Arts and Crafts at Horror Conclave
Haunted Books!
Hey, horror friends, it’s your boy, Brent. At last year’s Horror Conclave, we had lots of fun activities and excursions. We got tarot readings, we read stories around the campfire, we rode on a pirate ship, and lots more. One of my very favorite activities was leading Arts and Crafts. It was especially fun for me because I got to watch everybody have a grand time working on their projects.
When we first started planning Horror Conclave in Big Bear, we knew we wanted to capture the vibe of summer camp. What would camp be without arts and crafts? I spent weeks unable to eat or sleep, tormented by the question: What would our spooky arts and crafts project be? Then one morning I awoke in the forest with no memory of how I’d gotten there. My clothes were filthy, and there was a shovel on the ground beside a hole I had apparently dug. Peering into the hole, I saw the corner of a book sticking out of the dirt. I scooped it and brushed it off to see this was no ordinary book. No, this book had a face.
As the book blinked at me and tried to bite my finger, an idea struck… what if we made books with monster faces for the arts and crafts project? I grabbed my shovel and ran home just as quick as I could. As I ran, the book hissed instructions on how to make more books like it. It also said a bunch of things in a language I didn’t understand, so I left in the Little Free Library next to the park. Good riddance!
By the time we arrived in Big Bear, the hallucinations had nearly stopped. Better yet, I had the entire process figured out for creating awesome monster-faced books. Everyone got a sketchbook in the Horror Conclave swag bag, and it was those very same sketchbooks that we made into frightful abominations. A little hot glue, a little Mod Podge, a little paint, and kablam! Spooky monster-faced books for everyone!
This year’s arts and crafts project came to me during a visit to The Whaley House when we were in San Diego for StokerCon. Interesting side note: I was murdered by ghosts during the Whaley House tour… VERY spooky, but at least I didn’t wake up in the woods! This year’s arts and crafts project is going to be super creepy, and I am excited about it. How excited? VERY excited. Definitely going to be the kind of thing you’ll want to hang on the fridge.
I can’t wait to share this project with you at Horror Conclave in Big Bear!