Haunted House Review: Fear Fair in Seymour, Indiana

So, Unfortunately, I was only able to make to one haunted house this year. Fortunately, it was Fear Fair, in Seymour, Indiana.

It was a very well done haunt. Kinda hard to find, as a first timer to the local. But once you've been there, it's hard to forget.

This isn't just a review of the haunt, it is also just a tale of my experience being there.

First off, parking was a very simple task. A+!

Next, I was also happy to see that the ticket booth was far enough from the actual line to enter the haunt, keeping from accidental "You mean I have been waiting here for 3 hours, and this isn't even for tickets???"
A+!

The Line. After waiting for a bout twenty minutes, we asked ourselves if we wanted to wait another 3 hours to go in. No? Good! Cause there are actual workers by the lines that sell speed pass bumps, so we wouldn't have to walk back to the ticket booth. then the wait was a half hour. and when we got out, our original spot in General Admission had only moved 40 feet.

Now with the haunt itself.

OK. So, I am there with my wife, Brandy, and our friends, Jon and Veronica. Non of us really scare that easily  Then we had a father, a son, and a daughter join our group, because the Mother and other son freaked out and ran out from the main entrance.

And we enter the intro room to their new house, Hangar 17. Supposedly a military testing site making zombie soldiers and other monstrosities. It had a nice into, with two tv effects. First was the man greeting us that then started getting attacked. Next was the door to enter had a false window that would play a loop of undead soldiers with some beast at the side. Then they fired at the door, and came to it, then opened. We entered.
I can't really say much else about this new house. I would like to tell you all I saw prop and decoration wise, But I can't. The workers were too busy screaming in our face to "Move our asses" And pointing guns in our faces, and just being in the way. So, the experience was meh, at most.

And then we entered the cinema of nightmares, or whatever they called it. There was a room that was done like a theatre screening room, and you actually walked into the movie screen to enter. It was actually two 4' claustrophobia walls, and since my wife is claustrophobic, I will say that she handled that very well. Then there were different set ups from different horror films. Texas Chainsaw, Nightmare on Elm St., Halloween, Scream, Friday the 13th, Jeepers Creepers, Even a huge Zombie apocalypse scene based on "The Walking Dead".

Very well done rooms and decoration and make up on the zombies. Even had one of my favorite Kill scenes from the New F-13 Film with the Sleeping Bag roast. But I still have complaints.

Now to let you know, these are my own opinions, google does not agree, nor do they condone my thoughts. this is all me.

OK.

First off, 3 Things I hate. Scream Franchise, Jeepers Creepers Franchise, And Rob Zombie's Bullshit Halloween Films. They aren't Scary, and all in all, they were just bad. So I was very disappointed to see them using these two monsters and Bob's version of the shape in this haunt. Jeeper monster looks like Swamp Thing and Hulk Hogan had a baby. and Scream was a spoof of horror films. And I don't want a haunt to remind me of the butchering that Halloween received at the hands of Zombie.

And another thing that was a disappointment. Jason Voorhees. I love Friday the 13th. I even request it as a holiday at my work. And I have a rule. If you are going to play a well known character, then be the character! don't be a cheap knockoff!
The clothes for jason were wrong. And i couldn't get over it. So, much time spent on all this scenery, and not enough on the clothes of the main man from it? Come on.
Oh, and Leatherface breaking character the whole time we were in line, and then not even being there when we went through his exhibit. Booooo.....
But I still give that Haunt a B+. And will plan to go back next year. Maybe they can do a Video Game Horror related exhibit. Silent Hill, Resident Evil. Splatterhouse?!??!!!

My Halloween Costume Finally!

So, I have all the pieces painted and ready.
I just need to finish my mask. I usually like to have my whole head covered. but I needed something original and weird.
I remembered this stretchy silicone toy that I got around 2005. It is like a Koosh ball, but had an opening to put your head in, and had mini holes, too.  I was able to fit my goggles through those holes. And then I just put the respirator mask I made, over them.

The C-Anenomea!

Now I was ready for the big night. And I'll say, it turned out well...

Other people wanted in, too!

I was pleased with the out fit for the first time. I do want to make some adjustments and changes, before I take it to GenCon'13. I need to make a pair of pants, and redo the legs, maybe not have the back stick out so much.

But Still, Very happy with it. Can't wait for next year!!!

Halloween has come and gone...

Well, another good holiday is over. Was well worth the wait.

Started the day by waking up the son and getting him changed and fed. Then came time to carve the pumpkins!
One for the cats:

Yes a Cat face...

One for My Son:

It's a Raven

It's supposed to be a raven...

And me and the wife:

My Favorite freehand face, so far.

Shortly after, My father had shown up with the Halloween Chili. We usually do it every year, but since I couldn't make it home this day, he brought it to us. Sweet.

After chili, It was then time for us to start traveling. We packed up everyone, and headed off to Columbus to meet with the lady from Heartfelt faux-tog-raphy, who took a couple pictures of my Son in his costume.

Then off to Camby, to Visit my Mother and Father-In-Law. My son had his first Halloween Trick-or-Treat, there. We then had to work on our wife's hair, Which her father volunteered to tease it. And he did well.

Then we went back to our home and went trick-or-treating close to our place and visited some good friends. They loved my son and wife's outfit, but stayed away from me.

We all were matching. we went as mad scientists.

We finally took the little Professor home. Fed him his dinner bottle, and watched "It's the Great Pumkin, Charlie Brown", and "a Garfield Halloween", before putting him to sleep. I then took my full costume to the local Bowling Alley/Sports bar I work at to finally show people the finished piece, and they loved it.

Then came home, Fixed Something to eat, and me and the wife settled down to enjoy our Halloween closer, "Trick'r'Treat". It's our new favorite Halloween Movie.

HE'S SO ADORABLE!!!

 Even bumped "Halloween" down to 2nd. However I will watch that next. Not the Rob crap, the REAL "HALLOWEEN"!

I hope everyone else had a great Halloween!

Happy Halloween Everybody!

I will be putting up some new stuff as soon as tomorrow. I Will finish my tutorial, write my review on Fear Fair, And talk about my busy Halloween. I already have a kid trying to purchase stuff off me, but it's a holiday. For me!


Happy Halloween!

My Halloween Costume: Part 4

So, I have recently Worked just on the respirator mask for my costume. And it is finished. Let's recap the mask process, Shall we?

I first Started with a plain White halloween hockey mask.

I then drew the lines that i wanted to cut out for the main piece.

Then with a sharp pair of craft scissors, I cut out what I wanted.

Using electric tape, I covered all the rough areas of the mask, and the holes over the mouth.

I then made the respirator piece (From and old pill case and Axe deodorant spray top), and attached it to the mask.

Using a screw.

Now, since then, I decided to use the electric tape as the main design for the surface of the mask. and using an old rubber strap from a pair of safety goggles, I fastened it on there using rivets.

I then took some silver enamel paint and covered the orange and the top of the respirator.

And there ya go!

Almost to the end!!! Stay  tuned to see full costume complete!!!

My Halloween Costume: Part 3

Ok, last I left off, I was starting to sculpt the back piece that would be my Thorax:

And that's where I picked back up.

I coated the whole piece in Duct Tape, to secure the integrity of shell.

I wanted to add more to the bottom of the piece, To I would build a stinger. I started by attaching on of my hockey masks...

Then an empty Brisk Iced tea bottle...

And coating the whole thing in Duct tape...

I then took the heat gun and removed the cap piece from the bottle, made an incision in the middle of the bottle and duct taped it up to keep from curling inward, and added an old broken pen to make the tip of the stinger...

I then used the pieces I cut off the swords from earlier, and taped/hot glued them to the piece, cause I wanted spikes to stick out...

And then used the Hot Glue to add texture to the piece...

I then Stated back on my mask...

Where I left off:

I had only just made the markings of where I wanted to cut. But since then, I have decided to make just a vehilator piece.

So, I first cut out what I needed...

I then applied electric tape to the jagged edges and seal holes in the mask...

I then made a venhilator piece ont he side using an old pill bottle, and the spray cap from axe deoderant
I then attached it to my mask piece...

using a screw...

And that where I will stop for now. This will be looking spectacular real soon!

My Halloween Costume part 2

Ok, so last time i posted i left at finishing the arms up. I now have the base coat.

I will add a 2nd coat and detail later. Now onto the torso.

I will be using this lab coat.

It was originally used in a haunt I worked for over 6 years ago. I will need it to cover the inside straps for my back piece. I will also add detail to the coat later.

For the back piece,,,

I started with this flat rate box.

I then cut out the section I needed to fit on my back. and using more cardboard, duct tape, and hot glue...

I sculpted this shape for the thorax. I will do more sculpting later.

And I also started on my respirator piece.

I'm gonna start with this blank Halloween hockey mask. I love using these masks as a base for most of my facial work.

I then drew out my design i'm gonna cut out.

Stay tuned to the next episode, where hopefully, i finish the thorax, and most done with the gas mask, and re-visit the legs.


Tootles,
~JPW

PS: need any kind of original items for Halloween, or whenever/whatever? Check out my Etsy shop at
Junk-Punk Workshop

Etsy Treasuries, and how I love them!

If any of you have ever been on Etsy.com, You may have noticed that there will be a featured set of items on that site you can peep. That is a Treasury.
From Etsy.com:

"Treasury is an ever-changing, member-curated shopping gallery comprised of lists of items. Lists contain 16 items. Members can feature their favorite items, items selected on a theme or whatever they like. Any Etsy member can create a Treasury list, and there is no limit to the number of lists you can create. You can edit your lists as often as you desire, and post comments to other members' lists. The number of views your list receives as well as the number of clicks the items featured in your list receive are displayed in the list's Stats section."

Well, Since I have started back in 2007, I have been featured on about 100 treasuries. Mostly Halloween/Horror themed treasuries.

Here are the two latest:

• What Nightmare's are Made Of.....Leave a Light On!!
• Smile, It's The End Of The World

And here are some others:

• In the name of love...
• Christmas shopping list for our boys!!
• i love teal

A lot of the other ones have gone away. But here's to being apart of more!

My Halloween Costume: Part 1

So, in an earlier blog I stated that I will be a mad scientist turned bug monster for Halloween this year. This will be a viewing of how I got there.

First, the stilts:

These are called power riser stilts.

They are basically exercise stilts. You can jump pretty high, and run fast in them. I originally wore them in a haunted house in Indy.

So, I decided to get my own pair. I have done two successful outfits so far with them...

The Big Bad Wolf:

And The Metal Minotaur:

So, using the same stilts, I stripped everything off and started again. First, with a base coat.

Now I will be adding more stuff to these to make them more bug-like, later...


Now, With the arms...

I really want this to reminds you of a bug's arms, Preferably, a praying mantis. So, Time to start with the pieces that started the idea.

This sword was on sale for $3.00 at Halloween City. And there were two of them. I didn't care too much about them as swords, but loved them as the arms for this creature. So I took a utility knife...

And cut the sides off. I will probably use those for another project.

I then shoved Styrofoam into the gap, and sealed with tape.

I removed two sleeves off an old hoodie of mine, to use as the arm extensions. I hot glued them underneath. then used duct tape to hod them in place.

Using the hot glue, I run lines of glue over the sweatshirt material, Duct tape, and sword piece, trying to blend it all with a new texture. I also added texture all over the sleeves.

I then start with a fluorescent green paint as my base coat. Probably about 1 or 2 coats, before I start making multiples...

TO BE CONTUNUED!!!!!