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I posted to blog.makezine.com
http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2010/07/geek_atlas_companion_app.html
One of the things we're exploring for this season's MAKEcation coverage is good ol' VAcations, but with a MAKE twist. If MAKEcations are about productively spending your summer at home, learning new things, doing some projects by yourself or with the family, a MAKE Vacation is about traveling with learning and DIY in mind. There are science museums to visit, historical science and technology sites to explore, places to learn about a specific technology or craft, hacker- and other DIY spaces and groups in various cities to check out. It'd be fun to plan a family trip around a particular theme, say rocketry or the development of the PC, and then visit a bunch of destinations and plan activities around that theme.
O'Reilly has a popular book, called The Geek Atlas, that's a guide to 128 worthy science and technology destinations. (We'll have more on the Atlas soon.) Now, there's also an iPhone version of the book, with GPS locations/maps for the destinations, Wikipedia links to relevant information related to the destinations and the science and tech found there, and more. The Companion is $2.99 in the App Store.
Geek Atlas Companion app
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July 15 2010, 6:00pm | More »
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I posted to blog.makezine.com
http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2010/05/happy_memorial_day.html
The RUB Chopper, made by Orange County Chopper, for RUB in NYC.
We hope our readers in the States are having a wonderful day with family and friends, celebrating Memorial Day (and thinking about all of those who've come before us and made our lives possible through their sacrifices).
If you're doing some chillin' and grillin' today, here's our coverage of grilling and grills on MAKE and CRAFT, if you need a little inspiration.
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May 31 2010, 1:50pm | More »
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I posted to blog.makezine.com
http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2010/04/how-to_make_peeps_sushi.html
Some Peeps, some Rice Krispies treats, and some fruit roll-ups, and you've got delicious "Peepshi." (Okay, I think I'll be sick now...)
How to Make Peepshi = Peeps Sushi
More:
Annual Parade o' Peeps
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April 4 2010, 5:30pm | More »
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I posted to blog.makezine.com
http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2010/04/annual_peeps_round-up.html
This year, it seems like everyone is getting in on the Peeps love (and Peeps abuse). There are now overwhelming numbers of Peeps-themed art shows, stop-motion movies, and all manner of grotesque Peeps experimentation. Do a search on YouTube and you could spend your entire day watching Peeps-themed programming. Er... but don't do that. Get out there and enjoy the beautiful day. Happy Easter. Happy Spring.
2009's Peeps round-up intro:
Spring has sprung, the grass is green again, the trees are in bloom, the animals are stirring. And to me, that all means one important thing: Peeps are in season! I've had a rather unnatural attraction to Peeps every since I was a child. There's something about this strange, over-the-top-sweet, pillowy confection that makes it simultaneous attractive and repulsive. It's WAY too much of a good thing: too much sweet, too much cute, two much color (this year's colors are vivid to a degree that's downright hallucinatory). And then there's the strange "mouth feel" of gooey, pillow-soft innards and a crunchy crystalline sugar coating. Not to mention the rather disturbing idea of eating a rack of baby chicks, fused to each other at the hip, sold to you at Eastern time by a company called Just Born of Bethlehem, PA. It all adds up to a uniquely American pop-surrealist experience that I revel in each year. And from all of the crazy, educational, and absurd websites and videos I've seen online over the years, so don't a lot of people. Happy Spring, everybody!
Give the candy critters a crisp, glassy caramel shell. Go ahead, show them a little love. [Thanks, Matt!]
Experimental Burning Peepshow - Flammability Test #1
Jeri Ellsworth experiments with cutting a Peep with a 60w laser.
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April 4 2010, 1:00pm | More »
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I posted to blog.makezine.com
http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2010/04/top_10_easter-themed_make_online_po.html
April 3 2010, 10:00pm | More »
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I posted to blog.craftzine.com
http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2010/02/handmade_valentines_day_cards.html
It's not to late to make your own Valentine's cards! Here's some inspiration from fellow CRAFT readers with Vday cards made with lots of love.
Tamara of Art, Adventures and a Toddler shows you how to make this felt monster Valentine.
Stitchcraft has a tutorial for a Valentine's Day card with attached tissue cozy that's perfect for this cold winter.
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Comment on this articleFebruary 10 2010, 5:00pm | More »
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I posted to blog.craftzine.com
http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2010/02/how-to_lovebird_valentine_head.html
February 10 2010, 1:00pm | More »
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I posted to blog.makezine.com
http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2010/01/beyond_awesome_launching_a_christma.html
January 6 2010, 3:45pm | More »
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I posted to blog.makezine.com
http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2009/12/tesla_tornado_xmas_tree.html
Instructables user mrfixits writes:
This Tesla Tornado is made using a Subaru blower fan motor, complete with its 3-position speed switch mounted on the base. The blower motor has a flywheel fabricated out of Lexan with 6 neodymium magnets mounted in it. It magnetically couples with 6 magnets in the Tesla Pump disc pack, which is inside the vortex tube. The Tesla pump discs are magnetically driven by the blower motor flywheel magnets, so there is no direct connection. The pump disc pack is self-centering, and there is no rotating shaft, shaft bearings, or seals required.
Because nothing says xmas like the slurp of that water pump! Great walkthrough of the building of this Tesla Tornado.
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Digg this!December 29 2009, 10:00am | More »
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I posted to blog.makezine.com
http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2009/12/happy_hanukkah_everybody.html
December 11 2009, 6:30pm | More »
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I posted to blog.craftzine.com
http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2009/12/cereal_box_houses.html
Cassie at Bella Dia shows you how to make these adorable cereal box houses. I love that this can be any kind of box (cookies, oatmeal, etc) that can be reused and made into fun toys for the kids, holiday decor, or gift boxes for presents.
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Comment on this articleDecember 5 2009, 9:00am | More »
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I posted to blog.craftzine.com
http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2009/11/how-to_argyle_applique_ornamen.html
November 28 2009, 5:00pm | More »
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I posted to blog.makezine.com
http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2009/11/holiday_diy_diy_friday.html
Until they make Black Friday a goth holiday, where you dress all in black, sit around listening to Bauhaus and Bella Morte, and stare at the floor, Black Friday will scare me. Yes, the running of the shoppers scares me MORE than goth.
As we've pointed out before, this holiday season provides an excellent opportunity to give yourself "permission to play," to make things, either to decorate your house or to give away as gifts. Or both. Last year, I made the above "Gift of Robot Invasion" LED Christmas tree ornaments, for our own tree and to give away as presents. They turned out to be a lot more work than I expected, so I didn't make many. But I still have lots of the parts, so I may start early and make more this year. If I give them as presents, I'll make a box for them as well. My son and I have made ornament presents in the past and created custom, commercial-looking, box art to package them. I love the idea that our recipients will store them away with their holiday decorations and get a little visit from us every time they take out our box and hang our ornament. "Robot invasion" ornaments lend themselves to all sorts of sci-fi silliness for the box copy.
We announced a DIY Friday initiative this morning on our Twitter channel, as an alternative to Black Friday. If you're doing any handmade gifts this holiday, post them here in the comments, or tag them #diyfri on Twitter.
And check out Becky Stern's Gifts You Can Make guide.
I got the plans for making the Robot Invasion ornaments from The Best of Instructables Volume I (the little robot dude is even on the cover). This book has all sorts of great DIY gift ideas.
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November 27 2009, 4:00pm | More »
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I posted to blog.craftzine.com
http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2009/11/how-to_expandable_stocking.html
Sarah James at Instructables made this expandable stocking!
This is the Christmas stocking you've been waiting for! Make it yourself to reflect how naughty or nice you've been. Hang it in its most compact zipped-up stage to appear modest and humble. Unzip it to lengthen, section by section, until you have the stocking of your dreams! Then make sure to write Santa a very nice letter to let him know you've been good enough this year to fill it to the brim.
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Comment on this articleNovember 27 2009, 10:27am | More »
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I posted to blog.makezine.com
http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2009/11/the_chemistry_of_thanksgiving.html
Members of the American Chemical Society show you how a pop-up turkey timer works.
The Chemistry of Thanksgiving
More:
Lots more chemistry on MAKE in the Make: Science Room
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November 26 2009, 2:30pm | More »
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I posted to blog.craftzine.com
http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2009/11/how-to_make_a_tropical_thanksg.html
Being in Hawaii for the Thanksgiving holiday has given me countless things to be thankful for. The Hawaiian flavors, tropical colors, and generous attitude are truly one of a kind. Even if you are not on the islands, you can reinvent your mainland holiday with a twist! Gather flowers at the florist, and then visit an Asian food market for unusual fruits. You can build this centerpiece in less time than it takes to make the mashed poi! Aloha!
Many thanks to the Hotel Renew, and it's kind and helpful staff. Renew has been my home away from home for this trip, and it's modern design and floral arrangements have been extremely inspiring. Mahalo (thank you) for the use of the lobby for this tutorial!
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Comment on this articleNovember 24 2009, 5:00pm | More »
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I posted to blog.craftzine.com
http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2009/11/punchneedle_poinsettia_pattern.html
June at PlanetJune as a free pattern to make her punchneedle poinsettia.
June writes:
This 2.5″ Poinsettia design uses Punchneedle Embroidery for a fast and festive result. It can be made as an applique and attached to almost anything to give it a more Christmassy feel!
For more punchneedle lessons and patterns, check out June's eBook,
The Punchneedle Handbook that will teach you everything you need to know!
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Comment on this articleNovember 23 2009, 1:00pm | More »
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I posted to blog.makezine.com
http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2009/11/craft_thanksgiving_roundup.html
November 22 2009, 5:59pm | More »
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I posted to blog.craftzine.com
http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2009/11/how-to_snowing_presents_advent.html
I love this charming take on the traditional advent calendar from Pickles. It depicts two children trying to jump up to get hanging presents from the sky. Each present is attached by string to a small ring, and can be opened day by day during Advent. Adorable! [via
@zakkalife] |
Comment on this articleNovember 21 2009, 5:00pm | More »
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I posted to blog.makezine.com
http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2009/11/make_gift_guide_2009_toys_for_gown-.html
I'm old (never you mind the hard number). But I'm still a kid at heart and I love toys. And I'm not talking about motorcycles and cars and speed boats, aka "grown-up toys," I'm talking model rockets, radio-controlled anything, little toy soldiers, and board games. TOYS! The cool thing about being an adult, and being into the toys of youth, is that you've got a lot more money in your piggy bank! In this, our first Make: Gift Guide 2009, we'll look at a few top of the line traditional toys, with an emphasis on toys you build, mod, and hack. Please share with us in the comments what sorts of cool toys you'd like to see under the Christmas tree or Hanukkah bush this year.
Initiator Rocketry Starter Kit (Aerotech, MSRP: $299/
$172 at Tower Hobbies)
Most every grown up geek remembers being a young geekling and building and flying Estes Rockets. If you haven't been paying attention, you may not know that hobby rockets have been growing, in power and size, ever since. And growing, and growing, and growing. Motors are designated in nearly every letter of the alphabet now (and each lettered motor is twice as powerful as the previous-lettered motor) and some rockets require teams to build them (and heft them to the launch tower -- and it's a tower, not a rod). AeroTech is one of the leading manufacturers of hobby rocket motors. Their Initiator Rocketry Starter Kit will launch you into this very grown-up hobby (where your credit card bills may get equally astronomical). The kit includes a launch system and a 3' 9" rocket that can handle motors E thru G. This starter kit usually costs $230 (w/ one motor), but Tower Hobbies has it for $172 (w/ no motors). Motors will cost you about under $20 each.
Novus CP Nano Sized 2.4GHz RTF Helicopter (Heli-Max, $220)
R/C cars, planes, and helicopters keep getting more sophisticated and more "real" by the year. Just as hobby rockets keep getting bigger, more powerful, and are closing in on the smaller, cheaper, faster bottom-end of commercial and governmental rocketry, hobby R/C is starting to look not that different from man-portable recon systems used in the military. In fact, that line has already been largely erased. New technologies and economies of scale are also allowing extremely sophisticated R/C vehicles to be offered at really affordable prices, such as with the Novus line of "nano-sized" helicopters.This Novus CP model shown here is actually the top of that line and capable of some pretty amazing aerobatics. Several cheaper models are also available, for as low as $125.
FPV Flying Systems
Long Range Ready to Fly FPV System (ReadyMadeRC, $4,500)
One of the more amazing things to come out of the R/C flying (and driving) world is FPV (First Person View) systems which use tiny cameras in the cockpits of model planes and wireless transmitters and receivers to send point-of-view video to a video monitor, or even a virtual reality-type head-mounted display, on the ground. This allows you to fly the plane like you're in the cockpit. Some FPV hobbyists have gone so far as to put instrument panels in the cockpits, displaying real-time flight information, so that you feel as if you're
really flying the plane. With the VR rigs, when you move your head, the camera's POV moves with you. As you can imagine, this is not a cheap hobby to get into. You're adding wireless color video and virtual reality equipment on top of radio-controlled flying gear. The above $4,500 system, from ReadyMadeRC, includes the plane, the R/C gear, the FPV set-up, and everything else -- it comes ready to fly.
FPVPilot is a great place to start exploring the FPV hobby.
Compound Oil Immersion Microscope 163 (Maker Shed, $820)
While most of the items in our guide are toys, not tools, we couldn't resist drooling over the new microscopes in the Maker Shed. I had two scopes as a kid, and had the greatest time exploring unseen worlds by peering through their eyepieces. This top-of-the-line microscope is trinocular. It has a third eyepiece so that you can attach a still or video camera to capture what you're seeing through the binocular eyepiece. This is a laboratory-grade microscope, with surprising features and high mechanical and optical qualities, at a hobbyist's price. Note that the other reason we have it in this gift guide is that you need to order the microscopes by December 3 to guarantee Christmas delivery. If you'd like some advice on what scope to choose, check out our
"Choosing a Microscope" article in the Make: Science Room.
Gakken Kits
When I was a kid, model kits from Japan had an intense allure. They seemed (okay, they generally were) of much higher quality than American kits, and the instructions just looked so dang cool! Age has not diminished this impression and the popularity of the Gakken kits we carry in the Maker Shed prove that lots of people feel the same. These are unique and gorgeous kits that any tech enthusiast and kit-builder on your list will be thrilled to get. Above are the
Sterling Engine Kit ($120) and the
Vacuum Tube Radio Kit ($100, currently on sale for $86). The Gakken range is wide, from mechanical centipedes to tea-serving robots to retro 4-bit computers. See all the kits
here.
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November 16 2009, 10:30am | More »
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I posted to blog.craftzine.com
http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2009/11/toilet_paper_tube_yule_log.html
Lori at Pretty Little Things shows you how to make a yule log from a toilet paper tube and a couple of egg carton cups. It's a great way to package stocking stuffers!
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Comment on this articleNovember 15 2009, 9:00am | More »
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I posted to blog.craftzine.com
http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2009/11/how-to_retro_felt_christmas_tr.html
I've been planning to make some fun, inexpensive holiday decorations this year, and I'm definitely going to try these retro felt Christmas trees from Felt-O-Rama. [via True Up]
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Comment on this articleNovember 13 2009, 10:00am | More »
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I posted to blog.craftzine.com
http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2009/11/brooches_as_gift_toppers.html
I love this idea of using brooches as gift toppers from Laura of Bugs and Fishes. It's a fun way to add a little extra gift to your gift and include something that won't be thrown away. I also love how she's used yarn in place of ribbon - so lovely!
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Comment on this articleNovember 7 2009, 5:00pm | More »
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I posted to blog.makezine.com
http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2009/11/deluxe_led_menorah_kit_from_emsl.html
November 5 2009, 7:53am | More »
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I posted to blog.makezine.com
http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2009/08/makecation_trebuchet_bundle_in_the.html?CMP=OTC-0D6B48984890
The folks in the Maker Shed have put together a special bundle for our Family Challenge. The MAKEcation Trebuchet (Flingin' Things) Bundle contains Bill Gurstelle's book, The Art of the Catapult, our Mini trebuchet kit, and a Maker's Notebook. Read up on the history of this ancient weapon of war, build a lovely 4" x 9" x 14" (tall) wooden desktop model, and then use the Maker's Notebook to scale up your plans for your backyard version. The bundle is available for $40 ($39.97), deeply discounted from buying these items separately.
More:
The MAKEcation Family Challenge!
Let the MAKEcation solder-fest BEGIN!
MAKEcation Cooler Hacking Challenge
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August 12 2009, 3:00pm | More »
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I posted to blog.makezine.com
http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2009/08/the_makecation_family_challenge.html?CMP=OTC-0D6B48984890
Our final main event for MAKEcation 2009 is our "Family Challenge," as in the Hatfields vs. the McCoys, the Lancasters vs. the Yorks, the Macs vs. the PCs. Okay, we really don't want it to get that entrenched and bloody. It's not even that much of a proper competition (in the end, the winner many be judged by us on criteria like who looked like they were having the most fun, whose device looks the coolest, etc.). We want this to be all about the fun, getting your family together to work on a project, and to have a little friendly rivalry between maker clans.
So, what's the challenge? Build a backyard trebuchet! The family that builds our favorite, and sends us the documentation, will get a $100 gift certificate from the Maker Shed. Five runners up will get a Maker's Notebook and their choice of The Best of MAKE or The Best of Instructables. As with the soldering and cooler hacking challenges, we have a Camp Counselor to help with inspiration, advice, dos and don'ts. For the trebuchet, there's probably no better choice than our very own Bill Gurstelle. Bill is the author of The Art of the Catapult, Whoosh-Boom-Splat, and Backyard Ballistics. So he knows about flinging stuff through the air. Here, he explains the guidelines for the challenge:
Your MAKEcation family challenge involves building a medieval siege engine. When
it comes to putting the fun in physics, it's hard to top a homemade trebuchet. A trebuchet is a type of catapult or hurling machine that uses a counterweight to rotate a throwing arm. The arm, in turn, flings the projectile in an arc towards a target.
Trebuchets scale nicely and can range from table-top models sized to fling golf balls, up to the sixty foot high monster currently flinging boulders for tourists at Warwick Castle in
England.
Your MAKEcation family challenge is to get your clan together to build a gravity-powered hurling machine capable of tossing a five ounce projectile as far as possible, using a counterweight weighing no more than 25 pounds.
Send us a video of your machine in action and verify your results on the honor system. Swear that they are truthful and accurate, i.e. play fair, don't cheat.
Bill will shortly start doing some posts on the project on subjects like constructing a sling and choosing a catapult trigger. If you have any trebuchet building experience, ideas you're interested in trying out, or if you want to start talking smack about your genius clan in the comments, please do.
More:
Let the MAKEcation solder-fest BEGIN!
MAKEcation Cooler Hacking Challenge
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August 12 2009, 7:30am | More »
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I posted to blog.makezine.com
http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2009/08/makecation_pics_teach_your_family_t.html?CMP=OTC-0D6B48984890
We're starting to see some fine submissions to our Teach Your Family to Solder MAKEcation challenge. So far, it's been mainly kids -- very little kids. While we're thrilled that MAKE readers aren't Nanny State types who over-protect their children, we'd love to see some older kids, teens, and more grown-ups. We're still offering Maker's Notebooks to people who post their pics to the MAKE Flickr pool. So get to it!
MAKE pool member Digrat teaches his son Joseph how to solder a basic LED circuit.
The Dublin-based Irish Computer Club ran a soldering workshop night. Participants built Mitch Altman's
Trippy RGB Waves kits.
Thomas Beckett writes of his son, "Kidrocket," almost six, learning how to solder:
Shortly after [his first soldering picture] was taken, he got a little burn and I thought that would be it for soldering for a few years. But tonight, with just a little coaxing, he was back at it. The Wee Blinky kit we obtained from Maker Shed made the process a little easier. He and I alternated soldering joints and finished it up in no time. His excitement and satisfaction when the blinker came on was priceless to see. He is more educated and empowered today than he was ten days ago.
Way to go, Kidrocket!
Josiah Ritchie taught his three year old daughter how to solder -- soldering form, anyway. He left the iron off, but tried to teach her a health respect for the iron, the danger of its heat, and the proper way to hold it. Nice form. What's she working on there?
More MAKEcation action:
Let the MAKEcation solder-fest BEGIN!
MAKEcation Cooler Hacking Challenge
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August 11 2009, 6:30am | More »
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I posted to blog.makezine.com
http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2009/08/brainstorming_cooler_hacking_ideas.html?CMP=OTC-0D6B48984890
Hi everyone! It's me, your friendly MAKEcation camp counselor Matt. Have you started your cooler hacking project yet? If not, here are some ideas to help get you started. Be sure to post your own ideas in the comments. We'll be giving away a Maker's Notebook and The Best of MAKE or Best of Instructables to the one we think is the most interesting. If you have any questions about the challenge, don't hesitate to send them to me at: campcounselor@makezine.com.
Temperature Monitor: Add a temperature display to keep you informed about how cool your refreshments are. If you plan to store perishable foods inside, how about an alarm to alert you before they spoil?
Increased Efficiency: Or, avoid the whole problem of heating all together by making your cooler more efficient. Going somewhere without shade? Try building in an umbrella holder, to keep those hot sun rays away from your vittles.
Solar Cooling: Instead of diverting the sun's rays, why not catch them with a solar panel and then use the energy to drive a thermoelectric cooling unit?
Mobility: Having trouble getting your cooler to your picnic location? Adding a motor so that you can drive it might be a bit extreme, but a simple set of wheels and a hitch would allow you to tow your cooler behind a bike. Don't feel like getting up to fetch your next drink? Cannibalize a toy car and finally build that remote controlled cooler.
Ok, now I want to go camping so I have an excuse to try all these things out!
Here are some other possibilities:
- Build a robotic cooler that comes when you command it
- Add racing stripes for extra speed!
- Built-in electronic drum kit for performing around the campfire
- Add a secret compartment to hide your keys
- Dry compartment for storing cake
- Fingerprint reader lock to protect your juice boxes
- Built-in floats to take it rafting
- Dalek/remote control cooler mashup?
- Build in a propane cooler
- GPS logger to record your favorite hang-out places
And here are some previous hacks for inspiration:
Youth Family Films share their Cooler Kart
David Calkins explains how to make an RFID-protected beer fridge
Simon Jansen shares his jet powered beer cooler
Post your ideas in comments!
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August 6 2009, 10:00pm | More »
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I posted to blog.makezine.com
http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2009/08/makecation_cooler_hacking_challenge.html?CMP=OTC-0D6B48984890
Whew! All of that soldering and kid-wrangling worked up a powerful thirst. So, you drag over the ol' Coleman and crack open a few cold ones. Sitting there drinking your beers (be they root or hops) with your newly-trained team of solder-droids, you all start contemplating that old faithful camping cooler. Maybe it needs some EL wire highlights around its edges, or an entertaining LED display, or how about some solar-powered, active cooling? Or heck, maybe some wheels and a motor so you can drive that sucker around the patio.
Okay, maybe that last idea is too silly, but you get the idea. It's summer, you've got the family itchin' to do something with their new-found geek cred, why not take our MAKEcation Cooler Hacking Challenge? Trick out any beverage cooler however you like -- the sky's the limit (hey, sending a cooler into space on a weather balloon -- now there's a challenge...), upload the images to the MAKE Flickr pool, and tag them "MAKEcation." As with the Soldering Challenge, you're eligible for a $100 Maker Shed Gift Certificate and some other cool prizes.
For the Soldering Challenge, we brought on Dave Hrynkiw from Solarbotics as our beloved Camp Counselor. He wasn't called out of his virtual cabin very often, but he was dutifully at the ready... and remains so. The Soldering Challenge will continue until the end of the month, so there's still plenty of time to submit your MAKEcation photos to Flickr.
For the Cooler Hacking Challenge, we want to introduce you to our latest author-addition to the site, Matt Mets. He'll be starting off his stint with us as your next Camp Counselor. Matt is an electrical engineer who loves creative repurposing of electronic junk, hacking open source software, and photography. Besides now working for MAKE, he's also currently an artist-in-residence at the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh. He's in the process of designing a ferrous wheel and an emotional typewriter. No, really. Matt will be here to help brainstorm cooler hacks, to answer any technical questions, consult on your hack ideas, and to help us judge the entries at the end of the month. If you have any questions for Matt (or for Dave), send them to: campcounselor@makezine.com.
We'd also love to get your help in brainstorming ideas for cooler hacks. Post your ideas in the comments. We'll pick our favorite one and you'll get a Maker's Notebook and your choice of The Best of MAKE or The Best of Instructables.
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August 4 2009, 6:30am | More »
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I posted to blog.makezine.com
http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2009/08/dont_forget_your_soldering_challeng.html?CMP=OTC-0D6B48984890
It's Lucas again, our poster child for the MAKEcation Family Soldering Challenge. Here he is (note: safety glasses this time!) working on his second soldering project, a Drawdio. Lucas (and family) get a free Maker's Notebook because they posted pics of their MAKEcation to the MAKE Flickr pool. The next four people who post their pics will also get a free notebook.
And don't forget, we're giving away a $100 gift certificate to the Maker Shed for our favorite family soldering photos/videos and five Best of MAKE or Best of Instructables books. Adafruit industries has also generously given us some of their awesome soldering merit badges to give out to winners. But you've gotta upload your pics!
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August 3 2009, 9:30am | More »
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I posted to blog.makezine.com
http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2009/07/solarbotics_soldering_summary.html?CMP=OTC-0D6B48984890
[Click on image to enlarge]
Dave Hrynkiw, who runs Solarbotics and HVW Technologies, is our virtual Camp Counselor for "Teach Your Family to Solder" week. One of the things I love about Solarbotics' kits is that they always have excellent, and funny, documentation. Each of these instruction booklets includes the brief soldering tutorial posted above. Really, that's all the basics you need to know. We'll have more detailed tutorials, tips, videos, etc, throughout the week, but armed only with this "quick reference card" and the basic tools, as outlined in my Toolbox column, you'd have what you need to solder successfully. If you're going to be teaching people how to solder, print out the above and have it on-hand for your students.
If you have any questions for him related to soldering, send email to campcounselor@makezine.com.
More:
Toolbox: Soldering essentials, Part 1
MAKEcation: "Teach Your Family to Solder" week
Let's take a Summer MAKEcation!
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July 21 2009, 6:00pm | More »
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I posted to blog.makezine.com
http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2009/07/ammo_box_fireworks_controller.html?CMP=OTC-0D6B48984890
By way of the MAKE Flickr pool comes this wonderful build of a fireworks controller fittingly house inside of an ammo box. No text with the photo set, but the pictures pretty much tell the story of the build.
Firework Controller
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July 7 2009, 5:00pm | More »
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I posted to blog.makezine.com
http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2009/07/13_colonies_ham_radio_special_event.html?CMP=OTC-0D6B48984890
After a fourth of July BBQ, I was tuning around on the radio and made contact with Vince, K4AOC (operating as K2L) the 13 Colonies Special Event station in South Carolina. July 1- July 5th was the 13 Colonies 4th of July Special Event during which all thirteen original colonies were on the air with special event call signs: K2A-NY K2B-VA K2C-RI K2D-CT K2E-DE K2F-MD K2G-GA K2H-MA K2I-NJ K2J-NC K2K-NH K2L-SC K2M-PA. Make contact with all thirteen colonies to earn the Thirteen Colonies certificate.
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July 4 2009, 10:00pm | More »
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I posted to blog.craftzine.com
http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2009/07/fireworks_animation_by_pes.html?CMP=OTC-5JF307375954
Just in time for the 4th, here's an adorable fireworks animation by PES.
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July 4 2009, 3:00pm | More »
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I posted to blog.craftzine.com
http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2009/07/happy_4th_of_july.html?CMP=OTC-5JF307375954
Happy 4th of July! Our friends at Photojo have 11 tips for sparkling fireworks photos so you can snap some beautiful images tonight, like this one at the San Francisco Ferry Building by Flickr user john curley.
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July 4 2009, 11:00am | More »
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I posted to blog.makezine.com
http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2009/07/4th_of_july_roundup-abration.html?CMP=OTC-0D6B48984890
Any holiday that necessitates pyrotechnics and cookouts must be a good one, right? - right!
In honor of such an awesome holiday, enjoy a collection of 4th-related posts for your perusing pleasure - oh, and Happy Independence Day!
How to: Make an American flag
HOW TO - Take photos of Fireworks & HOW TO - Photograph fireworks
Make your own smoke-bombs
Fireworks Drawings
LED fireworks
Wireless fireworks launch controller
Model rocketry and hobby fireworks
HOW TO - Make a sparkler & a geek's guide to fireworks
What MAKEs America great - Happy 4th of July from MAKE
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July 4 2009, 6:00am | More »
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I posted to blog.makezine.com
http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2009/07/fireworks_animation_by_pes.html?CMP=OTC-0D6B48984890
Unexpected, delightful; I did enjoy this fireworks animation by PES.
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July 4 2009, 3:00am | More »
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I posted to blog.craftzine.com
http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2009/07/how-to_make_independence_day_p.html?CMP=OTC-5JF307375954
Crafty Chica Kathy Cano-Murillo shows how to do this super fast 4th of July paper swag banners using patriotic scrapbook papers.
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July 3 2009, 6:00pm | More »
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I posted to blog.craftzine.com
http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2009/07/4th_of_july_snack_cups.html?CMP=OTC-5JF307375954
Cindy of Skip to My Lou has a downloadable template to make these 4th of July snack cups. Check out her other 4th of July projects too!
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July 3 2009, 11:00am | More »
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I posted to blog.makezine.com
http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2009/07/4th_of_july_guide_on_instructables.html?CMP=OTC-0D6B48984890
Instructables has a roundup of 4th projects for a happy weekend. BBQs, recipes, summer clothes, and water abound.
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July 3 2009, 10:15am | More »
