Devon designed his first torch seven years ago, and it was well past time for an update. The new release is much more useful and easier to assemble.
Check out our Patreon page for files, detailed assembly instructions and links to necessary supplies. The files will be uploaded to MyMiniFactory soon. We’ll post an update when they’re available.
Don’t let your PCs live — and die — in darkness.
These fridge magnets are made primarily from wood scraps, old Dragon magazines, and environmental angst.
A few years ago, Devon gifted me his dead-tree collection of Dragon magazines. I had no idea what to do with so much awesome, so I did the only reasonable thing: I shoved them into a dark corner and moved on.
Fast forward to a few months ago, when I was feeling bad about the trash we generate with our hobbies. We try to be environmentally conscious, but there’s no denying that a lot of stuff ends up in a landfill. In this case, I was throwing shade at the drawers full of tiny wood circles, squares and rectangles Devon amassed while he was cutting his painting racks on our Glowforge. Even he felt bad, which is why they ended up in drawers instead of the trash.
That was the moment I realized I needed — NEEDED! — magnets made from Dragon art.
For basic magnets, all you need is a sturdy base — in this case, wood — art, adhesive and a magnet. I used strong ceramic magnets applied with E6000 adhesive because magnets that make STR a dump stat are the worst.
I aged some of them with Distress Oxide Inks and Deco Art One Step Crackle, which gives the magnets a nice rough texture that’s hard to see in the above picture. With others, I applied hard UV resin to create a glass-like finish.
I went a little extra with Golden Soft Gel Matte to soften the paper’s glossiness, and I used spray varnish to seal the pieces without leaving brush strokes. If you use spray, do so in a well-ventilated area, preferably with a good respirator.
Resin will yellow the paper over time, so varnish the pieces unless you want that look. I varnished all of the magnets, even the ones I distressed, to give myself control over the aging process.
I used the same basic process to make a mountain of magnets, earrings, pins, pendants and buttons, which will be the subject of future Maker Mondays.
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3D-printable robot. Not small.
I, for one, welcome our new robot overlord.
Devon downloaded the design for this Transformable Valkyrie, posted by reza_aulia, from ToyMakr3D. It now stands vigilant against anyone who would invade our basement.
Print yourself something nice for Valentine’s Day — like this goblin fireplace.
Say hello to the second most famous part of the Yawning Portal: the goblin fireplace. Devon added fireplace logs that he suggests printing in resin. You can light the fireplace with a 3mm flickering LED.
Check out our Patreon page for files, advice on the build, and links to supplies. You’ll also find files for the portal itself and foundation supports.
Devon’s great new dollhouse begged for a closet, so I converted an unfinished wood crate we had been using for storage. I also made a blue-green closet for our 4-year-old daughter, who doesn’t know she’s getting a doll for Christmas. She also can’t read, so I’m not worried she’s going to find out here.
We had the crate, dowel and fabric flowers already, so the only cost was the paint and vines. The closet in the picture (above) is meant for 18-inch dolls, but you can easily size it down for smaller dolls.
Supplies:
Unfinished wood crate
Dowel from your local hardware store
Sandpaper
White primer
Paint (spray paint or at least 8 ounces of acrylic paint in whatever color you like)
Paint brushes in assorted sizes
Electric drill
Scrap wood
Clamps
Matte or gloss sealant
If you’re using an old crate, make sure it’s structurally sound. You can repair minor imperfections with wood filler if you want, but I left them alone. Our kids won’t care, and it’s a crate, so I embraced the rustic look. Clean the crate and sand it enough to eliminate the roughest parts. You don’t need to polish it smooth.
Measure both sides of the crate to determine where you want your dowel. It helps to have a doll hanger with clothes on it so you can make sure the hangers fit properly. Mark your spots with a pen or pencil.
Clamp a piece of scrap wood to the inside of the crate, opposite to where you intend to drill. This will give you a neater hole and prevent damage to the crate. Size your drill bit to your dowel and drill your first hole. Repeat the process for the second hole. Insert your dowel to ensure that it fits properly. If your dowel is too long, cut it with a pull saw so the edges are flush with the side of the crate. Don’t worry if it’s a little wiggly. You can fix that later.
Wipe off any sawdust. Give the crate several coats of white primer, on the inside and outside, allowing each coat to dry thoroughly before applying the next. My crate was a paint sponge, and I used the whole can of primer for this step. If you’re priming with spray paint, do this in a well-ventilated area, preferably with a good mask. Sand between coats to smooth any excessively rough parts. Prime the dowel if you intend to paint it.
Once the primer is dry and you’re satisfied you got good coverage, paint the closet and dowel with your choice of paint. I used Folk Art Chalk Blushed Pink Rose for the closet in the picture. I love the soft, ultra-matte finish. Let the paint dry, then give it a second coat. You might need a third coat and a few touch-ups.
Paint the dowel if you like. You can match it to your closet or go for contrast.
When the paint is dry, give the closet and dowel a couple coats of a matte or gloss sealant, depending on the paint you used.
Insert the dowel through the holes. Add a little hot glue or wood glue on the edges to make it more secure if it jiggles too much, but I didn’t bother. The coat of paint on the dowel made it fit snuggly.
You can call it done here or decorate it with your own touches. I used faux vines to give the closets a garden vibe, and I hid the ends of the dowels with tiny fabric flowers. You can personalize it further with paint, decals, beads, etc. Go nuts!
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