When it comes to Halloween decorations, I totally geek out. I love creating super fun, over the top, creepy art for my yard. This season’s additions are no exception. My life-sized creepy tree has been a huge hit (see the tutorial here). Even the Reddit community got on board with it. It was so simple and perfect.
The kraken… not so much.
Don’t get me wrong, I love this thing. I really do. It just took me so long to make, under such stressful and hot conditions, that I kinda also HATE IT. However, seeing as I put so much effort into the darn thing, I might as well show you how I did it.
Materials:
Corrugated Piping
Box Cutter or Blade
Dremel (or other small object to pole holes)
Paper Strips
Paint Brushes
Paint (Exterior)
Instructions:
I started where many of my projects often start: brainstorming session at the hardware store. I ventured out to the Garden Center at my local Lowes and found these long tubes of corrugated piping. Perfect!
I bought a few tubes and went home in search of more inspiration. It came in the form of chicken wire I had leftover from my life-sized creepy tree project. At this point, I figured I had enough to get started.
I cut a few long pieces and a few short pieces of piping with my box cutter. It sliced very easily.
For the longer pieces, that I planned to bend into U shapes, I used my Dremel to drill 2 small holes into one side of each end of the pipes.
I threaded my 26 gauge wire through the holes and twisted it together to secure it.
I did the same thing on both ends of the pipes, then bent the tube to create a U, and tightened the wire so it was keeping the shape.
When I stood it up, it looked like an upside down U.
For the shorter pieces, which were to serve as the tentacles, I cut and shaped my chicken wire to fit right into the end of the tubes and taper off at the end, twisting as I went.
I used my floral wire to “sew” together all the seams. I secured the chicken wire to itself to keep the tentacle shape. Then I sewed the tentacles into the pipes.
I repeated the process until a had a group of tentacles looking something like this.
For the head, I used chicken wire to make a giant oval-ish looking shape.
I cut a few pieces of piping in half.
I used the floral wire to attach the pieces to the chicken wire body. I was trying to make it seem like the body/head was partially above water with the tentacles submerged.
For the eyes, I cut a plastic wiffle ball in half with my box cutter and attached the halves to the chicken wire with the floral wire.
Once the skeletons for the body and tentacles were done, I got out my mortar. I used Flexbond Thin-Set Mortar. Amazon sells it here. I also recently saw it at Home Depot.
I mixed the powder with water, creating a thick, goopy substance. It needs to be as thick as possible while still being able to easily spread.
I cut up a bunch paper into strips. Some long, some short. I used mostly junk mail. This photo is the remnants of my fantasy football draft player cheat sheets.
I dipped the paper strips into the mortar mixture and completely soaked them. It’s just like paper mache. Except, instead of using a flour mixture, you use the mortar mixture because it will be waterproof and able to withstand the elements outside.
I applied the strips directly to the piping and chicken wire, layering them over one another again and again.
Note: The mixture should be much thicker than what’s shown in this photo. This was my first attempt and it was clear that the mortar was way too thin to adhere to the pipe. I just don’t have any photos of me applying the strips, except these.
Another Note: Look how much junk mail I recycled into this project! Go me.
For the most part, I applied the strips on one side, let the mortar set and dry, then applied them to the other side. In some cases, the strips were starting to peel. Just keep at it and brush glops of mortar over everything to even it all out and get it to stick.
I brushed a few more layers of mortar onto each part, after all the strips were applied and dried. The more layers, the better. That’s why this thing took so darn long.
I did the same thing for the body. In the end, it all looked pretty good. I almost just stopped there. I was so tired of the kraken.
I decided if I’d come this far, I was going to paint it and make it look finished. So I got out three different exterior paints. I already had white on hand, so I painted the eyes white.
Then I used a foam brush to give them a little color and dimension. Almost like they were bloodshot.
The paint I used was called Magician’s Cloak, a Valspar color I got at the hardware store.
It caught my attention because it reminded me of Ursula from the Little Mermaid, and what’s more terrifying than that? The fact that it was called Magician’s Cloak sealed the deal for me (big Harry Potter and Halloween fan right here).
I used some exterior semi-gloss black paint I had on hand to give the kraken’s eyes some slits.
I used the same paint to paint the whole body/head black as well.
I also painted parts of the tentacles with the black paint.
I used the Magician’s Cloak (purple) paint to fill in the parts not yet covered. The contrast was quite nice.
Once the purple was dry, I painted some white circles on top to look like whatever those suction cup thingys are. Getting real technical now, folks.
The result was quite nice. I’m glad I put in the extra effort.
Now I just have to wait to get this bad boy up in the front yard and take some really good photos. My husband has been aerating the lawn for weeks, so I haven’t had the chance to decorate. I swear he draws out the process as long as possible. He’s not a fan of Halloween and is meticulous about his lawn care. So, me putting up a life-sized creepy tree, kraken, graveyard, witch seance, and giant trash bag spider is not his idea of fun.
I promise to add in more photos when it’s proudly on display in my yard. Until then, enjoy some more Halloween tutorials and follow me on Instagram @thecraftcrib, Facebook, and Pinterest for all sorts of fun projects!
UPDATE: It’s out!
Other Halloween Posts:
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