Black Light Projects
- A black light bulb creates glow-in-the-dark effects.glow lamp image by Edvin selimovic from Fotolia.com
Fluorescent-colored objects appear to glow in the dark when exposed to ultraviolet light, commonly called black light. Black light isn't just for Halloween haunted houses and dance clubs; try using "day-glo" fluorescent materials to make a variety of all-ages projects year-round. Black lights can be found at party stores, supercenters and online. - Black light puppets appear to float and move without a puppeteer, especially when the puppeteer is dressed in black and the room is dark. Any kind of puppet can be made to glow under black light, from paper bag puppets to sock puppets to hand-sewn felt puppets. Use materials such as day-glo poster or fabric paint, paper and felt.
- Decorate a room with hand-made posters that glow in the dark under black light. Use poster or foam board as a base and decorate with fluorescent poster paints or markers. You can also mix glow powder, available online, with white glue to make areas that are highly black light reactive. Use black paint any area you want to appear invisible. Ideas for black light posters include fields of stars and planets, "floating" eyes and abstract designs.
- Black light t-shirts glow while the rest of the wearer fades into the darkness. Start with a black t-shirt and paint with day-glo fabric paint to highlight the design alone, or use a day-glo shirt as the base. Use stencils or paint freehand. Ideas include a skeleton rib cage, an outer space scene and text.
- Tonic water containing quinine glows in the dark under a black light. Make soft or hard cocktails with a tonic water base, or serve tonic water plain over ice. Tonic water can also be used to make glowing gelatin shots or snacks, Popsicle or ice cubes.
