Thanks for the feedback and ideas.
Here's where I stand so far ...
I had to wait for the styrofoam boards so I couldn't work on the castle wall. Well, I decided to make a coffin scene as well. I also have a coffin game I'll use at my party.
Here is the plan.
I'm going to make the wall for that scene first. It will go in the corner of the room and just be 3 pannels. That ought to give me an idea about how to tackle the big wall.
Anyway, made me a foam coffin.
I was thinking about gluing on the little skull design, but i decided to glue the foam piece to hard card and just stick it on. That way I can take it off easily if i decide I don't like it. Also, I raised it off the coffin a bit to give it some depth.
So, for a game i made some smaller coffin lids.
Kids at the party will place a (ping-pong) eyeball at one end and have to roll the eyeball into the skull's sockets to get a prize. Older kids will have to roll 2 eyeballs.
They looked a lot better on paper, but they turned out OK. Plus the kids got to help a little and they were pretty excited about that.
Anyway, after doing all of that, irealized what a pain it would be to both add texture AND paint all those nooks on the big wall. So, I'll try the little wall first without texture.
I almost gave up the whole project and went with this.
but those scene setters don't look very good in pictures. Plus, even if it doesn't turn out great, it will be unique. It's also nice to make it yourself instead of just buying it.
Next, I'm going to work on the wall torches. I couldn't find styrofoam cups like i had planned but i found some small popcorn buckets that ought to work with a little help.