Spooky Skull Framed Art

This spooky skull framed art is an easy addition to your current Halloween decorations!

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I love decorating for Halloween but don’t have a ton of space to devote to my decorations in terms of storage or putting it out on display.  This means I have to be selective about what I buy or make.  I haven’t added anything new to my collection this year but have been feeling the itch to craft something.  So I looked through some items that I already had on hand from a thrift store stop earlier this year and found a simple black frame with a small mirror in the the middle.  Nothing special on its own so I decided to have a little fun with it.

I actually went through a whole list of ideas before finding something that I liked and had all the supplies for.  I have a major small problem with hoarding scrapbook paper so I decided to start there.  A stack of Halloween themed scrapbook paper turned out to be the perfect jumping off point and then I started adding elements from my current stash to finish it off.

Here’s what you’ll need to make your own spooky skull frame:

• Frame (I picked mine up from the thrift store, but it is actually a MALMA frame from IKEA)
• Scrapbook paper (similar to what I used)
• Scissors
• Mod Podge (I like the matte finish)
• Foam brush
• Vellum
• Black paint (optional)
• Glue Dots

First you’ll need to prep your frame.  Mine was already black when I bought it but if you have an unfinished frame or one that’s a different non-Halloween color, you’ll want to take the time to paint it.

Next, pick out your scrapbook paper.  Lay your frame on top of it and trace around the edge so it’s the right size and then cut it out.  I like to look for paper that has an asymmetrical design on it because I think it adds a little more interest.  To cut out the middle of the paper so you can see through the frame, I just hold the paper still and then crease it around the interior edge.  Then when I flip it over, I can see the lines and know where to cut it.

For the skull, I actually just cut one out from a piece of scrapbook paper that, amazingly, was the exact size that I needed.  If you don’t have something like this, you could easily just print one off and then cut it out.

To cut out the vellum, it will depend on the frame you have.  With mine, I didn’t have a way to remove the back, so I had to cut it slightly larger than the opening so it would cover the entire mirror.  But if you have a regular frame with a removable back you can just trace the back of the frame onto your vellum and cut it out.

To assemble everything, grab your mod podge (I use the matte finish) and foam brush.  Brush the mod podge onto the frame quickly, making sure there are no big globs left behind.  Get your scrapbook paper and lay it on top of the mod podged frame and smooth out any bubbles.  (I find it easiest to start from the middle and work my way out to the edge.)  I like to put another coat of mod podge on top just to seal it onto the frame more securely.  Let it dry.

Once dry, you can distress the edges of the frame using a dry brushing technique.  This is basically where you get a little bit of paint on your brush and then wipe it off on a paper towel or plate by brushing back and forth until you are just getting streaks of color.  Then you can gently brush it onto the edges of the frame to create a more distressed look.  What this does is give a more antiqued look to your frame, plus it does a good job of blending the edges of the scrapbook paper into the frame because you’re not seeing the blunt edge of the paper.  Let the paint dry (it should only take a minute or two since the paint was mostly dry when you put it on).

Lastly, grab your skull and center it inside the frame.  Again, mine was a mirror that was already part of the frame so I just stuck mine right on top with some Glue Dots.  If you have a removable back, I’d recommend getting a piece of white paper and cut it out to be the same size as your vellum and then stick the skull to that.  Layer the vellum on top of the skull and make sure it is secure.  (I used a couple more Glue Dots in the corners.)

And you’re done!  I really love the way that it turned out.  It’s a little bit spooky with the vellum over the top of the skull.  I’m not super into scary or gory Halloween decor so this is just the right amount of spookiness for me!

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and that it got your creative juices flowing!  This post is part of the Inspire My Creativity link party that I host each month.  Our theme for October is THRIFT STORE MAKEOVER and the other co-hosts are also sharing their posts today.  I’d love for you to check out some of their projects below as well as add your own thrift store makeovers (they don’t have to be Halloween themed!).