Project Sheet

Glow-in-the-Dark Mirror House

Difficulty Level: Beginner-Intermediate
Completion Time: 2 hours

Watch a video overview:

‘Tis the season to be spooky!

Make this the most spooktacular time of the year by creating something easy and engaging for the entire family. Continuing with our #Inktober inspired theme from last year (Spooky Decor with Pro-Glow Tape), we are incorporating Higgins Black Magic Waterproof Ink and Glow-in-the-Dark Medium by DecoArt to create a haunted house scene on a mirror. This alternative drawing surface provides a unique interactive aspect to your decor. Grab all the materials laid out below because Hocus Pocus, it’s time to focus!

What You'll Need

mirror-house2

Higgins Black Magic Marker (Brush Tip)
Higgins Black Magic Waterproof Ink
DecoArt Glow-in-the-Dark Medium
Simply Simmons Short Handle Brush (Chisel Blender Shape)
Sponge
Any Mirror You Have Hanging Around

1. Inspiration

mirror-house3 Find a template or concept that you and your family would like to paint on the mirror. We used Google to search for haunted houses (both photographs and clipart) to use for reference while planning our spooky scene. Don’t worry, there isn’t a “right” way to do this, just have fun!

Creative Options:

You could draw costume accessories like a witch’s hat, a few well-placed warts, and the top of a broomstick for kids or guests to complete with their reflections.
Focus on a border design like spider webs to keep the center of the mirror clean and functional but still in the spirit of the season.

2. Find Your Starting Point

mirror-house3 We recommend starting near the top left side if you’re right-handed; lefties top-right. Beware, the marker applies smoothly and dries quickly as you work. We began by painting the twisted tree on the left side of the mirror using the Black Magic Marker. The ink simply wipes off with a damp cloth to make any changes and to reclaim your mirror after the season passes.

3. Make Your Mark

Once we finished the tree and started on the haunted house, the marker began to run low on ink and provided subtle gray tones versus the deep, rich black lines. You can use this effect to your advantage when desired, and it’s easy to return to darker black lines with the Higgins pump markers. Repump the marker by dipping the brush-tip into the top of the cap (top-side up). This is shown in the GIF above. Complete your scene using the marker or apply Higgins Black Magic ink with a brush. Allow a few minutes for your most recent marks to dry before moving on to step 4.

Creative Tip: For more textural variety, try different application techniques. With brushes and a sponge, Higgins Black Magic Ink may be applied to cover a solid area or create shading. We used a sponge to dab on a bit of ink to create texture in the grass in the foreground.

4. Selective Glow

mirror-house6 Our favorite part was choosing where to overlay our haunted house scene with the Glow-in-the-Dark medium. Whether you decide to go crazy or just highlight a few key areas for emphasis, is up to you! Turn the lights off occasionally to see how your Glow-in-the-Dark medium is performing.

mirror-house7 Using a paintbrush, apply the medium where you want a special glowing touch and allow it to dry. Apply the medium in a thick layer for a stronger glow. We reapplied the medium a couple of times for our brightest highlights such as the moon (shown below). Once complete, set aside to dry completely.

mirror-house8 Tip: While it’s drying, place it under a lamp in a safe place, to ensure you are charging up the medium to glow.

There it is! We hope you found this DIY easy, accessible, and fun for the entire family! Hang it up in your doorway to greet ghosts, ghouls, and goblins and make them feel at home!