Help Me Take a Craft

August 6, 2006 8:07 AM

A question about small, DIY-crafty gifts for a nerdy fellow.

(Anonymous in case this nerdy fellow is a nerdy MeFite as well). I've gotten myself into an online swap where I am to make two items to send to another person. Apparently my swap partner is a Linux guy who appreciates things that he can use (as opposed to, say, a Tux the Penguin pencil sharpener cozy).

Other than a Lego thumbdrive or some throwies, I'm kind of lost. I think that the thumb drive, while cool, isn't quite involved enough, and the throwies, while also cool, are a little spendy (I'd want to make him a bunch, and at about a dollar a pop, it adds up quickly).

So what are some other things I could make? Mario dishtowels? Ubuntu windowshades? I'm stumped. I have no real crafting skills (I can't crochet, solder, knit, etc.) but I'm an eager learner.

I think that a realistic budget would be around $20-$30 total, for two small-medium gifts. Obviously, inexpensive crafts are ideal.

posted by anonymous to grab bag (11 answers total)

I love fridge magnets. I'm planning to make Glass Blob and other magnets for this year's holiday gifts. Packaged in Altoids tins. This homemade Altoids tin speaker is pretty cool. Nothin says Geek like repurposed Altoids tins.
posted by theora55 at 8:43 AM on August 6, 2006

theora55: how do you make those Glass Blob magnets?
posted by bristolcat at 9:25 AM on August 6, 2006

bristol, here's notmartha's take on marble magnets. Seriously, they couldn't be more easy.
posted by sugarfish at 9:35 AM on August 6, 2006

Check out etsy for ideas. Look under "geekery" for some truly original, nerd friendly creations.
posted by nuclear_soup at 10:32 AM on August 6, 2006

The "Misc. Gift Idea Brain Blockage" section of the craftster.org forums has some good generic ideas (or search the entire forum for "nerdy" or geeky" or "linux" -- you get 4 pages of results just searching for "linux".) Since you don't know him, all the t-shirt/complicated knitted scarf/etc. ideas seem too personal -- but any kind of miscellaneous useful object would be cool.

(Whoa, there's a downright serious site about soft-toy penguin sewing instructions.)

You could make an accordion envelope with black paper envelopes, blank labels or no labels, and a different kind of clasp.
posted by oldtimey at 10:54 AM on August 6, 2006

I dunno...I think the Lego thumb drive is pretty hot.
posted by radioamy at 11:21 AM on August 6, 2006

Ooooh you could make the abovementioned magnets, have one be the little pengie, and then the other five say L-I-N-U-X. Hawt.
posted by radioamy at 11:22 AM on August 6, 2006

Regarding the glass magnets above, we made a crapload of them and that was extra cool. The best part afterward was finding out that they would stick to the metal edging behind the paint on all the corners of our walls.
posted by Kickstart70 at 12:11 PM on August 6, 2006

How about a space invaders tote bag?
posted by jamaro at 2:14 PM on August 6, 2006

One of these kits?
posted by Zed_Lopez at 5:08 PM on August 6, 2006

Lego thumbdrive inside a lego darth vader minifig, instead of a plain lego brick?
posted by -harlequin- at 6:18 PM on August 11, 2006