Search Results for: paper crafts

October 8

Cross-stitching smileys; inspiring minds

About one million years ago I cross-stitched a whole bunch of forum smileys/emoticons and attached them to note cards for a massive Internet forum-based snail mail exchange. At the time I was pretty sure that what I was doing was ridiculous, but I was having fun, and these were only people on the Internet anyway, so who cared, right?!

Cross Stitch Emoticons

Today I received the nicest letter from one of the recipients that I’ve actually kept in touch with after all these years. In it, he explained that crafting had never occurred to him before he received my card, but that he loved it so much he tried out cross-stitch for himself (he actually sent me his first attempt – a Half-Life lambda icon), and that led to him trying out other crafts and projects from knitting, to papercraft, to electronics, and beyond!

So really what I wanted to share with you today was the thought that even though I was sure my little cross-stitch pixel-art cards were daft, they actually inspired someone out there to explore their own creativity, and that is AWESOME.

So keep crafting, folks – inspire away! And you know, looking back I reckon those emoticon cards were actually a pretty cool idea. If I do say so myself :)

Category: Computers, Craft, Geek, Internet Memes | 1 Comment on Cross-stitching smileys; inspiring minds
October 21

This scrapbook is bigger on the inside…

Dr. Who digital scrapbook kit by RetroDiva

Tracy Scherrer, aka RetroDiva, created this digital homage to Dr. Who. It includes digital scrapbook papers and elements to create all sorts of groovy Who-friendly paper crafts – don’t let the “scrapbooking” angle scare you away.

Perhaps this is just the kick in the pants you needed to host a Who-a-thon, so you can use this kit to create the invites? Or maybe you could use it to decoupage-decorate some canvas sneakers? Or maybe you know a big Who fan who needs a birthday card? What would you make with this kit?

Category: Computers, Craft, Geek, Sci-Fi, TV | 3 Comments on This scrapbook is bigger on the inside…
June 28

An Evening with Neil Gaiman

Sketch of Neil Gaiman and Adam SavageLast night, I had the extraordinary pleasure of attending “An Evening with Neil Gaiman,” in Berkeley, CA.

Not only was the audience graced with the company of the author himself, but the surprise addition of Mythbusters host Adam Savage as moderator made the night even more extraordinary.

Though the initial focus of the program was the 10th anniversary of American Gods, the conversation meandered through topics ranging from the pitfalls of publishing to Neil’s unabashed fanboy love for Dr. Who.

The night held a beautiful congruence of numerous energies, from the deliciously geeky to the downright mystical (hearing Neil read a passage from American Gods in a historic church made my scalp tingle).

If you ever have the chance to hear Mr. Gaiman speak, do yourself a favor and go. Between his dry sense of humor, his amazing storytelling abilities, and his easygoing manner, he’s remarkably fun to listen to.

Neil Gaiman quote letterpressIn honor this wonderful night, I found this simple, yet lovely letterpress print of a Neil Gaiman quote. It’s available from Fate Hope Destiny Luck Machine, an Etsy shop “operated by a circus artist and printmaker out of Portland, OR.” How friggin’ cool is that?

These may not be Neil’s exact words from last night, but the quote definitely captures the spirit.

[Sketch via Neil Gaiman’s WhoSay.]

 

Category: Books, Craft, Geek, Myths & Urban Legends | 2 Comments on An Evening with Neil Gaiman
January 1

Ouija Cheese Box

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Mandykaye of Michigan recently posted the Ouija Cheese Box she made as a gift for her sister-in-law. Mandykaye got her hands on some wooden cheese boxes from a local cheese shop for $3 each. She immediately had this project in mind when she saw them.

Her sister-in-law likes scrap-booking and taking photos, and you can never have enough good storage for your supplies, so she created this ouija board/box for her. She burned all the lettering. After stenciling and burning the letters, numbers, etc., she took a torch and burned around the edges of the top. She then applied some polyurethane clear coat finish. For the bottom part, Mandykaye blended some brown and bright blue acrylic paints to give sort of an antique patina to it, and then clear-coated that as well.

For the inside, she left it bare, with a bit of upholstery material to the bottom. With the humidity we get in Michigan, she didn’t want anything that could be sticky inside since her sister-in-law will most likely have photos and papers stored in there.

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August 29

In Honor of Gene Wilder

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Pick your favorite Gene Wilder movie. For me, it has always been a tie between “Young Frankenstein” and “Blazing Saddles.”

In honor of a greatly talented man, I present to you a one of a kind painting from “Young Frankenstein,” by Nate Micheals Art of Louisville, KY. This hand painted piece is of watercolors and ink on 140lb coldpress paper, and measures 11″ x 17.” It’s also signed by the artist.

And, by the way, one of my favorite “Blazing Saddles” quotes:

Jim: Look at my hand. [raises hand and holds it level]

Bart: Steady as a rock.

Jim: [raises his other hand, which is violently trembling] Yeah, but I shoot with this one.

Category: Craft, Geek | Comments Off on In Honor of Gene Wilder