You’ll scream with delight for this frightfully fun DIY—just in time to welcome Halloween! A unique find at Goodwill becomes a monstrously marvelous masterpiece with just a few simple (and slightly shocking) steps. 

Follow along as I marry away the menacing and turn a mannequin into a boo-tiful Bride of Frankenstein that will give you chills—and a few giggles—every time you see her!

1: Find Your Good and Your Ghouls at Goodwill

Whether you’re a first-time thrifter or a seasoned treasure hunter (like yours truly), Goodwill is crawling with unexpected finds. The prices are so low, it’s scary—and your wallet will shiver with delight, not fright.

I headed to the New York Avenue Goodwill nonprofit retail store to find clothing to upcycle for a Halloween costume, but as always, the thrift gods had other plans. There she was—this mannequin head—standing (can a head do that?) high on a shelf, keeping watch over the store like she owned the place. It felt like Friday the 13th—or maybe my lucky day in a creepy kind of way.

Then I spotted a silver-plated serving tray with short legs and fancy handles. Its tarnished finish gave it that perfect “haunted mansion” vibe.


So I thought: Why not serve up some scary fun? And into my cart they both went.

2: Spray On Your Sweetie’s Scary Skin

Before you paint, wipe your mannequin head clean (no one likes dusty dead skin). Place her on a drop cloth—preferably outside—so you don’t gas out the neighbors.

Set the spray paint lid under her chin to lift her up a bit (we love good posture in our monsters). Spray on a light coat or two of matte green paint, covering all sides evenly. Let it dry completely before moving on as she needs her final beauty rest.

3: Face On, Face Off

Now it’s time for the makeover monster mash! Using paint pens, give her glamorous purple lips, golden eyes, and maybe a beauty mark—or is that a bite?

Add scars using hot glue.  Drag a thin line where you want your “stitches.” Once dry, trace over it with a black paint pen, then add a touch of red paint for a fabulous freshly sewn finish. 

Along her hairline, add some squiggly glue lines to create texture, then go over those with black paint. Draw in some spooky spiders if you dare, because all beauties need eerie accessories.

4: Give Her a Hair-Raising Hairdo

Every Bride of Frankenstein needs that famous up-do that defies gravity and style sense.  Grab a large plastic soda bottle and cut off the bottom. Use duct tape to secure it to the top of her head—voilà, instant volume!

Then, cut strips from a black reusable shopping bag (or trash bags, or even fabric scraps—reuse what you have). Glue the strips along her hairline and wrap them up and around the bottle, securing with more glue as you go. To hold her beehive tightly, I added strips of black duct tape.

For the iconic white streaks, I cut white paper into strips, wadded them slightly, and glued them in that lightning bolt pattern. You could also use white fabric, ribbon, or even tissue paper. I briefly considered gluing on pinecones I found nearby, but I decided that would require painting them black, too, and time was of the essence.

5: Dressed to Chill

Now that your head-turning beauty is complete, she needs a stage—or in this case, a platter.  Place her on your silver tray, then drape a muted-toned or vintage-looking dress (another Goodwill find, of course!) around her neck and shoulders. Secure it with hot glue. For added drama, I layered torn white paper and a bit of black mesh “spiderweb” fabric over the dress to give her that gloomy-glam look.

Consider adding extra creepy-cute details—plastic spiders, rubber snakes, or faux bugs. Because a good bride always accessorizes.

6: Set the Scene to Bring Out the Boos

Now for her dreadfully delightful debut!  Set your scary sweetheart in a window with a light shining from below to give her that ghoulish glow. Or make her the centerpiece on your Halloween party table surrounded by snacks, spooky drinks, and maybe a bowl of candy eyeballs.

She’s sure to raise the spirits (or summon several from the past) of every guest who drops by!

Goodwill is your graveyard (in a good way!) of inspiration—where donated treasures get a second life. Every item has good bones just waiting for a new story. So this Halloween, get creative, get spooky, and let your imagination go batty!

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Tim Kime

Artist, Motivational Speaker, Life Coach

Tim Kime is an artist, life coach, and connector. He is the President of Kime Leadership Associates, offering executive coaching, meeting facilitating, and motivational speaking. He is also the Chief Creative Force of Transformation Junkies which upcycles furniture and other household items into functional works of art. He combined his two passions—unleashing the potential in people and transforming items with the launch of the Art of Possibilities Workshops. These workshops are part upcycling, part dreaming, and part goal setting.