Video Tag
Every video tagged “foam carving” in the library — a focused slice of the Halloween archive.
54 videos
Wicked Makers duo Jay and Jaimie construct a massive life-sized stone portal for their front yard haunt, inspired by the Dark Portal from the Warcraft universe. The arch is built entirely from XPS foam, carved and painted to mimic aged stone, with LED-lit runic carvings embedded throughout. A semi-transparent fabric screen on the back panel enables rear projection of a custom hellscape VFX video at night, creating a dramatic portal illusion. Plans and the custom projection video are available through their Patreon.
Stiltbeast Studios walks through the process of creating a Halloween pumpkin prop using Great Stuff expanding spray foam. The build demonstrates how an accessible, hardware-store material can be shaped into a convincing haunted-attraction-quality piece. Allen Hopps shares his hands-on fabrication approach suited for home haunters and professional prop makers alike.
Wicked Makers duo Jaimie and Jay walk through their first attempt at building realistic Halloween tombstones from insulation foam, covering every stage from cutting and shaping to texturing and painting. They use accessible tools and inexpensive materials to achieve a convincing stone look. The finished props are designed for a DIY graveyard yard display and serve as inspiration for haunters of all skill levels.
VanOaksProps walks through a beginner-friendly method for creating convincing faux stone panels from foam using minimal tools. The process covers shaping and texturing foam with a box cutter, wire brush, and propane torch, then sealing and painting with Drylok and layered acrylic washes. The finished panels are well-suited for haunted house facades, fireplace surrounds, or any set piece requiring a stone aesthetic.
VanOaksProps walks through a straightforward process for turning lightweight foam into convincingly aged wooden boards using basic carving and texturing tools. The technique layers multiple acrylic paint colors and a glazing medium to build realistic wood grain depth and an old, weathered appearance. At under 10 minutes, the tutorial covers the full workflow from raw foam to finished faux plank. The result is a lightweight, cost-effective alternative to real lumber for haunted house panels, escape rooms, or stage set construction.
VanOaksProps walks through the full process of building realistic foam tombstones from scratch using materials available at hardware and craft stores. The build covers shaping and carving expanded insulation foam with a Dremel and rasp, adding surface texture with a blow torch, and finishing with a multi-layer paint technique anchored by masonry sealant. The result is a graveyard-worthy prop that far surpasses typical store-bought options. A companion video on finger detail work is also referenced for those wanting to push the realism further.
VanOaksProps walks through the full process of building a convincing fake tree stump using a 5-gallon bucket as a base form, expanding spray foam for texture, and layered acrylic and spray paints to achieve a realistic wood-and-moss finish. The build relies on inexpensive, widely available materials, making it accessible to beginners. A handy secondary use highlighted in the video is concealing a projector inside the hollow stump, adding functional value to a purely decorative prop.
VanOaksProps walks through a beginner-friendly process for creating convincing fake stone walls using inexpensive XPS or EPS foam. The build relies on hot wire cutting and rasp texturing to achieve a natural stone shape, followed by a tile mortar coating that adds durability and surface detail. A layered acrylic painting sequence — moving from a base beige through burnt umber shadows to green moss accents — brings the finished panels to life. The result is a lightweight, low-cost wall section suitable for haunts, sets, or yard displays.
VanOaksProps walks through building a realistic foam tombstone that doubles as a concealed housing for a compact projector, keeping the unit hidden from view and shielded from the elements. The build covers foam carving and shaping, router detailing, and a multi-step paint process to achieve a convincing aged-stone look. The finished prop integrates seamlessly into a graveyard display while secretly delivering Halloween projection effects. It's a clever solution for haunters who want polished projection visuals without exposing expensive equipment.
VanOaks Props walks through a complete process for building ultra-realistic foam tombstones that convincingly mimic aged stone. The tutorial covers shaping, carving fine details, texturing with caulk, and a multi-step painting workflow using acrylic washes and a masonry sealer to achieve an authentic weathered-granite look. Techniques like flame treatment and dry brushing add depth and surface realism that elevate these props well beyond typical foam graveyard pieces.
VanOaksProps demonstrates how to build a cemetery monument prop using a foam dome, a plastic garden urn, and a crow decoy — a creative alternative to standard foam tombstones. The build incorporates carving, shaping, and a multi-step faux bronze painting technique inspired by a published Instructables project. Drylok is used as a hardening base coat before layering acrylic paints to achieve an aged, patinated bronze look. The finished piece adds impressive height and visual variety to a home graveyard display.
This feature-length compilation from VanOaksProps collects multiple tombstone tutorials into a single marathon session, covering everything from basic foam carving to ultra-realistic aged gravestones. Projects range in complexity, including a replica Haunted Mansion tombstone, a projector-housing tombstone, broken and distressed styles, and techniques for adding memorial portraits and lichen. It's designed both as a complete learning resource and as companionable background viewing while you work on your own props. The chapter-based structure makes it easy to jump to the specific technique you need.
Stiltbeast Studios walks through an accessible technique for turning inexpensive styrofoam wig heads into convincing skull props using basic tools. The process involves carving and detailing the foam with a soldering iron, shaping and texturing it with a heat gun, and finishing with acrylic or latex paint. Companion videos on plastic corpsing and making teeth are referenced for those who want to push the build further. The result is a budget-friendly, scalable prop suitable for haunted attractions or home haunts.
VanOaksProps walks through the first part of a two-part series on building a cemetery bust monument that uses an optical illusion to appear to follow viewers as they move. The build relies on accessible materials — XPS foam in two thicknesses, a cardboard tube armature, pipe insulation, and common adhesives — shaped with hot wire and routing tools. Sponsored by ChickenProps, the tutorial bridges the gap between a basic graveyard prop and a showstopping interactive centerpiece. The finished piece is designed to evoke the iconic "following bust" effect popularized by haunted mansion attractions.
Part 2 of VanOaksProps' following bust monument series focuses on the finishing stages: applying paint, faux marble effects, and a Drylok texture base coat before adding craft paint layers via airbrush. LED strip lighting and decorative faux ivy are incorporated to complete the eerie cemetery monument look. The build is sponsored by ChickenProps, whose staring statue mechanisms power the 'following' eye effect. This episode bridges the gap between raw prop construction and a polished, display-ready Halloween centerpiece.
VanOaksProps walks through the process of sculpting realistic-looking fake logs from scrap foam pieces — an ideal technique for filling a haunted house or staged fireplace. The build uses accessible hand tools like a rasp, drywall saw, and wire brush to shape and texture the foam before finishing with paint. A hard coating step is highlighted as the key to making the props durable enough for repeated seasonal use.
VanOaksProps walks viewers through building a foam replica of the iconic Master Gracey tombstone from Disneyland and Disney World's Haunted Mansion attraction. The build covers shaping and carving foam, creating a custom stencil with a vinyl cutter for the epitaph lettering, and finishing with a convincing faux-granite paint effect using airbrush and sea sponge techniques. The result is a screen-accurate-style prop suitable for yard haunts or indoor displays. Sponsored foam paints from Plaid are featured throughout the finishing stages.
VanOaksProps begins a multi-part series constructing a Halloween coffin modeled after the iconic prop from the 1922 film Nosferatu, built as part of a Hollywood Graveyard production. The build focuses on plywood framing combined with EPS foam detail work to achieve a period-accurate silhouette. A key design goal is a flat-pack, knock-down construction that allows the finished prop to be disassembled for compact storage. Part 1 covers the foundational build steps, materials selection, and initial shaping.
StiltbeastStudios walks through the creation of a giant deer skull prop intended for haunted house or attraction use. Allen Hopps demonstrates his approach to building large-scale, detailed skull art with a focus on achieving a frightening, high-impact result. The build is geared toward haunt professionals and serious DIY enthusiasts looking to add impressive statement pieces to their sets.
StiltbeastStudios walks through the process of creating realistic castle stone wall panels using foam board insulation — a staple material in haunted attraction set building. The tutorial covers shaping and texturing the foam to mimic authentic stonework on a budget. At 21 minutes, the video provides enough depth to guide builders through the core techniques from start to finish.
VanOaksProps demonstrates how to carve DIY Halloween tombstones from foam and finish them using spray paint, delivering a graveyard-ready prop on a budget. The short six-minute runtime suggests a streamlined, beginner-friendly workflow. Plaid Enterprises supplied product for the video, indicating at least some painting or finishing materials are featured. The result is a convincing cemetery prop suitable for yard haunts or home haunt displays.
Monster Tutorials presents a detailed walkthrough for building a Halloween diorama centered on a 'Pumpkin Queen' character surrounded by a miniature pumpkin patch and skeleton. The build was originally created as a personal entry concept for a mini skeleton prop challenge. Hot wire foam cutting tools are used to shape the scene elements, with flickering LEDs added to bring the diorama to life. The result is a charming, display-ready tabletop Halloween piece with strong character and atmosphere.
Part 2 of VanOaksProps' Halloween coffin build focuses on transforming flat insulation foam into convincingly aged wooden planks using carving, texturing, and painting techniques. The creator walks through a toolkit of abrasive and heat-based tools to score, distress, and shape the foam surface before finishing it with paint to sell the weathered-wood illusion. The completed prop is destined to appear in an upcoming film by the Hollywood Graveyard channel, giving the build a professional real-world application.
VanOaks Props kicks off a multi-part series by tackling the architectural centerpiece of a New Orleans-style family crypt: a carved foam arch. The video demonstrates how large-scale Halloween builds are achievable with accessible materials like XPS insulation foam, a router, and basic hand tools. Techniques shown include routing decorative profiles, shaping foam with a rasp, and applying spackle — skills transferable to many prop-building projects. This is Part 1 of an ongoing crypt build series.
