This is my entry in the Instructables Launch It Contest.

It is a simple and powerful pencil shooter/crossbow

Step 1: Safety Gear

You WILL NEED safety equipment when building and using this device.

When building this device you WILL NEED safety goggles when using the saw and the Exacto knife

When firing this device you WILL NEED safety goggles.

Above all: use common sense.
Don't fire things at the cat.
Don't aim things at your self.
Don't give this to someone that you would not trust with a book of matches.

Step 2: Gather Materials

Materials:

2 Pencils (1 sharpened, 1 unsharpened)
1 Rubber Band

Tools:
Safety Gear
Exacto Knife
Pliers
Small Saw

Step 3: Remove Erasers

Remove the erasers and the metal piece from the ends of both pencils using the pliers.
Just pry them off.

You can save them if you like but they are not needed in this project.

Step 4: Notch Ends of Pencils

Use the saw to cut a small notch in both ends of the unsharpened pencil and the unsharpened end of the sharpened pencil

Step 5: Carve the Arrow Rest

Use the Exacto knife to carve a dent/notch in the middle of the unsharpened pencil to act as the arrow rest.

Make sure that when carving the arrow rest the notched in the ends of the pencil are vertical so the elastic will fit properly.

Step 6: String the Bow

You can either String the rubber band once or twice around the unsharpened pencil.

String the rubber band through the notches in the pencil

Step 7: Firing!

To fire your crossbow pull back all of the elastics insert the sharpened pencil.
Make sure that the notch in the back of the pencil has the elastics in it

Pull back the pencil and release it.

The ealstic will not go back very far if it is doubled