By Shari Hiller
Home & Garden Television
It has been said that inspiration can be found anywhere, but in an old cemetery? That's a little hard to believe. Well, believe it!
Halloween is the time for ghosts, goblins, and all sorts or other scary things. When my decorating partner, Matt Fox, and I decided to add a spooky old cemetery to our outdoor Halloween decorations, we visited a very old cemetery not far from my home for inspiration. We walked around a while and took some time to admire the designs of the tombstones there.
Many historians feel that the symbols and designs carved into old tombstones are actually a form of folk art, and I think they are right. I was surprised at the variety of symbols and the workmanship of the carvings.
I took a little notebook with me, and sketched some of the shapes that I thought were most interesting. I copied a few of the inscriptions and even made some rubbings of the more unusual stones. With my sketches in hand, we were ready to go into the "faux" tombstone business.
Matt and I were delighted with the results. Because of our research, the tombstones are very realistic and will add the perfect touch of eeriness to a night of trick or treating. If you'd like to create a spooky old cemetery in your yard, here's what you'll need:
2-inch thick plastic foam insulation panels
serrated knife
gray spray primer
black spray paint
black acrylic paint
artists paint brushes -- various sizes
1/2-inch dowel rods -- two per tombstone
drill with a ½ inch drill bit
We decided to make our tombstones out of 2-inch foam core board insulation because it is a fairly inexpensive material that can be easily cut, even when shaping curves.
The first step in this project is to trace or draw the shape of your tombstone on to the plastic foam. Using a serrated knife, cut out your design. The serrated knife leaves slightly jagged edges, perfect for creating the look of an old stone that is starting to crumble.
Next, you need to apply color to the tombstone. Gray spray primer adds a realistic base coat. If some of the areas don't get fully covered, don't worry. It will just add to the aged effect.
After applying the gray primer, use a black spray paint to shade the edges and give the face of the tombstone some depth and texture. Once the tombstones are dry, it's time for the lettering.
You might use the tombstone rubbings to help transfer symbols and inscriptions. You might also want to take snapshots of some of the unique old stones at the cemetery. The pictures may help with font styles, shading, and shadowing, details which help create the scary effect.
Acrylic craft paints and artist's brushes are a good choice for the lettering or any additional designs you want to add. When you've finished adding the details, try dripping watered down paints from the top of the tombstone over the writing and designs. This is a great way to soften the details and make the tombstone appear even older.
To set the tombstones into the ground, you'll need to use 1/2-inch dowels. Use a 1/2-inch drill bit to create two slots in the bottom of the tombstone. These slots are where the dowels will be inserted. Be careful to keep the slots centered in the foam so the dowels don't poke through the front or back surfaces of the finished tombstone.
To prepare the dowels, cut two 1/2-inch dowels to about 20 inches, and sharpen one end by whittling it to a point. This will make it easier to push into the ground to hold the tombstones in place.
To prevent the tombstones from cracking when setting them into the ground, hold the dowels in place inside the tombstone, and make a mark on the ground where the dowels should go. Remove the dowels from the tombstone and push them into place in the ground. Once they are straight, add the tombstone, and give it a little push to make sure it's secure.
If a few of your tombstones lean a bit to the right or left, all the better. They will make for an even spookier welcome for all the little ghosts and goblins who visit your home on Halloween night.
(Matt Fox and Shari Hiller alternate writing this column. They also are authors of Real Decorating for Real People and co-hosts of the Home & Garden Television show Room By Room.)
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