Simple Flapping Butterfly

I keep a list of projects and ideas in trello for when I might have an opportunity to make them.  So while I was looking through the spring issue of Butterfly, the Butterfly Conservation magazine, it suddenly occurred to me that the photos of butterflies would be perfect for a Rob Ives project.

It didn't take very long to cut the photos out and then decide on which one to use.  I doubt very much that this type of butterfly would be this big for real, but wouldn't it be cool if they were.

The image is stuck to a clothes peg, so when you squeeze the peg the wings flap.  Delightful and so easy to make.

Junk Model Seagull

This is the first in a series of posts about things I've made people for Christmas this year.  The only problem with making things for friends and family is you can't really blog about them until after they have received them!

This excellent junk model seagull is one of Rob Ives designs.  I love his designs for their simplicity and for the fact they are so fun.  
It actually took me a couple of weeks to put together as I hurt my finger and then caught a cold.  However under normal circumstances I think I could have done it in an evening if the glue dried quickly. 

This one went to my Dad, even though he does live at the seaside and probably has too many seagulls!  I thought he would appreciate the engineering involved.

A train whistle

I haven't made anything out of paper/card for ages, but I do still love this medium, so when I saw this big train whistle on the Rob Ives newsletter I had to have a go.  
I didn't actually mean to do it this week though, I had other things on my to do list, but then I found a bit of card the perfect size and one thing led to another!

Unlike most of his projects where you just print out the pattern then cut and stick, this only had one thing to print out - a diamond shape which is a template for the bellows.  Everything else was made from scratch following his instructions.

A bit of careful scoring, sticking and folding and I had some bellows.  Add some pipes and I had a whistle.  Its pretty big, definitely a two handed job, and makes a fantastic sound! Toot toot!

Pop up elephant

I've never really understood Valentines Day.  I like to show my love all year round, not just on the day the card company's what to make a profit.  We exchanged cards today.  What better way to show I love him than with a hand made card and a pop up elephant curtsey of Rob Ives?  Shame I stuck its legs on upside down - never mind if I don't say anything no one will notice.

Rocking Chameleon

Did you know that chameleon's rock?  No neither did I until I came across one of Rob Ives new projects - a rocking chameleon.  It's taken me a few weeks to create due to all the other stuff I'm also doing but I'm pleased with the end result, even if the rocking is a little creepy - check out Rob's video to see it in action.

Paper safe

Another Rob Ives project.  I find them very refreshing after all my essay writing and module reading.  This is his paper safe.  It took a couple of sessions to create it but I am very pleased with the outcome.  If it was just a little bigger it would be the perfect place to keep my Easter chocolate (you can seal the bottom compartment to people can't work out the combination).  Maybe one day I will try scaling it up.

Gift box with four compartments

With a little time off work for Easter and being up to date with my course work I decided to try another Rob Ives project.  This is his gift box with four compartments, which then folds up into a cover.  This is a pretty rough attempt but now I understand how it works I can have another go and smooth off the 'rough edges'.  I love boxes and think this is great. Any box that isn't quite what you expect gets my thumbs up.

Paper bird

I had a spare hour between reading text books, writing essays, working and running and thought I'd have a go at another of Rob Ives paper projects.  I love this dipping bird, although mine doesn't seem to be as up right as Rob's paper bird.  I wonder if I can change the design slightly to turn the bird into a chicken, then I can make myself a flock and 'im outdoors won't need to worry about his veg.

Fluttering model butterfly

With a membership to the Rob Ives paper animation website for Christmas, I couldn't resist this butterfly.  You have to see it move to understand what is so special about it - check out Rob's video to see it move.

Paper Animations

A mouse hug

 

Agreeable Sheep

A couple of weeks ago while looking for something else completely I came across robives.com.  It looked interesting.  I looked further, I realised it is amazing!

Rob has designed and created loads of moving paper models, or paper animations as he calls them, and you can buy and download the designs to make for yourself.

I had been filling very uninspired on the creative front recently (as you may have noticed), but it is easy to be inspired when you’ve got such exciting projects to create.

Or Goat - one of 3 logic goats

Dog ate my homework

Wag the dog

Of course I then have the problem of what to do with them once they are made.  The easy answer – give them to my work colleagues for Christmas.  They are just the thing to make a work desk a happier place.  So on the last day in the office, the team came in to find some little friends on their desks.  They seemed to go down well.  I look forward to making more.