How to Make Halloween Tombstones

Step by step guide to making Halloween Tombstones

 

 

Materials:

1 4’x 8’ sheet of Owens Corning pink 2 inch insulation

Wallboard saw

Sanding block

Rust-oleum painters touch black spray paint

Dremel

Krylon “Make it stone” textured spray paint – your choice of color

Rust-oleum protective enamel black paint

Minwax fast drying polyurethane superior durability spray paint

Small paintbrushes

 

 

Step 1:

 

Start by cutting your design with the board saw.  After it meets your approval, use the sanding block to round and shape your tombstone.

 

Step 2:

 

Once you have the shape you want, you need to pick an epitaph, which you can find lists and lists on the internet.  Just use your favorite search engine and type in Halloween Epitaphs.  I have use of a sign machine to make the lettering.  Most people do not have this option, so what you can do is find a local sign shop and have them cut the lettering for you.  Just contact them and give them your epitaph and ask them to cut and tape the lettering for you.  You may want to give them the dimensions of your tombstone so that they can cut the lettering to fit.  What you will receive will look similar to a bumper sticker.

 

When you have your lettering, stick it to the already cut tombstone.  You can center it, or put it at an angle, design is completely up to you.

 

Once the lettering is securely on the tombstone, carefully remove the tape using caution not to remove the lettering.

 

Now you will paint over the lettering with the Rust-oleum painters touch black spray paint.  Let it dry at least a half an hour.  Once the paint is dry, remove the lettering, which will reveal your epitaph in pink.

 

 

Now you are ready to dremel.  Dremel each letter – I go about ¼ inch deep.

 

Step 3:

 

After dremeling, spray the letters with the same Rust-oleum painters touch black spray paint to cover the exposed pink.  Let that dry for at least a half hour.  Now spray the entire tombstone with the Krylon “Make it stone” spray paint with a color of your choice.  Let that dry for at least 10 – 12 hours.

 

 

Step 4:

 

Now you will hand paint the lettering using a small paintbrush and the Rust-oleum protective enamel black paint.  Let that dry over night.  Once that is dry, you need to paint it with a coat of Minwax fast drying polyurethane superior durability spray paint, and you are good to go.

 

 

 

Creating a Base:

 

Once you have cut and shaped your tombstone, you can create a base for it.  Your tombstone won’t stand up right without one.  Just measure the widest point of your tombstone and add about 4 inches to your measurement (giving about 2 extra inches on each side) and this will be your width.  Now cut a piece of foam board about 10 inches in height by the width you just calculated.  Take your tombstone and place it on top of the base piece you just cut, as centered as possible and trace the bottom of the tombstone on to the base.  Now cut that slit out of the base in order to place the tombstone in the base.  You may need to sand the slit a bit, but make sure it doesn’t end up being too loose.  It should fit very snug.  Once that is done, you will want to paint it with the Rust-oleum painters touch black spray paint.  Let that dry, and then paint it with the Krylon “Make it stone” spray paint with a color of your choice.  Let that dry over night and then paint it with a coat of Minwax fast drying polyurethane superior durability spray paint, and you are good to go.