This week, we'd like to bring to your attention a delightfully simple and inexpensive how-to for those of us that don't have a lot of time or money. It comes from the creative mind of our AtmosFAN of the Week, Casey Rummerfield of San Marcos, California. Using just a couple pieces of styrofoam, he's built a clever enclosure and camouflage for his AtmosFX Digital Decorating Kit.
He says the project took him only about 3 or 4 hours to create. Because he was making it up as he went along, Casey thinks it could take considerably less time in the future.
The key piece, of course, is the styrofoam cooler that Casey cut in half with a hot wire foam cutter. Then, he mounted the half cooler on some scrap styrofoam to complete the enclosure. Casey used a cooler he had available to him at the time, but if he were to do it again, he says he would find a styrofoam cooler that more closely fit the size of the projector.
Casey used an old faux tombstone he had on-hand to camouflage his enclosure, but there is no reason you couldn't cut another piece of styrofoam in the shape of a tombstone and create your own. The real trick, as you can see for Casey's photos, is adhering two wedges to the enclosure, so that the tombstone can rest against it. Also, to make sure the projector didn't overheat, Casey carved some ventilation holes in the side — something that is always important. He also carved a hole for the power cord.
Something we really love is how, to be able to use the projector's remote control, Casey carved a small hole in both the enclosure and the tombstone. With some creative carving and a little paint, he was able to easily control the projector with the infrared remote.
After a little paint, Casey's enclosure was ready to go. As you can see in the video below, he got Jack-O'-Lantern Jamboree functioning in full "pumpkin mode." Not only is the projector protected from the weather, but from the viewer's point of view, it is nowhere to be seen!
Great work, Casey! This is a wonderful – and easy – idea made from stuff most people have sitting idly in their garage. Who doesn't love that?
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We want to see what you are creating for this Halloween. No matter if it is big or small, it can serve as inspiration for other fellow Halloween AtmosFANs. Send photos and YouTube links to community@atmosfx.com and you can be an inspiration to others.
