Thumbtack Art

Halloween crafts are the most fun when they’re a little bit spooky and a little bit silly. This DIY Eyeball Plant ticks both boxes—it’s quirky, creepy, and surprisingly easy to make. With nothing more than ping pong balls, pipe cleaners, and a flower pot, you can whip up a planter that looks like it came straight out of a mad scientist’s greenhouse.

It’s budget-friendly, kid-friendly (with a bit of hot glue supervision), and the kind of decoration you’ll want to bring out year after year. Let’s get crafting!

Supplies You’ll Need

• 12–20 white ping pong balls 
• Permanent markers or acrylic paints (black, blue, green, yellow, red) 
• Fine red marker or paint pen (for veins) 
• Green chenille stems (pipe cleaners) 
• Small pot, tin bucket, or Halloween-themed planter 
• Floral foam or foam block 
• Hot glue gun and glue sticks 
• Optional: fake moss, shredded paper, or Halloween spider webbing to cover the foam 
• Optional: gauze or bandages to wrap the pot for a “mummy look” 

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Make Your Eyeballs

1. Start with plain white ping pong balls. 
2. Use a black marker or paint to draw the pupil. 
3. Add a ring of color around the pupil for the iris—blue, green, yellow, and red all look fantastic. 
4. With a fine red marker, draw little squiggly lines radiating out from the iris to make veins. 
5. Set aside to dry. 

Crafty Tip: Add a coat of glossy Mod Podge or clear nail polish to give your eyeballs a wet, realistic shine.

Step 2: Attach to Stems

1. Use a thumbtack or skewer to poke a small hole in the back of each ping pong ball. 
2. Add a dab of hot glue into the hole. 
3. Insert one end of a green chenille stem into the hole and hold it until the glue sets. 
4. Bend the stems at different angles so your eyeballs “grow” like wild plants. 

Step 3: Plant Your Eyeball Stems

1. Place a block of floral foam inside your flower pot. 
2. Stick the eyeball stems into the foam, varying the heights and angles for a natural, chaotic look. 
3. Cover the foam with moss, shredded paper, or fabric scraps to finish it off neatly. 

Step 4: Style and Decorate

• Mummy Wrap: Wrap gauze or white fabric strips around the pot and add a painted eye for a fun, spooky twist. 
• Extra Creepy: Add small plastic spiders, snakes, or bugs crawling among the stems. 
• Glow Factor: Use glow-in-the-dark paint for pupils so the eyeballs glow at night. 
• Party Favors: Make mini versions in paper cups for table centerpieces or party giveaways. 

Where to Display Your Eyeball Plant

• On your Halloween buffet table as a quirky centerpiece. 
• By the front door to greet trick-or-treaters. 
• In your living room with pumpkins and cobwebs for a full spooky effect. 
• At the office desk or classroom for a non-messy, attention-grabbing decoration. 

Variations to Try

• Bouquet Style: Tie stems together with black ribbon instead of planting them in foam. 
• LED Glow Eyes: Use clear ping pong balls with mini LED lights inside. 
• Rainbow Eyes: Paint each iris a different bright color for a fun twist. 

This DIY Eyeball Plant is the kind of project that proves Halloween decorating doesn’t need to be complicated or expensive. With just a handful of supplies, you can make something wonderfully creepy that gets people talking.

So, what do you think—will you stop at one eyeball plant, or make a whole garden of them?

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