Thread: Almost finished entrance columns - but would like some advice

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Here are my new and improved entrance columns to my graveyard. I think they look so much better than last year... much taller and I think the stone gray color will really make them stand out at night with the blue light on them.

The first 3 pics are the new ones and the last pic is from last year for reference.

But I wonder if I should try to add a little something. I have some fake moss that I am thinking of glueing on to the columns in select areas to make them look older but I wonder if it will look good and if it's even worth doing because people might not even notice.

Any thoughts?

Oooh those are great! I like the lighter color instead of black. I think you could add other items like moss, cracks, ravens, spiders but it really looks good as is.

Thanks!

I've considered adding pretty much all those things that you mentioned.... but I'm almost afraid to mess with them because I think they pretty much look fine as is.

Which probably means I should leave them the heck alone.

Nice Colums! Your question is one I've been mulling for my columns as well. I think ultimately adding deformation and age will give a stronger Halloween feel, but personally I have a hard time hacking something up to make it look better. There are lots of examples on the forum especially on gravestone threads where members have achieved some fantastic looks with ageing, moss, etc.. Done correctly it clearly takes a little practice and time. Time we're running out of... Another nice effect I've seen is marbleing. I won't be ageing my column this year, but it's definately on my list to look at next year.

Those look fantastic!! Jelous, are the skulls removable? If so have you ever thought about puting some led's in the eyes of them?
Maybe like these Cowlacious Light & LED Products
Just a thought but otherwie great job!!!
MM

Thanks again.

You know I've never really been all that big of fan of the lights in the eye sockets of the skulls..... I guess I just think the dark void of the socket is scarier, at least for something like those columns or on my electric chair.

I think those skulls might be seeing their last Halloween though. They are made out of styrofoam. I cut the back off of them last year and Gorilla glued them to a small square of plywood and then screwed the plywood to the column. Last year the column blew over several times and the skulls have been beat up and are starting to chip away and show the white foam underneath. I had to fill in the white with a Sharpie to make them presentable for Halloween.

What I really would like to find is some sort of shield or crest with a skull or something of that nature on it but so far no luck.

DO IT! DO IT! DO IT!

Those columns look great. The stature and design is phenomenal. Love the gargoyles on top.

But I agree, they need to be aged. I completely understand what you are saying about taking a perfectly good column and/or tombstone and hacking it and otherwise make a mess of it. But that is what makes it look authentic and spooky.

In that video tutorial I made a while ago you can see the crisp, neat paint job I started with (was it's base coat gray). But, when you take a big gulp of air and go for it, you won't be disappointed. Worse case, you can paint it again with the fresh gray:

YouTube - Painting Halloween tombstones

If it would help, I double-dog dare you too



.

As the skulls sound like they maybe near the end, how about paint them to match? So they look like part of the plaster/concrete work instead hung on. Remember that foammelts with some paints

Those columns look great. I like the taller design. You commented that you'd like a skull shield or crest. Here's an idea: The Dollar Tree sells plastic kid's shields, with some medallion on them. The medallion comes off very easily. The shields are about 10-12" tall and are curved. I used them on my columns last year. Added a wood cutout where the medallion was, painted with Dry-lock and then painted to go with the columns and attached them with glue. You could add a skull where the medallion was.

I second Terra's suggestion. My columns were flat grey last year because I ran out of time to distress them. I'm going to axe several other projects just to make sure I get time to distress my columns.

Do you have a name for your graveyard or yard haunt? If you have any stryofoam that you could put up there below the skull that would be a great addition, a name plaque or rules board or something. Maybe even just ,"Enter at own risk", or "Beware mortals you are on hallowed ground". Something just to add that little extra to the overall experience.

Don't get me wrong they look great as is! Though I think the little details are the ones that really add the little extra and make it a little more believable amping up the ToT's experience.

Remember take lots o' pictures of your final setup to share with everyone, thanks.

p.s. Almost forgot to ask. I've seen those gargoyles many times before but for the life of me I can't remember where to get them from???