CLOSED - Nerd Games - Spring 2023

[roler (Laura)]

Prompt: June Battle - Solo Games
Team: Knotty by Nature
Project Name: Cats and Soup Card
Project Link: 2023 ATCs (the year so far)
Brief Description: Cats and Soup is a phone game for one player
Project Photo(s):

Prompt: April - Ninnyhammer
Team: Knotty by Nature
Project Name: Sloth ATC
Project Link: Eraser stamps and ATCs - #11 by GeekyBookworm
Brief Description: I used tools including a linoleum cutter to make this card.
Project Photo(s):

Prompt: April - Featherhead
Team: Knotty by Nature
Project Name: Froggie ATC
Project Link: See first link in this post
Brief Description: This ATC is very lightweight, and also has iridescent gold paint (hard to see, but there are gold stamped footprints on the blue crepe paper).
Project Photo(s):

I’ve also been crocheting more again recently, but almost entirely on one verrrry long-term project (a big ol’ blanket), so it’ll be a while before I have a completed project to show! I am nowhere NEAR as speedy at blankets as SBC!

[ezrib (Tab)]

Prompt: Zap1
Team:Knotty by Nature
Project name: Slimey
Description: Slimey for my portrait wall

Prompt: Battle June- Team
Team: Knotty by Nature
Project Name: Dolphin painting
Brief Description: My family holds a free Start Out Safe (SOS) swim program for the community. This was a fundraiser we did. my painting is in the middle (with 3 dolphins). It definitely takes a team to keep this program going

Prompt: April- Mooncalf
Team: Knotty by Nature
Project Name: Wall girl
Project Link:
Brief Description: An addition to our bathroom portrait wall. she has many round spots & is drawn in black

Prompt: April- Laughingstock
Team: Knotty by Nature
Project Name: painted bowl
Project Link:
Brief Description: painting & using this bowl makes me happy

Prompt: May- Ultimate frisbee
Team: Knotty by Nature
Project Name: Violet jelly
Project Link:
Brief Description: this is my last jar of this neon pink jelly as it flew right into everyone’s hands. Made with the violets in my yard

Prompt: May- Lawn Bowling
Team: Knotty Nature
Project Name: Beet pizza
Brief Description: Homemade pizza dough, roasted beets from my garden, cream cheese, goat cheese, mozzarella, walnuts, honey, & arugula. this delicious round lunch has become a favorite

Prompt: June- Card Games
Team: Knotty by Nature
Project Name: Pig
Project Link:
Brief Description: Another addition to the portrait wall is a pig in honor of my niece who passed away. Drawn with black ink

[LovelyMiss (Ashley - Nerd Games Chief Morale Officer)]

How did this season go by so fast?!! I’m looking forward to diving into Summer!

Prompt: May - Badminton
Team: Bits and Bobs
Project Name: Rhubarb crumble pie
Project Link:
Brief Description: We got a bunch of rhubarb from our CSA and I ended up making two different strawberry rhubarb crumble-top pies. They were delicious. Filling is red. Sorry all my photos kinda suck this time!

Project Photo(s):

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Prompt: May - Lawn bowling
Team: Bits and Bobs
Project Name: Ceramic pot
Project Link:
Brief Description: I took a 3 hour drop-in pottery wheel class with my mom. It was my first time ever doing it and dang, it’s hard! We’ve signed up for another three week class though, because it was fun. I ended up with two pots. The photo of them both fully fired is further down.

Project Photo(s):

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Prompt: May - Softball
Team: Bits and Bobs
Project Name: Tank top
Project Link:
Brief Description: I went to the Taylor Swift concert with one of my friends and she wanted to wear Taylor’s Rep tank top. I found the fonts and used my electronic cutter to make the file and cut iron on vinyl transfers. We ended up using the biggest size.

Project Photo(s):

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Prompt: June Battle - Teams
Team: Bits and Bobs
Project Name: Rhubarb crumble pie
Project Link:
Brief Description: Here’s the other pie. I’m going Team because my partner washed and cut the rhubarb.

Project Photo(s):

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Prompt: June - Board Games
Team: Bits and Bobs
Project Name: Buttons
Project Link:
Brief Description: I made some buttons for a local small business that has a few restaurants in the area.

Project Photo(s):

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Prompt: June - Card Games
Team: Bits and Bobs
Project Name: Magnets and Keychains
Project Link:
Brief Description: I also did a batch of magnets and keychains.
Project Photo(s):

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Prompt: June - Video Games
Team: Bits and Bobs
Project Name: Pulled pork dinner
Project Link:
Brief Description: This meal used a lot of electricity in the forms of the crock pot, oven, and refrigerator.

Project Photo(s):

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Prompt: June - Role playing game
Team: Bits and Bobs
Project Name: Stuffed peppers
Project Link:
Brief Description: I had some leftover taco meat so made these stuffed poblano peppers. One often needs to make or eat food in RPGs for various buffs.

Project Photo(s):

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Prompt: June - Puzzle game
Team: Bits and Bobs
Project Name: Ceramic pot
Project Link:
Brief Description: This is the other pot I made and the two of them after firing. Like I mentioned, very tricky to figure out. I had about 8 failed pots between getting these two (and they’re still kinda bad, lol).

Project Photo(s):

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Prompt: Big Time
Team: Bits and Bobs
Project Name: Pride Buttons
Project Link:
Brief Description: The buttons were popular so I made another batch of about 300 just for Pride weekend.

Project Photo(s):

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Prompt: Free Range
Team: Bits and Bobs
Project Name: Fake chili
Project Link:
Brief Description: I wanted chili but was short on time to really let it stew, so I made a kinda “dry chili.” Is that a thing? I don’t know. It’s all of the chili ingredients without the sauce and topped with cheese. Tasted good!

Project Photo(s):

[LovelyMiss (Ashley - Nerd Games Chief Morale Officer)]

CRAFTY SCAVENGER HUNT

Here’s my Scavenger Hunt posts!

• A project you made that makes you smile.

Copic Drawings 2

I’ve kept going with my Copic practice! I shared some drawings earlier in the year (Copic Drawings), and have another set to share now! Some are better than others, but it’s all been fun. They’re all done free-hand, based on reference photos I found online. [rocketeer] [fox] [rainbow rose - Copy] [cat - Copy] [mushroom] [halloween cat] [clifford] [tree - Copy] [heartknife - Copy] [ship - Copy] And, this one is a drawing of a bug, which I’ve hidden under a cut for those with b…

• A project that was the first time you used a particular skill.

Copic Drawings

I’ve been learning how to and consistently trying to practice using copic markers. It’s hard! The ease really seems to ebb and flow. Here are a few projects I’ve done over the past year or so, all done free hand but with photo references I found online. [copic succulent - Copy] [red rose] [stitch] [grogu rs - Copy] [copic girl] [copic3] [copic1] [copic2] [02] [01] [03] [copic boy] [copic research project - Copy] [lana] [archer - Copy] Thanks for looking!

• A project you made that you think is weird or cool.

Cat House Miniature Kit

I picked up one of those miniature kits online. I did not know what I was getting myself into! It was so cute, though, I stuck with it, and after probably 50ish hours of work, it came together. [cathouse1] Lights on! [cathouse2] Welcome! Every little detail had to be made - that handle on the gate was just a strip of wire I had to cut and shape. [cathouse4] [cathouse3] These individual cat food cans were painstaking - tiny strips of paper and silver tape formed into ca…

• A project you made that makes you reflect on how much you’ve grown or developed as a crafter.

CLOSED - Nerd Games - Winter 2023

Prompt: February Battle - Moon Team: Bits and Bobs Project Name: Harley Quinn Copic drawing Project Link: Brief Description: I used some silvery moon colors for her skin tone. She’s a character from Batman, bats come out at night and so does the moon…I could keep going. Project Photo(s): [harley quinn - Copy] Prompt: February - Waxing Team: Bits and Bobs Project Name: Fried tacos Project Link: Brief Description: I made fried tacos - the shells are splotchy! Project Photo(s): [fri…

• A project you made that starts with the first letter of your name or username.

CLOSED - Nerd Games - Winter 2023

Prompt: March Battle - Complimentary Team: Bits and Bobs Project Name: Letters Project Link: Brief Description: There’s an amazing program/charity called the Women’s Prison Book Project that I’ve done some things with before. They needed volunteers to write letters to prisoners for Valentine’s day. We got stacks of coloring pages and a mini script (with some flexibility) to write on the back. Prisons are very limiting. You have to write in blue or black ink only. You can’t add stickers or a…

• A project that uses a skill/supply/tool you don’t use often, but may like to return to again at some point.

Junk Journal

I used to make a lot of junk journals, and decided to pick it up again. Inspired by the French book cover I had, I decided to do a kind of themed journal - a young man as he rambled through life, adventured, and collected memories. [junk journal 1 - Copy] [junk journal 2 - Copy] [junk journal3 - Copy] I spent a lot of time inking all of the pages and embellishments, or at least the ones that needed it, to have a more vintage-y vibe. It’s a combo of mostly real vintage ephemera, with so…

• A project you think was the most time-consuming.

Acrylic Panel Collage

We’re having a fun round in the Summer Nerd Games, and one of the optional items is to create a crafty self-portrait. I took inspiration from artist Dustin Yellin and got to work. [collage2rs - Copy] Over the past month and a half, I made a kind of 3D collage using images I cut out of books, magazines, paper (or that I otherwise had), and eight 12x12 inch acrylic panels. It took A LOT of time to fussy cut everything (over 300 individual images), and A LOT of trial and error to arrange each la…

• A project you made that you gifted or created for someone else.

Candles, Soap, Room Spray, Cord Keepers, Charcoal Deodorizers

I do a “gift buffet” every year where folks can take what they’d like of my crafty projects. Here are some of the things I made this year! [candles] [soap1] [soap2] [room spray] [cord keepers] [charcoal deodorizers - Copy] Thanks for looking!

• A project you made that you didn’t think you would finish.

Crochet Pocket Shawl

I’m finally getting into crochet and loved this pattern I came across. It’s pretty simple and fun. I used smaller hooks, per the instructions, because I knew my tension was still a bit loose as I’m getting my footing. I think I could have gone down even more, and maybe should have compensated more for the pockets, to better match the pattern. But it turned out really cute anyway, and I learned a lot. I’m planning to make a few different ones for holiday gifts. I used Super Saver yarn on this…

• A project you made where the final result surprised you.

CLOSED - Nerd Games - Winter 2023

Prompt: March Battle - Complimentary Team: Bits and Bobs Project Name: Letters Project Link: Brief Description: There’s an amazing program/charity called the Women’s Prison Book Project that I’ve done some things with before. They needed volunteers to write letters to prisoners for Valentine’s day. We got stacks of coloring pages and a mini script (with some flexibility) to write on the back. Prisons are very limiting. You have to write in blue or black ink only. You can’t add stickers or a…

[bluebird]

Prompt: June Battle: Solo vs Teams - TEAMS
Team: Running with scissors
Project Name: vintage toy ATC
Project Link:
Brief Description: Battle: TEAMS. This was made for the ATC swap and these ongoing ATC swaps are a sort of collaborative team effort where one person picks a topic and the other person makes art for that topic.
Project Photo(s):

[bluebird]

Crafty Scavenger Hunt

A project you made that makes you smile.
I did these pop culture mashups for an ATC swap and I think they’re a lot of fun!

A project that was the first time you used a particular skill.
I’m fairly certain these are my first set of stitch markers ever & my first time closing the loop of wire. Note the lack of wrapped loops.

A project you made that you think is weird or cool.
I made these dragonscale pouches and I think they’re pretty cool!

A project you made that makes you reflect on how much you’ve grown or developed as a crafter.
And this relates the the stitch markers above. This is a much more recent jewely project and wrapped loops are something I’m very familiar with now and feel I do a good job on making them neatly.

A project you made that starts with the first letter of your name or username.
B for Bluebird - This is a Byzantine weave chainmail Bracelet.

A project that uses a skill/supply/tool you don’t use often, but may like to return to again at some point.
Bookbinding. I love handbound books and I enjoy making them, but its not something I do often. Still I would like to do more in the future.

A project you think was the most time-consuming.
This bathrobe was made for a swap and it was very time consuming to make.

A project you made that you gifted or created for someone else.
One of many hats I made as gifts for Christmas a few years back.

A project you made that you didn’t think you would finish.
I made these fabric boxes completely from scratch. These were such a pain to make and I almost abandoned this project. Everything had to be meticulously measured and cut (the board that make up all the sides/interiors/tops/bottoms) and the padding cut for all sides/interiors/tops/bottoms and then the fabric and glue it all together. And it took so long to measure, cut, and assemble these boxes, but I powered through and did it. Although I really liked the end result, I won’t make this again in the future! This project could have been the ‘most time consuming’ project as for time it took, but the ‘think I wouldn’t finish’ part more accurately describes theses boxes.

A project you made where the final result surprised you.
I made this years ago in an Ongoing Wish Swap and I was really pleased with the results. I also has an interior zipper pocket (my first I think!) that turned out so well and I was so happy with this bag. I had a hard time mailing it off.

[bluebird]

Prompt: June - Role Playing Game
Team: Running with scissors
Project Name: Forest of Paper Trees collage
Project Link:
Brief Description: This is a collage made of scrap paper trees for the ATC swap.
Project Photo(s):

Prompt: June - Card Games
Team: Running with scissors
Project Name: Pick 3 bird
Project Link:
Brief Description: This is an ATC where the challange was to pick 3 features. One feature was warm colors so this bird has both RED and BLACK colors for the legs.
Project Photo(s):

Prompt: May - Ultimate Frisbee
Team: Running with scissors
Project Name: Friends ATC
Project Link:
Brief Description: This ATC has little butterflies which fly on it!
Project Photo(s):

Prompt: May - Lawn Bowling
Team: Running with scissors
Project Name: 80s stickers
Project Link:
Brief Description: These 80s stickers ATCs feature round stickers!
Project Photo(s):

Prompt: April - Ninnyhammer
Team: Running with scissors
Project Name: Cat with Whiskey ATC
Project Link:
Brief Description: The cat in this ATC is blue!
Project Photo(s):

Prompt: April - Block head
Team: Running with scissors
Project Name: Pi pie ATC
Project Link:
Brief Description: The pi pie in the ATC is tan/brown!
Project Photo(s):

Prompt: May - Flag Football
Team: Running with scissors
Project Name: Chicken leg socks ATC
Project Link:
Brief Description: ATCs are rectangle!
Project Photo(s):

Prompt: June - Board Games
Team: Running with scissors
Project Name: Good Things fill a matchbox ATC
Project Link:
Brief Description: ATCs are flat!
Project Photo(s):

[megwell (Megan (she/her))]

Sorry, Team RWS; I dropped the ball posting this season. Sneaking one more in.

Prompt: Big Time
Team: Running with Scissors
Project Name: Scrappy Embellishments
Project Link: Choose-Your-Own-Adventure Scrappy Embellishments -- Talk Scrappy To Me Challenge Entry
Brief Description: I made these for the current site challenge. I probably spent 5 hours just auditioning the various bits in different places. (At least that’s what it felt like.)
Project Photo(s): A couple of favorites; more photos in the project post.