Scrabble Shadow Box & Bookmarks

As referenced in Christmas Preview, we're putting up write-ups on individual gifts as soon as we've heard that the gifts have been received. This collection is Scrabble-themed. One member of A's family is a big sports fan from Kansas City and an avid board gamer. My parents raised the kids on Scrabble and are avid readers. So, for one side, Scrabble board sports-themed free-form crossword, and for mine, bookmarks.

You'll need:

• Scrabble tiles and board
• Shadow box
• Metal bookmark... things (We bought these, there are lots of options in the world)
• Beading wire or thread
• Beads
• Adhesive, cutting tools, pin vise, beading tools, etc...

Christmas Preview

 
Hey there, family, friends, and fans of all ages. We're just too excited by the upcoming holiday to be able to keep some secrets to ourselves. So, we'd like to take a post and talk about some big projects that we've been working on but had to keep secret... Until now!

DIY Ornaments 2: Scrabble & Polish

 

 As promised the last time we discussed ornaments, here's the second batch for you to try at home. This set includes some more of those clear glass balls we used last time and some Scrabble tiles you might have lying around somewhere.

 

Things you'll need:

• Clear glass or plastic ornamental balls
• Nail polish
• Polish remover & Q-tip (or better yet, cellophane tape or hole protectors)
• Jewelry wire (24-gauge)
• Scrabble tiles
• Beads

TARDIS Build Document

J here. Though later than expected, I've got the TARDIS Construction Plans. Contained therein, all the dimensions, lists, instructions and templates you need to build your own TARDIS from scratch. Only a couple pages need to be printed, everything else you can use for reference. Or heck, print it all out and take measurements directly from the plans I used when I built mine, up above.

This build is for a TARDIS Tree Topper, but there's no reason these plans couldn't be applied to any other 1:16 TARDIS project. Or, with some math and ingenuity, pretty much any other scale as well.

Again, all credit to the folks at TARDIS Builders and all rights to the BBC who snuck a victory in British courts over the London police who never copywrote their blue police box design.

We'll have some links in the next day or so for instructional video on some advanced techniques, including foamcore rabbeting and beveling matteboard. Check back soon for those updates!

TARDIS Tree Topper & Garland

There are those who argue that a TARDIS is not built, it is grown. I'm here to say that, no, it's a fairly straightforward matter to build one. A and I wanted something unique for the top of our Christmas tree, which already features the Captain America tree skirt and other ornaments. I've always wanted to build a TARDIS and I had some plans burning a hole in my hard drive, so we figured out what it would take to make a real, light-up TARDIS for our Christmas tree. This is the brief(er) version of that story.

Christmas Pillow Tryptich

It's time once again for the holiday pillow tryptich.  As I'm still not a fan of the pillows that came with my couch, I used the same base pattern as our Halloween pillows to make shams that cover up the ugly things.  For design inspiration I spent entirely too much time on Pinterest pinning pillows I had no intention of making.  Therefore, with step one (pillow pattern) and step two (Pinterest procrastination) over, it's on to step three: crafting Christmas cutesiness.  I'll give basic instructions for the three pillows you see above; however, the trick to good holiday decorations is in enjoying them aesthetically and creatively.  Ex. If you hate hand sewing, skip the stockings and snowflakes, they'll drive you crazy.

Build-Your-Own Ornaments

This post covers a couple of styles of ornaments, and might just be a "Part One of... Many." We'll see how many of the ornamental backlog A & I finish by the end of the year. Some of these are just pretty, one of them is themed, but there are ideas that apply across the board, so check out the ideas and keep what works.

You Might Need:

• Empty glass ornaments
• Ribbon
• Stamps pads: StazOn and glue pads or Glue stick pen
• ...glitter
• Felt scraps (nothing bigger than 4" x 4" needed) for the Star Wars ornament
• Fabric glue

Etsy Shop Opening!

To infinity... And beyond!

Dear Loyal Fans:

We started this blog to teach folks how to make cool stuff for their home. But what if we describe a material you can't buy on the distant frontier, or owning a sewing machine violates your personal code, or you remain woefully unable to measure anything... Don't worry, we got your back on this one.

Check out the With Our Powers Combined Etsy Shop. You want comic book coasters? Bam, we got those. Man, you need a Captain America tree skirt like now, but you can't sew? No problem for us. We'll help you live that nerdcraft chic lifestyle you always envied on Pinterest. You can even lie about it and say you read it on our blog and now you have one. (We'll skip the part where you bought it from us.) Just send them our way.

This shop in no way means that we aren't going to keep sharing our triumphs and failures as craftspeople with you guys. We're learning as we go, and we want you to keep growing with us. So, stay tuned for tips, tricks, and techniques with the added bonus of snapping up occasional loot. So, here's the chance for you to outsource that project you've always needed to make (but can't) or the gift idea you can't find anywhere else. We're open to feedback on this new feature and would love to hear from you about where we go next.

So here's to the next phase for With Our Powers Combined. Thanks for sticking with us this far.

- J & A

Comic Book Coasters

A here with another awesome coaster project!  Similar to the stone coasters posted in November, these tile coasters are a great canvas for your imagination.  I used comic book pages for mine, but since the designs can be made out of anything paper, it's easy to come up with ideas to fit everyone on your list.  To make a set of four you will need:

• Four 4.25"x4.25" white ceramic tiles (found at most hardware stores)
• Comic book pages you don't mind destroying
• Mod Podge
• Quick drying adhesive (I use Scotch archival glue)
• Clear coat spray (we used Valspar, Krylon works well too)
• A paint brush you don't mind destroying
• 16 sticky-backed felt "feet"