| Coroplast Characters |
As I noted in the blog, I finally found a
supplier for my coroplast. Here's one
of the 4x4 ft sections that I purchased.
supplier for my coroplast. Here's one
of the 4x4 ft sections that I purchased.
Next thing I needed to get
was a Tracer Jr. I bought it
from Amazon.com for about
$40 with shipping. It worked
very well!
was a Tracer Jr. I bought it
from Amazon.com for about
$40 with shipping. It worked
very well!
Here's my tracing of Suzy Snowflake. Once I traced the
Image that I was copying from, I then cleaned up the lines
and added the elements that I needed to add. I then
added dots on the lines to determine where the lights
need to go. I counted them carefully while doing it so I
could plan for the 100 ct light strings. I just eyeballed
things. I could have measured the distance between dots
exactly, but that would have made a uniformity in the
pattern that would not allow me to stretch out a section or
sneak in a few extras in order to get the most out of my
strings.
Image that I was copying from, I then cleaned up the lines
and added the elements that I needed to add. I then
added dots on the lines to determine where the lights
need to go. I counted them carefully while doing it so I
could plan for the 100 ct light strings. I just eyeballed
things. I could have measured the distance between dots
exactly, but that would have made a uniformity in the
pattern that would not allow me to stretch out a section or
sneak in a few extras in order to get the most out of my
strings.
Here are the only tools that I used. I was
looking for an Awl. That's what a lot of
others used but I could not find one at
WalMart. I did see these nail punches and
remembered that I had purchased a set
quite a while back. I first hammered a hole
through the Coroplast and then pushed the
punch through to the full diameter of the
punch. That gave me a hole that was big
enough to grab the bulb snugly but I
couldn't get the entire bulb enclosure
through easiiy. Turns out that I like the
look this way so I stuck with it. The Coro
really holds those bulbs! On a couple of
occasions I needed to remove a bulp after
placement and ended up tearing the bulb
apart and having to repair it.
looking for an Awl. That's what a lot of
others used but I could not find one at
WalMart. I did see these nail punches and
remembered that I had purchased a set
quite a while back. I first hammered a hole
through the Coroplast and then pushed the
punch through to the full diameter of the
punch. That gave me a hole that was big
enough to grab the bulb snugly but I
couldn't get the entire bulb enclosure
through easiiy. Turns out that I like the
look this way so I stuck with it. The Coro
really holds those bulbs! On a couple of
occasions I needed to remove a bulp after
placement and ended up tearing the bulb
apart and having to repair it.
Just a look at the backside once the bulbs
are inserted. Again, I thought I would need
something to keep them in place but they are
in there tight!
are inserted. Again, I thought I would need
something to keep them in place but they are
in there tight!
Now looking at the front side. This one
will be heaviily animated. The wings
will flap and sparks will eminate from
the wand.
will be heaviily animated. The wings
will flap and sparks will eminate from
the wand.
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Here's Suzy Snowflake lit up with her large
wings (They'll alternate with a smaller set of
wings to appear as though they are flapping)
and without the sparkles lit up. I'm very happy
on how this turned out.
wings (They'll alternate with a smaller set of
wings to appear as though they are flapping)
and without the sparkles lit up. I'm very happy
on how this turned out.
Mr. Heatmiser was a chore. He had quite a
few more lights and the variety of colors had
me really thinking. To top it off, I needed to
use my red lights from Home Depot. The have
a larger diameter than standard minis and as
a result I had to make my hole even larger
than I was used to. Here he is with mouth
open.
few more lights and the variety of colors had
me really thinking. To top it off, I needed to
use my red lights from Home Depot. The have
a larger diameter than standard minis and as
a result I had to make my hole even larger
than I was used to. Here he is with mouth
open.
Mr. Snow Miser was completed. I looked about my stored lights and could only find two boxes of
white bulbs and I knew before I even started that I would need 3 boxes. After digging and digging
I found two boxes of twinkling lights which I used on his hair, nose icicles and shirt. The box of
steady white bulbs was used on the teeth. The effect was wonderful. The sparkle accentuated
Mr. Snow Misers frostiness. Mouth open didn't look as good but since he will be mostly mouth
closed and the mouth will only open for short times, I wasn't really worried about it.
white bulbs and I knew before I even started that I would need 3 boxes. After digging and digging
I found two boxes of twinkling lights which I used on his hair, nose icicles and shirt. The box of
steady white bulbs was used on the teeth. The effect was wonderful. The sparkle accentuated
Mr. Snow Misers frostiness. Mouth open didn't look as good but since he will be mostly mouth
closed and the mouth will only open for short times, I wasn't really worried about it.