Thread: Obelisk for under $6

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I found some .25" foam boards covered in paper at the Dollar Tree, and picked up 4 of them. They were around 24 x 18 inches.

I had some scrap styrofoam from another project.

I sat down on Friday night and made this:



I have the first round of joint compound on it to smooth the edges, and it's getting a coating of my textured paint soon that should hide all of the other edges and make it look like stone. (I use a blend of latex paint and mortar mix - it's sort of a take-off on monster mud).

I didn't follow any plans, just winged it. It stands just under 4 feet tall, which should be perfect for my smaller sized graveyard. I made it all one piece, and will secure it with stakes into the ground (and possible coat hangers bent into a U shape and driven in as spikes).

I'll post an update once it's painted, but I thought this was pretty nifty since I made this for under $6 - 4 for the foamboard and $2 for the glue, compound, caulk and paint (prorated).

Wow! I wish I could put together something like that in one night.
The obelisk looks excellent!! Great job!!
I'd like to eventually make one someday.

It looks great! I really like your triangular molding piece around the base of the spire. I was going to put a small square one around mine but I think I may do what you did. It looks killer. Great job!

Originally Posted by Cassie7

It looks great! I really like your triangular molding piece around the base of the spire. I was going to put a small square one around mine but I think I may do what you did. It looks killer. Great job!

That was a happy accident. I felt like the spire was too small meeting up with the lower base, and was originally going to just make a squared off one like all the other spires I've seen, but when I was trying to figure out how much larger to make the trim, I leaned one of th pieces against the spire itself... and it looked really good, so I just cut the pieces to make an angled molding.

I got inspired to work on one of these because of your post about your obelisk, so thanks!

Wow....ummm....Wow!!! Excellent Job!!!

Looks great! What an awesome $6 prop!

what a great prop, Frankie, I have thought about making one of those but never got around to it, after looking at how great yours looks, I have another want to do thing to add to my list!

Very, very nice FG!

Excellent work, FG!!! And such a steal!!

Here it is almost finished. I have the base coat of paint, and some shading started.



I had to leave it alone and let it dry because I was going to start screwing up the paint surface. It still needs basic shading at the bottom, and I'm thinking of adding some spanish moss around the base of the spire.