Holiday Planning & Ideas Halloween Halloween Projects & Crafts Shrunken Apple Heads By Martha Stewart Editors Martha Stewart Editors Facebook Instagram Twitter Website An article attributed to "Martha Stewart Editors" indicates when several writers and editors have contributed to an article over the years. These collaborations allow us to provide you with the most accurate, up-to-date, and comprehensive information available.The Martha Stewart team aims to teach and inspire readers daily with tested-until-perfected recipes, creative DIY projects, and elevated home and entertaining ideas. They are experts in their fields who research, create, and test the best ways to help readers design the life they want. The joy is in the doing. Editorial Guidelines Updated on September 20, 2018 Share Tweet Pin Email 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 Peel and core the apple. 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. Using the outlines as your guide, carve the apple to resemble a skull. Combine lemon juice and salt in bowl. Soak the apple for 30 seconds. Pat dry. Set the apple in a warm, dry spot; after several days, the apple will shrink, and the features will distort. Insert a stick or branch into the bottom of the head and place it in a vase.