You can create your epitaphs on your computer--I use fonts like Olde English , Caslon Antique , Caslon Antique Italic , or Abaddon . Simply enlarge the epitaph, print it out and trace the lettering or design on your tombstone. You can try carbon paper if you want--personally it's never worked well enough to seem worthwhile to me. I just use a ballpoint pen and press hard. It leaves enough of an imprint to work from. Afterwards I go over the imprint with a pen. I have heard of some who tape the epitaph onto the stone and actually woodburn through the paper, but I have never had much success with that. When I tried it, the paper smouldered a little bit after lifting the burning tool which melted the foam more than I wanted and ruined smaller lettering. Myself, I consider the time tracing the design onto the stone to be worth it.

There are many ways of creating the design on your tombstone and it all depends on your own sense of style. The easiest way would be to cut the design or epitaph from thinner foam and simply glue into place.

As with most of your prop making, a Dremel tool can be your best friend. The Dremel Router Attachment makes a beautifully flat recessed area and is more than worth the effort! I use the actual Dremel router bits, as opposed to other cutting and grinding bits.

One warning--it also makes alot of foam dust. You will want to wear eye protection, old clothes, even something over your hair. You may also want to keep a vacuum handy.

One of my favorite techniques, and the one I am most known for I suppose, is to use a woodburning tool to "engrave" tombstones.

I use the smallest tip possible, a "pen tip", as the foam melts very quickly. For raised lettering, recess the background using a flat tip or a pen tip, if you prefer the look. If you need a precise corner or you are trying to engrave very small lettering, go over the lettering first with an Xacto knife. The cut slows the heat from travelling further. The trick is to let the woodburner cool a bit when you attempt smaller letters and designs. A great way to control the heat of your burning tool is to use a lamp dimmer. I use a swag lamp dimmer I purchased at Lowes for about $10.00. You can lower the temperature of your burner and do much smaller lettering and designs. Please do this in a ventilated area! The fumes are outrageous! Ask any haunter who has met me, I have the short term memory of a soap dish.

NEXT: SANDING & WARPING