Easy-to-Make Spooky Halloween Gallery Wall Art

Turn dollar store frames into a spooky gallery wall with glittering bugs and velvet backgrounds.

Easy Easy moderate

Our own summary of the original — the full post and photos live at hgtv.com.

This project transforms simple frames and plastic insects into elegant creepy-crawly art. You'll spray-paint frames black, coat bugs in gold and glitter, then mount them on velvet backgrounds. The final look is a glamorous Halloween display that resembles pinned scientific specimens.

Directions

Remove any glass and backings from the frames. (We used dollar store mirrors because we liked their shapes.) Set those pieces aside. Spray the entire front of each frame with paint; glossy black gives an upscale appearance.

Small plastic bugs and creatures are cheaply available at dollar stores or online. Bats, scorpions, hornets, and praying mantises are wonderfully eerie options. Spray them with gold paint; the metallic sheen adds a creepy-chic vibe.

Once the gold paint is dry, brush clear acrylic medium onto each bug. Immediately sprinkle fine gold glitter over them. Tap off the excess and allow them to dry. For optimal effect, select a glitter color that matches the base paint.

Place the removed glass or backing from each frame onto a piece of cardstock or thin cardboard. Use a pencil to trace its shape. Then cut out the traced shapes with a craft knife.

Position the crushed velvet fabric with the wrong side up. Put the cut cardstock on the back of the fabric. Trace around the cardstock using a fabric marker or a felt-tip pen. Cut the fabric shapes with sharp scissors. Lightly spray the cardstock with fabric adhesive, then press the fabric onto it with the good side up.

Insert the fabric-covered backing into each frame with the fabric facing outward. For frames with a lip, put the original backing behind it. For frames like our mirror ones, use a hot glue gun to secure the backgrounds inside.

Place the glittered creature in the center of the velvet inside the frame. Lift it and apply a bead of hot glue to its underside. Set it back down immediately and wait for the glue to harden. Repeat for all frames. For a finishing touch, stick ball push pins around each critter to mimic a pinned scientific specimen.