Video Tag
Every video tagged “yard haunt” in the library — a focused slice of the Halloween archive.
488 videos
Stiltbeast Studios demonstrates how to create convincing faux pumpkins using pool noodles sourced from Dollar Tree — an inexpensive, weather-resistant alternative to traditional foam or plastic pumpkins. The technique is beginner-friendly and scalable, making it practical for builders who need multiple props on a tight budget. The creator notes that Dollar Tree carries pool noodles outside of summer, opening up year-round availability for the material.
Wicked Makers hosts Jaimie and Jay walk through building budget-friendly solar-powered Halloween lanterns using mason jars wrapped in dyed creepy cloth styled to resemble Spanish moss. The finished lights carry a swamp or New Orleans vibe that complements graveyard yard haunts perfectly. With a reported materials cost of around $7 each, these lanterns are designed to be durable, weather-friendly, and reusable season after season.
Wicked Makers' Jaimie and Jay walk through building a simple, budget-friendly Halloween cemetery fence from basic pine lumber and common household tools. Each modular fence section costs roughly $3, making it easy to expand the display year after year. Finishing touches like wood stain, twine, and stretched cobwebbing give the fence an aged, spooky graveyard look.
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.
This tutorial from Monster Tutorials shows how to transform inexpensive dollar store foam tombstones into convincingly spooky graveyard props using a handful of additional materials and craft techniques. The focus is on budget-friendly methods that deliver a dramatic visual upgrade without requiring specialized skills or tools. It's a great approach for haunters looking to build out a graveyard scene on a tight budget.
This roughly 24-minute tutorial walks viewers through building an animated skeleton groundbreaker, a mechanical prop designed to emerge from a graveyard scene with eerie, zombie-like motion. The host provides step-by-step instructions for assembling the moving figure so it can be added to a Halloween cemetery display. It's geared toward home haunters wanting a motorized centerpiece for their yard.
This short showcase video highlights several witch-themed Halloween animatronic props suited for home haunts and yard displays. Featured pieces include standing hag-style figures and a hanging witch decoration, with heights ranging around five to six feet. The video serves as a quick visual sampler to help shoppers evaluate which animatronic witch props might work best for their Halloween setup.
Distortions Unlimited showcases 'Dolly,' a creepy animated doll Halloween prop introduced for the 2019 season. The all-electric prop is designed to unsettle guests with lifelike, unsettling movement reminiscent of iconic horror dolls like Annabelle. It is marketed toward yard haunters, home haunters, and professional dark attractions looking for a ready-to-scare character piece.
This walkthrough showcases a jaw-dropping San Antonio residential Halloween yard display featuring over 100 animatronics sourced from major retail Halloween chains. The setup spans the entire property and incorporates a coordinated light show alongside the massive prop collection. The video gives viewers an extended tour of how retail animatronics can be combined at scale to create a truly spectacular neighborhood attraction.
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.
This tutorial walks viewers through building a DIY special effects scrim designed to produce spooky lighting and sound atmospherics for Halloween displays. The technique is applicable to a range of settings including front porches, yard haunts, and indoor haunted house scenes. A sound-activated device from FrightProps (the 'Perfect Storm') is referenced as a compatible controller for driving thunder and lightning effects alongside the scrim.
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.
Distortions Unlimited showcases their Wicked Wolf animatronic, a large werewolf prop released as part of their 2020 Halloween lineup. The video serves as a product reveal for this animated creature, highlighting its suitability for haunted attractions, yard haunts, home haunts, and themed events. Distortions Unlimited is a US-based manufacturer with decades of experience producing animatronics and Halloween props for both consumer and professional markets.
StiltbeastStudios walks through turning a standard 55-gallon barrel into a Hocus Pocus-inspired hanging cage prop in a manageable three-to-four-hour build. The finished piece is designed to be suspended from trees or displayed inside a haunted house for dramatic seasonal atmosphere. The project relies on accessible materials and straightforward techniques, making it approachable for most skill levels.
Distortions Unlimited documents their 2021 Halloween visit to Dick Van Dyke and Arlene Silver's home, where the legendary entertainer has been running a yard haunt for over five decades. The crew delivered and set up a range of Distortions animatronics and props — including a giant singing animatronic head performing Thriller with Van Dyke's own voice — and suited up in costumes to help scare and entertain guests. The evening also featured a live Halloween show with a ventriloquist, a puppeteer, and Dick and Arlene themselves dancing and singing. Behind-the-scenes footage of the crew meeting and having lunch with Van Dyke adds a personal, celebratory touch to the video.
VanOaksProps compiles ten of his favorite detail-oriented prop projects specifically chosen to elevate a DIY Halloween cemetery display. The compilation spans a wide range of builds — from PVC fencing and weathered tombstones to faux cast-iron locks, distressed signage, and atmospheric cobwebs — with each segment linking back to a full standalone tutorial. The focus throughout is on affordable, achievable techniques that add realism and cinematic atmosphere to a yard graveyard scene.
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 tutorial walks through building a self-opening and self-closing animated coffin prop for Halloween. A slow-rotating electric motor drives the lid mechanism, and a motion sensor is integrated so the prop activates automatically when guests approach. The creator also references a companion foam coffin build tutorial for constructing the base prop itself. The result is an interactive, trigger-based yard scare suitable for greeting trick-or-treaters.
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.
VanOaksProps walks viewers through building a foam crypt or mausoleum from scratch using common XPS foam and basic hand tools, making it accessible for home haunters of most skill levels. The build covers cutting and shaping foam to mimic stone and brick architecture, then sealing and painting it with layered acrylic washes to achieve a convincingly aged, mossy, weathered finish. The result is a dramatic cemetery centerpiece that goes well beyond a standard tombstone display.
Monster Tutorials walks viewers through building a customizable cemetery fence using readily available materials in just a few steps. The design is intentionally flexible, allowing haunters to scale the fence to any length needed for their graveyard display. At under 10 minutes, the tutorial is approachable for builders of all skill levels.
VanOaks Props presents a budget-friendly method for building realistic-looking fake cornstalks using common craft and hardware supplies. The build centers on a PVC pipe spine wrapped with masking tape and jute rope to build up texture and form, finished with layered acrylic and spray paints. The video is inspired by and credits the Beyond1031 Ultimate Fake Cornstalk Tutorial as its source material. The result is a lightweight, reusable prop well suited for yard haunts, haunt scenery, or seasonal outdoor decorating.
This tutorial walks DIY haunters through building a motorized animated grave prop that simulates a breathing, heaving effect — complete with rustling grass and shifting ground movement. Designed for outdoor graveyard displays, the prop creates an unsettling atmosphere with minimal complexity. The channel follows a step-by-step instructional format aimed at helping home crafters achieve professional-looking results. At under 10 minutes, it's a quick and accessible build for Halloween yard decorators.
Distortions Unlimited presents their 2021 Halloween product line in this short catalog-style showcase video. The lineup spans animated and static props, standing figures, and wall hangings — including standouts like the Pumpkin Stalker, a life-sized Edgar Allan Poe figure, Dragon Legends Wall Hanging, and several monster and zombie-themed pieces. All products are manufactured in the USA and are marketed toward haunters, home haunts, professional haunted attractions, and theme parks. The video serves as a visual buying guide for the brand's newest releases that season.
