Dixie Cup Bats

My six year old nephew dawdles.  He has his own sense of time and of what’s important.  While I’m rushing him in the morning to get dressed, eat breakfast, brush his teeth, etc., he has his own agenda.  He handed me this the other morning in the midst of my hurrying him along….

I had to stop and marvel at it.  Its a bat made from a dixie cup.  He made it on the spur of the moment.  Opened the cup up, got a marker, drew and created a little vampire bat. 

Pretty cool.  He took a look at on object, saw its potential and created something completely different than the original out of it – wow.  I still marvel at the simplicity of it.

Skull Crayons!

How do I make these you ask? I take nasty bits of broken black and grey crayons and force them into molds with the severed pieces of brighter and once happier crayons. I then climb to the tower  ….. why, yes I do have a tower on my lovely home… how silly of you to ask….  Where was I, oh yes…. I climb to the top of my tower, on a dark and stormy night and wait for a bolt of lightning to strike and fuse them  …. into …. into  (cue the organ music)…. Skull Crayons!!!! bwahahahahaha …. (…altho’ they do look a little zombiesh to me).

These are perfect for Halloween treats especially if you don’t want kids wired on sugar.   This is a set of 8 crayon skulls made from only 100% Crayola crayons (so I know they’re safe for kids to use). They are all different and the colors within the black and grey will vary. The size of each skull is approximately 1.25 inches by 1 inch by about 3/8 of inch deep.  I can package them as one unit or individually clearly marked as crayons  so no one is tempted to pop it in their mouths – altho’ they are non-toxic, nasty tasting, but non-toxic – don’t ask how I know they’re nasty-tasting…. just take my word for it.

Click here or on the skulls to go buy some!

Fall beckons….

Yes its still 103 degrees outside and everything is parched and blanched, but inside I’ve decided its autumn.  Smell that?  The ever so slight scents of cinnamon and dried eucalyptus wafting by on the early morning breeze – craft season is afoot!!  In my head its October.  Its time to get creative and start making things.  This year I’ve decided to work on fairy items so I spent the weekend making a big old batch of fairy and wizard soaps and  fairy crayons….

I made my own mold using Amazing Mold Putty and have been experimenting with different ways of melting the crayons.  It is really a labor intensive process.  It takes at least 3 full crayons per one fairy crayon.  Peeling the paper is the first step.  Not as easy as it sounds.  I have found slitting the paper with a knife or razor blade speeds up the peeling process tremendously.  I also am using only Crayola, made in the USA crayons.  My first attempt at melting crayons I used some generic crayons, made in Thailand.  I found after taking the paper off of 60 some crayons that my fingertips were tingly.  After that, just to be on the safe side, I went with Crayola and my fingertips aren’t tingly anymore.

I tried various ways of melting the crayons but finally settled on a double boiler method with a Wilton bottle made for melting candy to be used in molding and a pair of tongs. The microwave is faster but a little dicey.  I was able to create five molds from two packets of the Mold Putty.  This stuff is a bit expensive and there were a few not so good molds that got tossed. The volume of crayons produced at any one time is very small.  Each fairy crayon ends up looking slightly different due to colors used, drying times and pouring.  Click on the picture to go to my Etsy shop.  I’m not sure how many of these I will make for the lure of faux-fall and other projects beckons*…..

*And to show you how easily I get distracted – did you know that origin of the word “beckon” —  ORIGIN Old English bīecnan, bēcnan; related to beacon …. makes me think of a far off point of light in the hills at night, calling you to come see…. kind of like fairies luring you in…..

Vampire Baseball

Let me preface this by saying I have never read Twilight, have no intention of reading Twilight and have not seen the movie.  The subject matter just holds no appeal for me.  The only reason I might be convinced to read the book is because of this wonderful hand-painted t-shirt from the shop of SugarandSpiceTees over at Etsy.   Just click on the images to be transported over there to have a look see.

Its such a great image.  She has it available in t-shirt and tank top style – both in medium for kids (but I’m sure she’d make you one in your size if you ask).  I’m waiting for the ACEO of the image (clears throat – did you hear that Sugarandspicetees? I’m waiting…..)

And if you are very much into the whole Twilight thing – here are some gorgeous looking book beads inspired by Twilight over at Boofolobeads.

Some more shameless self promotion…

From my Etsy shop, back by popular demand – its the Potions Master’s  Pouch.  Click on the pictures to go to the shop.  I’ve sold a couple of these before – but this one is a bit different.  Its not a drawstring bag.  The tie is attached on the outside and can be wrapped and tied as you like.  I think it allows for greater flexibility in storing your secrets away.  

 

On the outside, the Potions Master’s pouch is deep black with buttons on one side and a black ribbon to tie up all his secrets nice and tight. Inside, the lining is made of a sheer, shimmering green that peeks through the closure to remind him of his beloved’s eyes.
   

 

Measuring 8 inches by 7.5 inches, this is a lovely little bag to hide your potions, your secrets . . . and perhaps even can be used as a gift bag for that Snape lover’s birthday.  

And its only $8.50!  What to put inside you ask?  Well, how about some Slytherin book beads from Boofolobeads Etsy shop.

Boof also has a whole Harry Potter inspired section at her store – check it out:  Click here.  (and the book beads are only $5.00!)

How about a Snapey card from my shop to go along with all the gifts.  

Actually, forget giving these as gifts – keep them for yourself.  

Alright – shameless self-promotion is over .. now run over to the Etsy shop and see what else we have… 

Rubeus’ Pouch

Where does the Care of Magical Creatures professor keep treats for Buckbeak or Fang? Why in this furry pouch of course! The pouch is made from the fur of Ursus Theodorus – a magical creature prone to picnics in the woods*. This extra soft curly fur pouch is also perfect for holding one’s treasures or could be used as a gift bag for that Hagrid fan’s gift (Valentine, birthday or just because gift). The pouch measures 10 x 9 inches and has a wavy linen colored band attached at one end that can be used to close up the pouch so nothing gets out. 
A little tag with the pouch information is also included.

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*Not to worry – not one Ursus Theodorus was harmed in the making of this pouch. They magically change their fur once a year as they grow leaving perfectly shaped fur images of themselves behind (this is where teddy bears come from doncha’ know).

Click on the image to go to my store and purchase it for a mere $7.00 plus shipping.  I’ve decided to be even more shameless in promoting my Etsy store items.  This was the purpose of setting up the blog in the first place.

Love is Binary

A valentine for your computer nerd-type love

A Valentine card for all us computer geeks. Love is truly binary. The front of the card spells out “love” in binary code (twice, once on each heart). The inside of the card states “Love is Binary” and a simple* message in binary code can be added to customize it –just let me know what you’d like it to say and I’ll translate it into binary. I can enclose a list of several websites that have binary code translators or if you’d like, you can make your recipient work at solving the coded message on his or her own (no one said love is easy, right?)

This an original AMoonShadow design, 5 x 7 half fold card and comes with its own envelope. Click on the image and go order one for all your techy, nerdy, geeky, computer literate, fun-loving, intelligent, hip, nerdfighter, awesome friends

Geeky gift tags

The image of St. Geekius (patron saint of computer nerds, mathameticians, and geeks throughout the world – see his story below) is set onto a tag for your holiday gifting use. His image is on one side, leaving the other side blank for you to add your message. The thread or ribbon on St. Geeky (as I affectionately call him) is actually the wires from the inside of a computer mouse cable. I have found that each cable I cut open has different colored wires.  Its kind of interesting what you find when you start deconstructing these things.  Mouse cables appear to have four copper wires sheathed in different color plastics and what looks like a white thread as well.   I’m really trying to recycle every last bit of used computer equipment I have.)  I’m still trying to come with a use for the USB connectors… nothing has quite clicked yet… but watch this space… anyway I digress…

Click on the image to go to my Etsy store to buy the tags (2 for $3.00) so you can place it on the new iPod, laptop, cellphone, GPS locator or slide ruler that you are giving your favorite nerd.  Here’s St. Geekius’ tale:

“A most gifted mathematician and innovator, St. Geekius joined the monastery at an early age devoting himself to bettering the lives of his fellow monks, whether they wanted it or not. He is credited with inventing the pocket protector, the personal parchment computation book and a listening device that worked in theory only. His death was most untimely – crashing through a large blue stained glass window while in the midst of an unsolicited lecture on proper file storage. His last words were said to have been “do you want to save the file…” Rumors circulated that St. Geekius had been pushed. St. Geekius is the patron saint of all who use word processing and spreadsheet programs and computer geeks and science and math nerds everywhere.”

The Last Nerdy the Snowman

As you may or may not know, I recycle defunct computer mouses (mice?) into Christmas ornaments. This computer mouse just screamed “I’m a snowman, I’m a snowman” to me. (That’s right on occasion computer equipment speaks to me, okay?) Anyway, I paid attention and released the inner snowman with a little paint. Since he is no longer functional as a mouse, I removed his little mouse ball, used his cable as a hanger and added some festive ribbon.  Nerdy is now a Christmas ornament that would spruce up anyone’s tree – computer geek or not. 

Nerdy here is actually Nerdy the Second.  I made a Nerdy the First last year (top hat version).  Why you ask will this be the last Nerdy the Snowman – come on, I heard you – you want to know… okay, okay stop asking I’ll tell you.  Nerdy here is an old style Packard Bell mouse.  I’ve only found two of these so far in my scrounges.  I’ve become a bit of a connoisseur of computer mice.  Most computer mice are optical these days and the mechanical (ball-driven) mice are disappearing.  They used to come in all sorts of funky shapes now they are almost all the same size and shape and design. 

So Nerdy here may be one of a kind unless I come across another little round mouse asking to be a snowman.  He’s for sale at my Etsy Shop – feel free to go take a look around the shop: CLICK HERE    I have things in the shop for the geeks and the geeks at heart.

Merry Recycled Christmas to all!

The Festive Geek

This is the cousin of “Rudolf the Red-Nosed Computer Mouse” (see post dated 11/22/08) This computer mouse is more of a traditionalist – his antlers are candy cane red and white, he sports a jingly jingle bell on his head and he spells his name with a “ph.” (I was going to make a litmus joke there but that’s even too nerdy for me).  Click on the image to go to my store or click here:  ETSY

He has been drilled and glued and decked out in holiday finery ready to grace your Christmas tree, office or wherever a little geeky humor is necessary. Rudolph would love to find a home where being just a little different, a little nerdy and loving the holidays is appreciated.

Rudolph has had his little roller mouse ball removed so he is light enough to be hung just about anywhere (his cable has been looped to make a hanger).  

Got to go, there a couple of guys in white  jackets knocking on the door…..