DIY Tombstones
Here you will learn how to build tombstones to transform your yard into a Halloween graveyard.
Sure, you can just go to Target, Wal-Mart or some other store and buy tombstones, but then your graveyard will look like everyone else's.
The store bought ones usually have just a basic "R.I.P." or "Happy Halloween" on them. I like more realistic tombstones with funny or scary epitaphs and also enjoy decorating the house for Halloween, so a few years ago I decided to build my own graveyard.
Choose A Material
I built my tombstones using two materials: plywood and styrofoam.Styrofoam is good because you can buy it in larger thicknesses (2" or more) at your local crafts store and it's already textured so it looks more like a grave stone from the start. Sheets of styrofoam insulation from a building supply store can also be used. Styrofoam can be tricky to do the lettering on, is more fragile and thicker pieces get expensive.
Plywood is easy to work with, durable and you may already have scrap pieces buried in your garage. A standard 4'x8' sheet will be enough for about 6-10 tombstones depending on their size and shape.
There are other materials you can use (stone, resins, etc) but I don't have any experience using those so I'll focus on plywood and styrofoam.
Choose A Design & Epitaph
Tombstones come in many shapes and sizes. You can look at the sample pics below to get some ideas. I recommend starting with a basic and simple design such as the one pictured here. It's simply a rectangle with the top corners rounded off.Next, select the epitaph or saying you want on the stone. You can get ideas for this from websites, sayings you've seen elsewhere, Disney World or your own morbid creativity.
Where To Find Epitaphs
- Eerie Epitaphs
- One of the sites I used when I built my tombstones. Lists epitaphs by categories.
- Funny Stones To Tickle Your Funny Bones
- A good long list of epitaphs, many that I haven't seen on other sites before.
Build The Tombstone
1. Determine the size of your tombstone. 18"w x 24-30"h is a good size for a basic stone. Make sure there is enough room to write the epitaph.2. Trace out the design of the tombstone on your plywood or styrofoam. A French curve or cans of various sizes are good tools to help with drawing curves.
3. Cut out the stone. A jig saw works well for plywood. You can try a keyhole (drywall) saw or large utility knife for styrofoam.
4. Paint the stone. For plywood, start with a base coat of grey or off-white. Next, apply a coat of stone texture spray paint to give it a weathered appearance. For styrofoam, you can just use the stone texture paint.
5. After the paint has dried, paint the epitaph and any other design elements (skull, scrollwork, etc) on to the stone with a small brush and black paint. For styrofoam stones, it helps to press the letters into the foam first before painting them.
6. The last step is to attach mounting stakes to the back and place the stone in your yard. Use whatever you have available to keep your tombstones in place. For styrofoam stones, plant stakes pushed into the bottom work well. For plywood stones, you can screw shelf brackets into the back then use tent stakes to secure them into the ground.
Handy Tools For The Project
Black & Decker JS500K Variable Speed Jig Saw Kit
This economical little saw is just right for cutting plywood tombstones.
Amazon Price: (as of 07/06/2009) 
FRENCH CURVE SET 4/CASE
A good set of French curves will help you draw any curves you want to make on your tombstones.
Amazon Price: $6.75 (as of 07/06/2009)
10 Pc Hobby Paint Brush Set
To use when painting the epitaph or design on your gravestones.
Amazon Price: $6.99 (as of 07/06/2009)
Graveyard Accents
- Don't mow the grass for a couple weeks to give it a neglected look.
- Spread fallen leaves around.
- Leave dead flowers on some of the graves.
- Place fake bones, hands and skulls around the graveyard.
- Position lanterns
or electric candles in front of graves.
- Make a "Danger" or "keep out" sign from a scrap piece of wood. Use a jig saw to cut jagged edges on the ends for a broken look.
- Use a fog machine or dry ice to cloak your graveyard in a blanket of fog.
Skulls For Your Graveyard
Other Props For Your Graveyard
To give it a spooky, haunted feel
Halloween Cemetery Fence
Rickety sections of fence will add a little spooky realism to your graveyard.
Tombstones From Disney's Haunted Mansion
The Haunted Mansion at Disney World has always been one of my favorite attractions there. Its graveyard with the funny tombstones was the inspiration for making my own.
Good Old Fred
Wathel Bender
The Mansion Graveyard
Brother Claude
Sweet Leota
Master Gracey...
...and his loving wives
Brother Dave
The Grave of Captain Jack Sparrow
Store Bought Gravestones
After Halloween Sales
Watch How A Tombstone Is Made
How-To make Tombstones for Halloween
Make an entire graveyard for the cost of one store-bought headstone with this step-by-step video from the makers of Big Scream TV.
Want to learn more about Graveyards?
More Props For Your Cemetery
Cemetery Gate
Scary Graveyard Tales...
Was this lens helpful to you? How did your Halloween graveyard turn out?
garywgoldstein wrote...
That's very cool! I wish I have seen this before the Halloween. Great lens anyway.
Posted November 03, 2008
nancydodds1 wrote...
Very informative and children will enjoy this type of lens lot. My 5 stars for you. Thanks for sharing valuable information.
Posted October 26, 2008
fakerockguy wrote...
Great lens, and of course the perfect time of year for this. I'll have to incorporate it into my Halloween plans.
Posted October 19, 2008
CCB wrote...
People come from miles around to see my Halloween Graveyard. Its been a work in progress for years.
Great lens. You gave me some more ideas.
CCB
Posted October 19, 2008
svphelps wrote
this is fabulous!! I have some great ideas thanks to everyone. I will try to upload my finished product as soon as I learn how. Again Thank you!!
Posted October 17, 2008
Belindance wrote...
I think kids would just love this Halloween project, fun Lens idea.
Posted October 16, 2008
Lisa-Marie-Mary wrote...
Great lens - very helpful! Hubby wants to make a graveyard in our front yard next year. (He thought of the 'letting the grass grow in a spot' too late this year...) So I'm putting this lens in my faves so we can have some great ideas for next year!
Posted October 13, 2008
prosperity66 wrote...
After having read this lens, making graveyard seems easier than I thought...
Deserves 5 stars!
Posted October 11, 2008
Jen wrote
Got the graveyard idea from this site and pulled off a scary halloween party for the kids. They talked about it all year, waiting for the invitations to come out for this years party. Had about 60 kids at the party.
Posted October 03, 2008
by Mac33
I enjoy decorating for Halloween and started building my own Halloween graveyard a few years ago.
(more)
