Introduction: Mac-O-Lanterns
This Halloween season, bring an old computer back from the dead. Here's all you need to turn that dusty old Mac Classic into a glowing, Halloween treat. Besides a working computer and a little technical know-how (very little), all you need is three cans of spray paint and a bit of epoxy. And here's the best part...no slimy guts to clean out!
Step 1: Paint the Entire Body Orange.
Give your old Mac a nice cleaning and then mask off the screen with tape. We used clear shipping tape. For the painting, we used Krylon Fusion Pumpkin Orange spray paint. We started with another type of paint, but it didn't adhere very well. The Fusion line is made especially for plastic and worked great.
Step 2: Paint the Mouse Brown for a Stem.
We used Krylon Fusion Satin Espresso.
Step 3: Cut the Keyboard Cord Into Leaf and Vine Sections and Paint Them Green.
We used Krylon Fusion Hunter Green.
Step 4: Let the Paint Dry Completely.
Preferably overnight.
Step 5: Attach the Mouse and Cord Pieces With Epoxy.
Put a vine on each side of the stem.
Step 6: Create Your Face.
We made ours in Illustrator and then turned it into a JPEG through Photoshop. We had to dig around a bit, but we found an old external floppy drive and transferred the artwork via disk.
Step 7: Display Your Face.
We downloaded JPEGView from The Mac Orchard and have multiple faces rotating on the screen like a slide show. Feel free to add animation or bring sound into the mix. Here's your chance to show off your old-school programming skills.
64 Comments
7 years ago
This computer cost about $10,000 at the time. Save it and sell it in the future when you are done making it.
8 years ago on Introduction
this is simply genius! I love it
9 years ago
i honestly think it is a good thing its recycling old tech with a cool theme espically if your a nerd and love halloween
10 years ago on Step 7
These are super neat! If only it was easier to find a working vintage mac computer!
13 years ago on Introduction
how dare u ruin a perfectly good apple
Reply 13 years ago on Introduction
how dare u buy a mac in the first place... every one knows that windows is waaaaaaay better ;)
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
Yes, well, in 1984 when the original Macintosh came out, there was no such thing as Windows. I think you will be hard pressed to prove that DOS was superior to a Mac.
Reply 12 years ago on Introduction
windows sux
Reply 12 years ago on Introduction
yessssssss
Reply 12 years ago on Introduction
lol owned
sent from my macbook
Reply 12 years ago on Introduction
Linux is the way to go.
Reply 12 years ago on Introduction
ipad is the best
Reply 12 years ago on Introduction
linex is the beeeeeessssst!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Reply 13 years ago on Introduction
Technically, if you get a new keyboard and mouse, it works fine..
13 years ago on Introduction
i just like old apple computers
13 years ago on Introduction
BWAHAHAHAHA it's great.
13 years ago on Introduction
*ADORABLE* I reposted this as a cool thing on my blog!
14 years ago on Introduction
Not a dumb question. You will also need a mouse for turning it on and off. We have extra mice so it's not a problem. You can get a USB/5-pin adapter so you can use your current computer mouse for that purpose.
14 years ago on Introduction
Ok, hope this isn't a dum-b question, but don't you need the mouse to load/start JPEG View off the floppy? It's been many years, since I've messed with JPV, so I can't remember...
14 years ago on Introduction
Holy bejeebajabbers I didn't even notice that was the mouse until i actualy read it....wierd.