invention

Thinking about a Maker Conference Center

Thinking about a Maker Conference Center

By Phil Shapiro

Phil Shapiro

Phil Shapiro is a maker and media maker in the Washingon DC area. He loves open source, digital storytelling and fixing up donated computers to deliver to people who need them. He can be reached at pshapiro@his.com and on Twitter @philshapiro.

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If makers designed their own conference center, what would it look like? In what ways would it improve the venues we now use for conferences?

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Cardboard: In Praise of an Underappreciated Material

Cardboard: In Praise of an Underappreciated Material

By Homemade Game Guru

Homemade Game Guru

As a fanatic crafting fan, inventor, author and designer, I just enjoy making new things for the fun of it! I operate an award-winning how-to You Tube channel called The Homemade Game Guru to share my love of creation with people worldwide. Utilizing cardboard in grandiose ways is my specialty.

I also run an unique online design class to help anyone create a Personal Family Tree Board Game. You can sign up for that class here.

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You might not be aware of it but your home has an infestation of the most abundant, versatile, free and under-utilized crafting and prototyping material ever made. A gift from the consumer driven economy we overlook everyday.

This material is sitting cluttered in scattered piles in the basement and in crawl spaces, is buried within dusty mounds in the garage and is waiting to be discarded while overflowing in the recycling bin.

The material I am referring to is good old grade-A cardboard!

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Tinker, Tinker, Little Star

By Gareth Branwyn

Gareth Branwyn

Gareth Branwyn is a freelance writer and the former Editorial Director of Maker Media. He is the author or editor of over a dozen books on technology, DIY, and geek culture. He is currently a contributor to Boing Boing, Wink Books, and Wink Fun. His free weekly-ish maker tips newsletter can be found at garstipsandtools.com.

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We hope you and your are having a fantastic holiday in whatever tradition you celebrate. Speaking of tradition, last year we posed this depression-era Fleischer brothers cartoon, “Christmas Comes But Once a Year.” It got such a positive response, I think we’ll make it a tradition. It so delightful, inventive, and a perfect holiday message the maker spirit.

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Mouse trap car

Mouse trap car

By Gareth Branwyn

Gareth Branwyn

Gareth Branwyn is a freelance writer and the former Editorial Director of Maker Media. He is the author or editor of over a dozen books on technology, DIY, and geek culture. He is currently a contributor to Boing Boing, Wink Books, and Wink Fun. His free weekly-ish maker tips newsletter can be found at garstipsandtools.com.

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Greg Borenstein posted drawings and photos of the mouse trap-driven car he’s been working on to the MAKE Flickr Pool. Mouse trap car

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