Thread: Cheap decorating outside

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I've been hosting the Halloween parties for my friends for a few years now. The problem is, I've basically run out of budget for outdoor decorating. For all the Halloween stuff I have, my outdoor supplies are rather pitiful. I have two 2" tombstones and a coffin which I plan to put out the day of the party or night before as long as there isn't rain. I need ideas on cheap ways to spice up the outdoors. I'd really like to work with about $20 (cheap, I know, the costumes ate the budget this year). I could maybe squeeze $30 or $40 though. How can I get the biggest bang for my buck in outdoor decorating?

Thanks!

Curb diving is your friend! (That is, watch what is set out on the curb prior to garbage day - you'll be amazed at what you can get as materials for building props!) Also, research the Prop Forum for good ideas on how to build props cheaply. Good luck!!

the Dollar Tree has tombstones, they aren't too shabby, you could add them to the ones you already have, and make a small grave yard, add spider webs, some cheap spiders,a skull or two, find small touches that give atmosphere. A wig head, and some cheese cloth, or tulle, hang some ghosts, they can be static, they just add to the atmosphere. Check the ads, things are going on sale slowly, you might find just the right touch at a reasonable price. If you have any masks not in use, you could make a ground breaker or two to add to the graveyard. (I am doing the graveyard theme because you said you have a couple of things for one, and it's cheaper to add to what you already have.).I don't know if this is much help or not, just a few ideas. Good luck!! Definately search the prop section here, there are plenty of good ideas!

ur best bet would be buy some hay barrels, cornstalks, and a few pumpkins.

Do you have any bushes, small trees, or plants in your yard? If so, you could make a sign reading something like "Danger: Carnivorous Plants" to put up in your yard. Then place fake bones and severed limbs in (or near) the bushes/trees/etc. to complete the effect! Similarly, stuff some old gloves or spare rubber dishwashing gloves, attatch them to wooden stakes, and stick them into the ground in front of the tombstones for a cheap and easy "rising from the dead" effect.

Do you have a porch? Hang up some shredded white sheets with fake blood splashed on them. The cost is less then $5 when shopping at the thrift.

Colored lightbulbs go a long way toward creating mood. Put them in the porch and over the garage or wherever you have outdoor light. Make sure they're all the same color, be it red, blue or green... mixing them just makes the house look eclectic and muddy in hue.

Buy one of the super cheap bag-o-bones at Dollar General, and hang each seperate bone from the porch and treelimbs with ragged twine at various heights to create twisted little mobiles.

Top it off with a classic Jack O' lantern menacing your porch with an evil grin.

spider webbing is cheap, and looks great if it's been outside for a while and gotten icky (we put out our web at least a month before the big day, and getting rained on, and wind blown and twigs and such caught in it really turns it creepy and nice!)

lighting is a must - and you can sometimes find the cheap colored bulbs. I picked up an outdoor spotlight stake (not including bulb) for $5.99 at Walgreen's, and use a blue outdoor floodlight in it ($5-6) and it looks fantastic.

Dollar stores and Walgreen's have great stuff for cheap - tombstones, skeletons, etc...

I also love the Goodwill stores. I picked up white sheets (which could be ripped up and make a nice hanging ghost) for under $3 a piece.

Cheesecloth could also make some nifty ghosts. A package from Lowes or Home Depot costs under $3 and can also be draped from trees or bushes.