DIY Easy Realistic Eyeballs for Halloween
I’ve always enjoyed binge-watching shows like Bones and Dexter, but it totally creeps the hubby out when they show gory, bloody scenes 😀 Back in the day, I really wanted to be a forensic artist, and then life got in the way, and I became a data strategist instead. Hey, data is fun too. Anyhoos, if I can’t play with bones and human remains in my day job, at least I can have some fun with them in my spare time 😉 So when Halloween rolls around, I don’t need any excuses to get my spooky mojo on. And these easy realistic eyeballs are no exception.
Not only are they easy to make, but they’re budget-friendly too.
Don’t they look soooo creepy and maybe just a little scary 😀 They’re also perfect for this month’s IBC Halloween challenge.
What’s the IBC all about
The IBC, or International Blogger’s Club, is a group of bloggers from all over the world who challenge each other to make something using a common theme. Last month’s challenge was “Local Love” where we all celebrated something unique and special from our countries. We made these bright and colorful Ndebele pots. Today I’m really excited to share this realistic eyeball tutorial with you for the Halloween challenge. You’ll find all my friends spooky tutorials at the bottom of the post and they’re bootiful. So don’t miss out.
Right, before we get to the tutorial, which includes free iris printables BTW, be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or Instagram. And don’t forget to subscribe so you’ll never miss a post!
What you need
- Polystyrene balls. Ping pong balls will work too
- Free iris printables
- Maroon yarn or embroidery thread
- White acrylic craft paint
- Mod Podge Gloss
- Craft Glue
How to make realistic eyeballs for Halloween
Depending on how smooth your polystyrene balls are, you may need to remove any little lumps or bumps with a craft knife before painting them with a layer or two of white craft paint. The craft paint creates a protective barrier on the balls and a smooth surface for the next steps. Please don’t use spray paint. It will eat into the polystyrene, and you’ll be left with chewed-away eyeballs. To make it easier, place the balls on a toothpick. I used the same trick when we made this oversized bead garland.
Print out this free collection of different iris’s. Depending on the size of your balls, you may need to resize them. Cut the eyes out and mod podge them onto the painted balls.
You’ll probably find that the iris doesn’t lie completely flat on the ball.
To smooth it out, use your thumbnail to gently push the iris printable down as flat as possible.
While you wait for the mod podge to dry, fray strips of yarn using a toothpick. We’ll be using the yarn to add some capillaries to our eyeballs.
Take some of the frayed yarn and mod podge it onto the eyeball, avoiding the iris portion.
Not too much; you don’t want to completely creep people out 😀 Capillaries only form on the whites of the eye.
Once the mod podge dries, dip the entire eyeball into high gloss mod podge to give the eyeballs that glassy realistic look.
Be sure to dry the eyeballs on those toothpicks so the glossy mod podge can drip down.
And that’s it; your creepy realistic eyeballs are ready to be added to your Halloween décor.
We put ours in a cauldron filled with Spanish moss to create a bouquet of creepy eyeballs.
I’m not sure if Sergeant Skullie approves, but I sure do 😀 What do you think?
If you like the idea of making realistic eyeballs for Halloween, don’t forget to pin it for later.
Sharing is caring 😉
Or if you prefer to buy rather than DIY
And don’t forget to go have a looksee at what my IBC friends have done with their Halloween challenge this year. You won’t be disappointed.
- Spookishly awesome diorama from Interior Frugalista
- Creeptastic flower arrangement from Unique Creations by Anita
- Realistic eyeballs from A Crafty Mix (that’s me 😉 )
- Clever pumpin cushion from Birdz of a Feather
And as always, here’s wishing you a beautiful crafty week. Thank you so much for popping in for a visit.
The eyeball project is AWESOME!!
Eyeballs are one of my Halloween faves, and now that I know how to make them, I plan on making tons!
Thank you for the wonderful craft idea 😊
You are so welcome, Mary. We haul them out every Halloween do add to our decor.
Your eyeballs are the creepiest thing I’ve seen on the web! The wool is a very creative touch.
Thanks so much, Claire. This time of the year creepy is good right!!?
These are creepy cool!! And they are so very real looking. My cousin was blind and growing up he had plastic eyeballs and would take them out occasionally…sometimes just for fun…and let me tell you, they looked exactly like yours. Unbelievably real…
Oh my goodness, one of my son’s really good childhood friends has a glass eye and he would pop it out every now and again too. I almost fell off my chair the first time he did it. I had no idea he had a glass eye. They couldn’t stop laughing 😀
Ooh I love these! The shine on the iris is perfect with the mod podge too!
That glossy mod podge really does make the eyeballs look so real, even my phone camera agreed ?
Wow, Michelle! Those are so realistic and so spooky! What a great DIY!!
Thanks so much Lori
I think if I opened a drawer and saw this staring at me it would give me quite a fright!!
? Me too Mary
These are brilliant Michelle, very realistic. I see you had fun with your skeleton too. I love the idea and I will be using it next year.
Sergeant Skully is such a cool little skeleton. I didn’t even put him away last year. He just moves around the house depending on our mood 😀
So creepy yet so cool!
Thank you, Kristi
You be great on a movie set making these eyes. So real looking.
Ooooh that would be so much fun
My grandkiddos will LOVE these! They are planning a spooky haunted house in their backyard and have been looking for real scary crafts to add for detail. THIS is perfect for them. Thanks!
They’re so perfect for adding an easy, creepy factor to a haunted house. I’m sure your grandkids will have a ball making them and finding gory ways to display them too.
Ooooooo…kids will love this!
The big kids sure do. The little ones not so much until you explain that they’re friendly eyes and only there to make sure nothing bad happens.
Michelle you are amazingly talented. These eyes are adorable!
Thank you so much, Deana
Oh wow, I can’t believe how easy these creepy eyeballs are to make! That cauldron filled with them is fantastic. Skully’s pose made me laugh out loud. Very cool Halloween decor idea, Michelle!
? I think Seargent Skully was stressed about losing his
eyeballsThose are SO awesome! My Hubs can’t stand gore either. Glad you get to go all out and play with the forensics this time of year 🙂
Aaaaai, the site of blood makes my hubby go all woozy, especially when it’s his own ? But I won’t swop him for the world ❣