All Hallows’ Eve, the best holiday of the year! Decorating can be expensive and overwhelming and if you’re like me, you like to do things yourself. Decorating for Halloween this year we decided to create a graveyard in our front yard, so we went to our local Halloween store, started getting supplies, and $300 dollars later!!!!! we had the makings of a good graveyard set up.
A good portion of the money spent was on the graveyard fencing which was $35 for a 5-6 foot section and we got two ($70). Its MDF, so it should last but it really bothered me paying for this when I could have easily built it. Well, when I got home I realized I needed more fence….game time!
Items Needed:
- Cedar french gothic panel (fence boards)
- Rope (Sisal rope)
- Staples 1″ length
- Jigsaw
- Miter saw
- wood stain
Below is the store bought fence to mimic. Some boards…some rope…thats it.
I went to home depot and picked up some of these cedar panels for $.98 a board, for this fence I used 7 boards which I spanned over the length of about 6 feet.
For this project, I’m going to steal a couple of ideas from the fencing I bought from the Halloween store, in particular the cutout for the top(esthetics) and bottom(stake for the ground).
I cut some of the boards to 30″ and some to 28″, none of them in fact have to be any of these sizes, they can all be different this will help the illusion of it looking old rickety. I first cut the bottom into a triangle and then cut into the shape below which is around 1″ to 1.5″ wide. This will allow you the posts into the ground.
Next, I cut the tops into zig-zag shapes to make it look worn and broken. I did however leave to of the boards normal which act as my “gate” even though it doesn’t function like a gate. Once I had everything cut to size, I laid it all out and began to staple into place using 1″ staples and connecting the boards together with Natural Sisal Rope.
This was a little difficult as some of the staples didnt want to stay in place. It’s important to stagger the fencing so it looks crooked, as though its going to fall.
Success! All stapled and connecte with rope Looks weird doesnt?
Added bonus…it rolls up nicely for storage!
Turned out pretty cool! I added some orange lights and at night it looks amazing!
The DIY halloween fencing doesnt blend in to well with the store bought fencing, especially during the day. I really wish I had just made all the fencing and never purchased any. I plan to get some vinegar and steel wool and age the fencing a little, should help. Also with these being cedar they will hold up to the elements and also age well over time!
With a home made wood stain, I managed to make the fence look older and helped blend it in. For the stain put vinegar and some steel wool in a jar, put the lid on and shake, let sit for 24 hours or more, apply with brush.
I think these guys like it!
