Gothic Window

Trolling through Pinterest for inspiration, I came upon a gorgeous Gothic Window with Skulls.  I swooned and immediately clicked the link.

$800?!?!?!?!?  Okay I love Halloween but $800?!?!  Hell no.  

It didn't seem that complicated.  A window, some skulls, some "wax" and candles.  

And it wasn't!  At all!   I'm going to make more and pop them up on my Etsy shop if you want to pick one up for a heck of a lot less than $800.  If you've got even the tiniest bit of crafty in you, it's a weekend project at best and doesn't cost much.

Windows are available on Etsy in assorted styles and sizes.  I got the skulls on Amazon and then picked up some spray foam insulation from the home improvement store.  I used some leftover chicken wire I had to create some support and then sprayed the foam insulation to build a base.  The insulation already has a melted wax like quality to it that can be manipulated by the speed and quantity you release.  Once that was dry.  I added the skulls, cutting off the backs at various angles and sizes, with a hot glue gun trying to alter how much would stick out of the "wax."  

I then used the bottom of some water bottles as well as Oui Yogurt jars (I hoard these jars, they are perfect votive size containers that can be used for any occasion) as candle holders, hot gluing them in place.  One more pass of the foam insulation to fill in gaps as well as get a bit more artistic with the drips and "wax" shaping.   I wasn't 100% satisfied with the "drips" so once the insulation was dry, I went back with a glue gun and added glue drips.  

I had some Ivory and Vanilla colored acrylic paint which I used to paint all the "wax" to make it appear more authentic.  Had myself a Happy Accident when I used one color the first coat and another the second.  The two slightly different tones caused a great layering effect, contributing to the "years of candle use" look.

I can't wait to do this one again!  It was immensely satisfying and I've been spending the last few nights on the porch swing, LED candles lit admiring my handiwork.  My poor husband wonders when November will get here.

49 days till Halloween...

49 days till Halloween...

Creepy Curtain

Queen Martha had this gem in a Halloween issue about 8 years ago or so.  Not sure, I just know I feel like I've been doing this for ages.  And humblebrag here, I do believe I improved ever so slightly on her design.

Cheap, easy, effective.  What more could you want in a Halloween decoration?

What you'll need:
Black trash bags (you can get cheap dollar store one's, just make sure they have the drawstring)
Scissors
Plastic Clothes Line Cord

Step 1: Lay the bag on a flat surface.

Step 2: Cut strips approximately 1.5" wide from the bottom to about 1" from the top/drawstring.  I usually start by first running my scissors along one edge, removing the sealed portion so that later it's easier to open (Step 4)

(Step 2)

Step 3: Cut the ends off each strip.

Step 4: Open up the garbage bag (you should now have one wide panel)

Step 5: Thread the clothesline through the top of the garbage bag where the drawstring is.  Think curtain and curtain rod - the bag is the curtain, the clothesline is the rod.  You'll have to cut a little hole on either side of the closed edge of the bag and pop the line out and then back in to bridge this seal. (This is my Martha tweak - they had you remove the drawstring altogether and then staple it up.  Seemed to me wiser, and sturdier, to use the pre-built curtain rod pocket.)

Step 6: Tie the two ends of the clothesline to hooks at either end.  If you're covering a large area, you can string one panel up, run the clothesline through a hook and then slide another panel on.  Repeat as needed and then tie off at the end.  I find it's wise to use a bit of electrical tape a the ends of the panels to anchor them in place to the clothesline when I've got a large area.  Keeps them from sliding and clumping. 

(Step 6)

Step 7: The fun part.  Holding onto the strip with one hand, use the other to pull and stretch the bag.  This can take a bit of finessing and sometimes leads to tears but not to worry.  Inconsistency is effective with this prop.  I kind of think "milking a goat" when I'm stretching the pieces - using both hands to both stabilize the strip while manipulating it.

And that's it!  Stretch and pull the strips as much or as little as you want.  Vary lengths and widths.  I find I fiddle with it over the month trying to get it just right.

It's particularly effective at night as it's hard to pinpoint what exactly the curtain is made out of.  It's lightweight and floats in the gentlest of breezes and the plastic catches available light.  It can get hung up on branches and costumes so I try to be mindful of where people might be passing through.  Would be super fun to do inside for a haunted house or party - could drape a whole hallway with it like dripping vines.

Thanks Martha!  

49 days till Halloween....

Frighten all the Senses

At a loss for what to add to your haunt next?  No space for a new prop?  Ask yourself, are visitors to your haunt getting an experience that stimulates ALL the senses?

It's pretty easy to overlook a sense that can really drive up the eeriness of your haunt - smell.

In the past I simply burned incense just to create an atmosphere.  Jumbo sticks are available that burn for hours so you can set it and forget it while busy with the trick-or-treaters.  

However a couple years ago I found a company that is simply divine - Dark Candles.  They've managed to craft unusual and unique scents that truly evoke the given name.

Cemetery Gates - smells like metal, not even kidding

Coffin - rotting wood and dirt?  ✓and ✓

Graveyard - damp earth, stone, rot

Dark Grove - fragrant trees, damp earth, moss, woodland spirits

These are just a few of dozens of options.  I place them in areas I knew visitors spend time, taking photos or waiting for candy.  So they move through the gates and into the graveyard, past the coffins and then wait next to the grove for treats.  It's fun to watch people stop, pause and take a deep breath, unsure of what's changed or why it feels different.  A subtle touch that pays big dividends.  

49 days till Halloween...

Witch's Jars

My take on a design that's been passed from one blogger to the next.  I based mine on Deadwood Cemetary's recipe and they in turn took inspiration from the incomparable Pumpkinrot.  You'll see all of ours turned out a little bit different which makes this a fun project you can personalize based on your look or taste.

I didn't stray too much from the instructions from Deadwood for the first batch.  After I was done I noticed the jar I had been using for the varnish looked pretty great too so later rounds I experimented a bit more.  The smaller jars were hard to get a light orange spray on so I skipped that and just layered more varnish on.

(Michael's clearance shelf votive)

The whole mixing of varnish with dye may not really be necessary.  It does give it a more granulated and imperfect finish but I think a colored varnish would also work just fine.  I have some jars I need to witch-ify so I plan to give this I try soon and will update on the results.

Projects that utilize materials I already have, that allow me to gather over time, are particularly exciting for me.  Grocery shopping takes on a whole new level as I walk the aisles, seeing witch's jars instead of Dill Pickles.  I made this a whole office affair and bought a couple of those giant Mt. Olive jars and put them in the kitchen with a sign "Whoever said there was no such thing as FREE PICKLES was lying!"  It was incredible how quickly they disappeared.

(free pickles!)

I'm also a sucker for hanging props.  There's something disconcerting about objects being at levels you're not sure of or overhead.  A orange glow, floating in the trees is wonderfully creepy.

Would love to see your take on this project and how you integrated them into your haunt.

49 days till Halloween...

(Curry Sauce & Prego jars)

The Year the Zombies Came

Lady Luck was shining upon me in 2018.

At the beginning of the year I had wrapped up work on Fear Factor for MTV.  One of our games that year had included a life sized zombie horde, which I had been responsible for purchasing.  While turning in the purchase order, I causally mentioned to my boss that should the show need a place to store the zombies, say, in October, that I knew a really secure place to keep them... wink wink.  He just rolled his eyes knowing full well he had hired a haunter.

Months later, it's May and I get a glorious text from a colleague.  "Hey! We're cleaning out our storage containers a little more and Kevin said you can have the cadavers if you want.  Are you interested? You would need to pick them up next week?"

HOLY SHIT!!!!!!  AM I INTERESTED?!?!  Oh, I don't know....CANICOMENOWICANCOMEGETTHEMNOWPLEASELETMECOMENOW!!!

Here I am a week later, picking up the new family members and moving them into their new home, the garage.  On the way, Hollie Cook's "Stay Alive" came on the radio, it was too good.

My daughter was surprisingly welcoming to them when I let her know we had new friends.  Went down the line, shook their hands and said "nice to meet you" to each and every one.

Showing them her book...

I would never have purchased these on my own and likely would have never even thought to include such a thing.  I try to error on the PG-13 side of things.  More Disney than Blumhouse.  But come on, a FREE zombie horde?!?!  I had for years thought about setting up a more "adult" display along the driveway for the older kids but had opted to focus on the front.  When a Zombie Horde falls in your lap, you don't question you celebrate.

It was as huge hit.  I didn't put them out until twilight Halloween night.  My neighbors are pretty used to me by now but even they all came out to see what I was up to.  All our regular Trick-or-Treaters were agog, I can't even imagine how many Instagram posts are out there.  This year I'm going to add a little sign hoping folks will tag me.

I'm just so grateful for the gift and it was a good reminder that sharing your passions with others leads to good things.  

The Haunt, in all it's glory, crappy pictures and all (come on, it's a tradition!)

50 days till Halloween...

The Last Tombstone

Mass produced, styrofoam tombstones are garbage.  I hate them.  I loathe seeing them in the stores and want to grab them out of people's carts and save them from wasting their money.  They are flimsy, their "stands" are useless and even a slight breeze will turn the whole thing into rubbish bin fodder.

I've seen people try to make them work.  My clever neighbor has attached what looks like cheap butter knives absconded from local diners to the backs to replace the long broken wire "stands" these usually come with.  It holds up fairly well and but still requires maintenance throughout windy October.

The polystone and resin tombstones that have come on the market lately are pretty impressive.  Some are downright gorgeous (I'm looking you Grandin Road) but they can be rather expensive.  I've picked some up over the years at end of the season sales and even then they're not cheap.  They're durable though so I think worth the investment when timed right.

These weren't as readily available when I reached my threshold on the cheap foam one's after once again chasing them around the yard during a strong Santa Ana.  Necessity drove that google search that day and ultimately I stumbled upon the answer.  Concrete Tombstone Molds on eBay.

There's lots of designs, some unique to the vendor as well as those you see made out of foam.  It's a pretty easy process for the DIY inclined, even if you haven't used concrete.  There's the option of using plaster as well if you're more comfortable with that.  I liked the concrete because once dried it was already well on it's way to looking authentic.  Just a bit of black spray paint to help highlight the details and it was done.

Over the years I've picked up about 10 designs.  The variety adds to the impact and is more effective overall.  What real graveyard has exactly the same stone for every one of it's residents?!

I use Sand and Topping Mix from Quikrete available at most home improvement stores (I tend to find smaller bags at Lowe's and larger bags at Home Depot.)  This is based on both trial and error as well as a recommendation from the company after the first few attempts weren't as perfect as I wanted.

Grease the inside of the mold with oil to make it easier to get out when dried.  I used both baby oil and veggie oil.  I liked the baby better mostly due to it's smell.

Mix the concrete according to the directions on the bag.  It takes a bit of experimenting on how much each mold needs.  I therefore typically prepped 2 or 3 molds and mixed 2 bags to ensure I had enough to fill a mold without leaving me with lots of left over, ready to pour concrete and no where to put it.

Fill about 1/3 and then shake and tap the mold to release air bubbles.  I had a square of old carpet I laid down on the ground to protect the mold with a soft place to hit when tapped.  I also found it was good to have some small wedges of wood around to keep the edges up.  The weight of the concrete sometimes caused the mold to bend just a little, warping the stone.  By placing blocks under the edges it kept things all in line. 

Fill 2/3 full after you feel you've released all the trapped air and repeat the process.  Fill to just under the upper edge of the mold.  As the concrete settles, water will make it's way to the top so it helps to have some space for it to pool.  This also helps keep the stone looking clean and authentic.

Let dry according to the package.  Once dry, gently turn the mold over and tap the stone out.  The piece of carpet comes in handy again here.

To give it that aged look and help define the details, spray with a flat black spray paint holding the bottle at an angle from the side, trying to just give areas a dusting of paint.

Landscape or surveyor stakes can be used to prop them up.  Paint the stakes grey or black to help them blend in.  I have yet to do that, over the years the one's I used have aged well enough they don't seem to need it anymore.

So there you go, a graveyard you can set and not worry about all month long.  And it looks SO much more realistic!  When not in use, store the stones outside so they continue to age.  If you live in a nice, damp, mossy area consider partially burying them to encourage moss to grow.   Frankly, if you do this I would LOVE to see pics.  I tried but it's just too dang dry here in LA.

50 days till Halloween...plenty of time to build a graveyard.

History of the Little Pearl Haunt

Perhaps I've started this blog to share my love for Halloween or perhaps I've done it simply to prolong the addiction.  Give me another avenue to mainline all things Halloween.  Either way, here I am ready, heart racing and blood pouring ready to share my haunt and how I've built it, gravestone by gravestone, over the years.

In later posts I'll go into the details and do some how-to's.  As it's already September, this year's prep is well underway so it's  perfect time to catalog the process.

In 2004 when I was house hunting, my realtor rolled up across the street from a gem.  The minute I saw it's front porch and steps, I envisioned pumpkins lining the stairs.  That year I carved 4 of the 5 pumpkins I bought.  I thought holy cow, look at how magical!   It's quite quaint looking back at it now, but the seeds of great things are often a tad underwhelming.

2004, in all it's out of focus glory...

Precious, right?

Then things started to grow.  For a couple years I went with a whole spider theme, as if my house had been infested with spiders.  I made hundreds of spiders out of pipe cleaners.  I became known as "The Spider House."  This was my first touch of Halloween Neighborhood Notoriety and oh, I was hooked!  What?!  Kids are talking about my house!?!?  There's a "word of mouth" about MY house!?!?  Well, obviously, I'm going to have to go bigger next year, right?

Spider House, 2007.  I think I was up to 8 carved pumpkins that year.

2008 things started to get real.  I hated how dark the porch was so my focus that year was improving the lighting.  And I started to expand beyond the spider theme.  I had been super resistant, I loved being The Spider House, but it was just too hard to resist some of the props out there.  Little did I know, I was taking a giant step off the deep end and had fully transitioned into Haunter.

The haunt grows...Not entirely sure of the pumpkin count that year.  Definitely getting into the teens...

2009 I added a cemetery.  Still Spider House but at the time I started developing a new direction for the haunt.  I wanted it to look like a proper, spooky house.  That house in the neighborhood you ran past as a kid.  I wanted kids to look at it and have a brief moment where they question whether it's awesome Halloween decorations or, does a witch ACTUALLY live there?  This would dictate just about every new purchase or DIY prop from this point forward.  I tend to avoid animatronics, inflatables etc.  Nothing overly cartoonish.  I've taken this philosophy to heart and perhaps a tad too seriously, as you will see coming up.  

2009 and the pumpkin count grows.  Meanwhile, my inability to take a photo in low light does not improve.

Skipping ahead to 2010.  My dad is a clever guy and can build all sorts of things so I asked him to build me spiders that would drop from the trees and porch and then recoil back up.  He thought I was nuts but okay, if his daughter wants spiders that drop from the trees so be it.  He built this incredible contraption of pulleys and motors and it was a huge hit.  I also managed to infect my dad with the Halloween bug and he's been back every Halloween since.  

Meanwhile, I still couldn't take a proper picture...

2011 and the Spider House is no more (although I always include webs and spiders to some degree.)  I'm full blown "Witch's House" and I was gleeful.  The Trick or Treaters loved the changes.  With regulars coming back year after year, they love trying to find the new additions as well as their old favorites.  The chalk ghosts are hugely popular and everyone loves the multitude of pumpkins.  I believe 2011 was the year I was up to 28.  Once I've hit a number, I can never do less than that subsequent years.  I've really carved myself into a corner with this "rule."  Sigh.

2012, big year.  BIG year.  I had always hated those cheap foam tombstones.  Slightest breeze and they'd fly away and break.  I found some amazing cement molds on ebay and because a pro at concrete.  My graveyard took on a whole new life and has become the first thing I put out each year.  I like to do it at night so when the kids are on the way to school, one day it's not there and the next, full cemetery.  My roommate from college was also out that year so I FINALLY got some really great pictures of my decorations.  

33 pumpkins that year.  33!  And the big news, the following year The Today show featured one of the pictures on their show.  I got to hear my name and "33 hand carved pumpkins" fall out of Al Roker's mouth.  I will never be phased by the odd looks by fellow shoppers when I'm stocking up on Halloween in August again.  Al Roker approves, so there.

And now... the photos!!!

Skipping to 2014, still steadily growing.  By now I had introduced some carved craft pumpkins to the mix.  So much easier to start every year with a solid dozen ready to go.

A daytime shot, morning after.  Doesn't look too bad for 400+ trick-or-treaters.

For some reason I have very few pics of 2015.  Same with 2016 but there was a good reason for that.  My daughter showed up just a week and a half before Halloween.  I still fully decorated though.  Got a neighborhood full of kids counting on me.

One of the few pics from that year, but likely the best photo yet...

2017 has lots of great photos and new additions that made me swoon so I'll do a separate post in honor of it's glory.  In the meantime, behold Pumpkin Bushes:

And finally...last year.  Two words: Zombie Horde.  Wait, even better.  3 words: Free Zombie Horde!!!

Phew.  That was a long one.  Won't do that again!  But at least you're now all caught up and familiar with the depth of my Halloween "sickness."  I can't wait to share some of my favorite details & tricks.  

51 days till Halloween...time to get haunting.