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 …
Category Archives: DIY
“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 …
“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 …
“Cal” (Cauldron Creep) 2021
This year, we added a continuous fog source (coming from Jack’s box), and sound effects of bubbling coming from the cauldron. We also managed to get Jack to stop smacking himself in the forehead with the stick. (Sometimes it’s the little things that bring us joy). To see more of how Cal came to be, …
“Ray” (Raisin’ the Dead)
For a while now, we’ve had this idea of a grim reaper-esque figure, standing over the graveyard, and being the thing responsible for the zombies and skeletons coming to life in the graveyard. We’ve made a few attempts to create a version of Ray with enough grandeur and movement to pull it off. Admitedly, we …
Soul Eater
This seemed to be the effect everyone was trying to create this year. Here’s our take on it…
Pumpkin Patch Denizens
All summer long, the pumpkin patch grew, forming one pumpkin after another. They grew heavy and took on a deep orange hue. As October drew near, something else entered the patch, or rather someone. Someone who never left the patch again. The tall grass enveloped the body. As fluids seeped into the ground, the pumpkin …