Year: 2009

Casting Resin Rings – CRAFT Video Podcast

Casting Resin Rings – CRAFT Video Podcast

In this video I walk through the process of making rings out of clear polyester resin, a type of moldable plastic. I show you everything from mold-making to embedments. I used this same technique to make my RFID rings, which are clear plastic containing unique microchips useful for electronics projects where you want to identify a specific person wearing one. Thanks to Townsend Atelier for the sample of Knead-a-Mold, a welcomed (and much easier to work with) alternative to pourable silicone for mold-making.

CRAFT: 09 Preview the Green Issue – CRAFT Video Podcast

CRAFT: 09 Preview the Green Issue – CRAFT Video Podcast

Here’s a video tour of CRAFT Magazine issue 9. Check out the special Green Craft section with 21 projects with an eco-groove. Learn to fuse recycled plastic bags to make a tote bag and hat, make folded fabric gift wraps, and even learn the basics of hydroponic gardening! Make a secret stash box from vintage books and add LEDs to light up your embroidery. Even learn how to use Google’s free 3D modeling software, Sketchup! Craftzine readers can now get $5 off a yearly subscription by entering the code MCRAFT. That’s just $29.95 for 4 quarterly issues! http://craftzine.com/subscribe

Twitchie Scorpion

Twitchie Scorpion

I made this scorpion toy with a Twitchie Robot Kit. I’m really afraid of scorpions where I live in Arizona, so I thought a friendly toy would help me get used to them. I made his plush body from some fabric I had around, aiming to make him look like an Arizona bark scorpion, which are tan/yellowish/translucent. Twitchie is Arduino powered and comes pre-programmed, so it’s an excellent kit for beginners in robotics, because no programming is required! You can download and modify the code if you want, and it’s pretty light on the soldering, too. I’d recommend Twitchie for young makers (boys & girls, too!) interested in robotics or moving plush toys. You can buy the Twitchie Robot Kit in the Maker Shed:
http://www.makershed.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=MKTET2

Music is “At the Crack of Noon” by Shuutobi, http://shuutobi.com