Upcycled Vintage Wall Clock Becomes a DIY Halloween Mausoleum

For this year’s Halloween décor, I created an eerie assemblage art piece using a vintage wall clock, transforming it into a haunting mini Gothic mausoleum. Titled “Eternal Love in Death,” it tells the story of a bride and groom skeleton couple resting together for eternity — a dark yet romantic tribute to love that endures beyond the grave.

Materials

1. Vintage wall clock
2. Embossed cardstock
3. Matte black spray paint
4. Printed AI crypt background
5. Resin frame and “Family Mausoleum” sign
6. Bronze wax paste
7. Glue and scissors

Step 1: Prepare the Clock

Start by removing the glass, hands, and clock face so only the outer casing and backing remain. Clean away any dust or residue to ensure a smooth surface for painting and glueing later.

Cut embossed cardstock to fit inside the clock backing. Glue it firmly in place. The raised design adds dimension and creates the appearance of aged stone walls inside the mausoleum.

I had two broken skeletons with missing limbs—perfect for this setting since their legs would be hidden behind flower arrangements.

To position them in a loving pose, I used polymorph plastic beads—heat-activated beads that become pliable when submerged in hot water. Once softened, they can be shaped and hardened into any form. I joined the two skeletons at the shoulders using these beads, arranging them so that they gazed longingly at one another.

I transformed each skeleton into a haunting bride and groom to bring the love story to life. The groom wore a tiny black top hat and a red bow tie, which gave him a distinguished Gothic charm. The bride wore a delicate black tulle veil adorned with a vivid red silk rose, a sparkling rhinestone pendant on her chest, and subtle Gothic embellishments that added both elegance and eerie beauty to her skeletal form.

I painted everything black with acrylic paint to get a uniform base. After experimenting with several background colours, I chose to deepen the scene using an AI-generated image of a mausoleum interior. I adjusted the design until it perfectly matched the moody, aged look I wanted, adding a sense of depth and storytelling to the finished piece.

To complete the focal point, I framed a printed “Family Mausoleum” sign—also created with AI—inside a small resin frame. I used a silicone mould and resin to make the frame. The frame was painted black, then brushed with bronze wax paste to highlight its ornate details. The metallic finish catches the light beautifully while allowing the black base to show through for a rich, antique effect. If you don’t have bronze wax paste on hand, you might already have the ingredients to make your own, and this post will show you how.

The narrow gaps behind the faux spiral columns proved tricky to fill, so I transformed them into a feature by lining the space with embossed cardstock featuring a brick pattern. This simple addition created the look of an aged memorial wall inside the mausoleum.

To enhance the scene, I made faux urns by squeezing hot glue into small resin moulds—a fast, resin-free alternative that sets quickly. Once hardened, they were painted black and finished with distinctive embellishments for added character.

Before glueing everything in place, I dry-fitted each element and adjusted the layout until the composition felt balanced. Once satisfied, I used black hot glue to fix the skeleton bride and groom securely inside the mausoleum, completing the haunting arrangement.

I added flower foam at the base of the mausoleum, painting it black and covering it with faux moss. Using a hairpin, I poked holes into the foam and secured red silk flowers with hot glue. I added two portrait photos of the couple in life and included a date to complete the look. This project will look great as Halloween decor or if you are a lover of the dark arts. You can see a more detailed tutorial on my website.