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WARNING: WARNING: WARNING: WARNING: WARNING: WARNING: WARNING: WARNING:
Hot Melt Glue is very hot. The tip OF the glue gun is SCOURCHING
HOT! It WILL raise blisters.
WARNING: WARNING: WARNING: WARNING: WARNING: WARNING: WARNING: WARNING:
I used clear monofilament fishing line. I prefer the clear over the blue,
because the blue can be seen easier in citain applications.
While the clear seems to blend in better in nearly ALL applications.
I try to bring a small battery operated blacklight and check
that the fishing line is not effected by UV conditions.
Nothing's worse than seeing a bright string holding up
what you want "floating".
The candles USUALLY come two to a pack, and rarely come with spare bulbs OR batteries.
If you find them in the stores, check the area where the spare light bulbs are, (usually the Christmas section.) The bulbs
are rated for 3 volts DC, and have a small INNER glass bulb. Which is simular to a mini chrismas bulb. These replacements
are not offered year-round. So if your store has them, it's worth while to pick up one or two cards of spare bulbs.
Step #1
Plug in the glue gun. It'll take a few minutes for it to warm up. Make sure you
got a glue stick in it AND have a few to spare, (if you got a lot of candles to do.) It has to be clear glue. Not the beige
glue. You'll want to make the glue appear that it is dripping down the sides of the bulb.
At first, I tried this with just a small "glob" at the tip of the bulb, but this
did not have enough "stick" to it, and the blob just let go and the candle dropped. So I increased the surface that the glue
adheres to.
The glue also acts like a "diffuser", scattering the light from the bulb so that
it does not shine on the fishing line. This helps keep the fishing line from being seen, by not illuminating the line.
Create drips down the sides of the bulb. Some drips are short, others are a bit
longer. This will grip the bulb a lot better. The bulb itself does not get hot when it's illuminated. So the glue will remain
stiff.
While the glue is STILL in a "molten state", lay the end of the fishing line
on the glue, and twist it slightly, so that the moten glue will be drawn around the fishing line. This will anchor the fishing
line firmly to the bulb and blend nearly invisibly in with the glue.
If you simply tie the fishing line around the base of the bulb, the candlestick
will hang crooked. Since the fishing line would be so close to the light source, it will be noticed and the effect
will be ruined.
When the glue is allowed to harden, the candle can be suspended from the fishing
line and appear to float. You don't want the candle to swing, or jiggle. If it does, the secret of it's floating is given
away.
Hang the candle from a tree branch. You can use a large safty pin as it can easily
be hooked around a small twig. In the case of a ceiling, I use either clear push-pins, or white thumbtacks to blend into the
background. If you have a painted ceiling, and it's some sort of color.. try painting thumbtacks to match the ceiling color.
}'-{1}
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Please be sure to visit "How to Halloween" A new up and coming site on building your own Halloween decorations for next to
nil!
The Halloween-L is a great website & forum. You should go there NOW! Ok, after you view my website. But right after that,
go there! (If you know what's "Boo" for you!)
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