| LETS GET STARTED MAKING A FLOAT OR SILHOUETTE |
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| The example that is being shown is a silhouette ment to be viewed from either side. If you want you could simply place it up against a wall of your house. You can make it any size you want large or small. I like BIG images myself ! I should also state that the example here is ment to be set on the bed of a fullsize pickup truck! Note that on the frame size that the width is only 7 feet wide. I found out the HARD way that you need to make the frame fit the bed of the truck!!! Keep in mind that this is just a guideline as I'm no expert on this and you may have some bigger and better ways to do this! The reason I use the old hose is so that I can place and point the lights in the direction that I want and they will stay there and also the hose is flexable to make bends and turns. The great thing about this is that you can make a silhouette for the LAND LUBBERS PARADE and then have a GREAT lawn decoration for your home! |
| Tools needed |
| Hammer & nails Staple gun and staples Skill saw Screw driver and screws Drill & 1/4" bit Wire cutters GLOVES |
| Materials Needed |
| 4) 8 foot 2x2s (frame) 4 feet of 1x12s (braces) 16 feet of 4 foot wide chicken wire Baling wire Old garden hose Electrical "zip"ties C-9 colored lights ( the big ones) Midget lights |
| Start with the frame. Cut 2 of the 2x2s to 7 feet long. Cut the 1x12 into 1 foot pieces. Then cut the pieces on the diagonal to make the braces (You don't really need to cut them on the diagonal if you don't want to. It just looks better, not that you would see it at night!) Lay the frame out on the ground and square it up. Doesn't have to be perfect. Screw or nail the braces to the frame. Next thing to do is cut the chicken wire into two 8 foot pieces or when you buy it have it cut already.What you want are 2 pieces of 4'x8' of chicken wire, Start at the top left side of the frame and staple across JUST the top with one piece of chicken wire. Now go to the bottom and insert a screwdriver in the chicken wire and stretch the chicken wire over the bottom frame and staple the bottom. Then you can staple the side down. Repeat on the right side with the other piece of chicken wire. Now take the old garden hose and form the image or silouhette that you have in mind.Use the baling wire to hold the hose to the chicken wire. Step back and take a good look to make sure its what you want. The next thing to do is place your lights on the image . Take your drill with the 1/4" bit and drill into the hose where you want your light. Use the clip on your first light and insert into the drilled hole and repeat with the rest of your lights. If a light doesn't look right just drill another hole in the hose and fix it! When you get the lights and image the way you want use the "zip"ties for a permanent fit.(If a clip is broken on any of your lights those "zip" ties will hold your light to the hose !! ) The example below is my feeble attempt to show you how I have made my silhouettes ! The snowman image in the frame is the garden hose attached to the chicken wire . Now that you have your silhouette made you can fill in the inside with the midget lights if you want |
| SNOWMAN |
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| As soon as I can I will add some pitcures to make things a little easier and more clear. |
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