If you’re looking for an effective and inexpensive way to give your haunt some extreme distressing then you may want to check out the tutorial that Marcus132 posted over at HauntForum.  His tutorial utilizes wood grain shelf paper       and a little bit of paint shadowing to create a faux wood lathe look.     From there, it’s just cut into cracked hole shapes an applied to the drywall.  This project is just another great example of how you can sometimes get great results without having to follow long and tedious...

If you’re a veteran prop builder you’re no doubt familiar with how to mix monster mud.  But for those that have never had the pleasure of mixing a batch and slopping a handful on their latest prop, well what are you waiting for?  And since most tutorials reference monster mud with no additional details, I figured it would probably be a good idea to provide a tutorial from TwistedVisions on how to mix Monster Mud for the uninitiated.  It is quite literally, the easiest thing I’ve ever posted on HauntersList and should be considered mandatory reading.    ...

I’ve always wanted to build an Axworthy Flying Ghost for a haunt.  Unfortunately the spacing of the trees in my yard would make for a ridiculously long run for it so it’s never really been an option to attempt it.  That may be a good thing, though, if you ask Joseph Keller, a.k.a Mr. Macabre.  His short video tutorial on the pros and cons of building one is definitely worth watching and you do get some insight into how this prop is built....

Some props are big and some props are larger than life.  Rania Peet’s Build of a Giant Pumpkin tutorial falls into the “larger than life” category.  I’m not even sure I would want to attempt to duplicate this, I’m pretty content to just revel in its awesomeness.  This Giant Pumpkinhead Scarecrow that she built for her Haunted Garden measures in at an impressive 18-feet tall and breathes fog.  That’s not just a little too cool, now, is it?     If you’ve got some prop building skills you should be good to go with this tutorial as it’s a pretty straightforward build.  The Pumpkin is constructed using Great Stuff sprayed over a chicken wire frame.  The threaded rods are wrapped in chicken wire to help give the pumpkin its shape before the Great Stuff is sprayed on.     The hat was updated on July 26th, 2013 and is now made of chicken wire with tension wire wrapped around it and tension rods to support it.  The frame is then wrapped with landscape fabric with burlap applied to give it a more seasoned look.       The chilled fog is pumped in through the back of the Pumpkin’s head and should be considered mandatory if you are going to attempt this prop because it looks incredible.   Items needed to complete this include: PumpkinHead 2×2 wood Flat pieces of wood for bases 1/4″ threaded rods Wing nuts for rods 1″ Galvanized Chicken wire Stainless Steel Screw Eye Tie Line/Rope Cheesecloth A ton of Great Stuff Spray Foam Protective Eyewear/goggles Protective Mask White Spandex Burlap Hat 1″ and 2″ rolls of Galvanized Chicken Wire Galvanized Steel Chain Link Fence tension wire Galvanized Steel Chain Link Fence Tension Bars Zip Ties Craft wire Black Craft Fabric/Landscape Fabric...

If you want a really good looking fence for your cemetery but don’t want to go through the heavy detail of the Faux Wrought Iron Fence tutorial, then have no fear, you can get a great effect for just pennies on the dollar if you follow this tutorial from the old abandoned Haunter’s Hangout.  The fence is made of 1/2″ PVC and 1×2″ lumber, but you crown the top of it with the fancy garden fence that is available at WalMart, or most home improvement stores.     After antiquing the fence a bit it looks fantastic, and the time you’ve saved in not adding the detail from the Faux Wrought Iron Fence tutorial can be better spent on other endeavors.     Items needed to complete this include, but should be measured per section: 1×2″ Lumber 1/2″ PVC Decorative garden fence Black spray paint Brown craft paint Sponge...

If you’re interested in creating your very own ankle tickler then take a look at Operatingnurse’s tutorial.  She’s given us everything we need to know to create this unsettling effect for our own haunts.  I will openly admit that this effect drives me absolutely nuts, I can’t stand it….but I can guarantee you that I will not hesitate to build my own in an effort to pay it forward!     Items needed to complete this include: 4′ – 1/2″ PVC (2) – 1/2″ PVC end caps 2 Way Solenoid Valve Push Quick Male Connector Super Strong Quick Setting Epoxy Soft tubing and connectors – about 14″ Flat black spray...

I love it when you set out to build a prop a certain way and a better prop or process reveals itself to you along the way. That very scenario happened to SpyderWood when he saw a grossly overpriced Winged Reaper prop and decided to alter the course of an existing prop and build his own version. His Winged Reaper tutorial marries a Bucky skull to a Blucky torso and throws in a variety of Bucky bones for the wings. The build originally utilized the whole Blucky, but as the project progressed he realized that he’d only need the top half. With the robe covering the reaper, though, you may not even need much more than the Skull!     The tricky part with this prop is obviously the wings, but if you can get the Bucky bones screwed together so they can hold the weight of the cheesecloth, the results will be spectacular.   Items needed to create this include but are not limited to: 1 Blucky Skeleton 1 Bucky skull 10 to 12 assorted Bucky bones Cheesecloth Latex (for wings) 3′ – 2×4 wood 6′ – 2″...

What was it that Dr Kreepy said?  “A home haunt without skulls is like a cake without icing”?  Well what if I like a whole lotta icing?  I’m a big proponent of saving money, and the less money I have to pay for a quality prop the better.  Bearing that in mind, I don’t think that you can get more cost effective than this tutorial, especially if you have little kids running around your house.  You see, we go through milk in my house like they’re giving it away on street corners.  And being a good eco-friendly household, we’ve recycled all of our containers.  But now that I’ve seen this cool tutorial that Mystang posted on the HauntForum, I realize that for every empty gallon of milk I’ve recycled, I may as well have chucked a skull in the trash.  And I would never throw a skull in the trash.  So if you like drinking milk and saving money on your haunt props, check out Mystang’s video tutorials on how to make Milk Jug Skulls.     http://youtu.be/Ca0fEiO6FVk   http://youtu.be/oUeOFOQFWWQ  ...

The great thing about the haunting community is that when someone is struggling with an idea for a prop build there is usually someone around that has a solution, or an alternate method to accomplish the same idea.  Such is the case with TK421’s solution to the question of how to make glass look broken posed at HalloweenForum.     And while TK421’s solution wasn’t the only idea provided (and there were several offered), it does look to be the best.  It’s very easy to do actually, utilizing frosted contact paper cut to look like cracked glass and applied to the window.  The results look great....

If you’re looking for the perfect recipe for blood then look no further.  Actually, Allen Hopps from Stiltbeast Studios would probably disagree completely with that.  He’s provided some great recipes for blood in his Blood on the Cheap tutorial, but I’m sure he would encourage you to experiment with other formulas until you find the blend that best suits your needs....

Clockwerk from HalloweenForum has built a really eerie, almost cartoonish looking Ghost Girl and has posted some great pictures and a brief tutorial on how it was constructed.  This creepy little girl sits atop her tombstone with an ominous glow beckoning passers by to enter her cemetery.  There’s nothing I don’t like about this prop.  Heck, I think the tombstone alone looks great, but Clockwerk has really shown some artistic skill with this girl.  It seems like a pretty easy prop to build, but the arms, legs, and head may take some skill to craft (ok, so maybe it’s not that easy).     You’ll need to create and mount a PVC frame to the tombstone.  The head is constructed out of a styrofoam craft ball with ping pong balls (with LED’s implanted) for eyeballs, while the legs and arms are created using a combination of paper mache and Crayola model magic.     Items needed to complete this include: Tombstone Styrofoam craft ball Ping Pong balls LED lights Paper Mache Crayola Model Magic (4) – 90 degree 3/4″ pvc (2 or 3) – 3/4″ pvc T joints 4  feet – 3/4″...

Some people have great tutorials on how to corpsify a Bucky, and that’s truly fantastic.  Others, like Mr. X & Dr. V, the brains behind MonstarCraft Productions, have tutorials on how to actually build a skeleton and then further tutorialize how to corpsify the Hell out of it.  Chris, aka Mr. X sent this tutorial to HauntersList via our Facebook page, and I cannot thank him enough.  The production value of the video alone is worth the time spent watching it, but the product that they’ve created in this video is nothing short of spectacular.  The best part is that you get a gruesome looking prop for far less money than you would spend buying a prop as good looking as this!...

It has been brought to our attention that while we’re heading in the right direction with HauntersList, we’ve completely omitted family friendly haunt projects.  While this may or not be true (and it definitely is), we’ve decided to spend a little time on the softer side of haunt projects (at least for today).  All hyperbole aside, this hanging heart tutorial by Uncialle’s Halloween Darksite is an easy project that really looks cool and would look great in any haunt.  The best part is that the parts are really easy to come by if you don’t already own them (and trust me, you’ve already got most of these parts).     Items needed to complete this include: Vase or suitable container Heart Jell-O Sticks (dowels, or pencils) Monofilament (fishing line)...

The late PerfessorEvil left us with a great tutorial on how to craft a truly creepy mini-spider.       These gems are crafted using a pair of Bucky hands (thumbs removed) and a Tiny Tim skull.  I’m not sure how many spare pairs of Bucky hands you’ve got laying around, but I know I can’t get enough of this prop.     Items needed to complete this include: 2 Bucky hands (thumbs removed) Tiny Tim skull Wire Hot...

If you’re building any type of body form PVC is ultimately going to be the best framing option.  Wood is good, but PVC is worry free (I want credit for that phrase if it catches on).  Anyway, if you like the Movable PVC Joints tutorial then you’re really going to like this one.       The Bride of Articulation tutorial that Beelce over at HauntForum has provided us is an incredible example of how to create the skeleton for any form you’re creating.  You can literally create any pose that you want, and then cover it in any fashion you see fit.  This is not a difficult tutorial, and allows for incredibly detailed forms.       Items needed to complete this include (but will need to be calculated per joint): 1″ PVC (for the bones) 1″ PVC coupling Post caps for each joint Flat washers Lock washers Bolts Lock nuts Drywall / Deck screws    ...

Mourning Cemetery & Manor have a really good tutorial on how to build a bleeding tombstone.  The trick to this one involves two plexiglass blood tanks, the main tank is mounted in the styrofoam base and a secondary tank is mounted above the bullet holes.     A 1/2″  tube feeds the blood from the main tank to the secondary tank, while 1/4″ tubes drain the blood down into the bullet holes.  This setup allows for the blood to slowly seep out of the holes rather than flowing out at an unnatural rate.   Items needed to complete this include: 1/4″ Plexiglass tanks (width determined by tombstone) water pump (1) 1/2″ tubing (5) 1/4″ tubes Plexiglass squares Styrofoam...

If you’ve ever wanted an air cannon in your haunt but didn’t want to spend upwards of two to three hundred dollars then you’re in luck.  Terroronshaddowway will show you how to build one that will cost considerably less.  This video tutorial is easy to follow and, once you’ve got all the pieces in place, the assembly couldn’t be any easier.  Safety is definitely a priority when dealing with compressed air, and this is a good safe way to build an air cannon.     Items needed to complete this include: 5 gallon air tank 1/4″ Air fitting 1/4″ check valve Regulator 1/4″ nipple 1/2″ to 1/4″ bushing 1/2″ iron pipe “T” 1/2″ nipple (to tank) 1/2″ union nipple Solenoid valve Power supply Iron pipe outlet tube Teflon tape Triggering...

Woodhegm has posted a great tutorial on how to make some awesome Toxic Waste Barrels.  These cool looking props utilize the same technique as Goldie’s Bubbling Halloween Cauldron, but the sheer size and the addition of fog help take this prop to new heights.  I think the hardest part of this tutorial may be getting your hands on some empty 55 gallon drums, but the rest should be smooth sailing.       Items needed to complete this include: 55 gallon drum 1 set orange lights (solid) 1 set orange lights (flashing) Rope party lights Great stuff Paint Fog...

Since the launch of HauntersList the number one most often searched for item that has resulted in a hit to our site has been the Cauldron Creep tutorial by the Devil’s Workshop. I would surmise from this that just about everyone is planning on building one this year, and if that’s the case, you may want to take a look at this cool looking Cauldron Vampire Creep tutorial from Docmansound1.     It’s inspired by the original Cauldron Creep by the Devil’s Workshop, and while there’s not much difference between the two (other than some cool looking vampire teeth), the tutorial is a little more detailed on this one....

The old abandoned Haunter’s Hangout has a nice tutorial on how to make a great looking Monster Mud Reaper holding a faux flame light. I’ve seen a lot of tutorials on making similar props, but this one looks especially nice, and the tutorial is pretty straight forward (albeit a bit lacking in some of the details).     You’ll need to create a base for the Reaper to stand on, but it’s pretty much a PVC Frame with skull and hands, chicken wire, and  burlap covered in Monster Mud.  Of course the faux flame light adds a bit of a wrinkle that really isn’t covered much by the tutorial, but by the looks of it, it’s well worth the extra planning.     Items needed to create this include (but are not limited to): 12′ – 2 x 2″ Wood 6′ – 2 X 3″ Wood 1 – 2 x 4′ sheet 1/4″ plywood 1 – 2 x 4′ sheet 1/2″ foam board 1-1/4 by 4″ piece of pipe 1″ PVC 4 way joint 4 – 90 degree joints 3 – 45 degree joints Skull Skeletal hands Chicken wire Burlap 1/4″ bolts Aluminum stock Flame box...

Dano’s Spider House has what is probably the easiest set of plans I’ve ever seen to make an 8′ Frankenstein prop.  The design doesn’t account for much flexibility after you create it because the PVC frame is not jointed,  but if you need a prop that doesn’t require any movement, you’re all set.  And if you’ve got the chops to deviate from these plans, you can add whatever flexibility you may need to your design.       You’ll need to create a PVC frame, have plenty of bubble wrap, a set of hands, and a mask, but that’s pretty much it.  This thing is easy to build and offers a life sized prop at barely any cost!    ...

Grant Thompson of thekingofrandom.com posted a great tutorial on how to create your own Slime, or as he likes to refer to it, Ninja Turtle Ooze.  This is really easy to make, inexpensive, is non-toxic and looks great when you add a couple of glow sticks to it!  The container he creates for it is a perfect match for radioactive ooze and is easy to make as well!...

If you’ve ever browsed the HalloweenForum you’re no doubt familiar with Terra.  Suffice to say, she’s a prop making goddess.  Her video tutorial on making steel haunt panels showcases the kind of cool, realistic looking props you can make for your haunt if you’ve got a little bit of skill and a lot of desire.  This prop is not hard to create by any stretch of the imagination and won’t cost you a lot of money to create.     Items needed to create one panel include: Little over one 3/4″ thick pink or blue foamboard panel Three 8′ furring strips Twelve 4″ x 1 1/2″ pieces of plywood Four 2 1/2″ coarse drywall screws Twenty-four 1 5/8″ coarse drywall screws Foamboard glue Super 77 glue Twenty 3/8″ tile spacers Quart of exterior gray Glidden Gripper paint (exterior) Silver latex paint (had used Ralph Lauren) Raw sienna acrylic paint Rust colored monster mud Light rust colored monster mud Flat black acrylic paint Clear gloss acrylic varnish Paper towels Optional Accessories include: 4 mini louvers 3″ (air vents) 1/2″ thick pink or blue foamboard panel PVC drain strainer Plastic rafter vent 16″ x 8″ air vent 16″ x 4″ air vent Hooks and zip ties for mounting to house Cement...

Derek Greenwood has a tutorial on how to make a skin face mask using hot glue, which looks great, and could easily add a super creepy element to any haunt.  He states that the mask is not intended to be worn, which I suspect is because it’s flat, however as you can see by the photo below, it certainly could be.  I could easily see a hallway wall full of these with people peering out from the other side at a haunt.  Now that’s creepy....

I love this prop.  At least I think I do.  Actually, I find it kind of unsettling, (I mean look at the picture below), but that might only be because the doll that Old Man Bakke over at HalloweenForum chose to use is the creepiest doll every produced.  I mean, in his defense, if there was ever a doll that needed to go into a jar it’s the one he used…look at those eyes.  Anyway, this is a simple prop that adds a lot of creep factor to any scene that you put it in.  I’d be a little worried about putting it right on my oven rack, but as long as you monitor the heating you should be good to go.       Items needed to complete this include: Mason jar Plastic doll...

Well if you’ve gone to the trouble of following the charred corpse tutorial, you may as well go the extra mile and check out the Haunt 101 tutorial to create a Boneyard BBQ for it.  This barbaric looking prop is the perfect exclamation point for a prop that’s pretty in your face as it is.  Put a cauldron creep next to it and you’re well on your way to an incredibly creepy scene.  This one is getting filed as a static prop, but it wouldn’t take much to put a motor on this baby and take it up a notch, now would it?     Items needed to create this include: Rubber skeleton Metal shower curtain rod (6) lengths of pressure treated 1”X1” deck spindles 2 1/2” U-brackets (1) 10” length 9/16” all-thread rod, nuts and...

I know Beelce’s tutorial on how to build a Faux Fire Basket has been featured on a ton of home haunting how-to sites, but it really is one of the best tutorials for this effect that I’ve run across so it would be hard not to feature it on HauntersList. It’s a very simple effect to create and will set the right mood for any scene that requires flames. If you’re going to be using the wicker basket make sure that you’re extra careful with the power cords as you don’t want to turn this faux fire into a real fire.   Items needed to create this include: Wicker basket Electrical wire Assorted holiday light strings (for embers) LED spotlights for flames Silk like fabric 12″ high velocity 3 speed fan 3M High performance 2mil decal material (or equivalent heavy duty tape)  ...

There’s a great tutorial on how to make a Cloaked Ghost over at Grim Hollow that is well worth your time to check out.  This eerie prop was inspired by Pumpkinrot’s Cloaked Ghost and is pretty easy to build for something so awesome looking.  It looks great both day and night and is sure to be an attention grabber at your haunt.   Items needed to create this include: 5′ – 1-1/2″ pvc pipe 10′ – 1 x 2 wood Chicken Wire Burlap Monster Mud Glue Sticks Cheesecloth Lantern Plywood (for base)...

Some people are capable of producing great things using very few resources. Such is the case with Robert Anderson and his Cemetery Entrance Columns tutorial. These remarkable columns consist of nothing more than a few pieces of scrap wood and boxes covered with newspaper.     The paper mache mortar seems like an incredibly tedious detail but it really helps make this prop that much more authentic, I mean, this looks like actual masonry here. Robert admits to being cheap, and that’s a really great thing here because he’s managed to create an incredibly detailed prop without having to break the bank.   Items needed to create this include: 60′ – 1 x 2 16′ – 2 x 4 Foam insulation, MDF, particle board, or cardboard Assorted boxes or Styrofoam Insulation Assorted latex & acrylic paint...

In the immortal words of Dr. Kreepy, “A home haunt without skulls is like a cake without icing…”  And to the great benefit of us all, Dr. Kreepy has given us the icing (in video form) in his tutorial on how to make your own skulls using Great Stuff expanding foam.  There are a few variables that can affect your success in making your own skulls using this tutorial, but even your failures will result in useable skulls.  A few of mine resulted in really thin sliver sections of the skull that seem more like broken fragments that had been bashed in.  They looked great just laying in front of my tombstones.  For the price per skull, you cannot go wrong in doing this tutorial, just don’t make too much of a mess.   Items needed to create this include: Hollow plastic skull Great Stuff expanding foam Vaseline Duct Tape Latex Gloves...

If you need some spiders for you web and don’t feel like purchasing posable spiders then have a look at Born2haunt’s tutorial on Making Spiders.  This project is pretty easy to complete and the detail on the spider is pretty forgiving to most sculpting imperfections.  Once you get started you’re not going to want to stop making these things, and that can only add to your creep quotient.     Items needed to complete this include: Foam Plastic tubing Wire Latex Hot...

Grimvisions has an interesting take on how to create a cocooned spider victim.  While most tutorials would have you wrap a plastic skeleton or torso, Grimvisions utilizes a pvc frame with newspaper and plastic bags to fill the body.     While it may take a little more effort to create your own torso (and let’s be honest, it won’t take that much effort), you’ll feel better knowing that you haven’t wasted a perfectly good skeleton for a prop that would render most of it barely visible anyway.     Items needed to complete this include: PVC Duct Tape Spray Adhesive Spider Webbing Saran Wrap Fake Eyeballs Wire A skull either plastic or foam Pipe insulation Newspaper Plastic Bags Spray Paint Liquid...

If you’re looking for an eye grabbing prop to welcome guests to your haunt then look no further.  The late PerfessorEvil created an excellent Monster Mud Wall Breaker tutorial that looks great.  After glancing at the tutorial I was surprised at just how simple this is to create. The pvc frame is simple to put together and the chicken wire framing doesn’t require a high degree of accuracy, it’s a simple cloak wrap.  The rest is just monster mudded burlap and great stuff, what could be easier?                         The finished product looks great and will really be a nice focal point in or around your haunt.  I’m not a hunter, so I’ll never be able to mount a deer above my fireplace, but I could easily see putting this beauty up there (at least during the Halloween season) Items needed to create this include: 10′ – PVC – 3/4″ 4 -PVC 3/4″ 90 degree connectors 4 – PVC 3/4″ “T” connectors 1 – Bucky Skull 1 – Bucky Hand 5 gallons – Joint Compound  (You will have a LOT left over, but that’s how it comes) 1 gallon Black (or whatever color you want) paint Chicken wire Burlap Heat Gun Assorted drywall screws Zip ties Flat piece of plastic (dropcloth type) Great Stuff Triple Expanding...

There’s a great tutorial on how to craft some skeletal hands out of Crayola Model Magic and coat hangers at a site called Mousecave.  I’m not a good sculptor so I would normally shy away from something like this, but it sure seems super simple, and what could be easier than skeleton arms, right?     Items needed to complete this include: Coat hangers – 3 to 5, depending on the length of the forearm Craft wire – any solid single strand wire will do Marker pen Lineman’s pliers – any pliers will do, so long as you can cut and bend the wire Two-part epoxy – because it’s strong and sets fast Acrylic craft paint – black and white Soft paint brush and small mixing dish Paper towels Scissors Modeling tools – nothing fancy, just something to etch some jagged lines Crayola Model Magic –...

If you’ve ever wanted a headpopper prop in your haunt but didn’t think that a wiper/vent motor would create a good enough effect?  Relax, Dave the Dead has a really good tutorial over at HauntForum on how to create your own headpopper.  What I like best about this one is that as the head peeks over the tombstone it slowly rotates its way from side to side.  This makes for a much creepier effect than just a popup / popdown.   [iframe src=”http://vid105.photobucket.com/player.swf?file=http://vid105.photobucket.com/albums/m240/davethedead/headpopper%20prop/headpopperprop.flv&sr=1″ width=”425″ height=”350″]   Items needed for this prop include: 16″ square of 1/2 inch plywood, cut in half (two 8″ X 16″ pieces) 20″ long 1″ X 4″ wood slat 1/8 X 1/2″ aluminum bar stock, cut into 5″ and 25″ lengths 3/8″ X 4-1/2 inch lag Screw Eye (2) 1/4-20 X 1.5″ Bolts (3) 1/4-20 Nuts (2) 1/4″ lock washers (1) 1/4-20 locking nut (2) 1 1/2″ wood screws Motor 12Vdc...

Like a giant sentry standing guard against the legions of masked marauders that descend upon our fair homestead, the pumpkin king provides tasty treats to the interlopers in exchange for their deference.  Ok, that may be waxing poetic a bit, but I’ve always wanted to build a giant Pumpkin King prop to mount to the side of our garage to welcome the neighborhood kids to our house on Halloween. Most of the ones that I’ve seen involve using vines to create the body, and while I think that those tend to look more realistic, there’s just no way that I see myself gathering all of the vine necessary to pull it off.  That’s why the DemonWare Scarecrow tutorial appeals to me, because with a pvc frame, I could actually see myself getting this one done.  You can still use vines to fill in the gaps, but it’s not the major component here.  The best part is you can make this prop as tall as your house if you want (although the size of the pumpkin may make it look a bit disproportionate if you do).     Items needed to complete this include: 20 feet of PVC pipe PVC Fittings: (2) tees, (2) 45° Angle, 2 straight 2 Yards of crinkled cotton (or other cheap material) Fake Pumpkin Sticks- 6 long ones for fingers, 6-8 short ones for ribs Screws Paint (to cover PVC) Raffia (found at local craft store) Wire RIT Dye, 2 boxes of purple or black 5 Gallon Plastic Bucket Optional Materials: Large cardboard box Leaves 50 lbs of sand Eye hooks 5ft 1/2 – 3/4 in metal pipe PVC and connectors for...

If you’ve ever had a cemetery in your haunt or yard you already know the pain of having to purchase tombstones for it.  The pain revolves around having to pay for a foam product that you could easily produce yourself.  Moreover, yours will certainly look better because you can put as much detail as you desire into it, and personalize it to your hearts content.  Personally, I can’t stand working with styrofoam, but for those that don’t have a problem with it, you’re going to want to take a look at Keeba’s Tombstones.     Not only is Keeba’s tutorial nicely laid out from the start of the project to completion, but offers some really good examples of detailing techniques like dry and wet warping that you just don’t find in most tombstone tutorials.  After undergoing some simple painting and aging, the finished products look fantastic.  These will take a  while to make, and you’re going to have to factor your time into these when deciding whether or not it’s worth your while, but you certainly don’t find tombstones this nice for sale.    ...

If you’ve ever needed to purchase a cauldron for a haunt you’ve probably been disappointed with your purchasing options.  They’re tiny.  I mean, so tiny that a baby witch would feel uncomfortable using them.  So your best option is to craft your own cauldron.  I’ve seen several really good tutorials on how to build your own cauldron, and Old Man Bakke has a pretty good one posted over at HalloweenForum.  I must admit that when I first saw the cardboard, hot glue gun, and duct tape I was reluctant to continue, but by the time I reached the finished product images on page 7, I was sold.  The size is what I would expect that a couple of old hags would use, and it looks completely realistic.     What I like best about this tutorial is that it was a completely fluid tutorial.  If you follow the posts you’ll see that during the creation of this tutorial a user posted a link to some photos from Dave The Dead’s aging technique tutorial that really helped make this into the finished product that it became.  Most of the time tutorials don’t get better on the fly like this one did.   Items needed to complete this prop include: Large rope handled bin (rope removed) Heavy duty cardboard Duct tape Hot glue gun Paper Mache Spar Varnish Round towel rings Oatmeal & sand / water & glue...

Ulcerative has posted a great video of  the perfect frame for a hangman prop.  When the attached wiper motor is turned on the flailing effect is supreme, and even though it’s just a PVC frame in the tutorial, you can more than visualize the awesome effect you’ll get when you clothe the frame and light it for effect.  If you don’t want to get into pneumatics, but still want a great visual, this is definitely one you’re going to want to try....

If the end justifies the means then this prop is going to be worth everybody’s time and effort.  This cool floating grim reaper made mostly out of black iron piping could be one of the coolest additions to any haunter’s graveyard.  Floating close to 10′ off the ground, the only trick is to shield the base from view as illustrated in this photo.  Dating back to 2003 this prop tutorial comes to us by the Evil Geniuses Howard I. Scott, III and his partner in crime Ron.       Items needed for this prop include: Torso, Arms, and Skull Scythe blade (plastic) 1/2″ Black Iron Threaded Pipe in the following lengths: One 48″ Two 36″ Three 24 Four 12″ One 6″ (unused) One 5″ Seven T connectors Three connecting nipples One 90 degree elbow Two 45 degree...

Every haunt needs a toe pincher coffin.  It’s a fact.  Ok, well, it’s not a hard and fast rule, but if you’re looking for a good tutorial on how to build your own full sized toe-pincher coffin, look no further.  Woody over at ScareFX has a great tutorial on how to build one and here’s the best part, his build should only cost around $25.00!  You’ll need a modicum of skill with a circular or table saw to get this done, but the rest is just piecing it together and gluing / screwing the pieces in place.   The thing I like best about this tutorial (besides the fact that it doesn’t involve any miter cuts) is that it looks just rough enough to be completely realistic looking.  There are 100’s of tutorials on how to build a toe pincher coffin, but this is the one for me.   Items needed to complete this include (ScareFX pricing included): $15 for 15 Fence Pickets $5 for drywall screws $4 for wood...

If you’re looking to make a creepy entrance to your haunt you may want to take a look at the Skeletal Sonotube Columns tutorial that Effie posted at HalloweenForum.     These columns are really simple to make and would easily make an eerie entrance to a cemetery, dungeon, or mausoleum.  All of the pieces of this puzzle are easily obtained and the best part is that Effie actually planned to use the empty sonotubes for storage at the end of the season!     Items needed to create this include: Sonotube 10″ x 4′ (Sonotube comes in many diameters and heights, 4′ being the most easily obtainable at Home Depot, but you can get 6′, 8′ and 10′ heights as well) Century Novelty Plastic Skeleton Heavy pressboard Foam pipe insulation Spray...

Ok, so we all know there are about 1,000 tutorials on the web about how to build a fence for a graveyard.  Most of them use the typical 1 x 2″ furring strips at the top and bottom with PVC creating the bars of the fence.  Well, Scott A. Stoll has definitely taken it up a notch, and if I was going to pick a tutorial to follow to make my own cemetery fence, I would choose his method.  His tutorial on how to build his fencing is incredibly detailed, and the resulting product is well worth the time spent because it is remarkably realistic looking.  This could pass for a real fence.  The finials and curved iron is also incredibly easy to implement and adds so much to this fence.  The best part is that you won’t have to worry about running out of finials, or heating up the PVC to accomplish this because it’s done using craft foam!  If you are thinking of making some cemetery fence, you would be well served to check out this tutorial, it is the real deal.   Items used to create fencing include: 1×2″ lumber 1/2″ PVC Craft Foam Drywall screws Hot...

Ok, I’ve seen a couple of animated Ouija boards on the net, but DaveintheGrave from the HalloweenForum has the most detailed tutorial on how to make this prop I’ve ever seen.  It’s broken down into two parts, with Part 1 focusing on how to prep the box that will house the guts of the Ouija board prop, while Part 2 details the mechanics of the prop.  DaveintheGrave utilizes a small vent motor for this prop, and breaks down the motor instructions into two additional tutorials for further clarity (Motor Part1, Motor Part2).     There is a link to the video of this prop in action at the beginning of Part 1 of the tutorial, and as you will see, this prop is worth the time spent making it, it looks...

Ok, so maybe you’ve tried corpsing a bucky skeleton, but now you want to try something different, perhaps something a little grimmer.  Well here’s a tutorial that may give you what you’re looking for…   That is, if you’re looking for a Charred Corpse tutorial.  That’s right, if you want the end result without the flames, check out Don P’s tutorial over at I Make Projects.  It may not look like much when you start, but as it progresses it really starts to take a gruesome turn.       Items needed to create this include: A skeleton A can of expanding foam insulation (“Great Stuff” is one of the many brand names.) A tin of liquid latex (I couldn’t find the good paint-on stuff all the prop houses seem to use, so I just used Contact Cement.) Flat black spray paint Glossy bright red spray paint Small amount of acrylic black paint (it’s water based and will clean up with water and soap as long as it’s wet.)  Small amount of acrylic brown paint Small amount of clear gloss finish Some old paintbrushes, rubber gloves, and a well-ventiliated area       By the time you’re finished, this thing is just as good, if not better looking than a “standard” corpsed Bucky, and you certainly don’t see these nearly as often!  ...

Ok, so you’ve picked up a nice Bucky skeleton and you’re done admiring it in all it’s boney glory, but what next?  Well, if you don’t mind taking that pristine looking skeleton and making it look a little bit more goreified then you might want to take a look at this excellent corpsing tutorial from My Ghoul Friday.  I’ve seen a lot of corpsing tutorials on the web, many of which utilize the same techniques that My Ghoul Friday uses, but none are laid out quite as nicely as hers is.  And let’s be honest, that is one awesome looking skeleton.       The tutorial is divided into two parts, with Part 1 detailing the plastic wrapping and the staining, while Part 2 details the finer dry bushing and hairing of the corpse.     Items needed to create this include: Skeleton Wood Stain Paint Brush Rag Heavy Duty/Protective Latex Gloves Heat Gun Thin, clear plastic tarp paints Spray Glue hot glue gun white glue or “Sculpt or Coat” styrofoam ball acrylic paint wig scissors...

Ok, it’s two for Tuesday, and today we’re going to look at burning things.  I like both of these tutorials, and since they’re both so similar I’ve decided that they should both be featured in the same post simply because they’re meant to create the same effect in different environments.  These props are not to be confused with the very popular hot burning coals tutorial (ok, maybe they are since they’re nearly identical).   The first tutorial is provided from thxboy and is really centered around burning timber.  The effect is actually really gorgeous because it really conveys the feeling that the building is on fire, but is much more intricate since it involves using a styrofoam frame.       Materials needed to create this include: 2″ thick pink foam board Great Stuff (small cracks or large gap version, I can’t tell the difference) Red christmas tree lights. I used a 100 light strand that could be either steady or flickering Hot glue gun Black Primer paint Light grey primer paint Krylon-Make it Stone! (Black with white speckles) Chicken wire paint brushes, drywall saw     The second tutorial is provided by OctART, and is slightly easier, but just as good looking.     Materials needed to create this include: chicken wire plastic Great Stuff christmas tree lights...

If you’re a fan of the Hot Burning Coals Prop then you’re going to love Goldie’s Bubbling Halloween Cauldron, because it’s essentially the same.  The difference is in the details, however, and Woodhegm has built his to fit around a person (or prop) sitting in a large cauldron making them look as if they are cooking in bubbling hot liquid.  You’ll need to find a cauldron large enough (and strong enough) to support someone, but one completed this prop will add a neat effect to any live scene in a haunt.  Add a fog machine under the person and you’ll really be cooking!     Items needed to complete this include: Cardboard Aluminum foil Whiffle balls 1 set orange lights (solid) 1 set orange lights (flashing) Great stuff Paint A...

Terra from HalloweenForum has posted a great video tutorial on how to achieve an incredibly realistic wood grain look that can easily be applied to your styrofoam projects. I’m blown away at how realistic it looks and how simple it is....

Madmax at HalloweenForum has a great tutorial on how to make a Breathing Grave prop that you’re really going to dig (ridiculous pun intended) .  The effect is subtle, looks great, and when viewed at night with proper lighting, is sufficiently creepy.  When you see just how easy this prop is to craft, and how inexpensive it is, you’ll want to put them in front of all your tombstones!   Items needed to create this include: Vent Motor 11′ – 1×4 power supply 12VDC 300mA 1 Yard Burlap paint, 1 spray can or latex house paint 22″ threaded rod (1/4″) 6 nuts 6 lock washers 12 screws 2 Cams (1/2″ PVC with a cap)...