Cabaret de L’Enfer Halloween party — light-up sign
Published by Manning on June 26th, 2015
For my Cabaret de L’Enfer-themed Halloween party in 2012, I made this fun light-up sign that I hung sticking out from my front balcony so that guests could see it as they approached my apartment. This was an easy project that made for a really impressive effect! Here’s how I did it…
I made the box shape out of foam board; of course you can just use a cardboard box if you can find one that’s the right size. I cut the pieces of foam board to size with an X-acto knife, and assembled the whole box shape, minus the front panel, with heavy duty Scotch packing tape.
I measured and drew the letters for “L’Enfer” (Hell!) on paper, cut them out, and traced them onto the front panel of my sign with a white grease pencil. I then cut them out with an X-acto knife.
Now for the fun part; the lights! I lined the interior of the sign with aluminum foil, making sure to keep the shinier side facing out; this helps reflect and amplify the lights you’ll be putting inside the sign. I then took two strands of small red Christmas lights and laid them inside the sign in a zig-zag pattern, filling up the whole area as evenly as possible. I used packing tape to tape them down.
I cut a small hole in the back of the sign and ran the cord from the lights through that. I then attached the front panel of the sign to the rest of the box shape with more packing tape.
I attached the sign to my balcony railing with heavy duty Scotch packing tape; it was surprisingly sturdy! We had a windy night but the sign didn’t budge.
I plugged in the cord, and voilà! A really cool light up sign, visible from a block away! Unfortunately the only photos I have of the sign are from after the party, when I’d brought the thing inside. I’d love to do another one of these someday, next time I have a party theme that goes with the idea.
Also check out my other posts from the Cabaret de L’Enfer party: giant devil mouth doorway, and the walls of Hell.
About Manning Krull
How to make a 4-foot paper maché alligator
My violin skull mask, Mardi Gras 2015
Three-headed paper maché dragon sculpture
January 17th, 2016 at 8:29 am
What clever, creative ideas you come up with Manning. I love Halloween! Thanks for all of your input about Paris as well. I will be returning there in the spring of 2016 with my grown son and five other members of my family. I have been to several of your “offbeat” attractions like the archeological crypt in front of Notre Dame and the hidden arena in the 5th, which is just a few blocks from my hotel. Thanks for posting such helpful and whimsical information.
January 27th, 2016 at 3:18 pm
Thanks Maureen!