Motion Reactive Devil Horns DIY Tutorial: Paper mache goat horns with animated LED lights #adafruit
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This video tutorial guides viewers through creating custom devil horns that react dynamically to movement using an Adafruit Feather Prop Maker board and animated LED lights. The project combines paper mache craftsmanship with electronics to build a costume piece capable of expressing emotions like delight or rage based on the wearer's actions. To get started, users must first install Circuit Python onto their computer by connecting the Prop Maker via USB in bootloader mode and dragging the UF2 file onto the drive, followed by copying necessary libraries and code files from a provided project bundle to complete the software setup.
The construction process involves preparing two strands of LEDs that are cut to fit inside each horn while carefully tinning copper pads for soldering connections. Wires are stripped and organized with black connected to ground, green to the NeoPixel data pin, and red to 5V power before being securely soldered together at the controller end. Once the electronics are wired correctly, heat shrink tubing is applied to insulate all connections, ensuring safety and durability before sliding the light strips into their designated positions within the horn structures where they can be fixed in place with hot glue for stability.
For the physical horns themselves, creators begin by shaping aluminum foil into a basic form that matches their desired size and curvature once satisfied with the design. This mold is then covered with Saran wrap before being layered with thin strips of wood glue-soaked paper towel to create a strong yet flexible structure that allows light to shine through effectively after drying for at least 24 hours. After removing the temporary foil and plastic layers, additional time is allowed for the horns to fully harden as the glue continues to cure naturally over the next few days.
The final assembly integrates all components onto a headband by housing the Prop Maker inside its protective case with an on-off switch connector threaded through the top opening for easy access. The creator secures both the battery and the controller within the plastic casing, gluing them strategically while trimming excess wires to ensure a clean fit before attaching the finished horns to the band. Decorative elements are added over the electronics to conceal wiring and switches while keeping the USB port accessible for charging the internal battery, resulting in a functional wearable accessory that brings motion-reactive lighting to life.
Read the full video transcript
Build a custom set of devil horns that
react to your movement.
These horns are made from paper mache
and controlled by a feather prop maker
board. Add lights and code to make a
costume piece that expresses your
delight and rage.
Plug the prop maker into your computer
and hold down the boot button while
briefly pressing the reset button.
The light will turn white and a drive
will appear called RP1 RP2.
Download the latest version of Circuit
Python from the tutorial page and drag
the UF2 file onto this drive to install
Circuit Python.
Next, download the project bundle from
the code page on the tutorial.
Unzip the file and copy the lib folder
and the code.py file to your new Circuit
Pi drive.
This will install your software.
Cut the LEDs to the length of one horn
along the edge of the copper pads.
Try to leave the full width of the pads
on the cut-off side. This will make it
easier to solder our wires onto the
second piece and make a second strand.
Carefully tin the copper pads.
Cut about 4 to 5 in of red, black, and
green wire.
Strip the wires and tin them and then
trim them just a tiny bit to make a
clean end.
Line up the wires in the same order as
on the first strand. Black to ground,
green in the middle,
and red to 5 V.
Carefully solder them in place making
sure the solder doesn't bridge between
the pads.
Cut the second strand to the same length
as the first.
The back of the prop maker has labels
showing which holes are which.
Open the terminals for the 5 V, ground,
and neo pins with your screwdriver.
Strip and twist the color-coded wires
from your two light strands together.
Connect both green wires securely into
neo,
both black into ground, and both red
into 5 V.
Plug the controller in, and if all goes
well, your lights will come on.
Shake the controller to trigger the
effects.
If everything's working, add some heat
shrink to cover the connections and keep
them secure.
If the lights don't come on, head to our
learn guide on the Adafruit learn system
for some troubleshooting tips.
>> [snorts]
>> Create the basic shape for each horn
with aluminum foil.
Once you're happy with the size and
shape, cover each horn with Saran wrap.
Cut up a paper towel into a few small
strips.
Mix a little water into your wood glue
and thin it out. Dip the strips in the
glue and smooth them down around the
horn.
Use one or two layers only. This glue
will dry strong and flexible, so keep it
thin so more light shines through.
Let your horns dry for at least 24
hours, then remove the foil and Saran
wrap. They will harden up a little more
over the next couple days as the glue
continues to dry.
Slide the lights inside the horns, and
once you're happy with the placement,
secure them with some hot glue. They do
have adhesive on the back of the strips,
but I wouldn't trust it to hold very
well. So, add a little [snorts] more.
Put the prop maker into its plastic
case.
You'll need to detach the wires to get
it in there, but this gives you an
opportunity to trim them to the perfect
length before reattaching them.
Plug the on-off switch connector in, and
thread it through the hole in the top of
the case. I ended up shortening these
wires a bit, too.
Secure the case on the top center of the
headband with the USB port facing
forwards.
Glue the switch down on one side, and
the battery on the other.
Just whatever works best with your
vision.
Decide how you want your horns oriented,
and glue them to the headband as well.
I added a little glue to the top of the
case, too, just to be sure it stays
closed.
Decorate your headband to hide all the
electronics, but make sure to keep the
USB port accessible.
You'll be able to charge up the battery
just by plugging in a USB cord.
>> [music]
[music]
>> I see