This is a project my (ex)boyfriend and i conceived of upon contemplating the sorry state of my Jack-in-the-Box antenna ball. Basically, we were trying to figure out what we could "make jack into" given what a jack ball looks like: big round white head and a yellow crown. My boyfriend claims it was all his idea, but i assure you and him that i was thinking along the same path when he suggested i make a Tomo ball. ;P
Materials - I suggest MJDesigns or a similar craft store
Long feathers of approximately black and white coloring
Green rhinestones for crown
Green beads for hair
Epoxy for gluing it all together
Red, Gold, Blue, Black, and White paints, and
2 Black drapery tassels (one large, other small).
How to make a Tomo antenna ball
1. Get all supplies mentioned above together.
2. Using scissors or an exacto-knife snip end of jack's crown off to
produce hole to place Tomo's pony-tail in.
3. Snip smaller drapery tassel at it's bound end producing lots of
shortish black threads.
4. Spread adequate amount of epoxy on small area of the back of jack's
head and slowly add drapery tassel threads to produce Tomo's hair that is
pulled up into the crown (this will probably take a while and the threads
will tend to want to stick together). When done, snip excess length of
threads to produce realistic hair line at "neck."
5. Put a crap-load of epoxy on bound end of the larger drapery tassel and
inner shaft of jack's remaining crown.
6. Smoosh tassel in open hole of jack's crown and hold it until it
dries.
7. Glue four green rhinestones onto jack's crown, one at each cardinal
point.
8. In pencil trace out pattern of Tomo's makeup on jack's face (be sure to
have removed jack's eyes and mouth if they haven't already fallen off with
wear). Also draw in eyes and a mouth.
9. Paint the white base paint first (i didn't, but it would probably be
better to do so first). Follow with remaining colors using the gold for
his eyes. ^_^ Keep touching up until you are completely happy with
results.
10. Snip about four threads from very back of Tomo's ponytail for use as
his side-hair-pieces (no one will notice).
11. With a unbent paper clip (or better implement) with one small loop at
the end, enlarge the hole of the hair beads if neccessary (be careful not
to bust the beads with too much force).
12. Place center of two or so long drapery threads in loop of paper clip
and pull through bead. This will cause it to look like there are four
threads (assuming you used 2) going through the bead.
13. Snip loop in end of threads and epoxy to side of head near temples
(try to make the threads line up realistically with the hair line near the
face).
14. Pick your two favorite feathers from pack and snip to realistic length
or just before it gets too "puffy" near the end (or beginning depending on
how you look at it). Glue to exposed inner side of crown and position
flairing back and up a bit.
That should be it! Sit back and enjoy the fruits of your labor. This is what your own Tomo-chan
will look like:
I hope you enjoyed this little project of mine...i know i did. oh yeah, upon completing my tomo ball, i realized putting him back up on my antenna would be a BAD idea so he is now happily hanging from the bar between my kitchen and living room.
Things to considering adding:
1)tiny little peacock feathers to go at base of long feathers
2)shaping of crown to look more like tomo's (peaks and spikes)
3)longer side hair pieces (as long as his ponytail hair)
4)tiny little styrofoam balls to fill his crown area
