It’s time to paint a wall!

Step 1: Paint blobs of black and white, then mix them in random directions with a brush (Stiltbeast has a good video demonstrating this technique). I go over it a couple times until I’m happy with the mix. Then I wad up some paper towel and blot. Finally, after the section has dried a little, I’ll use another wadded paper towel to soften, using a random brushing motion again.

Step 2: Use a flat brush to paint in the edges of the bricks. The lines don’t need to be complete or straight–a suggestion is better.

Step 3: Use a dry brush to put in white highlights, then black shadows.  I was trying to sell a brick across the seams, but that’s not working, so I’m going to add some shading tomorrow and go with the 2/1 pattern so clear here.

The wall looks okay in the photo, and I hadn’t seen it from afar. Then I came home from picking up the Spousal Unit, and I opened the garage door from the car. It looks amazing. I don’t have to do any more if I don’t want to. It’s selling exactly the illusion I want.

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The thing that didn’t get pictured: we have five really pretty pots on our walkway. They had mums in them, but they didn’t do well. Now the pots are upside-down, and each has a pumpkin on top. The first one is teal.  I didn’t think to take a pic, and now it’s all dark. I’ll try to remember tomorrow, as it looks nice.  A neighbor came by as we were putting it out, and just loved it. As a first grade teacher, she loved it even more when we told her about the Teal Pumpkin Project.  She says this would be great for her class, so I am happy.

I glued on some ornaments (yes, I should have done that BEFORE painting), and did a couple more coats of primer. There was only a bit of primer left in the can, so I poured it all into the pan. We know what happens next. I finished the stones, and had a bunch left over. I primed a mausoleum wall, and most of the front. I also glued down those foam tubes I bought for more embellishment on the mausoleum front. Before I painted. I swear.

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Oooh, pretty.

This was the middle of the lot. Yep, this way in both directions.

Today the Spousal Unit and I spent the day at the Renaissance Festival with Jenna and fam.  The fest was HUGE, and there was a lot to see.

The costumes were confections of color and texture, and there were so many! Probably because there were so many people, period. It was full-contact festing. Which sounds dirty.

A little anachronism never hurt anyone.

We got to see Ichabod Wainwright again, and he was still a hoot.

And I obtained a fabulous hat from Tall Toad.

I am going to be making excuses to wear that hat as much as possible.

BONUS: I tried again on the makeup. It’s better than Earl, though I think it could still use improvements.

My name is Lurlene. I’m gonna fuck you up.

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I spent my morning out letterboxing, so I didn’t get much done. When I got home from dinner with the Spousal Unit, I thought I’d practice my party makeup. I’m a ghost, natch.

Thing is, I am so very bad with makeup. Thus, practice. So, here I am with a layer of Manic Panic Goth White foundation. That wig cap was at my hairline a second ago.

Evened things out with Manic Panic Virgin White powder.

Blue highlights with Flashing Blue Mica Powder. I realize at this point that the light in the bathroom is crap, because this blue is a lot stronger. As in, I was feeling clownish and dialed it back with more white powder. Which didn’t help.

Note the absence of wig cap. It’s dangling from the back of my head somewhere. Again, the lighting doesn’t show my eye makeup well. I just posted this picture for my menacing expression. It was at this point I realized I had no mascara.

I look like a bad drag queen. Hi, I’m Earl, and I’d like to lipsync some Donna Summer for you.

Went to my closet, thinking crappier lighting might help. It did, a little.  I have Nyx Earl Grey lipstick on, with a little of the mica powder over the top (yes, it’s food grade).  I haven’t styled the wig yet, which is long and curly. My primary goal with styling is to keep the damned thing out of my eyes, so I may do bangs.

So, I hate this. Advice that doesn’t involve a bunch more product is welcome.

LATE NIGHT ADDENDUM: I’ve been up watching Youtube tutorials. I have ideas.

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Today, I did something that I should have done long before I did any carving or painting. Why didn’t I? Well, my drill wasn’t charged, and I didn’t want to wait. *shrugs* Time to drill holes in the bottom of the tombstones so they can stand up later.

I put them about 7″ from each end.

I used the extender for my drill, and a 1″ bit to fit my 3/4″ PVC. The hard part is keeping the drill level and centered. I didn’t always succeed. My best tip is stop often. If you try to drill in one go, you’re more likely to end up in Idaho.

Time for the shop vac. Word of advice: don’t get the Armorall shop vac. It has this stupid design with a blow hole right below where the suction hose comes out, so half the time you’re blowing stuff around before you can vacuum it up.

On to the pipes. The drill went in 9″, so I cut these to 8″ to avoid forcing.  Do yourself a favor and get a PVC cutter. It’s still made for the hand strength of a construction worker, but I can brace it on a table and push down without too much trouble. Much better than the little ones where you tighten the blade and twist it around 30 times.

Chris Davis covered one end of her pvc with tape, which seemed like a good idea to me.

Some Liquid Nails on the end and I let it ooze down the sides a bit. I’ve never used the stuff, so fingers crossed.  All the stones now have pipes. Forgot to get dowels at Home Despot today, so I’ll have to go back. Again. They should know me by name.

In other news, the mausoleum walls are one brace away from being ready for paint.  Also, I have obtained punkins. And one of them is getting teal paint.

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Paint is where foam objects really come to life.

After the letters are carved, and any distressing is added, I do a coat of gray primer. Then I fill the letters with black, wiping back excess, and do another coat of primer, with a roller.

When all that is dry, I do a scumble–black and white blobs of paint, mixed on the surface in random strokes.

While it’s still a little wet, I soften the mix by patting with a wad of paper toweling.

Finally, the black in the letters is touched up (though not too much), and I dry brush white around them to make them pop.

My other accomplishment today: finishing the gluing on the mausoleum front.

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Didn’t do much yesterday but buy a whole lot of PVC. After witnessing a windy day here, I decided the mausoleum would need a frame that could be weighted, so the whole thing didn’t blow away. Had to order some of the connectors online, so it’ll be Friday before I can build that.

Progress today, primer on back of tombstones, trim on mausoleum top (no pic), and, er, well, I was feeling a little blue when I went to Home Depot today for more foam. Came home with a couple of things I probably shouldn’t have, but eh, they go with the theme, and they weren’t expensive.

First, this mini ghost bride animated figure.

She needs some work, but her movements and lighting are rather nice. Also, I love her hands.

Then I found another projector toy:

This is sooo basic. You insert a slide into the rocking mechanism. You can have it solid or fading. I was thinking of projecting off center, so he looks like he’s peeking out the window.

Now, no more buying anything I don’t need for the stuff I’m currently building. And that shouldn’t be much.

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The Renaissance Festival was closed due to soggy ground. WAIL! We’ll try again next weekend.  So we came back home, and I took most of the day off. I needed the break. Of course, I couldn’t take the whole day off.

I’ve been wanting to make a packing tape ghost for ages.  I’d already looked up several tutorials and decided on my approach. It seemed like a nice, quiet thing to do today.

I started with a large, clear-ish plastic garbage bag over a wig head. I taped securely around the neck first, then started the details with scotch tape. I did larger areas with packing tape, and covered the whole thing in a couple layers.

Next, a hodgepodge of stuff atop my heavy bag went to form the rest, as I only wanted head and shoulders.

I carefully removed the wig head by cutting up the back of the form. It was harder than I thought–the tape made a very firm ghostie!

I hung her up with some florist wire. Decided I wanted ragged strips on the bottom, so I put more tape down and cut into her.  Yes, I’m aware she has 80s shoulders. Eh, I’ll do better next time.

We all know 50% of your grade in haunting is lighting. Now, I would love to light her from the inside, but that’s not going to be feasible. So she gets a pretty fire-and-ice light from the front. I’d like three of these to hang from the trees.

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Got the last of the names on the tombstones.

Got the triangular facade thingie on to the top of the mausoleum front. After this, I glue on embellishments, paint, and assemble.

Speaking of embellishments, these beauties arrived today from DG Gothic.  I’ll pair a skull and a flourish for the mausoleum, and the rest go on tombstones.

Today I’ll take a break to go meet Jenna and fam at the Ren Faire.  I’m just slightly excited.

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I had many plans today that involved things like standing, walking, even bending over. Alas, I woke up with an ear infection, and had to modify my plans so they involved sitting down. After all that waiting for cords for the Cameo, I didn’t want to go up and down the stairs to mess with the stencils. So I ended up just drawing letters. Er, I like them better.  I decided to use a hot stylus instead of a knife. Points off for neatness, but points on for ease and speed. The letters will be filled with black paint anyway.

I also didn’t want to go upstairs to check the name suggestions people gave me on Facebook, so I just made some up. I tend to go for method of death puns, so the four large stones get:

• Iva Nowie
• Etta Spyder
• Tripp Donabear
• Tiger E. Tedme

Heavy on the animal deaths.

Managed to get halfway through Tripp. Now I’m gonna weave off to rest.

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