretending you're a trick-or-treater, standing at your front door.  Literally go stand there, get down on your knees for a proper kids-eye view.  What areas of the interior can you see from your vantage point?

Now you know what areas you need to address.  Close off doors to areas you don't want to deal with if needed.  Keep it simple by just turning all but one light off and replace the bulb with an orange one.  Light some candles and place them in area trick-or-treaters see from their vantage point at the front door.  

P.S. - This means YOU have to get in on the action, too. Dress the part.  Compile a costume out of clothing you own, from second hand & thrift stores or invest in something from a quality shop like Historical Emporium that you'll use, and will last, for years to come,. Just don't answer the door in sweatpants.  I beg of you.

Use Command Toggle Hooks and safety pins to hang a black sheet or a creepy curtain just inside the door to create a false foyer.  

Again using Command Toggle Hooks, hang a tan or cream colored sheet to mimic the walls of a tomb and add a mummy, planter or urn, cat and some incense.   Burlap works great for this, too.

String caution tape across openings or plastic sheeting (Command Toggle Hooks, again) and wear disposable coveralls to hand out treats. Feeling really creepy? Fling corn syrup dyed red with food coloring against the sheeting and illuminate with a back light.

It doesn't take much to keep the fright flowing from the outside in.  I tried to stick with ideas in the same vein as my Home Improvement Haunt or Thrifty Thrills decorating tips to keep costs and clutter to a minimum.  

Check out my post about choosing a haunt theme for more ideas.

Grandin Road Mummies and lighting branches
in a darkened room is more than enough intrigue

The blackbirds never come down. All year. Ever.

This mantle can be seen thru the front window. Flicker bulbs in
the sconces catch the eye and add a haunted house flare

18 days till Halloween...

Halloween Creeping In...

The itch hits me early.  I can usually stave it off with some DIY prop making and porch brainstorming time.

Eventually it takes over and I'm Ashley Judd in "Bug."  The calamine lotion to my paresthesia - spookifiying the space above the kitchen cabinets.  I can secretly be Halloween behind closed doors, my neighbors none the wiser and unable to shake their heads as they have come to do over the years.

A few years back I had seen a piece on a morning show about decorating the space above the cabinets.  The guy had collected various vintage Halloween decorations for his display.  So gorgeous and vintage stuff can be just spectacular and bizarre.

My display has grown steadily since.  I like to stick with one color palate as well as items made from metal or ceramic.  By avoiding over stylized items or "look of the year" type things, these more classic items avoid it looking dated as time passes.  Better to invest in something that will still look great years from now so you can really build up the display.

There's a lot of great ideas out there.  I love this Witch's Hats display.   Make Hitchcock proud with a flock of crows.  Branches spray painted black are great for mantles as well as setting the scene above your cabinets.

Remote control LED Flameless candles are the only way to go of course.  If you're like me, you may only have to change to batteries once or twice depending on how often their lit (in my case, nearly 24/7).  I love these, these, these and these.

What will the Halloween goblins leave in your kitchen?

45 days till Halloween...

Gothic Window

Trolling through Pinterest for inspiration, I came upon a gorgeous Gothic Window with Skulls.  I swooned and immediately clicked the link.

$800?!?!?!?!?  Okay I love Halloween but $800?!?!  Hell no.  

It didn't seem that complicated.  A window, some skulls, some "wax" and candles.  

And it wasn't!  At all!   I'm going to make more and pop them up on my Etsy shop if you want to pick one up for a heck of a lot less than $800.  If you've got even the tiniest bit of crafty in you, it's a weekend project at best and doesn't cost much.

Windows are available on Etsy in assorted styles and sizes.  I got the skulls on Amazon and then picked up some spray foam insulation from the home improvement store.  I used some leftover chicken wire I had to create some support and then sprayed the foam insulation to build a base.  The insulation already has a melted wax like quality to it that can be manipulated by the speed and quantity you release.  Once that was dry.  I added the skulls, cutting off the backs at various angles and sizes, with a hot glue gun trying to alter how much would stick out of the "wax."  

I then used the bottom of some water bottles as well as Oui Yogurt jars (I hoard these jars, they are perfect votive size containers that can be used for any occasion) as candle holders, hot gluing them in place.  One more pass of the foam insulation to fill in gaps as well as get a bit more artistic with the drips and "wax" shaping.   I wasn't 100% satisfied with the "drips" so once the insulation was dry, I went back with a glue gun and added glue drips.  

I had some Ivory and Vanilla colored acrylic paint which I used to paint all the "wax" to make it appear more authentic.  Had myself a Happy Accident when I used one color the first coat and another the second.  The two slightly different tones caused a great layering effect, contributing to the "years of candle use" look.

I can't wait to do this one again!  It was immensely satisfying and I've been spending the last few nights on the porch swing, LED candles lit admiring my handiwork.  My poor husband wonders when November will get here.

49 days till Halloween...

49 days till Halloween...