How to make fake glass, fun for making movies and more “…short and simple introduction to sugar glass making. Don’t be disheartened if the first time you try it it doesn’t look exactly as planned. Just persevere and eventually you will master the craft and then discover a thousand uses in your low budget feature for your easy-bake glass. Just don’t be eating it…” Thanks Plazmo! Link.
One of my predictions for 2006 was going to be that Apple embraces the Mac mini modder community in an interesting way, and now they crossed that one off my list before the new year! – check out their new section showcasing many of the cool mini projects (we’ve featured some of these on MAKE, but it’s awesome to see them on Apple). “Mac mini packs so much power and versatility into its tiny case that it’s no wonder people all over the world are finding fun new ways to use it. Here we highlight some of our favorites.” Link.
Rob sent in this great LED Menorah with a USB interface, the Maker J. Schrier writes – “It can correctly calculate the dates of Hannukah for at least the next few thousand years (or any historical date back to 2 B.C.E.). As well as “lighting” the candles based on when the sunsets (I set the default geography for San Francisco/Berkeley, but you can enter any latitude/longitude and (assuming you don’t live too close to the arctic circle) it will be correct to within a few minutes. Furthermore, the shamas (candle you use to light the other candles) can blink out any morse-code message you want It will convert the words to morse code for you!” Link.
Ok, we think most of the logistics have been solved with our AOL Instant Message bot, the MAKEbot. The MAKEbot delivers the best of MAKEZine.com, Flickr, Instructables and del.icio.us all via your buddy list. Click here to add the MAKEbot to your buddy list, then type help for a list of commands or just click here to subscribe. I’m also trying out this AIM code – it should tell you the status of the MAKEbot right in this post, so let’s see how it goes…There should be a little icon here –> . If there is, click’em and add’em. Lastly, the MAKEbot has a secret code if you can figure it out, it gives you a discount on MAKE and our new book Makers.
Reuse your old glass bottles and make a neat etched vase out of them. With vinyl stick-on letters and etching cream, you can create just about any kind of message on a bottle. A quick personalized gift idea for the holidays! Link.
Calling herself the “fashion nerd”, Designer Diana Eng brings her technology sense to the fashion world on the TV show “Project Runway” which can be seen every Wednesday nights at 10pm on Bravo. From the site, “She hopes to make the fashion-minded more interested in the research process and the scientific-minded more interested in fashion as a form of self-expression. Diana is currently co-creating an online show called iheartswitch.com, a do-it-yourself fashion website designed to switch girls onto technology by teaching them how to make accessories and apparel with embedded electronics from everyday supplies.” Not only do Diana’s creations incorporate technology in a useful and ingenious manner, they look amazing too! We can’t wait to watch tonight to see what she makes next. Thanks Kevin and Eliot! Project Runway and Link.
Here’s a great use of your old light bulbs. Make pal Ianiv writes,”When your light bulbs die, don’t throw them out. Make them into really cute ornaments. My fiance Arieanna made some really cute snowmen for our Christmas tree.” The complete instructions are on the site. Thanks Ianiv! Link.
