Homemade Centerpieces for Halloween

Create a similar scene to this for your table this Halloween.

Ghosts, goblins and ghouls are getting ready to come out this Halloween. If you're looking to scare up some great decorations to set the mood, consider a graveyard setting complete with ghosts for your table.

What You Need

To get started on this project you'll need two thick Styrofoam blocks, typically found in the floral arrangement section of your local craft store. Go for a white Styrofoam block, since you'll need to paint it a gray tone to make it look like an authentic tombstone. Pick up some gray paint, either acrylic or spray paint, whichever you prefer. You'll also need the following:

Black acrylic paint for lettering

Spanish moss, usually sold in bags

Wooden skewers

Hot glue

Marshmallow ghost Peeps

How to Assemble

Create a tombstone similar to this.

Cut one of the blocks of Styrofoam around the edges to give the piece the upside-down U style of a tombstone. The cutting of the block can be done with a sharp knife. Mark out your U shape on the block prior to cutting; this way you have a template to follow.

Once your desired shape is in place, start to paint the block in a gray tone. Spray paint will make the job go faster and can provide an uneven finish that will make the piece look aged. You can also use acrylic paint if you prefer. If using spray paint, avoid getting an even paint finish, to create the aged look and also to avoid getting too much paint on the Styrofoam. Too much of the spray paint can deteriorate the Styrofoam.

Once the gray paint has finished drying, use the black acrylic paint to word the front of the tombstone. For instance, you may want to use a simple RIP or even get more detailed with a name and dates for the person's life.

Attach the tombstone to the foam base piece by pushing the wooden skewers up through both pieces. This will provide the necessary support to keep your tombstone upright. Three skewers should do the trick, but you can always insert more for extra strength.

You'll want to decorate the foam base and can do so by hot gluing the Spanish moss around the headstone.

Finishing Touches

A little extra surprise for the piece.

To finish off your centerpiece you can add some ghostly visitors. Simply take marshmallow Peeps shaped like ghosts and insert one end of a wooden skewer into the bottom of each ghost. Place the other end of the skewer into the top of the tombstone so that the ghost is floating above. Place as many as you like along the edge so that the ghosts are floating about at different heights.

If you want to add more candy treats, place some gummy worms or other candied creepy crawlers amongst the Spanish moss at the base.

References

• A.C. Moore: Styrofoam
• A.C. Moore: Spanish moss