CLOSED: Nerd Games - Fall 2021

[storerboughtcreation (Jamie Storer - Nerd Games Captain)]

Prompt: November - Sci-fi/Fantasy
Team: Don’t Stop Beleafing
Project Name: Shoebill wood burn
Project Link: Shoebill and kraken wood burns
Brief Description: Oh my goodness was this technical to make! My dad got a laser engraver and it only came with assembly instructions. There was nothing to explain settings or how to use the program. After I accidentally stumbled upon a great video tutorial, we finally figured things out. This was our third successful burn of the evening. This is for roler.
Project Photo(s):

Prompt: Advent - Hot Chocolate
Team: Don’t Stop Beleafing
Project Name: kraken in a bottle 1
Project Link: Shoebill and kraken wood burns
Brief Description: I love the smell of burning wood… Though this did get a bit smoky. A little more info on this in the link. This was our first successful attempt of the night
Project Photo(s):

Prompt: Advent - Decorations
Team: Don’t Stop Beleafing
Project Name: kraken in a bottle 2
Project Link: Shoebill and kraken wood burns
Brief Description: This one is cropped in closer, so it fills up more of the space. This was our even more successful second attempt
Project Photo(s):

Prompt: Big Time
Team: Don’t Stop Beleafing
Project Name: Mouse
Project Link: If You Give a Mouse a Cookie
Brief Description: I made this for Grumpy Frog to go with the book I got her for Christmas
Project Photo(s):

[storerboughtcreation (Jamie Storer - Nerd Games Captain)]

Prompt: Advent - Presents
Team: Don’t Stop Beleafing
Project Name: Foxy Basket
Project Link: A foxy basket and Pikachu tote
Brief Description: I made this for @roler for Christmas
Project Photo(s): (more photos in link)

Prompt: Advent - Candy Corn
Team: Don’t Stop Beleafing
Project Name: Pikachu tote
Project Link: A foxy basket and Pikachu tote
Brief Description: I made this for @roler for Christmas
Project Photo(s):

[Bunny1kenobi (Deanna 🇺🇸)]

Prompt: October- Mulled Cider
Team: Gourd of the Rings
Project Name: Chocolate gingerbread man
Project Link: Christmas chocolate
Brief Description: This needs heat to make.
Project Photo(s):

Prompt: November- Non-Fiction
Team: Gourd of the Rings
Project Name: Sassy notebook
Project Link: Sassy notebooks
Brief Description: This is functional.
Project Photo(s):

Prompt: December Battle - sleigh bells
Team: Gourd of the Rings
Project Name: Chocolate Christmas tree
Project Link: Christmas chocolate
Brief Description: My youngest filled in some of the green. But I did the rest. And what says Christmas more than a decorated tree?
Project Photo(s):

[Bunny1kenobi (Deanna 🇺🇸)]

Prompt: December - Santa is coming to town
Team: Gourd of the Rings
Project Name: Santa Squeaker ATC
Project Link: Santa Squeaker- a family ATC
Brief Description: My youngest was born on Christmas Eve! This ATC features red and white, as well as Christmas themed.
Project Photo(s):

Prompt: Free Range #1
Team: Gourd of the Rings
Project Name: Sassy notebook 2.0
Project Link: Sassy notebooks
Brief Description: Made for my MIL.
Project Photo(s):

Prompt: Free Range #2
Team: Gourd of the Rings
Project Name: Temple ATC
Project Link: I love to see the temple- a family ATC
Brief Description: Family ATC for my DH.
Project Photo(s):

[Bunny1kenobi (Deanna 🇺🇸)]

Prompt: Advent 2 -Rain
Team: Gourd of the Rings
Project Name: Mandalorian tee
Project Link: Mandalorian Tee
Brief Description: Made for my nephew. It’s gray.
Project Photo(s):

Prompt: Advent 4- Candy Corn
Team: Gourd of the Rings
Project Name: Two-Fistin’ ATC
Project Link: Two-Fistin’-a family ATC
Brief Description: This has yellow, white and orange.
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Prompt: Advent 7- Cranberries
Team: Gourd of the Rings
Project Name: Work Ethic ATC
Project Link: Work ethic- a family ATC
Brief Description: The alarm clock face is round.
Project Photo(s):

Prompt: Advent 11- Decorations
Team: Gourd of the Rings
Project Name: Soul Sisters necklace
Project Link: Soul Sisters
Brief Description: This is metallic
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Prompt: Advent 12- Presents
Team: Gourd of the Rings
Project Name: Mickey butter dish
Project Link: Mickey butter dish
Brief Description: This is a gift for my brother’s Disney- obsessed family.
Project Photo(s):

[roler (Laura)]

Prompt: Research Project #1
Team: So Corn-fused
Project Name: Jimmy Beans Advent Scarf
Project Link: Jimmy Beans Advent Scarf
Brief Description: I made this scarf for my mom for Christmas from the Jimmy Beans wool advent kit. It took MANY hours. I honestly have no idea how many, but… at least 50?
Project Photo(s):

Prompt: Research Project #2
Team: So Corn-fused
Project Name: Green Chevron Blanket
Project Link: Green Chevron Blanket
Brief Description: I made this blanket for mel in the 12 Days of Christmas Swap
Project Photo(s):

[storerboughtcreation (Jamie Storer - Nerd Games Captain)]

Your mom looks so happy with her gift. And I love the colors you used on that blanket

[roler (Laura)]

Prompt: December Battle - Sleigh Bells
Team: So Corn-fused
Project Name: Needle Felted Santa
Project Link: Needle felted santa
Brief Description: I made this Santa for mel in the 12 Days of Christmas Swap. Santa comes with sleigh bells!
Project Photo(s):

Prompt: December - It’s a Holiday Baking Competition
Team: So Corn-fused
Project Name: Crochet Dishcloth
Project Link: 12 Days of Christmas 2021 Gallery - #215 by mel
Brief Description: Another 12 Days of Christmas gift. This can be used in the kitchen!
Project Photo(s):

Prompt: Advent - Apple Orchard
Team: So Corn-fused
Project Name: Christmas Sloth
Project Link: Christmas Sloth
Brief Description: This Christmas present for @storerboughtcreation includes the color red!
Project Photo(s):

Prompt: Advent - Cranberries
Team: So Corn-fused
Project Name: Penguin Ornament
Project Link: Christmas Ornament Gifts
Brief Description: This Christmas present for my mom is very round!
Project Photo(s):

Prompt: December - It’s Just all a Big Misunderstanding
Team: So Corn-fused
Project Name: Monkey Ornament
Project Link: Christmas Ornament Gifts
Brief Description: This Christmas present for SBC took a bit of tweaking to make it work, but I managed to figure it out!
Project Photo(s):

[storerboughtcreation (Jamie Storer - Nerd Games Captain)]

I love my sloth and monkey ornament Thank you!

[roler (Laura)]

Prompt: October - Cozy Sweaters
Team: So Corn-fused
Project Name: Mosaic Cowl
Project Link: Mosaic Cowl
Brief Description: A cozy cowl to keep me warm!
Project Photo(s):

[LovelyMiss (Ashley)]

Prompt: October - Mulled Cider
Team: Don’t Stop Beleafing
Project Name: Special Candle Request
Project Link: N/A
Brief Description: I made Fraser Fir candles this year. One of my friends noted that her favorite scent is one I had done in prior years called Remedy. I had just enough wax to make a candle and 10 tealights (not all pictured), so I made her a special small batch as a surprise. I packaged them up and added labels and a lid. Sorry, I didn’t get a photo when they were done in my chaos frenzy!

Project Photo(s):

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Prompt: December - Rekindling an Old Flame
Team: Don’t Stop Beleafing
Project Name: Copic sketch
Project Link: N/A
Brief Description: I haven’t really drawn in a long time. My mom gave me some Copic markers as a gift, and I did a quick sketch to try them out. I’m hoping to practice more in the coming months!

Project Photo(s):

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Prompt: Free Range
Team: Don’t Stop Beleafing
Project Name: Charcuterie Board
Project Link: N/A
Brief Description: I volunteered to make a charcuterie board for the tiny family holiday we had. It was too much for too few people. LOL. But it was fun!

Project Photo(s):

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Prompt: Zap
Team: Don’t Stop Beleafing
Project Name: Charcuterie Board 2
Project Link: N/A
Brief Description: I had so much stuff left over from the first one, I made a small one for my partner’s family.

Project Photo(s):

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Prompt: Research Project
Team: Don’t Stop Beleafing
Project Name: Hats
Project Link: N/A
Brief Description: I planned to submit this in reverse order, but I forgot, so I hope it’s okay to submit a Research Project now. This year, I wanted to get back into knitting (you know this, you’ve already seen so many hats). I say “get back into,” but historically, all I’ve knitted are blankets and scarfs using only purl stitch. Seriously, it’s silly. But it’s hard for me to have the attention and motivation to learn and keep track of mixed stitches and patterns. I decided to challenge myself a bit, and boy was it a challenge! I spent about 20 hours practicing before I even got past the brim on a single hat! So much frogging! Anyway, here are 11 more hats. Technically I made them later than the others I shared (so mentally just swap the photos I guess?! ), but it was all part of the process, and these alone took well over the 20 hour time limit. I ended up making 27 in total, and they were all gifted the last few weeks to good fanfare, so I’ll call it a success! The most interesting thing to me is I’m not burnt out on them yet, but I am out of good yarn, so I’m taking a break, lol.

Project Photo(s):

[storerboughtcreation (Jamie Storer - Nerd Games Captain)]

I love seeing all of the hats you’ve made. It inspired me to make a few. But I already got bored of hats. It’s great that you’re having fun, and I look forward to seeing your next batch when you get more yarn!

[storerboughtcreation (Jamie Storer - Nerd Games Captain)]

Prompt: Big Time
Team: Don’t Stop Beleafing
Project Name: My wedding photo
Project Link: My wedding photo burned on 12x12 wood
Brief Description: I spent hours reading blogs and watching videos with my dad to try to figure out how to burn a photo using his laser engraver. We even tried a different program, but it was super complicated and we gave up on it for now until we watch more tutorials on how to use it (think going from Paint to Photoshop for program complexity). I think it turned out pretty well, but I know with more time and experience we can do even better. More info and the orginal photo in the link
Project Photo(s):

[craftADDchick (Cindy)]

Prompt: December Battle- Sleigh Bells
Team: Don’t Stop Beleafing
Project Name: Christmas Tree Trio
Project Link: Christmas Tree Trio
Brief Description: Sleigh bells remind me of Christmas, as do snowflakes and Christmas trees! I made this trio in a class with a coworker. I have battery operated tea lights in them.

Project Photo(s):

Prompt: October- Costume Party
Team: Don’t Stop Beleafing
Project Name: Blue Batik Clothesline Necklace
Project Link: Blue Batik Clothesline Necklace
Brief Description: I took Abbeeroad’s Clothesline Necklace class and she sent me this beautiful blue batik fabric and a wooden bead. I painted the bead using copper acrylic paint. I can’t wait to wear it!

Project Photo(s):

Prompt: October- Mulled Cider
Team: Don’t Stop Beleafing
Project Name: Red Velvet Cookies
Project Link: n/a
Brief Description: These required baking in a hot oven! I used a recipe I found on Pinterest for cake mix red velvet cookies. They probably could have been baked a couple of minutes more, but they were still delicious. This is all that is left out of the 2 dozen I made.

Project Photo(s):

Prompt: November- Spy Stories
Team: Don’t Stop Beleafing
Project Name: Gnome Towel Topper #1
Project Link: Gnome Towel Topper - #22 by craftADDchick
Brief Description: After seeing @roler’s gnome towel toppers, I decided to make a set as gifts. There is a ring hidden inside the hat to hook the towel to so it can be swapped out when it needs washing. One of the red ones is for my mom.

Project Photo(s):

Prompt: December- It’s a Holiday Baking Competition
Team: Don’t Stop Beleafing
Project Name: Gnome Towel Topper #2
Project Link: Gnome Towel Topper - #22 by craftADDchick
Brief Description: These are designed to hang over the stove or refrigerator handle in the kitchen. The green one (in the photo above) is for a friend of my mom’s.

Project Photo(s): (see Image above)

Prompt: December- Santa Is Coming To Town
Team: Don’t Stop Beleafing
Project Name: Gnome Towel Topper #3
Project Link: Gnome Towel Topper - #22 by craftADDchick
Brief Description: The second red and white gnome is for anther one of my mom’s friends.

Project Photo(s): (see above photo)

[craftADDchick (Cindy)]

Prompt: December- Never Split the Party
Team: Don’t Stop Beleafing
Project Name: Album Cover Box for a Record Bowl
Project Link: Album Cover Box for a Record Bowl
Brief Description: I cut apart the cover to the album that I had previously melted into a bowl and turned it into a box to hold the bowl.

Project Photo(s):

Prompt: October- Hay Rides
Team: Don’t Stop Beleafing
Project Name: Book Page Garland
Project Link: Subject Themed Garlands for My Teaching Team
Brief Description: I punched out multiple circles from a children’s book and stitched them together to make a garland for the ELA teacher on my team.

Project Photo(s):

Prompt: November- Historical
Team: Don’t Stop Beleafing
Project Name: Atlas Pages Garland
Project Link: Subject Themed Garlands for My Teaching Team
Brief Description: For the social studies teacher on my team, I punched out circles from some pages from an old atlas and stitched them together.

Project Photo(s):

Prompt: December- It’s Just All a Big Misunderstanding
Team: Don’t Stop Beleafing
Project Name: Multiplication Flash Card Garland
Project Link: Subject Themed Garlands for My Teaching Team
Brief Description: A few years ago, I meant to make this garland for the math teacher on my team. I didn’t do it because using the Silhouette to cut the circles was too much of a pain in the butt. When I recently found a big circle punch on clearance, the project was revived! Of course, I had misplaced the flash cards and the only ones I could find had Disney Princesses in the corner, so I had to punch carefully…

Project Photo(s):

Prompt: Zap
Team: Don’t Stop Beleafing
Project Name: Decaf Coffee Syrup
Project Link: n/a
Brief Description: Growing up, we drank coffee milk made with a locally produced coffee syrup. I gave up caffeine, so I was very happy when my mom shared a copycat recipe that I could make using instant decaf. Tastes just like the original! Basically, you take equal parts sugar and water, boil the water and dissolve the sugar. I used 2 cups of each. Then, I added in 1 oz of instant coffee (it was either 3 or 6 tablespoons… I did the math at the time, but can’t recall which it was… pretty sure it was 6 TBSP).

Project Photo(s):

[megwell (Megan)]

Prompt: Santa is Coming to Town (December)
Team: Gourd of the Rings
Project Name: Conversation topic ATC
Project Link: Parks & Rec "Road Trip" ATCs
Brief Description: This has red and white on it.
Project Photo(s):

Prompt: Never Split the Party (December)
Team: Gourd of the Rings
Project Name: Porcelain ATC
Project Link: Parks & Rec "Road Trip" ATCs
Brief Description: The lines divide the card.
Project Photo(s):

Prompt: Slay Belles (December Battle)
Team: Gourd of the Rings
Project Name: Ultimate Battle Smoothie ATC
Project Link: Parks & Rec "Road Trip" ATCs
Brief Description: I mean, it’s not meant to kill humans, but look at that armor.
Project Photo(s):

Prompt: It’s a Holiday Baking Competition (December)
Team: Gourd of the Rings
Project Name: Chocolate Chip Oatmeal (Stout) Cookies
Project Link: N/A
Brief Description: I baked a batch of my usual cookies but added a bit of oatmeal stout to the batter. (I also skipped the parchment paper, which wasn’t the best idea, but lesson learned.)
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Prompt: Fuzzy Slippers (October)
Team: Gourd of the Rings
Project Name: Holiday Playlist junk journal spread
Project Link: No dedicated post, but you can read about it in the art journaling craftalong: Art Journaling Craftalong - 2021 - #1341 by megwell
Brief Description: That red paper was so fuzzy. I’m surprised it glued down, honestly. Another lesson learned.
Project Photo(s):

[megwell (Megan)]

Sneaking in a couple of extra projects:
Prompt: Rekindling an Old Flame (December)
Team: Gourd of the Rings
Project Name: Sausage Gravy and Biscuits Pretzel Bun
Project Link: N/A
Brief Description: To ring out the year, I made sausage gravy but subbed a pretzel bun leftover from Christmas.
Project Photo(s):

Prompt: Spy Stories (November)
Team: Gourd of the Rings
Project Name: 2021 junk journal page
Project Link: N/A
Brief Description: I made a 2021 junk journal page, mostly to have somewhere to put my vaccination sticker. The flip window at the bottom conceals a quotation (by design) and a little something extra (by my addition).
Project Photo(s):

[craftADDchick (Cindy)]

My last one for 2021!

Prompt: October- Fuzzy Slippers
Team: Don’t Stop Beleafing
Project Name: Hangin’ with My (Sock) Gnomies!
Project Link: Hangin' with My (Sock) Gnomies!
Brief Description: My mom and I made these today using 3 socks for each one, plus some fuzzy fun fur for the beards. We had to improvise on a couple of bits, but they came out super cute anyway!

Project Photo(s):

And, Happy New Year, my fellow nerds!

[roler (Laura)]

Prompt: December - Rekindling and Old Flame
Team: So Corn-fused
Project Name: Thumbprint Cookies with Lemon Curd
Project Link: Thumbprint Cookies with Lemon Curd
Brief Description: I haven’t made thumbprint cookies in yeeeears. I was craving lemon curd though, so we made these amazing crumbly, shortbread-y cookies with ginger and cinnamon and big dollops of lemon curd. Mmmmm!
Project Photo(s):

[storerboughtcreation (Jamie Storer - Nerd Games Captain)]

The fun continues in the Winter 2022 games!

I will post tracking here later today. Happy New Year