DIY Mummy Head and Hand

This DIY mummy head and hand are made to look like they are seeping up from the depths of the ground, and will send a fright to all of your trick or treaters. Add some spookiness to the dark night of Halloween with his fun project.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED:
Fast Drying Plaster Of Paris Cloth Strips
Round Balloons
Scotch Tape
Water
Old Plastic Bowl
4 Sponge Brushes
Polyurethane
2 Small Ground Stakes
Rubber Mallet
Small Piece Of Cardboard
Scissors
Pencil
Serrated Knife
2 Life Size Plastic Eyes (can be purchased from any craft supply store)
1 Paper Towel Tube
1 Rubber Glove
Quick Grab White Crafting Glue
1 Old White Sheet (torn into 2 inch strips)

STEP NUMBER 1:

Take one balloon and blow it up to the approximate size of a human head. Tie off the balloon like you normally would. Next take your small piece of cardboard and trace a small triangle, take your scissors and cut the triangle out. Now take you cardboard triangle and fold in half, so the bottom corners meet, push down and crease well. When slightly folded this triangle should fit over your nose comfortably with out alot of excess. With the triangle slightly folded tape it to the balloon using Scotch tape just about where a humans nose would be. Obviously this will become the nose when all is finished.

STEP NUMBER 2:

Fill your bowl with warm water. Next take your plaster of Paris strips and run through the water, making sure they are saturated. Take your index and middle finger and run it along the strip to remove excess water. Now gently apply the strips width wise to the front of balloon smoothing it down as you go along. Turn the balloon to the back side and repeat where your first strip left off making sure to over lap on your first. Repeat until the whole balloon is covered with two coatings of strips. Be sure to leave an opening at the bottom of the balloon where it has been tied, just big enough for your hand to fit through. Once done put aside and let dry according to manufacturers directions.

STEP NUMBER 3:

OK now all is dry. If your balloon has not already of popped take a pin and go in through the bottom where you left the opening with the plaster strips and give it a good poking until the balloon has deflated. Next take your pencil and draw two small eye shaped opening where the eyes would be. Just above the nose area. Take your serrated knife and cut carefully along your pencil marks. Take your plastic eye and reach inside the head and assemble into the eye sockets and glue. Repeat this step for the next eye.

STEP NUMBER 4:

Take your white sheet strips, sponge brush, and glue and wrap around the head leaving fringed hanging pieces. Make sure the eye area is left open to expose your plastic eyes. Once done give it a few coats of polyurethane in a well ventilated area. This will protect it from the elements of mother nature.

FOR THE HAND:

STEP NUMBER 5:

Take you rubber glove and blow it up and tie in a knot at the bottom of the glove opening. Now take your paper towel roll and assemble the two by setting your glove on top of the paper towel roll in the round opening and giving it a thick coat of a quick grab glue. Let dry.

STEP NUMBER 6:

Again fill your bowl with warm water and start wrapping your arm and hand (making sure to wrap each finger individually) in the plaster strips. Two coatings. If you need to cut strips shorter or thinner, do so before wetting. Make sure you wrap from finger tips to bottom. Let dry.

STEP NUMBER 7:

Go in with your sponge brush, glue, and sheet strips, and wrap, being sure to leave fringed hanging pieces. Again wrap from individual finger tips to bottom. Let dry and then go in and give it two coats of polyurethane in a well ventilated area.

STEP NUMBER 8:
It's tome to assemble out side. Take your rubber mallet and wooden stakes lay out your head and hand design, once satisfied mark. These stakes are there to protect your mummy from blowing away or tipping over. Note that the head should be close to the hand as well as a small distance behind to the left or right of the head. Take your rubber mallet and tap the stake lightly into the ground. Break or saw of any excess. Lay both head and hand on top of each individual stake and you are finished with some very spooky Halloween yard decor.