I’m new to this and would love to make some yard art. Do you know how to make these weatherproof for outdoors? Should there be a hard coat or a sealing layer?

Good luck and let me know how they turn out

Thanks! And you are right. There are so many things you can create using the same ideas. I've made a sarcophagus, pirate ship, vampire castle, coffin, many different Halloween signs, grave yard fence posts, spooky trees, stone walls, several different doorways ... a long list :)

@@MarkCox-MES would love to see your other works or tutorials like this one in the future!

Thanks! I actually made a few more for this year as well.

I'm glad you liked it. And, yes. Save those extra pieces! They're great for adding 3D details to your props.

@@MarkCox-MES I'll have to remember that! Last year, I ended up using the massive supply of cardboard boxes I'd stockpiled.😆

I do sand the edges for some projects. It's a great suggestion and I should have mentioned that.

Thanks! And yes, that Frank turned out nice. I like the stitching, but it’s easy to break off. I’ve fixed some of them at least twice. Here’s a forum post with the design drawing for that one: www.zombiepumpkins.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=11707#p91843

Thanks! Unfortunately, the designs are just paper doodles like what you see in the video. I just draw a sketch of what I want to make and then draw the same thing onto the foam. I don't have a photo of my original design, but here is the forum post about making that Dawn of the ZombiePumpkins character: www.zombiepumpkins.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=87103#p87103 Here's a link to a forum post I made with skull designs www.zombiepumpkins.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=98296#p98296

I've heard people talk about using hot wire cutters. I've actually never tried ... stuck in my ways :) I assume it would be a little faster and maybe cleaner if you have one.

@@MarkCox-MES I'm the same way as you, love the old ways. Takes more time but satisfying. Just thought of giving you the idea in case of getting backed up on orders. Have a great day my friend and still love the concept

Thanks for watching! I use 30mm for the bigger ones. If you make smaller versions 20-25mm looks better in my opinion.

Really sorry for the late reply 😢 The foam can be found in DIY shops. It’s insulation foam for buildings, so you’ll find it in the construction section with 2x4s, wood panels, etc. Not in the crafting and stationary section. I don’t have patterns. These are all just free-hand drawings based off the ZombiePumpkins characters. Here are my images if you want to work off those: www.zombiepumpkins.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=15479&sid=093996d64d5f8101425725c075f14784

I can get these boards at any of the local DIY/home centers here. They sell them at various thickness. I prefer 2.5-3.0cm because it's sturdy enough and easier to cut.

If you expect high winds, you can hot glue a piece of plywood to the back. Then you will be able to screw in a proper stake to get them in the ground and also give them some strength against the wind. If placing them on a porch, you can still use the plywood idea. And screw in a 1x4 like the L brackets I used. Then place a brick or sand bag behind them.

Awesome! I hope they turn out great! Making them with wood is a great idea. They’ll be much sturdier and hold up a lot better year after year. Please post a pic of them. I’d love to see what you create 🎃 👻

I usually use hot glue. That makes a super strong bond and dries quickly, so I can move on to the next step in a couple minutes. You can use Elmer’s or craft glue but it takes a day or two to dry. I’ve done it once and it has held up for 5-6 years now.

Dave, no. I use these for indoor or porch decorations for the most part. So, I've never worried about weather proofing. It would be better, but my first props have held up for over 10 years without that step. I do occasionally need to repair some broken pieces or paint over some damaged spots though.

I get mine from a DIY store here. I’m in Japan and what we get is blue. There is a pink version sold in the US and UK. It’s foam insulation board used for homes and buildings.

Jahmel - I'm glad you like the zombie pumpkins! Unfortunately, there's no template, but in the video comments there is a link to a forum post with the drawing designs that I used. I hope that helps.

@@MarkCox-MES thank you

Thanks! Unfortunately, the designs are just paper doodles like what you see in the video. I just draw a sketch of what I want to make and then free-hand the same thing onto the foam. I don't have a photo of my original sketch, but here I you can find the sketch of the two designs I made in this video: www.zombiepumpkins.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=15479 And here is the forum post about making that Dawn of the ZombiePumpkins character (the center pumpkin): www.zombiepumpkins.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=87103#p87103 Here's a link to a forum post I made with skull designs www.zombiepumpkins.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=98296#p98296

Legina, you can use them outside as they are. They are fine in the rain and should be good for a few weeks outside. The only problem is they are very light and will easily blow away. Just be sure to secure them well with garden stakes and some weight if possible.

@@MarkCox-MES Thank you for your help and quick response. Happiest of Halloweens.

That part is the trick I guess, isn’t it? 😅 I draw the design based off the ZP character. Then I draw that same design onto the foam. So, there’s no stencil. However, you can find my drawings for these 2 here: www.zombiepumpkins.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=15479&sid=093996d64d5f8101425725c075f14784 You also see some extra lines, grid type lines to help me keep image balance, and dark spots where I have sanded out bad lines. So, you don’t need to draw it perfectly in one go. I hope that helps.

Unfortunately, I'm in Japan. I have sent a few mini versions to friends as gifts, and just the shipping to the States, the UK or Canada can be $20-$50 ... add in materials, time and it seems like way too much for what you'd actually get :)

If you ever move somewhere where delivery, ect, is cheaper. Ya know.