Running Out of Time

     Well, for a while there I was beginning to think that I had jinxed myself.  Here it is the end of July and I have one project almost completed.  I have 42 candles made and the wood bought and cut for the pillars. I decided to shelve a few ideas for next year though.  I don't think that I can get the seance table made this year in time nor some of the other small projects that I had been thinking about.  The Eyes prop is coming along quite well though. I just need to seal them, find a way to weigh them down, then load them into the container.  Of course I have to finish distressing the container and add the hoses to it. I finally got my material over to the neighbor for her to start on my skirt. Got the velveteen and materials for the corset.  Spent a little more than I really wanted to on that but at least I will be able to wear it with several different costumes.  Still at a loss for what all we really need for the maze. I am guessing that we really need to take a day and go through what we do have and assign it to specific scenes.  Once that is done I think we can just breeze through everything else. It is scary being this far into my props and it not being the beginning of October. In fact I think maybe I did jinx myself. By being this far into it no one is going to start selling props this year.  I mean, good grief people, it is almost August.

   

Eyes

     Well I finally got up the courage to try my hand at painting today. I started work on my Jar of Eyes prop.  I found the idea on The Mad Lab site.  The one there is a heck of a lot more detailed than what I will be able to do this year but, I have a feeling that this will be a work in progress for a few years until I am totally happy with it. This is my first time trying to freehand paint.  It took a few tries before I got comfortable with what I was trying to do.  I think I finally got the hang of it by the time I got to the last ping pong ball in the pack.  Now I just need to go and get more ping pong balls and some more paints.  I am not quite happy with the blues that I have.  I also need to pick up some tubing to glue to the lid.  Not exactly sure on how I want to attach the tubing but I just know that I won't be happy until there is tubes coming from the lid.  Funny but never even thought about tubes coming from it when I originally thought about making this.

I think with a little more practice I will have some really convincing eyeballs.  Although no one is probably gonna get that close to see them.  But still, like my son says, I am an elitist when it comes to my props. If it isn't perfect and realistic I am not happy with it.  The real challenge is going to be finding a gel like substance that won't eat the paint off the eyes for them to be suspended in.  The tutorial said to use hair gel but I haven't been able to find a large enough jar that doesn't cost a lot. I was thinking hand sanitizer but I will have to do some trials with the paint first. Either that or go ask the gurus at Garage of Evil. (Those guys and gals are my heroes!) 

    I have to admit though I am starting to feel the crunch. Just 99 days til Halloween and 69 days until opening day of the maze and nothing is really done.  I think I am just gonna concentrate on the props for my scene and maybe a few tombstones for the graveyard. I think the butcher scene is covered and I know that the Saw scene is good.  As for the rest of the scenes I have no idea as to what is gonna be done.  Guess it is time to start pestering people about another prop build day.

Time Flies

   Well it has been a few days since our little get together.  It went over rather well. Got 30 more candles started, should get the last 2 done tomorrow.  They really had a good time making the tombstones. Got some really interesting tombstones. Problem now is that none of the tombstones are completed. They all need a second coat of Dryloc and then to be painted and I don't see that happening anytime soon.  At least we had more people show up than we originally thought we would.   I got some supplies the other day to start on pillars for the cemetery but I just haven't gotten around to building them yet.  I am hoping that I can get them framed and coated with the foam board in just one day. 

    Was on Garage of Evil this week asking them to help me with a Ouija Board project. If you are a haunter and are not a member then you should stop what you are doing and go join up! I would be so lost without that group! Not only did they give me pointers but they also sent me links to sites that actually showed me what to do.  It is amazing how helpful and supportive the haunt community is.  I warned them that I was electronically retarded but they were still willing to help. I just need to find a motor to run the whole thing. I wonder if they will suggest some motors also? If not I will try to figure that one out on my own. Don't want to push my luck.