How to Make Halloween Props Out of Styrofoam
- 1). Get a 2-inch thick Styrofoam (4 feet by 8 feet sheet) and lay it on a flat surface. Use a measuring tape, straight edge and pencil to divide the sheet into eight sections. Draw a line through the middle of the sheet lengthwise and draw three lines along the short side to divide the sheet into four sections.
- 2). Use a serrated knife to cut along the traced lines. If there is a plastic coating layer on the Styrofoam, remove this before cutting. You will now have eight pieces that measure 2 feet by 2 feet each.
- 3). Shape the top of the 2-foot by 2-foot squares. Round off the edges using a knife, then sandpaper for some of the tombstones and cut the top corners off for others.
- 4). Use a dull knife to make some crack lines in the tombstones.
- 5). Paint each of the tombstones, both the front, back and top of each, with a gray craft paint and a medium-size paintbrush. Allow the paint to dry for 24 hours.
- 6). Pour some darker gray paint into a bowl. Add a little bit of water to thin it out and paint it onto the tombstone, paying special attention to getting the paint into the cracks. Wipe off the paint right away with a dry rag. This will leave just enough paint on the tombstone for a worn and weathered look.
- 7). Use a thick black marker to write names or phrases on each of the tombstones.
- 8). Use stencils of skulls, spiders and other scary pictures to paint or draw pictures on each of the tombstones.
- 9). Push two thin wooden dowels into the bottom of the tombstone if the decorations will be used outside. You can then insert the other end of the dowels into dirt or grass so that the tombstone will not blow away.
