The Amazing Stuff

Candles are great for creating ambiance in any room. They can fill just about any space with romance — or eeriness, if you’re doing it wrong (or right). But if you’re into candles of the creepy variety, why not use them to spice up your Halloween decor?

Forget the plain candles that you might already have kicking around. These candles, many of which are handcrafted, can add a bit of chilling flair to any home. Click the links below each photo for more information on where you can get these spooky statement pieces.

This human spine candle will light up a whole room.

This take on traditional prayer candles pays homage to some classically spooky characters.

You can even pay tribute to some brutal serial killers this season!

Nothing completes your creepy setup like a baby head that you can set on fire.

Except for some creepy baby heads with three times the creepy baby face.

This candle “platter” serves up some truly gross illumination.

Pop some creepy floating candles into a bowl of water for instant atmosphere.

This candle celebrates the brutal (if phony) medieval torture device that we’ve all come to know and love.

These candles will take you back to the terrifying time in your childhood when you read these books in the dark.

Hail the Ancient Ones with this candle of Cthulhu’s spawn.

Small, simple candles are just as effective.

If realism is your thing, you’ll love this.

And this.

Perfect for birthday cakes, am I right?

These cleverly made candles have red wax inside, so as they burn, they appear to ooze blood. Perfect!

Of course, a candle doesn’t need to be specially carved in order to be spooky.

There are a lot more of these weird candles for sale out there. You just have to know where to look! And if you’re feeling particularly crafty, you can try your hand at making one from scratch.

We love cats, and we totally wish that we could bring our furry little pals around with us wherever we go…but this is just too much.

A Japanese woman named Pico creates plush purses that are shaped like cats — and they’re very, very realistic.

They just look too real, honestly.

The plush cats are entirely handmade, and each one is totally unique. Pico uses wool felt to create the realistic body shapes and furry textures. They also come with a strap and a zipper, so you can freak everyone out by reaching into what looks like your pet cat to pull out your wallet.

Pico is also the owner of two real cats, so she is surrounded by inspiration.

This will help you make a statement at your next party.

(We never said that the statement would be a good one.)

While most are in the purse-shaped “catloaf” position, some, like this one, have legs — and hats.

Since the bags are so detailed, they take quite a while to make.

The artist does auction them off from time to time.

(via Laughing Squid)

To see more of Pico’s creations, check out her blog and Twitter. And for your next fancy gathering, consider slinging a cat around.*

*(Please do not actually engage in cat-slinging.)

Email the ViralNova team!

Think about these two things for a moment: lamps and gourds. Neither are particularly extraordinary items, and many people wouldn’t consider them to be works of art.

If you tend to agree with those people, you just haven’t seen the work of Przemek Krawczynski. The Polish artist transforms calabash gourds into stunning lamps that illuminate rooms with swirling, psychedelic designs.

When the lights are on, these gourds create beautiful, richly colored patterns.

And they look pretty great when they’re off, too!

Most impressively of all, they cast incredible shadows.

An engineer by trade, Krawczynski discovered his passion for carving calabash gourds after making his first gourd lamp back in 2009. He fell in love with the craft and decided that it was time for a career change.

In 2010, he went to Senegal and found that the calabash gourd was the best one for making lamps. The rest is history.

The interlocking designs of Krawczynski’s lamps showcase his engineering skills.

This tessellating pattern is completely stunning.

Krawczynski is entirely self-taught as an artist.

Every one of his lamps takes two to four months to complete, and no two are alike.

“By day, my lamp is a unique sculpture, but at night, the light breathes new life into that sculpture, seeping through intricately carved wood and passing through thousands of holes,” Krawczynski says of his creations.

(via My Modern Met)

You can see more of Krawczynski’s work on his website, where you can even purchase a gorgeous lamp for yourself. Be sure to keep up with his latest projects on Pinterest, Facebook, and Twitter.

Email the ViralNova team!

When they decided to redo a spare room in their new home and turn it into a truly beautiful space, Instructables user KanPo Studios and his wife decided to go all out and create a mosaic for the floor.

And we really mean all out. Using stones and decorative glass beads in various colors, they created an ornate floor mosaic that celebrates not only their new home, but also the natural beauty of their native Chile and the world and universe at large.

It’s incredible, and was all designed and created by hand. Take a look:

First, the old flooring was removed.

The central design was sketched out on paper, and the rest of the floor would be designed around it.

The design was laid out on the floor to make sure it was centered.

And then it was time to test out the tiles.

This circular pattern became symbolic of the Earth, with the creators looking to combine themes of astronomy and water.

The tiles and stones were arranged and affixed to the floor.

Of course, certain family members had to observe from afar.

These leaf-like shapes were created by snipping tiles into pieces using regular tile cutters.

Then, the interior design was laid out.

The center design has a fish pattern. The “water” effect would be created using glass stones.

The stones were chosen in blue and white for a splash of color.

They would make a stunning centerpiece for the room.

Some tiles were also added to the base of the walls.

This represents the “Ring of Fire,” the country of Chile (where our story takes place), and the country’s people.

The fish were filled in using tile and stone.

And the background design was laid out.

When the tiles, stones, and glass pieces were in place, it was time for grout.

The inner circle was grouted first, and the glass stones had to be cleaned off afterwards to maintain their shine and color. Oops.

The rest of the floor would include dragonflies, butterflies, and Isabel Segunda flowers, all native creatures of Chile.

Different colored glass stones were used to add accent colors.

It took quite a while, but eventually, the floor was filled in.

Finally, it was all done and ready for more grout.

They chose black grout, which they felt would make the floor more reminiscent of space for their astronomy theme, and would provide a nice contrast with the lighter stones and tiles.

Lastly, a blue stripe was added to the walls, and the floors were done!

The room is far from done — this amazing floor was just the beginning. The room is going to be turned into a library with a little wine bar included, so the homeowners can enjoy some fine wine while reading — and appreciating their beautiful mosaic floor, of course. The bookshelves and bar are still in the works, but we’re hoping for an update soon!