Thread: Unusual things you've used for props

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If you're like most of us this year, money is tight and you really have to get the most bang for your buck when making your props this year. What odd thing have you used or will use this year in building a prop?

I'm all about recycling this year. I've gone around and collected wine bottles, baby food jars, and any other type of glass I could use for potions. I've used old comforters for cushioning and stuffing. And I now have a very large garbage bag of stuffing sitting on my front porch from my dad ripping apart a recliner. I have added some water to my acrylic paints to make them go further. There's so much more. So what about you?

I'm checking CraigsList a lot more these days, and it's paying off. I've collected free styrofoam, free plexiglass, and some free house paint.

As far as unusual props, I don't really know what "usual" props would be!?

I'm using just about everything I can find, from branches and vines, to free stuff at garage sales.

I don't have much of anything to offer off the top of my head, except I did re-purpose my daughter's old doll house and turned it into a haunted house.
I'm interested to see other's responses; this should be a good thread!

I am planning to use quite a few of the cardboard boxes I get every month now. I have plenty to share if anyone in the DFW area of Texas wants them. (My mom gets about 30 a month because she does home dialysis)

I have several old sheets I am planning at some point to use in monster mud projects.

I have learned to save the Styrofoam from any packing I get. I have also learned to keep a box full of old newpapers, not too many though, for paper mache or temporary stuffing. And I keep old boots or high tops for dead bodies or monsters.

Old panty hose also.

Witch Hazel, built in 2006 before I discovered the whole concept of "Halloween prop building" was made from an artist's easel (for her body) with a 1x2 cross piece for her shoulders. Her head is a milk jug with paper maché. I thought I was so cool for making a whole figure!

She still is made from all of that. I refuse to update her other than checking her paint job.

I would never have guessed she was made out of a milk jug paper mache

Money has always been tight with my haunt building.
Which is a blessing in disguise really, because it forces me to be more creative. We have "Clean up Days" in our area twice a year. I've filled up the pickup countless times with: scrap wood, old wooden doors, broken mirrors, styrofoam, exterior light fixtures, chandeliers. I hung quart sized mason jars from trees lit by tea lights. Oops paint goes a long way for the dollar. So does using a long narrow pallet for a draw bridge. (just had to add railings, plastic chain, & orange lighting below it)

Originally Posted by Frankie's Girl

Witch Hazel, built in 2006 before I discovered the whole concept of "Halloween prop building" was made from an artist's easel (for her body) with a 1x2 cross piece for her shoulders. Her head is a milk jug with paper maché. I thought I was so cool for making a whole figure!

She still is made from all of that. I refuse to update her other than checking her paint job.

Is that a large flower pot for the cauldron?

Originally Posted by Dragonomine

Is that a large flower pot for the cauldron?

Yes. I forgot about that too...

I've use pole lamps and guitar stands...The guitar stand was my witch. Styrofoam head, rubber mask and a witch halloween costume. I stuffed black panty hose and slid the legs into the sleeves of costume for arms and stuff gloves for hands, top with wig, hat and pumpkin eyes behind the mask and instant witch.

I took the pool lamp, removed the glass shade, took cardbard and made a frame for shoulders, took a styrofoam head, more blinking pumpkin eyes, a ghouls costume, skeleton gloves and mounted it all on top of the pole lamp. Then I took one the those Halloween door mats that scream when you step on them, rolled it up and put it in the sleeve of the ghoul costume. taped a voice changer inside next to the mat speaker and set to monster. Cheap animated prop. Every time a party guess would touch it, it screamed at them!

Pictures of the witch and ghoul are in my forum photo album (2006 party).

I use anything I can find!