DIY This Moody, Mossy Living Dead Succulent Wall Planter

Snag a thrift store frame, some succulents, moss and glue to make this upcycled, scary-meets-stylish succulent wall planter perfect for Halloween — anyone with half a head can make it.

Foam Skull Planter With Moss, Succulents Around on Old Frame

Living Dead Wall Planter

Make a living dead succulent wall planter that appears to have aged for decades with tips and tricks from content creator and food artist Nikk Alcaraz. To make your own you will a vintage frame, plastic cutting boards, low temp hot glue gun, real or artificial succulents, jumbo craft sticks, real or artificial colorful moss, a foam or plastic skull and a craft knife.

From: HGTV Handmade

Photo by: Nikk Alcaraz

Nikk Alcaraz

By: Nikk Alcaraz and Rachael Jones

Show: HGTV Handmade

Related To:

If Halloween store decor doesn't send chills down your spine, food artist and content creator Nikk Alcaraz has a DIY that'll have your party guests worried about the origins of this eerie, overgrown succulent wall planter. Round up some dead-or-alive — er, real or artificial succulents and get crafting with this thrift store DIY.

Living Dead Wall Planter

From: HGTV Handmade

Photo by: Nikk Alcaraz

Nikk Alcaraz

Materials + Tools

foam or plastic skull
vintage, thrifted frame
clear plastic cutting boards
low-temp hot glue gun
6 succulents in plastic pots - real or artificial
clumps of moss - real or artificial

jumbo craft sticks
serrated knife
scissors
paintbrush
school glue

1. Prep Thrift Store Frame

First, remove the back from the vintage frame (Image 1). Then place plastic cutting boards over the back of the frame (Image 2). Mark and measure the cutting boards to fit inside the frame, then use scissors to carefully trim the mats. Then, use a low-temp hot glue gun to affix them on top of the old frame artwork (Image 3).

First, remove the back from the frame. Then affix the plastic cutting board mats using a low temp hot glue gun.

Nikk Alcaraz

First, remove the back from the frame. Place the plastic cutting boards around the shape of the vintage frame to measure, cut and fit.

Nikk Alcaraz

First, remove the back from the frame. Then affix the plastic cutting board mats using a low temp hot glue gun. Trim off the excess with scissors and place the backing board back into the vintage frame.

Nikk Alcaraz

Living Dead Wall Planter: Vintage Frame

First, remove the back from the frame. Then affix the plastic cutting board mats using a low temp hot glue gun.

Photo By: Nikk Alcaraz

Living Dead Wall Planter: Measure Boards

First, remove the back from the frame. Place the plastic cutting boards around the shape of the vintage frame to measure, cut and fit.

Photo By: Nikk Alcaraz

Living Dead Wall Planter: Trim Frame

First, remove the back from the frame. Then affix the plastic cutting board mats using a low temp hot glue gun. Trim off the excess with scissors and place the backing board back into the vintage frame.

Photo By: Nikk Alcaraz

2. Trim + Rebuild Succulent Pots

First, remove succulents from plastic pots. Use scissors to carefully cut the plastic pots in half around the middle (Image 1) and place the plants back inside. Next, place jumbo craft sticks flatly around the top of the plant (Image 2) and use scissors to trim the craft sticks to match (Image 3). Next, use a low-temp hot glue gun to add a circle of glue around the top of the plant; while the glue is hot, place the trimmed craft sticks onto the tops (Image 4). Add a dot of hot glue to the bottom of the pots and place them in groups of three on the frame (Image 5).

Remove succulents from pots. Use a craft knife to carefully cut the plastic pots in half, around the middle, then add the plant back inside.

Nikk Alcaraz

Next, use a low temp hot glue gun to add glue around the the top of the plant; and while the glue is hot, place jumbo craft sticks flatly around the plant to make the new top. Once layered and dry, trim the craft sticks around the pot with scissors. Next, glue the pots back onto the backboard of the frame in groups of three.

Nikk Alcaraz

Once layered and dry, trim the craft sticks around the pot with scissors. Next, glue the pots back onto the backboard of the frame in groups of three.

Nikk Alcaraz

Living Dead Wall Planter: Replace Plants

Remove succulents from pots. Use a craft knife to carefully cut the plastic pots in half, around the middle, then add the plant back inside.

Photo By: Nikk Alcaraz

Living Dead Wall Planter: Add Craft Sticks

Next, use a low temp hot glue gun to add glue around the the top of the plant; and while the glue is hot, place jumbo craft sticks flatly around the plant to make the new top. Once layered and dry, trim the craft sticks around the pot with scissors. Next, glue the pots back onto the backboard of the frame in groups of three.

Photo By: Nikk Alcaraz

Living Dead Wall Planter: Trim Craft Sticks

Photo By: Nikk Alcaraz

Living Dead Wall Planter: Glue New Tops

Photo By: Nikk Alcaraz

Living Dead Wall Planter: Glue Succulents

Once layered and dry, trim the craft sticks around the pot with scissors. Next, glue the pots back onto the backboard of the frame in groups of three.

Photo By: Nikk Alcaraz

3. Add Plants + Moss

With a serrated knife, slice a foam or plastic skull in half (Image 1). Use a low-temp hot glue gun to affix the back of the skull to the center of the frame (Image 2). Then glue in mounds of dried moss around the pots to disguise the clear backing (Image 3); tightly pack the moss in-between the pots and the skull. Make sure every space is completely covered in moss. Use a paintbrush to add a layer of school glue to the front of the skull (Image 4). Rub two pieces of moss together over the glue to create moss dust on the skull (Image 5).

Use a serrated knife to cut a foam or plastic skull in half to minimize depth. Use a low temp hot glue gun to affix the skull to the center of the frame.

Nikk Alcaraz

Then use real or artificial moss to create mounds around the pots to disguise the backing. Make sure every space is completely covered in moss.

Nikk Alcaraz

Brush school glue onto the front of the skull and rub two pieces of moss together over the glue to create moss dust. This will make the skull look like it’s been in the greenery for a long time.

Nikk Alcaraz

Living Dead Wall Planter: Cut Skull

Use a serrated knife to cut a foam or plastic skull in half to minimize depth. Use a low temp hot glue gun to affix the skull to the center of the frame.

Photo By: Nikk Alcaraz

Living Dead Wall Planter: Center Skull

Use a serrated knife to cut a foam or plastic skull in half to minimize depth. Use a low temp hot glue gun to affix the skull to the center of the frame.

Photo By: Nikk Alcaraz

Living Dead Wall Planter: Add Moss

Then use real or artificial moss to create mounds around the pots to disguise the backing. Make sure every space is completely covered in moss.

Photo By: Nikk Alcaraz

Living Dead Wall Planter: Glue Skull

Brush school glue onto the front of the skull and rub two pieces of moss together over the glue to create moss dust. This will make the skull look like it’s been in the greenery for a long time.

Photo By: Nikk Alcaraz

Living Dead Wall Planter: Moss Dust

Brush school glue onto the front of the skull and rub two pieces of moss together over the glue to create moss dust. This will make the skull look like it’s been in the greenery for a long time.

Photo By: Nikk Alcaraz

4. Plant Care + Display

To water and care for real plants, remove the frame from the wall, lay down on a table and lightly mist with a spray bottle (Image 1). Or, opt for artificial greenery for a care-free look. Hang the living dead succulent planter on the wall and await guests' gushing compliments (Image 2).

To water and care for the plants, remove the frame from the wall, lay down and lightly mist with a spray bottle. Or, opt for artificial greenery for a care-free look.

Nikk Alcaraz

Make a living dead succulent wall planter that appears to have aged for decades with tips and tricks from content creator and food artist Nikk Alcaraz. To make your own you will a vintage frame, plastic cutting boards, low temp hot glue gun, real or artificial succulents, jumbo craft sticks, real or artificial colorful moss, a foam or plastic skull and a craft knife.

Nikk Alcaraz

Living Dead Wall Planter: Plant Care

To water and care for the plants, remove the frame from the wall, lay down and lightly mist with a spray bottle. Or, opt for artificial greenery for a care-free look.

Photo By: Nikk Alcaraz

Living Dead Wall Planter

Photo By: Nikk Alcaraz

Peculiar Projects From Nikk Alcaraz

Nikk Alcaraz is a DIY and food artist based in Los Angeles, California and founder of Practical Peculiarities, a creative hub for all peculiar food and crafts.