HALLOWEEN HEADSTONES FOR SHADES OR OUTDOOR YARD

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HEADSTONES
FOR SHADES OR OUTDOOR YARD DECORATIONS

There are two basic types of instructions for tombstones:

Flat stones for shadows on Window shades are easy and quick, beginner instructions.

The second are ones for the yard (cloth or Styrofoam); are easy but take a little more time to construct.

More elaborate tombstones can be made from Styrofoam and I have made some of these from FREE Styrofoam; the video instructions will take you through making these headstones from recycled Styrofoam.

BRAG A LITTLEWhat is YOUR favorite Headstone(s)?

Add your home made or found Halloween Headstone(s) with pictures if you have them! or Just look at what other people have made/found.

MATERIAL to use for FABRIC HEADSTONES

Fabric that looks like stone or board. I use an off white type with veins of other grays and black going through it. As these do not illuminate a person can use heavier upholstery type fabric that has some knobby texture to it.

A piece of 8 to 10 gauge wire to fit around and top and down the side of the costume, approximately 30 to 34 inches. The heavier the fabric the better to withstand the outside elements.

Fabric glue

SHADOWS FOR WINDOW SHADES MATERIALS LIST

black fabric the size of your pattern...see making pattern below

MAKING THE PATTERN

First determine the height and width of your stone. We will use 3 foot tall and 20 inches wide but this will depend on what you want. See suggested size charts at the bottom of this page for shadow type headstones for a href="http://www.halloween-christmas-crafts-etc.com/shades.html">WINDOW SHADES.

Next draw a rectangle the dimensions of the stone.Round the top two corners.

STOP HERE IF THESE ARE BEING USED FOR SHADOWS. Cut pattern out of paper, cut out of fabric and finish Headstones for Cemetary scene shade.

Add 1 inch around the top and sides of pattern.

FOR A TWO DIMENSIONAL STONES

Determine the width you want, I use 3 inches.Measure the outside edge of the stone before adding the 1 inch seam allowance.

Draw a 3 inch wide piece the length of the outside edge, add 1 inch.

Cut two stones and one side pieces

ASSEMBLING THE STONE

If you are going to add words or pictures to this stone, do it now before assembling the piece. Letters can be cut out of contract fabric by using stencils the size you need or drawing out your self. Zig Zag trim is good for just placing on and sewing or gluing in place.

ONE PIECE STONE

Turn out side edges in 1 inch and glue or zig zag stitch in place. Follow label instruction for drying

Cut wire 24 inches longer than the outside edge measurement. Slide through the casing or pocket you just made by turning in the outside edges. There will be 12 inches on each side to slide into the ground.

TWO PIECE STONE

Sew the side pieces with wrong sides together onto the headstones. Pin the seam to the stone and sew down. This creates a pocket for the wires on both sides. Use a flexible strip of foam to insert into the side pocket to stiffen and retain the stone form.

Cut two wires 24 inches longer than the outside edge measurement. Slide through the casing or pocket you just made by sewing the seam to the stone. There will be 12 inches on each side to slide into the ground.

SIZE CHART

Yard sizes would be: 4 foot tall, 36 inches wide

3 foot tall, 20 inches wide

2 foot tall, 12 inches wide

Shade sizes would be:

14 inches tall, 12 inches wide

12 inches tall, 10 inches wide

8 inches tall, 6 inches wide

This is a video on HOW TO MAKE CLOTH TOMBSTONESThe grave yard at the end of this video is easy to construct and install.

WORDS:RIP (Rest in Peace)

For extra spooky trees you can put tree limbs into Christmas tree stands, wind with purple or orange lights and these help light the scene. Make 3 to 5 headstones with or with out epitaphs and sprinkle around the areas, some under lights trees some not. Add a few ground breaking skeletons or lighted heads and a 3 to 5 ghosts your done. For less $150.00 your can have a complete scene. My grave yard is lit by the ghosts, breaking bones yard displays and limbs propped into Christmas tree stands and then wound with lights. They must have looked good because one year the first two I made were stolen and they have not turned up yet.

For more Halloween yard decorations go to:
CREATING A GHOST SCREEN for your Halloween screen.
The The HOW TO MAKE A WITCH instructions.
The HOW TO MAKE A SPIDERWEB instructions.

The HOW TO MAKE THE GHOUL - GRIM REAPER COSTUME instructions.The HOW TO MAKE GHOST instructions.
It is fun to watch the traffic stop to take a second look.

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