# Reindeer Mask with Animated Eyes

## Overview

This project shows you how to create a "living" mask, great for display, a holiday party, or for a spooky Halloween costume.

![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/067/103/medium800/adafruit_products_Dano_Reindeer_Mask_ORIG_01_2018_12_copy.jpg?1544049321)

For this project you will need a mask that you're willing to modify. [This foam reindeer mask ](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CR7TSBX/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_U_x_LBA.BbQCMN0CT)is excellent for this purpose, because it is easy to cut and poke holes in for the purposes of outfitting it with electronics. 

## Parts
![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/066/981/medium800thumb/adafruit_products_IMG_9856.2018-12-03_17_13_39.jpg?1543875240)

### Adafruit HalloWing M0 Express

[Adafruit HalloWing M0 Express](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3900)
[This is Hallowing..this is Hallowing... Hallowing! Hallowing! ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGiYxCUAhks&t=39s)

Are you the kind of person who doesn't like taking down the skeletons and spiders until after January? Well, we've got the development board for...

In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3900)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/3900/guides)
![Video of a blinking eye on a Adafruit HalloWing M0 Express.](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/product-videos/640x480/3900-07.jpg)

### Convex Plastic Lens with Edge

[Convex Plastic Lens with Edge](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3917)
The eyes have it! Add this little lens to make a big expression with our Spooky Eyes demo for microcontrollers or Raspberry Pi. These are plastic lenses, with brilliant clarity and a nice convexity (is that a word?) They've even got a lip-edge so you can mount them easily with a 38mm...

In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3917)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/3917/guides)
![Angled shot of small, circular convex lens.](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/640x480/3917-00.jpg)

### USB cable - USB A to Micro-B

[USB cable - USB A to Micro-B](https://www.adafruit.com/product/592)
This here is your standard A to micro-B USB cable, for USB 1.1 or 2.0. Perfect for connecting a PC to your Metro, Feather, Raspberry Pi or other dev-board or microcontroller

Approximately 3 feet / 1 meter long

In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/592)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/592/guides)
![USB cable - USB A to Micro-B - 3 foot long](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/640x480/592-01.jpg)

### Lithium Ion Polymer Battery Ideal For Feathers - 3.7V 400mAh

[Lithium Ion Polymer Battery Ideal For Feathers - 3.7V 400mAh](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3898)
Lithium-ion polymer (also known as 'lipo' or 'lipoly') batteries are thin, light, and powerful. The output ranges from 4.2V when completely charged to 3.7V. This battery has a capacity of **400mAh** for a total of about 1.9 Wh. If you need a larger (or smaller!)...

In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3898)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/3898/guides)
![Slim Lithium Ion Polymer Battery 3.7v 400mAh with JST 2-PH connector and short cable](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/640x480/3898-05.jpg)

### STEMMA Cable - 4 Pin JST-PH 2mm Cable–Female/Female

[STEMMA Cable - 4 Pin JST-PH 2mm Cable–Female/Female](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3568)
This 4-wire cable is a little over 150mm / 6" long and fitted with JST-PH female 4-pin connectors on each end. These types of JST cables are commonly found on small rechargeable battery packs, RC receivers and transmitters, tiny cameras, and other small electronic devices

We're...

Out of Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3568)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/3568/guides)
![Angled shot of 150mm/6" long 4-Pin JST-PH Cable](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/640x480/3568-05.jpg)

### Premium Female/Female Jumper Wires - 20 x 6" (150mm)

[Premium Female/Female Jumper Wires - 20 x 6" (150mm)](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1950)
These female-female jumper wires are handy for making wire harnesses or jumpering between headers on PCB's. These premium jumper wires are 6" (150mm) long and come in a 'strip' of 20 (2 pieces of each of ten rainbow colors). They have 0.1" female header contacts...

In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1950)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/1950/guides)
![Top view of Premium Female/Female Jumper Wires - 20 x 6 (150mm) folded and fanned out.](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/640x480/1950-02.jpg)

### Hook-up Wire Spool Set - 22AWG Solid Core - 6 x 25 ft

[Hook-up Wire Spool Set - 22AWG Solid Core - 6 x 25 ft](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1311)
Perfect for bread-boarding, free wiring, etc. This box contains 6 spools of solid-core wire. The wire is easy to solder to and when bent it keeps its shape pretty well. We like to have a few spools of this stuff around which is why this set is quite nice! We suggest picking up wire strippers...

In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1311)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/1311/guides)
![Hook-up Wire Spool Set in box with 6 colorful wires coming out](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/640x480/1311-04.jpg)

## Materials

- Mask
- Fishing line or string
- Hot glue gun
- [Double sided foam tape](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003W0R4PE/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_U_x_Y2SGBb4DV10TX)
- Ping pong ball (optional)

# Reindeer Mask with Animated Eyes

## Build the Circuit

Most of this project consists of using two [Adafruit HalloWing boards](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3900). Each board has an onboard processor and a nice LCD display. Adafruit has developed specialized software for displaying different types of blinking, moving eyes which move in unison if the two boards are wired together.

Before creating the mask, we first need to link two Hallowings together to create a realistic pair of synchronized eyes.

Follow [this guide to link and synchronize your eyes](https://learn.adafruit.com/synchronized-eyes-with-two-hallowings/wiring-2). 

Info: 

![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/066/843/medium800/adafruit_products_Screen_Shot_2018-11-29_at_2.15.33_PM.png?1543615739)

You can choose from a variety of eyes, experimenting with what versions you like best. For this project we will be using the DEER eyes, to match the reindeer theme (Human, Owl, Cat, and Nauga eyes are also available). 

When you plug a HalloWing board into your computer (PC/mac/Linux), press reset so that you see a flash drive connected to your computer in the file explorer/finder named **HALLOBOOT** ; If you see a drive named **CIRCUITPY** , press reset again, the drive should eject and then show up again as a new drive named **HALLOBOOT**.

Download the UF2 file below and drag it onto each HalloWing's **HALLOBOOT** flash drive (you will need to do this separately to each of the HalloWings). 

[2EYES-DEER.UF2](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/066/842/original/2EYES-DEER.UF2?1543615581)
Power up your HalloWing and make sure both eyes come on.

Once you've confirmed they are working, move on to the next step of adding an LED to the circuit.

![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/066/353/medium800thumb/adafruit_products_IMG_9535.2018-11-21_17_28_20.jpg?1542840912)

## Add an LED

Using female/female 0.1" jumpers, connect the ** GND** and  **V+** pins on the JST 3-PH  **SENSE**  port to the LED. 

Include a resistor with a value in the 47 ohm - 75 ohm range in the circuit (this will protect the LED). Choosing a higher resistor value will result in a dimmer LED. 

![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/066/728/medium800/adafruit_products_rudolph_bb.png?1543600657)

When you're finished, your circuit should look like this:

![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/066/541/medium800/adafruit_products_IMG_9647.jpg?1543439373)

# Reindeer Mask with Animated Eyes

## Modify the Mask

Once you've got your circuit built and tested, it's time to prepare your mask to install the electronics.

Depending on the type of mask you have, you may be able to skip or adapt some of these steps to suit the differences in your particular mask. 

## Widen eye holes

 

Trace the outline of the lens.

 

Cut about 1/4" inside the outline you've drawn, so the lens doesn't fall through.

 

Press lenses into eye socket, adjust size of hole as necessary using diagonal clippers.

 

Use a line of hot glue around the rim of the lens to hold it securely in place.

![adafruit_products_IMG_9714.jpg](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/066/964/medium640/adafruit_products_IMG_9714.jpg?1543863393)

![adafruit_products_IMG_9659.jpg](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/066/965/medium640/adafruit_products_IMG_9659.jpg?1543863413)

![adafruit_products_IMG_9657.jpg](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/066/966/medium640/adafruit_products_IMG_9657.jpg?1543863432)

![adafruit_products_IMG_9652.jpg](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/066/520/medium640/adafruit_products_IMG_9652.jpg?1543420696)

![adafruit_products_IMG_9653.jpg](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/066/521/medium640/adafruit_products_IMG_9653.jpg?1543420747)

![adafruit_products_IMG_9656.jpg](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/066/522/medium640/adafruit_products_IMG_9656.jpg?1543420764)

## Add fishing line

 

Thread fishing line or string above and below eye socket.

 

This will hold the Hallowing in place tight against lens.

![adafruit_products_IMG_9660.jpg](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/066/524/medium640/adafruit_products_IMG_9660.jpg?1543420877)

![adafruit_products_IMG_9662.jpg](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/066/525/medium640/adafruit_products_IMG_9662.jpg?1543420977)

## Add LED

 

Cut a hole for the 10mm red LED, snipping through the back of the nose. 

 

Insert the LED through this hole.

![adafruit_products_IMG_9716.jpg](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/066/847/medium640/adafruit_products_IMG_9716.jpg?1543618538)

![adafruit_products_IMG_9720.jpg](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/066/856/medium640/adafruit_products_IMG_9720.jpg?1543619022)

![adafruit_products_IMG_9719.jpg](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/066/857/medium640/adafruit_products_IMG_9719.jpg?1543619057)

![adafruit_products_IMG_9722.jpg](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/066/858/medium640/adafruit_products_IMG_9722.jpg?1543619108)

# Reindeer Mask with Animated Eyes

## Connect the Electronics

Cable management is a big factor with anything that is going to go on your face. The use of some twist-ties or tape to gather all your wires together can be helpful in keeping them in order.

![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/066/969/medium800/adafruit_products_IMG_0780.jpg?1543869173)

## Tie down the eyes

 

Use fishing line to tie Hallowings to inside of mask.

 

Check that all your wires are still connected as they should be.

 

If you need to change the code on either of the HalloWings, you can still connect a micro USB cable to them while they're in the mask, just make sure your ties are loose enough.

![adafruit_products_IMG_0781.jpg](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/066/973/medium640/adafruit_products_IMG_0781.jpg?1543869560)

![adafruit_products_IMG_0782.jpg](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/066/974/medium640/adafruit_products_IMG_0782.jpg?1543869605)

![adafruit_products_IMG_0784.jpg](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/066/975/medium640/adafruit_products_IMG_0784.jpg?1543869828)

Use a small piece of double sided foam tape to stick the small 400mAh battery to the inside of the mask.

![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/066/970/medium800/adafruit_products_IMG_0776.jpg?1543869246)

Your mask should now have everything it needs to run! A rectangle of felt (or a folded paper towel) will work to pad the interface between the mask's electronics and your face.

![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/066/968/medium800/adafruit_products_IMG_0774.jpg?1543868595)

## Nose diffusion

 

Optionally, you can slice up a ping pong ball to create a diffuser for Rudolph's nose.

 

A few dabs of hot glue work to hold the diffuser in place over the LED.

![adafruit_products_IMG_9846.jpg](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/066/959/medium640/adafruit_products_IMG_9846.jpg?1543861625)

![adafruit_products_IMG_9850.jpg](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/066/960/medium640/adafruit_products_IMG_9850.jpg?1543861658)

![adafruit_products_IMG_9849.jpg](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/066/961/medium640/adafruit_products_IMG_9849.jpg?1543861667)

![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/066/844/medium800thumb/adafruit_products_Untitled1.2018-11-30_16_49_55.jpg?1543616834)

Have fun hanging your Rudolph mask on a wall, or wearing it around.

Warning: 

![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/067/105/medium800thumb/adafruit_products_Reindeer_dance.2018-12-05_17_43_10.jpg?1544049830)


## Featured Products

### Adafruit HalloWing M0 Express

[Adafruit HalloWing M0 Express](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3900)
[This is Hallowing..this is Hallowing... Hallowing! Hallowing! ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGiYxCUAhks&t=39s)

Are you the kind of person who doesn't like taking down the skeletons and spiders until after January? Well, we've got the development board for...

In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3900)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/3900/guides)
### Lithium Ion Polymer Battery Ideal For Feathers - 3.7V 400mAh

[Lithium Ion Polymer Battery Ideal For Feathers - 3.7V 400mAh](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3898)
Lithium-ion polymer (also known as 'lipo' or 'lipoly') batteries are thin, light, and powerful. The output ranges from 4.2V when completely charged to 3.7V. This battery has a capacity of **400mAh** for a total of about 1.9 Wh. If you need a larger (or smaller!)...

In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3898)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/3898/guides)
### STEMMA Cable - 4 Pin JST-PH 2mm Cable–Female/Female

[STEMMA Cable - 4 Pin JST-PH 2mm Cable–Female/Female](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3568)
This 4-wire cable is a little over 150mm / 6" long and fitted with JST-PH female 4-pin connectors on each end. These types of JST cables are commonly found on small rechargeable battery packs, RC receivers and transmitters, tiny cameras, and other small electronic devices

We're...

Out of Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3568)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/3568/guides)
### Convex Plastic Lens with Edge

[Convex Plastic Lens with Edge](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3917)
The eyes have it! Add this little lens to make a big expression with our Spooky Eyes demo for microcontrollers or Raspberry Pi. These are plastic lenses, with brilliant clarity and a nice convexity (is that a word?) They've even got a lip-edge so you can mount them easily with a 38mm...

In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3917)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/3917/guides)
### Convex Glass Lens with Edge - 40mm Diameter

[Convex Glass Lens with Edge - 40mm Diameter](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3853)
The eyes have it! Add this little lens to make a big expression with our Spooky Eyes demo for microcontrollers or Raspberry Pi. These are gorgeous glass (_not plastic/acrylic!_) lenses, with brilliant clarity and a nice convexity (is that a word?) They've even got a lip-edge so you...

In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3853)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/3853/guides)
### Diffused Red 10mm LED (25 pack)

[Diffused Red 10mm LED (25 pack)](https://www.adafruit.com/product/845)
Need some big indicators? We are big fans of these huge diffused red LEDs. They are fairly bright so they can be seen in daytime, and from any angle. They go easily into a breadboard and will add that extra zing to your project.

- Pack of 25 diffused red LEDs
- 10mm...

No Longer Stocked
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/845)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/845/guides)
### Premium Female/Female Jumper Wires - 20 x 6" (150mm)

[Premium Female/Female Jumper Wires - 20 x 6" (150mm)](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1950)
These female-female jumper wires are handy for making wire harnesses or jumpering between headers on PCB's. These premium jumper wires are 6" (150mm) long and come in a 'strip' of 20 (2 pieces of each of ten rainbow colors). They have 0.1" female header contacts...

In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1950)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/1950/guides)
### Flush diagonal cutters

[Flush diagonal cutters](https://www.adafruit.com/product/152)
These are the best diagonal cutters, large super-comfortable grip to use and have strong nippers for perfect trimming of wires and leads. I've used my pair every day for years.

In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/152)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/152/guides)

## Related Guides

- [Adafruit Hallowing M0](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-hallowing.md)
- [Creating Custom Symbol Fonts for Adafruit GFX Library](https://learn.adafruit.com/creating-custom-symbol-font-for-adafruit-gfx-library.md)
- [The Great Seal Mask](https://learn.adafruit.com/the-great-seal-mask.md)
- [3D Printed Starro Face Mask](https://learn.adafruit.com/3d-printed-starro-face-mask.md)
- [Hallowing Minotaur Maze](https://learn.adafruit.com/hallowing-minotaur-maze.md)
- [HalloWing Flapping Bat](https://learn.adafruit.com/hallowing-flapping-bat.md)
- [AdaBox 009](https://learn.adafruit.com/adabox009.md)
- [Last-Minute Halloween Accoutrements with HalloWing](https://learn.adafruit.com/last-minute-halloween-accoutrements-with-hallowing.md)
- [Tiny Museum Tour Device](https://learn.adafruit.com/tiny-museum-tour-device.md)
- [Hocus Pocus Book - Hallowing Eye](https://learn.adafruit.com/hocus-pocus-book-eye.md)
- [HalloWing Case](https://learn.adafruit.com/hallowing-case.md)
- [Glowing Mirror Mask](https://learn.adafruit.com/glowing-mirror-mask.md)
- [Getting Started with HalloWing for Hackaday Supercon Attendees](https://learn.adafruit.com/getting-started-with-hallowing-for-hackaday-supercon-attendees.md)
- [Terminator Eyeball Upgrade](https://learn.adafruit.com/terminator-eyeball-upgrade.md)
- [Introducing Adafruit Feather](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-feather.md)
- [HalloWing Magic 9 Ball](https://learn.adafruit.com/hallowing-magic-9-ball.md)