DIY Outdoor Halloween Decoration: Illuminated Life-Size Witch

This lovely madame was inspired by Cartrina the "Lady of the Dead". She is a sacred symbol of the Mexican celebration, Día de Muertos. We used a mask with an attached black veil and tulle cape to make her elegant yet mysterious.

1. Create Stick Skirt

Secure the dress form to the ground by hammering landscape pins over each of the supports. Gather sticks that are less than 1" in diameter. Ours are from a curly willow that has a natural twist and curl, but any sticks will be fine to use. Start the stick skirt by twisting a 12” length of floral wire to a thicker branch and attach it about half of the way down the “dress” of the dress form. Use branches that have smaller ones attached at first to help build a structure. We added four larger branches to the front, back and sides to start.

2. Add Lights to the Inside of the Skirt

Add the LED lights to the middle of the form and around the initial branches. This will make the glow of the lights more on the inside of the skirt than showing all the wires on top. Add thinner branches around all the dress form, securing them with wire as you go. You want the stick skirt to be nice and full, like a large ball gown.

3. Wrap the Corset Around the Form

Add the corset to the dress form. It should cover all the wires that are showing. Secure pampas grass with floral wire at the base of the corset. Space the grass evenly around the front and sides of the skirt. In between the grass, secure orange glitter twigs. Add gold glitter twigs below the orange ones to give the dress some depth.

4. Attach the Head

Cut a Styrofoam mannequin head so that it fits into the top of the dress form. We used a foam cutter to cut off the bottom two inches. (Tip: You can cut it with a knife, but it will make a mess, so do it inside a bag to keep the foam from floating everywhere.) Use black chalk paint to cover the front and neck of the head. Attach the head to the dress form using floral pins.

5. Add Mask and Wig

Fold the lace that comes with the mask to the front of the mask and add to the Styrofoam head. Pull the lace down to the corset and spread it out and around. Secure the band around the head using floral pins. Attach the wig to the top of the head using floral pins. Wrap fairy lights in and around the wig and hide the battery packs in the corset.

6. Wrap the Cape Around Her

Lay the cape around the back and head, and secure the hood using pins. Light up her skirt and hair and wait for the trick-or-treaters.