Creepy Crows & Bones Wreath

Directions

1. Unwrap the cheesecloth. From the first package, set aside 1.5 to 2 yards and keep that portion white; you'll use it for the bow later.
2. If you have a top-loading washing machine, set it to the hottest water, longest cycle, and smallest load size. (For front loaders, refer to the Rit Dye guidelines.)
3. Start the washer. Once it begins filling, add the entire packet of black Rit dye and 1 cup of salt, then toss in the remaining cheesecloth (not the white reserved portion).
4. When the cycle finishes, the cheesecloth will be dark gray or black. It may be tangled; gently untwist it before moving to the next step.
5. Place the dyed cheesecloth in the dryer and run it for 20 minutes.
6. Keep the straw wreath inside its plastic wrapper to avoid mess. Tie one end of the black cheesecloth to the wreath, then wrap it around the entire ring, leaving about 8 to 10 inches of ragged ends hanging when you finish one piece and start the next. This tattered look adds to the creepiness.
7. Arrange your creepy decorations—such as skeleton parts, spiders, and the three crows—on the wreath. Use hot glue to secure them in place.
8. Cut a strip of leftover black cheesecloth to create a hanging loop at the top. The raggedy it appears, the better.
9. Take the white cheesecloth you saved earlier and form a bow. Tie it like a standard bow, then pull the loops outward to make them fuller. Optionally, spray the bow with fabric stiffener to help it hold its shape.
10. Attach the white bow to the wreath with hot glue or by tying it in place.