Open thread for 2011 theme planning and discussion

[moshrider1000]

Tweet

2011 will be my third year and I'd like to tie everything together this year. I'd also like to add a bunch of new props, so I need to start planning and building now (or 6 months ago really, holy crap we're only 5 months away). I am also sure I am not the only one here in this position so lets have a thread to talk about what props you have, the space you have to use, what you might like to do, what props you'd need/want to build, and how that all fits into a theme, or multiple themes.

I'll get started off.

Current Props:
FCG
2 Bucky Skeletons
1 Papier Mache Dragon
1 Papier Mache "headless horseman"
1 Ground Breaker
2 sets of hands built from sticks
2 rubber bats
2 skulls
a bunch of tomb stones of various sizes
broken down barn wood shutters for the front of the house
a bunch of lighting and lighting gear including 2 good blacklights

What I'd like to purchase/build:
A flying crank zombie or reaper and cover it in red UV Glow paint
A floating reaper - could the the flying version above, or another
A corpsed skeleton
Maybe another plain skeleton or two?
I have a great piece of mostly rotten barn wood that is a true 12 inch wide board that has a few knots in it and is almost cracked/rotten in half. I'd like to build a coffin from it and more barn wood and light it from inside with the light shining through the cracks.
Possibly a pair of papier mache gargoyles to set on the roof or pedestals.
Maybe a broken down barn wood fence? I have an almost unlimited source for barn wood so I could built a lot from it.

Yard:
I have quite a bit of yard to work with. There is about 50 feet between the street and the house. The house is 40 feet wide from the edge of the driveway, with two trees that usually loose most of their leafs by the big day. There's another 70 feet of yard to the side of the house. There is 3 smaller trees next to the house and 2 pine trees at the far edge of the property.

I normally put the tomb stones in front of the house. The "Headless Horseman" gets tied to a lamp post at the corner of the drive and the sidewalk as my main greeter. Last year the dragon sat next to the front door, the FCG was off in the pine trees, one skeleton was hung in the trees next to the house and the other sat on the ground next to a tomb stone.

Thoughts for a theme before have been:
Broken down mine shaft/old west. This sounds too involved for me right now as I'd need to build a lot of building fronts to pull it off. I also felt like I'd need more skeletons that I have or could afford, and a bunch of costuming, detail work.

Zombie Apocalypse. I don't have enough props for this yet, at least I don't think I do.

Haunted Graveyard. I think this is pretty much where I'm at, but I'd like to do more than just that. I'd also like to lay things out a little better. What to do with the skeletons? What sort of other props could I build to fit it?


What do you all think?

Here's a picture from last year:


Feel free to post in this thread if you are also looking for help deciding what to do for 2011 or beyond!

[NOWHINING]

I know I am planning to do more pumpkins theme with the graveyard outdoor. I am just hoping for more life size skelly to put outdoor.... I would love to get BIGGG tombstones to add as well........

[sandpipr]

I will be involved with a haunted forest and making mausoleums and tombstone, mud reapers, and creatures by their graves. I think a cemetery theme is always a good haunt. I just want to find the cheapest building materials in doing this.

[HauntedHorror]

I want to do a Bioshock theme this year! I am planning to do my party in this theme but would love to do my house/decorations in the same theme, any ideas for that?

[Candee]

I know I am planning to do more pumpkins theme with the graveyard outdoor. I am just hoping for more life size skelly to put outdoor.... I would love to get BIGGG tombstones to add as well........

This is close to what I have in mind. Think the weather is going to dictate what I end up with. Cold, damp and stuck having to work on our deck. Better start getting nicer more often if I'm going to make any headway.


moshrider1000 like your ideas for your yard.

[tamster]

I plan on doing more with evil clowns, seance themes, alien bar room and hopefully build more tombstones. The weather has been crappy for sooooo long I am hoping I can work outside.
I definitely need more lighting of any kind and oh I gotta frame my huge two way mirror!