Sparkle Barbarian
18th September 2019
A sparkle barbarian costume centered around a glowing helmet

I was unpacking a spool of armature wire, which comes packaged as a double spiral, when a wonderful accident happened. As I grabbed each end an began to pull the spiral apart it formed into a perfect horn shape that fit around my head almost perfectly. Clearly, whatever else I was intending to make (as I write this I can’t even remember) couldn’t possibly be half as cool as these perfect horns. So I completely abandoned my other project and immediately pivoted to making a foam helmet with horns. Glowing horns. Glowing, wiggly, horns. Then I covered it with some holographic sequin fabric that was lying around the house.

After that, my path was clear. I had to make a full Sparkle Barbarian outfit. What other choice did I have?

Habib, smiling, with wire spirals on his head in the rough shape of horns.
It all started with a happy accident while unpacking some armature wire
A roughly made foam helmet with wire spiral horns loosely mounted.
Horn structure test fit on the foam helmet base
A foam helmet covered in holographic sequin fabric with spiral horns loosely mounted
Holographic sequin test fit
A foam helmet with mounted spiral horns and LED rings at the base of the horns
Horn structure and base lights mounted
A foam helmet with mounted sprial horns stuffed with poly batting to diffuse LEDs inside
Lighting test with poly-batting diffusers
A home made circuit on protoboard loosely mounted to the back of the foam helmet.
Mounted electronics
Foam helmet with home made circuit and battery mounted using foam straps
Final electronics and battery mounting
Assembled helmet with holographic sequin fabric covering and stuffed horns glowing with LEDs
Final helmet lighting test
Head shot of Habib smiling wearing the completed helmet with horns glowing.
It fits!
Habib's should from the front, and reflection in the mirror behind him, showing a white fur capelet mounted to a chest harness.
Every good helmet needs a cape
A white fur capelet lying upside down on a work surface with LED strips laid out vertically
Obviously the cape needs LEDs
A white fur capelet with LED strips glowing through the fur.
That's what I'm talking about