Halloween Project Inspiration

This time of year, I always start scowring the internet, creeping around my favorite haunts looking for inspiration for new projects for my haunt. 

Pinterest has been a HUGE source for inspiration.  There are a ton of fellow haunters on there, sharing the cool things that they've done or that they have found on the web.

The techinques that are jumping out at me the most this year, are masking tape and chicken wire ghosts. The initial allure is that they look amazing, but then looking further into it, the materials are relatively cheap and they are light weight. 

Although there are a lot of pictures out there of amazing creations of both mediums, it took a little digging to actually find tutorials that revealed how the creations were constructed. 

Here are some amazing pictures of the projects:

Packing tape and cheesecloth ghost:

http://pinterest.com/pin/74661306295207988/

(Image Source)

 Packing Tape Ghosts:

http://pinterest.com/pin/232428030739805577/

(Image Source)

This link on Pinterest also has a brief explaination of how the person who had found the image, made her own version.

Here is a great, basic packing tape sculputre tutorial.  I'm sure that we haunters can dream up how to do the rest :)

Packing Tape Sculpture Tutorial

With the right lighting, I can imagine that these creations would be spooktacular!!!

Chicken Wire Ghosts:

Now, this next one is a REALLY convincing ghost.  This is totally what I'd expect a ghost to look like :)

http://pinterest.com/pin/233835405621907430/

(Image Source)

Below is the tutorial which is basically pictures, but I think it shows, that this thing was put together in pieces and not just one big sheet, as I had originally thought.

Tutorial

It doesn't seem that there is an exact tutorial for this one, but after looking at other chicken wire sculpture tutorials, I think that we have an idea of how this can be achieved.  I think the hardest part would be to get the skirt to look so effortless. 

 From what I've seen of the sculptures made just of chicken wire, it's important to twist the cut ends of the wire together to make invisible seams.  These creations are definately better when the chicken wire is not overlapping.

Chicken Wire and Cheesecloth Ghosts:

I really like the style of this one, because the cheesecloth is used as the clothing, but the chicken wire is used to show the face.  That contrast of the different, delicate materials, differentiates the clothes from the actual ghost. 

http://pinterest.com/pin/344103227749521363/

(Image Source)

Below is the actual tutorial for the ghosts in this picture.  This one is pretty decent.

Chicken Wire & Cheesecloth

I plan on trying to tackle at least one of these methods.  I may even try both chicken wire and packing tape.  When I do, I'll take pictures and make notes and let you all know what works, what doesn't and what's worth the effort.

I hope that this has inspired you all as much as it has inspired me!

Happy Haunting!





A Week Earlier Than Last Year

Looks as though the craft stores are ready to stock their shelves with pumpkins and crows and everything else Halloweenish that we love... only, it's June... mid June!  They've stocked about a week earlier than last year.  I've all ready seen a few things at Hobby Lobby that I want to get my hands on >=)

Happy Hump Day!

I couldn't help myself ;)  Happy Hump Day everyone!

It's Time!

I'm so very ready to start prop building!  After vacation, it's on my friends! Oh yes, it's on!

I love Halloween ;)

Bate's Motel Season 1 Overview

After viewing the premier episode, I wasn’t quite sure how this TV show was going to play out, but I’m glad to say that I’ve enjoyed it immensely and that the season finale only left me wanting more.

Norman Bates, played by Freddie Highmore, is a very loveable character.  It was easy for me to like him and to feel empathy toward him for the situations that he was thrown into.  Yet, after a few episodes, his character displayed some Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde like qualities that were left very open ended this season.  He’s innocent and compassionate one second and a vicious, murderer the next.  To make matters worse, poor Norman has no recollection of his murderous rampages after he comes out of the trance-like state that he enters when they begin.  I’m very curious to see how his character will develop over the next season and hopefully a few more after that.  Also, I’m wondering how my perception of the character will change as he develops J

Norma is Norman’s neurotic mother.  Played by the talented Vera Farminga, Norma is a DIY kind of gal, taking a lot of seriously heavy matters into her own hands.  She encounters a lot of hard ships and heart-break during Season 1, but trudges on, not letting anything stop her.  She has a very aggressive positiveness about her which is displayed in a manic way.  From knife welding, to gun toting, she works hard to dispel anything that gets in her way of a “normal” life.  No matter how traumatic the event, once the obstacle is overcome, Norma returns to her happy, hotel keeping, 1960’s housewife self.

There are many other interesting characters on the show, who initiate interesting circumstances for the two main characters to deal with.

Emma, is Norman’s cute and level-headed school friend, who has cystic fibroses and a professional taxidermist for a father.

Bradley is the popular girl at Norman’s school who he falls for and who’s family/family history is just as interesting and mysterious as Norman’s.

Dylan, is Norman’s half-brother and Norma’s son, yet he never refers to Norma as “mom”.

Officer Shelby, is a local police officer who initially sets out to help the Bates family after an early season tragedy.

I’ve never seen Psycho, so I have no basis for comparison of how this aligns with that movie, but from what I’ve read in interviews with the director, Carlton Cuse, his intentions are not to re-tell the Alfred Hitchcock story, but to re-create it with their own ideas.

I plan to watch Psycho soon, because I’m interested to see how Hitchcock’s characters/story has been played out in the TV show.

In any case, if you haven’t seen it, go check it out.  I think that you’ll be pleased.

Home Haunter 2012 DVD Collection

The 2012 Home Haunter DVD collection is now available for pre-order!  This year, it is a 4 DVD set, featuring 62 haunts from around the world. 

The price is $20.00 domestic ($30 international), but if you contributed a video to the collection, it's only $15.00 domestic ($25 international).

Even if you didn't submit an entry, this collection is a real treat to any haunter or Halloween lover.  Not only is it really awesome to see other people's haunts, it's also a great source of inspiration.

Judging will probably begin after the DVD's have been shipped and then they will announce the winners! =)

In past years the contest categories have been:

Best Yard Haunt
Best Yard Haunt (Vanguard)
Best Indoor Walk through/Haunt
Best Indoor Walk through/Haunt (Vanguard)
Best Static Prop
Best Static Prop (Vanguard)
Best Animated Prop
Best Animated Prop (Vanguard)
Best Party Haunt
Best Video Production
Best How-To
Propmaster Award

Past winners can be viewed here:
Past Winners

You can order your video here:
2012 Home Haunter's DVD Collection Pre-Order

In case you didn't see it before, here's our 2012 entry:

Happy Haunting!!!

Belated Hoppy Easter

I know I'm a day late, but I hope that you all had a lovely Easter.

I know that we surely did!