Make Your Own Spooky Shrunken Head Decor With An Artsy Dollar Tree DIY

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

If you're tired of seeing the same Halloween decorations year after year, it's time to explore some quirkier options. You don't have to bust your budget for fun, eye-catching fall decor. In fact, there is one budget-friendly Halloween decor craft you can DIY that will wow your guests. Whether you are the designated Halloween party host or you just want to add a few creepy-chic decorations to your home, this Dollar Tree shrunken head is a screamin' deal.

With a few key materials, you can create hanging shrunken head decor that will give Harry the Hunter from "Beetlejuice" a run for his money. The base of this half-charming, half-chilling craft is an 8-pack of Halloween Plastic Mini Skulls from Dollar Tree, which is only $1.50. Beyond the skulls themselves, you'll need tin foil, hot glue, moldable clay, acrylic paints, and twine or wire. Start your craft by giving your plastic skull a cone-shaped head with the tin foil. Next, wrap a thin layer of clay, like the air-dry Bohs Gray Modeling Foam Clay, around the skull to soften the skull-like features. Once you have your structure, it's time to decorate!

First, paint the entire sculpture with a dark purple paint. You can use an acrylic paint intended for air-dry clay, like this Crafts 4 All Acrylic Paint Set. Next, use a green or yellow paint to cover the face of the shrunken head. Don't worry if the paint job isn't perfect; the brush strokes and muddy coloring will only add to the visual effect. Use a peach-colored paint to fill in the contours of the face for a more realistic appearance. Once your shrunken head is painted, take black twine or wire and glue it in vertical strips across the eyes and mouth, creating the illusion of stitches. Once dry, use a darker pink paint to cover up the glue. 

The last step is to glue strips of hair — either from a wig or extensions — around the top of the tin foil point. This final addition will make the shrunken head look complete. Because this craft is a cheap and easy Halloween decoration you can DIY, it's a great activity for children as well as adults. If you want to add a personal touch, you can use different hair colors to create cheeky, shrunken head versions of your friends and family. The heads can be further personalized with elements like googly eyes or hair ties. Choose to either hang your heads from a clear string or glue twigs to the bottom and stick them in a rock bowl as a tabletop decoration. No matter how you choose to display your shrunken heads, this is undoubtedly an indoor Halloween decor idea that will transform your space.