Okay, so I wanted to make my game room a bit cooler, and I thought, “Why not an Arizona Cardinals neon light?” I’m a huge fan, and it seemed like a fun project. I started by looking for some inspiration online. I saw some really cool designs, but most were either too expensive or not exactly what I wanted.
So, I decided to try and make one myself. First, I needed a design. I sketched out the Cardinals logo on a piece of paper, trying to simplify it enough so it would translate well to a neon light. I didn’t want anything too complicated.
Next, I had to figure out the materials. I knew I needed some sort of backing. I considered wood, but ended up choosing a piece of clear acrylic I found at a local hardware store. It seemed sturdier and easier to work with. Then, for the “neon” part, I decided to go with EL wire (electroluminescent wire). It’s way safer than actual neon, and you can get it in tons of colors, including red, of course.
Once I had all my supplies, I got to work. I transferred my design onto the acrylic using a marker. Then, I carefully started shaping the EL wire along the lines of my drawing. This was definitely the trickiest part. I used small dabs of clear glue to hold the wire in place. It took a lot of patience, and a few re-dos, but I slowly started to see the Cardinal head taking shape.
- Sketch the design.
- Find acrylic and EL Wire.
- Transfer the design to the acrylic.
- Shape the EL Wire.
I used a lot of glue, and I mean a lot. Let each section dry before adding the next. I also made sure to trim any excess wire as I went. Once the entire logo was outlined with the EL wire, I needed to connect it to a power source. The EL wire kit I bought came with a small battery pack, so I just followed the instructions to attach it. It was pretty straightforward, just connecting a couple of wires.
The Big Moment
Finally, it was time for the big reveal. I flipped the switch on the battery pack, and… it worked! The Cardinal head glowed a bright, vibrant red. Honestly, it looked way better than I expected. It wasn’t perfect, there were a few wonky bits where the glue was visible, but overall, I was super happy with it. I now have a cool, custom-made Arizona Cardinals light for my game room, and I made it myself! It’s a great feeling when a DIY project actually turns out.