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GraveyardCareTaker's 2014 Haunt and Thank Yous!

5447 Views 27 Replies 25 Participants Last post by  spiney99
I don't have a fancy official name for my haunt.. yet!

Since this is the first time showcasing my haunt, just a little bit about me.. I'm a 21 year old college student from New Jersey who has the same "weird" obsession with Halloween that you do. I have been yard haunting for about 8 years now and it's getting bigger and better as I get older. I'm very into creating sets and environments from my haunt, so I guess you could say I'm in the minority that is not prop driven (not that props are a bad thing, I just prefer to build settings for them first). I built my very first prop pieces about four years ago (cemetery columns and gates) and wanted to really step away from the store bought feel this year and give it my own touch.

This was not only my first time working with foam and monster mud, but I was taking both on in large scale projects. I posted a few threads here asking for help and suggestions as I started working and just wanted to say a quick thank you to everybody that helped me out anytime I had a question and for giving me advice. Your help made this all possible! I definitely learned alot from the very talented members of this forum. After taking what I think is a well deserved break, I look forward to reading more of your tutorials and improving my haunt with your help, tips, and suggestions this upcoming build season! We had a great Halloween and hope you all had as much fun as we did. Happy haunting!



The total cost of this project was $20, excluding the skeletons and candles. Scrap wood and foam!



One of two hooded mourner figures. We had an actor dressed similarly to blend in and I think you know how that scare worked!



Probably my favorite prop that I have ever made.. a monster mud mourner! Something I have ALWAYS wanted in my haunt! This was my first time working with monster mud and it was messier than I expected.



Yours truly in costume. The mask is by Trick or Treat studios for those who may be interested. No idea why the kids were screaming, I am clearly just holding some M&M's!



Some facade detail. I love details!



This guy took more than one piece of candy. The head is by Creepy Collection props and the hearse was another big build for this season. I believe I have pictures on here somewhere of it!



The biggest build for this Halloween was the 12 foot tall by 14 feet wide chapel facade. This was my first time working with foam and I was really happy with how it turned out. Looking forward to learning more about foam and the tools you can use to shape and carve it.









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Wow, Wow, Wow!!! Gorgeous photos, great props, facade detail...LOVE.
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Your displays and props are breathtaking, and your lighting is fantastic. Very impressive.
Very nicely done!
Thank you everybody!

The lighting is done with flood lights from Home Depot. I plan on upgrading to some pinspots and par cans next year!
WOWZA!! That is beautiful and creepy. Beautifully creepy!! You did an extraordinary job. The photographs are gorgeous.
Thank your for sharing.
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That looks outstanding. Love the whole set up. And the lighting is amazing. Great photos. ?
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Killer lighting, love the columns as well. Looking to add my own this year so I might have to steal your design!
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What a breathtaking haunt! I can't imagine you had many TOTs brave enough to approach. Heck, I'm not sure I would! ;)
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Very nice work there.

But what do you mean by "weird"? I thought we were normal and everyone else was strange.
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Looks like a movie set! Creepy and elegant. Can I ask which mask from TOT studios that is? Love the facade with the vines. My kind of set detail!
Strong work!
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What a creative flair you have ! And......welcome, always glad to see new young haunters getting started, although your works looks like more of a craftmans work, just beautiful. Look forward to watching your future projects.
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everything looks great awesome job can't wait to see more
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There's nothing I can say that hasn't already been said. What a fantastic display you have, I love it, great work!!! :cool:

By the way, can I have all that stuff? lol
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Lighting is beautiful, props are amazing and great photos, super job!
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Bravo sir! Amazing detail. I envy your Mourning lady prop. Lovely lovely setup!
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Thank you for all of the compliments!

What a breathtaking haunt! I can't imagine you had many TOTs brave enough to approach. Heck, I'm not sure I would! ;)
We had somewhere in the 200-300 range, which is the most I've ever had. We moved to a new area this year, so a mixture of being the only "Halloween house" and advertising for the first time definitely helped. We put the candy bowl in the middle of our hooded figure scare, so at one point there was just a crowd around the bowl of people waiting to see who would try first.

Very nice work there.

But what do you mean by "weird"? I thought we were normal and everyone else was strange.
Yeah, we are the normal ones, that's why I put weird in the quotes! If you ask me, the people buying Christmas trees today are the ones that have issues.

Looks like a movie set! Creepy and elegant. Can I ask which mask from TOT studios that is? Love the facade with the vines. My kind of set detail!
Strong work!
Thank you sir! I've been a fan of your work for a while now, so I appreciate your compliments! The mask is their "Night Creaturer", which I actually got off of Amazon because of the free shipping. I have a Michael Myers prop from them and really like their work.

What a creative flair you have ! And......welcome, always glad to see new young haunters getting started, although your works looks like more of a craftmans work, just beautiful. Look forward to watching your future projects.
Thanks! I look really forward to learning more about monster mud and working with foam. I'm always studying the art of the scare.

There's nothing I can say that hasn't already been said. What a fantastic display you have, I love it, great work!!! :cool:

By the way, can I have all that stuff? lol
You sure you want the statue though? I swear she moves and blinks when I'm not looking..

Bravo sir! Amazing detail. I envy your Mourning lady prop. Lovely lovely setup!
I love the details in haunts. I love doing the set dressing and this one was alot of fun to do! All of the stuff on the little altar are real church chalices and glasses! My favorites have always been Davis Graveyard, Hollywood Haunter, and Universal's Halloween Horror Nights, and I think that shows.
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