diy ice block candle holder using a small trash can.

This is beyond simple.
Fill a small trashcan or other bucket with water and leave out over night. In the morning it should be frozen part way through on top and sides but not the bottom. Run hot water on it till it releases from the mold. If the bottom is at all frozen tap it until it breaks and let the water out.

The photo shows the trash can DIY one on the left and a store bought mold on the right. The mold from the store has a small pocket of air in the middle that stops the bottom of the mold from freezing. Now make a bunch and line your steps. Better yet build a 15' snow pile and place it on top forming a lighthouse or something.

How to carve a chain from a crayon.

All of my crayon sculptures

6 crayons later I have a full chain made.
I start by scoring four parallel lines down the crayon. Then I make the crayon into a "+" shape by using the square corner of a little hobby saw. I then notch the shape of each of the links with the same saw. I run a pin along the outside of each of the links parallel to the side of the link. Finally i free the links by working the pin diagonally into the gap between them.

Click here for big image of how to carve a crayon into a chain.
blurry proof it is mobile

Very simple casting. No special tools.

Went camping this weekend and I though I would try to cast some aluminum with only the normal things you bring on a camping trip. I used:

an ax.
can that food came in.
BBQ tongs.
a Fire.
Aluminum(three soda cans and some aluminum foil)

Pounded the aluminum sources flat as I could.



put the aluminum in a can in the fire.




poured onto the fire ring.

venus of willendorf carved out of a crayon

All of my crayon sculptures

Venus of Willendorf. Used a sharp pottery tool to make this little lady. I think she turned out a little skinny but not too bad.

For comparison:

DIY: crayon sculpture carving

All of my crayon sculptures






If you see the images of what people who are really good at this do the idea is intimidating but it is really not that hard to make some cruder forms.

You will need:
crayon
mechanical pencil OR a sharp pottery tool like this one


This is a fun project that takes nothing you do not already have in the house.
Just sharpen the pencil by rubbing it at an angle and go to town.

I like to work from the head down so that you do nothing after making the very delicate legs.
Next up a Crayola nativity scene.



cephlopod fans make sure to check out the giant squid crayon carving

Match Gun (or peg gun) made from clothespin and cork

HOW TO BUILD THE MATCH GUN (AKA MATCH SHOOTER, CLOTHESPIN GUN, PEG GUN)


This spring powered toy made out of only things you have in the house already is seriously great. If you have any questions post them in the comments section and I will address them.

What you need:
Wooden match, Sandpaper, a wooden clothespin (this will be the peg for the peg gun), Miter saw, a cork and some rubber bands.
A Dremel tool will make this much quicker but is not needed. Masking tape and twist ties can be used for some tweaking of the design.

Step one: disassemble your clothespin.

Step two: using your Miter saw and sand paper carve out a pathway that is the width of a match and another space for the metal clip to pass through that is the same width one half of the clothespin. See photos.




Step Three: Take the other half of the clothespin and make a notch for the spring to clip in. See photo for before and after comparison.





Now test your sanding job by rubberbanding the two halves together and trying to launch a match. If you are unable to cock the gun by pushing a match through the barrel you will need to either cut it again with a less deep grove or fill part of your grove with tape.



If you are having trouble with getting the metal part in see the photos at the end of the post.

Step Four:If it worked you can now glue it together with wood glue. Put the rubberbands on to hold it tight while it dries.

Step Five: While that is drying it is time to prepare the cork. Cut a grove in the cork that is the width of the clothespin that is slightly angled so that when inserted the clothespin makes a ~110 degree angle.





Step Six: Once the Glue is dry take of the rubber bands and glue on the cork. I used a vice grip to hold it tight while drying.



Once this is dry you are done. Now make another and challenge your friends.


Placing the metal part.