Disappearing Ghost

We had a shower curtain destined for the trash, but I just knew I could come up with something to use it for. So begins the idea for the black light reactive disappearing ghost. This is more a proof of concept project, I hope someone with more time and artistic talent will take the seed of this project and grow it into something fabulous. (Please post pics and/or links if you do - I'll give you a "That's what I had in mind" patch)

Supplies:

• Clear shower curtain or other plastic sheeting - I don't think it matters how thick or thin it is, as long as it holds up to your display method.
• Liquid laundry detergent - the brands I have tried are All, Tide & Whisk. You may want to test yours first to be sure is has the proper UV reactive additives.
• Rag, sponge, or sponge paint brush - the tool will depend on how precise you want your image.
• Blacklight bulb

Step 1: Paint your ghost

Lay out your plastic sheeting on a flat work surface. You don't need to do much to protect the area, as the soap is easy to clean up - making it a perfect decoration for kids to help assemble.

I poured a bit of soap into an empty cream cheese container; just the right size for my brush, easy to dump the leftover into my next load of wash.

Paint on your ghostly apparition. I would recommend having the black light on during this process. I painted my ghost under normal light and really had no idea what shape I was getting. The soap, though it appears blue in the container, is colorless when sponged on.

Comments

[lcox5]

I am thinking of painting of soaking my clothes in the detergent and painting it on my face and hands, then having someone lay the curtain over me and press. If anyone tries it, let me know.
I have to check for allergic reaction first!

[tinker234]

wow you know you could just use a stecil for the ghost so that you could see it

[bkennelly]

A stencil would be excellent - you could get some great images that way.

[l8nite]

That's a really cool idea, I was doing some painting for the haunt and realized the watery poster type fluorescent paint was really hard to see against the background so I waited till dark and painted under the blacklight... thank you for sharing

[bkennelly]

Wish I had thought that part through a bit - was basically painting 'blind' so not a great shape and lots of extra drips. It was only after, while posting the 'ible, that I realized how much easier it would have been with the black light on. LOL Live & learn.

Hope your haunt was great fun.

[l8nite]

it was another GREAT year with lots of good scares and stories we'll be telling for awhile. One cool aspect of starting painting and not being able to see the paint on the fence was after I COULD see, I didn't actually follow the first painting so under the black light the piece seemed to waver and move. We're already thinking of next year and with your idea, painted on opaque plastic on one side and under black light would disappear when they came thru into the lit room on the other side..... I get sooooooooooo many great ideas from instructables ! !

[bkennelly]

Instructables is dangerous for me. LOL

Between Instructables, Fry's Electronics & Photoshop User magazine, it's amazing I get any *real* work done ;-)

[scoochmaroo]

WIcked!

[bkennelly]

Thanks - much appreciated coming from someone whose work I admire so much!