Lillian Vernon witch question...

Considering her height and the fact that she has LED eyes and posable arms, I think she's fairly reasonably priced (especially if you factor in all of the legwork you would have to do to track down the individual elements and the time you would put into construction). LV is currently running a free shipping on orders over $50 promo, so that sweetens the deal.

I am assuming you got your catalog today as well. I saw the witch on the site a while back when they set up the halloween section. I am kinda upset that I have already started my witch for this year. I wished I known beforehand they were going to have her this year. She looks pretty cool.

They must buy from the same warehouse in China that Oriental Trading uses because I just got the OT catalog and found the same thing.

You could find everything you need cheaper than this, but your time is worth something as well. I am a hacker myself. I vote for buy it and hack it.

Make jointed pvc arms, attach the hands from the prop to the arms with screws, then attach the pvc arms to the frame of the prop with zip ties.

Now get crackin' on the cauldron!

Hey, thanks for the help guys. I think I'll go ahead and get her because if I don't, the project will have to wait until next year...you are right, sometimes saving some time is worth the money...And she could use some hacking, true! I don't like the color of her face, but the hands look pretty nice...pvc arms would be good, but I've got some extra hanger wire and swim noodles I could use too. Anyone know if swim noodles take spray paint?

Thanks much for the advice.

added: We're thinking of picking up a big cheap plastic cauldron as soon as they're available, attaching a magnet to the bottom stub of her broom and a magnet on the wiper motor beneath the cauldron so we won't have to put any holes in it and will be able to fill it with some hot water/dry ice. Does this sound workable?

Ghostie, what if you got a record player and hooked it up set it up on a milkcrate and then put the fogger below it. You could hook up a spotlight any color you wnated and then if you put holes in it so what, no mess to clean up later. Just a thought. I think thats what i plan to do.

Turtle, thats a good plan. If I can find a turntable. I was concerned about that one. I guess there's really no super easy way to do it, nine ways to skin a cat, so-to-speak. I do have a really lamo 200 watt fog machine that would work well, I think. I'll have to let this one stew for a while. I've had another small cauldron on a tripod that I've had for years. I'm thinking I'll just put the witch next to it this year if I run out of time...

Another question. I'd really like a soundtrack like the one on the Fright Catalog witch. Anyone know how I can do something like that? It really finishes off the prop nicely...

Just to update on the witch...Sadly disappointed. Wow what a let down. It says 69in tall, yeah right. Maybe if i ripped open her hat and stuffed it with something so it stood up straight. This thing is really junky. For 66 bucks i thought i might be nice. NOT!!! I knew i wouldnt have time tomake my own witch this year, so i thought hey this one looks nice itll work for this year. DAMNIT!!! thats what i get for taking a shortcut. I shoulda just tried to make it, but im only one person...LOL. Anyway, its just my opinion. But as i said, i was extremely disappointed

Crap. I'm sorry to hear that turtle. Mine hasn't arrived yet. Now I'm worried! I'm sure she's hackable though, to make her better. I also ordered the reaper guy and he came last week and he was way better than I had hoped, which is an abnormality when ordering from a catalog...when I get mine, maybe together, we can think of some ideas to fix them ...

Well, that sucks about the witch. I just ordered it last week myself too.

well wait a second...where did you get yours, cuz i paid 54.98 for mine and that was with the stand(66w/shipping). Without the stand it was 44.98 plus shipping. How did you get it for 39? I paid almost double for it, that sucks. I have gotten things from them in the past and was always happy. My husband said to return the witch. I dont have time to "make" a new one. I was just really hoping for something spectacular for 60 bucks. Thats what i get for not seeing it in person. The catelog always looks better. Alas, i will just have to work with her and hope to make her better. I guess my main problem was that she was so much smaller than i had anticipated.

ghostie, yours looks great!

You are right, turtle, it was 44.98 for the witch without stand. I remembered incorrectly. I would return it if you don't like it, but you'll have to eat the shipping. I hate that. I know what you mean, often I've been burned by stuff that looks great in a catalog and is crap when you get it home...Maybe you can put her up on a black box or something and get her taller. At night it would be hardly visable with a cauldron in front of her...good luck and let us know how you fix her...

Thanks JohnnyL, she's growing on me. But she looks like she's had a bit too much caffine!

i was wondering about this witch also and it does look half way decent except as you say the face ..is there a way to take that off and put one you like better on it.. without a major production.
have you tried to light it up as you would for halloween maybe that face will look okay anyways.

The head is foam I believe and her collar is glued to it. Not sure how easy it would be to put a mask over it or replace it altogether. I'll get a close look at her in the morning and see. I think I'll put mine on an overturned 5 gallon bucket painted black. That would help make her more ominous...And yeah, I think the face will be okay under blue lights, it's just such a bright green in daylight...

The hands on the lilian are way better...also has a taller hat.

think ill add some different hair and a type a shawl or the creepy cloth to the one i got. i really dont like the yellow they added to it either.