Assemblage art is about more than just combining random objects—it’s about telling a story. In this haunting DIY Halloween project, I upcycled a vintage wall clock into a Gothic mausoleum, crafting an eerie love story that lives on beyond the grave. Titled “Eternal Love in Death,” this Halloween assemblage features two skeletons joined in eternal embrace, surrounded by symbolic flowers, ornate textures, and layered meaning.

This one-of-a-kind creation is inspired by the idea of a couple so deeply in love that not even death could part them. On the outside of the mausoleum, you’ll see their portraits—captured in their human form during the 1890s. On the inside, their skeletal remains rest together, decorated as a bride and groom, symbolising undying love. The clock becomes a crypt, a memory capsule, and a dramatic Halloween centrepiece—all in one.

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This project is part of the Do It Over Designers blog hop, where a talented group of bloggers breathe new life into old or unloved items. Be sure to check out all the creative upcycles linked at the bottom of this post!

Eternal Love in Death: A DIY Halloween Mausoleum from a Vintage Wall Clock

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What is Assemblage Art?

Assemblage is a mixed-media art form where everyday or found objects are layered and arranged into a three-dimensional composition that tells a story or conveys a theme. Think of it as storytelling through texture, shape, and symbolism. It’s often used to evoke emotion or create visual impact, especially in steampunk, Gothic, or upcycled styles.

Materials Needed

• Vintage wall clock
• Embossing press and folders (brick and cobblestone)
• Two skeletons (broken is fine)
• Black acrylic paint
• Polymorph plastic beads (heat-mouldable)
• Red silk flowers
• Flower foam block/packaging foam
• Faux moss
• Miniature resin picture frames
• 1890s-style portraits (printable or AI-generated)
• Silicone bat mould and wings & polyurethane resin or epoxy resin
• Resin frame for signage
• Bronze wax paste
• Mini plastic hat accessories (spider, snake, ladybug)
• Hot glue gun and black glue sticks
• Sanding block
• Handsaw or craft saw
• AI-generated mausoleum interior image
• Red rhinestones, beads, and decorative embellishments
• Black tulle or netting (for veil)
• Optional: AI image prompt software or ChatGPT image tool

Transforming a Wall Clock into a Halloween Mausoleum

I started by carefully removing the clock face and glass front from a vintage wall clock. Using a handsaw, I cut out the centre section to create a deep window-like cavity. The raw wood edges were sanded smooth with a sanding block to prep for paint and assembly.

To add texture, I covered the inner walls with embossed cardstock, choosing patterns that resembled stone or old bricks. This gave the mausoleum a timeworn, crumbling crypt feel.

Creating the Skeleton Couple

I had two broken skeletons with missing limbs—perfect for this setting since their legs would be hidden behind flower arrangements.

To position them in a loving pose, I used polymorph plastic beads—heat-activated beads that become pliable when submerged in hot water. Once softened, they can be shaped and hardened into any form. I joined the two skeletons at the shoulders using these beads, arranging them to gaze longingly at one another.

I transformed each skeleton into a haunting bride and groom to bring the love story to life. The groom wore a tiny black top hat and a red bow tie, which gave him a distinguished Gothic charm. The bride wore a delicate black tulle veil adorned with a vivid red silk rose, a sparkling rhinestone pendant on her chest, and subtle Gothic embellishments that added both elegance and eerie beauty to her skeletal form.

Creating the Mausoleum Interior

After testing a few background colour ideas, I decided to enhance the depth with an AI-generated image of the inside of a mausoleum, tweaking it until it matched my vision. This added layers of realism and storytelling to the scene.

A resin frame—painted black and highlighted with bronze wax paste—surrounds the “Family Mausoleum” sign, printed using the same AI process. Wax paste was lightly rubbed over the raised surfaces to add highlights, letting the black paint show through for a rich two-tone effect. If you don’t have bronze wax paste at home, you might already have the ingredients to make your own, and this post will show you how.

Building the Memorial Wall and Decorative Details

The gaps behind the faux spiral columns were awkward to work with. I solved this by covering them with brick-patterned embossed cardstock, turning the space into a memorial wall. Faux urns were created by pouring hot glue into resin moulds, a quick-drying alternative to resin, then painted black and decorated with unique embellishments.

I dry-fitted all the parts, adjusted the arrangement until it looked right, then used black hot glue to secure the skeleton couple inside the mausoleum.

Final Embellishments and Finishing Touches

I added flower foam at the base of the mausoleum, painting it black and covering it with faux moss. Using a hairpin, I poked holes into the foam and secured red silk flowers with hot glue.

This not only hid the skeletons’ missing legs but also added a romantic Gothic feel.

For the finishing touches, I added:

• A large bronze spider crawling on a red rose
• A coiled plastic snake tucked among the moss
• A red ladybug resting on a leaf
• Red gemstone eyes on the bat skull for extra creep factor

The end result is a dramatic, emotional, and eerie Halloween decoration that’s rich in detail, symbolism, and creativity.

Side view of the urns mounted onto the memorial wall.

More Halloween project ideas

I created this eerie Grim Reaper by draping an old towel over a form, coating it with cement, and shaping the fabric into haunting folds that hardened into a ghostly figure.

Another fun and eco-friendly way to make Halloween décor is by transforming recycled bottles and found objects into unique Halloween-themed bottles.

Do it over designers blog hop

The Do It Over Designers are a group of creative bloggers who love giving old, forgotten, or thrifted items a brand-new purpose. Hosted by Ann of The Apple Street Cottage, this monthly blog hop showcases inspiring upcycle projects to spark your own DIY creativity.

Sum of Their Stories

Color Me Thrifty

Vintage Style Gal

The Apple Street Cottage

Birdz of a Feather

Exquisitely Unremarkable

Modern on Monticello

Pandora’s Box

Purple Hues & Me

Unique Creations by Anita

If you’d like to find any of the items used in this project, we’d greatly appreciate it if you used our affiliate links. These links provide us with a small commission at no extra cost to you, allowing us to continue creating and sharing more inspiring projects. We’d also love to hear your thoughts—feel free to leave a comment or share this post!