Graveyard Statues on a Dollar Store Budget

Here is yet another amazing video tutorial from Stiltbeast Studios on how to make a cheap graveyard statue without the need for monster mud.

Lost in Schlock: Top Ten Personal Faves of 2010 That You Should Check Out

Since everyone seems to be doing their own top ten lists for 2010, I thought that I would share a top ten of my personal fave tutorials and links for the year. 

10.  Monster Mud - Admittedly, I first mentioned this devilish concoction in 2008 .  However, in 2010 there was a huge spike of home haunters and prop builders wanting to know the recipe who found their way here.  So, it has a special place on my list for 2010.

9.  How to build a Weeping Angel - for most who know me, I am a huge Doctor Who fan and avid viewer of it's latest incarnations.  The Weeping Angel from the most recent seasons has to be one of the Doctor's creepiest monsters to date and a personal fave of mine.  Therefore, this tutorial on how to build a replica of the Weeping Angel certainly earsn a spot on this list.

8.  How to Build a Paper Mache Cave Wall - as vast as the internet is and the information it holds one of the hardest tutorials to find is how to build a fake interior of a cave. Who wouldn't want to build a interior cave set!?  They are so friggin' cool!

Also since it uses paper mache it's far safer than the infamous cave set that Bob Burns and friends had built for one of his annual Halloween haunts.  The cave that Bob Burns built involved gallons of rubber cement glue and foil and lots of inhaled fumes.  You can imagine how they begun to feel after hours of inhaling the glue.

7.  Build a Rocket Pack - This tutorial from Backyard FX just brings happy thoughts of serials like Rocket Man or the comic book The Rocketeer.  It is certainly one of the funnest props to build and who wouldn't want a rocket pack!?

6. How to Build a Aliens Power Loader - This tutorial is one of the coolest uses of left over styrofoam that I have ever seen and is an amazing build.  In fact it was a tutorial that was so hip it spawned a second tutorial and a Alien Queen Replica how-to for the completest out there.

5. Edible Raw Meat - One of the coolest tutorials to come out this year was the one on how to make edible raw meat.  For every cannibal or zombie movie or any film in which there is raw meat that needs to be safely consumed there is always the question of how it's going to happen.  Now the answer can be found in the form of a neat video tutorial.

4.  Steve Johnson on Youtube - For a movie and FX geek like me, Steve Johnson on Youtube is super awesome.  Each video shares a treasure trove of information on how some of the puppets and VFX were pulled off in many favorite cult films including Ghostbusters and Fright Night, and also contain some behind-the-scenes stories and humor as well.  It is one of the coolest channels on Youtube today and deserves a spot on my list.

3. Tombstones on a Dime - There is a large number of tutorials out there that show you how to build a fake tombstone but there are fewer decent ones that show you how to pull it off on a zero budget.  Dave Lowe (prop maker genius) has a turorial on how to recycle a Fed-Ex Box into a cheap tombstone that actually looks good and is even weathered nicely.

2. Articulated Wings - Finding tutorials on articulated tentacles or hands is easy, but finding a tutorial on articulated wings is nearly impossible.  This is why I dig this tutorial and fully appreciate it.  Besides, who woudln't want wings that can actually unfold? 

1. The RPF Dollar Store Lightsaber Challenge - this was one of my fave links for 2010.  It embodies what I Iove about creating props for low-budget films: it's cheap, uses found parts, and looks brilliant.  It is hugely inspirational on what can be done for only a few dollars and a bit of ingenuity.  It certainly earns a top spot on my list.

Tombstones on a Dime

Propmaker pro Dave Lowe, who I have mentioned before, has just posted a awesome tutorial on turning a Fedex box into a low-cost tombstone.  It's perfect for anyone wanting a yard haunt or in need of some tomstones for their zombie movie but are low on funds. 

Go here for the full how-to.

How to Carve Tombstones from Insulation Foam

Apologies all around for the lack of posts here.  I'm in the middle of a few prop builds among other things.  Blogging is kinda going to be a bit slow until after Halloween.

In the meantime check out this nifty tutorial on carving tombstones out of insulation foam.  

Direct link.

Build a Obelisk Tombstone for Less Than Six Bucks

Here is a nifty, albeit brief, look at how someone made a obelisk tombstone using foamcore bought from a dollar store and styrofoam scraps.  Go here to find out more.

Learn How to Build a Tombstone

As you may recall I mentioned a great resource for any prop maker or home haunter out there from Terra's Lair (scaryladyvideos) Youtube channel.  In the video below Terra shows you how to build a tombstone.



Want to know what monster mud is?  Go here for more details.

(h/t to Haunters Digest)

EVERYTHING YOU WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT BUILDING FAKE TOMBSTONES

Most yard haunts or spooky horror flicks are not complete without a few fake tombstones. So here is a few places to go to to find out how to make your own tombstones:

Keeba's Tombstones - by far one of the best tutorials on the subject.

Build a Beloved Tombstone

Build a Grim Reaper Stature/Tombstone

How to use spray paint and masking tape to etch a fake tombstone

A cool tutorial over at Stolloween on creating character tombstones