Do you have a welcome mat? By following these instructions, you can turn yours into an “Un-Welcome Mat” for Halloween. Those who want to decorate with stuff that’s more gruesome than cutesy should check out this incredibly easy to make Bloody Dripping Head Sack. Speaking of gruesome, here’s a free printable Halloween mask that is …
Tag: How-To
Sep 05 2013
Back To School
The back to school season is upon us, and with it an opportunity to get some great sculpting tools. Just head over to the eraser section of the school supplies. You’ll more than likely find novelty erasers depicting all sorts of odd items featuring some amazing textures. Last night I picked up a package of …
Aug 06 2013
Freaky Tiki Surf-ari: Crafts and Cocktails
Back in 2011, the Curiosity Group’s monthly papercraft calendar for May was a Tiki idol. If you can’t find it, you can always try politely emailing them to see if they’ll send it to you. Maui Tiki Tours has a great tutorial on how to build your own Tiki Halloween costume. Tiki idols always look …
Jul 09 2013
Tentacles: The Suckering!
Following up on the original tentacle project, I wanted to try making one with “suckers” running along it’s length. To make the sucker rings I used 1/2″ cabone rings applied while one of the sealing layers of latex was still wet. After that layer dried, effectively serving to glue the rings to the body of …
Jul 08 2013
Making A Tentacle
The humble tentacle is arguably the most iconic of Mythos images, trumping even the mighty Necronomicon. Rightly or wrongly (keeping in mind that actual tentacles are few and far between in Lovecraft’s works) it has become symbolic of the entire genre of cosmic horror. Now, at long last, I’ve made my first prop tentacle.The impetus …
Dec 11 2012
Build Your Own Krampus Costume
Those of you who remember my article about the Krampus might recall that people dressing up as the character is a holiday tradition in several European countries. Naturally, those living in countries without that tradition will recognize the inherent coolness of the Krampus and will be tempted to introduce others to the concept. And what …
Oct 17 2012
How to Stage a Séance
“Séance” is a French word meaning “session,” “seating” or “meeting” (depending on your translation), but its most commonly understood meaning is a gathering with the intent to communicate with the dead. Whether or not you believe such things are possible, I think everyone here can agree that a theatrical séance is a great way to …
Oct 16 2012
Even More Tricks and Treats
Looking for some Halloween projects to keep you (or any little ones in your care) busy? Look no further than this vintage article, which has plenty of spooky crafts (including the above-pictured Halloween creature). Do you want something more advanced? Then try building a coffin from a single sheet of plywood, dirty rat or a …
Oct 03 2012
Spooky Magic Tricks
As much fun as they are, your average Halloween party tends to follow the exact same routine. You watch some horror movies, wear costumes and eat a lot of candy and Halloween-themed foods. There might be some games and the telling of ghost stories, or perhaps even a trip through a homemade haunted house in …
Oct 02 2012
More Printable Prop Labels
While assembling last year’s collection of free spooky printable labels for various poisons and potions, it seems that I missed a few links. Okay, scratch that. I missed a LOT of other free printable labels suitable for Halloween. To correct this mistake, I have assembled the following collection of links (and the above image): Frankie’s …
Oct 28 2011
More Tricks and Treats
Since I had so much fun putting together my first “Tricks and Treats” article last year, I thought I’d give it another go: Thanks to Hulu, you can watch horror movies like The Blair Witch Project or Raiders of the Living Dead online for free! In addition to his show being syndicated nationwide on Me-TV, …
Oct 13 2011
Great Classic Horror
While I have reviewed many audio dramas from AudioGo in the past, this is the first time I’ve ever reviewed a audiobook. Sure, I’ve reviewed audio drama/audiobook hybrids before, but this is new territory for me. And you know what? I liked it. I still prefer audio dramas, but this was a fun change of …
Oct 10 2011
Printable Prop Labels
One of the simplest (and least expensive) homemade haunt props is the spooky bottle or jar. A little glue, a label and something to put inside are all you need to turn an ordinary jar or bottle into a creepy prop. Spooky labels let you add a creepy feel to your Halloween party’s selection of …
Aug 24 2011
Freaky Tiki Surf-ari: More Arts & Crafts
Seeing as how last year’s article about making your own Tiki stuff turned out so well, I thought I would revisit the subject this year. If the wooden Tiki idol how-to from last year was not to your satisfaction, then perhaps you should try this article about making a cement Tiki garden idol. What better …
Oct 30 2010
Big Scream TV: The Boo Tube
As noted in my last review of a video decor DVD, although the concept (and commercially available) existed in the age of VHS, it wasn’t until DVD technology entered the picture that Halloween video decor really took off. One of the biggest and most influential titles to take advantage of the technology was the Big …
Oct 21 2010
Living Dead Live!
Although there are tons of materials devoted to the various aspects of creating of haunted house, one topic remains mostly ignored amongst all the how-tos on prop-making and setting up a haunted house: scaring people. Far too many people think simply wearing a mask and yelling “Boo” while jumping out of a dark corner is …