Let’s explore the beloved movie ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas‘ with a fun and spooky DIY project to recreate this iconic antagonist. Whether you’re preparing for a Halloween party or want to enhance your eerie decor, this simple upcycling craft is perfect for fans of this charming classic. With just a few basic supplies, you can make a captivating Oogie Boogie decoration piece that adds ghostly flair to your home.
What You’ll Need
- Creamer bottle. For reference, this is the one Edgar used
- X-acto knife
- Marker
- Glow in the dark acrylic paint
- Facial expression templates
Optional (but recommended)
Oogie Boogie Process
To get started, print out the template of facial expressions and select the one you want to use. Cut it out and then remove the label from the creamer bottle. You can either draw the face using the template or attach it directly to the bottle with adhesive.
After creating Oogie Boogie’s face, draw a square on the bottom of the bottle. This square will be the opening to insert the puck light to make him glow.
To create the arms and legs of Oogie Boogie, draw two triangles on each side of the bottle. Make sure they are parallel to avoid a crooked or uneven appearance.
Then, use an X-Acto knife to cut out the bottom square and follow the lines drawn to create the triangles.
Then after cutting along the triangle lines, bend them outward to form arms and legs.
For extra spooky Halloween fun, you can add additional rips to Oogie Boogie by creating openings for bugs and worms to crawl out. This step is optional but dramatically enhances his look.
Before painting Oogie Boogie, insert the puck light to ensure it fits through the square shaped opening.
Now, it’s time to paint Oogie Boogie. Edgar combined green glow-in-the-dark paint with clear Elmer’s glue to create a more translucent look, but this is optional. He wanted to enhance the “glow effect” and felt that solely acrylic paint would block too much light.
Once you have thoroughly mixed the paint and glue, use a paintbrush to apply it to the INSIDE of Oogie Boogie’s body, including his arms and legs. If you choose to use the creamer lid, paint that as well (on the outside). Painting is a fantastic step to include your little one. What kiddo doesn’t love to paint?
Then, using a permanent marker, draw small stitch marks on the edges of Oogie Boogie, including the arms, legs, face, and openings. I understand this is tedious, but the stitch marks are part of his signature look.
It’s finally time to embellish Oogie Boogie. Choose your desired tattoos (or encourage your kiddo to pick), and cut out the ones you’d like to include. Then attach them to Oogie Boogie as you would to a person. Edgar used mini paint sponges, which worked perfectly for this task. You can attach them externally for a more vibrant appearance or internally for a shadowy effect. You can use both approaches and yield excellent results!
Edgar also arranged gummy worms encircling Oogie Boogie. Don’t worry; he kept a few out for Meli and Xander to taste so they weren’t tempted to eat the decor gummy worms.
Once you have fully decorated Oogie Boogie, you can position him wherever you’d like on top of the puck light. Voilà! How does he look? Did you make him spooky, mischievous, or goofy?
You can watch Edgar’s DIY video for a clear and detailed guide, which provides visual step-by-step instructions.
Final Thoughts on Upcycled Oogie Boogie
As can be seen, if you’re a fan of ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’, creating your own Oogie Boogie decoration from a coffee creamer bottle is a DIY project the whole family will love! It’s a fun and straightforward craft to breathe life into this iconic character and make a captivating centerpiece for your spooky (or whimsical) decor. Moreover, it is an excellent way to engage your little one in crafting activities as a family. Whether you’re getting ready for a Halloween party or want to add some ghostly flair to your home, this upcycling craft is an enjoyable way to do it.
We hope you enjoyed this idea and found these instructions helpful. Please share your thoughts, questions, or experience with Oogie Boogie in the comment section below. We would love to hear your feedback and see your spooky creations! What DIY Halloween projects would you like to see next? Edgar thrives on your input! Would you like more crafting ideas? Please look at our upcycled and Halloween crafts for more inspiration!
