When do you build your props for your yard haunt?

2829 Views 39 Replies 32 Participants Last post by Madame Leota, Jul 22, 2012

jollygorilla

Discussion Starter · Nov 11, 2011

I am stoked about Next years Halloween and it will last till about Christmas when I get in the Christmas mood. But I reflect back to this year and what a blow mother nature was to me. First we had the huricane and that ruined almost 90% of my foam props from all the years from coffins to tombstunes etc. unrepairable water damage. Also during that huricane I had a leak in my house not a big one just a drip and where did it drip on a stack of 30 of my drawings of this years display ideas and I drew them in non waterproof markers so when I got home everypage was washed away. Next we had rain and winds followed by snow that just stopped everything.

I really have to start making props earlier then October. Every year my family says why dont you build your stuff in the summer. I just get pumped up in October. When do you guys build your props.

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Gym Whourlfeld

· #2 · Nov 11, 2011

I build all year long except October. I have a year-long(OPEN) haunted house. Of course DURING October I will always have things that will need fixing as the season unfolds which is not as much fun as building but can sure be stressful!
I try to make building easier on myself by not trying to go against the weather just because I Want to do a certain thing on a certain day, this helps some too.
My "Building" usually involves working with steel and paint, drilling, welding, not things done in a workshop full of sawdust.

BeaconSamurai

· #3 · Nov 11, 2011

My goal is to have all props done by summer. Then from there I just "tinker" with them and fine tune the whole thing.

halloween71

· #4 · Nov 11, 2011

I am usually building now.But this year don't have alot to build and cant repair tombstones till weather warms.I am right now thinking about what all I need to do/buy/repair/find make a list and check it off when done.
I sometimes put out christmas lights but not much.

Xane

· #5 · Nov 11, 2011

jollygorilla said:
I really have to start making props earlier then October. Every year my family says why dont you build your stuff in the summer. I just get pumped up in October. When do you guys build your props.

I'm a horrible procrastinator so... October 20th or later.

I really need to stop being that way, I need to clean up my garage and workroom and be ready to do things by the summer.

Figtreejohn

· #6 · Nov 12, 2011

I'm terribly methodical. I start conceptualizing in July, collect materials in August, build in September, and fine tune in October. I use pretty much the same approach as I do with my gardening. Kind of like Zen. Of course, throughout the year I'm always on the prowl for new stuff!

doto

· #7 · Nov 12, 2011

I build a little at a time thorughout the entire year. My office allows me to use a little space in the warehouse for building and storing supplies. Once mid October runs around I bring all the new items home.

FarmerChad

· #8 · Nov 12, 2011

Theres no time like the present! Im already working on a full size character. Been sculpting his noggin.. started painting today. But I have also been drawing out some plans and putting together ideas. The sooner you start, the more relaxed you will be. No need to worry about being rushed.

Gym Whourlfeld

· #9 · Nov 12, 2011

Years ago I would just make random pieces and parts of things then have a flash a year or two later as to what to actually make out of them and together they would go, odd fun, huh?

Pumpkinhead625

· #10 · Nov 12, 2011

I'm a horrible procrastinator so... October 20th or later.

I really need to stop being that way, I need to clean up my garage and workroom and be ready to do things by the summer.

This is ME! I conceptualize year 'round, but I have a hard time getting started to actually DO stuff. I'm planning to organize my tools and stuff over the Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks.

This year, however, I plan on getting things in gear much earlier.

Terra

· #11 · Nov 12, 2011

Start building in Feb. - March. But, bear in mind, I'M NUTS!

The Auditor

· #12 · Nov 12, 2011

I'd like to tell you that I work on them throughout the year. I'd like to...but that'd be a lie.

I always PLAN to start Nov.1. Then that gets put off getting the homestead ready for winter. So I plan to start after Thanksgiving. That winter holiday gets in the way.... And on it goes. Spring is planting, summer is harvesting when appropriate and of course selling at the market. Plus everything else that has to get done. Just too darned much going on.

So I usually end up starting middle of September. But I've decided to be semi-gentle on myself, and not stress over whether or not I'll get it done in time. If I don't finish this year, it'll be there for the next. Or the next. Or the next decade.

jollygorilla

Discussion Starter · #13 · Nov 12, 2011

If I started in September I would be on top of it. but I really have to try to do some things when its warm out.

Scatterbrains

· #14 · Nov 12, 2011

I'm not worrying about prop building as much as I'm worried about sequencing songs for my Lightorama. I only got three done and those need to be tweaked. I didn't realize how time consuming that is, and since I have a life outside of Halloween, I need to start on it soon and try and knock out a song a month by doing a Halloween song, then a Christmas song throughout the year.

ElGuapoGuano

· #15 · Nov 12, 2011

I am currently in what I call "The Off Season". About April I start dreaming up new idea's, refine those idea's for a couple months. Start getting materials and building a bit by June/July. End of August things really start cranking. by mid September it's a nearly everyday adventure. October 1 is my NET date and my Cemetery goes up and other outside decorations. The Garage should be just about done by this time. My animated props don't make it out until the Party, which is usually a few days before ToT. Then on the day of ToT, everything really comes alive. I like to have everything down and put away by November 1st, but this year I didn't get everything packed back up will about November 6th ( I felt like a slacker)

halloween71

· #16 · Nov 12, 2011

Xane said:
I'm a horrible procrastinator so... October 20th or later.

I really need to stop being that way, I need to clean up my garage and workroom and be ready to do things by the summer.

omg I would die!!!

halloween71

· #17 · Nov 12, 2011

Scatterbrains said:
I'm not worrying about prop building as much as I'm worried about sequencing songs for my Lightorama. I only got three done and those need to be tweaked. I didn't realize how time consuming that is, and since I have a life outside of Halloween, I need to start on it soon and try and knock out a song a month by doing a Halloween song, then a Christmas song throughout the year.

I know the life outside of halloween can really put you behind.We rent a lake house in the summer so my weekends are full with that.Building for me has to be during the week and winter months.But I love the lake so it's worth it.

Lil Ghouliette

· #18 · Nov 12, 2011

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooow!! Ghouliet & I are going to try to get as much done between now and about May before summer hits us hard. It is absolutely NO fun trying to prop build in 100+ heat. September is still summer here. We don't have Fall. Just summer and winter.

MissKiki

· #19 · Nov 12, 2011

I'm like a few others, everything planned out by June/July, collection of items through August with building late Aug through September. I fine tune the first two weeks of October before everything gets put into the yard. My hunny just said something about adding a light o rama & that could change everything!

ondeko

· #20 · Nov 13, 2011

I try to get stuff at least started in the summer but that's one of my busier times for work [art fair season = June to Sept] so I often don't get much of a chance to do serious prop work until Labor Day.

1 - 20 of 40 Posts

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