Spooky Halloween decorations nest together for easy storage
by Gloria Cosgrove
Cut by Dale Helgerson
Welcome trick-or-treaters to your home with these fun luminaries. They look fantastic leading the way up the front steps or nestled among pumpkins and Indian corn. Use an acrylic backing board behind the scenes to cast an eerie glow. The boxes can also be used to store treats for visiting ghosts and goblins.
Stack-cut the same design in four pieces of wood or cut one scene and leave the other three sides solid. The front and back panels overlap the side panels and all four sides overlap the base. Cut the bottom panels to size using the dimensions listed in the materials list. Apply wood glue on the adjoining surfaces and clamp them until the glue is dry. Clean up any glue squeeze out and apply your finish of your choice.
Always use caution with burning candles. Place the candles inside glass holders and position the luminaries away from flammable items. When the season is over, nest the boxes inside each other for convenient storage.
Materials & Tools
Materials:
- Sandpaper
- Finish of choice
- Wood glue
Haunted House:
- Walnut, 1/4″ (6mm) thick: front and back, 2 each 7 3/4″ x 9″ (19.5cm x 23cm) walnut or wood of choice
- Walnut, 1/4″ (6mm) thick: sides, 2 each 7 1/4″ x 9″ (18.5cm x 23cm)
- Walnut, 1/4″ (6mm) thick: bottom, 7 1/4″ (18.5cm) square
Witch’s Cauldron:
- Walnut, 1/4″ (6mm) thick: front and back, 2 each 7″ x 8″ (18cm x 20.5cm)
- Walnut, 1/4″ (6mm) thick: sides, 2 each 6 1/2″ x 8″ (16.5cm x 20.5cm)
- Walnut, 1/4″ (6mm) thick: bottom, 6 1/2″ (16.5cm) square
Witch’s Broom:
- Walnut, 1/4″ (6mm) thick: front and back, 2 each 6 1/4″ x 7″ (16cm x 18cm)
- Walnut, 1/4″ (6mm) thick: sides, 2 each 5 3/4″x 7″ (14.5cm x 18cm)
- Walnut, 1/4″ (6mm) thick: bottom, 5 3/4″ (14.5cm) square
Jack-o-Lantern:
- Walnut, 1/4″ (6mm) thick: front and back, 2 each 5 1/2″ x 6″ (14cm x 15.5mm)
- Walnut, 1/4″ (6mm) thick: sides, 2 each 5″ x 6″ (12.7cm x 15.5cm)
- Walnut, 1/4″ (6mm) thick: bottom, 5″ (12.7cm) square
Tools:
- Blades: #3 reverse-tooth
- Drill with 1/16″ (2mm)-dia. drill bit
- Clamps
Patterns
About the Author
Art has always been a part of Gloria Cosgrove’s life. Gloria started sketching as a child and worked with pastels, watercolors, oil paints, and created quilts before discovering scherenschnitte (papercutting). With her daughter, Alison, she maintains a mail-order business selling original artwork and papercutting patterns. For more of her work, visit www.papercuttingsbyalison.com.
