Thread: First Tombstone

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Alright, this is very much a work in progress, but I'd thought I'd go ahead and post this up and see what y'all thought so far. But, I literally started 2 hours again and just roughanded a tombstone shape, got a soldering iron (with apparently too large a tip) and used that to just melt the foam into the letters... So now I'm kinda lost as for what's next, some more details, do I need to shape it up some more or what?

I'm thinking about maybe a line around it and adding in some something up top...a small crack at the bottom and a large one up top, maybe some moss put on there? I'm really just spitballing here, I mean... I'll admit, I like to do things that are perfect the first try (I realize that's not possible, but I still would like that. ) haha




...and in case you can't read it, it reads "V. Agra, He won't get up again 1920-1972 (messed up the last 2 part there, though"

Ha ha ha, that's funny. For certain, I would put some kind of medallion or a symbol that would fit the theme (and I'm not going there!) at the top. Also, I would try to even up the shape of the stone. Or.....play up the unevenness and have one side really be damaged from time. Looking good so far

Well that's actually what I'm thinking about is that, yeah I did kinda mess it up... BUT, there are alot of tombstones that way, maybe it's just been worn down on that side alot over the years, ya know?

bust off part of the top. There a lot of damaged stones in a real cemetary, so why not one in yours.

Now you've done it - you're gonna be addicted to tombstone building like the rest of us. Great start.

Don't be afraid to distress it a little.
Warning: it can, and has been known to, become habit forming!

It looks like you used some kind of burning tool to melt the foam (I use a wood burner to age my TSs) if that is the case, you can run the side of the iron on the sides of the TS and soften the edges a little.
Nice start!

Originally Posted by noahbody

Don't be afraid to distress it a little.
Warning: it can, and has known to, become habit forming!

It looks like you used some kind of burning tool to melt the foam (I use a wood burner to age my TSs) if that is the case, you can run the side of the iron on the sides of the TS and soften the edges a little.
Nice start!

Yeah, I used this cheap $8 wood burner I picked up at Wal-Mart at like 1 this morning (hey, I was bored and decided to start on this project)... I tested it and it seemed cool enough so thought why not try it to just melt the letters into it, ya know? Hopefully it'll give it that un-even worn effect...maybe. haha

EDIT: Oh and I wish I had seen Terra's videos before and did a base so it would stand up better... but the epitaph is too low to do that now.. so, next time!

EDIT 2: Updated photo... not sure exactly if that's what y'all meant by destressing, but I think it looks pretty cool.

It's looking good so far! It already looks a lot better than some store bought tombstones.
Plus, the more you practice the better your stones will get!
Keep at it!

looks great so far!!!

Oh yeah! That's exactly is what I was talking about. Love the distressing!