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DIY: Pumpkin Guardians

We must start this post off with an all hail Pumpkin Rot at www.pumpkinrot.com. To see the inspiration for our work, go to Rotten Works and look for the Pumpkin Sentinels.  (If you haven't been to his site before, you're in for a treat, no tricks!)

So, several years ago we found Pumpkin Rot's Sentinels and thought we'd try our hand at it ourselves.  But where to start?  We didn't want to use real pumpkins because we wanted something to last.  Solution, a big beach ball we used as the frame and paper mache galore.  We covered the partially inflated beach ball (otherwise you don't get that squatty pumpkin shape) with plastic wrap so the paper mache wouldn't stick to the ball.  We used a LOT of layers to add strength.  A router with a cut off wheel attached made quick work of the eyes and grin, but be careful not to cut too far up or you'll loose stability.  

The body was framed with a piece of scrap wood for the spine and shoulder and baling wire for the ribs and arms.  Again, lots of paper mache.  We used an airbrush to paint.  

To mount, we use a 4x4 which has four pieces of flat steel screwed to each side and driven into the ground.  We have also used an umbrella stand.  The Guardian is attached with a metal bracket which is generally used to keep 4x4's from coming in contact with cement - it is inverted and the Guardian's just hook on the top of the 4x4.  We like this option so we can easily bring them in at night if there is fog or unruly kids nearby.  

A few glow sticks and your trick-or-treaters have to walk under 8 foot tall looming pumpkins to get their candy!  Magic!

Questions?  We're happy to answer all of them.  

Pumpkin Pound Cake

One of my all-time favorite recipes! 

Pumpkin Pound Cake baked in a tube pan gives the appearance of a pumpkin.  Once icing, either white or orange, (and if you're very talented a stem in the center) there is no mistaking what season it is.  This is also easily cooked as cupcakes according to package directions which can then be decorated to your specifications.

CAKE

- 1 package yellow cake mix

- 4 large eggs, beaten

- 1/2 cup vegetable oil

- 1/4 cup water

- 3/4 cup sugar

- 1 cup canned pumpkin (I always use Libby's)

- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

- 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg

ICING

- 1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened

- 4 tablespoons butter

- 1 package (16 oz) powdered sugar

- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

PREPARATION

1.  Preheat oven to 325 degrees.  Grease and flour a tube pan.  (A flexible pan works best for extraction ease)

2.  Mix all ingredients and beat for 4 minutes.  Pour into prepared pan and bake for 1 hour.  Remove from oven and allow to cool for 1 hour.

3.  For the icing, blend cream cheese and butter, add vanilla and powdered sugar until smooth.  Add food coloring if desired.

Epitaph Etiquette?

Everyone's got an opinion about epitaphs.  Funny, creepy, clever, scary, poignant, witty.  I like creepy and spine-tingling like "Hell is Empty and All the Devils are Here."  The ones that make you think about your eternal doom and repose.  Will your soul travel to the sun or the dark?  Light or fire?  The ones that make you think about the options you don't want to think about.  That is the essence of Halloween to me.  

Tell us what you think?  Vote for one of the epitaphs below on our Facebook page www.facebook.com/TombstoneFactory - we'll produce the winner!

Creepy: They'll Kill You, And I'll be Left Here in the Woods, All Alone
Funny: Here lies Bob Thomas, Lost and Sea and Never Found

Harbinger of Halloween To Come

How does your neighborhood know that it's time for Halloween?  October 1st, our Witch goes up! 

We live on a pretty well-traveled corner in our small-town and right by the elementary school.  That means every kid in town either walks or drives by our house with relative frequency.  Our house sits below the street and the property line has a split-rail fence running its length.  Our Witch keeps guard of the neighborhood from her station on the corner.  At night, car headlights cast her sweeping shadow across the walls of the house as if she's flying past ready to cast unwanted spells on hapless children out after dark.  

Our Witch stands post throughout October making sure everyone is in the spirit.  The dog walkers always comment that they know we're getting ready when she goes up.  At this point, they're accustomed to seeing hanging corpses in the backyard in various states of decomposition throughout August and September.

What signals to your community that the season has arrived?

(c) Martha Stewart

http://martha.ms/15roqC4 for instructions on how to make her.  

Pinterest Boards?

I haven't become part of the Pinterest world yet.  I'll probably find too much stuff that I want to make.  But, I accidentally linked into a Pinterest board today looking at Halloween images online.  And, Wow!  

There are a lot of Halloween junkies out there with great ideas.  Things I haven't thought of in the hours and days I've spent mulling epitaphs and burnt bodies.  I found one Pinterest user - Dawn of the Dead - and she has over 100 Boards dedicated to Halloween.  Of course, I particularly enjoy the Graves/Cemeteries Board, but it is just fun to see what other people come up with.  Some really good ideas for haunt projects ready for your mind to take it to the next level.  

This link should take you to Dawn of the Dead's page: http://pinterest.com/zim2/

Does anyone follow another Halloween board on Pinterest the rest of us should know about?  Post a comment if you do.