Last year I rented a helium tank to make some floating ghostly orbs. Get a bunch of those very tiny glow sticks; the kind you use for fishing lures; about 1 1/2" long. Hang them from black helium balloons and drape a thin fabric over them. Then just tie the balloons to another object; so they don't float off; I used two tethers because it gets pretty windy. Also make sure your balloons and lines will never get to close to power lines; although an exploding orb might look pretty cool. You can use liquid starch on cheese cloth to make them whatever shape you want. I used foam balls to shape my treated cloth then just hung them over the glow stick. They look really creepy and move with a mind of their own.
I have a hard time believing that a helium filled balloon can support cheesecloth.
Each balloon can hold one tiny glow stick and a 3" piece of cheese cloth!
Oh. :shock: That's a different story. You never mentioned the size of the ghost.
You could make bigger ones, but that would require more balloons. You really cannot see the balloons at all during the night, so it would be feasible to use several. Just remember they will only last for one night.
These were AA-battery operated candles. And they were inside. The ceiling was 8'. and I used push pins (clear colored) to anchor the fishing line that suspended candles. The fishing line was attatched using clear hot-melt glue.
I discovered that the glue didn't adhere quite as well, if just a little dab of glue was used. So the glue was sort of "painted" on with the glue gun, to look like it was wax, dribbling down the sides of the glass bulb.
Then the fishing line was applied, in a twisting like action that would wrap the molten glue around the monofilament fishing line. This created a really good bond between the bulb and fishing line.
I did hang the candles outdoors, (a few years in a row, and we just hung them from the tree branches that were over the yard. High enough where they couldn't be reached.
People just loved the effect. And since you had to look up to see them, the busy background of tree branches just made any visual hint of a fishing line, vanish.
What I might try this year is make a mobile of the effect, so a group of candles can be hung together. I'll probably have to paint the support wire pieces a sort of black & white camoflage effect, to help make them disappear in the branches. But it'll be worth it to see how it works out.
If you don't have tree branches, you might try balloons, but you would need a lot of balloons, because the candles are kind of hefty. There wouldn't be much control over their floating. You would then need to tether them in some manner, because they would be drifting freely and would blow away with the slightest breeze.
If you ask me, tha addition of the balloons is an added expence that would render the effect vs cost & effort not worth while.
I just want to say I'm sooo glad you are back Wolfman!! I've missed ya!
Great to be back! I just wonder when the rest of the Boos and Gouls will show up? :lol:
I remember seeing this last year and made a point to grab a bunch of fake candles at Christmas time when they came on sale. Going to use your idea this year
Cool!
Let me know if you need any help/advice. I'm here for ya!