How I Created a Spooky Mine for my Halloween Village Display (styrofoam DIY)

Join me as I show you how I created a spooky mine platform out of styrofoam and plaster. I created this platform last year as part of the bayou and haunted hills section of my 106 piece Lemax and Department 56 Halloween Village Display.
The platform was built to feature Lemax’s Tombstone Quarry animated piece.

[@D56er-StephenReems]

Outstanding 👻

[@KelleyDoesStuff]

Thank you!!

[@rs4106]

Enjoying your channel! Love this build. Unique. Thanks for the tips while you build. Very helpful. Next!

[@KelleyDoesStuff]

Thank you so much!! I’m glad the tips are helpful!! 👻🎃 Styrofoam offers so many creative options!! 🧡🖤Thank you for watching and commenting!! 🧡🖤

[@Alex-xr8kn]

Thank so much for sharing your techniques!!! The cave looks amazing!!!

[@KelleyDoesStuff]

Thank you so much!! It’s so fun to share Halloween projects! Thank you for watching and commenting!! 🧡🖤🧟‍♀️

[@irenearmato4330]

That is so very AWESOME!!! You are a very talented person. BTW, I just found your channel today, and after I watched your $30 video, I subscribed. Awesome channel!!! Can't wait to see what else you come up with!!! ❤

[@KelleyDoesStuff]

Woo hoo welcome!!! 🎉🧡🖤Thank you so much🧡🖤 I look forward to sharing more projects with you!!! 👻🎃

[@louisebrumbaugh8830]

When I plaster my projects I use VIVA paper towels and run then through school glue and a little water. You don't have those little holes and the VIVA paper towels have no design on them.

[@KelleyDoesStuff]

Oh this is so good to know!! Awesome! Thank you for sharing!!

[@heidim6468]

It’s nice you and your dad have this hobby together..

[@KelleyDoesStuff]

It really is so special!

[@joiemanning3323]

This is so cool! I can’t wait to make something like this when I get the space for it!

[@TrnacHamilton]

Wow! You are so talented and have really inspired me to make my town look better with your great ideas. Although you make it look easy! I can tell you put a lot of time and effort into making it look that good. I want to try this Mine and love the crystal idea, but I have never worked with Mod Podge, would there be something else I could use to stick the crystals to the foam?

[@KelleyDoesStuff]

Thank you so much!!! 🖤🧡🖤 I think a PVA glue like Elmer’s would work, and also probably tacky glue. Have a blast creating!!

[@CatTales-og8ys]

Hi! I adore your projects and techniques, and this has been my favorite! You inspired me to create a cave using the same crystals! Question- did you add anything over the top of the crystals to seal it? Mine seem to be holding well but if i am going to seal, I want to do it now before I assemble everything. And if I were to seal, would you suggest a mod podge w gloss instead of matte? Please keep sharing your creativity- its really inspiring! Thank you!

[@KelleyDoesStuff]

Thank you so much!! I didn’t seal with anything but I think mod podge would be a great idea for some extra hold. Also yes to the gloss to keep your crystals sparkling!! So fun!! Happy creating!!

[@MrMark2024]

Kelley, I just wanted to say that I loved this mine project. The detail was fantastic. Great job. Thank you for sharing.

[@KelleyDoesStuff]

Thank you so much!! 👻🎃 I really enjoy sharing with everyone! Thank you for watching!! 🧟‍♀️🧙‍♀️🍁

[@chrisadamson9556]

absolutely incredible...

[@KelleyDoesStuff]

Thank you!!!🖤🖤🖤

[@ChimeraWargaming]

Beautiful work. I'm just subbed here 😊

[@KelleyDoesStuff]

Hi!! Welcome!! 👻 Thank you so very much!! And thank you for subscribing! 🧡🖤 I’m so happy you’re here!!🧟‍♀️

[@Always_Sunny_Thrifting]

Your content is great since I’ve search for Dept. 56 town set ups or inspiration for town set ups. The tips and tricks are fantastic, as well as, the end product. Thank you so much for sharing! Also, didn’t realize Home Depot sold foam like that - good to know.

[@KelleyDoesStuff]

I’m so glad they are helpful!! It’s so joyful to share my creations and I love sharing things I’ve learned from creating over the years. Finding that foam at Home Depot was such a game changer for me!!! Enjoy setting up your display!!! Have a spooky good time! 🧟‍♀️👻

[@clericscreations]

Fantastic work especially the textures and crystals!

[@KelleyDoesStuff]

Thank you so much!! After I saw the inspiration photos I knew I needed to add a twist with sparkles! 👻🎃 Have a spectacular day!! 🧡🖤🧡

[@eddiesanchez6930]

This is awesome!!

[@KelleyDoesStuff]

Thank you so much!! 👻🎃🧙‍♀️🧟‍♀️

[@jackielucchesi6654]

Absolutely AMAZING!!!!!! Great job and a lot of work!!!!!!! What you do with that styrofoam is unbelievable!!!!!

[@KelleyDoesStuff]

Thank you so so much!! This project was a blast! I just love all the options styrofoam offers! 🧟‍♀️ Thank you for watching and commenting!! 🧡🖤

[@jackielucchesi6654]

@@KelleyDoesStuff Yvw🕷🕸

[@BRENTCRIPPEN-i9k]

What a great piece of work!!!! very enjoyable to watch!! If you are a Halloween fanatic this video will inspire you to become very creative in improving your own Halloween display.!!! Great job, Kelley!!! Extremely impressive!!!

[@KelleyDoesStuff]

Thank you so so much!! This was such a fun piece to make!! 🧡🖤🧡

[@rabbijennyskylark]

YOU ARE A SUPERSTAR!!!!

[@KelleyDoesStuff]

Thank you!! 😘😘

[@Racine12]

This would be a great quick tutorial for people who build miniatures especially gaming platforms. Fantastic home for your quarry. Angel, playing and napping is an excellent idea while waiting for pieces to dry.

[@KelleyDoesStuff]

Oh thank you so much for the suggestion!!!!! I love this idea! I’m going to think about the best way to shorten it up for a quick tutorial!! 🧡🖤 Angel has so many great ideas! 🐶 Thank you for watching and commenting!! 👻🎃 Have a spooktacular Day!! 🧟‍♀️🧙‍♀️

[@MarkWilliams-q9e]

Very creative! Love the water and crystal details! Angel is so cute! Can’t wait to see what you do with the pool noodles in your next project!!!

[@KelleyDoesStuff]

Thanks so much 😊 🧡🖤 Angel is such a sweet dog and very good at encouraging my hobbies! Thank you for watching and commenting!! Check back soon for my pool noodle project! 👻🧟‍♀️🧙‍♀️

[@vegasmobydick]

As someone who once made a living as a professional model builder/miniature painter, I must say that I was very impressed with your techniques...and your video presentation was fantastic! Your positive energy and enthusiasm flows out of this video, which not only makes it fun to watch but serves as an inspiration to be creative! You really touched on what's most important - to have fun with it. One technique I would like to suggest is adding a small amount of black RIT fabric dye to your plaster mix to turn it a medium gray color. That will eliminate any and all of those tiny white spots that show through when you begin painting your rockwork. Keep up the good work, you ROCK Kelley! :)

[@KelleyDoesStuff]

Omg thank you so much!! I can't even tell you how much this means to me!! I've been collecting for years and created a few platforms here and there but last year got really into creating and learning various techniques - it's taken this hobby/obsession to a whole new level! Thank you for the tip about the dye. Last year was the first time I attempted plaster and I used the sheets because mixing powder felt a little intimidating. I'm going to try that this year but I still have a lot of sheets left I want to use. Can I add the RIT to the water that I wet the sheets in? Or can I only use the dye with the powder mixture? Also, I've just started looking into painting miniatures, which will be a real test for me since I'm a pretty impatient person and a totally chaotic crafter! What should a beginner know about painting miniatures?! Thank you again for commenting, your encouragement, and for your great tips!!