Thread: Has anyone made an animated halloween wreath?

Tweet

Saw this post from Haloweenie1 under another thread and was going to answer there and then thought well maybe this should really be a new thread given the additional aspects of this "stepped up" wreath. Here's the original post and the response I was going to make to it. Would love to hear if any one has done an animated or motion activated wreath.

Originally Posted by Halloweenie1

Saw this at Grandin Road...but would be easy to make.

I'm hoping to make my version of a snake wreath next year. Picked up a number of snakes this year for this project already. Still have the vine wreath to pick up. The appeal of the snake wreath aside from giving someone the heebie jeebies is that it has sound and motion as well; not obvious from the picture. I almost picked it up when GrandinRoad had marked it down to $19, but had already bought some of the snakes for my own wreath. From what I read there's a motion sensor in the box near the bottom of the wreath and when some approaches it starts to shake so the snakes "come alive" and one hears a woman scream and the hissing sounds of snakes. I wasn't crazy about the woman screaming as part of this but love the concept of the rest. Suppose the woman's screaming could be thought of as the doorbell.

My snakes are made of a giggly silicon material I guess and 3D so not hollowed out on the backside. So i figure they should giggle nicely if animated. I really want to figure out a way to motion activate the wreath, maybe using a haunted hedge box somehow. Would love to add the hissing sounds as well but somehow the $19 price is looking more attractive at this point.

Has anyone else attempted a wreath that was more than a stationery wreath?

I don't have one, but I think this is an awesome idea. Even using other vermin like spiders, mice, small skulls, cut off fingers....I'm also curious to see if anyone has done this.

While dusting today I moved some seed pods my husband had picked up on one of his walks. They sounded like rattlesnakes...just thinking aloud about noise makers added to the hedge shaker may get a sound you want. I know if a wreath was attached to my door and the hedge shaker went off,the rubbing against the wood is going to make alot of noise by itself..especially knocking I would imagine.

Thanks for the comment Deadna. I have one of those striking snake props that vibrates and I don't hear the rattle so much so was thinking of inserting a small plastic vile inside its tail with some beads sealed inside to get a louder and more noticeable effect. Not unlike your seed pods.

The GR site had some negative comments from people who found just what you said about the wreath's motion box. It caused the wreath to hit against their doors. My luck it would probably chip the paint as well. That's why I thought of doing something myself to see if I could get the effect without the strong door knocking. I also have one of those haunted chandeliers with the motion boxes and they do make a lot of noise if you are close to them but they also really move something rapidly as well. I'm sure it's basically a haunted hedge box as well.

I was actually thinking of attaching a "rattle-er" or two to the wreath hidden in between the snakes or on the side of it and also attach a nylon thread to the wreath (the wreath would have to be supported somehow a bit away from the door) and the thread would go to the top of the door frame and over to the side where it would be unnoticed and hidden from sight but would be triggered by someone approaching. Hopefully if it was set up properly, the Hedge box would get activated, start shaking, the shaking would pull the nylon thread and travel to the wreath that hopefully would start jiggling with the snakes wiggling and the rattle-ers would sound. Kind of a Rube Goldberg contraption.

These are definitely going to be a reality for next year.

To make your "Snake" sound just run a very tiny line from an air compressor to where you need the sound, pinch the line down very small and let the real air hiss out.
When I was a kid (50 yrs. ago) my Dad had inherited several very small glass bottles with real rattlesnake rattles in them.
They had been his Dad's "Toys", great for rattling them right behind your friends as you were all taking a walk in the woods.
They made a "Chee-chee-chee-chee!" Sound as best as I can describe it.
And of course the bigger rattles with more segments made bigger noises. The first settlers in N.W. illinois had to live in tree houses because this was "Snake Heaven" from 1825 to 1900?