Jester Clown Prop Build

We were able to repurpose our old hanging latex over wire armature skeleton torso prop into a hybrid standing PVC mannequin prop. The lower spine of the skeleton was fairly rigid wire. We just cut off the bottom section of latex and were able to stick him on the PVC pipe like a flower stem in a vase. We have a jester costume to still put on it to finish the look.

Spider Hill Prop Works

Spider Hill Prop Works

While researching various mannequin prop build methods online we discovered Spider Hill Prop Works and their ingenious solution to problems we encountered with our PVC mannequin builds using standard hardware store 45 and 90 degree elbows. Their "Spider Joints" allow more posing options and a way to anchor the PVC pipes with screws while still allowing you the option to reposition the pipe (versus gluing the pipe and joints in place). We ordered a couple static prop kits from them last week and they arrived today and we are super pleased with the parts! They're going to allow us to create interesting monster prop poses for our haunt.

Lake Effect Ice Cream Flavor: Trick Or Treat

New 2016 Halloween Shows Coming Soon

Cutthroat Kitchen: Tournament of Terror begins September 28 on Food Network
Halloween Wars Season 6 begins October 2 on Food Network
Halloween Baking Championship Season 2 begins October 3 on Food Network
All-Star Halloween Spectacular airs October 8 on Travel Channel

Creepy Carnival Ticket Booth Prop

The ticket booth prop is almost complete. Still need to paint and install the bottom panels but otherwise it's pretty much done. We used a 15-light outdoor candelabra base Christmas light stringer for the sign and interior lighting (12 sockets for around the sign and 3 sockets for interior lighting). We will be using 5-watt G30 clear globe lights around the sign and most likely some amber G30 globe lights for the interior. A scary clown prop will be working the booth on Halloween night to greet trick-or-treaters at the entrance of our walkway.

It's Halloween Time!

We're starting to get ready for this year's Halloween Yard Haunt. This year's theme is going to be "Creepy Carnival". For this year's prop build we're going to make a spooky ticket booth prop based on this design: Scary Ticket Booth Build. The thing I like about this prop concept is that it can be transformed into a spooky dungeon/crypt piece with a roof change and a new coat of paint for another Halloween. One of the challenges for this theme is to come up with a jack-o'-lantern style that screams "scary clown" but still glows like a traditional jack-o'-lantern. It's not a Haunted Eve yard haunt without the jack-o'-lanterns! We've got some ideas, just going to have to do a few trial runs to see if they work or not. 

Merry Krampus!

Smithsonian did a great article this year on Krampus:
Santa'd better watch out: Krampus is coming to town