Looking for costume ideas? Check out this blog from last year – it has so many great ideas for helping you create the perfect costume! We have the resources! And the special tools you need – Lilypad, LittleBits, MaKey MaKey – we’ve got them! Be sure to explore all the tools we have available in our Tool Library! Scan the perfect mask or prop in our Creative Space? Then take it to the Engineering Technology Center and have it 3D printed!
Interested in learning about stage make-up? How It’s Made : Season 1 & 2 (disc 5) has great information and shows the creation process. You’ll also be able to see the transformation of a young woman to an old woman. A full transformation mask can take a month or more to create and cost upwards of $10,000. Perhaps not the most cost effective for your Halloween party….
Party at your place? Check our blog from last year for DIY Halloween decorations! Electronic Projects for Dummies can help you create a better-than-classic scary Jack-O’Lantern! You’ll end up with 2 pumpkins – one transmits an infrared beam and the second one lights up and plays a prerecorded message or sound. When someone walks between the two pumpkins and breaks the plane of the infrared beam, the 2nd pumpkin will light up and emit that evil laugh! The chapter, Scary Pumpkins, takes you through the process, step-by-step, complete with schematics, photos (some in color), parts list and detailed instructions! Like to create with paper? Explore Paper Inventions : Machines That Move, Drawings That Light Up, Wearables, and Structures You Can Cut, Fold, and Roll!
How about a hologram to help create that creepy atmosphere? Check out Holography Projects for the Evil Genius! We have a Pepper’s Ghost here in the library, come check it out! Pepper’s Ghost is technically not a hologram, but it could add atmosphere to your party! Ours was made in the Engineering Electronics Shop, with mostly scrap materials! Makezine has complete instructions! While our Pepper’s Ghost uses using a laptop, a computer or special equipment isn’t needed! (When you stop in to see Pepper’s Ghost, take a look at our exhibit about the paranormal – only up for one more week!)
How about creating animatronic eyes? Make : 3D Printing Projects has step-by-step instructions with color illustrations and a parts list! What could be more fun than having a pair expressive, animatronic eyeballs at your party! (We have 3D scanners available in our Creative Space and the Engineering Machine Shop has 3D printers!)
You’ll want to check out our special effects blog for more great ideas!
However you plan to celebrate Halloween this year, remember we can help make it as spooky as you’d like it to be!
Resources:
Hartman, Kate. 2014. Make : Wearable electronics. Sebastopol, CA : Maker Media. Engineering Library QA76.592 .H37 2014
Ulaby, Fawwaz T. 2015. Fundamentals of applied electromagnetics. Boston : Pearson Education, Inc. Engineering Library QC760 .U49 2015
Boysen, Earl Nancy Muir. 2006. Electronics projects for dummies. Hoboken, NJ : Wiley. Engineering Library TK7819 .M38 2006
Ceceri, Kathy. 2015. Paper inventions : machines that move, drawings that light up, and wearables and structures you can cut, fold, and roll. San Francisco, CA : Maker Media. Engineering Library TT870 .C43 2015.
Harper, Gavin D.J. 2010. Holography projects for the evil genius. New York : McGraw-Hill. Engineering Library TA1542 .H37 2010.
How it’s made, Seasons 1 and 2. Discs 1 & 5. 2010. Silver Spring, MD : Discovery Communications. Engineering Library Circulation Desk video (Video Record 37144 DVD)
Other Resources:
Daniels, Patrick. October 24, 2017. Still need an outfit for Halloween? check out these 3D-printed costumes. Digital Trends.