Monday, June 17, 2013

Nightmare Before Christmas Barrel Prop Tutorial

Here is a tutorial on how to make a life size Barrel from the movie. He is one of the three trick-or-treater kids /Oogie's henchmen: Lock, Shock & Barrel.


Supplies Needed:

-Pink insulation foam (2" thick)
-Carving supplies
-Cheap pool noodles (Dollar Tree/.99 Store)
-1 Yard grey fleece fabric 
1 Sheet white felt (8.5"x 11")
-2 plastic Easter eggs
-Acrylic paints
-Hot glue
-Plastic toy lollipop (Dollar Tree toy section)


*Optional: Alternate version uses a foam-core poster board (Dollar Tree).



(Detailed tutorial corresponds with the picture tutorial above)

Face Mask:
1.  Cut a 9.5" diameter disc out of insulation foam. I used a plate as a template .

2. Use a knife or carving tools to shave off the harsh edges, to create a dome shape .

3. Use a fine Grit sand paper to sand and smooth the disc shape .

4. Using a photo for reference, trace the features of Barrel's mask lightly with a pencil.

5. Use an exacto blade to carve and cut out the features of the mask (eyes, nose and mouth).

6. Take the bottom (wider end) of two plastic Easter eggs. Twist and press them into the mask's eye sockets.

7. Prime : Use a grey primer to coat the entire mask.

8. Paint : Using acrylic paints, paint the mask white . Add black accents to the eye sockets, nose and mouth. Add off-white color to the teeth and eyeballs. 

9.  Dip a nice pencil eraser into some black paint to make a perfect stamp for the eye pupils. Optional : Add a acrylic gloss varnish to the eyeballs for "wet", life-like eyes. The Mask is done .

Hands, feet and Lollipop:
10. Feet : Cut two horseshoe shapes out of insulation foam. Notch out two triangle shapes out of each. Using an exacto blade , shave off the harsh edges, for a rounder, softer top. Using a fine grit sand paper, sand and smooth the feet. Prime and then paint the feet using a green color.
Hands : I carved the hands out of insulation foam. Then primed and painted the hands using a green color. (I forgot to take progress photos of this, sorry).

11. Lollipop : I found a plastic lollipop toy in the toy section of Dollar Tree . Try to find one there . Re-paint it with black and red acrylic paints. (If you can't find one , make your own out of a thin insulation foam disc and a wooden dowel stick)

Body Assembly: Here is the tricky part to explain...
12. Cut Barrels body shape out of a solid piece of insulation foam. The insulation foam body continues up behind the bottom half of the mask to support it. There are no photos shown of this. (*Alternate version uses a foam-core poster board (Dollar Tree). I did use a foam-core poster board as a backing for the majority of his body. Due to the fact that I only had scraps of insulation foam left. I wanted to use up my scraps. I pieced them together and secured them to the foam-core . Ideally, I would have cut his body out of one solid piece of insulation foam.) Slice cheap pool noodles in half vertically, use them for Barrel's arms and legs. Secure all the pieces together. I happened to use screws, but you could use glue or caulk . Side note : Hot glue will melt insulation foam and not stick...

Clothing/Costume:
13. Wrap body with grey fleece fabric. Measure , Cut and fit material onto body. Secure it with glue or pins. Hot glue works well on the fleece . (One yard was only $2.99 at Joanne's Fabrics with coupon).

Head/Hair & Ears:
14. Hair : Since Barrel wears a mask, his real head and face are supposed to be behind the mask. I used a segment of a pool noodle to make the top of his head. I bent it in to a horseshoe shape and screwed it to the back of the mask. (Use short screws so you don't poke through the front of the mask and ruin it). Cut and tear the surface of the noodle with scissor cuts to make the illusion of his claymation hair. 
Ears : Cut the ears out of insulation foam.  Secure them to the back/sides of the mask with caulk or short screws.

15. Paint the hair with a black primer, and then a dry brushing of olive and army greens (use photo for reference). Paint the ears with white acrylic paint, use a grey/black to shadow the inside of the ear.

Bones:
16. Measure and draw the bone shapes for Barrel's costume . Use a black Sharpie marker on white felt. Cut them out with scissors. Hot glue them onto the clothing. (Use a photo for size and placement reference)

Now you should be done ...Please comment if you have any questions.  Good Luck...


29 comments:

  1. This is amazing! Can't wait to make my own Barrel. Thanks for this tutorial! Love, love love your blog! <3 <3

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  2. Thank you! Please show me the pics of your finished barrel :)

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  3. Really great, thank you for sharing... Repinned and shared on my Facebook!!!

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  4. Hello Meow, no problem at all. I love when people Pin my halloween props. Thanks for your support
    -K

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  5. Approx how long did he take to make and how tall was he? You did an AMAZING job!!! Did you make all three?

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    1. Its hard to say exactly how long it took because i worked on him a few hrs each day after work. I probably could have finished him in one day if i was off all day. I would guess it was a total of 4-5 hrs?
      Hes 2.75ft tall. Lock and shock are in progress now!

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  6. Which carving tools do you use?

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  7. Awesome! T.Y
    Ate you gonna be making shock & lock?

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    Replies
    1. Yes, I will be making Lock and Shock. They are in progress now. However I do not think they will be ready for halloween 2013

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    2. Awesome looking forward to seeing them.

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  8. Did you get to make lock and shock yet? :)

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  9. Will you be making lock and shock for this halloween?

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    Replies
    1. Hey Sarinna,
      I started carving their masks a little while ago, but didn't make it much further than that. I Have been too busy lately. Im so sorry its taking so long to get lock and shock tutorials up : (

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  10. How exactlu did you make his hair/back of the head??? I'm a little confused on that part..

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    Replies
    1. And how did you attach his head to the body??

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    2. The back of the Head on this particular Barrel figure is hallow for the most part. This prop is made to be seen from the front only. In step #12, I used pink foam for the entire body. Some of the body foam extends up about half way behind the bottom half of the mask/head. Then I secured the two foam pieces together ( I used screws- from the back side, but glue or caulk would be safer). The back of the top half of the mask/head is where I attached a curved "pool noodle" segment. Step #14. The pool noodle is the perfect shape and texture for the "claymation hair" showing from behind Barrels mask.
      Hope this Helps
      -K

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  11. This is fantastic! do you mind telling me where you got the foam?

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    Replies
    1. Foam information can be found here:
      http://diynmbcprops.blogspot.com/2013/06/aamzing-pink-foamular-insulation-foam.html

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  12. Awesome! Am going to try this! Sorry to post as anonymous. I am, however, a Halloween fanatic.

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  13. Scary but cute. Reminds me of the movie Saw series..

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  14. Did you just free hand the bones? My kids are going to be these three for halloween and I can't find a bone pattern that matches barrels.

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    Replies
    1. Yes free hand. Just drew it with sharpie and kut it out. Just eyeball it

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  15. I love all your DIY's. I can't wait to make these for my daughters birthday party. Thank you so much !!

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  16. I love this I have tried just about all of your diy they are not as good as yours but I love them thank you

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  17. These are all amazing! Do you seal them with anything to help them stand up to rain, etc?

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    Replies
    1. I have not personally water proofed or sealed my props, so I cant speak to that.

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