Dolls are relatively easy to come by at thrift stores and flea markets. Start picking them up year round to be transformed into a ghastly Halloween garden complete with a doll head planter (or three). Because the only thing creepier than a vintage porcelain doll is just the head of said doll with a plant poking out of the head and eye sockets!
This spooky little Halloween gardening project originally appeared on DIY Network in 2016 and it remains one of my favorite ways I’ve ever repurposed old dolls. I’m digging it out of the archives because doll heads, weird plants and vintage Halloween decor deserves another moment in the spotlight.
A Creepy Halloween Centerpiece With Doll Head Planters and Why I Love It!
- First of all like most families we never eat at the dining room table so it was nice to finally use the space.
- Second Halloween horticulture is a fun theme to roll with.
- Third this gave me an excuse to use my collection of vintage black glass Indiana glass.
Plus this Halloween table scape looked the right amount of weird and wonderful – my favorite spooky season combo.
Where Do I Find Vintage Doll Heads?
Try checking the usual places like flea markets, garage sales and thrift stores. Often times vintage porcelain doll heads are expensive. Plus if you go this route you have to buy the kind that has a hole in their head where the hair would attach. Breaking a hole in the skull will not work out well and most likely ruin the entire doll head. Plastic doll heads work fine and are often times cheaper. Plus they are easy to saw or cut a hole in the head.
Could This Doll Be on Antiques Roadshow?
Probably not. I tend to look for dolls that are damaged, broken, inexpensive or already missing a limb. That being said I am not blowing my kids potential college fund making a kooky doll head planter. If I found a doll that looked pristine and antique rest assured I’d run it through Google lens before I ripped it’s head off.
Supplies For Making a Doll Head Planter
- Dolls or doll heads
- Scissors or hand held saw
- Plants
- Decorative moss
- Planters (vases, cups, containers)
Step 1: Prep Your Dolls to Become Planters
If your dolls came attached to a body you want to decapitate them. Save those bodies for another project! If you are using a plastic doll a sharp pair of scissors or a handheld saw will easily cut a hole in the top of the head. This is where you will insert the plant.
What to make with those extra doll parts…
Step 2: Choose Your Doll Head Planter Vessel
Just like there is a hole at the top of your doll head for the plant there is a hole at the neck as well. That being said you can’t just jam a plant in there and hope for the best. Plus without a body the doll head would just roll around. Choose a small cup, vase or dish that fits each of the doll heads.
Step 3: Choosing the Right Plants
What type of plant you choose will depend on the size of the doll head you are using. I enjoyed mixing short stubby succulents in with spikier plants of varying height. I wanted plants that didn’t trail or vine so I could see the faces. Also, think about the room your planters will be in and what kind of light they will get.
Step 4: Turning Your Doll Heads Into Planters
If you opt for live plants fill the container you intend to use with a mixture of well draining soil and some pebbles. Place your doll head on top so that the chin of the doll is even with the lip. Pour dirt about 1/3 of the way into your dolls head. Insert your plants and pack in extra dirt around until the doll head is full. Water well.
Looking for more Halloween Horticulture?
Step 5: Finishing Touches
Most likely dirt has spilled onto your dolls face, lightly dust away or use a wet rag. If you have access to moss I highly recommend throwing some in for decorative purposes. Especially if you are using a porcelain doll – nothing is creepier than a bit of moss popping out the eye sockets of your doll head planter.
Could You Use Fake Plants in Your Doll Head Planter?
Le duh and sometimes it is the better move. No one is going to judge you if you wanted to use a faux plant plus sometimes during Halloween you can find them in weird colors. Using a faux plant will also eliminate a lot of the hassle of dealing with live plants and you can use them every Halloween. I also often times mix real and fake plants in one greenery arrangement.
How to Style Your Doll Head Planter
I like some serious bang for my doll head buck with this project. One doll head planter is cool, but a mini tabletop garden full of them is better. Mix and match new and old, porcelain and plastic, real and faux plants. I also arranged mine with other witchy bits and bobs like crystals, tarot cards and the occasional set of faux teeth. In the right setting almost anything can start to look like Halloween decor you just have to learn to see the world through pumpkin orange tinted glasses.
What do you think? Are you scared for life or ready to go raid your kid’s toy box? Maybe a bit of both? I can almost guarantee that if you jumped in the car right now and headed to your local thrift store you could find a doll sitting there on the shelf just waiting for her macabre makeover. I bet you could find a black vase/cup and a faux plant too. This is one of those projects that is so easy to make but has a huge impact. P.S. It is a great centerpiece for parties!
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