Halloween Apple Shrunken Heads

Ghoulish Crafting

Make Ghoulish Shrunken Heads from Apples

These "beauties" take a couple of weeks to dry out, so be sure to plan ahead.

Place them around the house or line them up on a window sill.

Each one will be unique. Kids (of all ages) enjoy watching the creepy faces evolve.

Halloween Apple Shrunken Head Materials

• Apples - large and small
• Apple peeler
• Whole cloves or whole peppercorns
• Long grain or instant white rice - optional
• ½ cup lemon juice
• 2 tsp. salt
• Small bowl
• Carving tools or small paring knife

How to Make the Apple Shrunken Heads

In a small bowl, mix the lemon juice and the salt. Set aside.

Peel as many apples as you want heads and swirl each apple around in the lemon juice mixture to help prevent initial browning.

On a covered work surface use a small paring knife or carving tool (such as polymer clay carving tools) to carve out eyes, a nose and mouth.

The ears are simply a half heart shape on the sides.

Small creases can be carved above the eye and around the mouth.

Place a whole clove or peppercorn in each eye socket and if desired place grains of rice in the mouth pushing them in slightly.

Set the apples on a plate in a dry, warm area for a couple of weeks and let time create the little face.

Here they are after one week and they will continue to change until completely desiccated.