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my maker's workbook ✦ Chalk Markers · Tutorial
DIY Halloween Decor: Creepy Eyeballs in a Bowl Using Chalk Markers
Updated Sep 2026 · 7 min read · Beginner-friendly
TRY · MAKE · KEEP
note to self →
Bowl of eyeballs: Use ping pong balls and chalk markers: draw the iris in a bold color, a black pupil, a white highlight dot, then thin red veins radiating outward. Rest each ball on a roll of tape while you draw, let the ink dry for a few minutes, and pile the finished eyeballs in a clear, dry bowl.
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30 Colors — One pack containing all our Bright and Earth Chalk Markers. Use these Liquid chalk pens to decorate any Non-Porous surface including mirrors, shop storefront, whiteboard
The Ultimate Freedom Of Expression — Chalkola’s liquid chalk markers erasable are widely used to decorate wedding signs, milestone boards, menus, LED boards, contact paper, car mirrors, wine glasses and coffee mug.
Made For Everyone — Whether you're a Teacher, Mom, Student, Artist, Kid, Business, Office or Restaurant Owner our markers make creating beautiful messages effortless.
Comes Off Easy — The chalkboard ink pen is washable and will work on almost any surface! Will erase off non-porous surfaces; such as blackboard (wet erase), glass & mirrors (dry erase) and Permanent on porous surfaces
All eyes on you… Celebrating this ghoulish season can be extra tricky and less treat-y this year, but that shouldn’t stop it from being thrilling and spine-tingling. In fact, this is the best time to have more fun and go all out on your spooky decor. You don't have to worry about venturing outside to buy the scariest Halloween props you can find too, because we can make one just as good, or actually even better and completely unique.
As the morbid saying goes–it's DIY or die (cue evil laughter here).
If you’ve got a bunch of ping-pong balls lying around, then ‘eye’ dare you to turn them into creepy eyeballs!
Roll of tape (or any platform to hold your ball while you design it)
Get ready to create your own bloody bowl of peepers with this spook-tacular art-ivity by watching the video below:
Steps:
Prepare samples of the different types of horrific eyes you'd want to transform your ping-pong balls into. They can be sinister-looking reptile eyes, ravenous monster eyeballs, deadly zombie peepers, or frightening witch orbs!
Use your roll of tape as a platform to hold your ball while you design it.
With your boldest chalk marker colors, start drawing on your ping-pong balls. Don’t forget the finer details like veins and pupil lining to make those eyes pop.
Use a white chalk pen on top of the bright eye colors to add dimension to your designs.
For a more terrifying effect, draw dripping blood on your clear bowl using your red chalk marker.
Once your chalk ink has dried, you can start putting all your eyeballs in your eye bowl.
This easy-to-make Halloween decor will definitely turn any simple space into an eye-catching one. Place it at the center of your dining table or your sitting area to really make people… stare!
Unsure how to get your chalk markers started? No worries! They're very easy and fun to use. To make sure the ink flows smoothly and correctly from your chalk pens, check out this helpful guide we've created for you.
Why Ping Pong Balls Make the Best Fake Eyeballs
Ping pong balls are the secret weapon for realistic Halloween eyeball decorations. Their perfectly round shape, light weight, and smooth white surface make an ideal canvas — the white base is the "eyeball white", so there's no primer or base coat to apply.
Chalk markers lay down opaque color on the glossy plastic without bleeding, and because the balls are hollow and light, a roll of tape makes a perfect stand while you draw (that's the trick the tutorial uses). Ping pong balls are inexpensive and sold in bulk packs, so a full bowl costs very little.
One rule to remember: keep the bowl dry. Chalk marker ink is water-based and wipes off plastic with water, so eyeballs floating in liquid would lose their designs. The tutorial fills a clear, dry bowl and draws the blood drips on the outside of the bowl instead — just as creepy, and the eyeballs stay intact for next year.
Tips for Drawing Realistic Eyeball Designs
Creating convincing eyeballs requires a few artistic tricks. Start by drawing the iris (the colored part) slightly off-center rather than dead-center — it reads as a glance, which is far creepier than a blank stare. Use bright, saturated colors like emerald green, deep blue, or warm brown for the iris to make them pop.
For the pupil, use black chalk marker and make it perfectly round in the center of the iris. Add a small white highlight dot with white chalk marker in the same position on each eyeball to simulate light reflection—this tiny detail brings them to life.
The veins are what make eyeballs truly creepy. Use red chalk marker to draw thin, branching lines radiating from the iris toward the edges. Make them irregular and spider-web-like rather than perfectly symmetrical. Concentrate more veins on one side to create a "bloodshot" effect.
For variety, create different eye colors, dilated pupils, or even damaged-looking eyeballs with extra blood vessels. This variety makes your bowl of eyeballs look like a collection rather than mass-produced props.
Creative Ways to Display Your Halloween Eyeball Bowl
The tutorial's clear bowl with red drips is the classic look, but there are plenty of ways to amp up the horror factor. Try a vintage punch bowl, an apothecary jar or a crystal serving dish for an elegant-yet-disturbing contrast, and draw cracks or drips on the glass with the same chalk markers.
For evening displays, set the bowl near pathway lighting or tuck a battery-operated LED tea light underneath or between the balls so the eyes glow from within. Keep the display under cover — water-based ink runs in rain.
Consider making multiple bowls in different sizes — a large mixing bowl, small decorative dishes, or a glass vase — and scatter them around your Halloween display. Because the balls are dry, you can also pile them in a cauldron, string a few on thread as a garland, or perch single eyeballs on candlesticks.
For an extra-disgusting touch, add plastic spiders, fake fingers, or other small Halloween props to the bowl. Keep the eyeball bowl as decor only — never mix chalk-marker eyeballs into a punch bowl or anything anyone will eat or drink.
30 Colors — One pack containing all our Bright and Earth Chalk Markers. Use these Liquid chalk pens to decorate any Non-Porous surface including mirrors, shop storefront, whiteboard
Ultimate Freedom Of Expression — Chalkola’s liquid chalk markers are widely used for chalk lettering, to decorate wedding signs, milestone boards, menus, LED boards, contact paper, car mirrors, wine glasses and coffee mugs
Made for Everyone — Whether you're a Teacher, Mom, Student, Artist, Kid, Business, Office or Restaurant Owner our color markers make creating beautiful messages effortless.
Comes Off Easy — The chalkboard ink pen is washable and will work on almost any surface! Will erase off non-porous surfaces; such as blackboard (wet erase), glass (dry erase) and Permanent on porous surfaces
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"I letter wedding signage on chalkboards and glass — Chalkola is the only brand that stays opaque, wipes clean with a damp cloth, and never ghosts. Three years, same go-to."
Maya R. · Verified Amazon buyer
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"Bright, fully opaque on black, and they don't dry out between uses like the last brand I tried. The fine tip is perfect for detailed lettering and small drawings."
Jenna L. · Verified Amazon buyer
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"Used them on a glass front door for the holidays — wiped off in seconds with a wet paper towel, zero residue. My kids use them on their chalkboard wall every day."
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"Tried four brands before this. Chalkola lays down smooth without skipping, the colors are vivid, and the reversible tip gives me both fine lines and bold fills."
Use ping pong balls and chalk markers: draw the iris in a bold color, a black pupil, a white highlight dot, then thin red veins radiating outward. Rest each ball on a roll of tape while you draw, let the ink dry for a few minutes, and pile the finished eyeballs in a clear, dry bowl.
You need ping pong balls, Chalkola chalk markers (a bold iris color or two, plus black, white and red), a clear bowl big enough to fill, and a roll of tape to hold each ball steady while you draw. That's the full list from the tutorial — no paint, brushes or glue.
Yes — chalk marker ink dries on the smooth plastic in minutes and stays put when handled dry. It is water-based and wet-erase, though, so keep the finished eyeballs out of water and rain; a damp cloth is what you'd use to erase them.
It's a quick craft — a few minutes per ball once you've picked your eye designs, and the ink dries in minutes, so a full bowl comes together in one sitting with no waiting for paint to set.
Yes. Store them dry in a box or bag once Halloween is over — don't rinse them, since water erases chalk marker ink. Kept dry, the designs stay intact for next year, or wipe them clean with a damp cloth and draw a new set of eyes.
None — keep the bowl dry. Chalk marker ink is water-based and wipes off plastic with water, so floating the eyeballs would wash the designs away. The tutorial uses a clear, empty bowl with red chalk-marker drips drawn on the outside, which looks just as gruesome.
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