Singing Christmas Ornaments test prop...

[jjm2958]

So, here is a first test/rough draft of my Singing Christmas Ornaments for our front yard. I'm going to hook up an FM transmitter so I don't drive the neighbors nuts :) plus add a few other environmental decorations. Enjoy! The ornaments will sing about 13 different holiday songs.

diz3KhPPSZ8

Jared

[mahoo313]

That was pretty cool.

However they don't look real happy. :D

[bobkeyes]

Way cool!

[cbell]

Very cool! Will they be lit up for night time use, or is it just a daytime display?

[tonypgst]

Somehow I think they need eyes. Otherwise pretty cool.

[dirknerkle]

Yes, give each a personality. Maybe use some Mr. Potatohead parts to personalize them... but a very cool project nonetheless!

[lbro]

Very Very cool.

[Greg in Canby]

Brilliant.

[Photovor]

Did you make these yourself? This is pretty cool!

[jjm2958]

Thanks everyone! Yes, I've been trying to see (no pun intended) if I should add eyes or not.

I'm hoping to get some DMX controlled lights so I can light them up with various colors outside but if I don't, I'll just use some static floodlights.

I made them the same way I made some singing pumpkins for Halloween - just used styrofoam balls instead of the foam pumpkins from Michaels. I have a few more videos on my youtube site (http://www.youtube.com/halloweenjared) and some basic instructions on how I made the pumpkins on my blog (http://halloweenjared.blogspot.com).

Jared

[budude]

Very cool indeed - I do however tend to agree with some of the other posts - it might need something to break up the single color to show off the movement even more. Maybe some lips? Light the inside of the mouth?

[Wayne J]

Waaaay cool!
They do need some personality though. Still excellent!

[scottmcm]

Very cool!

[DIY Guy]

Real nice job with the servos.. I know it's extremely difficult to get them to mimic movements of the mouth!

[Elmo2resc]

Very nice. great job on the servo timing. I agree that maybe they could use some eyes. Maybe the eye's could light up. Now you have me thinking and the last thing I need is another project. lol. Did you coat the styrofoam with something?

[jjm2958]

Very nice. great job on the servo timing. I agree that maybe they could use some eyes. Maybe the eye's could light up. Now you have me thinking and the last thing I need is another project. lol. Did you coat the styrofoam with something?

Thanks. I've been going back and forth regarding eyes. My initial point was to have everything look like a regular Christmas ornament (as we have other smaller ornaments we have in the tree) and then all of a sudden they actually start singing. I'll probably leave it this year as I'm way behind on things.

As for the styrofoam - I thought about covering the styrofoam with some sort of spackle or whatever to cover up the slight texture of the styrofoam, but actually a copy coats of acrylic metallic craft paint worked pretty well. I was hoping to find a hollow sphere made out of that same foam that the foam pumpkins from Michaels (funkins) are made out of, but couldn't find any.

Jared

[ppohlman]

.... I agree that maybe they could use some eyes. ....

To keep the ornaments looking like the regular ones, you could have eyes that are hidden and then rotate around when the music comes on. (Similar to their mouths)

[ErnieHorning]

Very cool idea.

I don't know how much room you have in these but maybe add some eyelids that reveal eyes. This way you keep the ornament look. Possibly make the eyes move a bit so they do something when not singing or twist the ornament horizontally.

[jjm2958]

All very cool ideas! I'll definitely have to try out a few ideas like that for next year.

[WireWrap]

Thanks everyone! Yes, I've been trying to see (no pun intended) if I should add eyes or not.

...


My thought was just drill out space for two bulbs, then cover with clear plastic film and very thin paint to match the outer skin. May be bright enough to shine through, but disappear when off. Trial and error, of course...


:)

[CarlRay]

Are you running this with Vixen? How are you controlling the servo motors?

Carl

[jjm2958]

Hi Carl,
I am using the Board of Chuckee controller card and Brookshire's VSA to control everything. It worked out pretty well.

[kychristmas]

Hi Carl,
I am using the Board of Chuckee controller card and Brookshire's VSA to control everything. It worked out pretty well.

So is there a way to control that board with the Vixen DMX plugins? Or would we need another Servo Specific Plugin for Vixen. Anyone else doing any Servo work?

I think my Son would really enjoy working on a Servo project and I would like him to get excited about taking on "his own" project.

Kelly

[Sky-Lights]

http://www.efx-tek.com/php/smf/index.php?topic=140.0