Morgan is digging up the Creeper guy, who is coming out of the ground from his partially exposed casket. This started as a solid foam block, shaped with a hot knife, with woodgrain details carved into it. Then it was time for a pretty paint job.
Author Archives: Mike
The Great Pumpkin
Thanks to foam from Cheryl Calendar (and Tractor Supply), and a new hot knife, we were able to start creating a new giant pumpkin … which may just find itself perched atop a certain animated figure … eventually.
Grave Stones 2022
Rebecca has been itching to try out some new techniques on how to step up our gravestone game. We have Cheryl Calendar to thank for some of the inspiration … and the foam! She used a new monster mud recipe! Death Stone Obelisk
“Ray” Raisin’ the Dead 2022
Ray appears to have been working out this year. He’s taller. Beefier. Redder. Er… Heavier. Ray is basically the 2022 Home Depot Red Reaper — with an attitude…I mean altitude adjustment. 🙂 Pairing up last year’s pneumatic lift, we needed a fair bit more counter-balance weight to lift him … almost 50 lbs!! But we …
“Cal” Cauldron Creep 2022
Cal got a few upgrades this year: There is a method to the madness. Cal’s ministrations are with a definite purpose in mind. The stuff in the pot is responsible for animating the rest of the skeletons. This is why all the animated skelly’s have green eyes this year!
“Morgan” the Grave Digger
Morgan is our take on the combination of the haunted shovel and a grave digger figure. This was a tough build, and the pictures are going to make it look like it was easy to do. The truth is, that he had to be built from the ground up, and we had to repeatedly backtrack …
Creeper
This year, everyone tried to make these creeper characters. I also happened to have all the parts already down in my shop. So, here is my take… Started with this year’s Party City skeleton — it’s frightfully easy to customize this skeleton. Selling points: elbow and shoulder joints can be unlocked with a simple piece …
Haunt 2022
There are a bunch of upgrades/additions for 2022 – A portal to hell has opened, releasing spirits of the damned to waken the denizens of the Hidden Hills cemetery, and animate ghastly creatures of a nearby pumpkin patch! Graveyard walk-thru with fog, sound, static,animated and pneumatic props. Occasional live actors Demonground: The Hidden Haunt640 Regal …
“Dusty” 2021
This year, Dusty got a new paint job. He is still a very popular actor in our display. He looks like a traditional Crouching Ghoul, but the head movements throw people off. (Hint: Head and Body position are not related). If you want to see more of his history, check out: “Dusty” The Crouching Ghoul …
“Jack” (in the Box) 2021
The original idea for the box in the center of the yard was for it to be a crypt that could house a central fog machine and have an animated figure climbing out. Last year, we just managed to build the box, and we stuck a static skeleton in the box as a teaser. First …