Thread: Small idea, too late

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OK, so I was pounding my brains out all through the building process, trying to figure out where I could get cheap LED's or something that would do the job for illuminated eyes and such....and NOW I think of it.....PMO!!!

Ya know those really cheezy plastic door-covering things ya get at the dollar store? the ones with cutesy, stupid pictures on them? Well, most of them have lighted eyes or whatever. they're 2 small, dim bare bulbs connected to a battery pack that holds 2 AA batteries. they're weather-proof since the connection has a dab of hot glue on it.

Anyway, rip the lights and battery pack off the stupid door-covering. there's enough wire to hide the pack anywhere you like and the bulbs are dim, so they aren't going to over-glow anything. Of course, I'm sure that if you replaced the AA battery pack with a 9-volt connector, you could get more brightness.

Geeeez, for $1 each, that's a whole lot cheaper than LED's!!
Oh well....next year.

Ugh! Don't you hate that?? Don't beat yourself up, though. Take note and remember it for next year.

Originally Posted by digbugsgirl

Ugh! Don't you hate that?? Don't beat yourself up, though. Take note and remember it for next year.

Yep. next year. But I think it's like the afternoon of New Year's eve....tomorrow is next year!

Originally Posted by IC_Dedpeeple

Of course, I'm sure that if you replaced the AA battery pack with a 9-volt connector, you could get more brightness.

Geeeez, for $1 each, that's a whole lot cheaper than LED's!!
Oh well....next year.

If you change out the 2 AA's for a 9v, remember to add a resistor to accommodate the increased voltage, or you'll just burn out the LED's (most LED's handle 3v without a resistor, but anything more usually burns them right out...trust me on this one - I've destroyed a small nation of LED's so far, and will continue to do so, I'm sure).

I like your idea though - really good point!

Originally Posted by Ugly Joe

If you change out the 2 AA's for a 9v, remember to add a resistor to accommodate the increased voltage, or you'll just burn out the LED's (most LED's handle 3v without a resistor, but anything more usually burns them right out...trust me on this one - I've destroyed a small nation of LED's so far, and will continue to do so, I'm sure).

I like your idea though - really good point!

Might still need a resistor, but they're not LED's -- they're bulbs -- just like what you get on a string of ordinary lights. Considering how dim they are with 2 AA's, 1 9-volt may not be so bad. (?)
Hell, for $1 it's worth a try, right?

Reduce, reuse and reinvent. It's only a dollar. That's couch cushion money!

It's always after the fact or when we don't have enough time that we come up with a great idea. I bought a bunch of led lights for 80 cents at the store last night. I hope I'm set for next year.

Last night, my husband and I were out in the party area, sitting around looking at our halloween party decorations that we are just now taking down...I told him about this post. OMG! He was so excited, but upset that I was just now telling him. We have one of those door covers in the house and it has sound too...motion activated. Well, today, he took it apart and put it on one of our spooks. He is like a kid with a new toy! It works great. Thanks for the idea!!! I just need to remember to stock up on them next year. We are thinking- skulls, tombstones, spooks...there will be eyes on everything!

OK, I shop at Dollar Tree (in fact was there last night and noticed they had their LED cylinder flashlights back in stock--great for turning into spotlights for props) but for the life of me I can't figure out what you guys are talking about when you refer to "plastic door covers". Even with Halloween Mom's pics I'm still clueless....anyone post a picture of what you are talking about. Thanks.

I don't have a pic...the cover itself is now in the trash, but what you're looking for comes folded up in a flat package and will have a picture of one or two different images on the package.
It's a very thin sheet of plastic designed to be the size of a typical door. You tape it to the door.
Some have just a skeleton on them, others have witches or whole scenes. The ones we're talking about will also have 2 small lights connected to a small AA battery pack.

but if you're looking for it now, you won't find it...they're looooong gone. You'll have to wait until next year.