Skulls Unlimited International

Check out Skulls Unlimited International, a great source for skull photos from almost every species imaginable. If you are looking to build a werewolf prop start here and take a look at the wolf skulls...check out the owl skulls as well because they are pretty darn creepy. (especially the barn owl)

Skulls Unlimited International is a great inspirational resource. They also have a great selection of t-shirts if you want to be a cool fashion statement.

http://www.skullsunlimited.com/

37 Days!

37 Days left until Halloween.

The good news is that all my projects are now in the works. The bad news is that all my projects are still in the works.

Still much to do, but pressure is a good thing…right?

SCORE! Pirate Props

This past week I managed to pick up a few prop accessories for my pirate themed section of the yard, a large wooden chest, some antique wooden pulleys and some wooden apple crates. The chest and pulleys were free; the apple crates were ten for $15 bucks. Need to pick up a few more to round out the display.

Things are progressing.

The Kitchen Lab

Spent the last several days experimenting with different materials and recipes trying to come up with some new clay variations.



After a great many attempts I’ve had a few successes and many disasters. Here are a few of the clays I’ve managed to make from ordinary household materials:

Cracking Clay. I’m really excited about this clay, once applied to the surface it cracks when dry leaving a very interesting texture appropriate for skulls and bones. Unlike other materials I’ve tried, this clay does not flake, chip or fall off the prop once dry.



Smoothing Clay. A good clay for providing a very smooth surface. The wet clay will not hold any texture, but works well for areas where you desire a very smooth, almost porcelain type of surface.



Poor Man’s Version of Paperclay. This formula still needs some work but I’ve come up with a homemade version of “Creative Paperclay.” The homemade stuff is not nearly as good but it still allows for some texture sculpting and can be rolled very thin.

Still needs much experimentation.



There is still a lot of work and experimentation to be done before I will publish these recipes. They need to be recreated to make sure they work every time and much experimentation still needs to be done to see how they work with different paints and sealants. There is still considerable work to be done.

Cyclops Skulls

Here are three new Cyclops skulls, basically my Demon Reaper skulls with one eye…an experiment in weirdness but I like the direction they are going.

Still a lot of work to do…refining the jaws and adding detail to the face..but still pretty original I’m thinking…..

Digger Redo-Reimagining!

Currently working on “reimagining” an old papier mache prop built in 1992, I went back and forth between simply restoring the thing and making him into something new.
Something new won.

Here’s a shot of Digger, an old caretaker type of skeleton that graced our yard display in 1992, after 16 years of abuse and poor storage the old boy needed a major upgrade.



After cutting Digger’s head from his body I deconstructed the eyes and mouth then added some papier mache clay and eyeballs made from tinfoil and polymer clay. The eyeball artwork was created in Photoshop and printed on plain paper.






After the papier mache clay had dried I sculpted in the details using Creative Paperclay, a product available at art and craft stores. Digger is well on his way to looking over the cemetery and pumpkin patch in our 2008 display…oh yeah, Digger will also have a bride (with boobies) that is currently in the works…more as she gets completed.

Marsha, Marsha, Marsha

My first attempt at corpsifying or reimagining a blucky; a cheap ass piece of plastic that in my opinion should be left on the store shelves.

Start from scratch, life would be easier.

Anyway, my goal was to turn this piece of plastic into some sort of corpse bride/female/ghoul. First procedure was to cut away the eye sockets and the mouth.





Homemade papier mache clay was added to define the skull the shape as well as some eyeballs made from polymer clay.




Next a layer of paperclay was added for texture and refinement. Here is Marsha in a variety of forms, playing around with glasses, hair and veil….not sure where she’ll end up.