So with only 33 days …

Until Halloween, I have started another prop. Well, actually I started it this past weekend. One of the things I've always liked that other home haunts have (or have variations of) is the Monster Mud reapers. Before I had discovered the haunts that have became my inspiration and idols (of sorts) I had seen a picture of something called "the Watchman". It was a hooded figure holding a lantern much in the style of the Pleurant (Weeper) statues. (For a great blog post on these go to this post. I just recently started following Midnight in the Garden of Evil's blog, and I think all of you should as well J ) I believe I first saw it around 2007 or 2008. In fact I saved the pictures to my computer and told Jen that one day I would build one of my own. So finally I did …

First, I apologize for the poor quality of the picture. (I am the first to admit that I suck at taking pictures.) I haven't completely finished him yet. I still need to slap another coat of Monster mud on him, then do some painting/highlighting, and accessorize him.
Here's some of the build pictures …

The frame was made from PVC and "chicken-wire".

This is with the main body covered and MM'd. I tried to stay out of the picture but Kate decided to force me to be in it…lol

Here I am fitting the hood before MM-ing it.

And here it is at night....

So this is my project for this week. I hope to have him completely finished by Thursday; Friday by the latest. Weather permitting I also plan on setting up the yard this week. After this I am hoping to make a "breathing grave" and maybe a FCG (Flying Crank Ghost). I purchased a few motors so those projects will hopefully not take long.
Well, back to workJ
Happy Haunting!!!!
~Bill

A new prop...

has been made. So finally I made a new prop. This year has been extremely trying on me in regards to life just not wanting to co-operate with my plans. So finally in the middle of September I made a new prop. As I've stated before, I tend not to go towards the gore but I've wanted to do this one for a while now. So here's the story:

Last Friday while taking Viv to school, we (Jen, Viv, and I) snuck off to waffle house for breakfast. Then after we had to stop by Wal-greens. Well, I found 2 of these guys hanging out:

So it's a "life-size" at 5 ft. (yes it is bigger than Kate) and it only cost me $30 a piece. I bought the only two that they had. Over on the Halloween Forum they posted a thread on these guys and someone shared a link to this guy's tutorial on using plastic to corpse a skeleton . So I decided to give it a try. Like this guy I am way too lazy for the method that uses liquid latex and cotton...lol...
So here it starts:

So I started with wrapping the body, arms and legs with the .7 mil plastic drop cloth. then I used the brand new heat gun I purchased just for this occaision and started to form it to the skeleton.

Then I painted it with Walnut colored stain. I used Minnwax Gel stain just like the tutorial said (except he used Hickory). Then I dry brushed it with some tan paint, just to bring out the highlights. Next I worked on the neck and head.

I added some hair, and my corpse is hanging out drying upstairs with the kids. I may do a few more details and touch ups but I am not sure what they might be at this time... maybe some decayed clothes or something, but who knows.
Prior to corpsing this one, Kate got to pose with him...

Yes, in case you were wondering, he is dressed as Gavin. In fact, Gavin wanted to send him to school tomorrow instead of him having to go...lol
So there's my first prop of the season...Hope you all like it!!!
Happy Haunting!!!!
~Bill

60 days until…..

Halloween!!! I know; I know… I have so neglected my blog this year, but I have a good excuse. So I was still working away on Halloween props after the New Year.  So come February I decided to take a short break from Halloween. I had planned on starting back up in April but then April came along and I was like…no I’ll start at the end of May or beginning of June. Well then the unfortunate occurrence of being unemployed happened. That meant I could not spend money on Halloween at all. It took me about a month and a half to find a job (and my wife has even went back to work at the hospital). So now that school has started back up, and we’re both working, I can finally start on some projects. On my list for this year are a mausoleum and maybe a few more tombstones. I know…it’s not that ambitious but hopefully next year will be much, much better…. Last year I had seen where someone had made a creepy cradle tombstone for a baby, and I wanted to “copy” that but I think I have found a better one. I saw this picture on a cemetery photography site and said to myself “this one I must make.”

I know it is a lil creepy...but I love it for some reason... So that is what I plan on doing for my birthday weekend (next week J) I'll post pics as I'm working on it :)
Happy Haunting all!!!!