Nightmare Before Christmas Snake Garland
One of my favorite details from Nightmare Before Christmas was the orange and black snake that pretty much eats Christmas. Specifically the scene where it is nomming down the tree while a child screams in the doorway.
I didn’t find near as many DIY’s on this as I would like, and decided to do my own!
What you need:
- Dryer hose (you can get it in the duct dept. of most hardware stores for less than $10)
- Orange & Black Spray paint
- White and black acrylic paint
- masking tape, 2 inch wide.
- Pringles cylinder
- Box cutter
- Wire cutters and scissors
- Packing tape or duct tape
- Newspaper (or similar paper)
Instructions:
The Body
1. Start by stretching out roughly 5-6 feet of the dryer hose, however, you can make the snake as long as as you like. You may not use all of the hose. A scissors will cut through most of the snake, but you make need to use the wire cutters to clip off the hose completely.
2. Spray paint the entire length or your hose orange. I did this in two takes, painting the majority of it, allowing to dry according to the spray paint’s “dry to the touch” instructions, and rolled it so I could get the final bit at the bottom. Allow to dry completely according to paint instructions.
3. Once paint is completely dry, use 2in wide masking tape, apply in a circle around the snake and leave 2 inches in between each strip.
So sorry I don’t have a picture of this part… appears I got overly excited and deleted it before I went to post 🙁
4. Spray the un-taped strips of the snake black. Again, wait until it is dry to the touch, and roll the snake slightly to get that bottom portion painted black as well. Allow to dry fully and then remove your masking tape.
The Head & Tail
5. Spray paint your Pringles can orange on the outside, and spray the inside black. Allow to dry completely.
6. Once dry, use your box cutters to cut a open mouth. Then paint on circular white eyes nearer to the top of the face, and use the black to add pupils.
7. For the tail, make a cone out of newspaper and tape so it will hold its shape. Use the packing tape to attach firmly to the tail end of the hose. Cover the remainder of the hose so you don’t color anything you don’t want to, and spray paint the entire tail and securing tape black.
8. Slide the Pringles can into the other end of the hose and secure with packing tape. Make sure to cover your face and the rest of the snake, and paint the securing tape orange.
You’re done! You can use just as a decorative garland on a serving table like I did, drape him over a doorway, or, if you have a Christmas tree, use him as the perfect ornament!
Hi! I'm Alyce. 
