The Mad Lab

Description:

This project is to create a head cage as seen in the movie 13 Ghosts.  One of the ghosts, the Jackal, wears a steel cage on his head with the bars on the front pried open.   It’s a simple and effective way to enhance the “mental patient” Halloween costume, or servers as a creepy decoration.

Materials:

• 4 Photo Frames
• 14 Gauge Utility Wire
• Tape
• Paint (Black and White)
• Puff Paint
• Papier Mache Paste
• Newspaper

Tools:

• Glue Gun
• Hand Drill
• Pliers

Process:

Start by attaching the 4 photo frames together to form a cube (rectangular cube since my frames were 8.5X11).  using tape and if desired nails.  I tried nails at first and split a couple of frames.  Tape worked well for holding the frames in place and the end product is still very durable.

On one side of the cube drill holes that will act as a holder pried open cage segments.  Space them about 1 inch apart.  On the long side there are two segments, on the short side there is just one in the middle.  Cut lengths of utility wire to form the frame form the pried open segments.  Give the wire a slight bend/curve (bend two together to keep the symmetry).  Set the wires in the hole using pliers and secure with hot glue.

Cover the entire piece in two layers of papier mache.  For the top, right, left and back sides use long strips of papir mache to create the cage bars.  This part IS tricky since it will look really lose and floppy.   Don’t worry, once dry it really tightens up nicely.  If I were doing it again I would have covered everything and let it dry, then use tape to provide a base for the cage bars.  Since I did the mache in one sitting the frames were too wet to use tape.

To create the rivets, just make little puff paint dots and hot glue them to the frame wherever you would like to have the rivets.  I placed rivets in a set of two on each side for each strap.

For painting, first paint the entire piece black.  Once dry, use white paint and a dry brush technique.  Once done it has the look of stone/steel.  Additional painting could be done to give the look of rust.  I opted to leave it black and white since I really liked the look.