Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Always Be MY Gallifrey - A Valentine Popup

Valetnine's Day, UGH!!! I have a total Scrooge attitude when it comes to this "holiday." I find it disgusting that the top three gifts to celebrate the day of love are flowers, chocolate and jewelry; three of the worst offenders on human rights and environmental conservancy. I also feel like it is an excuse for people to be second rate all year and then choose to shine in a single moment, which I find pathetic. Love is something we build everyday, it's built around busy schedules, screaming kids, sickness and health. So I say Bah Humbug and Good Riddance.

Yet despite all that, there is still something about it, that makes me want to do a "little something" for the beautiful person I get to spend my life with. I am in love with this woman, and she really does complete me. She is not the person I come home to, she is my home. Whenever I am with her, I am home. That being said, I wanted a fun project to celebrate that this year.

 Our favorite show is Doctor Who. So I made a pop-up book using clipart to let my bride know that she will "always be my Gallifrey."

I originally started working on this as a comic strip. I made the frames using stencils and a font I found online. I later decided it would be more personal and that a Pop-Up book would be cooler. So I proceeded with the new plan a first using scrap paper from the pages to make the "Z" which would become the pop. I had so much fun experimenting with making the book that I started taking pictures. I eventually determined thas a consistent "Z" was a better plan, so I added 4 little strips 3/8" x 1.5" to the file. So here below is my collection of tests, and all the pages of the book. It was a blast!



I did generate a PDF of the file, each page contains the base card, the pop up mechanism and a second copy of the clip art which you can cut out and attach using the pop up tabs. The more tabs you use, the more stable the art remains, so I only used one on the sonic screwdriver and bow tie so each would remain floppy.

Wednesday, February 01, 2012

Black History Month Project - Phillis Wheatley

Today is the beginning of black history month, our annual celebration of one of the most important minority groups in the history of America.  I have been working the last couple weeks with my oldest daughter to complete a poster project as part of her classrooms curriculum.In the beautiful laziness of any child her age, she wanted to reformat a project from last year that was on Rosa Parks.  I however challenged her to pick a lesser known person, who she wanted to learn more about.  That person ended up being Phillis Wheatley who she had first experienced watching Liberty Kids.

So I present to you the poster project for your viewing enjoyment.  I hope you too are inspired by the life and influence of Phillis Wheatley, America's first published African American poet.

POSTER


PHOTO

QUOTES

TIMELINE