Maker Faire 2013 (Part 2)

"Don't think.  Thinking is the enemy of creativity.  It's self-conscious, and anything self-conscious is lousy.  You can't try to do things.  You must simply do things."  Ray Bradbury 

Often times when an idea pops in my head, I find myself just sitting on it.  I spend days thinking about it. I turn it around and around in my head.   And then I get overwhelmed by it.

I guess I tend to over think things.  (Anyone else like that too?)

Seeing the exhibitors at the Maker Faire really inspired me.  Yeah, they probably did a lot of thinking.  But, they also stepped out of their thoughts and actually tinkered and experimented with their ideas.  They dared to try and they dared to fail.

Alright, that was rather a long intro to these last set of photographs from the Maker Faire.  (To see part 1, click here.)  I guess I just wanted to say a big thank you to all the exhibitors.  Thanks for being brave and trying.  Thanks for showcasing your creativity and hard work.  Thanks for inspiring the maker in me. 

Giant felted dinosaur

Chair made out of very thin cardboard (or thick paper?)

Butterfly bicycle!

The inventor of this toy (and the one below) was at the faire showcasing his toys.  They were lovely, modern, and classic at the same time.

You build a structure and then drop marbles onto it.  The marbles slide around on ramps and through holes.

Pink elephant made of wooden shapes- who thinks of this stuff?

Awesome pink elephant

Candy Corn inspired Perler Bead Bracelet 2

Yesterday I shared how I made a  candy corn inspired perler bead bracelet.  Today I'll share how I made this slightly more complicated version.

While both bracelets were inspired by candy corn, the second one is my favorite.  It's graphic and quirky, just perfect to wear this upcoming month.

Materials:

• Perler beads
• Scissors
• Elastic Cord (I used a thin 0.5 mm elastic cord for these bracelets, but a thicker cord would have been better to use because it's easier to string the beads with and the finished bracelet feels sturdier.)

Directions:

1.  Cut out about 40 inches of cord.  (It really doesn't matter what length you use.  You'll just end up tying on more cording later.)  Tie on a bead to act as a stopper.  (Again, it doesn't matter what color you choose because you'll end up removing this bead at the end.)

2.  String on six black beads.  I labeled the beads with numbers to help out with steps 3 and 4.   These six will be your first column of beads.

3.  Now you're going to add your second column of beads.  Add on a yellow bead (#7).  Then,slip your string through your #5 bead.  Add another black bead (#8).  Then, slip your string through your #3 bead .  Then, add another black bead (#9).  Then, slip your string through your #1 bead.   Then, pull tight.

These two columns are the basis for the rest of your bracelet.  See how some portions of the bracelet jut out and some portions of the bracelet don't?  As you continue to build your bracelet, you'll alternate between adding a bead to fill in a gap, and stringing your cord through the next bead that juts out.
 
 

4.   Now we're going to string one candy corn.   Remember to pull your string tight after stringing each column of beads.

Column 3: Add a black bead, string through  #9 black bead, add a  black bead, string through #8 black bead, add a yellow bead, string through #7 yellow bead 

(From now on, I'll just tell you what color beads to add.  But remember to alternate between adding a new bead and stringing through a bead that's jutting out.)

Column 4: Yellow, orange, black
Column 5: Black, orange, yellow

Column 6:  Yellow, orange, orange
Column 7: White, orange, yellow
Column 8:  Yellow, orange, orange

Column 9:  Black, orange, yellow
Column 10:  Yellow, orange, black
Column 11 :  Black, black, yellow

Column 12:  Yellow, black, black
Column 13:  Black, black, black
Column 13:  Black, black, black

 Now you've got your first candy corn strung.  High five!  Keep going and continue to follow the pattern.  If you run out of cord, no worries!  Just tie on another strand.

Soon you'll get a long bracelet like this:  (The ending section contains more black because I knew I wouldn't be able to add on a whole candy corn.)

5.  Now make sure that (1) it fits your wrist and (2) both ends fit together like zipper teeth.  Then, string your cord through both sides of the bracelet and pull tight.  Remove the stopper bead and tie your beginning and ending cords together. 


And you're done!  Happy beading!

DIY Candy Corn Perler Bead Bracelet 1

Are y'all going Halloween crazy yet?  (Or is it just me?)

Last weekend I took Chuck to Target and we had a blast seeing all the costumes and decorations.   Doesn't matter how many times I've seen a dancing skeleton or singing skull, this stuff never gets old.  I guess I'm a kid at heart because Halloween is my very favorite holiday.

So that's why I'm super excited to share this craft with you.  I went a bit crazy with my perler beads and designed two candy corn inspired bracelets.  Today I'm sharing the simpler design with you.  If you like this one, head on back tomorrow to see how I made the more complicated one.  

Here's a photo of my candy corn inspired bracelet: 

Materials:

• Perler beads
• Scissors
• Elastic Cord (I used a thin 0.5 mm elastic cord for these bracelets, but honestly a thicker cord is better to use because it's easier to string the beads with and the finished bracelet feels sturdier.)

Directions:

1.  Cut out about 40 inches of cord.  (Honestly, it doesn't matter what length you initially use.  You'll just end up tying on more cording later.)  Tie on a bead to act as a stopper.  (I used a black bead.  It doesn't matter what color you choose because you'll end up removing this bead at the end.) 

2.  String on 

• white bead (#1 bead) 
• white bead (#2 bead)
• orange bead (#3 bead)
• orange bead (#4 bead)
• yellow bead (#5 bead)
• yellow bead (#6 bead)

(I labeled the beads with numbers to help out with step 3.) These six will be your first column of beads.

3.  Now you're going to add your second column of beads.  Add on a yellow bead (#7).  Then,slip your string through your #5 yellow bead.  Add an orange bead (#8).  Then, slip your string through your #3 orange bead .  Then, add a white bead (#9).  Then, slip your string through your #1 white bead.   Then, pull tight.

 Now you've got the basis for the rest of your bracelet.  See how some portions of the bracelet jut out and some portions of the bracelet don't?  As you continue to build your bracelet, you'll alternate between adding a bead to fill in the gaps, and stringing your cord through the beads that jut out.

4.  Let's add the fourth and fifth columns. 

• Column 4:  Add a white bead.  Slip your string through the jutting out white bead.  Add an orange bead.  Slip your string through the jutting out orange bead.  Add a yellow bead. Slip your cord through the jutting out yellow bead.  Pull tight.

• Column 5:  Add a yellow bead.  Slip your string through the jutting out yellow bead.  Add an orange bead. Slip your string through the jutting out orange bead.  Add a white bead. Slip your string through the jutting out white bead.  Pull tight.

Keep going and continue to follow the pattern.  Add a bead and then slip your string through a bead that's jutting out.  Keep pulling your string tight after adding each column of beads.  If you run out of cord, no worries!  Just tie on another strand.

Soon you'll get a long bracelet like this:

Now make sure that (1) it fits your wrist and (2) both ends fit together like zipper teeth.  Then, string your cord through both sides of the bracelet and pull tight.  Remove the stopper bead and tie your beginning and ending cords together.

Tada!  Done. And that's how you make a simple candy corn inspired perler bead bracelet.  Like it?  If so, come back tomorrow to see how I made a slightly more complicated candy corn bracelet.

Happy beading!