Halloween Shadowbox

Swirly Designs, Lianne and Paul Stoddard

Get into the spirit of Halloween with this spooktacular haunted house shadowbox. Admire the details during the day and watch it glow at night.

Getting Started

Preheat oven to 275 °F. Test temperature with oven thermometer for perfectly cured clay. Condition all clay by kneading until it’s soft and smooth or running it through the Clay Conditioning Machine for several passes on the widest setting. Fold the clay in half after each pass and insert the fold side into the rollers first.

Step 1

Paint box exterior with thin coat of Bake & Bond. With Clay Conditioning Machine on #2 setting, make Black sheet.

Step 2

Cut two 6" x 4" pieces and two 8" x 4" pieces. Press pieces on outside box edges, folding over front edges. Blend seams and trim excess clay.

Step 3

Press texture maker into clay.

Step 4

With Clay Conditioning Machine on #3 setting, make 1" x 4" Glow in the Dark sheet. With Alphabet Stamper and brown ink, press in "HALLOWEEN" and trim around edges.

Step 5

Make hole border with pointed tool. With Clay Conditioning Machine on #3 setting, make Black sheet. Lay Glow in the Dark word on Black sheet and trim with rickrack blade.

Step 6

Brush back with Bake & Bond and press on top box edge.

Step 7

Make thin Black and Glow in the Dark snakes and twist together. Press flat, trim and press on bottom box edge. Bake as directed above for 25 minutes. Allow to cool completely. Paint box interior sides black. Measure interior back, cut scrapbook paper to fit and adhere with white glue.

Step 8

Make 1/2" diameter x 2" long Black log. Taper one end.

Step 9

Coil to make bat body approximately 1" long. Use blade tool to flatten top and make ear indentations.  Insert eye pin into top. Add eyeholes with pointed tool.

Step 10

With Clay Conditioning Machine on #3 setting make 2" x 2" Glow in the Dark sheet and press in Glow in the Dark glitter. Cut 2" circle for moon.

Step 11

Make Glow in the Dark balls and flatten slightly.

Step 12

Use blade tool to create vertical lines and faces on pumpkins. Use pointed tool to make stem hole in top.

Step 13

Make thin Black and Glow in the Dark snakes, twist together and roll.

Step 14

Cut snake pieces and insert into pumpkin stem holes. If desired, make Glow in the Dark leaves and wire coils and press on around pumpkin stems.

Step 15

Draw house shape on white paper and cut out. With Clay Conditioning Machine at #1 setting, make two sheets slightly larger than pattern and layer together. Use rickrack Super Slicer to cut out roof and straight Super Slicer for house. Sprinkle house with black glitter and press in. Use mini circle cutter and craft knife to cut out windows. With Clay Conditioning Machine on #3 setting, make Glow in the Dark sheet. Using craft knife, cut out ghost and press on house. Make Silver sheet and cut out rectangles for shutters. Press in lines. Press shutters on house.

Step 16

With Clay Conditioning Machine at #1 setting, make two sheets slightly larger than pattern and layer together. Use rickrack Super Slicer to cut out roof and straight Super Slicer for house. Sprinkle house with black glitter and press in.

Step 17

Use mini circle cutter and craft knife to cut out windows.

Step 18

Make Silver sheet and cut out rectangles for shutters. Press in lines. Press shutters on house.

Step 19

With Clay Conditioning Machine on #3 setting, make Glow in the Dark sheet. Using craft knife, cut out ghost and press on house.

Step 20

Bake pieces as directed above for 30 minutes. Allow to cool completely. With Clay Conditioning Machine at #1 setting, make Black sheet and cut out 2" x 4" irregular oval for hill base. Press on Black balls to make hill shape. Make #3 Black sheet and press with texture maker. Drape textures sheet over hill.

Step 21

Press house bottom in hill to make slot, and remove house. Press eye pins into hill to make fence posts. Dust hill with black glitter. Bake for 30 minutes and allow to cool completely.

Step 22

Use orange T-shirt paint to make details on house and fence. Insert house in hill slot. Tie black twine on fence posts.

Step 23

Assemble bat: paint eyes and fangs with silver paint, cut felt bat wings and adhere with white glue. Hang bat from box top with back twine.

Tip

Spray texture sheet with water before using so clay doesn't stick.