With Halloween fast approaching, it’s time to start thinking about how to decorate your home for the spookiest time of the year. I’ve always loved creating unique DIY Halloween projects, and this year, I wanted to do something a little different – a Halloween mirror featuring a reflection of a female sugar skull. I had an old, plain mirror lying around, and although the mirror itself wasn’t anything special, I loved the frame and saw potential for a spooky transformation. Using waterslide paper, I created a sugar skull image that, when placed on the mirror, would reflect at anyone who looked into it, giving the illusion of the skull staring right back at you.

This DIY project combines creativity and simplicity, offering you a fun way to make a striking Halloween statement piece that you can reuse every year. Let’s dive into how I turned this old mirror into a spooky reflection of a female sugar skull!

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How to make a Halloween Mirror with a skull reflection

Materials Needed

• Old mirror with a plastic frame
• Black gesso
• Bronze wax paste
• Waterslide paper
• Inkjet printer
• Acrylic spray
• Hot glue gun
• Plastic spiders
• Skeleton hands (optional)
• Soft towel or cloth
• Heat gun (optional)

Step 1: Paint the Frame

I started by giving the frame a makeover. The first step was painting the frame with black gesso. Because the frame was plastic, gesso acted as a primer, ensuring better paint adhesion. After applying two coats of gesso, I decided not to use black acrylic paint, as the gesso already provided excellent coverage.

Step 2: Add the Bronze Wax Paste

This technique is perfect for highlighting raised details. Dip your finger into the bronze wax paste and gently rub it over the raised parts of the frame, leaving the black gesso untouched in the crevices. It’s an easy, no-fuss method, and if you make any mistakes, you can always wash the wax off and start again.

Step 3: Choose and Print the Halloween Image

No Halloween mirror would be complete without a scary element. I found a spooky image of this female sugar skull on Pixabay that seemed perfect for this project.

To transfer the image, I used waterslide paper, which is ideal for perfectly transferring inkjet images. Simply print the image using photo quality settings, and be sure not to touch the printed surface to avoid smudging.

Step 4: Seal the Image

To ensure the image transferred smoothly, I sealed it with two coats of acrylic spray. Allow each coat to dry before cutting the image close to the edge. The image’s clear background will show up in the mirror’s reflection, giving it an eerie look.

Step 5: Transfer the Image to the Mirror

This is the fun part! To transfer the image, add a little water to the mirror surface.

Then, soak the waterslide paper in water for 15 seconds it will curl up like the image below.

As the backing paper becomes wet, it will release the image. Carefully position the image on the mirror, then gently slide it into place. The water on the mirror allows you to adjust the image until you’re satisfied with its position. Once it’s perfectly placed, use a soft cloth to smooth out the image, removing any excess water and air bubbles underneath.

Allow the image to dry fully before moving on to the next step.

Step 6: Add Halloween Elements

To add extra character, I painted the outside of the mirror with more gesso to give it a more weathered look. Then, I glued black plastic spiders and skeleton hands to the frame. I used a heat gun to bend the hands into shape for a more realistic effect. A hot glue gun made it easy to secure everything in place, and I made sure the decorations could be removed after Halloween.

Step 7: Display the Mirror

Your Halloween mirror is now complete! The great thing about this project is that you can change the image each year, giving the mirror a fresh look every Halloween. I hung mine by the doorbell for the trick-or-treaters, ready to surprise everyone with its eerie reflection.

In the daylight, the mirror looks a bit plain.

But at night, the mirror takes on a whole new creepy vibe. I placed it in the corner of the room, surrounded by flickering candles and the Halloween mixed media art bottle I created a few years ago. The soft glow of the candles enhances the eerie reflection of the sugar skull, adding to the spooky atmosphere. It’s the perfect finishing touch to create a haunting Halloween display!

Tutorial for the Halloween Bottles

More Halloween projects

This Halloween wall sconce is a great way to let everyone know you’re joining in the Halloween fun and that sweets are waiting for them at your house!

This skull goblet would look great as a centrepiece for a Halloween party, made from an oversized wine glass.

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