October 08, 2009

Tornadoes and Tombstones


Imagine this is me right now. Except I have blond hair, and I'm not rockin some eighties looking outfit, or risking my life for a crazy good picture, but this is how I feel. There's a tornado of chaos and CHANGE nipping at my heels right now, so please forgive me for not blogging as often as I should.

I had such great plans and posts ready, but this "tornado" is engulfing everything right now. I won't be so cryptic soon I promise.

I promised the tutorial on the headstones and they are such fun to make, plus year after year you can get something out that you created with your own two hands. Very satisfying!



So~ here are the ones I have made and I really wanted to make more this year but that pesky tornado won't back off. I can't even decorate for Halloween!!!!
!!!!!ME!!!!!







What you will need is some foam insulation board available at home improvement stores for like $4. I think you can get 3 regular stones cut out of one board or a big one like my Celtic cross above out of one sheet.

Cut out the foam with a good serrated knife or a little power saw if you have one in whatever shape or style you want.
Then I cut out some cracks and nicks to make it look more weathered. Look at the previous photos to see what I mean.
I found these tutorial pics at Martha Stewart. Here is a more detailed tutorial if you like.


Paint the foam a slate grey color. Then start dripping and mottling some watered down black paint onto the stone with an old rag to get the aged feel. This may tale several coats till you get the depth you want.
Add the names and sayings with paint or a big sharpie. It's a lot easier with a big permanent marker.

Here is a site that has some funny sayings to put on them.

Now this where I differ from Martha~the crafting Goddess. I think the moss color should be more green and less pukey colored. The green really pops and looks better in my opinion. Again- scroll up and see the green on my tombstones. Just make sure the paint is very watered down and that way it trickles and runs over the surface more organically.

Take some doweling and hammer it into the ground gently leaving about 5-6 inches out of the ground, then carefully stick the headstones down on it and you are good to go. Those babies are not going anywhere unless of course people steal them from your front yard like they did to me.
I guess they were some pretty good looking tombstones for someone to steal them. ;-)


Have fun and if you make these, I want pics people!!

xo Emily xo

12 comments:

Ginger said...

I really love those tombstones. One of these days I will make some. Maybe when I have a big enough yard to show them off.
Can't wait to see what your storm is brewing.

Darci said...

The tombstone creations are great! I hope your tornado eases off soon.

Alyson | New England Living said...

Yet again, you are soooooo creative!! I love it!

Please email and let me know how you're doing! You've got me worried! Much love! xxx

Petit Elefant said...

What a fun tutorial! Love it.

Lisa B. said...

I hope everything's ok?!!

Your tombstones look so realistic!! Thanks for the great tutorial!!

Lisa B.

April said...

They are awesome!!! Love them!

Jen of MadeByGirl said...

Soooo creative, I;ve never tried anything like this for halloween....hmmm

Jen Ramos
www.madebygirl.com
madebygirl.blogspot.com

Heather said...

oh my! you must be one busy bee! Hope all is going well. These headstones look totally creepy, love em!

:D

OldBoatGuy said...

I'm kinda late commenting, but HI!

I think it was you and crash who had the ghost contest last year. It was that and Lisa (Funny Farmer) that got me going on my blog. Thanks, Arlon

The (Un)Experienced Mom said...

I really need to get back in touch with my artsy side - those are great!

* said...

I saw some gorgeous (erm, is that the right word?) tombstones, covered in mossy arms of time, tilting in all directions, filling grassy cemetaries all over England. Wish I could've brought some home. Quintessential Halloween.

Drew said...

I want to make a tombstone that says, "Here lies Matt, Our Beloved Friend who died in Drug Rehab of an Overdose". Awwwwww.