Wooden Cross Help

**ravenworks69** · 08-23-2011,06:52 AM

I'm beefing out my cemetery this year and instead of making more pink foam tombstones, I decided to use some old plank wood and make crosses. I have enough wood for about 16 or so but I don't want them all to say the standard R.I.P

Can anybody think of something else to put on them via a wood burning tool besides R.I.P? The boards are about 2 1/2 to 3 inches wide so no room for a lot or "funny",whimsical stuff.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Marc V.

**Frank n beans** · 08-23-2011,07:09 AM

Hello,
I know what you mean with having too many "RIP" crosses in one yard gets kinda boring. I am also making some new crosses out of wood I got from a old barn. What I plan on doing is putting first names on them from side to side. (keep the names short ie Tina, Rob, Marc) and dates on the bottom going down. Also I am going to have some of the crosses crooked instead of perfect

**GhostTown** · 08-23-2011,07:15 AM

My first idea is a bit of a head scratcher, but should be easy to pull off. The idea is: Leave a few blank

My second idea: Dates only....

Sometimes less is more. Most of the time, actually.

**BeaconSamurai** · 08-23-2011,09:20 AM

Why not a few names? If you are a film buff then "Unknown" or with one names "Arch Stanton" next to it. From the movie "The good, the bad and the ugly". A few blank would work also, add moss to them, put a bird on then or a snake. There is so much you can do.

**RCIAG** · 08-23-2011,09:38 AM

I know what you mean about the whole RIP thing. Every store bought tombstone has that on it. It's tiresome & boring. I'd rather see a blank one than see that again.

**lostskeleton** · 08-23-2011,10:01 AM

Great idea, I think grabbing some old pallets or newish ones and staining them gray.
If you want an older warn look get some wire brushes you can attach to a drill and wear them out.

I am with the others when they say ditch the R.I.P and go with a name or nothing at all. Most all real wooded grave crosses that I have seen made of wood either had a faint name on them or nothing at all. I think people painted peoples names on rocks below the cross.

**Otaku** · 08-23-2011,12:35 PM

I like the blank ones, but with a bit of embellishment. Planting them with a bit of tilt makes the scene look old and neglected, as well. I made several of these a few years back from some really old fence boards.