Turkey Day is Coming

    That wonderful day is this Thursday. All sorts of cooking and baking should be going on right now but I just can't seem to get myself motivated to do much of it. I did manage to get 2 Pumpkin Rolls made today. Got a batch of Peppermint Bark made 2 days ago. But that's about it. Still haven't got all of the Halloween stuff put away. Not much left except for a few decorations I forgot to throw in the boxes when I was packing it all away. Still have to take Tom and the blob out to the shed, but other wise I am mostly done. Next big project is to totally clear out the craft room. Hate to do it but I am going to have to turn it into an office. I really need a new computer and the one that I have my eye on is an All-In-One desktop kind. I want it so that I can finally start playing around with all of the pictures that I have taken.  I might still have a corner for crafts but I won't have the whole room (not like the room is all that big though) besides I will have to share it with the hubby.  Oh well, guess that means that I need to get the shed in better shape and electricity ran out to it sooner than I had planned. Gee to be able to use the power tools more would be kind of nice.

An Army of Monks

Thinking of making something like this just not as elaborate

     Thinking that is going to be the theme for next Halloween. I have already decided to turn the entire front yard into a cemetery and I think that an above ground grave and a mausoleum will look quite nice with a few monks roaming about. Heck maybe even holding a burial ceremony. Figure I need 7-10 monks to do what I have in mind.
      Also have to figure out my lighting. The blue wash in the cemetery was okay but I think it needed a little more help. It just kinda looked a little flat. Thinking I need to add some green or red to spotlight a few tombstones.
      I am also going to have to step up my cemetery fencing. I am going to need a lot more than what I already have built. I figure at least another 15 panels. Not to mention corner pieces and I think I want to beef up the support posts. Not to mention a few of the sections I have need some major repairs. Geez, I need to get busy!  I could probably be able to knock out the fence panels in a day or two. The support post will take a little longer as will the corner pieces. Not to mention the cemetery gate.
     Well, if the Mayans are wrong then I have then I have 353 more days until Halloween.  Crap. time is flying by.
    

Was an Okay Night

     So, Halloween has come and gone. The kids seemed to have a good time at the Kid's Party. Had to have it inside because of the weather. They had fun trying to bust the pumpkin through the paneling in the dining room during Pumpkin Bowling. Some of those little ones sure throw a pumpkin! But all in all I think that they had a good time. I know they left here all jacked up on sugar, that's for sure. They made my cotton candy machine work overtime.
     Didn't really put as much effort into decorating the yard this year. Between the weather and feeling bad for my friends up in the northeast my heart just wasn't really in it. But what I did get out made everyone happy. So many people wanted to just wander around the yard. Was afraid to really let them though because of all of the extension cords that were laying around, I didn't want any one to trip and hurt themselves.  Really have to work on battery operated spot lights for next year.

     Total Trick or Treater count was around 45 which was much better than last year. Next year though I am putting out signs to try to draw more in.

Getting Ready For The Kids

     Not much going on right now except getting ready for the Kid's party Saturday. Got the funnel cake mix out, got the sugar for the cotton candy machine out, got some of the games ready. Still need to go buy the hot dogs and buns though.  The girls and I went to the Dollar Tree tonight to get little toys and what not for the goodie bags for the kids. Decided that rather than doing prizes for each game that they played we would just do a goodie bag for each kid. Figured it was a fairer way to give out the toys, this way everyone goes home with the same amount.
     Saturday is going to be one heck of a day though. Party from 1-4 then out to the maze from 5-???? Hopefully we will have a big turn out for the maze. Not sure how much help I will be though with this sprained ankle, but I will do what I can.

Six More Days

     Wow, just six more days until THE NIGHT we have all been waiting for. And here I haven't posted anything in 14 days. Boy, time sure does fly when you are busy.  At least I have gotten a few things accomplished. I have all but 3 tombstones out and in place. The 3 that are not in the yard are because the glue is still drying on them. Well actually 2 are dry now but I haven't trimmed them up yet. I still need to find 1 more small piece of PVC pipe so that I can put the last big one out also. The grave yard is pretty much set up except for the Spanish moss (which will wait for the last day due to the weather) and the lights. The Ghost Sisters are out, just waiting on their fire (day of stuff), Tim is waiting to be dressed and put out, then the rest of it goes out the day of.
     Managed to squeeze in a day to take photos of a friend and her boyfriend. We went to one of the local parks to do the pictures. Got some really nice ones of them by the water and on the bridge. Wish I had a better computer so that I could load a few photoshop programs. Maybe someday.
     Kinda going slow this year because of the weather and injuries. The weather has beat the crap out of my tombstones this year. We have had some pretty gusty winds here.  Then just when I think I will start setting up it rains. It looks like set up on Halloween is going to be interesting since I sprained my ankle Saturday night. Some times I am such a klutz.
     Got my niece's fingers ready for shipping. This year I am just sending them the carved fingers and the gel icings. Figured that they would get a kick out of "painting" them themselves. They both are chomping at the bit waiting. I get daily facebook messages asking about them. Going to go mail them today.
      My best friend's son called me last night and asked if I would do his Zombie makeup for school today. That was fun, really had a chance to play with the liquid latex. He almost threw up when he seen himself in the mirror. I take that as a compliment. There were some things that I should have done different and could have done better, but he was happy.
     Then to make me feel old, my oldest son turns 24 today. Still can't believe that he has been in the Navy for a year now. Seems like only yesterday he was in High School. But we are soooooooooooo proud of him.
     Well gotta run, not a whole lot of time left and still a whole lot of stuff to do.

Spreading the Halloween Bug

     Well, we worked the corn maze again this past Saturday.  Wasn't going to do it but Beck's needed the help (moral support) so we did it. I didn't actually do a scene, I just sat with Beck's son while he played Jigsaw's puppet. Haven't quite gotten the point across to him that he can't take his mask off until AFTER everyone has gone past his scene.  But all is good. When Beck's husband seen how easy it was to build some of the props he got excited and now he has the bug.
     Beck's husband has been surfing some of the sites that I use for my props. I also told him that he really needed to get on HauntForum.com. I have found that I spend more time there than anywhere else now. I love the fact that everyone on there is so willing to share their knowledge. It definitely saves a whole lot of headaches because most of them have tried every way possible to make some of these props. Now he is looking at working on some props during the off season (not that there is an off season for prop building).
     On another note. Got the tombstones in place and two of the long pieces of fencing up. Got a short piece propped up where it needs to go but not screwed in or on it's rebar.  Going to try to finish the fence tomorrow but I only have a limited amount of time. My husband has something planned for us tomorrow. Oh Boy!!!

Been a Little Busy

     So I have been a little busy lately. I have been working on my cemetery fence, Tim, the Stump, planning a Pampered Chef Halloween party, a kid's Halloween carnival, decorating the house for the season and a whole lotta other stuff. I am pooped. All of this and I haven't taken the time to update this blog. Shame on me, I know. But at least I have gotten some things done.  The Stump is finally painted. Not exactly happy with the paint job but I will get better with practice.  Tim's body is almost put together. Need to get a fun noodle to pad his shoulders and finish his hands. Found a relatively simple way to make hands with wire and Bic pens from Haunt Forum. Really neat site for ideas and help. Really didn't know that I was going to be building more cemetery fence until I started putting it up on the 3rd. Oh well. Now if it would just quit raining so that I can get out there and get working.  Seems to be the same song and dance every year before Halloween, waiting on the rain to stop.
     Looks like I will be working the Haunted Corn Maze this year. The couple that ran it before are not supposed to be there, which is the only way I would agree to go back. My friend and her husband (neither of which are that into Halloween) are running it this year and she has already had people back out on her. The Maze opens tomorrow night and 3 people called her this week to back out. Gee if you didn't want to do it then why did you volunteer? But I am going to be a real friend and stand in for her. This should just make the hubby sooooo happy.

Did I Mention I Hate Rain

     I hate rain. Not really, but in this case I do. I have to finish painting the stump but I can't because it is raining. I need the Claycrete to finish drying on the blob so that I can do the other side, but it won't because it is raining. I need to find another branch to do the final body guard, but it is raining. So in this case I hate rain. Yes I know that we need the rain in order for the leaves to change color instead of just dropping off the trees.  I know the ground needs the moisture so that when I go to put the rebar down for the fence it won't be like trying to pound through concrete. But I want to get things done.
     I did sit down this morning and redo the list of things I need to get done before the 30th. You know, just 13 short days from now. Wouldn't you know most all of them involve being outside to accomplish. See I don't have a garage or work shed. The shed we do have is more of a storage shed than a work shed. There is no electricity to it, so in order to run the saws and whatnot I have to run extension cords outside. Besides, it is so narrow that if I want to use the table saw I have to take it outside. One of these days, when I am rich and famous, we will build me a work shed. Until then I have to make do with my canopy outside.
     So like I said I revamped the list from before. It looks more like an outline than a actual list, but now I know exactly what needs to be done on each project. Now if it would just quit raining, I could get started again.

Hunt and Gather

     Today was a hunt and gather day. I spent the day hunting for materials and gathering all my stuff into piles. Got some foam to make the plaque for the stump, another skeleton, more glow bracelets, and a skeleton sock monkey. Now I have several different piles for each project laying around.
     Got the plaque cut out, sanded and carved. Not exactly happy with it though. The foam happened to be the white stuff with all the little beads. Doesn't exactly cut, sand or carve the way you want it to. But then you probably won't see the plaque that well to begin with so I am just gonna go with it. Now to glue it on and paint it. Wouldn't you know it, I can't find any gorilla glue. So that is going to have to wait til tomorrow.
     Pulled out the canvas and stencils for the Ouija board. Decided I really didn't like the Ole English stencils that I got, I have to find more stencils. Thinking that the Ouija board just might go on the back burner once again. But that is okay, it just gives me more time to complete other projects. Of course if the weather holds out a little longer that is. Thinking tomorrow might be a good time to work on rebuilding Tim.  Sounds like a good indoors job.

Another Project Completed

     It took awhile but I finally got the PVC pipe candles done.  I didn't think I was ever going to find flat ivory spray paint that didn't cost more than $5 a can. But now that is one project that I can mark off as completed.  Now to complete the rest of them.  I am having trouble finding a piece of foam to make the plaque for the stump. I really don't want to have to get an entire sheet of insulation in order to just cut a small piece off for this project. Granted I would have the rest of the board for tombstones but I am not ready to start any more projects right now. I just want to complete the ones that I have started.
    Tomorrow I have a Dr.'s appointment so I am going to stop at Hobby Lobby to see if they might have something the size I am looking for. Plus I have to get some gesso so that I can start on the Ouija board that I have been putting off for a while now.  Hopefully I can dash in and dash out without seeing anything that catches my eye. I could go broke in that place.
     So, the list of things to complete goes like this:
     1.) Rebuild Tim 
     2.) Make plaque for stump
     3.) Make Ouija board 
     4.) Make last bodyguard for Neville
     5.) Make a better burning embers for cauldron
     6.) Make base for cornfield
     7.) Decorate more treat bags
     8.) Claycrete blob (need to turn it into a tree stump)   Some of these things will only take a few mins to do but others are gonna take some time.  Oh well, the Ouija board and the blob can wait for another year if need be.  Hummm, this list isn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. I just might make it after all.

Where Did Time Sneak Off To?

    I could have sworn that it had only been a day or two since my last post.  Man, I am slakin again.  Well at least I have finally got my $30 5 foot skeleton from Walgreen's.  People on some of the forums have been ranting and raving about these things for 2 years now. And wouldn't you know it the Walgreen's near us never carried them until this year.  Needless to say I snatched one up as soon as I seen them.
    I have two PVC pipe pieces to finish hot gluing. then I will have five left to paint and the PVC candles will be done. Still looking for a "plaque" for the stump. I think I might have one in the stuff I already have but I am not sure.  Will have to dig in the boxes tomorrow to see. Once I get the plaque done then I can finish the stump.
     Found the plans for a decent fog chiller on the Haunt Forum. Finally got most all of the parts for it except the box itself.  Believe it or not it uses a container that kitty litter comes in.  Just need to change Boo's box one more time then I will have the container to.
     I also started to repaint the pumpkin board. It kinda faded in the sun, plus I never was really happy with the paint job to begin with. So it gets an update before the kid's party next month.
     Also made it to the Greek Festival in Nashville today to boot.  So I guess I have been productive the last few days. Opa!

Life Got in the Way Again

     I still haven't got the stump painted yet. Everytime I get a chance to paint it starts raining.  I did manage to get 10 of the 12 PVC candles dripped today though. Just that much more to paint when I get a break in the weather.  I probably could have gotten it done this morning but I ran errands instead. Finally got to Lowes and got the PVC pipe I needed for the fog chiller and to remake Tim. Picked up the rest of the stuff I had on my list of things to do before I can play. Then had to take my truck back to the shop.
     I have been having problems with my truck for some time now but it finally got to the point where I was going to just shoot it and put it out of my misery. Hopefully they can get it fixed right this time. Otherwise I find a new shop. Which really sucks cause I really like these guys and they always try to cut us a break. Oh well, life has a funny way of sticking its tongue out at ya.

Rain Delay Again

     Didn't get to paint the stump today. It rained off and on all day. I did get the candles trimmed and the holes for the tea lights cut. Didn't get any further than that because I can't find any of my coarser sand paper. Found the super fine sandpaper of course. And I didn't make it to Lowes today either. Sooooo, after getting the hubby off to work tomorrow I get to run around like a chicken with its head cut off. But then that is nothing unusual.

Painting Tomorrow

     Yay!! The Stump is finally dry! I can start painting tomorrow! Which may or may not happen, it depends on the weather. It is supposed to rain again tomorrow. In fact it is supposed to rain until Tuesday. Oh well, everyone goes back to school/work then so that's okay. It will be nice to work uninterrupted. When it comes to painting I prefer to be left completely alone.
     I have 12 PVC candles curing right now. Once they have had a chance to set overnight then I can start carving out the hole for the battery operated tea light and add the hot glue melts down the side. I kinda like making these, gives me a chance to zone out and just focus on the drips.  I have a few sets of these already but the graveyard just looks creepier with a bunch of them around the stones. Besides I cut the pipe last year and never got around to making them.
     It looks like a trip to Lowes is on my list of must do tomorrow. Need to get more PVC pipe, paint, and Son O tube. Also have to look for a ceiling fan for the youngest's room. And to think only 58 more days til Halloween and 28 more days until I start setting up the yard. Oh boy.

Still Waiting

     I knew it was going to take more than 2 days for the mache to dry, but all of this rain isn't helping any. Oh well, that will give me a little more time to pick out the colors I want to use on the tombstone. Have a few other things that I can work on in the mean time. I have 12 lengths of PVC pipe to turn into candles, a room to get cleaned out and then the normal day to day housework. Figure the candles I should get knocked out tomorrow since the Great Stuff is supposed to work better when it is humid outside. Oh the things you learn when you network with other Halloween enthusiasts.
    Should really go shopping tomorrow to scout out the new products Halloween Express is offering this year and to see if Target has started to put their Halloween stuff out yet but I really don't want to fight the crowds.  Express just opened today, its a holiday weekend and a payday weekend so it is a little busy out by the mall right now.  Think I might go Tuesday after everyone goes back to work. We'll see, I have to go run household errands so I might not have enough time. I do know that I am going to Lowes tomorrow no matter what.

Waiting On It To Dry

    I finally got enough layers of a base on the tombstone that I felt comfortable to try the "bark".  Mind you that this was the first time that I have ever used pulp paper mache.  The directions were a little ambiguous so I was plenty nervous. I had an idea of what I wanted to do with this pulp mache but it didn't want to do what I had in mind. Which actually turned out for the better because I really like how it looked after I got started.  Now I just have to wait for it to dry. Which can take 1-2 days according to the bag. I am thinking more like 3-5 because of how thick it is. In the mean time I need to make the plaque for the front of the base, pick out the colors to use for the stone (looks like another trip to the cemetery for some close up pics of the stones) and find another box so that I can start on the next tombstone. Gee, I might have a revamped graveyard this year after all.

UGH!!!! Weather

      I started to get things piled together to take outside so that I can put a few more layers of paper mache on my tombstone, then I looked outside.  Well there goes that idea. Some pretty nasty looking storm clouds are rolling in and I can smell the rain. Oh well, I guess I can try to do some tonight inside, it just takes so long for it to dry. 
      It is hard to believe that in just 36 short days I will start putting the graveyard up as well as some of the other props.  Tick-tock.

Hockey Day

     I took today off of prop building to have a hockey day. It was the annual Preds Day At The Zoo. So me and the youngest went. Got our usual free tickets for preseason game and other swag but didn't bother getting in line to do the player autographs. I had already gotten my picture taken with Kevin Klien at the Skate of the Union and wasn't really interested in getting Mason's autograph. Besides by the time we got there the line was already way to long. Not worrying about it though. I go to enough practices that I can get their autographs anytime.  Besides I really didn't have anything that I wanted them to autograph. So Monday it is back at it.

Finally Started

Boo insist on being in all photos

     Yes! I finally got started on the tombstone. In fact I got 3 layers of mache' done today. I probably would have gotten more done but between the humidity rising with the incoming storm clouds and it being real close to dinner time I had to stop. Not to mention I had to remove the stones at the bottom.  They were a little disagreeable with the whole mache process. Looking at it now I think I am going to leave them off or just turn the base into one big stone.  Not sure yet. I seriously doubt I will get anything done on it tomorrow because it is going to be Preds day at the zoo.  And you know I love my hockey as much as I do Halloween. Besides I have 36 more days until I start setting up the yard.
     I think 3 to 5 more layers should be enough then I can use the paper clay to make the bark. I think just one vine will be all I use on this one and just a small plaque on the base with a name and dates. Simple and understated.

Nothing Done Today

     Soooo, I sort of took another day off today.  Went shopping instead.  Looked through Goodwill, Tuesday Morning and a few other stores to see what goodies I could find.  Came out pretty empty handed.  I mean I did get some sculpting tools and a small witch, but other than that, the pickings were pretty slim.  I guess Sept. 1st is gonna be the day that the rest of the places start putting out their Halloween stuff.  I do need to hit up the Goodwill across town though.  I heard that is where the wedding dresses are sold.  See a prop that I so want to recreate.  Actually there are two that I want to do but I think that the one I seen the other day would be easier to do right now.  All it is is a wedding dress with lights under it and hands and arms coming up from the ground underneath it.  I know that description doesn't really help you get an idea of what I am talking about but once I get it done you will understand.  Simple yet creepy.  I think that is gonna be the motto this year. Simple yet creepy.  Now I just have to find more arms.

Taking a Day Off

     So I am taking a day off from prop building today. I have a good reason, it is my baby boy's 21st birthday today. It is so hard to believe that he is now a legal adult.

Now the Frame is Done

     So I got some newspapers today (the free ones that nobody ever picks up) and started making the strips for the paper mache.  Then of course I remembered that I hadn't made the stones that I wanted for the bottom of the tombstone.  So got started on those and as my luck would have it, I ran out of newspaper.  Made a quick dash out again and completely cleaned out 2 bins of newspapers. BUT, I can happily say that I now have the framework completely finished. So tomorrow starts the mache process, in between celebrating my youngest's 21st birthday. (Really I am not that old, He is just catching up to me.) Oh boy what fun!!!!

Getting Things Done Yay!!!

Burning Embers

     Sorry it has been two weeks since the last post. (Why does that sound like I am in confession?) BUT I have got the burning embers for the large cauldron done, went to the cemetery for an inspirational photo shoot (got some really cool tombstones) and now have the framework completed for my very own tree stump tombstone. So its not like I was completely slacking off. Besides I had two hockey related events to go to. I still need to fine tune the burning embers though. Not liking how the cauldron is sitting on it.

The inspiration

Frame for the tombstone

      I say that I have the framework done but then I just realized that I wanted it to look like the tombstones that I seen in the cemetery. Now I have to frame out some rocks for the bottom of the stump. Well at least the stump part is complete. Rocks are easy to make so it won't take me more than an hour or so to make them and position them around the bottom. The only foreseeable problem is the plaque for the inscription. I am thinking about using foam board but I am not quite sure yet. Like my Mom says "We'll see when we get there." I do know that I don't plan on putting as many vines on my version. More pictures to come as I make progress.

New Friend for Norville

      So just got finished making a new prop to go with Norville. Going to work on it's twin tomorrow. Both the hubby and youngest were kind of surprised when I told them I was leaving it like it is. To me it kinda has that old Indian burial ground/warning totem vibe going on. Would love to give credit to who's design they are but I can't for the life of me remember where I seen them at. So who ever you are Thank you and I hope I did them justice. He stands over 7 feet tall and was super easy to make. If the mosquitoes hadn't been trying to bleed me dry I would have made his twin tonight. Oh well.

Shopping

     So I have done a little shopping trying to get stuff to help build some new props. Pickings are pretty slim right now but Halloween Express has their big Pumpkin building/tent/dome/whatever you want to call it up so things should start getting better. Finally found a bird cage that looks old at a decent price so that will be a nice addition to the either the Witch's brew table or the Gypsy table. Haven't decided yet. I thought I would add a bit more tulle to the hat to make it a little more my style and I just couldn't pass up the figurines.

     Dollar Tree had some plastic "door knockers" that I thought would be good to use for tombstones since I have NO artistic ability when it comes to drawing/carving. I missed out on getting the little shelf sitters last year and was so happy when I seen them again this year. 
     It feels good to get back into the swing of Halloween. Now if the weather would just start cooling off I will really be one happy camper.

So it has once again been forever and a day since my last post. I really got to get better at this. Lots has gone on since the last post, so rather than try to get you caught up just know that the Halloween party was a success, and Halloween was a little better than last year.

Decided to try my hand at selling some of my Halloween crafts next year. We have an open air market downtown from May to October on Saturdays that is specially for homemade/homegrown items. I have gone there many times over the last two years to purchase jellies and veggies and have yet to see anything truly Halloween related. Figured that it was about time to show this town what homemade Halloween looks like. Hopefully they won't want me to sell from May to July and just let me do from August thru the end of the market. We shall see.

Getting Closer

So only 87 more days to Halloween. Okay, not so bad. I have completed my burning embers for my smaller cauldron. I will start work on some skeleton looking props tomorrow as well as the base for the corn stalks. Still have to find some vines for Norville. The youngest has stressed that he needs some "beefing" up. Silly boy was talking making pants for poor Norville. Norville doesn't need pants, he's a scarecrow. But I do agree, he does need some "beefing" up. Also need to rework Tim while I am at it. So I guess this year won't bring out any new props, but maybe some refining of current ones.  Gee, getting lazy lately.
I have been lurking about in the stores lately looking for Halloween stuff. Dollar Tree has started putting out their stuff. Not much to choose from but I did get some Creepy Cloth from there. Michael's in Nashville has a pitiful amount out right now. Hobby Lobby on the other had has a whole bunch of Fall stuff, just not so much in the Halloween portion. But then again it is only August. Only 87 more days. But who is counting?