Spooky & Creative DIY Tombstone Decorations for Halloween

Creating Spooky Tombstone Decorations for Halloween

Halloween is all about embracing things that go bump in the night. From ghosts to vampires to zombies, people love decorating their homes with scary scenes. One classic decoration that always sets the mood? Creepy tombstones lining the yard or home entryway. With a bit of craftiness, you can create inexpensive DIY tombstones perfect for Halloween.

Supplies You'll Need

The best part about DIY Halloween tombstones? Many of the supplies you'll need you either already have at home or can pick up for cheap at a craft store. Here's what you'll need to make your own tombstone decorations:

• Foam board or cardboard for the base
• Acrylic paint in spooky colors like black, gray, brown
• Paint brushes
• Hot glue gun & sticks
• Fake moss or flowers
• Wood stakes or rods for mounting in the yard

You can customize the tombstones using all kinds of extra supplies like faux spiders or spider webs. Get creative with what you already have at home too.

Making Easy DIY Tombstones

Want to learn how to make creepy DIY tombstones for Halloween? Follow these simple steps:

1. Cut the foam board into tombstone shapes. Play around with different sizes and shapes for variety.
2. Paint the foam board or cardboard using dark colors like black, brown, or gray. Allow to fully dry.
3. Use a pencil or marker to write RIP messages. Get creative with spooky names and epitaphs.
4. Glue on extra decorations like spider webs or creepy crawlies using hot glue.
5. Attach a wood rod or stake to the back for mounting the tombstones outside in your yard or garden.

Ideas for Customizing DIY Tombstones

The great part about creating your own Halloween tombstone decorations is being able to customize each one.

Here are some ideas for making each tombstone unique:

• Use varying sizes and shapes: Mix up the dimensions of each foam board tombstone so they look more realistic and less uniform when displayed together.
• Get creative with RIP messages: Look up funny or punny epitaphs to inspire the names and sayings you write on the stones.
• Incorporate 3D elements: Glue on thick rope or twigs to create dimensional accents. Prop up wood crosses or funeral flower wreaths against the stones too.
• Add moss or lichen: Use fake moss, lichen sprays or hot glue dots to give aged, weathered texture.

Repurpose what you have at home too. Try adhering bits of old lace, burlap or scraps of fabric to make unique textures and motifs.

Displaying DIY Tombstones for Maximum Impact

Once your homemade tombstones are complete, it's time for the fun part - displaying them for Halloween! Here are some ideas for showcasing your creepy cemetery scene to perfection:

Outdoor Yard Display

The yard is the perfect place to create an entire graveyard scene. Space out tombstones in rows as if they mark actual burial plots. Use wood stakes securely inserted into the ground to hold each foam board stone in place.

Enhance the look by:

• Adding loads of fake spider webs
• Scattering leaves and branches between the rows
• Including zombie hands or feet poking up from the dirt
• Positioning skeletons as gravediggers hard at work

Illuminate everything with string lights or outdoor spotlights. Fog machines placed near the gravestones amp up the creepy atmosphere even more.

Indoor Decor Accents

While fake tombstones look awesome blanketing your lawn, they make scary decor accents indoors too. Welcome trick-or-treaters by lining the entryway or front porch with a few homemade headstones.

Or display tombstones leaning against interior walls as part of a Halloween party scene. Enhance the look by:

• Spray painting epitaphs directly onto walls as graffiti
• Stringing spider webs and creepy cloth from walls and ceilings
• Projecting ghost videos against the blank tombstones to make them appear haunted

RIP Flower Planters

For an unexpected way to use leftover foam tombstones, turn them into creepy flower planters! Simply seal the backside holes with acrylic sealant, then plant moss, succulents or mini pumpkins inside.

Arrange a few RIP planters on porches, patios or tabletop displays. Float votive candles or tea lights in hollowed-out mini pumpkins for a spooky glow.

SAVE Your Creations Year After Year

One of the perks of DIY tombstones is that they last beyond one Halloween. Take proper steps to save your homemade decorations so you can reuse them for years to come:

• Seal artwork and text: Once tombstone paint and markings are completely dry, seal them with an acrylic spray. This protects the designs from smudging or washing off in bad weather.
• Store safely: Detach any breakable decor pieces like wood crosses or sample trays glued to the tombstones before putting into storage. Carefully pack tombstones laying flat in bins, wrapping delicate corners in bubble wrap or tissue paper as needed.
• Repaint and update: Over time, re-coat tombstone paint that chips or fades. Update RIP messages and art with each season to give your collection new life.

By properly caring for your homemade headstones, you'll save yourself time and money. Break them back out each Halloween to mix, match and update for the ultimate recycled graveyard!

FAQs

What are some good materials to use for DIY tombstones?

Foam board, cardboard, wood, and plastic are all good materials. Foam board is lightweight and easy to cut into shapes. Cardboard packs flat for storage. Wood and plastic are very durable for long-lasting decorations.

What paint works best for weatherproofing outdoor tombstones?

Acrylic craft paints or spray paints are good options for DIY tombstones displayed outdoors. Make sure to seal paint with an acrylic sealer so designs don't smudge off. Outdoor modular also helps decor resist weathering.

How can I make my tombstones appear aged and creepy?

Use black, gray, or brown paints to mimic a weathered stone look. Create textured effects like cracks or chips with paint or hot glue. Add moss, lichen sprays, or wood stain to give an aged, abandoned appearance.

Where is the best place to display homemade tombstones?

The yard or outdoor landscaping create an ideal graveyard scene. Indoors, use tombstones to decorate entryways, fireplace mantels, shelves, or down hallways. Prop foam stones against walls or slide under furniture for unexpected surprises.