Archive for September, 2007

What Would a Witch Keep in the Kitchen?

Saturday, September 22nd, 2007

dscf0025.jpgAranamuerta.com has a very creative and well written howto for making scary witches kitchen jars.

I think the large HobGoblin Brains jar and the Dragon Embryos are my favorites. She covers making the inside of the jars as well as authentic looking labels and twine wrapped lids. Well thought out with awesome ideas and plenty of pictures.

Photography Halloween and a Contest

Friday, September 21st, 2007

Hello Sputnik is looking to host photo spell contest.  Simply take pictures of letters or things that look like letters to spell out the word Halloween.

More info on his blog post here:
Halloween Photo Spell Contest

Costume Motor Controller In Detail

Friday, September 21st, 2007

SnowGlobe002As I’ve mentioned in another post, last year’s costume was a Zombie Santa Snow Globe. There were a few problems with the snow globe and most of them stemmed from bad decisions, poor planning, and a complete lack of testing. Oh, and some near asphyxiation.

This year I’m taking my power and air requirements seriously and I started planning this about 3 months ago. I wanted a solution that could easily be adapted to future costumes and I think I’ve come up with one that will work.

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Can Ye Say Inflatable Costume, Arrr?

Thursday, September 20th, 2007

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I finished t’ motor controller and blower for me costume and posted some pictures t’ Flickr. I’ll wait til tomorrow when I don’t have t’ talk like a pirate t’ post all t’ gory details and sources. Arrrr.

Skull-A-Day

Wednesday, September 19th, 2007

Here’s a creative blog with a Halloween friendly theme: Skull-A-Day

“I’m making a skull image every day for a year.
You can see them all here…”

Win An Easy $50!

Wednesday, September 19th, 2007

fifty1.jpgI’m satisfied with the theme for now and am ready to start writing. Tomorrow I’ll be posting part 2 of my motor controller entry, complete with better pictures, and technical details.

To help get the traffic flowing I’m offering up a quick contest. Blog about this site with for a chance to win 50 bucks. You can get creative, or just take the easy way out and copy this blurb.

Anton over at the Halloween Blog is offering up a $50 prize to a lucky winner. To enter just post about his new blog and the contest post.

Get a second entry by adding this site to your blogroll. Comment below if the trackback doesn’t show up.

Don’t forget to post a comment or verify your trackback shows up.  I’ll check Technorati and my referal logs to be sure I got everyone, but a comment will make sure I see you.

The winner will be announced on Oct 1 around noon US/Central. Be sure to check back to see who won and how to enter the next contest.

Instructables, MAKE, and PopSci DIY Halloween 2007 Contest!

Tuesday, September 18th, 2007

Gentlemen (and ladies), start your costumes!  It’s once again time to enter the Instructables Halloween Contest.

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Halloween is the perfect maker holiday: an excuse to decorate and make costumes, carve pumpkins and throw fantastic parties. A day for the ghoulish and gruesome, for the gross and fantastic. A day for testing out your roof-busting T-Rex, building an LED Throwie Rat, serving up a toddler toddy, or seeing exactly how far you can hurl a flaming pumpkin.

I will be entering my new, yet to be named, costume in the next couple weeks, and if time permits I will also write about my snow globe from last year.

Power, Motors, and Control Geeks

Wednesday, September 5th, 2007

Motor ControllerNo costume is complete without an electric motor and the subsequent risk of fire, electrocution, noxious smoke, and/or embarrassing failure.

In my Snow Globe costume from last year I discovered the importance of power and power management. I didn’t fully test my costume and ran out of batteries about half way through the contest. Fortunately the judges were sufficiently impressed that I still won, but had they died mid performance the results would have been much less lucrative.

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