Set out a few tombstones in your yard and let them work the graveyard shift on Halloween. These are made by trimming gray paper bags. They bear an eerie resemblance to real gravestones when lit with mini lights.
Paper luminarias are often weighted with sand; these are reinforced with cardboard and staked in place. The light seems to rise up from the ground.
Tools and Materials
Tombstone Template
Epitaph Templates
Gray paper bags, 12 by 15 inches
Cutting mat
Craft knife
Sponge applicator
Craft paint, in black
Cardboard, cut to fit bottom of bag
Garden stakes, 4 inches
LED tea lights
- Print the tombstone and epitaph templates. Place template on top of a bag, and trace around the top edge. Cut along that line to create stone shape. Tape epitaph template to cutting mat, and use craft knife to cut out letters to make a stencil.
- Place epitaph stencil on the bag you just cut. Using sponge, dab with craft paint to transfer letters. Let dry. Open bag, and insert cardboard piece to reinforce the bottom. Place in desired spot, and drive garden stakes through the bottom of the bag into the ground. Add lights, about 3 per bag.
Flat paper shopping bags, in Gray; americanretailsupply.com. LED tea lights, target.com.
vkays, I just went to the link for bags & now you can buy 25 for 3.95. I didn't look at shipping charges, but that's much better than being locked in to 500. They're under M.S.Living Bags.
To Clanini,
I make my outdoor tombstones out of flat sheets of Styrofoam that can be 1-2 inches thick. You can usually buy it in a hardware store or maybe Home Depot or a craft store. Cut out the tombstone shape with an electric meat carver. I'm sure you can use a knife if you use a sawing motion. Spray paint them with white & black paint to make shades of gray. When dry, use a small sponge dipped in paint to dab on your epitaph stencils. Glue a yardstick on the back to insert into the ground.
The photo looks very badly photoshopped!
Seriously! Don't know about others but when I went to the link americanretailsupply.com the minimum order for bags was 500. Can't MS offer a more reasonable source for supplies.
Seriously how can something made of PAPER be an outside decoration?? It won't hold up in the rain and it usually rains in the month of October. Any suggestions for something rain proof?
Epitaph template link now included. Was not printed in mag, though....just the one for headstones.
Ordered bags and they arrived. Just know that they are not gusseted, so when placing cardboard in bottom of bags, the bag will twist and torque, making it difficult for it to retain its' "headstone" shape.
Templates do not include epitaphs as indicated in article!