How Too: Dreamcatcher giftables

Ok tis that time of year again folks and as you all know im cheap so for me its time to "make the thought count" and give away some freebies to my more ...unusual... friends.

Now im not saying this is a gift for just hippies and native Americans but i am saying that when i say ots the thought that counts in this case it will be more "the effort" that counts.

This is NOT an easy make but it is fairly quick and when decorated with a few feathers and beads (bought from any local craft shop)and a little creativity you can do something really personal for your friends remarkably quickly.


Now i should say, the video itself is of relievedly low quality but if you listen to the instructions it is quite clear what she is talking about and doing.
With a little practice you can probibly knock out one of these in about 40 mins but for your first one i suggest you take an hour and take your time. Apart from that you can (with a little imagination) make something wonderful for yourself or others with minimal effort and financial outlay.

NOW if your feeling especially cheap this year combine a very small version of this project with a few feathers and pop it inside an origami box (see last weeks make) and a little ribbon and you have an all but free but quite expensive looking craft gift to give away, and remember that athough teh smaller dreamcatchers are a little more fiddly to make they are a lot quicker and can be made with very cheap craft thread and due to there small size mistakes in there manufacture can easily be overlooked.

Note:
*if it looks terrible or if you screw up call it rustic design
*use local (and most importantly free) materials to make it more authentic
*clean all feathers in boiling water and place in an airing cupboard for 24 hours before use
*light application of a rawhide strip thong to a small catcher can make it an amazing necklace
*chicks dig handy craft, if you want to impress her add this as an extra to your REAL gift

good lock and seasons greetings to you all

Daily Blogg: Chrimbo week!

So here i am in full festive cheer...er...kinda (look i dont photograph well ok) just to tell you all what will be happening this week on Aries Antics.

How Too:
The season comes alive with a very very special Christmas edition of How too! who know it may even be something that you could make and give away like last years mini fridge.

Movie Night:
Christmas eve wouldn't be the same without a chrimbo movie, be prepared for a seasonally apt film presentation.

Aries Free Fan gift:
Last year i gave you a graphic novel and this year will be no different, so prep your .cbr readers because this year its gonna be a doozey.

SO if you will forgive the somewhat less than angelic looking idiot above I will wish you all seasons greetings and hope you enjoy the festivities!



oh and if you dont know who this is.....i suggest you start reading Green Lantern...

How Too: Box clever

Well its time for my Christmas how to run down and this week its all about packaging.

I always have a hard time when it comes to packaging small gifts such as USB sticks, jewelry, small toys or gadgets etc.
then i came across this wonderful little piece of paper craft. Now i should say that this little project is a tad on the tough side but if you slow down the video a little and follow the stages carefully it can make an amazing gift box for friends and family.
For a somewhat larger box you can use stiff card at A3 size (or larger) and it should be able to contain pretty much any item you wish to put in it but as the size scales you will have to use heaver gauge card in order for it to be stable.

once the Box is complete simply screw up some tissue paper and wrap the ball of paper in a second skin of tissue in order to make a perfect pillow for your gift to sit upon.
Don't forget that you can also experiment with different coloured paper and patterns to really set your gift off then add a small ribon to hold the lid on and just like that you have a truly spectacular home made and very personal gift to put under the tree.


remember the gift counts but when your loved ones see the effort and care you have put into the packaging dont be surprised if they decide to keep the box too.

next week i will be doing a very very special How Too! as well as my annual Christmas gift to my readers, tune in then for more fun and games!

peace folks, and enjoy your holidays

A peons Journey: Dreaming in green

Day 6: Lost to a dream

I will be frank when i say i was far from happy to be venturing into the slumbering feral depths of the Wailing caverns, even less so in finding out that to perform this task i would be forced to group up with random strangers whose intentions seemed only to pillage this place of reflective slumber and feral druidism.
Regardless with the warped heads of the druid order put to rest and the beast within defeated i made my way back to Orgrimmar proud in the knowledge that i had fulfilled my duty to the best of my ability.
As i entered the city i was approached by a guard with a loosely bound letter from the local riding instructor who was apparently having some difficulty with one of his adolescent pups.
Seeing such a magnificent beast for the first time was nothing short of love at first sight but i became instantly aware of the poor creatures turmoil.
The emerald glow in his eyes signified Fel magic contamination somewhat similar to that of the eyes Blood Elfs and our own green skin, i had no choice i had to have him as my mount from that moment on.
Paying the riding instructor and stable master a nominal fee i took possession of the Dire Wolf who i have taken to calling Ash due to the remarkable colouration of his fur, for his first taste of freedom.

He is as swift as the wind and seems to have taken quite a liking to my core hound pup...

...i pray to the spirits of our ancestors that it is simply the pups playful nature and not anything else as cross breeding would be more than a little difficult to deal with especially when you consider both animals are male.

oh not again! ASH NO! BAD WOLF!!!

*yelp of pain*

see..i told you...i'll go get the burn salve...silly pup

...and thats when I found out all female trolls are double jointed and have almost no real gag reflex, rather fascinating really.

Day 5: A shaman in wolfs clothing

Leaving the confines of the Burning blades sinister clutches I made my final report to the Warchief, With there leaders gone and with no real links to ether the Legion itself or the sinister Shadow council the Buring Blade fell to ruin.
The Warchief seemed well pleased by my actions and granted me a true mark of honour by bestowing on me the Hammer of Orgrimmar and instructing his shaman traiers to teach me the ancient gift of the Frostwolf clan...

...the ability to transform myself into a being of pure spiritual energy and mold it to the clans totem, the eternal Frost wolf.

There are however some issues with being in that form for any length of time that may explain why we Shaman despite our comune with the elements are not particularly welcome in Winterspring...

...wisps are just so much fun to chase!

~woof!~

Daily Blogg: 50k Hits and counting

So you lot Finally did it, you pushed my hit counter over the fifty thousand mark!
part of me is impressed while at the same time horrified that anyone could be so interested in my inane ramblings that you would consider hitting my little blog on a near daily basis.

To all of you I would just like to say a massive thank you for your support and hope you will continue to follow me for another 50k and beyond.

A peons Journey: A pup named Corey

Day 3: Adapted to Adoption

A shaman is asked to do many things that others would deem offensive or even undignified, such as laying out the dead, resurrections, conversing with the sick and the sick of mind.
I had not however prepared myself to fulfil my duty to the Horde in the way my Warchief had requested.
I was asked to steal, lie, and infiltrate my way into the seedy underbelly of a cult known as the Burning Blade. The Demon worshipping filth have secreted themselves in the caverns surrounding and under the city of Orgrimmar in the Rage fire Chasm, it was my job, my duty to find my way into the confidence of these cultists and seek out there leaders...

...and destroy them.

Donning the garb of the cult and acquiring a token of membership of there order was surprisingly easy but portraying myself as a Warlock proved harder. All Warlocks no matter there rank have with them a demonic minion of great power linking there will to that of the Burning Legion, i am a skilled magic user and my gifts lend well to passing as one of them but my lack of familiar would mark me apart quite distinctly.
To better conceal myself I found myself seeking out the famed pet vendor known as Breanni.
After negotiations and validation of my intent and a letter of authentication she sent me her most demonic looking pet a core hound pup known simply as Corey.
The young animal suits his assigned role well and is surprisingly friendly despite his rather vicious appearance and thanks to his acceptance of me as his master I found infiltrating the Burning Blade exceptionally easy.

I have however encountered one rather unfortunate problem that Breanni failed to inform me of...

...Core Hound poop tends to be a tad toxic, and molten, and er...well...i may not be able to return to several Inn's in Orgrimmar due to scorched floorboards & bed linen.

also several scorched and terrified cats, mounts and local guards in the city centre may be my fault...