My Frankenstein-Inspired Halloween Tree, Featuring Treetopia

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Mark 2018 as the year it finally happened: a spooky little Halloween tree!

I’ve been dying (pun intended) to make a Halloween tree happen, so when my new friends at Treetopia invited me to join the ranks of their Halloween DIY Queens and Kings I knew I had to say yes!

This week I’m joining a group of amazing crafty bloggers creating their own unique Halloween trees. Check them out here:

(Check back at the end of the week – I’ll be updating this with everyone’s links!)

Since 2018 marks the 200th anniversary of the publication of Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” (and because it was one of my favorite reads while earning my English degree…), I decided to give my tree a literary spin!

Here’s how it turned out…

 

My Frankenstein-inspired Halloween Tree

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’ll admit, the details are subtle…but it fits me perfectly – quietly in the corner doing my own cool thing.

I’m also excited to showcase this at my annual Halloween party this year. (The tree might be a HUGE nod towards my costume…wink wink!)

 

Here’s how I made my Frankenstein-inspired tree:

 

 

 

Frankenstein Ornaments

I started with a vision: I wanted ornaments with bolts sticking out the side to suggest Frankenstein. I didn’t want them to have faces – just bolts. So…here’s how we accomplished that!

 

My dad kindly donated a bunch of bolts to my project he had in the garage. They’d never been used because they were too long for most of his projects, so we had to do a bit of work to make them a more appropriate size for my project!

1. We marked each one at around 1 1/4 inches long.

2. Then we used a vice to hold the bolt while sawing off the end.

3. Aaaalmost there!

4. For safety, we filed the end – no cut fingers on my watch! (And note the use of a glove – that’s how hot the bolt was after sawing it in two.)

 

 

Then using these beaded ornaments from Treetopia, I created my Frankenstein ornaments!

1. Three in the set were already a gorgeous lime green, so I grabbed a grass green and forest green spray paint to color the other ornaments.

2. Once the paint was dry and the bolts were cut, I gathered everything together.

3. Using a screwdriver, I pierced a hole in the sides of each ornament. (They’re foamy on the inside!)

4. Then I inserted the bolts for my Frankenstein look!

 

 

Decoupage Ornaments

Next, I knew I wanted to decorate using book pages from an actual copy of “Frankenstein” and, well, decoupage is ALWAYS a fun time in my book…

 

1. I started with these glass ornaments from Treetopia. I took the loops for attaching ornament hooks off before getting started and – SOB – pulled pages out of two copies of “Frankenstein” I bought at a used booked store.

2. Using a paintbrush, I coated the ornament in a thin layer of Mod Podge.

3. Then I tore my book pages into strips are started layering them onto the ornament. This got messy, but that’s part of why I love playing with Mod Podge – you don’t have to be perfect. Just keep layering!

 

Paper Chain

Part of what got me excited about doing a Frankenstein tree was using book pages for decor, so these old school paper chains were a must! My mom was kind enough to demo this how-to for me.

 

1. Fold your book pages in half twice length-wise.

2. Cut pages into strips along the folds.

3. Staple the top and bottom of the pages together to create a loop, then continue by looping each new strip through the previous one before stapling.

4. Continue until you’ve created a chain to wrap around your tree!

 

 

Paper Rolls

 

I definitely overestimated how few pages I would use for this project, and I felt my tree needed a little extra detail…so I used some of my remaining pages to create paper rolls.

 

 

I rolled the pages from bottom right corner to top left corner, careful to roll the bottom section tighter than the top.

 

 

Then I taped the exposed page corner down! Super easy.

 

 

Lightning Bolt Topper

And finally, because NO Frankenstein can be created without a bit of lightning…a silver bolt seemed like the perfect thing to top off my tree!

 

I freehanded a bolt on a scrap piece of cardboard.

 

 

Then we used an Exacto knife and metal ruler to cut it out (thanks for the demo, Dad!) before spraypainting the bolt silver.

 

 

Halloween Tree Skirt

I may have slightly overlooked this detail in my prep…so I improvised! I used some leftover Halloween fabric from PJ pants my mom made me last year and wrapped it around the base of my tree.

 

 

And then to add a bit of Halloween fun, I included one of my plugin jack-o-lanterns, a foam tombstone and my cauldron I created for last year’s front door display.

 

 

 

I really love how my Frankenstein-inspired Halloween tree turned out and can’t wait for all my Halloweenie Roast guests to see it in person!

 

 

Want to create your own Halloween tree?

Then you’re in luck because my friends at Treetopia are giving one of my readers a $100 gift card to shop on their site! You can put it towards your own tree, ornaments or whatever else catches your spooky little eyes!

 

Here’s how to enter:

Leave a comment on this post telling me what theme you’d used for your Halloween tree. (Note: scroll to the BOTTOM of the page to locate the comment box.) And that’s it! We’re keeping this giveaway SUPER simple.

 

THE GIVEAWAY CLOSES TUESDAY, Oct. 2, 2018 AT 11:59 p.m. CST

A winner will then be drawn at random and announced on Spooky Little Halloween’s TwitterFacebook AND Instagram accounts on Wednesday, Oct. 3 no later than 9  p.m. CST (Convert to your local time.) The winner will also receive an email notifying them of their win with additional instructions for claiming their gift card from Treetopia. Giveaway is open to U.S. residents. (Not a resident? Don’t worry – I have more giveaways coming for you!)

Best of luck!

 

Happy haunting,

 

Miranda | Spooky Little Halloween

Miranda is the Houston-based writer, blogger, and Halloween lover behind Spooky Little Halloween, the blog celebrating October 31st all year long. Her favorite Halloween things include pumpkin guts, chocolate bars in her trick-or-treat pail, real haunted houses (including the one she lives in!), and historic cemeteries.

131 Comments

  1. Reply

    Mary-Anne

    September 26, 2018

    Love the bolts in the ornaments on your tree! My halloween tree would have a witch theme, I think!

  2. Reply

    Roxanne Rhoads

    September 26, 2018

    Vampire theme- red and black with hints of white and silver.

  3. Reply

    Jacob

    September 26, 2018

    I’d not thought of making a Halloween tree! I’d make mine like Ray Bradbury’s! 🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃

  4. Reply

    Alyse Monroy

    September 26, 2018

    Looks great, my Halloween tree would be a vintage Halloween theme.

  5. Reply

    Nicole

    September 26, 2018

    I’m not sure exactly how I would do it, but I’d try to make a Halloween tree with the theme of the horror greats! So ornaments themed after Michael Myers, Freddy Krueger, Jason Voorhees, Leatherface, & Chucky! Maybe even ghostface ;) I’d decorate ornaments with their color schemes & try to put in some things that represents them! So like for Freddy, a mini glove, for Jason, a mini hockey mask, etc! 😆

  6. Reply

    Meghan Olinger

    September 26, 2018

    My theme is more about color and style than it is a specific them. I have some vintage Halloween ornaments from my grandparents that I just have to put on the tree (which I’m loving this year since vintage Halloween is a thing at several stores!). I do put up some Nightmare Before Christmas ornaments that kind of just blend with the whole tree. And finally my main goal when purchasing new things for the tree is the color scheme (outside of vintage and traditional black, orange, and white) I buy things that are purple, lime green, orange, and the occasional hot pink if it fits the other ornaments I’m buying. It’s interesting to me that for Christmas I am very strict with my themes and with my Halloween tree I allow myself a little more freedom. The tree itself an awesome pre-lit black tree that rotates and was gifted to me by my grandfather and I just adore it!

  7. Reply

    Jacqlyn J

    September 26, 2018

    How fun! I love this idea. I’d go classic witch with purples, blacks, and oranges. I can see it now with twinkling purple fairy lights, small handmade broom ornaments, and a sparkly black bat
    tree topper 🦇

  8. Reply

    Angela

    September 26, 2018

    Love all of the Halloween tree ideas! I’ve always wanted to do a Nightmare Before Christmas themed Halloween tree…..

  9. Reply

    Christopher Sullivan

    September 26, 2018

    Great work Miranda!

    If I did a tree it would be a Spooktacular witchy theme in all of the purple, black, white, and silver wickedness I can possibly find!

  10. Reply

    Dinah Obeso

    September 26, 2018

    So cute and classy! I love it <3

  11. Reply

    Diane Novak

    September 26, 2018

    I would love a white or silver colored tree and I would use a vampire theme to decorate the tree… it would look elegant and terrifying!

  12. Reply

    Bethany Erin

    September 26, 2018

    Love the Frankenstein theme! I would do a tree that reminds me of childhood Halloween. Not cute, but not scary. A silver or white tree with ornaments painted into Jack-o’-lanterns, plastic bats and spiders, miniature pointy witch hats, ghosts made from hankerchiefs, and a light up skull as the topper. Purple and orange fairy lights wrapped around it and creepy cloth as a tree skirt. 🎃🌲

  13. Reply

    Autumn

    September 26, 2018

    Hello Miranda!
    I think some of those Halloween/green lights would had look also!! But what a neat idea!! My Halloween tree is all over the place with different Halloween ornaments.

  14. Reply

    Jeffery Kelly

    September 26, 2018

    I’d love to have a silver aluminum tree with skeletons, rats, snakes. And the creature of the black lagoon on top.

  15. Reply

    Gwen

    September 26, 2018

    I already have a tree! I’m DYING (pun intended) to add more glittery spooks, though. Here’s my blog post from today showing it off: https://fieldnotesfromoverthehill.com/2018/09/26/halloween-tree/

  16. Reply

    Linda

    September 28, 2018

    I love Frankenstein, those are amazing decorations 💕 I have been wanting to do a Nightmare Before Christmas tree! Using black and white, and I’m not sure what over color(s). Probably purple, maybe green and orange… 🎃💚

  17. Reply

    Adair

    September 28, 2018

    Oooh a tree is definitely on my Halloween bucket list! I am thinking bright purples, with orange and white polka dots, and a moon tree topper.

  18. Reply

    Kelly

    September 28, 2018

    We’ve never done a Halloween tree before and we’re so excited! I think we are going to use one of our outdoor white metal trees. The branches look skeletal, and we have black ornaments. Strings of red beads for garland. Some spiders and webbing… not sure about a topper yet but something will come to me.

  19. Reply

    Carol Watson

    September 28, 2018

    I would do Nightmare before Christmas!! I love the idea of Halloween Tree!

  20. Reply

    Amber Ludwig

    September 28, 2018

    Oooh such a tough choice!! Either The Craft, which is by far my most favorite witchy movie EVER or Practical Magic!! I love love love witchy greatness!! Ooooh or maybe The Witches of Eastwick? All would be so so fun!

  21. Reply

    Jamie raatz

    September 28, 2018

    I need to start a Halloween tree!!

  22. Reply

    Jacky Wasik

    September 28, 2018

    This is such a difficult decision! I love Nightmare Before Christmas and all things Halloween. However, I think I would try to do an Edward scissorhands tree. A black tree with lots of white and silver ornaments. Hopefully I could either find or make some scissors to put on the tree & maybe some vintage car ornaments. I’d like to finish it with some sparkly snow flakes, since Edward made it snow ever year after he went back to the castle.

  23. Reply

    Ashley

    September 28, 2018

    Oooh! I love it!! Its frightfully fabulous!!🎃👻

  24. Reply

    Andrew

    September 28, 2018

    Ooooh, I love the Frankenstein bolts and using the book pages throughout your tree!! 😍

    I’d put masquerade masks all over mine for a Venetian Masquerade theme! 🎭

  25. Reply

    Helena

    September 28, 2018

    I’ve never done a Halloween tree before but so badly want to! I think i would make a vintage tree with lots of candy corn decorations !!!

  26. Reply

    Jennifer Gerdeen

    September 28, 2018

    I’d love to make a tree. I’d prob di a werewolf theme since I’m obsessed with them. I’m also very creative so now I will foster my brain thinking of creative ways to make this happen!

  27. Reply

    Emily S.

    September 28, 2018

    I think maybe I’d try my hand at a creepy creatures / creatures of the night / Howl at the Moon type Halloween tree. Would try to feature a variety of creatures from bats to werewolves to eyeballs to skeletons or zombies, etc. Maybe even have a few boxed or coffin style ornaments where if you open them up something pops out or you find something hidden inside. I would top it with a light up moon topper, so all the creepy creatures could be lurking in the tree and under the moon.

  28. Reply

    Judy Lizarraga

    September 28, 2018

    Love it! Very creative and crafty!

  29. Reply

    Andrea Regel

    September 28, 2018

    I would love to do the Frankenstein Inspired Tree… subtle and non-scary for the little kiddos!!

  30. Reply

    tonya parks

    September 28, 2018

    I would love to do a horror tree like maybe hellraiser with little puzzle boxes and chains on it .

  31. Reply

    Sue

    September 28, 2018

    My tree would be covered with pumpkins and jack o lanterns with black cats and. Spiders

  32. Reply

    Amber

    September 28, 2018

    What a fabulous idea!! I host a Halloween party for my girls and we invite our neighbors and friends. Would totally deck out a tree and put gifts underneath for them! Cannot wait for this years party!!!

  33. Reply

    Amber

    September 28, 2018

    Oh my goodness! Your tree turned out SO gorgeous!! I love it! I’m pretty sure I want to create a Beetlejuice Halloween tree this year!!

  34. Reply

    Leslie

    September 28, 2018

    Voodoo theme tree!

  35. Reply

    Kristen

    September 28, 2018

    I would have a Harry Potter themed tree.

  36. Reply

    Alicia

    September 28, 2018

    Hmmm this makes me want to leave my tree up and make it a holiday tree 🤔 I think I’d have to do a nightmare before Christmas theme 🖤🎃

  37. Reply

    Stephanie

    September 28, 2018

    Omg!!!! I have 3 Christmas trees, I think it’s time for a Halloween tree!!!!!!!!!

  38. Reply

    Raina DelRio

    September 28, 2018

    So many ideas…. I would love to do a skeleton theme, retro Halloween, jack-o-lantern, nightmare before Christmas; I’m gonna need a LOT of trees 😜

  39. Reply

    Rebecce

    September 28, 2018

    Skulls and crossbones, black and white tree with spiderwebs

  40. Reply

    Amber Townsend

    September 30, 2018

    I’m dying to do a witches brew tree. Have all the fixing to a amazing scary brew on it

  41. Reply

    Nancy Nightmare

    September 30, 2018

    You are absolutely magical. I truly have no idea idea how you find the time to do all of this! I would make a Tim Burton tree with elements from all of my favorite movies- Beetlejuice, Nightmare Before Christmas, Frankenweenie, Edward Scissorhands, etc.

  42. Reply

    Judy

    September 30, 2018

    We decorate multiple trees for all holidays that are out yearround. For Halloween, we decorate the larger trees in the formal dining room while we like switching things up we still incorporate the skeleton theme we have in this room somehow to tie it all in.

  43. Reply

    Wendy

    October 1, 2018

    Love your tree! I think I would go with a vintage Halloween theme.

  44. Reply

    Harmony Millette

    October 1, 2018

    I love your tree. Ours doesnt really have a theme but it’s mostly black and orange. 😊

  45. Reply

    Spooktacularhalloween

    October 1, 2018

    I would do a black and white tree. That way I can contribute some TNBC and other little knick knakes and keep it up until the new year.

  46. Reply

    Ashli Ghoul

    October 1, 2018

    I’m planning to do a candy corn theme! I’ll be spray painting an orange tree and collecting a variety of ghoulish white and orange ornaments!

  47. Reply

    Jamie

    October 1, 2018

    Your neighbor up the road in College Station would definitely have a Nightmare Before Christmas theme as her first choice!! ~ Happy Haunting Miranda

  48. Reply

    Queenofcreepy

    October 1, 2018

    I’ve always wanted to do a vintage Halloween or candy corn theme tree along with the black tree I always do! 🎃

  49. Reply

    Pam

    October 1, 2018

    I love your tree! I would do a Universal monsters theme.

  50. Reply

    Courtney

    October 2, 2018

    I love your tree! I’ve always wanted to have a Halloween tree, it would definitely stay up year round.
    The themes I would love to try are Beetlejuice or The Rocky Horror Picture Show, they are my all time favorite movies! 🖤

  51. Reply

    Jasmine

    October 2, 2018

    I would do a Nightmare Before Christmas tree. I love NBC so much and I would love adding a huge yellow moon near the top of the tree. I would also like to decorate another tree with pumpkins and carousels. Maybe add some circus decor. I would also decorate it with crows and a spooky horse drawn carriage & make it a spooky circus theme.

  52. Reply

    thebatbag

    October 2, 2018

    Your tree looks awesome!
    For my halloween tree, I’d go for a witchy theme. I’d use little black cat ornaments, orange and black spiders, and broom ornaments. On the top, I’d put a glowing witch hat. The tree itself would be purple, but it also could be green, and on the bottom I’d put a couple of light up skulls and candles.

  53. Reply

    Zombiemuffin

    October 2, 2018

    Day of the dead. With tons of sugar skulls! It’s my dream tree! Slowly adding to it each year

  54. Reply

    Tiffany

    October 2, 2018

    Themes 🤔 I have thought about it before knowing me it be one big mash up of Halloween/horror everything! There is always Pumpkins, Witches of course, Horror Mask for tree topper(like I said I have thought about it), bats, skulls, and amazing ornaments to be found! So I can’t pick one theme because it would be a mash up of everything I enjoy! 🎃🌲

  55. Reply

    Katelyn

    October 2, 2018

    Fright Night because it’s my favorite Halloweeny movie.

  56. Reply

    Cyndy Harnett

    October 2, 2018

    I did 4 mini trees for the mantle. 1. Tree with scary face and glow in the dark has assortment of traditional Halloween ornaments. 2. Black glitter tree with bat lights, dyi owl ornaments and scrapbook “CREEPY” banner so things that fly in the night theme. 3. Black glitter tree with bat ribbon garland and ornaments that say “wicked” and 31 with “BOO” banner so traditional Halloween theme. 4. Black glitter tree with pumpkin lights and dyi RABBIT ornaments complete with “TRICK” banner so scary bunnies theme.

  57. Reply

    Rebecca

    October 2, 2018

    I would do a witch themed tree! I’d love to have a witches hat on top and then have little spells in bottles as ornaments, and a black cat somewhere and the entire tree would sit in a big couldron with mini couldrons on the actual tree.

  58. Reply

    Cassandra

    October 2, 2018

    I love a good literary theme but I’d definitely do my Halloween tree themed Hocus Pocus, a little Disney movie inspired and little basic witch fun mixed together!

  59. Reply

    Jill

    October 2, 2018

    I think I would try a mummy theme!

  60. Reply

    Heather C.

    October 2, 2018

    I love the Frankenstein theme. I’d want a Rocky Horror Picture Show theme, but since I have kids, that would be a bit too grown up for them. I think we’d probably do a Ben and Holly’s Magical Kingdom or a Peppa Pig themed tree…Failing that, I’d just do a Hocus Pocus or Nightmare Before Christmas themed tree. =D

  61. Reply

    Nohemi Floyd

    October 2, 2018

    My Halloween tree was “Gremlins”! It was the Perfect theme to leave up from fall thru winter. My favorite so far.

  62. Reply

    Amanda Coleman

    October 2, 2018

    I love that you used the actual book pages for your decor! When I saw the zebra black and white tree I automatically thought a Cruella De Vil theme would be perfect on that! And maybe make it spookier for Halloween! But I also love the old Twilight Zone shows and think a tree based off those episodes would be fun! 👻🎃💀🖤🧡🖤

  63. Reply

    Carolyn C

    October 2, 2018

    Hmmmm, there are so many options for a halloween! So many opportunities to be creative! I’d have to go with a classic witch theme though!

  64. Reply

    Stephanie Grant

    October 3, 2018

    I would go with a Tim Burton inspired theme and just mix and match all his movies in one epic tree!

  65. Reply

    Julia Copley

    September 26, 2019

    I absolutely love this idea!! I love anything Halloween or Christmas..lol

  66. Reply

    Monica Stewart

    September 26, 2019

    I love the Frankenstein theme! The bolts are ingenious and really love the green ornaments; They really add the perfect pop of colors! And the pencil tree is perfect for this! Amazing job!

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