Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Graveyards for dummies, Pt. 1
OK - so I've started my Hallowe'ening. It is undoubtedly my favorite holiday of the year.

  1. I get to craft my ass off
  2. I get to give away candy
  3. I get to dress up
  4. It's very morbid and dark (I was soooo goth in high school.)

Now that I have a house, all of this has been cranked up a notch or two.

No way in hell am I going to be that lame ass house that gives out pencils. I bought candy. Real chocolate name-brand candy. Ohhhhh yeah.

Of course, husband has been picking through the bags, so no doubt I'm going to have to go back to Tarzhay in the coming weeks.

Two weeks ago I pulled out every Martha Stewart Living October issue. Since I own every issue except the premiere, this was not an exaggeration (dirty little secret!!!).

I sat on my couch, post-its in hand searching for all of her best and creepiest ideas, because frankly, if Martha knows anything, it's how to do creepy.

I decided I would do graveyard this year.

First: purchase polystyrene insulation at your local building supply/garden store (OSH, HomeDepot, Lowe's, etc.). It comes in sheets of 8' x 5'.

An 8x5 foot sail is neither easy to get to the cash register nor into one's car. I broke it up into quarters in the parking lot. This is a very noisy activity (sounds a lot like a gun) but well worth it. (By the way, if there had been photos of me trying to get it to the cash register, they would have been priceless. Thank god the only cameras were store security and I'm sure they've seen worse.)

Trace out the shape of your tombstones. I looked online and found some awesome stones at this website. Also, just a google image search for gravestones is a great resource.

Polystyrene is very, very messy. Cut the polystyrene with a drywall saw. Quick and super easy. Cut out your tombstones in a place that you don't care about having little white styrofoam thingies all over (grammar much?). I worked in the alley behind my house.

Martha recommends using sandpaper to smooth out the edges once they're cut. Personally, I think leaving them a little raw looks more authentic.

We had some left over gray latex concrete paint from home improvement projects. It was perfect. Sponged it on with one of those loofah looking sponges. It dried quickly and very easily. You could leave it like that and it would look OK in the dark but you know I gotta go one or two steps further. I added stone texture spray paint in a gray stone. Perfection on a stick!

While all of this was drying, I got out the three rolls of flower bed fencing (had for 10 bucks also at Lowe's). I laid them out on the concrete also in the alley and took a can of black spray paint to them. I didn't get every nook and cranny because it actually looks a little more spooky sort of done haphazardly.

These dried super fast since it was a nice day and I only sprayed a thin layer of paint.

Next: decorations, epitaphs and setting up the boneyard!

Labels: ,

Stumble It!


10 Comments:

Blogger MonkeyGurrrrrl said...

:) I wanna be you when I grow up.

Blogger dale-harriet said...

ME too, Monkeygurrrrl...or otherwise I wish I lived next door of you, Faith. I'm going to dude up the place over the weekend, and I've invited the little grandkids over the Sunday before. They've never SEEN Grammaw like they're going to see Grammaw that day! I mean to wear costumes every day I work at the Museum. (But I'm going to be good, I yam I yam, and not try to proselytize any Wiccan ner nuthin' into my Good Lutheran grandkins.) No, they have be older before they realize Grammaw is a Jewish Heathen Pagan Bear-worshipping Unrepentent Former Hippie Dudess. :cackle: Can't wait to see next pictures!

Blogger goodmamajama said...

I am nauseous with envy at your crafting time.

Be my legs, Eleanor...craft for me!

Jane

Blogger MonkeyGurrrrrl said...

Hee-hee. Okay, I wanna be D-H, too. Only without the self control!!

Blogger Annika said...

I am so freakin' excited about this graveyard that I just... can't even type properly. I can't tell you how many typos I have corrected. I might need to bring Sam over for a lesson in decorating, since Mama only has three years' worth of Martha.

Blogger Faith said...

I really should have everyone over...

It's getting really spoooooky at my house!!

hee hee!

Blogger Ellen Bloom said...

Are you going to add some deceased Burbank notables to the gravestone names? Inquiring minds need to know. Sounds faboo.

Blogger Faith said...

excellent question. So far all stones have been taken by individuals somewhat...closer. but I might add a few more as the day draws near...you never know!

Blogger Unknown said...

halloween is my favorite holiday too:)

Blogger ~Molly~ said...

Can't wait to see your costume!

I deocorated the house about 2 weeks ago, well the fireplace anyway. We don't do the front yard til closer to Halloween, too many bratty kids in the neighborhood.

Next Friday we are going to our first real Samhain party ever, I am so excited!!! It is hosted by a Wiccan High Priestess aquaintance of mine. I imagine it will be a high-ho good time! Hubby is going as a 40s-50s cowboy, too cute! I'm going as myself- dark oak woman - with who-knows-what as a costume. We only have a week, guess I need to find something quick!!

Molly

ps, I did manage to make two cutie patootie jack o' lanterns finally. pics on my blog.

Post a Comment

<< Home