Shrunken Heads for Halloween

[stevenjames]

So it takes a couple of weeks to complete this craft, but it's one of my favorites.  I learned how to make these as a kid and have been making them every Halloween.



Made from dried apples, these shrunken heads can be used as place cards for a Halloween dinner, suspended over a doorway or skewered on dirty dowel rods in the front yard.   

You will need:

Ingredients:
Several Granny Smith apples
Whole cloves
Handful of dry rice
1/2 cup of lemon juice
2 tsp. salt
Snips of wig hair

Tools:
Small bowl
Large spoon
Small paring knife or potato peeler
Wire rack
Bamboo skewers

In a small bowl prepare a mixture of the lemon juice and 2 teaspoons of salt.  Peel apples and coat with mixture to prevent browning.  Use the peeler or the knife to carve out eye sockets, a nose, mouth and ears.  Be sure to create large facial features, as the apple will shrink in size.
 
To create eyes, place whole cloves into each eye socket and for teeth; insert dry rice into mouth cavity.  To accelerate the drying process place the apples in an oven at the lowest temperature for a few hours.  Keep an eye on the apples, as you don’t want to cook them.  Remove apples from oven and place on a wire rack in a warm, dry place for about 2 - 3 weeks.

After the apples are dry, add snips of wig hair.  Wrap hair around the sharp tip of a bamboo skewer and insert tip into apple.  Hair should stay in place, if it appears loose add a drop of glue and allow to dry. 
 

[candycanechild]

That is the most creepy, morbid thing I have seen all day. Awesome! I am so going to try this.

[poordumbbird]

I dont know what I would ever ever make these for, but i dont care I saving the iinstructiosn incase I have a halloween party at some stage in the distant future.

Very awesome. 

[booglass]

I just let out a huge EIK!!!!!   

OMG!!   I had nightmares about these when I was a kid!!!!  That was the same year someone brought dried pumpkin seeds to class and I got soooo sick.  What a horrible Halloween!   

Also, Joe Liberman's head reminds me of these apple facey-things.....texture wise. 


Boo

[AllieStar]

scary!! but thank you for the instructions!

[LivinEasy]

Oh man, oh man, I love these! I'm planning a ghoulish party right now and have been looking for creative ideas to decorate my back yard. These heads 'speared' will be perfect.

[loves2experiment]

They're a frightful looking bunch...but I totally <3 this idea!  I'll definitely be making these for my Halloween party decorations.  Quick question.  Did you spray a varnish over the completed shrunken heads or will they be alright for a couple of weeks up till Halloween?  Thanks for sharing the instructions!

[SlyGrimalkin]

I wonder how my parents would react if they woke up one morning and there were stakes with heads all over the lawn.....think I'll try it.

[stevenjames]

They're a frightful looking bunch...but I totally <3 this idea!  I'll definitely be making these for my Halloween party decorations.  Quick question.  Did you spray a varnish over the completed shrunken heads or will they be alright for a couple of weeks up till Halloween?  Thanks for sharing the instructions!

No, I wouldn't add any moisture to it...if you can believe it, I made these heads THREE YEARS ago and they are still going strong...in fact I can't wait to make a new batch...maybe we have a Shrunken Head contest?

[hakue]

That's so cool!  I think I might try to make these as Halloween presents for my friends.