We don't have a television (nor do we want one). We sometimes let the kids watch a movie or Sesame Street on the mac mini we set up as a media center. Unfortunately, one of our 18 month old twins likes to grab the mouse. Usually that stops Sesame Street and the other twin cries.
We needed a place to put the mouse when not in use so it doesn't get stolen by a naughty kid. It had to be easily accessible for us but not for the kids, and it had to be visible so we wouldn't forget where the mouse was.
I wanted to make it look interesting and to hold different models in case this mouse gets broken. Octopus tentacles do a great job of holding oddly shaped things. Polymer clay can make a nice looking octopus, but using strictly polymer clay doesn't leave the tentacles themselves very grippy, and the mouse could easily slide out if not placed correctly. Then, of course, there's the problem of attaching the octopus to a surface.
That's where Sugru comes in.
We needed a place to put the mouse when not in use so it doesn't get stolen by a naughty kid. It had to be easily accessible for us but not for the kids, and it had to be visible so we wouldn't forget where the mouse was.
I wanted to make it look interesting and to hold different models in case this mouse gets broken. Octopus tentacles do a great job of holding oddly shaped things. Polymer clay can make a nice looking octopus, but using strictly polymer clay doesn't leave the tentacles themselves very grippy, and the mouse could easily slide out if not placed correctly. Then, of course, there's the problem of attaching the octopus to a surface.
That's where Sugru comes in.
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Signing UpStep 1: Make the wire frame
Cut four lengths of stiff wire a bit more than twice as long as your octopus would be from head to tip of tentacle if he were stretched out. Fold these wires into a loop. Twist the loop so that the wires stay together with the cut ends at one side and the loop at the other.
Find the shortest loop of the four. Flatten it slightly and turn it perpendicular to the other three loops, making sure the other loops arch over it. Find the next shortest loop. Flatten it slightly so it can barely fit over the shortest loop and turn it so it's at an angle with the first loop. Continue with the other two loops until the four loops form a vaguely ball-like shape.
Spread out the eight ends of wire; these will be the tentacles of the octopus. Take a thin wire and wrap it around and over one of the tentacles near the body. Wrap it over and around the next wire, then the next. Keep wrapping around and around, forming a small spiral with the thin wire. This weblike structure will add strength and stability to the octopus.
Every so often as you wrap, test your octopus on your monitor to make sure it'll fit. I made the bottom webbing longer so I could bend it to conform to the shape of the monitor. I used a book to support it while I was working on it.
Use a mouse to help figure out where to bend the tentacles. Use a round nosed pliers to help you bend the tentacles into an aesthetically pleasing curly design.
Wrap the thin wire around the wires in the head like you did for the tentacles. This will add strength and make it easier to apply the polymer clay.
Find the shortest loop of the four. Flatten it slightly and turn it perpendicular to the other three loops, making sure the other loops arch over it. Find the next shortest loop. Flatten it slightly so it can barely fit over the shortest loop and turn it so it's at an angle with the first loop. Continue with the other two loops until the four loops form a vaguely ball-like shape.
Spread out the eight ends of wire; these will be the tentacles of the octopus. Take a thin wire and wrap it around and over one of the tentacles near the body. Wrap it over and around the next wire, then the next. Keep wrapping around and around, forming a small spiral with the thin wire. This weblike structure will add strength and stability to the octopus.
Every so often as you wrap, test your octopus on your monitor to make sure it'll fit. I made the bottom webbing longer so I could bend it to conform to the shape of the monitor. I used a book to support it while I was working on it.
Use a mouse to help figure out where to bend the tentacles. Use a round nosed pliers to help you bend the tentacles into an aesthetically pleasing curly design.
Wrap the thin wire around the wires in the head like you did for the tentacles. This will add strength and make it easier to apply the polymer clay.
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Very very nice, 5 stars. Also congrats on winning!
only parents understand parents!