Wildcat's 2009 $20 Prop Challenge Entry

[Wildcat]

Here's my entry.

The Venus People Tree.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v521/islandtrooper/Halloween%2009/DSCF2624.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v521/islandtrooper/Halloween%2009/DSCF2622.jpg

Price list

One 5' stake (came with house)------------$2.00
Pool Noodle ---------------------------------$1.00
Large skull ----------------------------------$3.00
Small skulls ---------------------------------$1.50
1.5 cans paint ------------------------------$9.00
Tig wire X 5 ---------------------------------$0.75
Paper towel 2 rolls -------------------------$0.70
Plastic leaves (from wife's plant sshhhh)--$0.20
Glue 1/4 bottle ------------------------------$0.30
Moss 1/10 bag -------------------------------$0.50
1 Nail ----------------------------------------$0.05
Hot glue 2 sticks ----------------------------$0.10

TOTAL ----------------------------------------$19.10

Free stuff
Newsprint 20 sheets.

Hope you like.

Finally got started on the first prop of the year. Going to be a tree absorbing a few people (hopefully).

Started with a 6' garden stake. Wrapped with pool noodles and and hot glued some cheap skulls in place with moths in mid scream. The mache is done using cheap paper towels and the drop of glue with water spray method mentioned in another thread (will go look and give credit to the appropriate person).

[Mr_Chicken]

Nice start!
Reminds me of our birch trees out front.......but with dead people in it :p

[Wildcat]

Thanks. It was Daddy's Little Corpse thread that explains the glue less paper mache.
http://www.hauntforum.com/showthread.php?t=12623

[Sickie Ickie]

where's the "moths in midscream?" LOL Lookin' real good, man!

[IMU]

Yeah, looking good. I may have to try a spooky tree or three! :)

[Wildcat]

where's the "moths in midscream?" LOL Lookin' real good, man!
Spell checker let me down again.:jol:

[RoxyBlue]

I think this is going to look fantastic when it's all done (and actually looks pretty good even now).

[The Bloodshed Brothers]

im excited to see the rest

[bobzilla]

Very cool !

[Bone Dancer]

Looking good so far, keep us updated.

[Draik41895]

I like it!

[sharpobject]

Very nice - can't wait to see the end result.

[Wildcat]

Managed to get a little more done today.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v521/islandtrooper/Halloween%2009/DSCF2603.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v521/islandtrooper/Halloween%2009/DSCF2604.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v521/islandtrooper/Halloween%2009/DSCF2605.jpg

Still not sure if I want to paint it shades of brown to look more real or go greys for that petrified look.

[RoxyBlue]

If you're going to stick with the greenery, then you might want it more real. However, this could also really work beautifully as a dead tree (your petrified option).

[Wildcat]

Thanks.
I'm kind of leaning towards the dead tree. Will match better with some of the other ideas I need to get around to making.lol.

[KimilyTheStrange]

Wildcat...its looking awesome so far. I can't wait to see it finished!!

[Wildcat]

Well got all of the mache done and started painting. Still have some texturing to do then add some "Old Mans Beard" type moss.

Painted grey base coat.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v521/islandtrooper/Halloween%2009/DSCF2606.jpg

Some moss coloured accents.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v521/islandtrooper/Halloween%2009/DSCF2609.jpg

[RoxyBlue]

This is really looking great, Wildcat.

Is it going to have human feet for roots?:)

[Wildcat]

Thank.
The base will be hidden behind a stone or shrubs so I didn't do any roots.

[DeathTouch]

The good thing is you don't have to water it. And it is dead already so you don't have to take care of it. Nice prop!

[hpropman]

Looks good so far

[IMU]

Thanks for the update ... it's looking better and better ... very nice!

[Wildcat]

Finished painting today. Doesn't show up well on camera but there are 3 shades of grey and 2 of green. Just waiting to get the moss now.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v521/islandtrooper/Halloween%2009/DSCF2618.jpg

[Draik41895]

wow,it looks great.your moving fast!

[Joiseygal]

It looks so good! I think you did a great job! Not too many skulls just the right amount.

[Ghoul Friday]

Nice progress. I'm interested in seeing the final product. Have been toying with the idea of making a tree or two, and love to see the different interpretations of a scary tree.

[IMU]

Yep, that is looking very nice ... can't really see all the paint colors in the pics but overall, great style and spin on your spooky tree! :)

[Wildcat]

Thanks for all the replies.
I adjusted the brightness and contrast in the pic so you can see it a little better but still can't quite see all the colours.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v521/islandtrooper/Halloween%2009/DSCF2618-1.jpg

[Dixie]

Awesome, just awesome. That thing is really going to be creeping some people out this Halloween!

[ghost37]

This looks great. What a great idea for a spooky tree! Love the skulls, like they are trapped in the tree.

[KimilyTheStrange]

Awesome Wild!!! Now we just need some photos of you posing with the tree...ahem. Heh. I think we should have artists showing themselves off with their creations much more than they do.

[RoxyBlue]

Hey, Wildcat, how about also making some Venus People flowers with little mini skulls as faces to go with the Venus tree?:) You could have a whole demented garden that way.

[Frankie-s Girl]

I love it! Very creepy and will look so great with the lighting and atmosphere... :D

[Wildcat]

Hey, Wildcat, how about also making some Venus People flowers with little mini skulls as faces to go with the Venus tree?:) You could have a whole demented garden that way.

Me wife would agree with the demented part:jol:

[Wildcat]

So I think I'm finally done painting. Couldn't find any old mans beard so I'm seeing what I can do with some Spanish moss.

Paint.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v521/islandtrooper/Halloween%2009/DSCF2624.jpg

Moss

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v521/islandtrooper/Halloween%2009/DSCF2622.jpg

[IMU]

WOW ... no THAT is an awesome looking tree! Great Job! :)

[Terra]

That turned out great!

[halloween71]

Love it!!

[Joiseygal]

Nice job on the finished product! I will have to make a few of these for my graveyard :)

[Bethene]

a seriously AWESOME tree!! I love it,
Dang, sigh,,,, one more thing to add to the I want one of those, need to get busy building list!!

[hpropman]

I love it. You can also place a crow on it maybe on top of the top skull or one of the upper branches. Have the crow have glowing red eyes.

[smileyface4u23]

Very creepy - I love it!

[Wildcat]

Thanks for all the replies.

I like the crow idea. I'll have to put one on sometime.

[Lady Nyxie]

Wow! That turned out very well. Neat to see the progress too.

[Monk]

It looks good.

[Devil]

nice.... can't wait to see it all done

[Merlin (The Quiet One)]

Great tree! You did a WOW! with 20 bucks. How tall is it?

[Wildcat]

It's about 6' tall

[Lilly]

very nice Wildcat
looks good..like the tree
did you try any dif color lights on it?

[Wildcat]

Haven't had time to light it up yet but I was thinking a soft blue or red LED.

[Uruk-Hai]

Looks great!

[ghubertu]

Wow, I'm impressed with the simplicity but how affective this has turned out so far. I want to make one for my haunt! Great idea.

[Haunted Bayou]

Very cool. A great project.

[stick]

I love this and will be making me one as soon as I get the time and supplies. I also want to say that ALL the $20 props that are posted are outstanding great job everybody.

[beelce]

That thing is CREEPY man!! Nice work.

[STOLLOWEEN]

Looks great, a nice take on the haunted tree concept.

[Spooklights]

The perfect Halloween tree; it grows skulls instead of fruit. I love the look; it's really creepy.

[Dark Angel 27]

nice!

[HauntedAcresManor]

awesome job!