New member here

**Deputydog** · 10-05-2011,08:59 PM

Hello everyone! I have been watching this site for about a month and I have to say great pieces of work on here!
A little about myself.
I am fairly new to the whole Halloween decoration prop building world. I started a few years ago when a campground we frequent decided to have a Halloween campout. They decided to have a decorating contest voted on by the visitors. We were in on the startup and kind of helped get it off the ground. By we I mean me and my family. The first year we put out a few commercial decorations lights and props we had laying around. The other campers in the campground set out a light or two, so being the only camper really decorated we won first place. Everyone that came to look at our site commented on how neat it was. Nobody else had even thought about doing more than a light or two.
The next year we stepped it up a little. My sisters family and my family went in together and made a couple of static props. We just had a simple cemetery scene with some lights and fog. That year all of the usual campers, and the campers that were there the year before got bigger and used basically the same as we did the year before. So, we won first place again.
That brings us to last year. We went all in and made a large haunted house with a mad scientist theme. We used scrap lumber and black plastic for the walls and some old electric motors I had around. We had maybe $50 in the entire haunt including the clothes we got from the local thrift store for costumes. Again, first place. Everyone else thought they had us beat until we un-veiled our site. A couple of the usuals threw down a challenge to us for this year.
Of course with family activities and work we had thought we would have to back out this season. 3 weeks ago I was approached by the staff at the campground begging me to do something again. So, 3 weeks ago I started the build. This year I will be doing it alone, with my wife and 3 kids. We chose a pirate theme for this coming year.
The way I like to do things is free or very very cheap. I scavange anything I can find that will work for a prop. So far I have several lift and vibrating motors from adjustable beds, a windshield wiper motor from an old Dodge, and misc other junk I had laying around. I figured it would be easy to buy a lot and make an awsome set, but for now will stick with all made from junk I have around.
Anyway, that is me and my Halloween history. I will try to get some pictures posted as we move along.

Thanks for looking, and thanks to this site for giving me so many great ideas!