RedThreadDIY

Oh, but Christmas decorating is ON! I absolutely LOVE Lowe’s Creative Ideas – so I thought I’d share them here!

Here is Lowe’s main Holiday page for outdoor decor and a bunch of other fun: Lowe’s Creative Ideas

YAY Christmas!

They will probably delete their awesome ideas after the season is over. And, that’s not fun. I mean.. I need to keep a constant list! So.. I’m gonna basically copy and paste their stuff into this blog, so we can all have access to the awesomeness FOREVER! I’m only gonna put in the stuff that I think it worth mentioning, which is most of it. Ready?! Go!

I also did this for their Halloween Decoration Tutorials. Check it out if you’re into DIY-ing!

Because this post is so long, here is a table of contents! If you want to jump to a certain subject in this post, hold down your CTRL key while pushing the F key, and type in the subject below that you are interested in!

Contents:

• Nuts and Bolts Christmas Tree
• Light and Bright Artwork (Snowflake)
• Chunky Chic Candle Pillars
• Twinkling Towers
• Clay Pot Nutcrackers
• Copper Christmas Tree
• Holiday Card Wreath
• Mantel and Railing Card Display
• Interior Doorway Garland Card Display

Nuts and Bolts Christmas Tree:

This idea brings simple elements like pine craft boards, nuts, washers, and a bolt together to create a contemporary, Scandinavian-style Christmas tree. The look of the piece is fully customizable with its movable branches and millions of decoration possibilities.

Skill level: Beginner

Rough cost estimate: $69

Tools You’ll Use:

• Tablesaw
• Dado blade set
• Hacksaw
• Drill
• 3/8″ drill bit
• 7/16″ drill bit
• 1-1/8″ spade bit
• Glue
• Clamp

Lowe’s List:

• 24″ x 3/8″-16 threaded rod/bolt
• 12 3/8″ x 2″ x 24” select pine craft boards
• 1 1″ x 2″ x 6′ pine board for the base
• 2 3/8-16 T-nut for the base
• 23 3/8″-16 hex nuts
• 43 3/8″ x 1 1/2″ washers
• MinWax Green Tea water based stain
• LED Tea Lights
• Assorted mini ornaments

Build the Base.

To make it extra sturdy, we used two “X”-shaped bases and secured with T-nuts.

Step 1: Cut the 1″ x 2″ x 6′ board into four 16-inch-long pieces.

Step 2: For all four pieces of wood cut half-lap joints: Using a table saw with a dado blade, cut a 3/8-inch-deep by 1-1/2-inch-wide (or the actual width of the board) groove for a flush fit. Center the groove 7-1/4 inches from either end. Glue and clamp the half-lap joints together.

Step 3: Drill 3/8-inch hole in center of each base.

Step 4: Using a hacksaw, cut the 24 inch threaded rod to 19-1/2 inches.

Step 5: Using a 1-1/8 inch spade bit, drill a circular groove 1/8 inch deep in the center of each base piece to accommodate the T-nut.

Step 6: Stain wood if desired.

Step 7: Thread base pieces onto rod securing each base piece with a T-nut.

Cut the Branches.

Step 9: Cut the 12 pieces of select pine craft boards into the following branch lengths (there should be two of each length):

• 18 inches
• 16-1/2 inches
• 15 inches
• 13-1/2 inches
• 12 inches
• 10-1/2 inches
• 9 inches
• 7-1/2 inches
• 6 inches
• 4-1/2 inches
• 3 inches

Step 10: Drill a 3/8 inch hole in the center of each branch.

Step 11: Drill holes to cradle ornaments. Drill 7/16 inch holes 1/2 inch from the end of 10 to 12 branches to cradle ornaments.

Step 12: If desired, stain the branches.

Step 13: Build the tree by screwing parts in this order: washer, nut, washer, pine branch, repeat. Start with the 18-inch-long branches and finish with the 3-inch-long branches. Top with nut only. Decorate with LED tea lights and small ornaments.

Light and Bright Artwork:

Skill level: Beginner

Rough cost estimate: $78

Tools You’ll Use:

• Table saw
• Paintbrush
• Screws
• Awl
• Stapler Gun

Lowe’s List:

• 2 1″ x 2″ x 8′ boards
• Canvas Drop Cloth; 4′ x 5′
• 3 strings of 50 LED lights
• 2 D-Rings
• Valspar primer
• White interior paint
• Gold spray paint

Step 1: Build the frame. Cut the 1″ x 2″ x 8′ boards into four 39-1/4 inch boards. Make a square frame using butt joints. Use screws to attach boards together.

Step 2: Create the canvas. Cut drop cloth to 46 inches square. Staple the canvas to the frame.

Step 3: Prime the drop cloth with interior primer.

Step 4: Paint the drop cloth with white interior paint.

Step 5: Tape the snowflake pattern (PDF) to canvas using painter’s tape. If this link stops working, feel free to contact me, as I’ve saved the PDF file and can send it to you.

Step 6: Spray paint the exposed canvas around the snowflake with gold spray paint.

Step 7: From the back of the canvas, use an awl to carefully poke holes for the string light bulbs. We used 150 LED lights.

Step 8: Insert LED light bulbs through the holes.

Step 9: Attach 2 D-Rings to the back of artwork. Hang in desired spot.

Chunky Chic Candle Pillars:

Lowe’s List:

• 4″ x 4″ x 8′ fence post
• Minwax Polycrylic
• LED pillar candles (2.87 inch; 5-inch)

Step 1: Cut a 4″ x 4″ x 8′ fence post into four sets of the following lengths: 4 inches; 8 inches; and 12 inches.

Step 2: Sand all surfaces of the wood smooth.

Step 3: Seal pillars with Minwax Polycrylic to bring out the natural grain of the wood.

Step 4: Top with LED pillar candles (2.87 inch; 5-inch).

Twinkling Towers:

I WILL be doing this one – but a little differently! I’ll be posting a tutorial of my own soon.

Reuse your summer tomato cages to create sparkling decorations.

Step 1: Stack three cages, and bind them together using 14-gauge wire.

Step 2: Apply white spray paint to a 6-gallon metal can and to the tomato cages.

Step 3: Decorate the cages with wire and Christmas ornaments.

Step 4: Attach C9 Christmas lights around the top of the cans using hot glue.

Step 5: Drill holes in the back of the cans, and run extension cords from the lights to an outlet.

Step 6: Place the cages in the cans, and fill in with white pebbles.

Step 7: Use wire to form a star and attach to the top.

Clay Pot Nutcrackers

Make your own toy soldiers from tiny clay planters.

Step 1: For each nutcracker, select five 4-inch planters, and wipe them clean.

Step 2: Spray-paint one planter black and one planter beige. Use red, navy blue, and green for the remaining planters. Allow to dry.

Step 3: Stack the planters as shown here. Secure them with a small amount of hot glue. Using utility scissors, cut a 7/16-inch round wooden dowel to 20 inches long. Thread the dowel through the planters’ drainage holes.

Step 4: With a pencil, sketch the nutcracker’s face, buttons, and belt. Paint the features with hobby brushes.

Step 5: Tie several pieces of jute twine around the top of the dowel to create a tassel for the nutcracker’s hat.

To find a stencil for the nutcracker’s features, click here. If this link stops working, feel free to contact me, as I’ve saved the PDF file and can send it to you.

Copper Christmas Tree:

Skill Level: Beginner

Rough Cost Estimate: $13 per tree

Rough Time Estimate: 20 minutes

Materials:

• copper tubing (1/4-inch x 10-foot)
• assorted holiday ornaments
• ornament hooks

The holidays are all about being with friends and family, and sharing the traditions of the season. December’s Unwind & Design project is a great way to decorate for the holidays while spending time with others. Create a mini tree from copper tubing, and then add your favorite ornaments to make it your own.

Step 1: Take one end of the copper tubing, and shape it into a large circle that will serve as the base of the tree. Continue shaping the tubing into smaller rings. Leave approximately 18 inches at the top of the tree for the star topper.

Step 2: Stretch out the coiled rings to form the tree.

Step 3: Shape the remaining 18 inches of tubing into a star pattern.

Step 4: Decorate with small ornaments if desired.

Good to Know: When the holidays are over, the copper tree will collapse back into a coil for easy storage until next year.

Holiday Card Wreath:

Skillset: Beginner

Rough Cost Estimate: $40

Rough Time Estimate: 1/2 day (includes drying time)

Materials:

• 1 (50-foot-long) roll of ½-inch riser flex pipe
• Utility Knife
• Plastic Clothespins
• Primer
• Silver Spray Paint
• Purple Spray Paint
• Construction Adhesive for small projects
• Silver Ribbon

Step 1: Using a utility knife, cut a 6-foot-long piece, a 3 1/2-foot-long piece, and a 3 1/2-inch-long piece of riser flex pipe (found in the plumbing department).

Step 2: Make a large circle with the 6-foot piece of pipe and a smaller circle with the 3½-foot piece, using flex tees to hold each circle together.

Step 3: Connect the circles at the flex tees using the 3 1/2-inch-long piece of pipe.

Step 4: Prime, and let dry. Spray-paint plastic clothespins and the pipe wreath. (We used purple paint for the wreath and silver paint for the clothespins.) Allow to dry.

Step 5: Using construction adhesive for small projects, attach the clothespins to the wreath, as shown.

Step 6: Suspend the wreath using ribbon, and use the clothespins to hold your cards in place.

Mantel and Railing Card Display:

Skill Level: Beginner

Rough Cost Estimate: $40

Rough Time Estimate: 2 hours

Materials:

• Lighted Pine Garland
• Red Beaded Garland
• Ribbon
• Ornament Hooks
• Shatterproof Ornaments
• Hole Puncher

Step 1: Swag lighted garland and red beaded garland along the railing of your staircase using ribbon tied into bows.

Step 2: Make a larger bow to place at the bottom of the staircase.

Step 3: Use a hole puncher to make a hole in the corner of each holiday card.

Step 4: Attach the cards and ornaments to the garland using ornament hooks.

Interior Doorway Garland Card Display:

Skill Level: Beginner

Rough Cost Estimate: $50

Rough Time Estimate: 1 hour

Materials:

• Garland
• Suction Hooks
• Paper Clips
• 2 Bows
• Shatterproof Ornaments
• Poinsettia Lights

Step 1: Hang garland at the top of the door frame using suction hooks.

Step 2: Tie bows to both ends of the garland.

Step 3: Use paper clips to attach your cards to the bows and garland.

Hope you enjoyed the post! Let me know if you try anything – I’d love to know.

Photo and Idea Credits: Lowe’s Creative Ideas

My original idea for these was to follow the Lowe’s tutorial that I gave in my earlier post here, but after starting the tutorial, I found that they left out a LOT of details that would have helped me so much if I knew what they were beforehand. So – here is the Halloween Lighted House Ghosts Tutorial – RedThread style!

Materials Needed to make 1 Ghost:

• Wire Tomato Cage (My dad had a TON of rusty ones that he needed to get rid of. Instead of throwing them away, this is such a great use for them!)
• 75-100 Clear or White Christmas lights (I found mine at Home Depot for around $2.50)
• A 6×9 foot drop cloth (to cover the cages with)
• Black Permanent Marker, felt, or leftover fabric (to make your ghost’s face!)
• Hot Glue Gun
• Scissors

Step 1: To make your ghosts not have “pointy” heads when you put the drop cloth on,  bend in the tomato stakes as shown below:

Step 2: For each ghost, wrap a wire tomato cage with your string of clear or white lights. Lowe’s suggests clear rope lights, but I think those are more expensive.

Step 3: Cut a 6‐ x 9‐foot drop cloth to approximately 41/2 x 7 feet to cover the tomato cage.

Step 4: When I draped my drop cloth over the tomato cage, it looked HORRIBLE! It didn’t drape well. It really looked like a piece of garbage, and not like a ghost at all. So! What to do? Bring out your glue gun. “Shape” your ghost the best you can – I shaped him with creases and hot glued the inside of the cloth so it would stay. I made him look perfect in the front, and glued together all excess drop cloth to the back (which won’t be seen, so don’t worry about it!)

Step 5: I used leftover black cotton fabric to cut out a face and hot glued them to my ghost. I liked doing it this way because I could see what it would look like before actually adhering the fabric. Don’t have scraps? Use a black permanent marker to draw eyes and a mouth.

Step 6: Plug the lights into a secure grounded outlet. I made three ghosts and connected them all together, so I only had to connect the three to one grounded outlet.

Step 7: Enjoy your lawn’s masterpiece! Who needs $50 light-up ghosts when you can do it for under $5?

Click here to view my entire picture set on flickr.

Questions? Comments? Other ideas? Make some of your own? Let me know!

Looking for more tutorials for Halloween decorating? Check out my ‘Halloween’ category on the right hand side of this post!

Not gonna lie. I’m excited. Why? It’s OCTOBER 1ST!!! Know what that means?! HALLOWEEN DECORATIONS GO UP!!! OMG OMG. I have been waiting  and thinking about decorations and plans since early September. I got sparked to write this list of links for Halloween tutorials when I saw that Lowe’s had sent me a creative ideas email for Halloween.

Here is Lowe’s main Halloween page for outdoor decor and a bunch of other fun: Lowe’s Creative Ideas

YAY HALLOWEEN!

They will probably delete their awesome ideas after the season is over. And, that’s not fun. I mean.. I need to keep a constant list! So.. I’m gonna basically copy and paste their stuff into this blog, so we can all have access to the awesomeness FOREVER! I’m only gonna put in the stuff that I think it worth mentioning, which is most of it. Ready?! Go!

Because this post is so long, here is a table of contents! If you want to jump to a certain subject in this post, hold down your CTRL key while pushing the F key, and type in the subject below that you are interested in!

• Spooktacular Shadows
• Treat Caddy
• The Candy Man
• House Ghosts
• Hanging Ghouls
• Candy Corn Planters
• Creepy Curtains
• Unwelcome Mat
• Wicked Wreath
• Graveyard Gate
• Scary Screens
• Family Plot Tombstones
• Giant Spiderwebs

Spooktacular Shadows

Uh.. why didn’t I have something like this as a kid? I’m jealous. I want awesome shadow flashlights. Whenever I have kids, they’re totally helping me make these!

Create Halloween magic with the flip of a switch.

Step 1: Download the pumpkin or bat template, or sketch your own design. Trace the figure onto the back of a plastic sign. If this link stops working, feel free to contact me, as I’ve saved the PDF file and can send it to you.

Tip: For best results, the figure should be no larger than 8 inches.

Step 2: Place a second plastic sign under the first, and cut out the figure.You will have two matching cutouts.

Step 3: If desired, prime both sides of the cutouts with spray primer, and apply spray paint in your desired color. Allow each coat to dry.

If you choose a floodlight, glue the two cutouts together with allpurpose cement adhesive to make a stronger figure. Cut a piece of wire about 24 inches long, and wrap one end around the lamp base, securing it with electrical tape. Stretch the other end of the wire to about 12 inches in front of the bulb. Direct the bulb toward the ground. Turn on the floodlight and test the placement of the cutout, allowing the peripheral beam to cast the shadow. Bend the end of the wire into a curl (similar to a paper clip) to hold the cutout, and pinch to tighten around the cutout.

If you choose a flashlight, cut a piece of wire about 12 inches long. With all-purpose cement, glue it centered horizontally across one of the cutouts. Allow to dry, and then glue the second cutout over the wire. Cut a separate piece of wire about 24 inches long, and pinch it in the middle to form the shape shown here. Using electrical tape, attach the middle of the wire to the bulb end of the flashlight. Use needle-nose pliers to make loops at each end of the wire on the flashlight. Connect the wire attached to the cutouts to the wire loops on the flashlight so that the cutout is held about 8 inches in front of the beam.

Good To Know: Keep the cutout about 12 inches away from the floodlight bulb to keep the plastic from getting warm.

Treat Caddy

This. Is. Adorable.

Wrap a plastic pail with electrical tape for a colorful bucket that resembles candy corn.

Step 1: Beginning at the bottom of a yellow 1‐gallon bucket, wrap four strips of 3/4‐inch white electrical tape around the bucket to create a 3‐inch band.

Step 2: Continue the candycorn pattern with four strips of 3/4‐inch orange electrical tape.

The Candy Man

It’s kind of a weird placement of the candy bucket, but hey. It’s all good.

No bones about it, this skeleton tub holds all the candy you’ll need.

Step 1: Sand two 10‐footlong 3/4‐inch‐thick PVC pipes to remove printing and scuffs.

Step 2: Use a handsaw with miter box to cut the 10‐foot pipes into ten 3‐inch pieces, two 7‐inch pieces, two 10‐inch pieces, three 12‐inch pieces, and four 18‐inch pieces.

Step 3: Using the illustration, join the pipe pieces with four 3/4‐inch PVC crosses, seven 3/4‐inch 90‐degree elbows, and ten 3/4‐inch end caps. Use Liquid Nails to attach the pieces for the two assemblies. If this link stops working, feel free to contact me, as I’ve saved the PDF file and can send it to you.

Step 4: Wash and dry an empty plastic juice or milk container. Spray with white paint, and allow to dry. Use a permanent black marker to draw the skeleton’s face. Attach the container to the skeleton assembly with Liquid Nails.

Step 5: Apply spray primer and two coats of black spray paint to a 15‐gallon galvanized tub, allowing each coat to dry. If desired, paint a phrase, such as “trick or treat,” on the front of the black tub.

Step 6: Secure the skeleton assembly to the inside of the tub using two 3/4‐inch PVC 2‐hole straps and 1/2‐ inch machine screws. Set the leg assembly inside the tub, and place treat bags on top to keep the legs in place.

House Ghosts

How come I can never think of stuff this awesome? What a great use for tomato cages, eh?

Create lighted ghouls from common household items in less than an hour.

Step 1: For each ghost, wrap a wire tomato cage with a string of clear rope lights.

Step 2: Cut a 6‐ x 9‐foot drop cloth to approximately 41/2 x 7 feet to cover the tomato cage. Use a black permanent marker to draw eyes and a mouth.

Step 3: Plug the lights into a secure grounded outlet.

Hanging Ghouls

I’m pretty sure I made these when I was little.

Let the kids join in the fun to make simple ghosts that float in the night breeze.

Step 1: Apply orange spray paint to a 4‐foot shepherd’s hook. Allow to dry.

Step 2: Remove the wire handle from a white 21/2‐ quart plastic pail. Turn the pail upside down. Use a drill/driver with a 9/64‐inch bit to drill two holes on the bottom edges of the pail, and then reattach the wire handle in the holes.

Step 3: Use Liquid Nails to attach a piece of cheesecloth to the bottom of the pail, allowing it to drape down the sides. Use a black permanent marker to draw eyes on the cheesecloth.

Step 4: Hang the pail from the staked shepherd’s hook.

Candy Corn Planters

This craft was what made me click on Lowe’s Creative Ideas in the first place!

Paint a terra‐cotta container in a familiar pattern that complements fall blooms.

Step 1: Use painter’s tape to cover sections of a 12‐inch terra‐cotta planter. Paint the rim white, the middle section orange, and the bottom portion yellow . Be sure to allow each section to dry before removing and reapplying the painter’s tape to cover other sections.

Step 2: Spray the painted planter with a coat of exterior polyurethane.

Creepy Curtains

Not bad, not bad. Man.. if I ever open up a haunted house…

Shredded cheesecloth stained with coffee or tea makes no-fail creepy curtains that make great indoor or outdoor Halloween decorations.

Step 1: Soak cheesecloth in coffee or tea. (We used French Roast).

Step 2: Wring out cloth and let dry.

Step 3: Using your fingers (or dull scissors) shred and fray the bottom of the cloth. Create tiny holes throughout the material.

Step 4: Use 3 or 4 curtains per window depending on size of window. Secure to window frame using cafe rods, dowels, or duct tape.

Unwelcome Mat

Did I ever tell you all that we have a doormat that says “Be Nice or Leave?” Classic.

This extra long “unwelcome” doormat is the perfect Halloween decoration for scaring off ghosts and goblins.

Step 1: Print out the “unwelcome” pattern (pdf). Trace letters on poster board. If this link stops working, feel free to contact me, as I’ve saved the PDF file and can send it to you.

Step 2: Using a craft knife, cut out the letters to create a stencil.

Step 3: Use painter’s tape to mask off a 1-inch border around the edge of the mat. Use black spray paint to create a border. Let dry.

Step 4: Tape the “unwelcome” stencil to center of mat with painter’s tape. Use black spray paint to fill in letters. Let dry.

Step 5: Use painter’s tape to mask off a 1/2-inch decorative rule above and below “unwelcome letters.” Let dry.

Wicked Wreath

A wreath that I actually might make!

Halloween ghost lights add flashing fun and spooky sound effects to this edgy wreath.

Step 1: Using utility scissors, cut a 42-inch length of  14-gauge wire.

Step 2: Using utility scissors, cut plastic gutter guard into four approximately 5-foot sections. Fold each gutter guard section accordion-style and thread 14-gauge wire through bottom of the screens leaving about 1-inch of wire on the inside of ring.

Step 3: Wrap wire ends together to create a circle.

Step 4: Cut orange surveyor’s tape into 24 12-inch pieces and tie onto wire circle in between pleats created by gutter guard. You’ll want the orange tape to show through the gutter guard.

Step 5: Add ghost novelty lights. Position the ghosts in the gutter guard pleats and secure using 24-gauge wire.

Step 6: Hang wreath using two suction cups with wire hooks.

Step 7: To create the illusion of black ribbon, adhere black electrical tape to the door or wall below the wreath.

Good to Know: You can substitute a wire coat hanger for the 14-gauge wire; overlap the ends one inch and secure by wrapping with 24-gauge wire.

Graveyard Gate

Darn. And last year we bought a crappy plastic gate on clearance after Halloween. This is much better and so much more realistic!

Position this graveyard gate alongside your sidewalk to create a spooky entry. We used leftover foamboard for the sign, but you can use scrap wood or even hefty poster board. Don’t worry about making perfect cuts or measurements. The more rickety-looking, the better.

Step 1: Disassemble the picket fencing by removing the pickets from backer rails.

Step 2: Using the circular saw, cut 3 or 4 of the boards so they are of varying lengths.

Step 3: Using the circular saw, cut approximately 4 to 6 inches off bottom of the end post at a slight angle (so it will lean slightly).

Step 4: To give the gate a weathered look, paint the boards and the end post using watered down gray paint (2 parts water to 1 part paint). Let dry.

Step 5: To create a rundown, dirty look, paint the bottom of the boards and end post using watered down brown paint (2 parts water to one part paint).

Step 6: For the sign, attach a plant hanger to end post.

Step 7: Using a piece of scrap foamboard for your sign, carve “Keep Away” using a craft knife. (Other options: “Price Reduced,” “Enter at Own Risk,” “Beware of Dad.”)

Step 8: Paint foamboard sign with brown paint then fill in carved letters with black permanent marker.

Step 9: Drill small holes in the foam sign and attach to plant hanger using 3 or 4 chain links.

Step 10: Using the square end post and two of the picket fence boards, create a sturdy three legged support. Secure the picket fence boards to the end post using 1-1/2- to 2-inch-long nails.

Step 11: Re-assemble the picket fence alternating shorter pickets with longer ones. Re-attach the pickets to the backer rails at different angles to give the gate a rickety look.

Step 12: Attach the reassembled picket fence to end post/tri-pod using nails, rope, or duct tape (remember, rickety is good).

Step 13: Secure to ground as needed using garden stakes.

Good To Know: Decorate your graveyard gate with traditional pumpkins and gourds or up the spook factor with skulls, black crows, skeleton parts or spiders.

Scary Screens

Sweet and Simple.

Download our PDF with patterns for eerie bats and a spooky tree to create your own scary screens. We used a colony of bats but you can decorate your screen with one gigantic bat or come up with your very own spooky design. If this link stops working, feel free to contact me, as I’ve saved the PDF file and can send it to you.

Step 1: Download bats and tree template and enlarge to desired size.

Step 2: Trace the bats and tree design onto shelf liner.

Step 3: Cut out the bat and tree design on shelf liner using a utility knife or scissors.

Step 4: Arrange designs on the screen.

Step 5: Using a hot glue gun, adhere designs to the screens. Let dry.

Step 6: Staple screen to lattice strip to make hanging easier.

Step 7: Attach lattice strip to porch eave using brads or tacks.

Good To Know: To store, loosely wrap screen around lattice strip.

Family Plot Tombstones

I’m actually pretty amazed that those are made out of foam board.

Tombstones made from foamboard are easy to create, lightweight and look eerily realistic. Turn your front yard into a Halloween family plot with four different tombstone designs. For extra spook, add fresh dirt, a shovel, and skull at the base of tombstones.

These instructions can be easily adjusted to create the other tombstone designs.

Step 1: Using the PDF cutting diagram as a reference, cut the 4×8-foot foamboard insulation sheet using a jigsaw or Kobalt 3-in-1 Multi Hand Saw. If this link stops working, feel free to contact me, as I’ve saved the PDF file and can send it to you.

Step 2: Fill the score marks on the foam board using spackling and a putty knife.

Step 3: Round off the foam edges with a wood file to create a timeworn look.

Step 4: To add cracks in the tombstone, score foam with a craft knife.

Step 5: For a more professional look, use a computer to print the desired name. (We used a 175-pt Palatino font from Microsoft Office). Alternatively, use pencil and paper to create your message.

Step 6: Using tape, attach paper with desired name to the foam board.

Step 7: Using a ballpoint pen, trace over letters with enough pressure to cause an impression in the foam.

Step 8: Remove the paper. Using a craft knife, score and crosshatch the foamboard inside the letters, then carve out the excess foam.

Step 9: Drill three holes in the bottom of the foamboard (with name) and insert 5-inch long wooden dowels.

Step 10: Using the foamboard cutting diagram as a reference, make the tombstone base. Glue base pieces together using construction adhesive.

Step 11: Push wooden dowels into foam base.

Step 12: Apply a base coat of Valspar interior flat brown ‘Seine’ paint with a paint brush. Let dry.

Step 13: Spray tombstone with Valspar “‘Santa Fe Sand’” Stone spray paint. Let dry.

Step 14: For a weathered patina, paint the edges of the tombstone using watered-down brown ‘Chocolate Turtle’ Valspar paint (2 parts water to 1 part paint). Let dry.

Step 15: Spray tombstone with Valspar “‘Santa Fe Sand’” Stone spray paint. Let dry.

Step 16: Arrange tombstones in front yard. Weigh down lightweight tombstones with rocks or sand.

Good To Know: Other options for tombstone names…

Seymour Dirtz
Anita Amanda Cook
Fester N. Rott
Bill M. Lader
Ima Buzzkill
Will Knott Rest
Helen Bach
Seymour Coffin

Giant Spiderwebs

So if you want to know what you can do with friction tape… this is pretty awesome.

Step 1: Start with two long strips of friction tape for the outside edges of the web. Measure strips to fit your desired space. Secure to wall using tacks or stapler.

Step 2: Attach similar long strips of tape at random intervals between the first two.

Step 3: Connect long strips with shorter strips, working your way out. Avoid lining up the shorter strips.

Good To Know: Practice by making a small web on the floor. You can substitute electrician’s tape for friction tape.

So. That’s what Lowe’s has to offer in their “Creative Ideas” section for Halloween. I was actually quite surprised – as I usually only thought of them as being all hardware-ish. So, GOOD JOB, LOWE’S!

Don’t go out and buy that cheap crap in Halloween stores. If you make it, it will be 100x better and you’ll learn how to do something new. And who doesn’t want to learn something new?!

Today and tomorrow, I’m putting up Halloween decorations. If I have time, I just might try one or five of these ideas! And of course, if I do, I’ll post them here!

Photo and Idea Credits: Lowe’s Creative Ideas