Graves R Us

Halloween is just around the corner so I have been working to move the graves from the backyard (they were in the back for Sydney's party) to the front, and beef up the decorations. I have much, much more to do, but it's starting to look pretty good! :)

Years ago I made a tombstone to add to our collection from simple plywood. It's the large one with "Carrie White" written on it. I decided that Carrie needed a hand coming out of the ground, so I whipped one up using a rubber glove stuffed with tissues and a toilet paper roll for her lower arm/wrist. I've always liked making things with paper-mache. I stapled a long wire to a small piece of wood that's inserted inside the arm. To dry I just stabbed it into the ground in the sunshine. This is Carrie's hand, palm up.

 

Once I painted it with a combo of white, black, and blue paint, I let it sit in the sun another hour. Then I dripped and smeared Riding Hood Red ink on her hand, and added some fake nails with hot glue. Click on the image below and zoom in.....not too shabby, right!?!

The hand isn't waterproof though. I have had to rescue it a few times from the rain, but that's a small price to pay for this little detail. I could probably have coated it with something, but I'm not overly worried about it. When it ends up weathered I might like it even better, or I can just make myself a new improved version!

So, anyway, we only had 5 graves that I was moving to the front, and on Sunday I was eyeballing a couple of small plywood scraps in the garage. They were just the right size for a few new headstones! My original DIY grave isn't anything that great, but after cutting and painting 3 new ones I had a "DOH!" moment. Why not STAMP the names on them!? Ta da...

Jack's headstone is actually embossed with VersaMark and Gold Embossing Powder! It's got good visibility in daylight, and at night with the red spotlight it really shimmers (pic below)! I tried Silver EP on Annie Wilke's grave. It's not as easy to read from every angle, but it looks pretty cool too! Silver would be FABULOUS on a plain black headstone. :)

The third gravestone is Norman Bates...bet you recognize that one! lol I stamped his name with Real Red Craft ink and embossed with Clear EP. I was pretty happy with it that way, but Gabe (the husband) wanted to outline the letters in white, so he did. They are certainly each unique!

So here's a trivia question for you. Do you know who Carrie White is? If so, do you know what she has in common with Jack and Annie? Leave me a comment, I'd love to hear what you think!

Can't wait to crank up the fog machine!!! Happy Haunting!