Halloween: cheap and easy dropping spider silhouette

This was my dirt simple, zero cost, last second prop for Halloween.

Since I had setup a lot of spider webs in my front door, essentially making it look as if you are walking into a cobweb, I figured a large spider was in order.

Step 1: Making the spider

I searched for some good spider images that I could convert into a silhouette but found none. I did find lots of good reference images though.

I fired up Google Sketchup, as it can work as great and easy line drawing program with a mirror function. It also allowed me to layout my frosted glass panel to scale and visualize how large I wanted the spider to be on the glass.

I drew a cool looking spider, and a few minutes later I had a to-scale print out to use as a guide to cut my cardboard.

The template I made is online here: http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/details?mid=f25f707c99ef38358b62e185294e8b2e

Comments

[ZapWizard]

I used this for two years, it was effective both years even with some of the same kids.

Last year I had a much larger spider web and spider that I modded LED eyes into.
I also had the spider drop at the door.

This year however I have stepped it up a notch to down right unnerving.
I am using a ultra-projector I bought last year along with a animation of dozens of spiders crawling across the door glass. In person in the dark it is very hard to tell they aren't real.

[annark]

think theyre both great, the animated one is very effective!

[FatCatDaddy]

Where can we find that animation or one like it?

[ZapWizard]

http://goo.gl/ZVWP

[Granny_Leah]

Very effective.
Have you continued to use it, or made any changes?

[askjacob]

Nice and simple. I like it!