Draw out the basic shape of the stone. I've created a few templates to download . They are relatively tombstone sized, for printing out. You may wish to enlarge them slightly to fit your needs.

Cut out the shape. I've used use a hacksaw blade with a cloth wrapped around one end or a "Wonder Cutter", available at most craft stores for under $10.00.

As I make alot of tombstones, I invested in a Hot Wire Foam Cutter from Woodland Scenics (model number ST1435 $34.98). Yes, they also have nichrome replacement wire (ST1436 $1.98). It's electric, so no more expensive D batteries and it has a wider cutting wire.

With a 12" long 1/4" drill bit, drill two holes up from the bottom. This is where you will insert the metal posts that hold them in the ground. I do this first, as there's nothing more disappointing than spending alot of time creating a really nice looking stone--only to accidentally drill through the front of it.

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 burn 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.

Please do this in a ventilated area! While I have been assured that this foam is not poisonous, that does not mean it isn't toxic. For all I know, I was alot smarter before I started doing this. Could be the explanation as to why I can never remember names to faces...

Worn edges can be made by carving the edges down with an Xacto knife or by using sandpaper. I use a foam sanding block I picked up from Walmart for about a dollar. Nicks and chips from the foam make the stone look all the older so I generally leave them in and paint appropriately.

I purchased a butane torch from Walmart. It stands on its own and has an electronic ignition. It's also good for lighting incense and charcoal tablets.

SANDING, ROUTING, MELTING: Sanding or routing foam opens the foam cells, creating tiny open "cups" that fill with water. Therefore it takes longer to warp that area. If you have used a woodburning tool or already heat warped an area, the cells have closed (think cauterized). Less water, quicker warping.

ANGLE: If the foam is lying flat, the water beads up and creates more spotting. Angled or standing, it will create a more streaked effect.

TIME: The amount of time between wetting and warping will create different effects. Try waiting 60-90 seconds after wetting the foam. Try warping immediately after wetting.

You'll have to experiment. Below are a few examples of the warping.

This is also a great excuse to play with your garden hose on a hot summer day. Play with your garden hoses, my friends. Life's too short to be so mature.

All the tombstones are first hand painted (I now use a Wagner paint sprayer) with a latex paint, I use black or grey but if you have leftover house paint, use it! It's a great way to use up leftover paint. If you need to purchase it, check the "mistake" bin at the paint counter first. Seems like there's always a grey someone didn't like. NOTE: Aerosol paint melts the bare foam. Always base paint the tombstone first. Make SURE it's totally covered, even a pinhole will let aerosol paint in and your foam will disintegrate. From experience I can tell you this usually occurs in the worst spot--the epitaph. I've lost entire phrases. I usually go over all engraving carefully and hand paint any bare spots.

A quick side tip: Hammer a nail into the drip trough (Rim) of your paint can. Excess paint will drain back into the can and the lid won't stick so badly.

The "granite" tombstones are sprayed with a specialty spraypaint called "Granite Stone". This spray paint comes out in different subtly coloured "specks". It comes in different colours, mostly greys, beige, brown, some blue or green

The "plain" tombstones are just base coated, then "aged" with spray paint, the letters filled in, varnished or polyurethaned.

The "marble" tombstones are, again, base painted with latex paint. After dry, they are sprayed with another effect spray called "Marbling Spray" or "Webbing Spray", which sprays out rather like "Silly String". You can find this at craft stores like Michael's. Varnish or polyurethane. (I have two black shiny ones which are painted with black gloss paint, then "marbled" with silver webbing spray. They look fabulous.)

After everything is done, I age my stones with a light misting of a dark spraypaint. Stand a few steps away and let the paint drift over the stones lightly and build up as you wish. On green granite tombstones, I like to mist with a metallic copper spraypaint also.

Bob Poniatowski sent me some pictures of a neat trick he uses to create granite flecks using regular spraypaint, instead of an expensive granite spray:

By taking the "Spray Plug" out of the spray paint nozzle, you will get a "splattered" effect

(Below Is the finished effect using regular spraypaint)

Here is a nifty tip Jawbone posted to the list. This, combined with the wetwarping technique and Bob Ponotowski's spray paint method, has been a great new tip I'm enthralled with. The stones turn out a bit darker, creepier and best of all ALOT cheaper--no more granite spray!

So simple, it's embarrassing.

Carve your basic tombstone and base paint it. Let dry thoroughly. Put up your tombstone. Wet the tombstone completely with your garden hose. Spraypaint a section of the tombstone with black or dark grey spray paint. Hose it off immediately.

Doesn't have to be a hard spray, just rain on it and let the paint run down in rivulets. Doing it this summer, I found that I could spraypaint 1/3 to 1/2 the stone before spraying it with the hose. Experiment, you'll see what I mean. It's only scary the first time.

I use 1/4" metal rods or dowels, pounded into the ground, to hold the tombstones up. Please remember to pound these into the ground FIRST,and slide the tombstone OVER them. One year my husband became so engrossed in the look of the graveyard that he inserted the metal rods and attempted to hammer the tombstone itself into the ground. Needless to say, the rods tore through the foam and shot out the top.

Please keep in mind that these are all just suggestions. Some I learned in theatre tech years and years ago, there may be new and better ways to do things. Some I made up as I went along, they are just things that worked for me. Please feel free to adapt.