Recently in Projects Category

I think I've decided to actually do this challenge.  Not a lot of restrictions, except time.  It's only for a month, so I will give it a try.  Wish me luck.

Our order from Kid Robot arrived yesterday.  As mentioned before, Mr. O and I want to try our hands at DIY Vinyl Toy Designs.  Mr. O has some very exciting ideas using an Arduino to create a Munny that can possibly rotate its head, move its arms, or even make noises.  That's all WAY ABOVE my head (no matter how many times I ask him to explain it to me in layman's terms, AKA Arduino for Dummies). 

So, what did we get?

We bought two Kid Robot Munnyworld Munny Series 4 DIYs.  They are 7-in tall and come with 4 blind items.  A blind item is a surprise.  Some Kid Robot toys are completely blind meaning you pick a box and hope you don't already have what's inside.  They purposely package the blind items in a foil pouch because some people go as far as to try and use an x-ray device to see inside. 

For our two Munnys, we received the following blind items (8 total):

1. toupee
2. driver cap
3. mini bear
4. lightening bolt
5. cape
6. 35mm film case
7. an ax
8. a phaser gun

Mr. O wanted two to play with, but most likely I'll get one of his two, or get to help customize the one with electronics in it.

I also ordered a Trikky:

It's a Kid Robot Munnyworld mini Trikky.  It is 4-in tall and comes with two blind items.  For mine, I received a graffiti can attached to a pole and a yellow marker that looks like a light saber to me.

If I had it my way (and an unlimited budget), I'd buy multiple of ALL the DIY toys so when inspiration hit I'd have my "canvases". That would be A> Costly, and B> Kinda dumb considering now that I have these perfect vinyl toys beaming with unlimited potential, I am terrified of them.  I think it'll be awhile before paint actually ever touches the surfaces. 

Goal:

• Start drawing the shapes of the Munny and Trikky so when I do design them, there will be complete models
• Practice drawing from the manga/chibi/creatures art books I bought so I will be more confident once I actually start mine
• Watch videos and read tips from those who have already done this and want to help.  I already have a friend on Twitter who does this as a hobby and has been very helpful.
  

We'll keep you posted on our progress. (It may take forever)

So I have Netflix and they recently released their iPhone app which allows me to watch ANY of my Instant View movies on my phone at any time.  I was so excited I started putting a TON of movies in my queue, even if I'd watched them before. I added Donnie Darko because I wanted to watch s. Darko and needed to rewatch the original again.

Now, I know this is like a "cult" classic and so many people are always raving about it like it's the greatest movie.  I do like it, and its stylistic weirdness, but it's also a movie that I am not obsessed about. Nor do I claim things like "if you want to understand me, then just watch this movie," like some of my friends have said. 

After I watched Donnie Darko, I immediately watched s. Darko and that movie was even stranger than the first. I like time traveling movies, yet I still leave both movies a bit perplexed. Donnie makes more "logical" sense to me than s. did, but then again, the sequel was probably made more to confuse and "trip you out" than make much sense.

But, this brings me to why I'm writing about the movies. I have been trying to figure out a way to express myself creatively in a way that feels like me.  I am enthralled by vinyl toys such as Kid Robot or Tokidoki.  They have that "kawaii" cuteness I am obsessed with, but also a creepy cool style I love.  What I didn't really get was that there was a whole DIY following where people buy the plain Munnys, Dunnys, or other toys and make their own creations. 

I found a whole webpage dedicated to just that on the Kid Robot website called Munnyworld. They have the vinyl toys currently available and even include some tips for creating your own.  Mr. Oshimbo has been interested in these ever since we saw Doktor A.'s amazing Steampunk Munny that he had designed to have three separate rotating faces.  I wish I had taken a picture of it because it's not on the webpage.  Mr. Oshimbo wants to expand his robotics skills to possibly make a Munny mechanical and allow me to decorate it. We bought three DIY toys (2 Munnys and 1 Trikky).

I found the Donnie Darko DIY creation while getting inspiration.  It is just one example of how you can create a recognizable creation from something foreign. You instantly know this is a Donnie Darko piece without it actually saying "I am the rabbit from Donnie Darko". I must say, I think I like the Dunny version of the rabbit more than the actual one.  Like I said, I like things cute and creepy. 

Check out this flickr Munnyworld Group to see great customizations. 

I don't know what I'll make or even if they'll be any good, but I hope it will make me feel like I'm leaving a trace of my creativity in the world. =)