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How to Make Papier-mâché Candy Dishes

7/2/2015

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These decorative papier-mâché candy dishes are a fun and easy project to make with your kids. 

Papier-mâché is simply strips of paper soaked in a mixture of flour and water that gets hard when it dries. Newspaper works great.  

The curved shapes were made by applying several layers of soaked newspaper strips around a balloon.

What to do:

  • mix 1 part water with 1 part flour
  • tear newspaper into strips (no points for neatness here)
  • blow up a balloon
  • wrap 4 layers of strips around the balloon and let it dry
  • add another 4 layers
  • burst the balloon so the inside can dry as well
  • when dry, cut whatever shapes you want using a serrated knife
  • add another 2 layers of strips wrapping around the rough cut edges
  • stick three small wads of soaked newspaper on the bottom to make the feet (four might wobble)
  • once dry, prime the dishes with white latex or craft paint
  • add your own creative design with acrylic craft paints
  • protect your masterpiece with 2 coats of water-based polyurethane

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Screenprinting at the Fredericton Makerspace

5/4/2015

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WooHoo!

We're setting up our new screenprinting shop this week at the Fredericton Makerspace. 

Screenprinting - sometimes called silk-screening - is a process of applying inked artwork to paper, t-shirts, tote bags and other things. As a makerspace member - you'll be able to use this equipment to create your own custom screenprinted products.

So how can you use this new shop?

  • make custom t-shirts for your family reunion, special friends, or a birthday celebration
  • test drive your own small business selling your unique artwork on paper, fabrics, coasters & more
  • experiment with different screenprinting techniques to develop your unique style

Artist Philiip LeBlanc will be hosting an Introduction to Screenprinting workshop at the Fredericton Makerspace this weekend:
Saturday, May 9th
Time: 12:00pm to 4:00pm
Cost: $30.00
Pre-registration required:
 

Don't miss out - Get your ticket now!
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/introduction-to-screenprinting-tickets-16794796689


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Creating Electronics from Paper

3/20/2015

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While it may sound a little strange to consider paper a high tech material, it's definitely time for us to be imagining creative new ways of doing things.

Creative technologist, Coralie Gourguechon conducts workshops exploring the intersection between paper crafts and electronics.
Craft education tends to focus on tools and skills, largely leaving it up to the maker to decide what he or she constructs from there. In contrast, electronics education tends to use modular toolkits and building blocks, expecting users to keep to a predecided script. Paper craft circuits can make learning around electronics more appealing and accessible, and challenge cultural expectations around how electronics should behave.
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James and his daughter experiment with a paper keyboard - drawing an electronic circuit with a pencil at the Fredericton Makerspace.
This type of cross-discipline experimentation is the foundation for developing the critical thinking skills that lead to innovative new products & technologies. 'Learning how to learn' is an essential skill younger generations will need to live in an increasingly complex world.
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Little Free Libraries in our Yards

2/24/2015

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Imagine walking down Charlotte or York Street and seeing a box on someone's lawn with a "Little Free Library" sign on the front. You can't resist opening the door and browsing the selection of books inside. The sign clearly invites you to "take one and return one in exchange". 

This delightful approach to a community book exchange first appeared in a Los Angeles Times news story about three years ago. The Little Free Library concept has since spread across the US and around the world thanks to book lovers who want to share their passion with their communities.

This is just the type of walking-friendly idea that brings neighbours together and one the city of Fredericton could certainly embrace. All it takes is ONE person to start a movement. What are you waiting for?

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A Little Free Library in Easthampton, Massachusetts. Image; Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 3.0
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The Rising Popularity of Pallet Furniture

2/3/2015

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Everyday, thousands of shipping pallets are 'retired' after a single use - a one way trip from a manufacturers' warehouse to wholesale or retail outlets. As a result, these pallets are often free for the taking by anyone who wants them.

Up-cycling shipping pallets into furniture has turned into a passion for many people and a business for others like Donna Zang. It all started when she built a wine rack for her brother. Since then, she's been building and selling wine racks, end tables and coffee tables at prices between $50 and $250 per piece.

Not bad considering she can get the wood for free.

Drop in and take to the makers current building pallet furniture at the Fredericton Makerspace.
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Donna Zang's Pallet Restoration business up-cycles pallets into wine racks, tables and more.
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Open Your Art - 3D Printing Field Trip

1/28/2015

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Angela Black of Open Your Art will be bringing a group of 10 children with their parents to the Fredericton Makerspace this Thursday evening, January 29th to give them an up close look at 3-D printing - hopefully inspiring them to create their own 3-D designs. 

This is a pre-arranged event in cooperation with Open your Art so the space will not open to the general public until after 8:00pm.

We're always pleased to be able to host an event like this to show off the space and expand the creative horizons of young and old alike.

If your organization would like to explore the possibilites of our collaborative creative community please contact us.

Info@frederictonmakerspace.ca

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UNB Robotics Competition - January 23rd to 25th

1/15/2015

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Have you got what it takes to design, build and operate a robot in a weekend?

This grueling team competition is open to High School and University students. It all starts with  a Friday evening info session where you discover the tasks your robot must accomplish.

You have all day Saturday to design, build and test your robot so don't plan on getting much sleep.

Sunday is showtime - when the teams compete against each other for the top prize - and bragging rights of course.

The Sunday competition is open for public viewing in the Dineen Auditorium (Head Hall) .

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UNB Robotics Competition - Design-Build-Compete
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T-shirt to Tote Bag Instructable

1/10/2015

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Got a drawer full of old T-shirts that don't fit anymore?

Why not turn them into tote bags for carrying your beach gear,  children's toys or your groceries?

This Instructable by sewmargaretsew guides you through the steps for this easy-to-do recycling project. They're machine-washable, strong and reusable.

You can keep one in your car or even your purse to have handy when you need it.

Fredericton Makerspace has a sewing machine and serger available for use. If you want to learn to use these machines, we can get you started.
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Tote bags made from T-shirts.
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The Heat is FREE - DIY Solar Air Heaters

12/19/2014

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As winter sets in we all start to think about the cost of heating our homes. 

Capturing and managing the heat from the sun - called 'passive solar heating' - is one the most inexpensive and sustainable ways to reduce your carbon footprint and heating bills. 

Solar air heaters - sometimes called 'pop can heaters' are a great DIY project. There are hundreds of design ideas, how-to videos and articles online to get you started.

If a portion of your home gets direct sunshine on it for several hours during the day, why not make the most of it and capture all that free heat.
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Solar air heaters collect cool air at the bottom. The air is warmed by the sun as it rises and exits at the top.
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Turn That Old Phone Charger Into a Mood Lamp!

12/2/2014

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Here's a brilliant idea - literally! - a step-by-step guide on how to turn that bunch of old phone chargers in your junk drawer into cool and useful LED Lamps.

Instructables has an unlimited supply of how-to ideas from practical to the truly whacko. If you consider yourself a hard core 'Maker' then you've already got this site bookmarked.

Many people want to make things - but simply lack the confidence to get started. 
Why not take the first few steps:
  1. Look around sites like Instructables for inspiration.
  2. Start thinking about how you'd do it.
  3. If you don't feel you have the ability to do it all, bring it to the Makerspace and meet makers who can help you.

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