Lasering Cactus Leather

    Andrew Crawford June 3, 2023

    I’m always interested in exploring more sustainable materials for making things. Awhile ago, I got a cactus leather sample kit from Desserto and, finally got around to trying it this week.

    The samples range in thickness from about half a millimeter to 1.8 millimeters and, come with a different backing materials:

    50% polyester / 50% cotton
    65% polyester / 35% cotton
    100% polyester
    100% cotton
    100% cotton “infused with cactus”
    100% nylon

    Some of the backing matches the material for color while others do not.

    They also offer a number of different surface finishes.

    The bolts are 1.4 meters wide and, run between $22 and $52 USD per meter, depending on the specific configuration.

    Vaporized material seems to re-deposit as a sticky goo on the surface. Masking mostly prevents that and, the goo will wash off with some mild soap (I used a foaming hand soap) and a bit of rubbing. Isopropyl alcohol can take it off, too but, will also damage the finish noticeably in some cases.

    I found the masked 1mm thick 50/50-blend-backed stuff cut at about 245 speed / 75 power on the Glowforge. I got decent (masked) engraves at 1000/51/270LPI.

    Filling engraves with acrylic paint (via Posca-style pens) worked pretty well. The surface also takes paint acceptably. I bet it would screen print nicely.

    I came up with a simple card case to make from one of the 10cm by 15cm samples.

    Hand-stitched black cactus leather card case with an engraved and painted silver square Celtic knot, business cards with an image of Lost Dutchman Mountain protrude from the end.
    Cactus Leather Card Case (Knotwork Side)
    Hand-stitched black cactus leather card case with an engraved and painted silver Evermore ambigram logo, business cards with an image of a string of orchids protrude.
    Cactus Leather Card Case (Evermore Ambigram Logo Side)

    I made a one-minute video summarizing all this:

    As a bonus for those actually reading this post on my site, here is the pattern for the card sleeve (right-click, save link as to save the SVG).

    Walnut Scouting Fleur-de-lis Pins

    Andrew Crawford May 10, 2023

    I had a whole bag of these Scouting fleur-de-lis walnut cut-outs left over from making Cailyn’s Challenge Coins. With a little sanding, some butterfly clasp pin backs, some glue and, some wipe-on poly, I turned a few into these nifty pins.

    Scouting Fleur-de-Lis Pins

    I made a one-minute making-of short:

    Butterfly Knotwork Cards

    Andrew Crawford May 6, 2023

    There have been some inquiries about cards printed with some of my Celtic knotwork designs. I made up a small batch with the butterfly printed on some really nice bright white paper with a lovely “touch” (the way the card feels).

    These are not Gocco prints, like the ones in the portfolio as those would have to be priced much higher. These look and feel really good, though.

    The Knotwork Butterflies are up in the shop now, individually and, in packages of three (for less than the price of two singles).

    Knotwork Butterfly Card
    Knotwork Butterfly Card
    Knotwork Butterfly Card with envelope
    Knotwork Butterfly Card with envelope
    Three Knotwork Butterfly Cards
    Three Knotwork Butterfly Cards

    Cailyn’s Challenge Coins

    Andrew Crawford April 22, 2023

    I made these walnut “challenge coins” for my niece to hand out at her Eagle Scout Court of Honor. A simple project on a tight timeline, I got 80 of these to her in time.

    These are 1.5” diameter, cut from 1/4” thick pre-sanded walnut hardwood. I used the jig-in-place technique to align both sides of each coin. After engraving and cutting, they were sanded with 320 – 2000 grit sanding film, cleaned with my mini shop vac, wiped with a microfiber cloth, then coated with wipe-on poly. There was only time for one coat but, it contributed a lot to the final look.

    Pile of walnut challenge coins engraved with carpe diem and be prepared on one side, Cailyn M Stamper, 22 April 2023, Troop 2191 on the other, a Scouting fleur-de-lis cut through the middle.
    Walnut Challenge Coins
    Pile of walnut challenge coins engraved with carpe diem and be prepared, a Scouting fleur-de-lis cut through the middle.
    Walnut challenge coins.
    Pile of walnut challenge coins engraved with carpe diem and be prepared on one side, Cailyn M Stamper, 22 April 2023, Troop 2191 on the other, a Scouting fleur-de-lis cut through the middle.
    Walnut challenge coins.

    I made a one-minute making-of short:

    Spirals Bookmark Redesign

    Andrew Crawford March 13, 2023

    I designed a kirigami Spirals Bookmark last summer, mostly just taking what I did for one of my velvet embossing plates and, using that with minor changes. It was good but, there were a few spots where it was a little fragile – bits of connecting paper less than a millimeter wide.

    More recently, I was inspired to redesign the spirals bookmark to make it a bit more robust. While I was at it, I made a few and, made a few of my Celtic key pattern design bookmarks and, put them all up in the new shop section. The designs are available individually, in three-packs and, in a variety pack with all three designs.

    Kirigrami bookmark with an interlocking pattern of organic Celtic spirals cut from a white pearlescent stock with a gold gauze ribbon tied to one end.
    Kirigami bookmark with a Celtic key pattern cut from cobalt blue stock with a yellow ribbon tied to one end.
    Original Celtic key pattern kirigami bookmark.
    Kirigami bookmark with a Celtic key pattern cut from copper-brown stock with a green ribbon tied to one end.
    Original Celtic key pattern kirigami bookmark.
    Kirigrami bookmark with an interlocking pattern of organic Celtic spirals cut from a white pearlescent stock with a gold gauze ribbon tied to one end.
    Original Celtic spirals bookmark design.
    Collection of three Celtic kirigami bookmarks: two different key pattern designs in cobalt blue and copper brown and a pattern of spirals in a white pearlescent stock.
    Collection of three original Celtic kirigami bookmarks.

    Auntie Tanya Kokeshi

    Andrew Crawford February 24, 2023

    The Auntie Tanya kokeshi is kind of a work-in-progress. My friend has three nieces and is her generation’s keeper of the family’s cultural traditions. I modeled this in Nomad Sculpt, 3D printed in nylon resin and, painted by hand (obviously … I need some more practice). I made a tiny azuma bukro out of retired kimono pieces and silk to wrap them. The dolls are about 75mm tall. Bottle cap for scale.

    Two small kokeshi (a traditional style of Japanese doll), painted by hand. One has a bright green kimono, the other is blue. Simple facial features. Long brown hair. They are each holding a No Face mask from the animated film Spirited Away.
    Auntie Tanya Kokeshi (Blue)
    Two small kokeshi (a traditional style of Japanese doll), painted by hand. One has a bright green kimono, the other is blue. Simple facial features. Long brown hair. They are each holding a No Face mask from the animated film Spirited Away.
    Auntie Tanya Kokeshi (Green)
    Back view of the kokeshi showing a bicycle gear in place of the traditional mon (family crest). The green kimono has a metallic gold gear. The blue kimono has a metallic silver gear.
    Auntie Tanya Kokeshi (Back)
    Two small kokeshi (a traditional style of Japanese doll), painted by hand. One has a bright green kimono, the other is blue. Simple facial features. Long brown hair. They are each holding a No Face mask from the animated film Spirited Away. Bottle cap for scale.
    Auntie Tanya Kokeshi (Bottle Cap for Scale)
    A tiny traditional bag that ties shut, made from a bit of silk kimono fabric with a white base printed with red lines, green swirls and little bits of pink and blue, lined with solid yellow silk.
    Tiny Azuma Bukuro