Carnival Signs

$15 - $20 (based on 2017 prices)

Makes four signs

Zombies and clowns are the two themes, in my opinion, which have been overdone in yard haunts and professional attractions. Because of this, I was a little leery when my office selected a demented circus theme for 2017. To tackle the challenge, I decided to focus on the twisted carnival idea and draw inspiration from turn-of-the-century travelling shows. I wanted something that looked vintage and did not relying too heavily on clowns.

• Two 20” x 30” foam boards
• Two rolls of colorful wrapping paper (roughly seventeen square feet per roll)
• One 4 oz. bottle of all-purpose tacky glue*
• One 10 oz. can of interior/exterior, fast-drying spray paint in nutmeg*
• One 2 oz. bottle of acrylic paint in flat black*
• One 2 oz. bottle of acrylic paint in flat brown*
• One deck of large playing card (roughly 3.5” x 6” in size)
• At least four tablespoons of dark roasted coffee grounds
• One pan large enough to soak the cards
• One 2 oz. bottle of acrylic paint in cherry cobbler*
  

1. Cut the foam boards into four signs that are thirty inches long and ten inches tall. You can make them simple arrows to direct visitors to specific areas of the haunt or more elaborate markers to distinguish rooms or props.

2. Brush a light layer of glue onto each sign and cover them with wrapping paper. For visual interest, I decided to use two different patterns. You, though, are free to use one or many based on your preferences. To make the paper appear worn, crumple it prior to adhering it to the boards and tear holes into it.

3. To add additional age and distress, dust the signs with a light coat of nutmeg spray paint. To give the appearance of dirt, hold the can over twelve inches away from the sign’s surface and make quick flicking motions. You can also apply a flecking of black paint and smears of brown paint to enhance the weathered appearance.

4. Begin the distressing process for the cards by roughening their surfaces and removing parts of the print with sandpaper. Once this is done, boil enough water to completely submerge them and pour it into the pan. Add the coffee. The longer you allow the coffee to brew, the darker the stain will become. Likewise, greater amounts of coffee will produce a richer stain. Submerge the cards in the coffee mixture and soak them until they reach the color you desire. I soaked mine for one day and scattered the coffee grounds over the tops to add spots. You may have to work in small batches if you cannot find a container large enough to hold all of the cards at once.

5. Once the cards have dried, glue them to the signs. You will want each card to represent one letter in the words you would like displayed. It helps to plan this out ahead of time and play with the positioning beforehand. For visual interest, do not center each card on the sign and switch between using the fronts and backs.

6. Use cherry cobbler paint to write the letters on the cards. You want the wording to be haphazard. To achieve this, exaggerate curves, create sharp points, and elongate certain aspects. You could also write letters backwards and deliberately misspell words. Keep in mind, though, that the signs need to be readable, so try not to overdo your artistic flairs.

7. If you plan to display these props on a wall or other surface, consider making hanging loops with steel wire on the backs.

8. To amplify the creepiness, you could smatter bloody handprints on the signs, dangle severed ears or fingers from their edges, or adhere clusters of crawling insects.

*You will not use the entire bottle’s content for this project.