Halloween Discussion Forums, Costumes, Horror!

When it comes to Halloweening, Lowes and Home Depot are as much my Halloween superstores as Spirit or Spencers (same company, aren't they?). Cull lumber, pvc pipe, and loads of drywall screws... all the sorts of supplies I stock up on in anticipation of Halloweenmonthday (October 1st). I go through loads of cans of spray paint, buckets of liquid latex, and yards of cheap black fabric from JoAnn's (the sewing ladies always give me odd looks when I come in to buy material... "Whatcha making?" "Oh, a shroud for one of my corpses and a new cloak for one of my reapers."). I do buy some factory made Halloween props; severed heads, limbs, masks... But I always buy in November for next year's display (50%-75% off).

So how about youse? When it comes to decorating your yard, do you prefer to buy your props or build 'em from scratch? Or like me, a happy mix of both?

Oh, I am all about making my own stuff! I have created some great props. I recycled my old prom dress from 1988 into a quite frightening ghost. I agree that there are some unique finds in the specialty stores, but I find that the stuff I make lasts much longer.

I start creating my new stuff during summer break. ( I am a school teacher. )
I am saving $$$ for a really cool Hannibal L. I saw last year. I fell deeply in love with him. Some things I just can't make with a glue gun and spray paint.

i agree 100% with you I am big into constructing my own projects

Thank you for your service, Shanda. What grade do you teach? And is that the Hannibal Lector prop at Spirit? I almost bought one last November...

What sorts of things have you made, Adrian? What do you specialize in? Skull corpsification? Tombstone manufacturing?

i do a little bit of everything.. i just now finished cutting out my graveyard for this year and i'm about to start working with pvc's to build my "characters" or "yard haunters" i am also building, out of pvc, an arch way cover for a float we're going to pull in this years fall parade

Depending on what it is, I'm gonna build or buy. I usually buy the simpler smaller decorations and if I plan to have something big, I will do all I can to build it. I love making halloween props and setting them up...a lot better than spending much more money on something that probably won't last half as long.

What are some projects y'all are working on this year? What are some of your past creations you're most proud of? I'd love to see pics or vids of anything anyone's got brewing, or even old favorites from years gone by.

When I was younger, my mom made an awesome mummy it scared me everytime I went by it, and it had glowing eyes!

What was your Mummy's mummy made out of? I made a mummy out of toilet paper when I was younger, and it looked pretty good, until we got a very heavy rain overnight. And then... not so good.

I say build it..... here is a coffin I made last week, dont know if I should leave
the door off or put it on. Im planning on having the coffin standing but leaning
back with either a body in it, or a friend of mine is going to be in it then come
after kids when they walk up the walk way to the front of our house....

good build if you leave it off you can work with some cool lightign

MacPhantom wrote:What was your Mummy's mummy made out of? I made a mummy out of toilet paper when I was younger, and it looked pretty good, until we got a very heavy rain overnight. And then... not so good.

Haha it was made out of a gauze thing, we took foam and shaped it like a body, then put the glowing eyes on the face, and a mask on it to give it a face, and covered it all in white gauze

you know, this year i bought my first mummy decoration!!! i mean i've had pictures, candles, ect. but no REAL big purchase mummy decor lol

MacPhantom wrote:Thank you for your service, Shanda. What grade do you teach? And is that the Hannibal Lector prop at Spirit? I almost bought one last November...

What sorts of things have you made, Adrian? What do you specialize in? Skull corpsification? Tombstone manufacturing?

I teach Special Education 6th grade. Lots of patience needed!! (And an odd sense of humor! )
Yes. Hannibal is at Spirit. He is my man. But the new zombie babies have taken some of my cash this year. So creepy and wrong. I love it!!!
This year my projects have been mostly repair. I am working on a kid size mouse trap, though. I thought is was funny. Putting on the porch for TOTers!

god the zombie babies are AWESOME!! i'm getting a couple lol