Man Made DIY

NPR's All Tech Considered blog takes a look at Noel Dickover, a hobbyist pumpkin carving master, who's created some amazingly detailed Star Wars themed jack-o-lanterns. "For Halloween and Star Wars geeks alike, it's truly a harmonic convergence of awesomeness."

As Noel says, "There's a difference between carving a pattern on a pumpkin, and a pumpkin sculpt.  In the case of R2-D2, or the Deathstar, for instance, the pumpkin "is" the object, not just a portrait.  So in thinking about carving R2-D2, I absolutely had to have a fairly tall, completely cylindrical looking pumpkin.  I found one that weighed in at right around 40 lbs. Without this, there's no way I could have gotten the detail I was looking… read more

You know those moments when you just look at an object, and you think, "oh my gosh! That totally looks like a _________." It could be something you've never seen before, the form of which immediately stands out to you. Or, it could be something you've seen and used all your life.

Lindsey had one of those moments with a standard one-gallon milk carton. The realization? Stormtrooper helmet. Of… read more

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, some genius realized you can make reusable, non-stick pancake molds and put a face on those flapjacks. And then, just a bit ago, someone decided, as clever-minded designers often do, to make a Star Wars version, complete with Yoda, Darth Vader, and a stormtrooper.

"Our Star Wars molds couldn’t be easier to use. Just place them with their handles up on a preheated griddle then pour in your batter. After the first side has set, remove the molds and flip the pancakes. Serve a stack drenched in your favorite syrup – and let the adventures begin."

Has anyone had… read more

I've been honest in the past about my lack of Star Wars experience in the past, and a few have said to me, "How can you post Star Wars crafts if you've never seen the movies?" "Well," I usually say, "I post about houses I've never been in, designs and artwork I've only seen pictures of, and link to how-tos I've never followed myself."

Retorts aside, last night, I watched "A New Hope" for the first time. (Rather, finished it for the first time...I'd seen the first half hour once or twice). And, wouldn't you know it, TODAY, May 4, is official Star Wars Day - "May the Fourth Be With You"...get it?

Rachel Hobson has assembled a fine… read more

Nylanan is currently building a full scale R2D2 from scratch, and thus has lots of R2 on the brain. So, when he noticed the $8.99 TERTIAL work lamp while walking through IKEA, he couldn't help notice the similarities. So, with a bit of blue vinyl, he took a break on his robo-build and created this great, inexpensive R2D2 lamp.

As he notes, "The great thing about R2 is that he has such a an iconic look that you really only have to capture a few bits and pieces to make him look right: the main eye, the stripes and the top… read more