Haunting Your Yard!

So we have finally gotten started with the Halloween projects.  The first ones are adding more headstones to the graveyard.

I will do a complete how-to once we have gone through the entire process.  But for now, I’m just blogging about what we did yesterday.

Shane is actually working on a tombstone for someone else right now. The pink foam is found in sheets at Home Depot.  I believe at Lowe’s it’s the blue.  We use the 2″ thick foam.  First the basic shape is cut out with small hand saws.  Then the details begin to be added.  The router is used for cutting out insets.  He’ll also use it for the lettering when he gets to that point.

Dylan used plaster of paris to create some molds that will eventually be glued on to headstones before the painting process.  Once they are glued on and painted over, you can’t even tell that they weren’t “carved” out of the foam.

The molds we got at a hobby store and are ones used to make soaps.  Shane got these a couple of years ago - we have crosses and angels.  Since then we have not been able to find any molds that aren’t cutesy.  We got lucky finding the crosses.

Dylan and I decided to use scraps of the foam to make some small “markers”.  Now the ones shown are upside down to dry after being primed.  This is the beginning of the painting process.  First, primer goes over the foam to seal it and also help cover up that pink.  After the first cuts were made, we “distressed” the foam using saws, wood burner, etc.  These were also cut at an angle at the bottom, so that they will look crooked when put in the graveyard.

I did not get past the priming phase yesterday as they were not drying quickly.  What is still to come is a couple of coats of the main color, then the technique to “age” the stones with paint, then the moss.

On our way home we did stop by Big Lots to see if they had any Halloween decor out.  We are always on the lookout for cheap things that can be modified.  Here is what we came home with -

This skeleton will not been seen as is.  It will be heavily modified.  I have plans to mummify him.  Another thing that can be done and is relatively easy is to stain them.  Last year I did this to a couple.  But I first cut out extra plastic between the ribs, etc.

The pictures will be part of the walk through - they are the kind that change as you walk by.  Yes, the frames are the cheesy plastic, but in the setting they will be in, with dim lighting, it is not worth it to modify that and spend the money.  No one will see them long enough to notice.