Adding a secret compartment to a book is not as easy as it sounds (trust me). Fortunately, the How2DoStuff blog has posted a how-to that makes hidden compartment book-building it a snap. You will finally have a place to hold all your Data Minidiscs full of presumably illegal warez (follow the white rabbit, Neo). [via]
Here is an easy to make mini-studio for all your photography needs. The frame is made from PVC and the backdrops are changeable. The photographs look great and it looks like this thing will cost you under $10 (our favorite price point) to make. There are lots of configuration options with cheap filters (sheets) and lighting.
More pictures of the box are available in this flickr set.
A tilt shift lens can produce amazing photographs that look like miniature models. Unfortunately these lenses are out of the price range of most amateur photographers. Fortunately, photoshop comes to our rescue once again - saving us the expense of high-end photography equipment and giving us similar results. This tutorial shows you how to fake a tilt shift effect to make your photographs look like miniature models. [via]
Check out this Flickr group for some amazing tilt-shift shots.
Got a bunch of old keyboards sitting around? Why not make some cool necklaces, bracelets, etc. Try spelling out your name. Color the keys for extra effects. Check out Winterlog’s Flickr Stream for more.
Every few days apple releases a new lineup of iPods that are greater than the last. First they were simple MP3 players, and then they became picture viewing devices, now you can watch movies, and today apple announced that the new iPods will cure cancer and provide girlfriends for losers everywhere.
When people brag to me about how awesome their new umteen billion gigabyte iPod is, I just have to laugh. “Ha!” I exclaim and pull out my phone. You see, in reality my phone is an MP3 player with virtually unlimited capacity. What do you want to hear? Chances are I can listen to it on my phone, and you won’t be able to find it on your iPod.
Read on to find out how it’s done… (Read the article)
Just in case of attack, you’d better have even your littlest one protected. This modded tank-stroller is just the thing. The Flickr set includes enough construction photos to get you started on your own. Let’s just say that is one lucky baby.
Jake just called me with a hot tip for today. Until 2pm IHOPs across the nation are giving out free pancakes! Nothing to do with DIY, but breakfast is a great time for planning out your next big project. Check out the details here, and head down to your local IHOP for some free flapjacks.
(Read the article)
A few years ago my brother burned me some CDs with Noam Chomsky and other easy listening sound files and folded them up in an interesting way in a piece of paper. This seemed like a very novel way to make your own CD case… but that was back near the turn of the century, it’s 2006 now! Here’s a new way to make some awesome CD cases and recycle those old disks you’ve been hanging on to for some reason. [via]
During WWII the Germans developed a system to encrypt their messages known as the Enigma code. Through the use of early computers the Allied forces were able to intercept and decipher the messages. Currently there is an open source project to decipher three previously uncracked ciphers. Similar to the S.E.T.I. project where you donate your computer’s processing power while it is idle, the M4 Project has already managed to crack one cipher. With two left, there’s plenty of time to get the program installed on your computer and figure out what those Germans were trying to say!
A great (and cheap) way to acknowledge a birthday or other special holiday is to send e-cards or other virtual gifts through e-mail — like flowers, pictures, cartoons, or even vacations or pets. These virtual gifts can be personalized by adding unique messages to them. There are many sites that will send these gifts to an e-mail address that you supply for free. Some of my favorites include 123 greetings, iflowers, and virtual presents.
Skateboardforschools.com is a website devoted to bringing projects students will actually care about into tech-ed classes. Offering an alternative over the usual clocks and bridge models, a skateboard will get kids genuinely interested in the project at hand and teach them a few woodworking skills along the way. The site is also a great resource for pre-shaped decks and longboard decks for anyone who wants to make their own skateboard. Plans are included with deck purchases.
If you’re really ambitious and already made the seat belt purse from the previous post, here is something to put in it (or if you’re a guy, here’s a project to slim down that bulky leather wallet in your pocket). All you have to do is find all those EMI-shielding bags from the sweet upgrades you just did to your computer and follow these directions to make a new wallet.
The homemade seatbealt purse is about as cool as purses get. It has the benefit of not only carrying all your stuff, but also protecting you from accidents as you are walking down the street. You can get the seatbelt material from an auto upholstery store, or for retro effect, from an old car. Cool points for whoever makes a man-bag version. [via]
Jason Bradbury, inventor of the hoverboard we covered last week, has posted some more details on construction of his hoverboard. The details were somewhat vague before, but after being inundated with thousands of emails asking for more, Jason wrote up some more of the specifics. If your hoverboards never left the ground last week, then be sure to head over to Bradbury’s blog and find out what you did wrong.
Here are some highlights from this week to keep you busy until work on Monday.
Rig up a 3D display using cellophane.
Annoy your neighbors with a homemade Cajon or PVC instrument.
Turn your computer keyboard into a music keyboard.
Build a working hoverboard.
Convince your friends you’re not ghetto after installing the ladder bookshelf.
And of course, make a ski cap with built in headphones.
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