Rotten Pumpkin treat bowl prop

15738 Views 44 Replies 26 Participants Last post by Forhekset, Oct 2, 2015

Oak Lane Cemetery

Discussion Starter · Feb 7, 2015

I've been building this for a couple of weeks now and just realized I never started a thread here for it! This is an idea I've had for a while for a sensory prop/candy bowl for the kids to reach into to get an extra treat. I wanted it to look gross and intimidating to start with and feel nasty inside, but be clean and dry so as not to stain any little hands or costumes with fake blood or other liquids. What I came up with was using a Koosh ball turned inside out to form a throat that would feel icky. Koosh balls are those soft spiky rubber balls BTW. They feel kinda cold and clammy and the rubber is soft and very flesh like. Originally I wanted to build a zombie head, possibly with eyes that would open when a hand went down it's throat, but since we have a pumpkin patch/cemetery theme going on the wife suggested a smashed pumpkin instead. Easily doable since I already had 90% of the materials on hand. So here is what I have so far. The full album of photos from start to finish is on my facebook page.

Made the throat first

Started out on the pumpkin by carving, splitting, and re-assembling a funkin into an awkward, wide open position.

Made hanging, stretched goo with twine, paper towel, and liquid latex.

Corpsed the pumpkin with spider webbing and latex.

Used Great Stuff to secure the throat and build up some "guts".

Black latex base coat over everything before painting.

Then a coat of oak stain to muddy things up and make it all come together.

Now I have to build a base to mount this to. I'm thinking of making another stump, since that would put it at a good height for the kids to be able to reach in from above. There will be a bowl beneath the pumpkin hidden from view inside the stump, but accessible from the back. Gonna put rubber fingers, bugs and eyeballs in it for the youngsters to find. It will be like an extra little something for those brave enough to stick their hand in.

See less See more

10

Reactions: 5

1 - 20 of 45 Posts

LadyGoats

· #2 · Feb 7, 2015

Oh god, when I saw this on Faebook, I would have never imagined it would turn out to be soooooo cool!! And absolutely disgusting.

I would not stick my hand in there.

Which is a huge compliment.

Reactions: 2

Oak Lane Cemetery

Discussion Starter · #3 · Feb 7, 2015

LadyGoats said:
I would not stick my hand in there.

That's what I was shooting for!

I want them to think that either their hand is going to be covered in goo, or that something scary/bad is going to happen. Might rig up some lights that come on in the eyes when a hand goes in.

Reactions: 1

Itzpopolotl

· #4 · Feb 8, 2015

This is a great idea! Thanks for sharing.

Reactions: 1

Mr_Chicken

· #5 · Feb 8, 2015

That's so rad

Reactions: 1

Oak Lane Cemetery

Discussion Starter · #6 · Feb 8, 2015

Itzpopolotl said:
This is a great idea! Thanks for sharing.

= Mr_Chicken;]That's so rad

Thanks! I hope it will work out well and become a part of my haunt that the kids look forward too every year. Keeping my fingers crossed that the rubber of the Koosh ball does not react to the plastic of the salsa jug and start to melt. As a fisherman, I'm all to familiar with the the fact that soft rubber will sometimes react to hard plastic and cause both to soften and melt. It takes a while to happen so I won't know for months yet whether this will stand the test of time. On the plus side though, if it does come to a worst case scenario, I can always rip out all the rubber and pipe in a fogger. Always have a back up plan!

The Halloween Lady

· #7 · Feb 8, 2015

Oh I love this! What a clever idea and very nicely executed too! This would translate great with your zombie idea in addition to numerous other possibilities as well.

Reactions: 1

Oak Lane Cemetery

Discussion Starter · #8 · Feb 8, 2015

The Halloween Lady said:
Oh I love this! What a clever idea and very nicely executed too! This would translate great with your zombie idea in addition to numerous other possibilities as well.

I had originally thought to make a zombie head or monster head and scatter fingers and a hand or two around to give the thought that it would sometimes bite off an appendage instead of giving a treat, but the logistics of creating a mouth big enough to look good and be in proportion to a zombie head was gonna be tight. The wife's suggestion of using a pumpkin made all the restrictions of realistic size proportion go away, as well as easing up on the fear factor that may have made some of the younger kids fearful to put an arm in. It's gross, but not "bite your arm off" scary. Older kids will be in up to their forearm, younger ones might have to go nearly shoulder deep, but hopefully none will be too scared,but rather grossed out at the prospect of sticking a hand in. I tested it earlier after sitting outside in 40 degree temps for a while and it's cold, clammy, and feels wet even though it's not. In other words, perfect! if anyone else wants to do this and step it up a bit I would suggest adding a vibrating motor that activates when a hand pushes down on the bowl, and eyes that open at the same time. Features that are both currently beyond my skill level. Maybe in version 2.0 though...

See less See more

Itzpopolotl

· #9 · Feb 8, 2015

I showed my mom this and was explaining how you did it, and she was like oh that would be great for dip for your party lol. Ummmm dip and the koosh ball would not mix well. Talk about a mess! But maybe candy or chips or something. I'll be thinking about it for a while before I settle on something.

Reactions: 1

Oak Lane Cemetery

Discussion Starter · #10 · Feb 8, 2015

Itzpopolotl said:
I showed my mom this and was explaining how you did it, and she was like oh that would be great for dip for your party lol. Ummmm dip and the koosh ball would not mix well. Talk about a mess! But maybe candy or chips or something. I'll be thinking about it for a while before I settle on something.

LMAO! Dip. lol!

Oak Lane Cemetery

Discussion Starter · #11 · Feb 9, 2015

Got a little done on the stump over the last few days. Also working on painting and decorating the bedroom for the wife and installing a dishwasher so It's been slow going. Starting with medium sized spool I got from a dumpster at work. It's all plastic and very sturdy. I cut about 5 inches off of the edge of one end and opened up the center of the same end. Then I cut a bunch of foam boards into ribs that curve down from the top of the stump to the bottom. Once that was done I used 2 cans of great stuff to secure the ribs and start building out the shape some. All out of foam now. I estimate I'll need to get 5 more cans to finish. Doing the foaming layer by layer to ensure it all dries and expands properly.

Managed to get a lot done both inside and outside over the last three or four days since temps were in the upper 50s Saturday, 70 yesterday, and back in the 50s again today. Rain for the next few days though so I guess I'll finish my honey-dos instead of working on ole stumpy.

See less See more

4

Reactions: 1

punkineater

· #12 · Feb 10, 2015

Nightfisher said:
I've been building this for a couple of weeks now and just realized I never started a thread here for it! This is an idea I've had for a while for a sensory prop/candy bowl for the kids to reach into to get an extra treat. I wanted it to look gross and intimidating to start with and feel nasty inside, but be clean and dry so as not to stain any little hands or costumes with fake blood or other liquids. What I came up with was using a Koosh ball turned inside out to form a throat that would feel icky. Koosh balls are those soft spiky rubber balls BTW. They feel kinda cold and clammy and the rubber is soft and very flesh like. Originally I wanted to build a zombie head, possibly with eyes that would open when a hand went down it's throat, but since we have a pumpkin patch/cemetery theme going on the wife suggested a smashed pumpkin instead. Easily doable since I already had 90% of the materials on hand. So here is what I have so far. The full album of photos from start to finish is on my facebook page.

Made the throat first

Started out on the pumpkin by carving, splitting, and re-assembling a funkin into an awkward, wide open position.

Made hanging, stretched goo with twine, paper towel, and liquid latex.

Corpsed the pumpkin with spider webbing and latex.

Used Great Stuff to secure the throat and build up some "guts".

Black latex base coat over everything before painting.

Then a coat of oak stain to muddy things up and make it all come together.

Now I have to build a base to mount this to. I'm thinking of making another stump, since that would put it at a good height for the kids to be able to reach in from above. There will be a bowl beneath the pumpkin hidden from view inside the stump, but accessible from the back. Gonna put rubber fingers, bugs and eyeballs in it for the youngsters to find. It will be like an extra little something for those brave enough to stick their hand in.

Nightfisher said:
Got a little done on the stump over the last few days. Also working on painting and decorating the bedroom for the wife and installing a dishwasher so It's been slow going. Starting with medium sized spool I got from a dumpster at work. It's all plastic and very sturdy. I cut about 5 inches off of the edge of one end and opened up the center of the same end. Then I cut a bunch of foam boards into ribs that curve down from the top of the stump to the bottom. Once that was done I used 2 cans of great stuff to secure the ribs and start building out the shape some. All out of foam now. I estimate I'll need to get 5 more cans to finish. Doing the foaming layer by layer to ensure it all dries and expands properly.

Managed to get a lot done both inside and outside over the last three or four days since temps were in the upper 50s Saturday, 70 yesterday, and back in the 50s again today. Rain for the next few days though so I guess I'll finish my honey-dos instead of working on ole stumpy.

Your ToT-er Eater is a fantastically gnarly & disturbing 'candy delivery system'! Ole stumpy is a smart way to reuse a spool-never thought of that! Seen them done with stepping stools. Both smart ideas!!!

Reactions: 1

Oak Lane Cemetery

Discussion Starter · #13 · Feb 10, 2015

Your ToT-er Eater is a fantastically gnarly & disturbing 'candy delivery system'! Ole stumpy is a smart way to reuse a spool-never thought of that! Seen them done with stepping stools. Both smart ideas!!!

Thanks! I decided on a spool because I want it to be down on the little kids level so they can reach right on in easily.

DaveintheGrave

· #14 · Feb 10, 2015

That's pretty wild! Very nice prop. And yucky looking.

Reactions: 1

Vandalay Industries

· #15 · Feb 10, 2015

This is fantastic, I may have to steal the idea.

Reactions: 1

Oak Lane Cemetery

Discussion Starter · #16 · Feb 22, 2015

Fake seeds done!

See less See more

Reactions: 4

kakugori

· #17 · Feb 22, 2015

I am having flashbacks to cleaning up rotten pumpkin goo...

So, nice work!

Reactions: 1

Terror Tom

· #18 · Feb 22, 2015

I love it! Great idea and execution.

Reactions: 1

pumpkinpie

· #19 · Feb 22, 2015

Oh my freaking googness....this is beyond phenomenal!!!! I'm beyond impressed

Reactions: 1

whichypoo

· #20 · Feb 23, 2015

dang why cant I get these awesome ideas!!!!

Reactions: 1

1 - 20 of 45 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.