Question on props and how many are too much...

**jollygorilla** · 10-19-2011,07:26 AM

Few questions for you to help me with:

Is there such a thing as too much on your lawn? can you have too many things going on? I think I put too much on my lawn. each year I get jaw dropping responce and applause but I find when I look at pictures I dont even remeber some things they get lost. Do we follow the KISS (keep it sinple stupid) design? Is too much too much to look at?

Do most of you guys have themes or anything goes? can you have a pirate stand next to a psyco clown next to dracula?

last question I usually rebuild my figures and props each year and most figures are pvc piped right into the ground. Does anyone build their props/figures on a board base ( like the old green army soldiers ) I didnt think so but i love the props that dave lowe makes and I noticed he builds them all on wood bases so they can be build and moved all as one. Is this normal?

Thanks for the advice. This novice needs it.

**ihauntu** · 10-19-2011,07:35 AM

sometimes if you pile things in that make no sence together they dont look good, if you can group things together and make smaller scenes of of the props you have they may look more organized and complete. I dont like things all cluttered up on the lawn sure you have a load of props but if they are just randomly placed around it just looks like halloween thew up on the lawn.

**serpensphile** · 10-19-2011,07:42 AM

Yes...I agree with ihauntu. I don't like clutter.

Themed work seems to look better to me. As long as it's "organized", then it's good. Do what I do.....fix it....walk away....then come back later and just glance up at it. You will notice things that catch your eye that might be out of place, things too close together or too far apart or just "wrong". For example..."why would a psycho clown be standing next to Dracula????"

Honestly....board bases tend to blow over even in mild winds. I prefer to drive my stuff into the ground.

Good luck and send pictures!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

**Growler** · 10-19-2011,07:49 AM

I completely agree with ihauntu. I really don't like the small yard that has everything including the kitchen sink thrown in. It really looks clustered and way over the top. On the other hand, they tend to be the ones on the news and making the headlines for some reason. We have a big yard so it's hard to fill in so we do different scenes and I like to do different themes each year but, that is tending to get expensive. I always have the cemetary and spider on the garage roof. In the other part of the yard is my other theme of the year. Then further on is my other huge pneumatic rearing spider. This way the rearing spider is the back drop with my blown spider webbing around it and that tends to be the backdrop of the "theme" of the year. How big of a yard are you talking?

I also build pvc props. Cheap, posible and fixable. I don't tend to make bases for them unless they need it. Like my huge pneumatic spiders. With the ghouls/reaper I tend to just leave the pvc stakes pointing down and then run rebar into the ground so they stand up. Then I just pull the rebar up when Halloween is over and I don't have to mess with a large base and a small storage area.

**serpensphile** · 10-19-2011,07:52 AM

Originally Posted by Growler

.....I tend to just leave the pvc stakes pointing down and then run rebar into the ground so they stand up. Then I just pull the rebar up when Halloween is over and I don't have to mess with a large base and a small storage area.

Reeeeeebaaaarrrrrr. Of course! I read that a while back and forgot! Thanks for reminding me Growler!

**Growler** · 10-19-2011,08:03 AM

Another thing I've discovered is that if you screw in very small eye screws into the pvc, you can attach fishing line and then attach that to tent spikes. The fishing line isn't visible, usually, and it makes for a very sturdy figure that will not fall over in the winds.

**DaveintheGrave** · 10-19-2011,08:10 AM

I have WAY too many props for my yard, but I never have time to put all of them out together anyway.

**serpensphile** · 10-19-2011,08:10 AM

Originally Posted by Growler

Another thing I've discovered is that if you screw in very small eye screws into the pvc, you can attach fishing line and then attach that to tent spikes. The fishing line isn't visible, usually, and it makes for a very sturdy figure that will not fall over in the winds.

Well I'm glad I stopped by today! I'm learning a lot! Thanks Growler!

**Growler** · 10-19-2011,08:16 AM

I wish I had that problem! My yard always looks kind of empty. I don't even try to do that back yard with all my haunted trees and it faces the road too. I guess, you use what you can so an overloaded small yard isn't too bad. If you have it, put it out. Some children will remember something you might not want to put out and wonder what ever happened to it the next year. The year we put the huge spider out back the children all had to go out back and see it. I was phasing it out but, I guess they really liked it. Yesh, you just can't win. lol