How to Make Halloween Tombstones From Styrofoam

If you've ever went to a department store around Halloween time, you have surely seen all the tombstones you can purchase to decorate you yard or your house. A walk around many neighborhoods in October can reveal similar cute--yet spooky--scenes. This article will tell you how you can make your own styrofoam tombstones for less than what it costs in the stores. You can make several for the cost of one if you know how to do it.

Things You'll Need

• Sheet of Styrofoam (3x3 sheet)
• 1 Can Gray Spray Paint
• 1 Black Permanent Marker
• 1 Sharp Serrated Knife or Small Saw
• 1 Ruler
• 1 Light Color Marker (for outlining the tombstone)
• 1 Coat Hanger
• 1 Pair of Wire Cutters
• 1 Dinner Plate

Instructions

1. Gather the materials needed for the tombstone. Make sure your cutting instrument will cut through the styrofoam without tearing it. Do this by testing it on a piece of extra foam.

2. Lay out your styrofoam and place the plate as close to the side as you can get it without allowing it to hang over the edge. Draw the outline of the top of the plate with your light colored marker. Line the ruler up with the edge of the plate outline and straight down to the bottom of the styrofoam. Mark it with the light colored marker. Repeat this for the other side of the plate outline. With your knife or saw, carefully cut along the outline of the 2 sides and the upper round of the outline.

3. Spray paint the entire styrofoam tombstone with the gray paint. Allow this to dry. If it doesn't cover good with one coat, repeat the spraying until it is completely covered. Allow each coat to dry before adding a new coat.

4. Print any name or clever saying on the tombstone with the permanent marker. Do this after it has completely dried. You can even draw a skull and bones on it if you'd like. Allow this to dry.

5. Cut 2 lengths of coat hanger with your wire cutters. These should be long enough to extend up into the styrofoam several inches and then into the ground so your tombstone stands up.

6. Repeat steps 1 to 5 in order to make additional tombstones.

Tips & Warnings

• If your edges are jagged, that's alright. It will make it look as though the tombstone is broken and old.

• Do not let children complete this project by themselves. These instructions are meant for an adult.

• Do not leave any materials lying around as they could pose a hazard.