It's the MailboxTees blog! :: design :: art :: tech :: shopping ::

Gorgeous Decoupaged Table

Karen — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 17:34:59 GMT

I am so enamored of this decoupaged table I saw on Craft:! I want one!

Garage Wine In Garage Containers

Karen — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 15:27:00 GMT

I love this packaging that Korefe did for Anthony's Mini Garage winery! Such a clever idea. They've packaged cooking oil in industrial oil cans, and different types of schnapps in what look like turpentine containers.

You can see and learn more about this packaging at TrendsNow.

Yes, It's True: Tampon Crafts

Karen — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 15:14:00 GMT

Oh, just when you think you've seen it all... then you see that people are making art and jewelry out of tampons. Hey, on the bright side they're unused tampons, so, you know, that's a plus. I'm really loving this tampon panflute, and wondering how it sounds.

OK so all kidding aside, I actually think these Halloween ghosts are cute... I mean, picture a whole window full of them. (I can't believe I just advocated for tampon ghosts... I might need to get out more.)

Visit TamponCrafts.com for a full rundown and helpful instructions on how to make all these and more.

[via YesButNoButYes, who has a funny story about how he found this out in the first place]

Furniture From Recycled Hoses

Karen — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 15:10:00 GMT

The aptly named Chase DeForest creates furnishings from recycled hoses. For what could be better for a garden party than a chair made of a garden hose?

[via Green Upgrader]

Turn Old Crayons Into Beeyotiful Butterflies

Karen — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 15:00:00 GMT

Here's a fun tutorial on how to recycle crayons and turn them into pretty multicolored butterflies. Of course, since all you need is a metal cookie cutter, they could really be made in any shape.

At first I was thinking that this wasn't the type of thing I would probably ever do, mostly because I'm insanely lazy and just don't care all that much. However, I'm putting this out here because I think it's an absolutely terrific idea and would be fun to do with kids. See, you could teach kids about recycling and then they'd have cool-shaped crayons that draw with marbley multicolors. And now I'm coming around to it as a fun thing I'm going to remember for the next time my nieces and nephews are saying "I'm booooooooored."

Get the how-to on Daily Danny.

SERIOUSLY Cheaper...

Karen — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 14:54:00 GMT

OMG! It's SERIOUSLY CHEAPER! Heh.

Too bad this is seriously not that much cheaper. But at least it's wafer thin.

[via Neatorama]

Questionable: Pee and Poo Underwear for Kids

Karen — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 14:48:00 GMT

I'm not sure what's up with this pee and poo underwear for kids. I'm concerned it might actually encourage them to pee their pants. And cute poo is just a really hard sell...

[via SwissMiss]

Jean Pelle's Gold Leaf and Wood Candleholders

Karen — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 14:46:52 GMT

These wooden candleholders with gold leaf are GORGEOUS! $250 a pair.

Find out the details and see where to buy them on Design*Sponge.

Emo for Obama!

Karen — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 11:28:07 GMT

I am LOVING this "Emo for Obama" button- only a buck!

Get one here.

Domino Mag's Under A Buck List!

Karen — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 11:36:16 GMT

I previously posted about Domino's $10 and under shopping list by Grace from Design*Sponge. Well, imagine my surprise when I saw they had asked Katy Elliott to do a $1 and under list! It includes things like these resin napkin rings and these antiquey green glasses.

Check out the whole list here.

Awesome Avenging Unicorn Play Set

Karen — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 17:48:35 GMT

I so want to buy and play with this Avenging Unicorn Play Set, which kind of makes me feel like Napoleon Dynamite.

It comes with 4 interchangeable horns (including a pearlescent one! oooh) and 3 people you might want to skewer with a magical horn- a boss man, a new agey hippie lady, and a mime. SWEET.

It's only $11.99 so if you're looking for a stocking stuffer for me this year... maybe you want to get some of your shopping done early and hide this in the back of your closet. As long as you hide it somewhere that your sweet innocent children won't find it.

A Bookshelf For Short People

Karen — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 17:35:00 GMT

As a ~~short~~ vertically challenged person, I'm really thinking that this staircase/bookshelf thingy would come in handy in my house. I'd be so much smarter if I could only reach those top-shelf titles.

It's called the .stairCASE and is designed by Danny Kuo.

[via materialicious]

Salt N Pepa On Your Salt & Pepper

Karen — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 17:35:05 GMT

Heh. This is a great idea- salt and pepper shakers emblazoned with the visages of 80s female rap stars Salt N Pepa. You know, in case you're color blind or something.

They're sold out on Etsy right now, but I'm sure it's only a matter of time before these things are being sold at Urban Outfitters.

Super Cute DIY Bird Mobile

Karen — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 14:52:00 GMT

Now this DIY Bird Mobile idea is a great one, but I don't think I have the sewing chops to pull it off.

The how-to is posted on Design*Sponge. Some of the commenters have some gripes about whether this is safe for a kid's room, to which I say, uh, if your'e concerned about that then just like put it up high. Not rocket science, people.

Laptop Case Depicts Pitfall In Glorious Needlepoint

Karen — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 14:17:26 GMT

This is no ordinary laptop case. Oh no. This laptop case is shrouded in a detailed needlepoint showing a scene from the classic video game Pitfall, and it's geektastically fabulous!

The case depicts the Apple IIC game Pitfall in a multi-colored needlepoint pattern, and has a red strap. It's lined with polka dot fabric, and fits a 13-inch laptop. I think we can all agree that needlepoint is a great medium for depicting these pixelated pleasures of our collective past. The level of detail is perfectly matched with how the game really looks.

You can get one for $150 from Etsy. I know that sounds like a lot, but have you ever needlepointed? It's really time-consuming and makes your eyes hurt. So I'm going to say that's actually a pretty fair price for this handiwork.

[via Geek Sugar]

Rolling Pin Patterns Are Super Cool

Karen — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 14:51:58 GMT

This rolling pin printing technique looks like a craft that I actually might not be too lazy to do. I've got big plans to do a design on fabric runners for my wedding, or maybe make some holiday wrapping paper.

Check out the tutorial here!

Awesome 3-D Pop-Up Business Cards

Karen — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 06:17:00 GMT

Graphic design student Emerson Taylor made these cool pop-up business cards. Ostentatious? Yes? Memorable? Absolutely.

[via swissmiss]

Butterfly Light Is Modeled on Folding A Piece of Paper

Karen — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 07:13:00 GMT

The idea for this Butterfly Light by Vinta came from folding a piece of paper.

The panels can open and close in increments, to adjust the amount of light. It encourages the user to have a direct physical connection with the light itself in order to adjust the brightness.

You can watch a quick movie about the concept- but I have to warn you it's really just someone folding a piece of paper. So I'm going to go out on a limb and say you can probably skip it. Instead, I recommend this clip showing the light in action.

Super slick! I want one!

Fun with Photos: Yearbook Yourself

Karen — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 14:23:00 GMT

Have you tried Yearbook Yourself yet? You can upload a photo and see how you'd look through the eras.

I think these are my best three, if by "best" I mean most amusing. Heh.

Stalk In Style With The iPhone Camera Telescope Lens

Karen — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 14:12:48 GMT

There's been much consternation about the craptastic quality of the iPhone's built-in camera. But this 6X zooming iPhone camera telescope is here to save the day! Or at least, to help you more effectively stalk that chick who filed a restraining order last week.

Unfortunately this thing only fits on the old iPhone, not the 3G. It comes with a strap and makes your iPhone look incredibly dorky, as well as difficult to fit in your pocket (unless you're wearing Hammer Pants.)

The lens includes a docking case to fit around your iPhone, into which you slot the lens. That's it, you simply dock, then stalk. Because that's the use case here, right? I mean the photo quality still sucks, but now you can sit in your car with dark glasses on and take pictures of people from really far away. Smells like stalking to me.

You can get one from ThinkGeek for $17.99. Stalker.