HOW TO MAKE A DIY HALLOWEEN TOMBSTONE
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Time Required: 3 Days
Materials
• Large Piece of Cardboard (The front of our cardboard tombstone is 25″ tall, 21″ wide and 3″ deep)
• Craft Knife
• Small Putty Knife
• 2 Metal Stakes – cut 6 inches taller than the full height of your tombstone project
• Small Foam Brush
• 3M Multipurpose Adhesive
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Direct Colors Products Used
• Solvent-Based, Acrylic Satin Finish Sealer
• Concrete Overlay
• Deco Gel Concrete Stain
• Acetone-based Concrete Dye
• Preval Aerosol Sprayer
Step 1: Measure Flattened Cardboard to Preferred Width, Height and Depth
Our tombstone is 25″ tall, 21″ wide and 3″ deep
Using a craft knife, cut your cardboard to desired specs. Make joints in the cardboard by scoring the topmost layer, leaving the rest of the cardboard intact. Bend cardboard away from the score line to create a clean joint.
Cut additional pieces of cardboard for supports. Score and bend the support pieces for clean joints.
Step 2: Tape Interior Supports
Tape interior supports to the inside of your cardboard tombstone to maintain the shape of your box and support the weight of the concrete overlay. Once interior supports are in place, tape your concrete tombstone closed.
Step 3: Design Your Accents
Design and draw accents onto spare pieces of cardboard.
Using a craft knife, carefully cut out the cardboard accents and attach to your tombstone with 3M Multipurpose Adhesive.
Step 4: Seal the Cardboard to Prep for Concrete Overlay Application
Seal the entire project (front, back and sides) using Solvent-Based Acrylic Satin Finish Sealer.
*Note: Allow project to dry for at least 24 hours before proceeding.
Step 5: Mix and Apply Concrete Overlay to Tombstone
Mix Concrete Overlay and apply to cardboard tombstone using a small putty knife.
*Note: Allow Concrete Overlay to dry for at least 6 hours before applying any colorant such as Deco Gel Acid Stain or Concrete Dye.
Step 6: Use Colorant to Define Your Tombstone
Define your concrete tombstone with a colorant such as Deco Gel Stain and Acetone-based Concrete Dye.
We used Shifting Sand Deco Gel Stain and Concrete Dye in Charcoal and Ash Brown.
*Note: When using Deco Gel Concrete Acid Stain, be sure to follow all directions regarding application, activation times and neutralization. Full application instructions can be found here.
Step 7: Seal Again to Protect the Color
Seal your project again using Acrylic Satin Finish Sealer to protect the color.
*Note: Allow project to dry for at least 24 hours before proceeding.
Step 8: Make X Cuts on the Bottom of the Tombstone to Attach Metal Stakes
We made cuts near each bottom corner of the tombstone so our stakes would support the project.
Step 9: Make Two Metal Stakes
Cut 2 metal stakes roughly 6 inches taller than the height of the tombstone. You can use re-bar, metal conduits, etc. as stakes. We used metal electrical conduits for our stakes (they just happened to be on hand at the time)
Step 10: Find a Spot to Display Your Faux Tombstone
Measure the location of the X cuts on the bottom of your project, make a mark in your yard where your stakes should be set, then drive the metal stakes into the ground using a pretty solid hammer
Carefully match up your X cuts on the bottom of your tombstone with the location of the grounded stakes.
Gently apply pressure so the stakes are completely inserted into the tombstone and the tombstone touches the ground
Step 11: Add a Little Decor and Enjoy!
Happy Halloween!
