Halloween Diorama Box From Upcycled Display Shelf
Today is the grand finale of DIY projects for Fall 2020 because from here on in it's about jingle bells and holly. Why? Because the Festive Ideas Tour starts today and I'll be jumping on board the holiday train on Wednesday.
I decided to go out with a Spooktacular Halloween Diorama Box from an upcycled display shelf. Because who doesn't love a spooky Halloween miniature, especially one that lights up!
Spooktacular Halloween Diorama Box Upcycle
I'm also ending with a Halloween craft because today is our monthly Int'l Bloggers Club Challenge and the theme is Halloween. Last year for our Halloween challenge I made this Recycled Halloween Garden Lantern.
The idea for the Halloween diorama came from a $3 Goodwill wall shelf that had seen it's better days. It's been sitting in the workshop collecting dust for several years. The plan was to turn it into dollhouse furniture for the repurposed dollhouse bookcase that I'm making for my granddaughter. And that's probably what will happen with it after Halloween.
What I didn't realize until flipping it over, AFTER I started painting, is that it is a Willow Tree The Roses In My Garden Reliquary Figurine Display Shelf to be exact. Used to display Willow Tree...ahem...Angels! 😇
To make matters worse, when I Googled the word "reliquary" it means a container for holy relics. 😱 Am I going to get struck by lightning! 🌩
Perhaps I should have done my homework BEFORE I defaced the holy relic holder and turned it into a dark black container for unholy skeletons! 🦴 💀
If you haven't heard of our Int'l Bloggers Club, we are a group of blogging friends from around the globe who come together on the third Monday of every month to share a themed DIY project. We have members from Spain, South Africa, Australia, the USA, and Canada.
Last month our challenge was local love where I narrowed my focus on our provincial flower and made a Wild Rose Wooden Coaster. I'll be sharing our talented member's interpretations of this month's Halloween challenge further down in the post.
Before we get into the nitty-gritty of how to make the Halloween Shadow Box, all the projects here at Interior Frugalista have step-by-step tutorials so why not get your budget DIY on and subscribe. You can also follow us on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
So enough of my blabbering, here's how I made the Halloween shadow box starting with the upcycled wall shelf.
How To Make A Halloween Diorama With Thrift Store and Dollar Store Finds
This post contains affiliate links so you can see what products I used or recommend for this project. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
All the spooky miniatures for the diorama were either handmade or purchased at the dollar store so it cost very little money to put together.
Supplies
- Wall Display Shelf (thrift store)
- Mini Skeletons
- Mini Pumpkins (recycled Fall picks)
- Straw (recycled straw wreath form)
- Orange LED Micro Dot Lights
- Halloween Peel and Stick Decals (backdrop)
- Halloween Erasers (not shown)
- Stacked Pumpkin Glow Stick Necklace
- Small Wooden Dowel
- 3 Small Wood Blocks
- Black Craft Wire
- Pumpkin With Mask Printable
- Toothpicks
- Hot Glue Gun
Upcycled Figurine Display Shelf
You'll notice in the photo below that the display cabinet is missing shelves.
No worries though because they are easy to replace with balsa wood cut to size with a straight edge and retractable knife. But before I set them in place I gave the cabinet a good scrub from the years of dust.
Both the interior and exterior are painted with three coats of Raven black chalk-style paint. Once that dries normally you would protect the paint with a clear coat or black wax. I chose to skip this step because like I mentioned earlier, I'll be repurposing it again for my granddaughter's dollhouse.
Skeletons
I found the miniature skeletons in a bag of three at Walmart. I wanted one of them to be sitting on a shelf but those gals were stiff as bones (sorry, couldn't resist). Poor thing, in order to make it sit down I had to break her bones.
And then reassemble her again in the sitting position with hot glue.
Miniature Hay Bales
For the hay bales, I recycled an old straw wreath form and cut a 1 x 2 furring strip with a hand saw. Then I simply wrapped the straw around the woodblocks with a dab of hot glue here and there.
For baling wire, I used black craft wire wrapped around the mini hay bales a couple of times. You can see them below.
Witches Broom
For the witches' broom, I painted a small wooden dowel orange. Then I gathered a clump of hay from the wreath form and stuck the dowel in the center. To hold it together I wrapped a piece of hay and secured it with hot glue. Next, I trimmed the straw and the wooden dowel. Easy peasy!
Masked Pumpkin Wall Art
I went to PicMonkey in search of a cute photo to use for wall art. After printing it to size I used toothpicks to make a haunted-looking frame. I couldn't resist the covid reference with the masked pumpkin.
Dollar Store Diorama Embellishments
The miniature faux pumpkins are recycled from dollar store fall picks that I had in my stash. Some of them I painted with chalk-style or acrylic craft paint and others I left orange.
The flower planter filled with gourds and pumpkins is a recycled coffee K-cup that I spray painted black.
The skeleton's witch hat, pumpkin she's holding, skull on the top shelf, crossbones on the door, and the bat sitting on the hay bale is dollar store erasers.
The lighted stacked pumpkins on the top shelf is a dollar store glow stick necklace along with the creepy black flies (I couldn't find spiders).
I recycled the black netting that the skeletons came in to drape over one door to add to the spook factor.
Halloween Backdrop
I found the peel and stick Halloween decals at Walmart - a perfect backdrop for my spooky diorama. I used a sheet of white foam core as a backdrop and stuck them on either side of the haunted house...um...closet?
Here is the Halloween diorama by day...
...and at night lit with orange LED micro dot lights, also purchased at the dollar store.
If you have any questions about this Spooktacular Halloween Diorama, please leave them in the comment section below or the Contact Me tab at the top. I love hearing from you!
If you enjoyed this Halloween Miniature Idea, I'd be so thankful if you shared it with a friend and pinned it to your Halloween Decorations board on Pinterest.

Now let's see what my talented friend's made for our Halloween challenge by clicking the links below.
- A Crafty Mix - Easy Realistic Eyeballs
- Unique Creations By Anita - Halloween Flower Arrangement
- Birdz Of A Feather - DIY Pumpkin Pin Cushion
- Interior Frugalista (that's me) - Halloween Diorama Box
I share my projects at these inspiring link parties.

No words Marie. This is so flippin adorable and creative and cute and just awwwwwwwww. LOL it seems I found my words again. Love what you did and all the things you repurposed to make the creepiest, coolest little Halloween diorama EVER!!!
ReplyDeleteGirl, that means a heck of a lot coming from you, the Master Of All Things Miniature! xo
DeleteHmmm, defacing a holy relic holder for unholy skeletons may put you on the naughty list this Christmas - lol! But I'd sure take that risk! Love how this turned out!
ReplyDeleteSara, I think I'm on that dang naughty list EVERY year! LOL
DeleteSpooky fun my friend! Isn’t is amazing g what you can do with dollar store finds! 😮 and I love that you may be Repurposing after Halloween! 💜
ReplyDeleteDollarama is my second home, Denise! So much project potential down those aisles! LOL Painting the black cabinet is the perfect base color for what I plan to do with it for my granddaughter's dollhouse so it's a win-win!
DeleteAren't mini's fun to work with! I just finished a pumpkin garden center, freshening the doll bakery with skulls and pumpkin cakes, enhanced the Hotel to make it look like Fall, and turned Vickie's Vintage into a Halloween Store. So much fun, I bet the Grand may like the box just the way it is for the season...Great JOB!
ReplyDeleteI have to admit Sandi, miniatures is not my forte. I'm all thumbs with the tiny objects but it was fun creating this little diorama. Heading over to see your fall miniatures right now.
DeleteThis is super spooky cute! I want one too!
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Kippi
Thanks Kippi, it was fun to make, despite the defacing thing. LOL
DeleteEverything about this is just perfect, you did a brilliant job. I think it is time to put a diorama on my list of projects to do.
ReplyDeleteGlad you like it, Anita, it was a fun project.
DeleteLove your project Marie! But it's kind of funny that it was meant for angels... oops! haha! I have a Halloween diorama that I just finished too and need to post but I fear it's going to have to be in the middle of the Christmas festivities because I'm participating in the festive Christmas ideas hop too!
ReplyDeleteTania
Cool, I can't wait to see yours, Tania! Post it on Friday, that gives enough time between the holiday posts.
DeleteThis is such a fun and spooky project Marie, happy Halloween my friend.
ReplyDeleteThanks Mary, it was a fun project, despite my oops. Happy Halloween to you as well! xo
DeleteThis turned out so fun. I love that you were able to upcycle to make it. I use to make Halloween decorations, but it seems if I get any now, I just buy them. Maybe it is because I am too busy cooking Halloween goodies! Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteHi Amy, I'm glad you like the upcycle! I'd like to be at your house eating those Halloween goodies. I'm afraid the least amount of time I spend in the kitchen, the happier I am. I'd much rather have a paintbrush in my hand in the workshop. LOL
DeleteThis is amazing! I would have this in my window every night!
ReplyDeleteThank you Jo, I'm glad you like it! Set in a window is the perfect spot for this diorama on Halloween night.
DeleteGreat Halloween project!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you, I'm glad you like this idea!
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ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing at #OverTheMoon. Pinned and shared. Have a lovely week. I hope to see you at next week’s party too! Please stay safe and healthy. Come party with us at Over The Moon! Catapult your content Over The Moon! @marilyn_lesniak @EclecticRedBarn
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What an amazing creation ! I love dioramas too.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for joining us at Meraki Link Party.
Much love
Naush
I'm glad you like the Halloween Diorama, Naush, thank you!
DeleteThis is such a great project! Thank you for sharing at Charming Homes and Gardens.
ReplyDeleteThank you Kim, I'm glad you like it!
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