How to Make a Scary Animal for Halloween

Animals can become increasingly frightening around the Halloween holiday.

Halloween is a time when items and creatures that are normally friendly and tame can appear menacing and frightening. Transform stuffed animals and depictions of animals into terrifying items of Halloween holiday decor by utilizing classic Halloween decorating techniques and items you may already have in your own home. Halloween pumpkins can offer a canvas for decorating your home with terrifying animal faces. Refer to typical household pets, such as dogs and cats, as your inspiration for transforming ordinary animals into ones appropriate for the spooky holiday. Scatter the deranged looking stuffed animals around the entryway of your home to terrify those who pay you a visit.

Things You'll Need

• Stuffed animals
• Hot glue gun
• Comb
• Hair spray
• Red paint
• Paint brush
• Small, red LED lights
• Fake claws and fangs
• Fishing line
• Pumpkin
• Permanent marker
• Pumpkin carving knife
• LED light or candle

Instructions

Stuffed Animals

1. Tease the hair on the stuffed animal so it stands out and secure it in place with hairspray to transform the normal stuffed animal into a terrifying one.

2. Paint the eyes of the stuffed animal red or glue small, red LED lights to the eyes of the stuffed animal to make them glow.

3. Paint blood stains around the mouth and claws of the stuffed animal using red paint.

4. Glue claws to the paws of the stuffed animal and fang-style teeth to the mouth.

5. Position the stuffed animals around your front porch and stairs and in windows. Suspend them from the roof or ceiling with fishing line so they hang in odd and frightening poses.

Pumpkin Animal

1. Cut off the top of the pumpkin and remove all the seeds and pulp inside.

2. Draw the glaring eyes of the animal with a permanent marker to avoiding the smearing of color and ink. Draw downward pointing triangles, with the long ends of the triangles pointing toward the center of the pumpkin and the pupils at the point, to depict an evil glare. Add in slanted eyebrows or furrows over the eyes to further accentuate the fierce eyes.

3. Draw prominent, sharp teeth on the pumpkin. Draw jagged points and triangles, varying in size and shape, for the teeth.

4. Add in a distorted nose. Use the actual nose of the animal for inspiration, but mangle the edges and shapes slightly to make the creature more menacing.

5. Draw in the ears of the animal at the top of the pumpkin, but draw in hunks missing from the ear shapes, as though another animal may have bitten or mangled them in a fight.

6. Carve and cut away all the animal face drawings.

7. Place a candle or LED light inside the carved pumpkin to illuminate the fierce looking creature.

References

• Band of Cats: 28 Halloween Cat Pumpkin Stencils for a Spooky Halloween
• Family Fun: Scary Cat Pumpkin Carving Template