Thread: What did you find/buy today?

I don't know how you haunters find all these cheap mannequins. Every since I bought my witch mask on Halloween clearance 2010 I've been searching Craig's List, thrift shops, yard sales, etc and have yet to find one. There's quite a few on ebay but then s&h is around $50. I usually stuff my figures with beach towels and pool noodles but I wanted a standing witch. I was going to try to build a pvc frame this year but never having build anything more than a sand castle, I was a little intimated. Then....I found this beauty on ebay for $99 free shipping: http://www.ebay.com/itm/170777280486...84.m1497.l2648 Still not cheap but what sold me is the way her hand is posed - perfect for holding a cauldron stirring stick.

No more slumpy witch!


Now how do I tell my husband..............

Tannasgach, If you want to make a inexpensive free standing witch for your display use a tomato cage. I have had good success making mine with one. Just sit it down points up and use a pool noddle for her spine, just make sure to put the pointed ends through the pool noddle and duct tape another pool noodle about 6 inches or so from the top of the "spine". Then I added a round plastic table cloth for the skirt and a rectangle for the top of her dress. Fill it out with plastic bags fill with bags or newspaper to you reach desired shape and duct tape it in place. Then add a styrofoam wig head with a mask over the end of the ''spine" fix in place and add a black rectangle plastic tablecloth for a cape and a witch hat and you got your self a free standing witch that is light weight enough to move where ever you want in your display. Hope this helps you out! :

Originally Posted by Tannasgach

I don't know how you haunters find all these cheap mannequins. Every since I bought my witch mask on Halloween clearance 2010 I've been searching Craig's List, thrift shops, yard sales, etc and have yet to find one. Then....I found this beauty on ebay for $99 free shipping: http://www.ebay.com/itm/170777280486...84.m1497.l2648 Still not cheap but what sold me is the way her hand is posed - perfect for holding a cauldron stirring stick.

Just know that you're not alone That witch is really cool

^ lol thanks Garthgoyle, the gals on the Witches Tea Party thread says she looks like a 'saucy old broad' but this year she'll be svelte and styling.

Spooky Girl, thanks for the info; I've seen the tomato frame made on the forum before and I have all those items in the garage.....hmmm...may need more witch masks...

So...when hubby got up today I asked him if I could buy a mannequin. I got the one raised eyebrow look so I told him a woman on the HF was selling three mannequins for $50 each and no s&h charges because she can mail them through her work. Now, I'm always honest with my husband except when it comes to Halloween buying but I'm only looking out for his health. He has high blood pressure and I don't want him stroking out on me which is exactly what would happen if he ever found out how much I spend on my Halloween "hobby". I told him it could be my Valentine's Day present so he said, "I guess so". Whew! Saved me the trouble of having to say, "I already bought her".

Originally Posted by Ghost of Spookie

The other day I ordered a few masks and this talking animated security camera from TYNKE. My order shipped so I'm kind of anxious to get the camera and see it in operation. There are other cameras out there that are about half this price and simply get motioned triggered to move back and forth 20 degrees. I'm hoping the talking animated camera will be worth the extra dollars. I'm planning on adding this camera to my zombie-overrunned-military base theme and will probably pick up a few of the cheaper cameras for other locations within the base. Might keep a few props safer too from the younger kids but that's not my purpose in buying it.

Has anyone per chance bought one of these already and can offer some feedback? No video on TYNKE's site showing it in action nor any reviews. Didn't see anything during a YouTube search either. I'm hoping I like the voice and what it says. I won't get it for maybe up to 2 weeks, hoping sooner.

The camera and masks arrived a few days ago and I finally got around to taking a video of the security camera in action. Will update this post later today with it once I get it uploaded. The triggering and swiveling action is pretty good. I have it set up in our upstairs hallway and keep triggering it when I walk past it and my body breaks the light coming from the natural light in the bedrooms on that floor. It's kind of an overcast day too. For use with my "base" haunt, the audio could be a bit better (more gruff and more military sounding) but it's not horrible for the situation and overall I'm happy with the purchase.

Here's the announcement it makes while a siren goes off at the beginning:

"Intruder Alert! Intruder Alert! You have entered a No Trespassing Zone. Leave the room immediately. Make NO sudden movements. Please touch nothing. Vacate immediately! Repeat Vacate immediately! Your every move is being monitored."


Update: Here's a link to the Prop post with the video of it in action that I finally uploaded: Animated, Talking Fake Security Camera

tanna, that is a nice mannequin. she will work perfect. i sure like your witches mask. and i like your slumping witch. i think she is rather cool. yeah, she does look like a saucy witch. and i'm with you, how does everyone find all the nice manniquins.
gos, that sounds scary. it would freak me out

I found these Anatomy cards in a drawer today. I bought them for a class back when I was in college. I figure I can photocopy them an enlarge them to make some charts for mad scientist lab.

Originally Posted by Terror Tom

I found these Anatomy cards in a drawer today. I bought them for a class back when I was in college. I figure I can photocopy them an enlarge them to make some charts for mad scientist lab.

Cool, Terror Tom. That's a great idea


My new eyeglasses:

Black with dark purple temples/arms


Black with filigree design


Both are from Zenni Optical, whom I would very highly recommend (I'm fussy about what I like, plus skeptical of ordering prescription eyeglasses online, so that's saying something). If, like me, you don't have insurance, it's a great place to buy from, since their frames are both stylish and inexpensive

I got this as a gift but I thought I would post it here. Here is a link, of the same product http://shop.pascoeandcompany.com/Pro...OUNT-DRACULA-L I really like it because it combines my love for Halloween with my love for collecting Royal Doulton.

That's neat, Spinechiller. Dracula should be hissing, though, since there's garlic right by him, and the cross isn't much farther away