Halloween Universe

The Screening Room

The Halloween Video Library

A curated, searchable archive of the dark craft — DIY props and animatronics, home-haunt walkthroughs, makeup, lighting, fog, and effects. Every film embedded from its creator, organized so you can actually find what you need.

6 videos

How to Repair Old Halloween Pumpkins 🎃
8:37
DIY PropsBeginner$10–$25

How to Repair Old Halloween Pumpkins 🎃

This beginner-friendly tutorial from VanOaksProps walks through restoring faded and cracked foam Halloween pumpkins using everyday craft supplies. The process covers surface prep, sealing cracks with Mod Podge, and repainting with layered acrylic colors using a sea sponge technique. A matte spray sealer is applied at the end to improve durability and weather resistance. The result is a refreshed, display-ready prop at a fraction of the cost of replacement.

VanOaksProps· 10,926 views
Make ANYTHING look like metal!
6:25
DIY PropsBeginner$10–$30

Make ANYTHING look like metal!

VanOaksProps demonstrates a quick two-step faux metal technique that transforms everyday materials — cardboard, plastic, wood, or virtually anything else — into convincing metal-looking props. The process relies on shellac and graphite powder, applied and buffed to create a realistic metallic sheen. At just six minutes, the tutorial is concise and immediately actionable for prop builders at any skill level. Credit is given to Vaughan Baker for originating the technique.

VanOaksProps· 73,129 views
SERIES: Haunted Mansion Home Office Part 1 - Faux Wood Ceiling Medallion
6:08
DIY PropsIntermediate

SERIES: Haunted Mansion Home Office Part 1 - Faux Wood Ceiling Medallion

VanOaksProps kicks off a multi-part series transforming a small home office into a Disney Haunted Mansion-inspired space. This first episode focuses on creating a faux wood ceiling medallion to complement a chandelier installation. The creator uses acrylic putty, primer, and layered paint and stain techniques to convincingly mimic aged wood grain on a non-wood surface. It's a budget-conscious decorating approach that delivers a high-impact, themed result.

VanOaksProps· 16,088 views
spray painting plastic- best primer
9:11
DIY PropsBeginner

spray painting plastic- best primer

Stiltbeast Studios tackles one of the most common frustrations in prop-making — getting paint to stick to plastic — by identifying a preferred primer through hands-on testing. The video walks through why plastic is a difficult surface to paint and what makes this particular primer perform better than alternatives. Real-world adhesion tests are shown to back up the recommendation rather than relying on speculation alone.

StiltbeastStudios· 155,466 views
Contact cement mysteries
17:27
DIY PropsBeginner

Contact cement mysteries

Veteran haunt builder Allen Hopps of Stiltbeast Studios dives into the everyday adhesive he relies on most: contact cement. The video walks through what makes this glue a go-to in a Halloween prop shop, covering its key strengths and demonstrating its bonding power across different applications. It's a practical, no-nonsense look at a material that shows up constantly in foam work, mask making, and costume fabrication.

StiltbeastStudios· 9,161 views
Mold Cleaning And Mask Painting
1:33:19
DIY PropsIntermediate

Mold Cleaning And Mask Painting

Stiltbeast Studios walks through the process of cleaning molds and painting finished masks in this extended workshop-style session. Allen Hopps shares professional techniques used in haunted attraction prop production, covering the steps between pulling a piece from a mold and achieving a paint-ready or fully painted result. At nearly an hour and a half, the video offers an in-depth look at craft-level finishing work relevant to anyone producing wearable Halloween props.

StiltbeastStudios· 1,027 views