Every home deserves an over sized spider hanging around on the roof, and if you can blow up a balloon you might just be able to create your own. Dano from Dano’s Spider House has a tutorial on how to create some really good looking paper mache spiders that are worthy of any haunt.   The good news is they’re easy to create and you can make them as large as you want since all of the parts used are sizable based on your needs.  It”ll help if you’ve got some experience creating with paper mache, but even if you don’t you should still be able to create these awesome arachnids.  Dano’s even got a great single bodied option using PVC legs that’s worth trying as well!   Items needed to complete this include: Balloons Water Flour PVC connectors Foam pipe insulation Indoor/Outdoor lights Plastic semi-transparent ball Black tempera paint Waterproof sealer Coffee grounds for texture (optional) Shop These Materials on Amazon Instant Paper Mache Powder Mix 3.3 lbs Assorted 12" Latex Balloons 120-Pack 1" Schedule 40 PVC Pipe 6-Pack Ratcheting PVC Pipe Cutter (up to 1-1/4") 1" PVC Furniture Fittings Assortment 12-Pack Oatey PVC Clear Cement + Primer Handy Pack 300 Sq Ft Stretch Spider Web with 20 Fake Spiders Giant 295" Fake Spider + Triangular Web Black Braided Fishing Line (for rigging props) Affiliate Disclosure: HauntersList.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to...

Since many of the prop builds featured on HauntersList involve PVC frames it’s probably not a bad idea to post another tutorial on how to create hands for those frames.  LastHouse from HalloweenForum has a tutorial on how to make some gruesome looking skeletal hands that won’t take you too long and the cost is next to nothing. They’re made of styrofoam and wood dowels coated with a little hot glue and then painted.  The hardest part about this tutorial is melting the styrofoam to give them a more natural boney look.  Make sure to do this step in a well ventilated area as burning styrofoam can be highly toxic (it’s a good idea to wear a respirator).   Items needed to complete this include: Styrofoam Hot Glue Wooden dowels Drylock Paint   Shop These Materials on Amazon 1" Schedule 40 PVC Pipe 6-Pack Ratcheting PVC Pipe Cutter (up to 1-1/4") 1" PVC Furniture Fittings Assortment 12-Pack Oatey PVC Clear Cement + Primer Handy Pack XPS Foam Board 1" Thick Craft Sheets 4-Pack 4-in-1 Hot Wire Foam Cutter Kit 15W Loctite Power Grab Foam-Safe Construction Adhesive Affiliate Disclosure: HauntersList.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to...

Making a prop from scratch takes skill, but aging the prop so that it looks like it’s been around for a few years takes talent.  Now, it’s well known that Terra from HalloweenForum can build anything.  I mean, I honestly think she could build a structurally sound house out of styrofoam if she wanted to.  But when she needs to make something look old, or grunged up, she’s definitely got the talent to make it so.  Her video tutorial on how to Grime Up Props details exactly how she does it, and it’s the perfect guide for anyone who needs help making props look and feel like they’ve been around for years.  ...

If you’re a fan of projection effects then you should definitely check out Mr. Chicken’s Haunted Tombstones.  All you’ll need is the projector of your choice and a piece of styrofoam to carve your blank tombstone.  Oh, and of course, you’ll need to purchase the video files for the Haunted Tombstone Projections. You can purchase either the short tombstone or the taller tombstone, or as a set to be projected side by side.  The download includes four video files allowing for standard definition or high definition playback in either portrait or landscape orientations, all in .MP4 format. It’s a pretty easy effect to pull off, especially considering the tombstone that you carve for it will be custom sized to the projection, and at $25 apiece ($50 for the set), you can’t go wrong.        ...

Dave Lowe is an incredibly talented artist and one heck of a prop builder, and If you’ve never checked out his Para Abnormal web comics, do not wait any longer, because there’s a pretty good chance that you’re going to love them. Anyway, he’s got a quick little tutorial on how he built his moving eye portrait.  Of course, it really helps if you have your own art that you can enlarge to start with (I honestly think that if I had Dave’s artistic abilities I’d probably fill an entire room with moving eye portraits).     The prop build is pretty straight forward.  Once you have your favorite portrait enlarged, just cut out the eye sockets and glue two ping pong ball halves on the back (concave so they have some depth).  Dave utilized green craft crystals for the iris which added a little sparkle to his portrait, but you could always just print one. That’s all there is to it, but this prop is definitely a crowd pleaser, and well worth the time it takes to create (especially if it turns out as good looking as...

I never got to see Jeff Baird’s Leering skeleton prop tutorial, but I have seen the video of his prop in action (it comes around 1:30 mark in the video below) and it looks great.     So when I found the tutorial that SpiderFreak of SpyderWood had created based on Jeff’s prop with a full surround of the motor mechanism I knew that it needed to be featured on HauntersList.  I love seeing certain prop builds get modified and improved upon in the process, and the fact that you can’t see the mechanics of this prop when viewing it from behind is certainly an upgrade.     I am purposely not including an items list on this tutorial because the tutorial does not really detail the lengths sufficiently enough for me to approximate them. Shop These Materials on Amazon 12V Wiper Motor 2.5" Shaft 110 Degree (prop building) PWM DC Motor Speed Controller 9-70V 35A 45Kg High-Torque Waterproof Digital Servo Motor Realistic Replica Human Skull Statue 6.5" 5.4ft Full Size Halloween Foam Skeleton Affiliate Disclosure: HauntersList.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to...

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.       Shop These Materials on Amazon USG Sheetrock Drywall Joint Compound 4.5 Gallon Cheesecloth Unbleached 36×36" (for Monster Mud draping) Affiliate Disclosure: HauntersList.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to...

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.   http://youtu.be/pG2s2fH0SiQ Shop These Materials on Amazon 12V Wiper Motor 2.5" Shaft 110 Degree (prop building) PWM DC Motor Speed Controller 9-70V 35A 45Kg High-Torque Waterproof Digital Servo Motor Affiliate Disclosure: HauntersList.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to...

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   Shop These Materials on Amazon 5-Pack Foam RIP Tombstone Blanks for Carving Decorative Cemetery Fence Sections Rust-Oleum Flat Black Spray Paint 12oz 1" Schedule 40 PVC Pipe 6-Pack Ratcheting PVC Pipe Cutter (up to 1-1/4") 1" PVC Furniture Fittings Assortment 12-Pack Oatey PVC Clear Cement + Primer Handy Pack Affiliate Disclosure: HauntersList.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to...

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 paint Shop These Materials on Amazon 1/4" NPT Solenoid Valve DC12V 5-Way Double-Acting Pneumatic Air Cylinder 40mm x 100mm 1/4" OD Push-to-Connect Pneumatic Fittings Kit 40-Piece 1" Schedule 40 PVC Pipe 6-Pack Ratcheting PVC Pipe Cutter (up to 1-1/4") 1" PVC Furniture Fittings Assortment 12-Pack Oatey PVC Clear Cement + Primer Handy Pack Affiliate Disclosure: HauntersList.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to...

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″ PVC Shop These Materials on Amazon Instant Paper Mache Powder Mix 3.3 lbs Assorted 12" Latex Balloons 120-Pack Affiliate Disclosure: HauntersList.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to...

The crew over at Spectral Illusions is at it again adding four new video effects to their lineup for 2013.  These four great new videos are priced at an affordable $20 to $30 apiece and are offered in both high definition (1920×1080) and standard definition  (720×480) formats as QuickTime movies. Intended for use with a projector, flat panel monitor, or with a scrim or reflective surface for a great Pepper’s Ghost effect, they’re a welcome addition to an already great lineup of videos.      ...

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/Os1Wj-VeYvA Shop These Materials on Amazon Realistic Replica Human Skull Statue 6.5" 5.4ft Full Size Halloween Foam Skeleton Affiliate Disclosure: HauntersList.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to...

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....

What if I told you there was a free class designed specifically for haunters featuring Allen Hopps, Drew Badger,  Bart Butler, and Michael Edwards, and all that you had to do is sign up to attend….  Too good to be true?  Part of a larger phishing scheme, right?  Wrong!     And if you live in or around Detroit  (or don’t mind a road trip) then pack your bags and click on the link below to reserve your seat for the Midwest Haunt Actor’s Training Class at 9:00am on July 20, 2013.  The goal with this free seminar is to help develop haunt actors to work in haunts in and around the Metro Detroit area.  It’s open to everyone regardless of your haunting experience, pro Haunters, home Haunters, even people who just want a starting point in learning how to be a haunt actor.  The only stipulation is that if you REGISTER for the class, please plan on attending as seats are limited. Event: Midwest Haunt Actors Training Class 49015 West Pontiac Trail Wixom, MI 48393 Date: July 20, 2013 Start Time: 9:00am Admission: Free w/ Registration REGISTRATION     49015 West Pontiac TrialWixom, MI...

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″ pvc Shop These Materials on Amazon Instant Paper Mache Powder Mix 3.3 lbs Assorted 12" Latex Balloons 120-Pack 1" Schedule 40 PVC Pipe 6-Pack Ratcheting PVC Pipe Cutter (up to 1-1/4") 1" PVC Furniture Fittings Assortment 12-Pack Oatey PVC Clear Cement + Primer Handy Pack XPS Foam Board 1" Thick Craft Sheets 4-Pack 4-in-1 Hot Wire Foam Cutter Kit 15W Loctite Power Grab Foam-Safe Construction Adhesive 5-Pack Foam RIP Tombstone Blanks for Carving Decorative Cemetery Fence Sections Rust-Oleum Flat Black Spray Paint 12oz Affiliate Disclosure: HauntersList.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate we earn...

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!   http://youtu.be/4RYXGxU0JxQ Shop These Materials on Amazon Realistic Replica Human Skull Statue 6.5" 5.4ft Full Size Halloween Foam Skeleton Creature Liquid Latex 16oz Clear Special Effects Cheesecloth Unbleached (for draping and corpsing) Polyester Fiberfill Stuffing 30 LB Bag Affiliate Disclosure: HauntersList.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to...

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 glue Shop These Materials on Amazon Realistic Replica Human Skull Statue 6.5" 5.4ft Full Size Halloween Foam Skeleton 300 Sq Ft Stretch Spider Web with 20 Fake Spiders Giant 295" Fake Spider + Triangular Web Black Braided Fishing Line (for rigging props) Affiliate Disclosure: HauntersList.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to...

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       Shop These Materials on Amazon 1" Schedule 40 PVC Pipe 6-Pack Ratcheting PVC Pipe Cutter (up to 1-1/4") 1" PVC Furniture Fittings Assortment 12-Pack Oatey PVC Clear Cement + Primer Handy Pack Realistic Replica Human Skull Statue 6.5" 5.4ft Full Size Halloween Foam Skeleton Affiliate Disclosure: HauntersList.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to...

Hi-Rez Designs offer some really high end visual effects for your haunting pleasure.  Their collections range in complexity from simple projections like the sky effects, bugs, and ghosts DVD’s     to more intricate video window effects that can trigger pneumatic valves, lighting, smoke / fog machines, and more with their Hi-Rez Relay Decoder.     They’ve even got a Paranormal Portraits series which offers the Dueling Portraits DVD, paying homage to Disney’s Haunted Mansion.     All of their effects are great looking and would add an incredibly immersive element to any haunt.  The DVD’s range in price from $39.95 to $89.95 individually, and they do offer package sets of some of their collections. All Hi-Rez Designs Visual FX DVD products are restricted to non-profit home haunt & personal use only, and are protected by all federal copyright laws.  Commercial use licenses are available for use of Hi-Rez Designs Visual FX DVD’s as part of a pro / paid haunted...

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 tombstone Shop These Materials on Amazon 12V Wiper Motor 2.5" Shaft 110 Degree (prop building) PWM DC Motor Speed Controller 9-70V 35A 45Kg High-Torque Waterproof Digital Servo Motor XPS Foam Board 1" Thick Craft Sheets 4-Pack 4-in-1 Hot Wire Foam Cutter Kit 15W Loctite Power Grab Foam-Safe Construction Adhesive 5-Pack Foam RIP Tombstone Blanks for Carving Decorative Cemetery Fence Sections Rust-Oleum Flat Black Spray Paint 12oz Affiliate Disclosure: HauntersList.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to...

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 device Shop These Materials on Amazon 1/4" NPT Solenoid Valve DC12V 5-Way Double-Acting Pneumatic Air Cylinder 40mm x 100mm 1/4" OD Push-to-Connect Pneumatic Fittings Kit 40-Piece Affiliate Disclosure: HauntersList.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to...

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.   http://youtu.be/ShfGSpoRa50 Shop These Materials on Amazon 12V Wiper Motor 2.5" Shaft 110 Degree (prop building) PWM DC Motor Speed Controller 9-70V 35A 45Kg High-Torque Waterproof Digital Servo Motor Affiliate Disclosure: HauntersList.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to...

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   Shop These Materials on Amazon 1/2" Hardware Cloth 19-Gauge 48"x100ft Galvanized Roll Aviation Tin Snips 3-pc Set (straight/left/right) USG Sheetrock Drywall Joint Compound 4.5 Gallon Cheesecloth Unbleached 36×36" (for Monster Mud draping) 1" Schedule 40 PVC Pipe 6-Pack Ratcheting PVC Pipe Cutter (up to 1-1/4") 1" PVC Furniture Fittings Assortment 12-Pack Oatey PVC Clear Cement + Primer Handy Pack Realistic Replica Human Skull Statue 6.5" 5.4ft Full Size Halloween Foam Skeleton Affiliate Disclosure: HauntersList.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to...

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!       Shop These Materials on Amazon 1" Schedule 40 PVC Pipe 6-Pack Ratcheting PVC Pipe Cutter (up to 1-1/4") 1" PVC Furniture Fittings Assortment 12-Pack Oatey PVC Clear Cement + Primer Handy Pack Affiliate Disclosure: HauntersList.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to...

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!...

Some tutorials are harder to write about than others.  This is not one of those.  The tutorial that the guys over at Master Fog have created for their Fog Chiller is perfect.  I can’t believe that I’ve already wasted this many words setting this wonderful tutorial up, but if you’re in the market to make a huge low lying fog chiller, then look no further, the instructions are below.  Oh, and be sure to stock up on plenty of Master Fog’s Ground Clouds or Creepin’ Fog juice .     Items needed to complete this include: 30 gallon trash bin Power Drill 4″ hole saw (or utility knife) 4″ pvc Y fitting Small fan 20′ ducting Duct vent Duct tape Ffog machine Low lying fog fluid     Shop These Materials on Amazon 400W Fog Machine with Wireless & Wired Remote FogWorx Extreme High Density Fog Juice Gallon Copper Coil Refrigeration Tubing 1/8" OD x 6.5ft (fog chiller) Affiliate Disclosure: HauntersList.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to...

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...

A little over a month ago it was announced that, in continuing with the Famous Monsters Yearbook Cover line of retro masks, the Devil’s Workshop had added the ’68 Super Demon masks.     These beauties are based on the two headed monster that graced the cover of the 1968 Famous Monsters of Filmland yearbook cover.  Made of heavy latex rubber (and that’s not an understatement,  the Devil’s Workshop masks are some of the thickest masks you’re going to find),  these two full head collector’s masks would be an incredible addition to any mask collection.  They come in either green, or gold at a $119.00 plus shipping pricetag.     All Devil’s Workshop masks are produced in limited quantities and will eventually sell out.  If you’ve got a mask collection, or just love the smell of a quality latex mask, do yourself a favor and check these...

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)   Shop These Materials on Amazon Instant Paper Mache Powder Mix 3.3 lbs Assorted 12" Latex Balloons 120-Pack 1/2" Hardware Cloth 19-Gauge 48"x100ft Galvanized Roll Aviation Tin Snips 3-pc Set (straight/left/right) USG Sheetrock Drywall Joint Compound 4.5 Gallon Cheesecloth Unbleached 36×36" (for Monster Mud draping) 1" Schedule 40 PVC Pipe 6-Pack Ratcheting PVC Pipe Cutter (up to 1-1/4") 1" PVC Furniture Fittings Assortment 12-Pack Oatey PVC Clear Cement + Primer Handy Pack Affiliate Disclosure: HauntersList.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to...

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   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edhDTaLMpng Shop These Materials on Amazon Great Stuff Gaps & Cracks Expanding Foam 12oz Professional Spray Foam Applicator Gun (2-Pack) XPS Foam Board 1" Thick Craft Sheets 4-Pack 4-in-1 Hot Wire Foam Cutter Kit 15W Loctite Power Grab Foam-Safe Construction Adhesive Realistic Replica Human Skull Statue 6.5" 5.4ft Full Size Halloween Foam Skeleton Affiliate Disclosure: HauntersList.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to...

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 glue Shop These Materials on Amazon 300 Sq Ft Stretch Spider Web with 20 Fake Spiders Giant 295" Fake Spider + Triangular Web Black Braided Fishing Line (for rigging props) Affiliate Disclosure: HauntersList.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to...

This may just be the ultimate homemade fog chiller, but it’s going to take some skill and effort to find out just how ultimate it is!  It uses the same basic concept as Froggy’s Vortex Fog Chiller, but does so much more efficiently.  Put simply, this chiller will continuously pump ice cold water through the copper piping ensuring that they remain ice cold at all times.     As the fog is sent through the stove pipe which houses the copper piping the fog is chilled and hugs the ground.  It’s the same process that occurs in a car radiator, whereby the airflow over the surface of the radiator cools the hot radiator fluid.  The real benefit of this design is that you can shoot hot fog through this all day long and it won’t run out of “coolant”.     The tutorial originates from Chuck Rice, however, I find the images on the Kickthefog version to be most helpful.  Whichever tutorial you choose, good luck, this one is definitely going to test your skills. Shop These Materials on Amazon 400W Fog Machine with Wireless & Wired Remote FogWorx Extreme High Density Fog Juice Gallon Copper Coil Refrigeration Tubing 1/8" OD x 6.5ft (fog chiller) Affiliate Disclosure: HauntersList.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to...

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 Latex Shop These Materials on Amazon 1" Schedule 40 PVC Pipe 6-Pack Ratcheting PVC Pipe Cutter (up to 1-1/4") 1" PVC Furniture Fittings Assortment 12-Pack Oatey PVC Clear Cement + Primer Handy Pack 300 Sq Ft Stretch Spider Web with 20 Fake Spiders Giant 295" Fake Spider + Triangular Web Black Braided Fishing Line (for rigging props) Affiliate Disclosure: HauntersList.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to...

On Wednesday June 19th, ScaryVisions & HaunTopic Radio will be hosting the fourth in it’s Haunt Start-up 101 series of online seminars.  The fourth installment, Scare Acting 101: Managing, Teaching, and Keeping Your Actors Alive All Season with Allen Hopps will feature scare acting techniques, as well as how to manage and keep your actors interested all season long.  The twenty dollar fee covers the two hour seminar, access to view the video recording forever, an mp3 download of the audio recording of the seminar as well as all downloads and material discussed in the seminar.  You’ll have to register to view the live event or recording.  After registration and purchase you’ll be given the instructions on how to attend the live event or the recording.   Allen Hopps brings over 25 years of haunting knowledge to this seminar.  He’s acted, designed, built, and decorated for small haunts as well as larger haunts like Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights Orlando and Spookyworld in Mass.  This is definitely worth the price of admission.    ...

Tickets for Chicago Zombie Prom 2013 are now on sale!  Zombie Army Productions will be hosting the event on July 12, 2013 at the Bottom Lounge in Chicago’s Near West Side.  Tickets are $25 until July 1st, will be $30 until July 11th, and will be $35 at the door.  All attendees must be 21 years of age, and of course, zombie attire and makeup are required (if you don’t have the makeup skills they’ll be happy to give you and on site zombie makeover for $10.00).     Chicago Zombie Prom 2013 will feature a free buffet from 9:00pm – 10:30pm, a Zombie Prom King & Queen Contest, Prize Giveaways, the musical stylings of Trash Martini as well as a Zombie DJ   Sponsors of this event include Zombie Army Productions, Q87.7, Sinister Visions, Statesville Haunted Prison and City of the Dead, Kitty Zombie, Chicago Zombie, and Elevate Chicago.   1375 West Lake StreetChicago, IL 60607(312) 666-6775bottomlounge.com‎       ...

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 Foam Shop These Materials on Amazon USG Sheetrock Drywall Joint Compound 4.5 Gallon Cheesecloth Unbleached 36×36" (for Monster Mud draping) Affiliate Disclosure: HauntersList.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to...

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 –...

It’s good to know that after the zombie apocalypse is upon us we’ll still have to worry about other things  than finding more brains…like getting a date.  And just so you’re ready when this happens, you might want to attend Zombie Prom on June 1st, 2013.  This fun fundraising event benefits Hartford Community Service Inc., the people responsible for the Terror on Rural Street haunt.  Tickets are $15 per person in advance and $20 at the door (if not sold out).  You must be 21 to attend this event, and yes, zombie attire and make-up are required (you can leave the tux at home). Zombie Prom Saturday June 1st, 2013 8:00pm – 12:00am Pikes Peak Room @ The Hartford Schauer Center $15 per Person in advance $20 at door 21 and Older Featuring: Undead DJ, Cash Bar, Free Hors D’oeuvres,Door Prizes, Zombie Prom King and Queen Contest. Buy Tickets    ...

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.     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 wallwart Shop These Materials on Amazon 12V Wiper Motor 2.5" Shaft 110 Degree (prop building) PWM DC Motor Speed Controller 9-70V 35A 45Kg High-Torque Waterproof Digital Servo Motor Affiliate Disclosure: HauntersList.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to...