How to Build a Scary House Illusion
There is one day each year when all things macabre and grotesque are in high demand. One "Unholiday" where everything gross, disgusting, supernatural, frightening, mysterious and paranormal is completely acceptable. That day, of course, is Halloween. During that last day of October, people don obscure costumes, host parties with otherworldly themes and decorate their homes with faux tombstones and cotton cobwebs. You too can get into the spirit of the occasion by creating your own scary wall and mirror illusion. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- 2 sheets of particle board, 4 by 8 feet, 1/4-inch thick
- Hole saw
- Tape measure
- Goggles
- Painter's uniform with mask
- Gloves
- Painter's tarp
- Large can of interior paint (any color)
- Large paintbrush or paint roller
- Pencil
- Carpenter's level
- 8 nails, 1 inch
- Hammer
- 2 large portrait-sized mirrors
- Small can of red paint
- Old curtain or bedsheet
- Tube of strong adhesive or a high-heat glue gun
- Various Halloween decorations (plastic bones, rubber snakes and bugs, etc.)
- 2 large packages of cotton cobwebs
Instructions
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Building the Illusion
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1
Work with the particleboard one sheet at a time. Place the wood down flat on a workbench or sawhorse and cut into each board using the hole saw. Make one hole large enough for a hand to fit through into the left side of each board, about 4 inches from the edge and 3 feet from the bottom, using the tape measure for accurate measurements.
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2
Put on your goggles, painter's uniform and gloves. Lay down the painter's tarp. Paint each board with the interior paint and allow both boards to dry.
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3
Place each board upright with the painted sides facing you. Measure 3 feet from the top and 2 feet into the center of each board and make a mark with the pencil. Place the level up to the mark and draw a straight 12-inch line on each board directly under the mark.
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4
Hammer one nail into each end of the line on each board, leaving a few millimeters of the nails sticking out. Hang one mirror on each board, making sure each is securely attached.
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5
Using the red paint, write some phrase under each mirror that directs the onlookers to look into the mirror. It can be anything from "LOOK!" to "Gaze Into Your Future!" Also, decorate the board with the red paint. You can make a few "bloody handprints" with the gloves dipped in paint or splashes of paint with the small paintbrush.
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6
Nail the old curtain or bedsheet to the wood. It should drape across the wood at the top like a curtain and also cover the holes that you drilled earlier. Do not cover the mirror or writing below.
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7
Glue a few of your other Halloween decorations to your mirror boards. Glue a few fake bugs to the wall as if they are crawling up, or glue plastic bones to the sides of the mirror--whatever you choose.
Setting Up the Illusion
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8
Choose a hallway in your house, the narrower the better. Place one mirror board on one side of the hallway, preferably in front of a doorway. Place the other mirror wall directly across from the other so that the mirrors reflect each other.
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9
Have someone stand on the other side of the mirror board that is in front of a doorway with their hand ready to go through the hole.
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10
Toss a few more Halloween decorations around. Place a few fake bugs or bones on the floor.
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11
Drape some cotton cobwebs between the two mirror boards. If desired, drape some on the mirrors as well.
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12
Direct your "victims" to go between the two mirrors. When they look into one mirror, they will see their reflection repeatedly infinitely by the other. Then, as they are looking, the person behind the wall can grab them through the hidden holes.
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1
Tips & Warnings
This project is designed to be used as a part of a haunted house, but could also possibly be used outdoors in combination with other decorations and attractions.
The work for this project is best done outside.
You want to make sure that these mirror boards do not fall over as your guests are moving between them, so as an added precaution you may want to nail a few nails into the corners of the boards fastening them to your walls (temporarily). Take care not to damage any walls into your house.
