Geek Crafts

I may or may not have mentioned this before, but I’m a bit of a bird-nerd. I live with two cockatiels and a parakeet, and my current favorite thing is planning how I will go about raising ducks in my yard. My city recently made it legal to raise small poultry in residential areas, my neighbor used to have chickens, and my husband bought me a book on raising ducks for Christmas—tacit approval of this duck plan!

In celebration—and because I can’t keep my mind off ducks for long—I thought I’d share something awesome I just recently found on Etsy: the duck band as wedding ring.

Here are two examples (and their respective Etsy shops, tinahdee and bddesigns):

I really like the rings that my sweetie and I ended up with, but part of me wishes we’d seen these before the wedding. Such a fun idea, right?

(If you’re not a bird-nerd and want to know why this is funny at all, the US Geological Survey has a pretty great page about bird bands that I would encourage you to check out!)

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Maybe your boss is a real nag; maybe you like it when your other half nibbles on your earlobe, but I absolutely guarantee that neither of them have anything on these Piranha Plant earrings – they’ll really bite your ear off.

The carnivorous baddie has gotta be one of the most recognisable gamer-geek icons, having been in use since Super Mario Bros first hit the shops in 1985, so the earrings have a cool retro sort of vibe, announcing to the world your NES roots.

I’m always impressed by anyone who can sculpt, especially on such a teeny tiny scale, and these little monsters are so well made that you’d never guess they were hand crafted from polymer clay.

Creator Liz is obviously a real Nintendo gal, her Etsy shop LizGlizz is packed with Mario, Pokémon & Zelda paraphernalia and well worth checking out. Her shop is pretty low on stock at the moment, following the Christmas rush, but she’s crafting as I type, so I suggest you get bookmarking to be first in line once they’re back in store.

Youch! Piranha Plant Earrings

LizGlizz Etsy Store

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Twas knitting before Christmas, when all through the castle
Not a creature was stirring, not even a thestral.
The stockings were hung in the Great Hall with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.

The professors were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of butterbeers danced in their heads.
And Dumbledore dreaming of knitted socks,
And Hagrid of having cakes as hard as a rock.

When out on the staircase there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Past Filch and Mrs Norris who ran mad as hatters
To find that Professor Staarkatt had yarn and a pattern.

Fresh off the needles in various colors
Each pair just what the head of houses would order.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But miniature house scarfs to hang from your ears!

Burgundy and gold or green and silver
Other house color combinations so familiar
All it takes is needles in size zero
And a bit of perle cotton for your rows

“Now Hufflepuff! now, Gryffindor! Ravenclaw and Slytherin!
A wonderful way to finish your Hogwarts gift giving!
To the top of the towers! to the ends of the hall!
Now knit a pair! Knit two pair! Knit them for all!

As she posted the pattern, Professor Staarkatt did shout
“Make sure there’s a pair for McGonagall and Sprout!”
But I heard her exclaim, ‘ere she apparated out of sight,
“Happy Christmas to all and just knit through the night!”

• Staarkatt’s Blog

• Hogwart’s Miniature House Scarf Earrings

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Stargate SG-1 was one of the first geeky tv shows I ever became addicted to. That being said, I often find myself searching for cool crafty things that will help me show my love of this amazing exploration team. However, Stargate merchandise is fairly expensive, and crafts that have Stargate ties are few and far between.

So to help you on your journey to Stargate fandom-ness, here are a few things I’ve found that help show off our favorite wormhole jumping teams.

1: Stargate Themed Refrigerator Magnets
So that every time you open your fridge to get your filling of blue jell-o, you can be reminded of this amazing show.

2. Stargate Atlantis Chevron Earrings.
The Atlantis gate has always been my personal favorite gate. So these earrings that show off the Atlantis Chevron are at the top of my Stargate fan must-have list.

3: Jaffa Necklace
A beautiful handmade necklace with the Jaffa symbol

4: Stargate, For a Good Time Dial…
Looking for a way to lure that special geek? Wear this shirt. Achievement Unlocked!

5: Hello SG-1
What’s cuter than a Hello Kitty with a Jaffa symbol on their head? Nothing, I tell you.

6: Replicator Pendant
Be careful with this one, it’s a bit dangerous. Also, it’s kind of awesome.

7: SG-1 bag
This bag makes you easily recognizable to all the other Stargate fans.

8: Stargate Ring.
A great ring to wear when traveling to other planets. It lets the aliens know where your from. Though sometimes, that might be not be a good thing.

With all of this gear, you’re ready for a battle with a Wraith/Ori/Gou’ld…. Or at least ready to have a major Stargate marathon.

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As an avid Warehouse 13 fan, I’ve searched high and low for awesome Warehouse 13 crafts. The results are saddening.

However, I managed to come across this amazing Farnsworth necklace based off the communicators used by the agents of Warehouse 13. The Farnsworths, invented by Philo Farnsworth (inventor of the television), are a Warehouse exclusive. But now you can have your own, just hanging around your neck or pinned to your jacket.

Just be sure to answer when Artie calls.

• Buy Farnsworth Pendant/Pin
• Visit ugeekdesigns on Etsy.
• More TV crafts on GeekCrafts
• More Jewelry on GeekCrafts

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• Left 4 Dead Health Pack earrings

I like to think of myself as a helpful person.  I bring a net positive to most situations.

Except…
There is a specific circumstance during which, I have found, I am downright useless:

Zombie Apocalypses
Gentle reader, should there be a zombie apocalypse, you do not want me anywhere near you. I’ll be worthless.

I will stumble around with my pistols, clumsily shooting at your butt, and thrash about in Boomer Bile. And if you get hurt, oh goodness, if  you were to get hurt, I will have already used up my healthpack. By accident. When I was trying to equip a flashlight.
That is what brings us here, kids. I am loving these ‘lil Left 4 Dead polymer clay earrings. Hand sculpted, painted, and glazed, the earrings are mounted on pure silver fish-hooks. They are small and light-weight as well, so you can wear them comfortably. More importantly, you can wear them and dream that you are the kind of person that always has a spare healthpack with them and they’ll stay on, even if you’re carrying a flashlight. Everyone’s butts are safe!

Apocalypse, interrupted. You are a hero, Kristina Tuck.

There is a lot more video game inspired jewelry where these guys came from, so be sure to check out Ms. Tuck’s Etsy page.

• Left 4 Dead Health Pack earrings

• The Geek Keeper’s page on Etsy

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