Looking for some last minute, inexpensive props for Halloween? When it comes to "do it yourself" Scarecrows are where it's at, but many of us just don't know where to start. Effects Lab Forum member GhostCinderella walks us through making a wicked Scarecrow Bust step by step. Read more for the great tips!

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From GhostCinderella:

-Begin with just a plain styrofoam wig head and cut it in half through the axis of the mouth - and once the scarecrow is completed reattach the top and bottom sections at the back so that the whole top of the head opens up and back like a lid.

-Hollow out the eye sockets

-Cut and hot glue various strips of styrofoam to make the underlying lip ripples / valleys. Do the same for brow ridges, the throat turkey neck look, the crooked nose, etc.

-Apply burlap - glue - paint with liquid acrylics, amber shellac.

-Drill holes in mouth, set in porcelain teeth - paint up with acrylics & shellac.

-Bend wire, wire together to look like branches, anchor into the bottom half of the mouth / head (closing the top frequently to check that the wire falls between the teeth and doesn't disrupt them).

-For the eyes... make small burlap socks (pockets?) and stick them inside the sockets to simulate the "bursting straw" look. Then stick and glue in the wire, made to simulate twigs etc.

-The hat was a $1 store nylon hat that was aged / antiqued.



And that's that!! You've got your own creepy Scarecrow bust. Now all that's left is building a wooden cross, stick the bust on it and cover it with a large jacket and you'll be scaring more than the birds!

Source: The Effects Lab