Shrunken Apple Heads

What’s spooky and sweet and in season right now?
Apples! Okay, so maybe apples themselves aren’t so spooky, but they certainly can transform into a creepy craft with a little help and two weeks’ time (so plan accordingly). Shrunken apple heads make for a classic Halloween craft that can be as simple, or as elaborate as you choose to make them.

You’ll Need:

• Large red or golden delicious apple
• ⅓ cup lemon juice
• 1 Tbsp salt
• Whole cloves
• Rice (optional)

How to Make:

1. Peel the apple.
2. Mix lemon juice and salt, then coat the apple with a marinating brush or simply roll the apple in the juice mixture (the key is to make sure it is completely covered).
3. Using a vegetable peeler, or a kids’ pumpkin carving tool, treat the apple as you would a miniature pumpkin. Dig out eye sockets, a nose, a mouth, and two ears on the side.
4. Stick two whole cloves in the eye sockets and grains of rice in the mouth (for teeth).
5. Place on a milk jug cap, a bottle cap, or drying rack in a warm (and dry) spot for up to two weeks. The apple will shrink and harden, but you can also mould the apple face with your fingers as it slowly hardens.

Fun Ideas
You can also use the ‘head’ to create a person. Put a long piece of wire through the head extending out down from the neck into a body. Glue stretched-out cotton balls to the head as hair. Stuff doll clothing with cotton balls or old newspaper and insert the wire through the holes to create little apple-head people.

Image courtesy of Anne Malmborg