DIY: Fireflies!

FIREFLIES!!!!

PARTS LIST:

• 12 volt transformer for up to eight fireflies
• Tiny hobby lamps (Radio Shack part: 12-v microlamps 272-1092), commonly called grain of rice light bulbs, the kind used in miniature work that have two wires extending from them.
• Insulated single core wire, the tinier the better (Radio Shack part: blue wrapping wire 278-503). Allow eight feet per firefly displayed
• Thin cardboard, 3" X 1.5" per firefly
• Black felt tip pen
• Black electrical tape
• Speaker wire of necessary length to reach
• 6' or taller ladder
• Electric fans, as many as needed to propel the fireflies

INSTRUCTIONS: 

Always keep bare wires apart from each other so the will not short and always unplug the transformer when connecting wires so you will not short the transformer. 

1. Take the transformer and make sure that it is unplugged at both ends
2. If necessary, cut off plug end that would normally go to calculator, etc.
3. Remove 1/2" insulation from the two low voltage ends.
4. Repeat these instructions for each firefly you wish to display:
   • Take eight feet of the single core, tiny insulated wire and loop it in half tying a knot six inches from the two ends.
   • Tie knots every foot or so to keep the wires together until you reach the loop. Alternatively, you may tape the two wires together.
   • Cut the loop, making two wires four feet long and tied together.
   • Remove insulation 1/2" from the four wire ends.
   • Blacken the cardboard card on both sides with felt tip pen
   • Punch a hole in the center of card.
   • Place one bulb wire through hole in card so that there is a wire on each side.
   • Tape down the wire on each side with a small piece of electrical tape.
   • Connect the tiny insulated wire, that you tied together, to the bulb wire, one end per side, by twisting and cover all exposed wire with electrical tape. You can solder these for a stronger connection.
5. Repeat as you imagineer the right amount of fireflies for the scene you are creating:
   
   
   
   • Make sure the transformer is unplugged.
   • Determine the length from where the transformer will be plugged in to the firefly you are installing and cut the speaker wire accordingly.
   • Remove 1/2" insulation from each end.
   • Connect the transformer wires and the one end of the speaker wire together by twisting and covering with electrical tape.
   • Affix the speaker wire above the scene you are creating, using tape or thumbtack, taking care not to short the wires. You can attach to the ceiling, hang the wire from lamps, or tree branches.
   • Cut speaker wire where you decide to hang the firefly. Remove 1/2" insulation from both ends of the speaker wire.
   • Connect speaker wire and firefly wires together.
   • Use the electric tape around the first wire connection, and next around the other wire connection, ending with one black tape wrap and a descending firefly.
   • Turn on or plug in the transformer to see your lit firefly. If the firefly does not light, recheck the wire connections.
6. Sometimes, if an object is too near, they can "flashlight" onto the firefly, spoiling the effect. To adjust the intensity of the fireflies lower the voltage, if there is a switch, or to create a smaller light aperture with electrical tape being applied over a portion of the bulb or pain the bulb or a portion of the bulb.
7. Plug in small electric fan(s) and place them in as hidden an area as possible, point the fan(s) at the fireflies in order to get the right amount of movement.
8. If the air current of the fan is limited, a lighter material can also be used in place of the cardboard.
9. Wait until dark, or make it dark, and you have fireflies!

The photographs are ours, but a nod to the original source of these instructions, www.hiddenmickeys.org.  We are so thrilled to have this addition to our Haunt this year!  Can't wait to see the kids' faces!

How To Secure Your Tombstones

We have had a lot of questions about how our tombstones are secured.  We have the answer!

All Tombstone Factory products, tombstones, signs and bases, come with two 3/8" pre-drilled holes in the bottom.

The holes reach 5" deep into the tombstone.  We do not supply the stakes because ground conditions determine what kind of fastener will work best for you.

 Insert 3/8" rebar or wood dowels into the ground with a hammer making sure the distance between the dowels is the same as the holes in the tombstone.  

When choosing between rebar and wood dowels, consider the type of soil you have.  At our house, we have thick clay and use rebar because the wood dowels simply split apart if we try to hammer them into our dirt.  

Then, simply slide your base (if you have one) and tombstone over the dowels!  

For those folks in extremely windy conditions we recommend purchasing 1/2" wood dowels and using those instead of 3/8".  When you place the tombstone on the dowels the fit is really tight and wind shouldn't affect it.  That being said, we must of course recommend that in strong winds, you bring your tombstones in, but replacing them is easy because you can leave the dowels in the ground.  If you choose to use 1/2" dowels, make sure you apply steady pressure when placing the tombstone because you don't want to puncture the exterior with a errant shove!  (We speak from experience!)

With our placement mechanism, you can get creative and fancy with the positioning of your tombstones.  You can make them uneven and cause the stone to lean to one side as though it has been uprooted over time by the shifting earth.  Lean them forward, lean them back - anything you can think of.  

Questions?  Don't hesitate to ask!  hauntersunite@gmail.com

DIY: Bottomless Pit

If we had known we would be Halloween blogging, we would have taken better pictures and more notes while we were building our props.  So, if you have questions, please let us know!  :)

INSTRUCTIONS:

Depending on the desired dimensions of your pit, you'll need up to four sheets of plywood and at least two 8' runs of 2x4's.  We cut the plywood to the desired size, making sure that the bottom length was the same as the inset length of the notch in our 2x4's.  The idea is to create a friction fit so that the plywood slides into the notched rail in the 2x4 for easy disassembly and storage during the off season (if you have one at your house).  

The "stone" is created using sheets of foam.  We created the grout lines using a soldering iron - just heat it up and melt away.  Again, do this OUTSIDE because even Haunters shouldn't breathe too much melting plastic.  Glue your stone walls to the plywood.  

Don't forget to cut a hole for your lightbulb and its housing in the plywood and foam.  This will be attached at the end.

As for your top and bottom pieces - you want to create a notch that runs the length of the plywood sheets that is wide enough to shove (and I mean SHOVE) the plywood into.  The inside of the 2x4 is also routered out to create a place for the mirror or Plexiglas to sit.  

We like to use Plexiglas rather than a mirror so there is no danger of it breaking if some errant Halloweener decides to get a really close look at the bottom of your bottomless pit.  For the top piece, you do have to epoxy the mirror to the 2x4 frame which has the same notches as the bottom piece.  We tried to have it sit in a frame somehow, but the lip always showed when the Pit was lit up and ruined the whole effect.

Plexiglas is readily available and to make it "one-way" glass you'll need to go down to Osh or some other home retailer store.  We found our one-way material in the window coverings section - it is really considered privacy material used on storefront windows.  (Took us a while to figure that out in the store!)  We didn't bother purchasing the specialty fluid to make application easier - we just used windex and it worked just fine.  Application of the privacy screen to the Plexiglas is a two man job, so have help on hand.  

 Assemble the bottom piece with its one-way mirror sitting in its slot, shove the four sides into their respective notches and jam the top piece on to create a friction fit bottomless pit.  Ours has survived the heat of the attic just fine - the glue gave way between the foam and plywood, but that it an easy fix every year.  The mirror bubbled a little bit, but it is hardly noticeable once it is switched on. 

We hope you like our project!  The kids get a big kick out of it at our house.  

Happy Haunting!

WIN THIS TOMBSTONE!

Go to our Facebook page - Like and Share our Diliges post by September 1st and be entered to win our Diliges (Latin for Love) Tombstone!  

We'll announce the winner on Facebook and September 2nd!  Good Luck!

When Did Your Halloween Obsession Start?

Clearly, mine started much earlier than I even knew.  

My Mom dug this gem out of my grandmother's possessions while cleaning out her house.  

That's me, right there! 

Calisse, the second place winner in the 7 to 9 year old category at the Buellton store.  I remember winning this and being surprised.  I don't remember where I put that watch, though! Too bad, I sure would like to have it now.  :)

Tell us, when did you know you had a Halloween problem?  

DIY: Witch

One of our static props is our witch in her lair.  She has all manner of thing surrounding her from specimen jars, books on anatomy, mortar and pistol , crows, candelabras with skulls and lots of candles!  This year, we're going to add an autonomous rocking cradle - no baby, but lots of lace (hee, hee).  When we built her, we never thought we'd be blogging about our projects so we don't have many in-progress pics!  But, if anyone has questions about how we made her, let us know and we're happy to answer them all. 

Stage one - buy another skeleton, 3/4 size again to save weight.  These come with a hook in their skull which makes for easy hanging.  Our witch is suspended using wire that threads through her hair and hat.

Stage two - insert eyes.  We used white marbles (the big ones) with colored flecks in them.  The white glowed beautifully when only slightly illuminated by a black light.  

Stage three - paper mache!  The first layers built the shape and gave foundation.  The top layer was a mushy mess, but gave great texture. 

Stage four - paint!  We used an airbrush and concocted this putrid green.  The airbrush allowed us to paint her without compromising the delicate nature of the paper mache.  

Stage five - dress and display!  We found this nasty old wig at a thrift store for $1.  Her clothes and hat were purchased specifically for her.  We wanted the hat to be positionable and it took awhile to find that hat!  Her shirt and skirt are classic witch attire from any costume retailer.

DIY: BBQ Bob

This glorious piece of terror came from the wellspring of my mind in conjunction with the internet musings of some other Halloween lovers.  He is lovingly called BBQ Bob and as our daughter tells us over and again, "that's disgusting!"  Well, thank you my dear.  Mission accomplished.  Now the how to:

BOB
1.  Start with a pre-fabricated skeleton.  We bought from www.skeleton-factory.com which buys 4th quality anatomical scale models and sells them to Halloween nuts.  We used a 3/4 size to save on weight as these guys are HEAVY.  

2.  You should be familiar with foam-o-fill, aka Great Stuff or expanding spray foam.  We used this to replicate the general appearance of intestines and guts.  Works wonderfully.  

Apply the foam to Bob while he is lying face up on a protected surface. The foam sticks to everything, including your skin, permanently.  

3.  We used red paint as a base coat and then dry brushed black over it give Bob that raw meat on the inside, toasted on the outside look.

4.  You'll need some plastic sheeting (available at any home improvement store) and make sure you do this OUTSIDE because it is toxic.  This is wrapped around Bob and melted with a heat gun to give the appearance of burnt skin.  You can even twist and layer so it looks like tendons and muscle.  

5.  The final stage involves using a really dark stain like walnut and staining the plastic.  It will dry, just give it time.  Dry brushing with black paint also works well.  

6.  We attached Bob to a spit and with a rotisserie motor got him to rotate.  His hands flop back and forth as he rotates!  Awesome!

7.  Finally, we put a light box under Bob so it looks like smoldering fire under him in the dark. Instructions on how to make a fire box in a later blog post.  

We hope you like him!  If you have any questions, just let us know.

Happy Haunting!

The Website is Live!

Go to www.tombstonefactory.com to see our products and place your orders for Halloween!

Don't forget to Like our Facebook page - the first 500 Likes will receive a 10% discount on their future order.  Like away!

                      

Sneek Peek on Facebook!

Check out our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/TombstoneFactory for a sneek peek of our product line!  

When we reach 500 Likes, we'll give everyone that Likes us a special discount.  Like away!

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.

Haunt Music

There are a lot of Halloween CD's out there.  From classic horror movie soundtracks to the standard family-friendly entertaining Monster Mash tracks.  Since what we do is a Yard Haunt, we need something a little different.  No singing, no clapping, no instrumentals.  We need MOOD!  Bone-chilling, over-the-shoulder-looking, make-you-think-twice-about-entering MOOD!  

Now I know that there are a lot of avid Haunters who'll disagree, but we have used with marked success for many years Martha Stewart's Spooky Scary Sounds for Halloween.  Yes, it is a single 40 minute track with several of the sounds looped, but our trick-or-treaters don't stay long enough to notice and/or are too scared to notice (I prefer too scared).  What we love about it is that the sounds seem distant, as if something is going on just out of sight on the other side of that impenetrable fog bank that you probably don't want to see or it to see you.  Owls, thunder, knives and cackling set the feeling of being lost in a graveyard and the fog just clouded the street lights so now you don't know which way the exit is.  Perfect for our haunt!  

Now, we'll admit that one of our goals every year is to make at least one child cry (and we are successful) but we don't want to scar them.  So, in between loops of Martha's melody, we have included some more frightening tidbits from the internet including a booming voice that announces, "Welcome To Hell" and then laughs while a poor soul is dragged deeper and deeper into the inferno, his terrified cries for help unanswered.  This one usually makes the little kids jump and the parents smile.  

So, love it or hate it, Martha's our go-to girl for our Haunt sounds but we're always looking to improve.  Who has something better?

Proper Halloween Yard Maintenance

The short answer: None.  (If only your homeowners' association didn't exist, right?)

We live in California and it hasn't rained here in three years.  Almost literally.  By the time we reach our venerated Halloween holiday, the hills will be scorched black (probably from a fire).  This year's particular weather problem has its benefits and its downfalls.  

Benefits first.  Because every ounce of moisture will have been sucked and drained from the trees, bushes and weeds the sound of Halloween should show up long before the holiday itself.  The quiet rustling of fallen leaves against the brisk cool air of October harkens the early arrival of the Feast.  That first night of the sound of crisp leaves running along the pavement feeds my soul with the promise of another eerie and wondrous spookfest in our front yard.  

And downfalls.  The water bill will be enormous this year.  Your Halloween yard is as important as your decor.  Ambiance, although set by lighting, decorations and music, has its organic roots in the grass of your lawn.  We like to partake in our final mow of the season around mid-September.  This ensures that by the time Halloween rolls around, the grass in our lawn has enough height to give the appearance that no one has taken care of this graveyard for years.  It is abandoned and its souls forgotten to the ravages of time.  

Image from Development Systems, UK.  www.devsys.co.uk

Talking Halloween

There are a lot of Halloween sites on the web for all manner of fetishes.  One of our favorites is www.halloweenforum.com where Halloween enthusiasts can reach out to other enthusiasts for inspiration and assistance.  

                                            

What Should a Halloween Tombstone Look Like?

Tombstones available at the big box Halloween stores look ridiculous.  First, they are too small and too thin.  Real tombstones have weight to them - they are marble or granite for Devil's sake!  Second, they don't look like real tombstones.  No tombstone in the history of humanity has said RIP with the grim reaper engraved.  (Although mine might have to just to prove a point) 

But, real tombstones are boring because granite is difficult to carve and expensive.  Actually, the most elaborate tombstones from the 1800's are made of marble because it is a softer stone and easier to work.  So, it begs the question ... what should Halloween tombstones look like?  We've spent hours debating this without resolution.  We have determined that tombstones should have the appearance of the weight of stone with typical lettering and grander than usual epitaphs.  

We want your Haunt visitors to stop and read the epitaphs on the tombstones.  What makes tombstones scary is the epitaph and realistic engraving of wilting flowers, not the grim reaper.  Fear is in the mind and each person is afraid of something different.  Our tombstones lay the foundation for your fear and your mind will conjure the rest.  No blood, no gore, no obvious images of fright.  Only subtle tremors of terror.  

Hell is Empty and all the Devils are Here

Hallowine

I live in Santa Barbara wine country just on the other side of the coastal mountains where cool nights and hot summer days make amazing wines.  But, alas, there are no Halloween or ghost wines here.  For that, I need to travel back to my home on the delta in Sacramento and Bogle Vineyards.

I moved to Sacramento in the dead of Summer in 2002.  While living there, my husband and I stumbled on a winery with vineyards just on the opposite shore from our home on the southern delta - Bogle.  We fell in love with their wines, in fact, I have a bottle of their Old Vine Zin in the cabinet at home right now.  When Bogle released its Phantom blend our love of a good red and a bloody good Halloween party came together in one rapturous sip.

Nowadays, Bogle is widely available but no less tasty.  If you run across this gem in the store, do yourself a treat (no tricks here) and take it home.  For more information about where to buy Phantom, visit Bogle's website at www.boglewinery.com.  

Haunted Houses

The first haunted house I was a part of was at Science Camp in sixth grade.  Our camp dates fell over the venerated Halloween holiday, but sixth grade Science Camp only comes once.  The counselors, in their infinite wisdom, or maybe just their love of Halloween too, set up a Haunted House.  

     I can't remember now how I was able to take part in the Haunt, it's been that many years, but boy was I excited.  Black plastic lined hallways with things hiding in the dark ready to scare every 12 year-old girl into shrieks of terror.  And I got the distinct pleasure and privilege of inflicting such torment by reaching out from underneath a table and grabbing unsuspecting ankles.  I loved it!  My first taste of Haunt and I was addicted!  

     Nowadays, haunting is a commercial enterprise, with untold numbers of professional haunts available every year.  But, there are some of us who still love yard haunts over the nightmarish terrors the professional haunters conjure.  If you're looking for any kind of Haunt, try these websites:

www.hauntworld.com

www.findahaunt.com

www.hauntedhouses.com

www.hauntedhouse.com

   

What's in a Name? Halloween!

So we had termites in our laundry room.  All around fun.  Turns out they are subterranean - didn't even know that was a thing.  But the important part of this story is the exterminator's name.  DEADRICK.  And that's his first name! 

What?!  What all around gloriously perverted and wonderfully demented parents saddled their newborn with a name so perfectly fit for the end of life?  I think it might have to be incorporated in one if our tombstones. 

Image by Hartwood Roses at hartwoodroses@blogspot.com.
Spiderwebs on a tombstone in Hollywood.

My husband has a relative named Ineta Cox - seriously!  (Might have to make an obelisk out of that one)  And although Ms. Cox's name is a bummer, it isn't all that Halloweeny.  Deadrick on the other hand is downright perfect!  Anyone out there come across some Halloween appropriate names during their travels?

Find A Grave

This is a great website for those of us that tend to the prurient interest and those interested in delving into family history.  It also serves as a steadfast reminder that even death shouldn't be taken too seriously.  

I've lost hours enjoying this site and hope you do to.  http://www.findagrave.com/

Pumpkin Cheesecake

One of my favorite items to make for our annual Halloween bash - Pumpkin Cheesecake.  As far as cheesecake goes, this one is simple and tastes magnificent.  Add concentric circles of chocolate syrup or fudge and gently pull out from the center to make the spiderweb effect - kids and adults love this traditional and yummy dessert.  See recipe below!

CRUST
- 1 1/4 cups graham-cracker crumbs (I like Honey Maid the best)
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 4 tablespoons butter, melted

FILLING
- 4 packages (8 ounces each) bar cream cheese, softened
- 1 1/4 cups sugar
- 3 tablespoons flour
- 1 cup canned pumpkin
- 2 tablespoons pumpkin-pie spice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 4 large eggs, room temperature 

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees, with rack in center of oven.  
2.  To make the crust, in a medium bowl combine cracker crumbs, sugar and butter until moistened.  Press firmly into bottom of a 9-inch nonstick springform pan.  Bake for 10 to 12 minutes.  
3.  To make the filling, beat cream cheese and sugar on low speed in electric mixer until smooth; mix in flour. Add pumpkin puree, pie spice, vanilla and salt; mix until just smooth.  Add eggs one at a time, mixing until each is incorporated before adding the next.
4.  Place springform pan on a rimmed baking sheet.  Pour filling into pan and smooth the top.  Place in oven and reduce heat to 300 degrees.  Bake 45 minutes.  Turn oven off and allow cheesecake to stay in the oven for 2 hours without opening.  
5.  Remove from oven and cool completely.  Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm, at least 4 hours.  
6.  Add spiderweb effect and enjoy!!!

We Love Halloween!

Our slogan is "We Dream in Halloween" because we really do!

Growing up in small-town rural California, Halloween was about pumpkin guts fights with your best friends, home-made costumes and as much candy as you could get your hands on.  Somehow Halloween has morphed into an obsession for me, which I have dragged my husband, Ben, into.  But, truth be told, without Ben I wouldn't have an obsession.  Although my imagination conjures up images of burnt bodies rotating on spits over an open fire as appropriate holiday decor, my artistic ability lags far behind.  Ben, on the other hand, is a master artist happy to execute (quite literally when it comes to much of our Halloween adornment) my crazy ideas.  

Now, with two kids and each of us running our own company, our Halloween time is diminished.  While daydreaming about Halloween in March, I began to wonder why I couldn't buy decent tombstones.  Well, why can't I?  Why doesn't anybody sell these things?  The answer it turns out is ... wait for it ... no reason at all!  So, this Spring we have begun production of high quality tombstones for sale to the general Halloween loving public.  Some will be realistic while others will be funny, but most importantly they will all look like you could find them in a graveyard, not a pop-up Halloween shop!

While our real passion resides with our yard haunt and edibles, this blog will be dedicated to all things Halloween from our favorite home projects, best internet sites for decorating and costume ideas to anything remotely connected with Halloween.  While we build our website, keep in touch with our Blog and Facebook page.  We'll update you on our progress and let you know when our product line is available for purchase.  We're excited about our new venture and hope the Halloween community is too!

Ideas for tombstones?  Send them our way at hauntersunite@gmail.com or through our website, just click on the image above.