[Tyleete]

Hello and good day! Ok, so I ran out of time. I'm just going to blame it on my cats. I have a ton of rescue kitties, and it seems it's one emergency after another with them.
So! I saw an idea from Pumpkinrot that I really liked that he/she did a variant several years. There's 3 characters sitting around a pot or cauldron.
What I'd like to do, is create 2 prop characters around something like a cauldron. But then for the 3rd, have one of our frighteners. Sit really still, and do whatever to scare people as they get close.
My question is this.... How to create a lifesized prop character. We have one of two things I could think of: scarecrows or witches. Because they would be easiest to recreate as the haunter, to blend in. I (as we know) haven't a lot of time, and (as I stated above-cats) haven't a lot of money at all. So I need to find a way to create something cool, but that can be done in a relatively short time and on a small budget.
I have never used anything other than great stuff for prop making. And once paper mache with pvc to create an odd creature. So help?
ANY ideas would be most appreciated. I'll post the pics that made me think this would be a cool and fun idea, so you all won't think I'm completely nuts.
Thanks in advance for any assistance or advice.

 

[lilibat]

I use skeletons for some things. I made one monster last year in just like 2 hours with a painted milk jug, well tea jug, PVC pipe for the skeleton and a cheap old costume robe and some hands I made from wire and rubber mastic tape. I just crammed some orange LED lights into the jug so his eyes would glow.

Really PVC pipe is your friend. You can use the elbow connectors from the hardware store if you don't have time to order the postionable ones.

This guy below was made before I found out about the positionable PVC joints.

That's paper mache over PVC pipe and the bulk of the body is chicken wire with fabric and craft foam.

 

[HauntedWyo]

Those witches made by Pumpkinrot look as if they used skeletons or parts of skeletons. Being you are tight on both time and budget you could make body frames out of PVC pipe and PVC joints and then dress the forms as witches or scarecrows. For the heads of the witches or scarecrows you can attach a plastic shopping bag stuffed with either news paper or other shopping bags to the form and put a cheap mask over it or some burlap fabric. To give the frame some bulk again you could use stuffed plastic bags and tape them onto the form where you want some bulk, like the chest area. Pool noodles or foam pipe insulation can work to make some bulk for arms, legs and shoulders.
Depending on how windy it is in your area or how tall you make your props, you could maybe get by with 1/2 inch PVC pipe for the entire frame. 3/4 - 1 inch is better for windier areas or fairly tall props. Just think about what position you want your prop in, (i.e. standing, or sitting, or squatting) and then figure out what joints you will need to make whatever bends you want in arms and legs. You can also curve or bend PVC by heating it up a bit with a heat gun. Just be careful not to overheat it and melt it completely and also do it outside or in well ventilated area. Once heated you can shape it however you want, hold it in that position until the pipe cools and it will keep that shape. To keep all the pipes and joints so they stay together, but also be able to take apart later if you need you can drill holes through both the joints and pipes once you have them all the way you want them and then put bolts into the holes and nut them off.
You can find various instructions for PVC body frames on Youtube to give you some ideas.

 

[The Skeleton Crew]

I do a lot of mache work similar to Rots and it takes time as you have to allow it to dry between applications. Since your short on time and money my recommendation is to purchase masks, costumes, foam display heads, pillow stuffing, and some PVC. Use PVC and connectors to make your prop frames. Attach the pillow stuffing to the frame using hot glue. Install the costume over the PVC frame / pillow stuffing. Install the mask over the foam head and attach to the PVC frame using hot glue. Make adjustments, then your done. Have you live actor wear a similar mask and costume that way they all look the same.

 

[icyuod2]

You could always make the vast majority of your characters from sticks and twigs. Approach them like you would basket weaving. A main spine/branch, a woven rib cage and an old trench coat picked up from a thrift store is all you ready need. To make the cloths look older, beat em with a hammer on concrete till the fibers break , will make the fabric look rotten rather than cut. Burlap is a great way to add mass too. hth. https://www.wideopencountry.com/20-creepy-scarecrows-will-seriously-haunt-dreams/

 

[UnOrthodOx]

As you're not going to recreate pumpkinrot so much as create three figure for an actor to blend in with...

This is a job for a duct tape dummy, IMO.

https://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Make-a-Duct-Tape-Dummy-1/

Have the dummy model get into as close a position as they can prior to taping. Then dress all three alike, and your actor will easily blend right in.

 

[Tyleete]

Sorry I didn't get back to this yesterday and individual posts. MANY thanks!!!
I have an idiot (cat) who's not been eating well and had to run her to the vets twice since last Friday. So been busy with her.
But thank you THANK YOU for all the advice and help! I once created an Unborn creature with the skeleton being pvc, and just built off of that. Hadn't even remembered or thought of it till all these posts. That will probably be the fastest and least expensive way to build this design. I've even got a great tool to cut through pvc pipe like butter. I'll never find pool noodles for the body, which would've been a cool thing. But will try one of the others. This can so work! And I thank each of you for posting info/and links even to show. I don't have long, but think this can definitely work. Many kudos!

 

[Tommyknocker]

I was skeptical at first about going the PVC route; wasn't sure if it would really be that inexpensive or time consuming...turns out this is the only way to make bodies! I actually got the idea from pinterest, wound up here and there was a thread on here where someone posted the exact parts needed and sizes. I followed that model and it turned out great and was so cheap and only took minutes to put together. PVC sticks are sold in 10' lengths. You can do your measurements before hand and the hardware store will cut them for you or if you have any sort of saw you can cut them yourself. The elbows help you position the limbs as you like and the T's at the bottom are great for staking into the ground. My pic is unfinished but should give you the idea ( find the original thread I swear this guy laid it out so simply! ). His measurements though ( as you can see from my body ) make a 6'3" person, which is huge and I'm sure more than you need so measure accordingly. The smaller guy in the back is going against a deck so he doesn't need legs or hips. This was so easy and cheap I don't see why I couldn't make dozens more except my husband thinks I have problem...