This Halloween effect is nothing short of wild. Everyone in the 'hood had glowing remarks. (Forgive the endless Halloween puns. It's part of the spooktacular season.) This "craft project" could be done with your kids (so long as you do the spray-gluing if you use spray-mount). It would take longer to go shopping at the Halloween store than it will to paste this together. And, we assure you, this will be the biggest, longest, cheapest decoration that you have!
We're not used to walking on glowing (seemingly illuminated) surfaces, so this really "plays with your mind." It's a great, eerie, disorienting feeling to give your tricksters, treaters, and Halloween guests. We put up all sorts of glowing neon Halloween decorations at our house. Although some know this, many do not: You must be using ultra-violet (black) lights to make this work. If you are new to this, listen up because it's a terrific Halloween Effect to always have. Go to the home center and get two shop lights. Also buy two black light tubes (40 watt fluorescent tubes.) Put one bulb in each shop-light (each fixture will have one socket left open.) Mount these outside with bungee cords or whatever temporary solution will accommodate your location.
Getting back to the project at hand: You are going to need spray glue and two types of paper. A roll of paper and a pile of neon sheets of paper. Go to the home center and visit the paint department. Ask the clerk, but most likely you will find rolls of paper where they stock the drop-cloth. Our center offered both white and brown paper. We chose brown since we wanted only our bricks to glow. You can choose to get white (or maybe they only stock white.) In that case, the whole walkway will glow.
The final ingredient to this masterpiece is the fluorescent (neon) paper. You can get a ream of this at the office supply store. You may choose either a single or multiple colors. They should carry multiple colors in one ream. We used multiple colors. (Oops! Almost forgot to mention the glue. We suggest spray glue--kids should not use this, but if you are doing the gluing, it's quick and easy. You can get this either at the office or home center. The home center will most likely have it for less.)
Cut the fluorescent sheets in half to make "bricks." Roll out the Roll of paper outside. Use some stones or other heavy objects to weigh it down at the end. Next lay the bricks...I mean glue each brick in alternating rows on your roll of paper. Just spray the back of each half sheet thoroughly and press it down. You'll only need four or five bricks per row, depending on the width of the paper.
I advise never to use spray glue indoors or nearby anything that you do not want a coat of dull, sticky glue on. (Stay far away from cars with nice paint jobs!) I found a nice sidewalk away from everything. Since the glue literally does stick to everything, I suggest also using latex or other thin, disposable gloves.
When the walkway in no longer tacky from spray glue, roll it out and secure it to your walkway with duct tape or other heavy tape. Make sure your guests cannot trip over or rip up your masterpiece!
There's another way to tackle this project. It may be a little faster although a little messier. You can use fluorescent spray paint in lieu of the cut up pieces of neon paper. You'll want to make a stencil or two. Cut a brick or other shape out of some poster board. Then, repeatedly spray paint through this stencil onto you (preferably brown) roll of paper. A light dusting of paint rather than a thick coating will look best and cost less. When the paint is dry you can roll out the carpet ...er uh..walkway... for your visitors and trick-treaters.
This Halloween craft project delivers big time in the Halloween decoration department! The neighborhood was aglow after visiting our house! - 39969
About the Author:
If you want mind-blowing, crowd-stopping, thrilling, simple Halloween Decorationsthen you simply must check out all of our Halloween Projects We show low cost to no cost Halloween Illusions and effects and point you in directions that no Halloween store ever would!
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