Step 1

Get a cheap witches' cauldron at Wal-Mart or somewhere and cut off the rim. I suppose you could leave it if you're lazy.

Step 2

Use a dremel or utility knife and cut some eyes and a mouth. It might be a good idea to draw them first with a pencil to see what they'll look like.

Step 3

If desired, cut the pieces that you removed in Step 2 into little triangles. These can then be glued in to become teeth.

Step 4

Roll up some newspaper and tape it to the cauldron to form "veins".

While we're here, note the bolt that I stuck in the top. This is handy if you need to hang it. It will also be useful in some later steps. Make sure it's a couple of inches long and put some big washers on each side..

Step 5

Rub carpet adhesive all over the thing and cover with paper towels. Put some more adhesive all over it. Wear gloves.

Step 6

There is no step 6 but I thought this looked cool.

Step 7

Add a stem. I affixed a piece of heavy-duty wire and then wrapped it around some newspaper and covered that with carpet adhesive/paper towels.

Remember that bolt that I mentioned in Step 4? I just wrapped the wire under the washer and then tightened the bolt until it was secure.

Step 8

I stuck a nice piece of bougainvillea with tendrils at the end of the stem. I think the stem looks a bit too much like a Santa cap at the moment so I'll have to do something about that.

Step 9

Give it a base coat of spray paint. I used black because that's what SpookyBlue did. Feel free to experiment.

Step 10

Paint the head however you want. It started raining so I brought it inside and stuck in on the swim suit post. This is NOT the final result! Also, the flash makes it look kind of "tangerine-y" but it's really more mottled looking.

Step 11

Cut some bougainvillea branches. Again, it's best to wear gloves. Not the gloves you wore to smear the adhesive. Heavier ones. If you're manly, you can leave the thorns on. I chose to cut mine off with the utility knife seen in Step 2.

Step 12

Make a frame out of 1X2. I tied some bougainvillea branches to it and roped them together and bent them into what will hopefully be a menacing pose. I'm letting them dry now and will arrange them in a week or so. Jack is about to pee on them.

Step 13

Time for some "Nip/Tuck". I thought the eyes were too large and I'm trying to make the stem look more "viney". The good thing about this medium is that you can just add more tape/paper/glue and build on what was there before. (I'm still waiting for the branches to dry.)

Step 14

Dye a white sheet black and have your mother-in-law sew it into a choir robe. Then shred it. Tie some strips to the arms and stick the head on. DONE! (I know, I probably skipped a few steps but just use your imagination.) I'm working on the lighting now. Perhaps I'll share those photos with you in a week or two.

How is the head attached? I drilled a hole into the top of the vertical piece of wood and then just stuck the bolt (from Step 4) into it. It's held in by gravity.