Additional pics of this entry can be viewed at my Haunting of Ivy Hall Blog.
It's pretty basic, but it suits our "realistic" (laugh), static haunt.
Materials List:
3 pieces scrap plywood left-over from household projects: free
wood pole: $3.00
wood fence finial: $6.00
3 deck screws: $0.30
crackle medium: $3.00, pro-rated
black paint (our tombstone paint): $2.00, pro-rated
cream paint (left-over from painting a table): free(?) or $2.00, pro-rated
tan paint (left-over from painting the dining room): free(?) or $2.00, pro-rated
varnish: $2.00, pro-rated
one computer print out: $0.10
MATERIALS TOTAL: $20.40 (or $16.40 if cream and tan paint are considered free)
Quick How-To:
My husband cut a pointed tip on the pole. He then cut the arrow shapes out of plywood and sanded the edges. Next he pre-drilled a hole into the top of the pole and screwed the fence finial into it.
Next, I painted a base-coat of black paint over all the pieces. After that dried, I applied a coat of the crackle medium on all pieces. When that was dry, I applied a cream topcoat to everything. After the crackle effect occured, and was completely dry, I used the tan paint to give the pieces a further aged effect.
For the lettering, I measured the arrows and set up the text on my Mac. I cut the letters out of the printout and positioned the various stencils on their respective arrows. I used a fine point Sharpie to lightly trace out the letters. Then, using an artist's brush, I painted the letters in black, two coats.
When all the pieces were dry, I applied a coat of varnish to all surfaces.
Lastly, my husband and and I decided where to place the arrows, marked and pre-drilled holes through the post and screwed the signs to the post, from the back. We only used one screw per arrow so that we can adjust the "tilty-ness" of the arrows, as needed.
That's it!
It's pretty basic, but it suits our "realistic" (laugh), static haunt.

Materials List:
3 pieces scrap plywood left-over from household projects: free
wood pole: $3.00
wood fence finial: $6.00
3 deck screws: $0.30
crackle medium: $3.00, pro-rated
black paint (our tombstone paint): $2.00, pro-rated
cream paint (left-over from painting a table): free(?) or $2.00, pro-rated
tan paint (left-over from painting the dining room): free(?) or $2.00, pro-rated
varnish: $2.00, pro-rated
one computer print out: $0.10
MATERIALS TOTAL: $20.40 (or $16.40 if cream and tan paint are considered free)
Quick How-To:
My husband cut a pointed tip on the pole. He then cut the arrow shapes out of plywood and sanded the edges. Next he pre-drilled a hole into the top of the pole and screwed the fence finial into it.
Next, I painted a base-coat of black paint over all the pieces. After that dried, I applied a coat of the crackle medium on all pieces. When that was dry, I applied a cream topcoat to everything. After the crackle effect occured, and was completely dry, I used the tan paint to give the pieces a further aged effect.
For the lettering, I measured the arrows and set up the text on my Mac. I cut the letters out of the printout and positioned the various stencils on their respective arrows. I used a fine point Sharpie to lightly trace out the letters. Then, using an artist's brush, I painted the letters in black, two coats.
When all the pieces were dry, I applied a coat of varnish to all surfaces.
Lastly, my husband and and I decided where to place the arrows, marked and pre-drilled holes through the post and screwed the signs to the post, from the back. We only used one screw per arrow so that we can adjust the "tilty-ness" of the arrows, as needed.
That's it!