Halloween Forum banner

Tombstones:D

3574 Views 21 Replies 9 Participants Last post by  ScaryMars
Hello,
Please give me your opinion on the foams you use for crafting your tombstones, I plan on using great stuff expanding foam so I can fully customize my own tombstone, I don't know if you guys have a better preference but if you do comment and tell me why please:)
Thank you and happy haunting!
1 - 20 of 22 Posts
I've made tombstones for the first time this year. And I'm loving doing it!!!

I have used a two inch thick foam insulation board I purchased at local Lowes store. So far I've made five tombstones out if it and I have enough left for several more.
  • Like
Reactions: 1
I thought about using insulation board but I was told that if you try to spray paint it it will melt and I don't want that to happen to several hours work.
I thought about using insulation board but I was told that if you try to spray paint it it will melt and I don't want that to happen to several hours work.
Indeed... Simple. Do NOT spray paint! :)

I have used a base coat of Rustoleum's deck product Restore 10x on mine, then I follow up with acrylic paints.
How do you stand them up? The wind is wrecking my tombstones year after year.
This year, I've drilled holes up into the stones and glued in pieces of PVC pipe. I plan on sliding those over metal posts in the ground
I do like spray painting though, to me it i'm able to get effects that acrylic paints do not get me, but if i did you the insulation foam and put on a layer of latex foam do you think that would prevent melting of the foam?
I do like spray painting though, to me it i'm able to get effects that acrylic paints do not get me, but if i did you the insulation foam and put on a layer of latex foam do you think that would prevent melting of the foam?
If the foam board insulation has a really good coat of latex paint, then yes, you can spray paint.

Here's one of mine done as I described:

See less See more
Last year I made a few tombstones out of the sheet foam insulation. Although they turned out pretty nice I thought they lacked depth. So this year I've been chunky-fying them with cardboard and paper mache.



Furniture Room Textile Pottery Table
See less See more
  • Like
Reactions: 1
They look awesome, Scary Mars! I think depth does help a fair bit, at least if you have a few like that. Looking forward to seeing 'em done.
I would recommend watching Terra's tutorials on making and painting tombstones. Also do a Youtube search on making/painting tombstones out of foam. There are almost as many different ideas as there are paint colors. I personally prefer Terra's methods combined with little things I've picked up in the process of making my own.
  • Like
Reactions: 1
I use foam board and stack it to get the depth I want. My base coat is drylock (gray) and then I paint it any way that I want. Both of these are made in this manner.

See less See more
2
  • Like
Reactions: 2
Wow! I don't want to know how long these are taking you. It took me a while to realize that divers helmet wasn't real. The bar just keeps getting raised on these things. Amazing.
I started a few years back and now I can't stop making them... if you want to see what I made so far check out my page! I'll just post the one I did this year. You can find my step-by-step process for it. Wood Tree Furniture Table Carving
See less See more
  • Like
Reactions: 2
Gobby, Scary: They didn't take as long as you'd think. A little dremel work, some gorilla glue...and voila! You should see them lit up! :) I'll be putting them out soon so I'll post a pic of them with their lights on.
They all look great guys I'll keep you posted on when I make mine for the next Halloween season, I need to get to work on my costume for now.
What I use for tombstones

Hello,
Please give me your opinion on the foams you use for crafting your tombstones, I plan on using great stuff expanding foam so I can fully customize my own tombstone, I don't know if you guys have a better preference but if you do comment and tell me why please:)
Thank you and happy haunting!
This is just my personal preference, but I love the 1.5 inch thick white bead Styrofoam board. Home Depot has it in full 8' X 4' sheets, but I usually buy it in 2' X 4' sheets, just because it fits in my small SUV. I usually glue two sheets together to make a 3 inch thick board, which is perfect for most of my tombstones. The reason I love the white bad Styrofoam is because you can crumble and tear away areas with your fingers, and it leaves a texture that looks like broken stone. After the drylock, painting, and a little dry brushing it looks like a slap of old stone. Here's a couple of Happy Halloween ones I made for my neighbors. Also a few I've made for my yard. All of them out of the white bead Styrofoam. I guess if you're going to do some really intricate carving, then it might be better to use the pink or blue foam board, because it's denser. Headstone Grave Font Granite Cemetery
Wall Rock Architecture Concrete Plaster
Carving Stone carving Limestone Architecture Rock
Room Brick Rock Art
Headstone Grave Cemetery Font Memorial
Rock Granite
Performance Event Room Performance art Performing arts
Stone carving Carving Sculpture Statue Art
Machine Machine tool Sculpture
Snout Close-up Carving Mouth Sculpture
Floor Flooring Wood Concrete
Stone carving Stele Carving Font Headstone
See less See more
12
1 - 20 of 22 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.
Top