Thread: witch and cauldron

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ok, i will admit shes not that great, especially compared to some of the amazing stuff other people do... but this is esmerelda, and I love her. I would love her more... if she had more shape, haha. I put her up today for the third year running, and when i looked at her, i knew it was time i give her a little more attention.

The photo is from last year (obviously). This year she does have a 'real' hand, and I also have a broom for her.

Her construction is simple- a step ladder, a pole and several yards of black outdoor fabric.

My question is.... how do I give her a little more 'shape' in (most especially) her arms? Right now one arm is a plastic pipe type thing that I had laying around and duct taped to the step ladder frame. her other arm is a stick with a latex dish washing type glove on it -the rest of the arm is hidden by fabric. (dont laugh I didnt have much to work with LOL)

need easy and el cheapo ideas please!

Dryer hose painted black for arms?

OK, easy and el cheapo it is. How about this - take the shepherd's crook plant hanger behind her and hang a wooden (or other heavy duty) coat hanger (padded?) on the crook, then attach pool noodles as arms, running a long bungee cord (or two) up through the noodle, snake it through / around the hanger and down the other arm. The plant hanger should not be noticeable, as she will be right on top of it.

Good luck with Esmerelda. We do get attached to these props don't we?

Where there is a will, there is a way! You have shown true potential in this prop! It only gets better so no need to be negative because it's a great starting point! With a little haunted love and creepy attention, this witch will be something great for all to rave about! Best of luck to you! Keep it up as well!

You don't have to compare your work to anybody's. Do it because you enjoy doing it. She is a good start. Anything ridged will add a little more definition to the frame, especially to the shoulders. I like the shepherds hook/coat hanger idea. Although you might have a hard time still finding pool noodle this time of year. Even newspaper wrapped in plastic or bubble wrap will work.

Many times I've heard, There are few problems that can't be solved with duct tape or baling wire.


Like they said a couple coat hangers opened up then bent to arm shape.I like to use more than one to make arms then tape them together so they are more rigid. Then duct tape whatever to that, I've used be crumbled newspaper myself. Nothing wrong with any of it. Look around the house and see what you have. One year I used a life jacket to fill out the torso on a dummy. Worked like a charm.

great ideas!

I have a 6' foam pipe cover (purchased for another project that didnt turn out quite right). I am thinking about maybe using that since pool noodles are no longer around this time of year, here.

I have her set up on the porch right now (the kids were discarding plants from the container garden at the moment i started playing with her), but am thinking of moving her to where she was last year (in the picture above). I also got some foam tombstones this year, so there will be a little more around her. (hey bit by bit, right??? lol)

I love my witch, just trying to make her better

whatever I do, it will have to wait - today is monday which means back to work (even though I am lucky and work from home) plus, its raining... which is the larger deterrent at the moment LOL

keep the ideas coming! I love hearing ideas to make her better!!! when i move her, I'll try to remember to take some pics of her assembly

I made my witch arms from thin pvc (I cut it into two sections for a upper arm and forearm). I put pvc end caps on them, and drilled a tiny hole in each end cap to twist in eyelet screws. Then I got a pool noodle (I got mine on sale at Walmart in September) and cut it with a serrated knife to fit the length of the pvc. I attached the upper- and forearms with zip ties, and then attached it to the frame. For hands, I used some cheapo plastic "severed" hands they sell at Dollar Tree, poked a hold in the wrist and attached the PVC arm.

If you don't want to do that, you could also stuff a pair of pantyhose with cotton pillow filling (get that at a fabric store). You can sew a pair of gloves onto the ends of it, but fill the gloves first. You might be able to fill it with Great Stuff, since it's light and stiff. Then you can attach the pantyhose arms to your frame with zip ties, staples, thread, etc.

I also used pool noodles for my stirring witch's arms. The actual arms are chain that runs through her pvc shoulders and the noodle just fills her out a bit.

Her body is just chicken wire formed to the shape of a body and fastened to her pvc "skeleton". It's all very simple construction.

This pic is pretty bad but you get the idea.

what about just filling up a small plastic grocery bag and stuffing her with them? Or duct taping the bags together in the shape you want. I have TONS of plastic bags lying around here, and was going to drape the insides of my grim with them so he doesn't look so, flat. he needs a little shape as well.