Thread: Tombstonepalooza

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I have an idea for a thread, not sure if it has already been done on here. But here I go anyways. The one staple of my yard haunt is tombstones, which I thought I'd done a pretty good job until i saw everyone elses. Ever since I try to find every tombstone tutorial and advise I can find on here, but as you may know thats a lot to try to go through. So since we're all gearing up maybe we could put ideas on this thread. Like what works best for you, best materials, lil tricks youve picked up, things that don't work. Kinda like everything for making tombstone you can think of. Well I hope to see replies my tombstone comrads. My only real trick is coating my styrophom drywall mud with grey paint mixed in. But i think everyone calls that monster mud on here. And my theme is movie killers, I have Mickey and Mallory Knox, Charles Lee Ray (Chucky) and I'm thinking of adding a Tiffany for chucky, Mary Worth ( bloody Mary), Hannibal, and Pennywise. I will ba adding Stunt man Mike and Dr. Satan.

You will find alot of good tuts on here.
I love white syrofoam esp for monuments.I get all kinds of garden statues and put them on top.
I have even reused a animated christmas angel on one of mine.
I was going to post for reference the show your stone thread but you've
probaly seen that thread.
I also like the thick 3 inch styrofaom so I don't have to glue.

I use the extruded foam sheets, either pink or blue, but I much prefer the pink as it is easier on my eyes than the blue. The blue foam seems to reflect more light and I find myself squinting more as I try to carve it.

I carve with an x-acto knife, inserting it at a 45 degree angle so that the letters just pop right out with very little "digging" to do.

I glue my stencil on the board with a repositionable glue stick. It holds tightly so the paper doesn't slip but peels right off without leaving a trace.

Most important: change your blade often! Don't try to be cheap with your x-acto blades. As soon as you feel the slightest drag, change your blade. A sharp blade not only creates a cleaner look but is safer as well - I've got the scar on my ankle to prove it...