Scary Halloween table decor using antique dolls and glass cloches. For those of us who like some creep in our Halloween.
So a month ago when I was planning this year's Halloween DIY I knew I had to use dolls. They are the perfect combination of grotesque and terrifying. Am I right? In fact you've already seen one of my prize dolls heads in this Christie Antique Show post I did last month. It's the one on the right, below.
I didn't buy the head at that show, but saw it again at a show the next weekend and picked it up then. As luck would have it, after digging around a bit, the vendor was able to find the arms and legs and also donated the torso. It was at that exact moment this year's Halloween DIY was born.
The following simple DIY may be disturbing to some readers. And I'm O.K. with that.
DIY Halloween Decorations
Dolling up Halloween
Doll parts under glass. I know. It's disturbing. That's what makes it great.
The dolls and doll parts were all bought at local flea markets or antique shows; the most expensive one being $20.
If you don't have access to flea markets the best place to find vintage dolls or doll parts is Etsy. If you click here you can see what they have right now.
The glass cloches (other than the huge one in the centre) were all bought over the years at Homesense. That's Homegoods to you American folks.
Rule number one in any kind of decorating, grotesque or not, put something under glass and it'll look special. No. Matter. What.
Would you like to save this stuff?
We'll email you this post, so you can refer to it later.
Even a dirty old hand looks remarkable under glass.
The dolls legs are particularly gross. In other words, fantastic.
EVERYTHING LOOKS BETTER UNDER A GLASS CLOCHE.
This full, straw stuffed doll cost me $20 at a flea market. The vendor had $45 on it but as I was looking at it he must have been so thrilled someone was interested that he dropped the price immediately to $20. SOLD. I'll be keeping this out in various places of the house throughout the year. I mean, you don't keep something as stunning as this hiding in a Tupperware bin in the basement. You just don't.
This is the head that started it all. The head without a body, until the vendor found the body in pieces for me.
I don't like dolls. Anyone who knows me knows that I hate dolls. They're gross and scary; like clowns. As a young girl, formulating my likes and dislikes, dolls very clearly fell into the dislikes group. Because of that, instead of playing with dolls, I would dismember them and throw them under my bed. Feeling empowered, I'd then run outside, find the nearest worm and claim him as my plaything.
There's a certain irony therefore in me displaying all of these doll parts under glass like specimens. They're almost elegant. It's the kind of elegance a worm would be hard pressed to ever achieve. I mean unless you put a top hat on him.
Antique, creepy, dirty looking dolls however, bring me the kind of joy I normally only get from finding leftover pizza in the fridge I'd forgotten about.
If you like this sort of thing you should take my full Halloween house tour. It's creepy but with something weirdly pretty about it too.
It other words, it's Pretty Grimm.
Benjamin
Even Margaret, trying to look stoic, has a look of creeped out and disturbing on her face... other words you hit the sweet spot with your décor this year. Hope you scare the candy out of all the kids. Have fun, kiddo.
Marna
Wow, that's interesting! Oh I was just given an old trunk by a neighbor with all sorts of cool stuff in it. One item is a partial doll, the legs are missing and it is cracking, wondered how I could use it, now I know! Thanks :)
Janelle
Creeptastic, Karen - although, it's the lack of genitalia that I find truly disturbing, particularly in respect of dolls they went to great pains to make look realistic, otherwise.
Ei Con
You need these disembodied eyeballs too.
https://www.grandinroad.com/eyeball-orbs-2c-set-of-eight/gifts-celebrations/halloween-decorations/808247?isCrossSell=true&strategy=662>mPageName=May%20We%20Suggest-EspotsCategoryView
Marna
Creepy and cool at the same time! Looks like something from an "olde tyme" doctor's office!
Heather Sykora
Congratulations!!
You have succeeded in truly terrifying me!!!
😱
I am impressed with your type of brilliance...
I am suddenly motivated to go do laundry and ground myself back in reality!!!
So- hm- thank you?
Heather in TX
Renee Ryz
Just creepy! here's a good one. Part of our business is installing fire alarms. One of our customers was opening a haunted house that we had to alarm. I got a photo tour of the whole place. Each room in the house had a theme. The little girl's room was full, and I mean FILLED on every surface with dolls, all with their eyes gone. EEEEEEE! You wanna talk about creepsters - even in the daylight! I shudder just thinking about it still.
Hilda Peraza Munk
OH-MY gosh!!! I Love to hate creepy dolls. (You crack me up...again! Never a dull moment) Happy-Free-Candy-Night!!
Jody
If the doll body parts were just strewn across your table it would be more of a creepy repair shop scene. But under glass.............they become evil specimens. Love the twig broom on the wall with the crooked handle. Perfect for sweeping up more body parts.
Lynn Wallrath
Perfection Karen... complete perfection.
#creepydollsrule
Amy in StL
Meh. Maybe you have to be afraid of clowns to find this creepy? I think it's ugly, but not creepy. But then I loved my dolls when I was a child.
Sheila Turchyn
We have a cottage with 2 skylights in the room where the tv sits. The one skylight is located right over the sofa where everyone wants to sprawl out to watch tv. I have been looking for a creepy doll to attach to the roof so that it will peer into the room and the unsuspecting tv viewer will see it from the couch...I'm encouraged right now but please keep it a secret! (;
Julie
You just solve my biggest problem with setting up displays. Anything I put out that's not heavy enough gets knocked down by the cats, including cut flowers...put a cloche over it and voilà! Need to find cloches now.
Leisa
Straw Doll is throwing some serious shade. Love her!
Susan
Love it!! Have to say though, I instantly thought of the fabulous movie "Margaret's Museum" (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0113774/) when I saw the picture showing the full collection of body parts under glass on your dining room table (with Margaret looking on).
Karen
I have never heard of Margaret's Museum, but it works perfectly with my actual Margaret painting looming over it all. ~ karen!
Elaine
Did you slip the skull in there just to see if we were paying attention?
Linda
I have to tell you, this made me sick. Really. I gagged. I really enjoy you and your blog, however, this is a little over the top for me. I know, to each his own. My grandson just walked in, saw the screen and screamed. Not good.
SueSchneid22
Karen- I am not a halloween fan. But, if I was, this would be the kind of decor I'd use. Great stuff!
Eileen
oooooh fabulous!!
Way better use of dolls than somehow pretending they're pretty and such.
And now I feel empowered to finally do the weird plastic doll dismemberment that I've had in the back of my head since I found the thing at a flea market...planter with plant pouring out of belly....bwahahahhhhaaa.......
Flash
My friend goes a bit further. He takes a blow torch to the dolls.
NinaMargo
I'd be so tempted to put a bouquet of violets in the baby doll's head to give her something to think about.
Stephbo
Yes!! Me too!!