You're one drill, a book and some Googley eyes away from a freakishly creepy Halloween craft. I really hate the word craft, but that's what this is. A cheap and easy Halloween DIY for scaring those you love.
I've always had an affinity for all things creepy. If I were to dig deep inside my sub-conscience I'd say it goes back to my maternal grandparents. They were weirdos.
My grandmother was ... well ... just weird, and my grandfather was a dentist. When I was 6 or 7 I used to look at his medical textbooks that were from the 1920s. I'm not sure if you've ever looked in a book of pathology from the 1920's but they're pretty disturbing. Lots of pictures of people who noses growing out of their elbows for instance - that sort of thing. Everyone knows for a fact that pathology books are where TLC gets ALL of their hit show ideas from.
Because of that text book and those grandparents I was shaped into the creep freak you see before you. In turn, I like to pass that quality onto you folks. Think of me as your book of pathology.
General Instructions for this Halloween DIY
For this moderately disturbing DIY you're gonna need just a few things. A book (the one I used happens to be about murder which I thought was a nice touch), a drill, and some glass or plastic eyes. Pluck them from anywhere or anyone you can.
If you're looking for something even more disturbing may I direct you to the crown made of actual bones?
I found my plastic eyes at the Dollar store. Old dolls, Halloween accessories or crafting stores should have them too.
All you do is drill holes into the centre of a book. You can use a drill bit the size of your eyes or you can cut the book with an Xacto knife. But BE careful, you don't want to end up looking like something from a pathology book.
This is just a "photo". When you're drilling your book, press down on the pages so they're compact while you're drilling otherwise the pages will just rip and tear. I didn't show a photo of me pushing down on the book on account of the fact that my man hands were more disturbing than this Halloween DIY.
True story.
Clean up the holes in your book a bit with some scissors.
Now just drop your eyes in. And you're done. If you want to be. It'll look like the photo below.
Do you want to take it to the next creep level ? Start tearing away at the drilled circles you've made. The outermost circles should be the biggest, getting smaller and smaller as you get deeper into the drilled hole. In other words, you're ripping out sockets.
This technique is harder than just drilling but gives you what looks like an ACTUAL eye socket. I've also used some black magic marker around the paper edges that touch the eyeball to make it look more ominous.
Also upping the creep factor? Using eyeballs that move. Like these. Which were $1 each from the Dollar Store. When you set the book slightly upright the eyes look up at you.
Creepy Halloween DIY Alert.
Book with Eyes.
Creepy Halloween DIY Craft. Book Eyes!
Going creepy for Halloween is the ONLY way to go. You can whip this creeptacular Eyes in Book DIY with just a book, a drill and some fake eyeballs.
Materials
- Book
- 2 plastic or glass eyes.
Tools
- Drill
- Drill bit that's slightly larger than the size of your eyes.
Instructions
- Open your book up to where it naturally falls open in the middle.
- Drill a hole on both pages, approximately ½" deep each. Hold the pages down firmly while drilling.
- Clean up the torn pages a bit.
- Set the eyes into the holes you drilled and assess. If the eyes aren't recessed enough into the book, drill a bit more.
- If you're happy with it, glue the eyes into place. If you'd like to go one step further, continue to step 6.
- Tear as many pages as your strong little fingers can handle into a bigger circle. Continue on doing smaller and smaller circles so the torn holes get concentrically smaller the deeper they are.
- Place your eyeballs in and glue in place.
Notes
To go ALL the way, use an appropriately creepy book. You can find scads of choices for $2 or so at a second hand store.
You'll get the most creep possible if you can find eyes that move like dolls eyes.
Tearing the pages is hard work, I'm not gonna lie to you. But it really makes the whole effect way more realistic and creepy.
Look for eyes around Halloween in dollar stores. Don't forget to check for rings, masks or necklaces that might have eyes on them.
Or you could order some from Amazon where they have a surprisingly huge selection of glass eyes.
Make your socket look more ominous by smudging some black marker around the edges that touch the eyeball.
They say you can't judge a book by its cover. You have to judge it by what's inside. I tend to agree.
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FLP
Eye reader, too creepy for words. I'll stick with my ereader.
magali
love it!!
are you going to be showing us your pumpkins this year or is it over completely for Halloween stuff?
Karen
Magali -I'm going to be showing my pumpkins from *last* year. They're an easy ... anyone can do it, but it still looks great and original pumpkin. :) ~ karen
ev
The unofficial Addams Family likes this lot!
Bonnie
Very, very creepy. Very.
But I love it!
Nancy Blue Moon
I have always loved creepy and scary..spooky is right up there too..My son loved this about me when he was a kid cause he liked to decorate his room that way..I was the mom who was out shopping for Halloween stuff to give him as Christmas gifts..he has sort of outgrown it but I haven't..Love this one Karen..Great creep factor!
Nan Tee
Here's a thought....how about mailing the book? Now to find my adddress book.....lol.
Paula
My daughter says pretty soon I will have more Halloween decorations than Christmas. I must add this one. I love it. I also added a black grapevine, snake wreath to the front door. It's a Martha Stewart idea. You will have to check it out. It's been on Pinterest too. Very easy project.
Jane C.
Just wondering if the rat in the gift box was dead or alive? Not sure which one I'd find creepier...probably alive!
Jake
Thank you, I love this stuff.
Nancy
I shall now terrify the family. Thank you Karen
Another Karen
You are such an inspiration. Thank you for being you!
Janet
Gotta love the grandparents....they are inspiration that have mortified your parents.
Alex
I like your Grandma. She's my kind of people. That's creepy and awesome and so fun to scare the children away from your porch so that you can keep the candy.
Jodi. T.
This is awesome... And tearing around the eyeball takes the creep factor WAY up... More realistic or somethin'!
Thank you for being our book of pathology!!! :)
Karol
Holy crappity crap... right up my alley! I love it. And I love your grandmother. Years ago a fast food taco restaurant that rhymes with Schmocko Hell gave out those eyeballs with kids meals. They're big and roll-y and will be perfect for that project. Thanks, Karen!
Laura Bee
The rat in a gift box story will never get old!
marilyn
crazy good, so creepy!
jenny
You Are Brilliant :)
gloria
Yikes, very creepy, but cool too. I think I might find a slightly larger book, then put both eyes on the same page, so they aren't quite so far apart. I think that would give them a more realistic look. Then close the book and lay it on a table or somewhere where it's sure to be picked up and opened...then wait for the scream.
Netmiff
ooooh, put a bookmark in it and close it; or leave it cover side UP on the coffee table ... and then when someone opens it or picks it up - BOOOO!
Ms Mathieu
LOVE THIS !!! I am going to give this to our librarian at work !!!!!