2008 Woodie Awards
Do-It-Yourself: halloween ideas
Aaron Larson
Issue date: 10/24/07 Section: Feature
- Page 1 of 1
Halloween is all about atmosphere. Without decorations and costumes, Halloween would cease to exist. That, combined with the desire to stand out of the crowd, makes it the prime time to experiment with some Do-It-Yourself projects.
Courtesy of MAKE Magazine, here are two easy, cheap projects to add a personal touch to your Halloween decorations. Each one cost less than $10 and is tested by my unskilled and clumsy hands. It was something like a boxer's approach to brain surgery, but it was a test to prove their easiness.
More DIY projects, Halloween-centric and otherwise, can be found in the quarterly MAKE Magazine, available at the Wright State Bookstore or online at www.makezine.com
Diabolical Horns
Originally submitted by Dorinda von Strolheim
You will need:
Air-dry or oven-bake clay
White glue and glitter
Toothpicks
Paintbrushes
Large needle
Elastic Thread
Small plastic bowls or dishes
1) Measure out two equal balls of clay, roll them into cones, then make them pointed and curving inward.
2) Stand your newly-formed horns on their flat end and insert toothpicks in their base. Depending on what kind of clay you used, you will either bake the horns at 275 degrees for 20 minutes or let them sit out for 2-3 days, rotating daily.
3) Pour the glue into a dish and, holding the horns by the toothpick, paint them with the glue. Dip the sticky horn in the glitter. Once that coat is dry, repeat this step to make sure the horns are extra-sparkly.
4) Remove the toothpicks and thread the elastic through the holes. Tie knots to section off where you want each horn to be, then cut off a long enough length to be tied under your head comfortably. Voila: 60's Go-Go Devillette Horns.
Scientist's Brew
Originally submitted by John Kittelsrud
You will need:
Jar or beaker
Salt and water
Highlighter
Scissors
Dry Ice
1) Freebie step: Fill the jar will water and add salt.
2) Take your highlighter apart. Start with the nub that you write with, wiggling it back and forth to remove it. Drop that in your salt water (it'll float). Now cut through the plastic shell of the highlighter. Inside will be an ink-filled, fibrous cylinder. This will probably be covered in a sheet of plastic, so cut slits in it to let the ink escape. Drop this in your water too. The ink from the highlighter will make your water glow under a black-light.
3) Carefully add the dry ice. You'll get a nice 30 minutes of steam for each cubic inch of dry ice you add. You can add a glow stick or some dried strands of a hot glue gun for some add visual effects.
Courtesy of MAKE Magazine, here are two easy, cheap projects to add a personal touch to your Halloween decorations. Each one cost less than $10 and is tested by my unskilled and clumsy hands. It was something like a boxer's approach to brain surgery, but it was a test to prove their easiness.
More DIY projects, Halloween-centric and otherwise, can be found in the quarterly MAKE Magazine, available at the Wright State Bookstore or online at www.makezine.com
Diabolical Horns
Originally submitted by Dorinda von Strolheim
You will need:
Air-dry or oven-bake clay
White glue and glitter
Toothpicks
Paintbrushes
Large needle
Elastic Thread
Small plastic bowls or dishes
1) Measure out two equal balls of clay, roll them into cones, then make them pointed and curving inward.
2) Stand your newly-formed horns on their flat end and insert toothpicks in their base. Depending on what kind of clay you used, you will either bake the horns at 275 degrees for 20 minutes or let them sit out for 2-3 days, rotating daily.
3) Pour the glue into a dish and, holding the horns by the toothpick, paint them with the glue. Dip the sticky horn in the glitter. Once that coat is dry, repeat this step to make sure the horns are extra-sparkly.
4) Remove the toothpicks and thread the elastic through the holes. Tie knots to section off where you want each horn to be, then cut off a long enough length to be tied under your head comfortably. Voila: 60's Go-Go Devillette Horns.
Scientist's Brew
Originally submitted by John Kittelsrud
You will need:
Jar or beaker
Salt and water
Highlighter
Scissors
Dry Ice
1) Freebie step: Fill the jar will water and add salt.
2) Take your highlighter apart. Start with the nub that you write with, wiggling it back and forth to remove it. Drop that in your salt water (it'll float). Now cut through the plastic shell of the highlighter. Inside will be an ink-filled, fibrous cylinder. This will probably be covered in a sheet of plastic, so cut slits in it to let the ink escape. Drop this in your water too. The ink from the highlighter will make your water glow under a black-light.
3) Carefully add the dry ice. You'll get a nice 30 minutes of steam for each cubic inch of dry ice you add. You can add a glow stick or some dried strands of a hot glue gun for some add visual effects.
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