Costume 2007

Here's a flash photo of me in my costume this year. In the dark and in the landscaping, I blended in very well. It made it easy to get some good scares and it was fun listening to kids comments since many did not know I was there.

Backlit Foggy Graveyard

I did a fog machine test tonight with a PVC pipe chiller to make sure everything was functioning properly. I shot this image from my porch.

Flaming Pumpkin

This house safe version of a flaming pumpkin is modeled after the awesome real versions on ExtremePumpkins.com

Check out the video below the still photo.

Survive the UNdead this Halloween

The folks at Common Craft are worried about you and your brain this Halloween. You see, it's zombie season and they want you to be prepared. To help, they made this 3 minute video that will make sure you survive, brain intact.

Somthing Got into Charlie Thrasher Prop Frame

I had a request from fellow haunter Slimy to post some pictures of the frame and motor mount used in my Something Got into Charlie prop.

Here's a link to some additional photos.
http://scarefx.com/project_thrasher.html

10 Foot Witch Catches Possessed Little Girl

This giant witch caught a wicked little girl this afternoon in our back yard. She went on to boil the evil child in the cauldron right after this photo.

How Much Is That Zombie in the Window?

Our zombie decided he wanted to look out the window until he can work his way outside. There also seems to be a green glow coming from the half coffin tonight.

Moon Over Our House

I took a picture of our house tonight with the moon just over the ridge line. The moon is blurry but the props look pretty good.

Something Got Into Charlie

Charlie was on his way home to the suburbs after a long day at the office. As he arrived in the driveway, he felt as if his was going to be sick. He had no idea what was about to happen to him...

View the video here...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkWk3snr0lQ

Spazm in a Cage

I built a cage for Spazm. He's made by Morbid Industries. I hung him out on the porch tonight to get some lighting ideas.

Scarecrow Prop Up for Halloween 2007

We have officially begun decorating for the Halloween 2007 season for this year. Our Pumpkinrot scarecrow has taken it's place between the corn stalks. The ground breaker toe pincher coffin was also put out.

Trick 'r Treat Sam

Below is a stylized image of a prop I'm working on for this year. Here's what it is based on...

"Trick 'r Treat"

Michael Dougherty's new horror movie, produced by Bryan Singer. "Trick 'r Treat" is four interwoven stories that take place on Halloween with such characters as a staid high school principal who is a Halloween serial killer, a college-age virgin seeking that special guy, a woman who hates dressing up for Halloween and whose husband is obsessed with the holiday and a group of young teens who pull a cruel prank.

View the trailer.

The rules of Halloween:
1. Wear a costume.
2. Hand out treats.
3. Never blow out a jack o' lantern.
4. And ALWAYS check your candy.

While little is known about the character, the most haunting image of Trick 'r Treat is Sam, the Spirit of Halloween who enforces the holiday's ancient traditions. To the untrained eye, Sam looks like a little boy out for a night of gathering candy, but what's hidden under the orange footy-pajamas is anything but sweet. The burlap sack with button eyes and a stitched-on smile shrouds something sinister, and while his half-eaten lollipop may look like a tasty treat, when wielded by little Sam, it becomes a deadly weapon. If Sam appears on your doorstep this Halloween, you better be wearing a costume and you better have a bowl full of treats, or you'll be in for one hell of a trick.

Dry Halloween

Here's a Halloween episode of Tiki Bar TV.

Dayshots from Halloween 2006

I never posted any daylight shoots of our 2006 yard haunt. Picasa has a new embedded slide show feature so I thought I'd use it.

Animated Creature Frame

This PVC and steel armature is powered by a wiper motor.

Nox Arcana - Shadow of the Raven

"Ye who read these words are still among the living, but I who write shall have long since gone my way into the region of shadows. Plagued by ghosts from the past, my soul can find no release from its eternal sorrow. Lost loves, spirits of the dead... madmen and devils have each in turn visited me here in the solitude of my chamber, to haunt and torment me. I implore you to heed my tale, as I relate the grim and ghastly things that befell me in my darkest hour... once upon a midnight dreary..."

Today I received the latest Nox Arcana CD titled "Shadow of the Raven".

From their web site:

Delve into the haunted realms of Edgar Allan Poe, as Nox Arcana enriches the classic tales of the literary master of the macabre with a lush musical tapestry of Victorian elegance and Gothic nightmares. This dark soundscape of ghostly melodies, mournful dirges, eerie sound effects and ominous orchestrations is accompanied by Joseph Vargo's lavish artwork depicting Poe's classic horror tales, and even offers fans a hidden "gold bug" riddle.

I really like the Edgar Allan Poe tie-ins and the CD artwork is fantastic. Good stuff!

Nox Arcana fans will want this one in their collection.

Sound Effects Recorder

Sound effects for Charlie will come from Cowlacious Designs

Snake and Vulture

More inexpensive latex scene setters.

Stone Raven on Pedestal

Another 40% off Michaels purchase. It's 24 inches tall and made of resin.

Web Tombstone

This is the last of the tombstones purchased for this year. It's another small 20" resin stone bought from Michaels for $9.95 with a 50% off coupon.

Don Post Witch Mask

I read on a post HauntForum that Costco had some oversize masks for sale. I stopped in today during lunch and sure enough they had this huge Don Post witch mask for $24.90. There were others as well but I need to add another witch to my scene this year to make it a trio. This mask should be a nice basis for the last one.

However, these are not Death Studios type masks. It is low quality latex and has cutouts for the mouth, nose and eyes. But for less than $25 it should suffice.

The skull in the picture is there to give it some scale. The mask is quite large.

Crow on a Pedestal

Big Lots also had this crow on pedestal for $14. It's another resin prop so it should be very durable.

New Skull

Big lots had a decent looking skull for $7 so I picked up one.

Motors and Power

I got a couple of new wiper motors and power supplies from the Surplus Center. I really like these Trico motors.

Davy Jones Waterfall Projection

Our family just got back from 10 days of vacation in southern California. It's was our first visit there and of course we had to visit Disneyland if only to compare it to Disney World.

We rode the Pirates of the Caribbean ride and I got a decent video of the Davy Jones Waterfall projection. I love the effect. Wish it were simple and cheap to do.

R.I.P. Tombstone

Purchased this 20" tombstone from Michaels this afternoon. With a 40% off coupon, the total cost was $12. It's made of a heavy resin material.

Yeah...yeah...I know. I could made many more stones if I'd used the money to buy pink foam and paint. But the truth of the matter is my graveyard is about filled up right now. Until I expand the fencing, building six or eight new large stones is a waste (and a storage problem). Maybe next year. These little stones will make a nice addition this year and can be used inside for "decorations" until they go outside.

Skeleton Tombstone

Got this 24" tombstone from Michaels tonight. With a 40% off coupon, the total cost was $15. It's made of a heavy resin material which should stand up well.

Finger Food

Michaels had these fingers for $4. I got a good reaction out of a co-worker when I put one in her chair while she was at lunch. I love a screamer.

Hand in a Bag

Big Lots had a hand in a bag. I'm going to use the hand for something else. But it's a decent prop for $13.

Blurp Charlie

Got this guy from grimreapers.com. The cost was $39.95 plus shipping. They shipped it fast. I like that.

It will form the basis of new animated prop this year. Stay tuned for that.



UPDATE 2009: The mask has gone up in price since 2007 and is not listed on GrimReapers main site but it is available on their Amazon Store.

Vampire Boy Bust

Still spending money at Michaels. Another 40% off coupon and another $12 for this mean looking child.

Spazm Finds a New Home

Yesterday I received my first order this year from Jeff at TheFrighteners.com. He had a great deal on Spazm. Terrific customer service and excellent pricing. Check out his goodies.

Creepy Female Bust

My second purchase from Michaels this year. Also 40% off with a coupon.

Vampire Bust

So the shopping season has begun. Michaels has put out their Halloween merchandise. So I stopped off after work with a 40% off coupon and $12. Picked up this guy. Very nice for the a money.