Shrunken Apple Heads

These shrunken heads, made from peeled, carved, and dried apples, are as spooky as the scariest Halloween masks -- and just as much fun to create. Martha transforms a Granny Smith apple into a truly frightening fruit; although any variety of apple will work, Granny Smiths are ideal for this project because of their round shape.

What You'll Need

Materials

  • Firm, unbruised apple, preferably Granny Smith
  • Knife
  • Marker or pencil
  • 1 cup lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • Stick or branch

Instructions

  1. Peel and core the apple.

  2. Using a pencil or marker, draw facial features, including eyes, a nose, and a mouth, on the apple; be sure to draw the features large enough so they won't vanish when the apple shrinks.

  3. Using the outlines as your guide, carve the apple to resemble a skull.

  4. Combine lemon juice and salt in bowl. Soak the apple for 30 seconds. Pat dry.

  5. Set the apple in a warm, dry spot; after several days, the apple will shrink, and the features will distort.

  6. Insert a stick or branch into the bottom of the head and place it in a vase.

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