Thread: Need ideas for using an old wheelchair as prop

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Hello! I am almost finished setting up our home for a huge halloween party we decided to throw at the last minute! ( UGH ) My "theme" is a "Haunted Victorian Bed & Breakfast". Our home is perfect for this because its a very large elegant Victorian and is listed on the historical register.

We are only the 2nd family to live in this home, as we bought it from one of the last remaining grandchildren of the original owner. With the sale we were able to purchase many of the original antiques and family heirlooms and we are incorporating these into spooky halloween props. I am trying to think of ways to use an old dusty wheelchair we found in the attic. Unfortunately, I don't have a Bucky skeleton and Ive completely blown my party budget already. Do any of you possibly have any inexpensive ideas on how to use this wheelchair as a prop?

Also, I want to try and use some of the old books that came with the house. There are literaly hundreds of old books, some are very "gothic" looking and would be perfect for some sort of "gothic vignette". On that same note I also have old crates in the attic of literaly every single newspaper from 1905 up until about 1966. These are in excellent condition and are fully complete. I was thinking about using a few of these somehow in the "gothic vignette" idea.
We have lots of little random vintage "tidbits" that I can use for props but I just don't have the imagination to utilize them in the way they deserve!

Besides the obvious halloween decorations, I also have some other household objects I can use for props: ( I just need help with the ideas
1. An old rusty chandelier missing its "candle parts"
2. An old violin w/ case
3. Old victorian trunk
4. A tarnished Silver Tea Set ( I just know this can be used for something cool!)
5. A 1912 Victrola with records from that time period

I am hoping that you all might be able to help me come up with some great ideas for using this stuff! I already have many of my rooms already set up, including fully stocked witch cabinet, among other things.

Oh! and I almost forgot! I was also wondering if anyone has ever used one of those cool "star lazers" for their haunts? I have one and its soooo COOL! I am planning on using it my " seance and tarot card " set-up. I am just curious as to how well it works in haunt displays.

Thank you so much for your time !

with the money you'd make from selling those props you listed you could buy tons of cool halloween stuff!!

Sorry i don't have any real suggestions...

That all just sounds so cool---I hope you post pictures!!

nooooo don't sell a thing! I've been looking for most of that stuff just to use as decor!

Seriously, you just need to set those things out. Add a bit of cobwebbing and a few skulls (walgreens is carrying a very realistic resin one for $6) and you've got a perfect creepy/elegant setting. Stack of books on a table, scattering of newspapers (frame the interesting ones) with a candle and skull, wheelchair at the end of a hallway with draping of webbing and a small blackbird perched on the arm...

Dollar tree crows, perched here and there, cheesecloth shredded and draped across tables, spraypaint small pumpkins black or white (glossy would be cool - or use them without paint), and wrap wide ribbon around them (like a belt) and pin with silver tacks (black ribbon for white pumpkins would look really pretty).

Dead roses in a silver vase or tied with a loose ribbon and laying on a side table with a stack of books and the like would be nice - you can check in with the grocery stores floral sections and pick up the old flowers for cheap.

A good idea thread:
Let's See Your Halloween Vignettes!

http://organizeyourstuffnow.com/word...r-2010-005.jpg

http://static.homageblog.com/uploads...ribbons-fb.jpg

Flip through Martha Stewart's halloween pics to get some other ideas:
http://www.marthastewart.com/photoga...een-decorating

lay the wheelchair on the floor like someone just fell out of it.....

ya need to figure out a way to make the wheelchair move on its own. (even if it is just a little)

heck, stick it in a dark room with a mini strobe on it and tie a string to it.

when peeps are looking, pull the string to make it move. you could dare them to be locked in the room, and you could pull the sting from under the door.

yarn a similar color to your carpet should blend right in if the room is dark.

you could probably figure out a way to attach a couple pieces of yarn to the door handle so the wheel chair moves forward as the door opens and pulls back as you close the door.


ya might have to weight down the chairs. (you could use all those big heavy books. )