Haunted Bayou's 2008 $20 Prop Entry

[Haunted Bayou]

"Grave Mourner"

I had this Blucky that I never knew what to do with so I dressed it up for this prop.

Blucky............................................ ..................8.00
Costume with veil (garage sale item given to me) ...4.20
Flowers (90% off Garden Ridge) ...........................0.36
PVC 2.5 x 1/2" .................................................. .0.41
Rebar x2 (2 x 1/4") ............................................1.76
Raffia x 2 (90 % off Garden Ridge)........................0.40
Black Bird (50% off Spirit) ..................................2.00
Scrap Fence Board 4 x3.5 x 3/4" (curby's) .............0.35
2 small nails .................................................. ...0.10
2 small zip ties.............................................. ....0.30
1/2 mini hot glue stick....................................... 0.03

Total = $17.91

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v476/HauntedBayou/DSC02105.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v476/HauntedBayou/DSC02122.jpg

Cut a flap in Blucky's sternum (ouch) to insert pvc pipe.
Pound rebar into ground at an angle.
Dress Blucky and glue hair into place (used 2 smaill zip ties to wrap hair and hold it in place with the plastic loop on Blucky's head.
Glued couple spots on her veil to keep it from blowing around. Glued head to hold position.
Zip tie flowers and glue them into the hands.
Cut a piece of the tulle off the veil to help keep Blucky's hands in place. Insert pvc into flap.
Pose Blucky in a kneeling position.
Cut fence board and used rusted from the board to make a cross.
Used rebar pounded into ground and bent rusted nail around it to hold it in place.
The Black Bird has wires coming out of the feet. I used 2 small nails to hold it in place.

[trishaanne]

Looking good Haunted Bayou.

[Revenant]

Nice job at maximizing 20 bucks! You have a whole complete scene there. Nicely laid out... even has some emotion to it. Well done!

[Lilly]

Great Job Bayou..I like the fact also you have a whole scene too.
that crow adds to it perfect
rafia hair cool

[Bethene]

great prop, I like the added touch of the raven on the cross, what a unique thing to do to a extra blucky! I may have to , umm, "borrow" the idea at some point!!

[slimy]

Not just a prop, but an entire scene.

Love it.

[GothicCandle]

yeah, what slimy said. Very nice!

[dave the dead]

You gave that Blucky some STYLE! Looks really good!

[Haunted Bayou]

Thanks for the great comments, everybody.
I threw those leaves on the ground around it to make it look a little more like an old grave and a little more seasonal.

Bethene, feel free to "borrow" and improve on it.

Any comments to make it a better prop for my yard are welcome. I have to keep things simple, all I have to work with is a hack-saw, hammer, drill and glue gun. LOL!

[crossblades400]

omg, that would look so awesome in my grave yard!

[pyro]

very well done-i like the whole scene too

[Hawks Hill Haunter]

"Props" to you HB!!! Nicely done. I too would like to borrow this scene, I'm thinkin' it would look pretty cool in my graveyard as well.

I might suggest (and only cuz you asked) that you could weather or distress the cross or add some moss to it to might give it an aged look...cuz let's face your mourner is no spring chicken! but this is just my opinion...for what it's (or not) worth. I think it looks great as is too.

[Haunted Bayou]

Thanks y'all!

It would be great to see the mourner pop up in other graveyards, and I'd like to see your spin on her if she does.

HHH,
The cross is an old, weathered fence board from a demolished fence so it is on its way (doesn't really show in the photo) but I think you are right to suggest it could be weathered up some more because it is supposed to be really old. That was what I was going for. I am liking the moss also. Great suggestions. I will work on it. Thanks!

Other improvement comments are welcome.

[Sickie Ickie]

Nice scene. :) I like the way you have her posed.

[Haunted Bayou]

Thanks Sickie. I wanted her to look sad/anguished.

[Phil]

Building a prop that conveys a sense of emotion is tough. HB, your piece tells its story with great economy. This is nice, and very interesting.

[Ghoulbug]

Good job HB.. The whole scene is good.

[PrettyGhoul]

Great scene Haunted Bayou! I think you did a wonderful job with the placement of the Blucky, she looks so sad...I had no idea Blucky's could convey emotion, I'm going to have to keep that in mind for my own. I also like your choice of costume and hair. I was surprised by the flowers. In daylight they seem kind of out of place but at night with the spotlight they look eerie, the petals look grayish blue and appear to be melting into the ground. Nice detail. :eek:

[RookieSpooker]

Man, you could slap that suff in a box, put a $60 sticker on it, and start your own company. No no.....Your own EMPIRE. BWAHAHA..cough, cough...Very cool indeed.

[Haunted Bayou]

Thanks so much for the nice comments, you guys! Hmmmm, I may just start an empire. Bwahahahaha! :devil: LOL!

PrettyGhoul, do you think I should fade the flowers some so they will look old too? Might make them blend more for the daytime. It needs to look good in the daytime since DST was extended so the first hour of TOT is in daylight now.
I might be able fade them with peroxide and some sunshine. I have extras to try it out.

[beelce]

Awwww...HB she is so mournful...Nice idea to make a mourner, you see lots of grave diggers or grabbers, but no mourners...Nice job

[turtle2778]

Nice work. That would look cool next to my mourning guy.

[scareme]

Cheap and easy, tops in my book. I've got a half a dozen bluckies hanging around, but I've never dressed one. I'm really going to use this idea this Halloween. Thanks for sharing it with us.

[Spooklights]

I like this scene! Very good that you were able to do it all on 20 dollars.

[Sickie Ickie]

Nice work. That would look cool next to my mourning guy.

If you have to send that guy out in the mourning, better not let your hubby know! :p

[Hellrazor]

I would love to know what your neighbors thought of that prop in your front yard in APRIL!

Very good!

[Haunted Bayou]

Thanks everybody for the nice comments!

LOL Hellrazor! I was actually a little self conscious about nailing a cross in the front yard and proping a skeleton next to it. Left it there for several hours until dark so I could get a night-shot. Nobody said anything but I am sure they were thinking about it. Especially when I was on the ground shooting photos. "Nut!"

Leave it to Sickie to come up with that one. :googly:

[Sickie Ickie]

That's what I'm here for. :p

[Fangs]

Sweet Grave Mourner HB!! Looks really good with the blue light! Really like the "hair"!! Ya know, everyone is right, you could start your own business!!! Just don't forget your family here! LOL :D heeheeheehee

[Haunted Bayou]

Thank you, Fangs!

[Scary Godmother]

Great job! I can't believe the things that people come up with to do with these cheap Bluckies. I have a few myself, I might give it a shot. Thanks for sharing the idea.:jol:

[PrettyGhoul]

Thanks so much for the nice comments, you guys! Hmmmm, I may just start an empire. Bwahahahaha! :devil: LOL!

PrettyGhoul, do you think I should fade the flowers some so they will look old too? Might make them blend more for the daytime. It needs to look good in the daytime since DST was extended so the first hour of TOT is in daylight now.
I might be able fade them with peroxide and some sunshine. I have extras to try it out.

Haunted Bayou I think that's a good idea. If you do decide to try this would you please post another picture? I would be interested to see how the faded flowers look in both daylight and at night with the spotlight. If the neighbors do give you "that look" take a pic of them too, would love to see that as well. hehe ;)

[Haunted Bayou]

Thanks Scary Godmother!

PrettyGhoul, I will fade the flowers out with some peroxide and see what happens. I'll be sure to post a pic. Thanks for the idea!
I am up for anything that will improve on it.

I wish I had thought to add some vines or some cheesecloth to it to old it up some more.

[pyro]

congrats to you HB, great job-mind if i steal the idea

[Haunted Bayou]

Thank you so much, Pyro!:D

Please take the idea and run with it, and please post a pic with your interpretation. I would love to see it!

It is a great compliment to me that haunters want to copy her.

[BoysinBoo]

Fantastic BoysinBoo. A well deserved win for a great animation.
Love that soundtrack!

Right back at ya! There's something to be said for your innovative imagination. You took a blucky and turned it into a scene that any of us could have done, but no one thought of. Inspiring each other is what it's all about!

[Silent Requiem]

what do you do with an extra blucky
what do you do with an extra blucky
what do you do with an extra blucky, early in the evening?
put em in a black dress with a raven
put em in a black dress with a raven...

[Haunted Bayou]

http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/893Funny-thumb.gif http://bestsmileys.com/lol/1.gif

Thank you Boo!

[Daughter of Darkness]

That is way better than something you would buy in the store for three times the price. Nice work!

[Haunted Bayou]

Thanks DoD!

[Bethene]

I think I mentioned it earlier, but if ot, I think I may "borrow" your idea too, I do have a extra blucky I got a big lots on clearance!

[Haunted Bayou]

Great...please post a pic!

[Aelwyn]

Great job! I love the raffia hair!

[Haunted Bayou]

Thanks!

[Nancj]

now for a name to slap on the box for retail:

"Something to mourn about" or how about "Dearly departed"

Loved your display. I would definately buy this if I saw it in the stores.

[Haunted Bayou]

Thanks so much Nancj.
Maybe I should market Blucky clothes with accessories. Kinda like GRRanimals. LOL!

[Nancj]

now theres an IDEA!!
They do it with those ceramic goose ppl dress in front of their house.
Now those are creepy! :eek:

[Haunted Bayou]

Lol!