Snowy Cemetery

That's gonna be tough.Anything you put down will get dirty from wind,animals,ect.If its loose ,it will blow away.Anything solid might kill the lawn or plantings underneath.If it were on a patio or driveway,you could paint plastic sheeting then sprinkle plastic snow on it while it was still wet.But you would have too redo it,once it wore off.Hmmmmm,I'll have to keep thinking on this one.

Hmm is right Wyatt....
was just thinking maybe You could use a web shooter and make square areas,spray paint those white and as Wyatt suggested the loose snow fake snow on that ( get the sparkly kind) then connect the pieces with small stakes?
I thought this because maybe it would still let light thru to grass somewhat

As bad as it might sound, I really don't care if I lose the lawn, when we bought the house it was just dirt, and I fixed it up, I could do it again...Shhh...don't tell the wifey though...LOL

Don't know your budget but for very good realism and ease, I would use a 2 part foam system. Roll out some plastic in the yard where you want the snow and spray it right onto the plastic in patterns similar to the picture you posted. Use thin metal tent stakes to keep it in place in a strong wind. You would probably even be able to pick it up and store it after the season and re-use either as snow or maybe cave walls or something.
http://www.rhhfoamsystems.com/apps_props.php

Well, I know in some movies they use white sand, but what a mess to clean up!

Batting material found in fabric shops? Then if you need to pile it around something, you could use polyester stuffing.

Old bed sheets could be used as well as old carpet.
The trick is your lighting.

This is intriguing. Explain more about the lighting Jeff.

Lighting is the key to whatever display you do.
If you want you cemetery to look real, you use blue lighting from above (moon glow) and paint them accordingly.
You would do the same with snow.
Back when I first got started with making my own headstones, I would cut them, wait until it got dark out and lit them up with the lighting I was going to use.
Then I grabbed my paints and went to work until I found what I liked.

I like the idea of a snowy cemetery but will people think you are confused?
"Why is there Christmas snow on the halloween display?" LOL!

I think it adds a gloomy, cold to the scene. It is a great idea if you can pull it off plus you have the added benefit of color light reflection from the snow. If you put blue lights for a moon glow effect then the white snow is going to reflect that and add to the ambiance. Also it will give more contrast and definition to show shadows. I like it!

Snow spell, that's your best option, start sending letters to Santa now and maybe you'll get a white halloween

haha I'm dreaming off a white halloween...

Those pics are from Nightmare Before X-Mas. (I'm good)
Are you trying to do that theme?

Skeleton, actually I'm not doing that theme, just A) thought I would make a cold, snowy cemetery (yea I know October doesn't equal snow) but who said we all had to follow set rules, and B) why not make a christmas-y cemetery when December comes, you know, tombstones with christmas lights on them.

I know quit a few haunters that do get snow on Halloween!
Most are here and are from Canada!!

You could use this stuff http://www.snow-powder.com/ I have seen guys use it on their christmas displays (my other hobby) and it worked pretty well if you have a sprinkler system you can leave it on to keep the snow moist and fluffy. It looks and almost feels just like the real thing. The guy who I saw use it is also from SUNNY So Cal so it was pretty warm and it still did a good job of staying covered. Good Luck

SoCal Scare said:

You could use this stuff http://www.snow-powder.com/ I have seen guys use it on their christmas displays (my other hobby) and it worked pretty well if you have a sprinkler system you can leave it on to keep the snow moist and fluffy. It looks and almost feels just like the real thing. The guy who I saw use it is also from SUNNY So Cal so it was pretty warm and it still did a good job of staying covered. Good Luck

Click to expand...

that's pretty cool thanks for info SoCal Scare

might be just what they need .

You know - it doesn't have to be "proper" snow...the trick may be more than the ground...

maybe it painters drop clothes that are white.... discreetly staked down... then maybe there is crumpled newspaper under them for that snow "crunch." On the top - sprinkle with white glitter to allude to crystals.

Then the trick would be not only the aforementioned lighting - but then take great stuff to the tops and one edge of your tombstones to give them some snowey build up.

It wouldn't look like Burtons cemetary exactly - but might be a decent tradeoff.

Just thoughts. You might be able to do all that for $20.

I could even see making panels for your yard, just use plywood and cut it into sections to piece together, then make "piles" and slopes with boxes and newspaper, then cover it with white fabric, and even starch it.

I saw something on TV last year around Christmas time.
There was a guy who decorated his yard lived in AZ but really wanted snow for his dispaly.

He ended up hiring people to come in and paint his yard white!
They used the kind of paint used on football fields and stuff.
Safe for the yard, and lasts a good while!
You may want to check into this...

Also, if it's too costly to hire someone, the sell spray paint cans of the stuff used to plan for landscaping.

Hope you get stuff figured out!
.

Thanks for all the great ideas...heck, I might just use a bit of everything from plywood panels and white drop cloths (I agree with the lighting techniques because I use lights and shadows to hide and enhance my scene), to Great Stuff to that football chalk to that Powedered Snow stuff. I will have to do some research and see how much it will all come out to.