May 3

Earn an extra entry!

Hey geek crafters! Do you want to earn an extra entry to win a copy of World of Geekcraft? Here’s what you have to do:

  1. Go to the original post, right here.
  2. Leave a comment in response to someone else’s comment.
  3. Gain a new friend *and* an extra entry :)

Contest reminder: we’ll be picking a winner at random at midnight this Friday.

Category: Craft, Geek | Comments Off on Earn an extra entry!
May 3

Tutorial Tuesday! DOUBLE FEATURE!! Monsties and “World of Geekcraft” excerpt

I’m just getting crochet-envy now! Check out these adorable Amigurumi mini-monsters (or Monsties, if you will) Created by crocheting blogger and fellow English person EssHaych AKA Sarah from Essex…. I went to university in Essex… small world… anyhow….

You’ll have to know something about crochet (unlike me) but she’s offering the pattern for how to make these cute little critters for free over on her blog! She’s also put together a bright, clear photo tutorial to help you make those pesky legs.

These are just adorable. If I lived in a Studio Ghibli Film I would completely have a little group of them following me around everywhere I go…

World of Geekcraft by Susan BealSTOP THE PRESS!!

I got a second one for you! being that this is the Week of the World of Geekcraft (for all you wonderful people on the WorldWideWeb watching these words … uh oh.. I fell into an alliteration hole) I feel it’s my duty to point you towards the book excerpt that was featured on the Craftzine Blog yesterday.

In their celebration of the launch of the book, Craftzine are giving away a free tutorial from the book for how to craft your own “Pow!”  “Zap!” comic book fridge magnets.

Now while you’re passing the fridge, you can remind yourself that you are not a domestic Goddess, you are a domestic Superhero (key difference? superheroes can eat chocolate cheesecake… goddesses can’t they’re incorporeal! … hah! in your FACE goddesses!)

 

 

 

May 3

Paper-Cut Hellraiser Puzzle Box

 paper cut hellraiser puzzle boxClive Barker’s cult film series Hellraiser gave the horror genre two iconic images: ol’ Pinhead himself (the patron monster of all sewers, perhaps?), and the Lament Configuration puzzle box.

Michigan-based paper crafter Marcey Mercado beautifully captured the intricate designs of the infamous box by cutting gold vellum. It seriously looks like you could reach out and grab it!

This piece is one-of-a-kind, and Marcey has no plans to make another. I can’t say I blame her. Cutting out all those tiny details must have been as torturous as…well, as opening up a puzzle box!

Category: Craft, Geek, Horror & Gore, Movies | Comments Off on Paper-Cut Hellraiser Puzzle Box
May 2

World of Geekcraft

Today is an exciting day at Geek Crafts! Our own Susan Beal, who blogs here every Wednesday, has a new book being released this week. The fittingly titled  World of Geekcraft is making its debut appearances for the Official Blog Tour both here at Geek Crafts and over at  Craft!

World of Geekcraft by Susan Beal

In addition to doing an incredible job with coordinating and designing this amazing book, Susan also was able to contribute several of her own projects. Of her contributions, my favorite is the Star Wars Terrariums. I believe when Susan told me she was making these I replied with a hearty, “Hell, yeah, I can’t wait to see those!” Here they are for you to see:

World of Geekcraft - Star Wars Terrariums by Susan Beal

Our Renee contributed an awesome essay called The Resurgence of Atari and Nintendo.

World of Geekcraft - The Resurgence of Atari and Nintendo by Renee Pickup

Here’s an excerpt:

A big part of the renewed popularity of Atari and NES games lies within the breakthrough idea that it’s actually cool to be geeky. The word “geek” has transitioned from describing someone wearing a pocket protector to someone who is hip, in the know, and totally capable of keeping up with technology. With new video game consoles, cell phones, and computers coming out faster than most people can keep up with, being a geek has its advantages. As loads of average Joes jump on the geek-chic bandwagon, it seems the hardcore geeks feel the need to separate themselves; perhaps wearing an old Atari logo is a way of saying, “Yeah, I was here first.”

And I was lucky enough to contribute a fuse bead portrait of Buffy the Vampire Slayer! Doing these portraits is a long process and I like to do them row by row. Here you can witness Buffy gradually showing her face:

World of Geek Craft - Buffy the Vampire Slayer by Shayne Rioux

Over 10,000 beads later, I had a complete portrait:

World of Geekcraft - Buffy the Vampire Slayer by Shayne Rioux

I know 10,000 beads seems like a lot of work – and it is! – but it’s totally worth it to see the finished product.

Krys and I headed out today and spotted World of Geekcraft in its natural habitat, Barnes & Noble:

World of Geekcraft in the Wild

If your local bookstore doesn’t have World of Geekcraft yet, you can buy it online at:

After poring through the whole book, I’ve decided my absolute favorite project is Garth Johnson’s Planet Commemorative Plates. I’m totally going to make these for my husband’s computer lab.

World of Geekcraft - Planet Commemorative Plates by Garth Johnson

Continue following The Blog Book as it makes tracks to the following websites:

Also visit the official site for the book – worldofgeekcraft.com.

And last but not least, we have a copy of World of Geekcraft to give away to one lucky reader!

Leave a comment telling us your favorite geeky thing by midnight, Friday, May 6th, and we’ll pick a winner at random.

May 1

Plants vs Zombies Treasury

This week PopCap released a new game, Unpleasant Horse. In honour of it, here is an Etsy Treasury of one of PopCaps awesome games, Plants vs Zombies. Be sure to click the picture to go to the treasury and check out all the cool links!

Category: Computers, Craft, Games, Geek, Video Games | Comments Off on Plants vs Zombies Treasury
May 1

Crafting Valhalla

Thor movie posterWith the premiere of the movie Thor this week, I thought I’d highlight some viking crafts. As my paternal grandfather was a full-blood Swede, I think it only fitting, ja?  :)

Chandra Willis created a stylish infant-toddler viking helmet (though her model does not appear to agree) – find her knitting pattern at Hot Potato Knits.

Yarn manufacturer Bernat offers a crochet version of a warrior baby helmet (Ravelry link, login required), with which I am completely in love, and which has me eying every baby head in near vicinity with crafting glee.

Traci Heiner worked up a pattern for a dishcloth featuring Thor’s Hammer – known as Mjolnir – and kindly provides a link to the Wikipedia entry to learn more about its symbolism.

Amigurumi viking doll projectNeedleNoodles offers an amigurumi viking pattern (left), as a free expansion pack pattern to her Creepy Cute Crochet book.

In the new-to-me craft category, a Viking Knitting tutorial from janraven on Etsy. Since the tutorial features 75 photo step-outs, it’s probably a good thing janraven also offers the finished Viking Knit Hoop earrings in her Etsy shop.

And finally, Cheryl Herrick (aka “crankycheryl”) shares her version of a Viking birthday party, complete with duct tape Viking helmets, a catapault, and a Viking long boat made of chocolate chip pound cake. Complete epic-ness.

Oh, and a side geek-note? Chris Hemsworth, the actor who is playing Thor in the forthcoming movie, also played George Kirk in the 2009 reboot of Star Trek, and is currently working on Joss Whedon‘s Avengers, also as Thor. Nice.

Viking crafts previously linked on GeekCrafts: