<PERSON> the Simpsons Yard Decoration
Introduction: <PERSON> From the Simpsons Yard Decoration
No way was I handing out candy this Halloween. And I sure wasn't going anywhere in a costume. Still I wanted to do something fun and festive. When I saw the Fandom Contest winner from ramenkingandi https://www.instructables.com/KangKodos-Sculpture... I knew that <PERSON> was the answer to my Halloween prayers.
My challenge was to build a <PERSON> dirt cheap and not labor intensive. I've listed the supplies I used, but that's because that's what I had on hand. Be creative in your builds and try to use and re-use stuff you already have. My major purchases were a large beach ball, about $17, a can of lime green spray paint - $5, a tube of construction adhesive - $5, a tube of clear caulk - $5, and 4 dollar store tablecloths. It definitely came in under $50.
Supplies
tree stump or high stool for fan base
small piece of plywood to secure to top of tree stump
legs from patio table or flexible pipes, maybe dryer venting
PVC pipes and 2 connectors - I had leftover 1 1/4" PVC
4 cinder block anchors for pvc pipes - filled with concrete
2 umbrella stands - to anchor the space helmet outline
16 gauge fencing wire 4 ft. tall
duct tape - including black for mouth opening
pool noodles or pipe insulation - 5 or 6
wire
old plastic tarps
oscillating fan to move eye
large white beach ball for eye
clear plastic bowl from $ store - to hold eye on top of fan
2 plastic cat litter containers - for teeth, controls on helmet collar and point on top of space helmet outline
4 lime green plastic rectangular tablecloths from the $ store
caulking tube of construction adhesive
hot glue and gun
tube of clear caulk for drool
corrugated plastic for helmet collar - I had leftover blue plastic signs
EVA foam floor tiles - just a couple for the ears
lime green spray paint - for the ears
string of lights for interior of helmet collar
green and gold flood lights
exterior electrical cords
orange, red, pink, and black acrylic paints
E6000 adhesive, because just about all projects need E6000 sooner or later
screws and other miscellaneous stuff
Step 1: Building the Base
I'd had a tree cut down in the front yard. I had them leave a tall stump because I didn't want to trip over a low stump and I figured some time in the future, I could use the stump as a base for a bird bath. But for now it's the perfect base for <PERSON>. A neighbor had left a patio table out on the street and I had dragged it home to incorporate the round glass tabletop into a fountain. That left the aluminum pipe legs that would become <PERSON>'s legs or arms or whatever they are. 644
I used brute force to bend the legs/arms into shape and screwed them into the base of the tree stump to secure.
I screwed in a piece of plywood on to the top of the tree stump to hold the oscillating fan. The cinder block bases were next. I'd already made some cinder block anchors from another project. It was just a matter of sealing the bottom of a single cinder block with some aluminum foil, placing a piece of 1 1/4" PVC pipe in the center and filling around the pipe with concrete. I had four cinder blocks, I stationed them at four even points around the tree stump with one at each side, then inserted the PVC pipe. The pipe at the front was shorter than the other three. The eye needs to show over that pipe. The other three pipes were at least six feet tall.
I'd built a "catio", another story, and had leftover 16 gauge fencing wire. I wrapped the fencing around the four PVC posts and secured by tying together with pieces of wire. I bent the wire down to be able to access the fan stand from the back.
Step 2: Creating the Oscillating Eyeball
I had a funky fan in the garage and decided to sacrifice it to the Halloween gods. I removed the plastic fan cage and blades. Then I cut off the back cage and replaced its base on to the front of the fan. Because I was afraid of trying to screw the clear plastic bowl to the fan, instead I hot glued a spray paint can lid to the top of the fan then screwed the plastic bowl to that. The rotor that spins the blades is exposed on the front, so avoid that.
I couldn't find a white 36" beach ball, so I had to content myself with spray painting a clear beach ball white. I painted a black iris line in the middle of the eyeball. 644