Laser-cut Spiral Stamp

Lasercut spiral stamp mounted on champagne cork

Lasercut spiral stamp mounted on champagne corkOne thing that always appealed to me about having a laser cutter in the studio is being able to create rubber stamps as needed, rather than having to send artwork out to a service. I have some “low odor” laserable rubber on-hand that I have never used. So, as a quick evening project this week, I created this little spiral stamp on the new Glowforge. I mounted it on a champagne cork using carpet tape, with a layer of plastic packing foam between the rubber and cork.

Important lessons learned here include how to size artwork for the GFUI and, that you absolutely do not want the residue from laser engraving rubber on your hands.

 

Abstract Origamic Architecture Experiment on the New Glowforge

Abstract Origamic Architecture Experiment

This week saw the arrival of the long-anticipated Glowforge laser cutting machine at the Stud.io. I had it up and running in a couple hours, dialed in some settings for cutting some standard stock last night and, produced this quickie abstract origamic architecture / kirigami this afternoon.  I am super excited to have an easy-to-use laser available!

https://youtube.com/watch?v=MwtBlf1rvj4

Hart of Winter

Hart of Winter 2016 holiday pop up card

The Hart of Winter is my 2016 holiday origamic architecture / kirigami / pop up card. The card is three pieces. The two silver pieces mount to the base with slotting tabs then, connect together via interlocking antlers. These were fun and relatively easy to build and, a big hit!

Hart of Winter 2016 holiday pop up card
Hart of Winter 2016 holiday pop up card
Hart of Winter 2016 holiday pop up card
Hart of Winter 2016 holiday pop up card
Hart of Winter 2016 holiday pop up card
Hart of Winter 2016 holiday pop up card
Hart of Winter 2016 holiday pop up card
Hart of Winter 2016 holiday pop up card

Garden Lantern Pop Up Card with Integrated Electronics

Garden Lantern OA

I have been making chicken tracks around integrating paper electronics with origamic architecture for several years.  This is my first presentable project along that line.

I’ve had a vague idea for a garden lantern OA for quite some time.  The electronics seemed like a solid match for this.  The lantern itself it is a single piece of stock, cut, scored, folded and joined on two edges to make a pop up. It is mounted on two additional flat base layers that incorporate and conceal the electronics.

This uses an integrated switch and has no externally-visible electronic components, which I haven’t seen in any other paper electronics projects elsewhere yet.

The closed card is 11cm by 16cm. The lantern is 4cm square at the base and ~5cm tall when opened.

Watch the video to see the candle flicker effect and, to see it folded flat.

The “ambient nocturnal background sounds” in the video is another one of my multi-track recording experiments.

Special thanks to Natalie Freed whose paper electronics class at HSL shortened my learning curve with the paper electronics stuff. Thanks also to Jie Qi for her inspiring projects and, to the team at Circuit Stickers whose efforts made my project a lot easier.

Garden Lantern Origamic Architecture / Kirigami with integrated electronics with craft knife for scale
Garden Lantern Origamic Architecture / Kirigami with integrated electronics with craft knife for scale.
Garden Lantern Origamic Architecture / Kirigami with integrated electronics with ruler for scale
Garden Lantern Origamic Architecture / Kirigami with integrated electronics with ruler for scale.
Garden Lantern Origamic Architecture / Kirigami with integrated electronics (partly folded)
Garden Lantern Origamic Architecture / Kirigami with integrated electronics (partly folded).
Garden Lantern Origamic Architecture / Kirigami with integrated electronics (alternate side view)
Garden Lantern Origamic Architecture / Kirigami with integrated electronics (alternate side view).
Garden Lantern Origamic Architecture / Kirigami with integrated electronics (partly folded)
Garden Lantern Origamic Architecture / Kirigami with integrated electronics (partly folded).
Garden Lantern Origamic Architecture / Kirigami with integrated electronics
Garden Lantern Origamic Architecture / Kirigami with integrated electronics.
Garden Lantern Origamic Architecture / Kirigami with integrated electronics.
Garden Lantern Origamic Architecture / Kirigami with integrated electronics (downward view).

Hammering a Helical Heart

Hammering a Helical Heart

I made an edited build video for the Helical Heart pop up cards, including an original taiko soundtrack (well, pentatonic xylophone, mokogyo, bowl gong, bells and fish rasp, anyway). This is my first YouTube video and, my first multi-track audio recording.  Let me know what you think and, if you would want to see more stuff like this.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=KpDcA5fwi7c

The Popup Card Shop is Live

XOXO Popup Card
XOXO Popup Card
XOXO Popup Card

I am not sure why I didn’t think to mention it when the new Popup Card Shop went live a couple months ago. It features pretty new photos of all of the commercial cards from Japan and, more relevant for this site, some of my designs, on sale for the fist time. You may remember the first one up from my post here last January on the Golden Spiral card (now available here). I added the quick design I did for the XOXO festival as a Valentine’s Day card in February.

I am slowly working on getting some of my older designs production-ready. So, look for more soon.

I’m also working on refining some production techniques and, on some other experiments. I’ll post more detail on those here eventually.

In the meantime, check out the Popup Card Shop and, let me know what you think!