A yard “graveyard” and a haunted trail with a coffin and skeletons—“The kids can invite their friends over for a scare”
Forty-four-year-old Jani Ruokamo is so enthusiastic about Halloween decorations that he’ll soon need a new storage space for skeletons and tombstones. Recycled materials are alternately coated in paint and cement.
Hailing from Siilinjärvi, Jani Ruokamo cleverly crafts ever-creepier Halloween creations using recycled household materials and other supplies. We asked this seasonal expert how to create a frightfully fun Halloween!
Why are you so inspired by Halloween crafts?
My Halloween crafting began in a rather amusing way. My family and I were at a carnival, and after plenty of convincing, I finally got my kids—6 and 8 years old in 2018—to take their first ride on a haunted train. It was a total letdown. I’m not sure if it was broken or what happened, but when it ended, I vowed to build a better haunted ride for them myself. The project has grown bigger every year since. Of course, we don’t truly have an entire ride at home, but we do have a sizable spooky trail.
During Halloween, a haunted trail winds through our home, and each year I add new terrifying and wow-worthy elements. The kids can invite classmates over to get spooked and celebrate Halloween. Over the last couple of years, I’ve also started decorating the yard, too, since the inside is aleady full.
How do you come up with new ideas, and where do you find them?
I get Halloween ideas from just about everything around me all year long, including various Halloween groups on social media. I also keep an eye out for anything that, with a bit of tweaking, could become a great Halloween decoration.
”I grab any spare odds and ends I can think of using.”
Your works are quite large. Where do you get your materials?
My projects tend toward larger scales, because the bigger something is, the scarier it can be. Most of my materials are recycled—any odds and ends I think of using. Sometimes, of course, I buy something new from the store.
Where do you keep it all once Halloween is over?
I’m constantly making new props, so storage can definitely be a challenge. Fortunately, we live in a house with a sizable storeroom, a garage, and an attic. But now that those are nearly full, we’ve considered building a separate storage unit outside.
What’s your all-time favorite Halloween creation, and why?
My favorite piece is our newest Grim Reaper statue. When we started, we only had a basic idea—no fixed plan. We used whatever materials we had in the yard. In the end, the statue included a pool toy, horseshoes, plant supports, an old kids’ helmet, and horse blankets that we soaked in cement.
We had to do the soaking over two nights because we ran out of cement the first time. Now that it’s finished, I’m pleasantly surprised by what those materials turned into. It looks completely different from what I initially pictured—but that’s the fun of creative work: ideas shift along the way.
Have you received any feedback on your work? Share a memorable comment!
The most memorable comment I’ve heard came from a young visitor: “It’s so beautiful, but so scary!”
”Over the last couple of years, I’ve started decorating the yard, too, because the inside is already full.”
What tips would you give to someone who wants to do something similar?
If you’re at all curious about Halloween, grab your crafting supplies without hesitation. Now’s the time to make anything that crosses your mind. I don’t believe there’s any “wrong” kind of Halloween decoration.
Any creepy projects on the horizon?
My upcoming projects will revolve around zombies. I’ll set them up in the graveyard in our yard and try to make them move in a spooky way. I’m also planning a few floating effects inside the house, which won’t be scary but should give a real wow factor.
