Introduction: Spooky Shadows on the Wall

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About: I'm a guy from Hungary. Musician, amateur astronomer, DIY-fan, airplane-fan, etc. My hobbies are important for me. In my home country the DIY-concept is an old tradition, so I became a fan in my early years.

We made these small shadow casters with my daughter in a stormy evening. The idea is to cast some spooky figures on the wall with candle and cardboard cut ghost shapes.
You will need some black cardboard (or any other color, if you can't get black one), some glue, a pair of scissors, a pencil, and or a pattern, either some creative fantasy.

Step 1: The Shadow Caster

THE CASTER

Draw plans, or copy ones from a pattern, and cut them. The size is cca. 20-30 cm tall. Then cut a cardboard triangle for stabilize the shape at the back side, glue it there, and stand the shape somewhere towards a wall. If you put a candle behind it, the shape will projected on the wall, with a small misty moving, following the jumping of the candlelight. Adjusting the distance from the wall and/or the candlelight, you may set bigger or lesser shadows, fainter or sharper shapes, as you want.

Step 2: The Light Sources

THE CANDLE

For easy way, a small candle is enough, but you can sophisticate it with a soda can, if you remove its top, and cut a hole at its wall, to focuse the light into the required direction. Or get a glass, cover it with alufolia, except for a narrow gap, to use it as a candle holder.

And never let the candle alone - may cause fire, and evil spirits may climb out from it when they are summoned...