AKICILJ

[rivka]

[All Knowledge Is Contained In LJ]

So Alex wants to be a robot for Halloween this year. The basic frame for her costume is a plastic storage bin about the size of her torso, with holes cut in it for her arms, head, and body. We're planning to spraypaint it "brushed aluminum metallic," painting a shirt and leggings to match for the rest of the robot body.

To decorate the robot torso, I'm mostly just going to print pictures of dials and readouts on photo paper and glue them on.

But we'd also love to have some sparkly lights on her costume. So here's my question, LJ: is there such a thing as small stick-on LEDs, ideally self-powered (although if we need to drill a hole for a battery pack, we can), which could be used to decorate a costume? If so, where would you find such things?

Searching is mostly coming up with strings of Christmas lights, or else those little round lights that you stick up in closets and press to turn on.

Comments

[windsea.livejournal.com]

I've seen little flashing LEDs on dollar store jewellery and crafty stuff. In fact, I think La Daughter had a Hallowe'en pin of an owl whose eyes blinked.

More expensive, but re-usable if anyone bikes, or if you want something nifty for her trike, are flashing/stationary LEDs for bicycles, like these from the Canadian co-op MEC - I'm sure any bike/outdoors shop would carry them.

[hobbitbabe.livejournal.com]

I was just going to say that - the $3.50 Turtle Lights! They are saving me in this rapidly-darkening northern latitude!

[mactavish.livejournal.com]

Totally. You need something like throwies, just a small battery plus light and minus magnet, which can be taped on the backside of the plastic with the light stuck through, or like the lights inside here. The challenge will be getting them in time.

[brooksmoses]

Yes, things approximately like that exist. At a trade show I was at recently, one of the vendors had some pins (about 1/2" by 1") which had a logo on them and a couple of blinking LEDs, and a watch battery in the back that powered the LEDs.

This is one wholesale source of the things; I have no idea where you'd get them retail.

Hmm. this place has some things that could be recommisioned. Or these "body lights" also look like they'd work, and they're $0.75 each for 25 or more.

[rivka.livejournal.com]

That place (http://www.uglowlites.com/Display_Products.asp?ProductTypeID=6) does look totally awesome. They've even got little glowy filaments we could put on the colander she'll be wearing on her head. Awesome, thanks!

[origamilady.livejournal.com]

Oooh Blinkies =)
Those are popular in the midwestern cons herebouts (especially DucKon). Ive seen them in random places, dollar stores, gaming stores, Ive even seen them on occasion at Walgreens (drugstore herebouts) - Some easy(ish) solutions if you can't find blinky lights in particular. Take apart one of those halloween pins (drugstores/dollar stores) should be selling them about now. Another idea (tho they won't blink) are the glo-sticks, get the shorter ones and drill holes in a pattern on the box and stick the glowsticks through.
-Cris- aka Retief

BTW: I'd also be willing to donate some of the blinkies Ive collected over the year at random cons to the cause if you're still having issues. Granted Id need enough of a heads-up to send them via snailmail.

[huladavid.livejournal.com]

A year ago or so Metro Transit here in Minneapolis had an event at the downtown library, and they were giving away little wee bike lights (probably exactly like a previous commenter described). Back when I used to let my turtle run loose I'd stick it on her shell with some soft double sided temporary adhesive tape.

Not out of any evil intent, it just made it easier to find her...

[ailbhe]

The bike light type are sold in supermarkets here for about a pound. It would be easy to take off the cover and just leave the three little lights.

[eeyorerin]

My friends who totally did not cover a good portion of Gasworks Park in Seattle with them, because that would have been illegal, recommend these or these.

[erbie.livejournal.com]

Check dollar stores and seconds stores for those little magnetic flashing pins and earrings.

[(Anonymous)]

Check out a "Party Store." I'm pretty sure I've seen something like you describe at one of those.

[dornbeast.livejournal.com]

If you can find a cool LED fan like this one (http://www.windycitynovelties.com/EPaysoft/cart/product.asp?ITEM_ID=8013&CatID=1396), consider mounting it in the center of the chest so the fan blades show.

A friend of my mother's used this for a pair of robot costumes.

[telerib.livejournal.com]

Yay robots!

Top Five Ways a Toddler is Like a Robot

5. Motor control algorithms are still being fine-tuned

4. An apparently trivial fault can cause a cascade effect that causes the system to break down

3. Interrogating the system for diagnosis usually produces partial, uncertain information

2. Perfectly consistent internal logic, when applied to the environment, produces unanticipated results

1. Despite the developers' best efforts, the system never behaves or develops as expected.

[rivka.livejournal.com]

*snicker* I should've known you'd have the best robot advice. This is great.

Are you guys coming to the church Halloween party?

[telerib.livejournal.com]

Dunno. I think it's a sad comment that I have so little energy or interest in Halloween the past two years, because it's usually my hands-down favorite holiday. :(

I'd like to, but we're also still recovering from the stress-fest that was the lead up to my sister's lovely wedding (never mind health issues with Moe's dad and over-involvement in and identification with the election). I'll float the idea and see how it goes.