Introduction: Ninja Tree Topper (with Light Up Eyes!)
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About: I love to sew, as I'm sure you can see from my ibles ;)
I also love lawn flamingos, going to the beach, dinosaurs, and doing random stuff.
You'd think that a throwing star would be better for a tree topper. But a throwing star is easier to make as an ornament than a ninja is. Plus, if you had a bunch of ninja ornaments it wouldn't be as cool if they had light up eyes. Heck, maybe it would. But still.
Step 1: Materials
I'll divide these into what you need for the actual ninja, and what you need for the light-up part.
For the ninja:
Black material (I used felt)
Flesh colored material
Sewing machine
Needle and thread
Glue (hot glue probably works best)
Some sort of fiber fill
Scissors
Paper (to make the pattern for the ninja) or you can print the jpg or PDF that are on this step.The PDF is a bit bigger, and on top of our tree it's a pretty good size.
For the light-up part:
2 LEDs
Some kind of switch or battery holder with a switch
A soldering iron
Solder
Batteries
Perhaps some extra wire.
For the ninja:
Black material (I used felt)
Flesh colored material
Sewing machine
Needle and thread
Glue (hot glue probably works best)
Some sort of fiber fill
Scissors
Paper (to make the pattern for the ninja) or you can print the jpg or PDF that are on this step.The PDF is a bit bigger, and on top of our tree it's a pretty good size.
For the light-up part:
2 LEDs
Some kind of switch or battery holder with a switch
A soldering iron
Solder
Batteries
Perhaps some extra wire.
Step 2: Creating Radnor
Radnor is the name of my ninja. I just decided he needed a name for the sake of the step names. Plus it's one in the morning, and everything sounds good at one in the morning.
Anyway, draw a ninja on a piece of paper. Or you can print out the PDF I have on the previous step.
So once you've drawn the pattern, cut it out and pin it to a piece of black material. I bet you know where I'm going with this, don't you? Yes, you probably do.
Cut out two of your ninja shapes.
Anyway, draw a ninja on a piece of paper. Or you can print out the PDF I have on the previous step.
So once you've drawn the pattern, cut it out and pin it to a piece of black material. I bet you know where I'm going with this, don't you? Yes, you probably do.
Cut out two of your ninja shapes.
Step 3: ...
Then cut out a long-ish rectangle and sew it onto his back like a pocket, minus the bottom of the pocket. This is so you can put the batteries in it and also stick him on top of the tree.
Then on the other piece of your ninja sew on the flesh colored piece of material wherever you want his eyes to be, since they don't completely cover ALL of their face. Or at least Radnor doesn't.
Now take some kind of sharp object (Scissors, pen, xacto knife, axe, etc.) and stab two holes where you want his eyes to be. I never said this wouldn't be violent. Make sure the LEDs can fit through the holes.
Then on the other piece of your ninja sew on the flesh colored piece of material wherever you want his eyes to be, since they don't completely cover ALL of their face. Or at least Radnor doesn't.
Now take some kind of sharp object (Scissors, pen, xacto knife, axe, etc.) and stab two holes where you want his eyes to be. I never said this wouldn't be violent. Make sure the LEDs can fit through the holes.
Step 4: Putting Together Radnor
Take your two ninja pieces and sew them together, right sides together. One of the right sides should have the pocket you just sewed on his back on it and the other should have the skin colored part on it. Leave part of his head open though, and then stuff him and sew up that hole.
Step 5: Radnors New Brain
Put aside Radnor/your ninja for now. Because now we're going to make his "brain".
Solder (or tape or whatever) your two LEDs together with the positive lead touching the negative one. You might have to put some wire between them, depending on how far away the eyes will be.
Then solder the correct leads of the LEDs to the battery holder. Stick some batteries in it and see how it works! After I soldered it I put tape on all the places I soldered, because it was the first time I had ever soldered ANYTHING so I wasn't too confident in how well it would hold :P
Below is an overly simple and terribly drawn diagram for you to look at if you feel like it. If you don't have a battery holder with a switch, you can just put a switch in there connecting to the battery holder and then complete the circuit normally.
Solder (or tape or whatever) your two LEDs together with the positive lead touching the negative one. You might have to put some wire between them, depending on how far away the eyes will be.
Then solder the correct leads of the LEDs to the battery holder. Stick some batteries in it and see how it works! After I soldered it I put tape on all the places I soldered, because it was the first time I had ever soldered ANYTHING so I wasn't too confident in how well it would hold :P
Below is an overly simple and terribly drawn diagram for you to look at if you feel like it. If you don't have a battery holder with a switch, you can just put a switch in there connecting to the battery holder and then complete the circuit normally.
Step 6: Now for the Dirty Work.
Cut a hole in the back of Radnors head that you will be able to fit the LEDs through and be able to situate them where they belong. I cut a sideways T shape, which worked pretty well. Stick everything but the wire to the switch and batteries in it.
Step 7: Radnor Is Almost Alive
Once you have the LEDs in the holes for his eyes, it's time to make sure they stay there. You can use glue, or sew around them a whole bunch to make sure they stay. You could even make some sort of holder for them. It doesn't matter how you do it, just so long as it works.
Sew up the gash in the back of your ninjas head and stick the batteries in the pocket on his back. The top of the tree goes in the other half of the pocket on his back. If the batteries in the pocket on his back make the top of the tree bend you can just connect the batteries to the tree behind him.
Give him some accessories like a cape. Even though NINJAS DON'T WEAR CAPES! Or you could make him a "scarf thing". Or a cool little mask. But he kinda already has a cool little mask. But really, that's no big deal.
Sew up the gash in the back of your ninjas head and stick the batteries in the pocket on his back. The top of the tree goes in the other half of the pocket on his back. If the batteries in the pocket on his back make the top of the tree bend you can just connect the batteries to the tree behind him.
Give him some accessories like a cape. Even though NINJAS DON'T WEAR CAPES! Or you could make him a "scarf thing". Or a cool little mask. But he kinda already has a cool little mask. But really, that's no big deal.
Step 8: Radnor LIVES!
Well, now you should be done making your super awesome ninja tree topper. If you make one, post pictures! Cause that would be pretty darn cool if I do say so myself.