How to Make an Easy Halloween Skull Chandelier

In this post we will describe how to make an easy halloween skull chandelier. By the time you are done reading this and watching the video, you will have all the steps needed to make your own frightening halloween lighting decoration that is sure to make those who see it stop dead in their tracks. The amount of detail that is possible in the finished product, and the quality of the construction is definitely worth the effort for this project. What's even better is that for a small budget, you can create a realistic looking halloween decoration that you won't find in the stores. Also, these are so cool looking that they make excellent gifts for the holidays.

Supplies Needed

LED Window Candles With Remote

Durable Plastic Chain

White Waverly chalk paint or other white chalk paint

Truffle Waverly chalk paint or other brown chalk paint

8 Dollar Tree Plastic Skulls (or fewer if desired)

18 Inch Embroidery Hoop

Dark Walnut Wood Stain

Hot Glue Gun

Box Cutter or other sharp cutting tool

Paint brush

Paper towels

Rag or Cloth

Step by Step Instructions

First paint all the skulls with a coat of white chalk paint to remove the shine from the plastic.

Next use a damp paper towel to rub/blot the skulls with truffle or brown chalk paint. But before it dries, you will want to use a damp paper towel to distress the brown paint.

Simply rub and mix the paint all around with the damp paper towel so that you end up removing some paint and blending the rest in to create an old weathered, dirty, and distressed look.

You could omit painting the skulls, but they look less real due to the glossy shine of the white plastic, so the paint and distressing really do take this project to the next level.

Next, use the bottom (candle holder removed) of the LED window candles to trace a circle around the candle base just beyond the top of the skull (towards the back of the head) that is needed to mount the candles in place.

Now, use a boxcutter or cutting utensil to cut out the circles you drew in each skull for the associated candle.

You can always cut the hole slightly larger so that the candles fit better, if necessary.

Use the truffle or brown paint again and a damp paper towel to rub some paint on each candle to distress them and make them weathered and dirty.

Now take the embroidery hoop and use a rag to apply a layer of walnut wood stain all around the surface of the chandelier ring to make it appear aged.

Next, go around the front of the hoop and mark off the spots where you want each of your skulls to appear, ensuring they are evenly spaced.

Find the flat surface on the underside (below the jaw) of the skulls, and apply hot glue there.

Affix the skulls with hot glue to the front of the hoop.

You can always use a screw to better secure each skulls to the embroidery hoop, if needed.

Now place a candle inside the hole on the top of each skull and ensure they fit securely.

Note: Although the video does not say to do so, I believe that you could use the hot glue gun to secure the candles in place, if you want them mounted more securely.

Finally, use the plastic chain to secure the chandelier to the ceiling.

You will need three segments each containing nine chain links each.

Each of the three chain segments will connect one end to the embroidery hoop, and the other end connects to a fourth, longer, leftover segment that connects the chandelier to the ceiling.

Now simply secure the chandelier to the ceiling and turn on the LED candle remote and you are finished.

This really is a fairly simple project that really does not take any specialized skills or heavy artistic talent to complete. If you can do a little painting, cut some holes, and use a glue gun, then you already have most of the skills needed to make this creepy skull chandelier. The best part about making one of these is that with just a little effort, you truly do get a realistic and distressed looking halloween decoration that you can be proud that you made yourself.