In 2012 We decided to have a Vampire Themed Halloween Party. So I needed some decorations to make our place feel more like a Haunted Castle. I knew I wanted to make a fake MACE prop to hang above the mantle, but wasn't sure how to do it.

Then at a local pharmacy chain store, I saw a toy ball with spikes and I knew I could attempt it with just whatever I had laying around the house.

Here's what you'll need (Almost everything but the toy ball I found at home, but most of these items can be found at any local hardware store cheap)

A "spiked" toy ball
Metallic or Silver Spray paint
Piece of an old broom handle or 3" thick wooden dowel
Short length of Old Rusty Chain
Eyelet screw
Wood stain or black/brown craft paint
Super Glue or other similar adhesive
Swivel chain from an old toy
Needle-nose pliers

Step 1: Step One

To make this go a lot quicker, I spray painted the "spiked" toy ball first, giving it plenty of time to dry. I propped it up before spray painting (I just used the spray paint cap to prop it up). You will definitely want to cover your work surface with newspaper, I use aluminum foil so that the paint doesn't stick to my project.

Step 2: Step Two

While the ball is drying you need to deal with the chain. Remove the swivel mechanism carefully using the needle-nose pliers, you will need to wrap one end of the swivel mechanism around the end of the chain. Pinch or twist securely around the chain so that it will not come loose.

Step 3: Step Three

Whatever kind of chain you can find is good, the older looking the better. I happened to have an old dog chain on-hand. The thinner the chain, the easier it is to work with. You can even use plastic chain if you have some. One end you will need to open up. Once you open it up, insert the eye screw, and using the pliers, pinch closed as tightly as you can.

Step 4: Step Four

Twist the eye screw into the top of the broom handle or wooden dowel. Now you're ready to paint the handle. I used a few passes of wood stain and some craft paint, but you can also just use spray paint.

Step 5: Step Five

Be sure the glue you are working with is not caustic or it could burn a hole in the plastic and deflate the "spiked" toy ball.
Once the painted toy ball is dry, you'll want to find the area on the ball where you would inflate it. That's where you want to attach the swivel mechanism with super glue.

Step 6: Step Six

Once everything dries, you're DONE! If you have the time, you can go back over the handle, chain and the spiked ball to weather them some more. Watered down black paint works well, or dab a little brown paint on in random spots for a rusty look.

You can even mount it on a plaque made of foam-core board, which is what I intended to do, but ran out of time. I may want to add to this How-To with a plaque to mount it on, at a later date.

Please send some pictures if YOU decide you want to make one. I'd love to see what you come up with!