The trickiest part with using Styrofoam is cutting it without ripping it. Take your time and use a very sharp knife (this is obviously not a project for the kids). I have heard some people have had luck using a jigsaw, but I have never tried this method. Once you cut out your headstone shape, you can also round the top edges for a more stone-like appearance.
Tombstone Cutting Tip from Jeri: "I heated up a knife, using a candle, and it easily cut through the styrofoam just like butter!"
We painted our tombstones with a coat of gray primer. Once that was dry, we sponge painted them using gray, white, and black paint. We added creative epitaphs using black acrylic paint. Once all of the paint was dry, we sprayed them with several coats of clear acrylic sealer.
Tombstone Writing Tip from Chrissy: "I heat a piece of rebar with a blowtorch and carved the inscription into the styrofoam then paint in black or red. This makes for an more realistic etched look on the tombstone."
Rebar works good to help these tombstones stay in place. Pound the rebar into the ground a few inches and stick the Styrofoam on it. You might want to drill/poke a few holes in the appropriate spots on the tombstones to help get the rebar started. You can also use lathe. If you use lathe, you should definitely make a hole in the bottom of your tombstone the width of the lathe. This will make it easy to slide the tombstone into place.
- - Go to the Main How to Make Tombstones Page.
- - Go to the Main Create Petrifying Props Page.
- - Go to the Main Haunted House Page.
- - Find more Halloween fun HERE.
