LED fading Help!

[paintlax21]

My school play needs a prop made, I have basic circuitry skills, can solder, understand most schematics, etc. There is a part in the play where the actor will open a box and LEDs will begin to blink randomly to make a magic effect. I think I am looking for more of a fade in/out effect than blinking. I also want to have a knob that will control how fast the LEDs will fade. Can you please help me out with how I would go about doing this. I have a PIC programmer if I need to use a PIC, also willing to purchase an arduino UNO if needed.


Thanks for all help in advance.

[KingMike_OS]

there you go 

http://www.makershed.com/product_p/mktnc1.htm

http://thingm.com/products/blinkm/quick-start-guide.html

[paintlax21]

Thank you so much, this is probably the most noob friendly solution I have found.