Embryo

Alright folks, the moment all you graphic designers, dabblers, photoshophiles, and avatar-makers have been waiting for!

DIY:happy does not have a logo. Some folks think we do (the little TV-looking thing), but we don't. However, we'd like one! We'd even be willing to throw in some incentives, because we're nice and fabulous like that.

Here are the regulations (not rules, for all the Libertarians):

1. The logo has to be a good size. Nothing too small... it has to be made in all kinds of sizes, and we wouldn't want to distort your masterpiece by resizing it, right?

2. It has to be a-okay for us to print it!

3. We'd rather not having anything offensive, mean, rude, terrible, or violence-insighting. 

4. Those things said, anything goes.

 DIY:happy loves you. So, whomever wins the contest will win:

• A $20 GIFT CERTIFICATE, care of the wonderful LadyAda. Good for anything in her online store (linked here), which is a cornucopia of DIY electronics kits, components, and all kinds of fun stuff for hobbyists, electronic engineers, and weekend DIY fans!
• Buttons with the logo YOU designed on them! Good for a resume, especially for designers!
• Every button you sell will have your signature at the bottom, so you don't have to convince anyone. Just point at your sig.
• You'll get three free buttons, as a sample of your work!

The suspense is over, let the games begin!

SUBMIT TO: Kristi@diyhappy.com or TIPS@diyhappy.com!

Projected End Date: September 13th at 11:59 PM (CST).

 UPDATE: 14 SUBMISSIONS AS OF 10:00PM, 08-11-07.

Why have one monitor when you can have eight at 8x the price? This ultimate workstation setup is a perfect setting for all your wargame, command center, global terrorism, and hacking needs - or you could just use it to tinker with several computers at once. This KVM-supported setup can support anywhere from 8-32 computers. We just wish they would have sprung for the 30 inch displays!

2 Instructionals until the contest details... and LadyAda prizes!

This DIY electric bike is not only more efficient and more powerful than commercial models, it's lighter and less expensive too! Maybe more of a proof-of-concept than an actual finished project, this guide will help you get ideas for your own electric bike designs. The setup is very minimal, will fit in a sidebag, and is capable of going up to 60mph.

I like this idea of a keychain holder made from old USB hubs. To hang your keys, simply plug your thumbdrive into an open port. Go the extra mile and wire it to your computer for the ultimate USB hub/key station. Apparently this is from gerrysart.de, but I couldn't find it through all the annoying flash (flash: looks pretty, but makes extremely useless websites /end rant). I saw it here first.

Some of you may remember Jason Bradbury's original Back To The Future style hoverboard. Now Bradbury is at it again with a new version of his hoverboard that he claims will even hover on water (without anyone on it). This one looks to use four leaf-blower motors and an air filled bag underneath to accomplish its lift. This is something reminiscent of those "BUILD YOUR OWN HOVERCRAFT!" ads in the back of Boy's Life many years ago - except you don't have to send away with $5 and a SASE for these plans.

Note: Besides the schematic above and a bit of description, there doesn't appear to be any in-depth how-to here.

Technorati Tags: hoverboard, hovering, transportation, boy's life

Unfortunately there aren't any step by step instructions here, but this would be a really cool project to figure out. A record player made completely out of paper. Even the speaker (cone) and turning mechanism are paper. It is powered manually by turning a, you guessed it, paper crank.

Paper Record Player.

Here is a truly amazing concept - creating animated works using a series of long-exposure light painting stills. Basically you leave the shutter open on your camera long enough to draw a character of some kind with a small flashlight. Then you do this about 30 more times. When you're done, you have an animated image made of light.

The website is not instructional in nature (or maybe it is - who knows because its in Chinese), but the process is straightforward enough. The images will help get you started on some pictures of your own.

Animated Light. [via]

Like the Dirkon of yore, the new Domokon is an experimental paper SLR camera. Yes, you read that right, the Domokon is a single-lens reflex camera. You can change lenses, make aperture and DOF adjustments, and use standard 35mm film. It's not going to win any awards for photo quality, but it does take unique pictures, and hey, it's made of paper. Unfortunately there is no printable plans like we had for the Dirkon, but there may be enough info here to get started on your own. [via]

Domokon Paper SLR Camera.

The spray can handle is an essential for anyone who plans on painting with spray paints for very long. Not only does it keep you from getting your fingers all covered in paint (saving you awkward conversations with police officers), but it will keep your hands from cramping up after holding the cans in such a naturally awkward way. The handle was salvaged from an old library cart and appears to use the brake mechanism to trigger the nozzle. Perhaps a brake handle from a walker would work too?

Update: Doh! It appears the handle was purchased from a store and made for this purpose. Not exactly DIY but still a good tip.

Here is a real Powerbook for all you Mac fans out there. Yes, this is a regular old hardcover book that has been modded, it appears, to house an iPod. What would make this even more interesting would be to add 5V USB ports, a couple standard plugs, and some other power sources. Then it would be a really real powerbook!