Tag Archives: etsy

These Gamer Bookmarks Will Save Your Progress

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I’m at a point where I probably do 90% of my reading on some kind of digital device. But there are times it’s just nice to crack open a good old paperback. There’s just something that just feels right about flipping through actual pages rather than swiping on a touchscreen. Of course, when you read from an actual book, it’s easy to lose your place without a good bookmark. And no, you’re not allowed to dog-ear the corners. That’s sacrilege. Readers who are also gamers might want to pick up one of these fun bookmarks.

Connecticut artist LD Writes & Designs sells all kinds of bookmarks in her Etsy shop, including this pixelated “Save your progress?” design that’s perfect for gamers. It only ever points to “Yes,” which seems like it would be fine since you’re only going to use this when you’re actually saving your place. Each bookmark is made from die-cut cardstock that’s been laminated for durability, and so you can see through to the other side.

The bookmarks sell for just $5.25 each and can be ordered in a wide variety of colors. I say buy one to suit every mood. Something light and cheerful for your Hyperbole and a Half, and maybe something a bit darker for those times when you feel like reading that Edgar Allen Poe collection.

In addition to the “Save your progress?” bookmark, LD makes a version that simply says “PAUSE” along with a D-pad and game button cutouts, as well as a custom gamer’s bookmark that can have a name cut out of it.

Celebrate Your Pixel Art Love with These Colorful Plexiglass Sprites

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Those of us who grew up playing video games back in the 1980s have a special place in our hearts for the pixel art characters from the 8-bit arcade and home console world. From Pac-Man to Dig Dug to Donkey Kong to Galaga, game artists had to really stretch their creativity and imagination to give us memorable and identifiable characters using the most primitive of blocks and limited color schemes.

If you love old school pixel art as much as I do, then you need to check out this collection I found over on Etsy.

Idaho-based artist Thunktronix makes all kinds of nifty collectible trinkets based on classic video game characters and items, including all of the aforementioned games, along with Robotron 2049, Wizard of Wor, Frogger, Space Invaders, and more. Each of the sprites is small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, so you can put a whole bunch of these on your shelf without taking up too much space.

Each one is precision cut from 1/4″-thick plexiglass, with some characters getting colorful backprinting, and others left to stand on their own as see-through shapes. In addition to video game characters, they’ve got a few other great designs, like Ignignokt and Err, the iconic, antagonistic, bird-flipping Mooninites from Aqua Teen Hunger Force, which I just had to buy for myself.

Some pieces are sold individually, while many of them come in complete sprite sets. Prices start at just $5 for a single keychain-sized figure, while full game sprite sets range from $25 to $32. You can check out all of their designs over on the Thunktronix Etsy shop.

The World’s Smallest Ham Radio Can Fit on a Keychain

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Since the advent of e-mail, the internet, and text messaging, the need for amateur radio communication has definitely diminished. But there’s still a small but dedicated group of enthusiasts out there who enjoy communicating via amateur radio, also known as “Ham radio.” Most ham radio transmitters are at least the size of a lunch box, and in some cases the size of a desktop computer. But this ham radio transmitter is small enough to carry in your pocket.

Measuring just 1″ x 1″ x 0.75″, the KeychainQRP won’t transmit your voice or music, but it can send morse code signals using low-power, high-frequency radio waves when you tap on its top-mounted button. Assuming your message recipient has access to a compatible multi-band shortwave radio, they can listen to your transmissions if they’re close enough. The tiny transmitter comes in seven different amateur radio bands, and can produce a 160 milliwatt signal on a single 9-volt battery. You’ll need to attach an external SMA antenna if you want your signal to go anywhere though, and also need a ham radio operators license if you want to use one legally.

You can find all of the different frequency models of the KeychainQRP morse code transmitter for $51.99 each over on the QuirkyQRP Ham Radio shop.

Venus Flytrap Hat Is More Like a Venus Humantrap

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I’ve never been a fly, so I don’t know what it’s like to be eaten by a carnivorous plant. Suffice it to say, I’m sure it’s rather unpleasant. Still, I’ve always been fascinated by these plants that can open and close to grab their lunch, and then digest them for nutrients. Now if you really, really like venus flytraps, then you might want to add this to your hat collection.

Created by Israel-based artist Maor Zabar as part of his Carnivorous Plants series, this headpiece looks just like a gigantic venus flytrap. The only difference is that it has a taste for human flesh instead of insects. Also, it costs $1700. For that price though, it is handcrafted using the finest materials like silk for its green exterior and red interior, and decorated with sparkly Swarovski crystals on the tips of its teeth. Yes, that’s the actual scientific term for those things on the outside of a venus fly trap.

Zabar’s venus flytrap hat is available for purchase over on the artist’s Etsy shop, where you can also find such creations as a hat that looks like McDonald’s french fries and ketchup, a slice of pizza, loaded with toppings, or a stack of delicious donuts.

[via SuperPunch]

Treat Your Dog to a Custom Leather Suit of Armor

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Depending on the breed of dog you have, they can look pretty tough all on their own. But if you’ve got a chihuahua or a pekingese and are looking to give your furry pal a meaner look, then may I suggest some leather dog armor.

Whether your you have a little yappy dog or a big old lap dog, Portland, Oregon’s The Kings Shilling will happily make your dog a custom suit of leather armor, fit just to their size and shape. Equipped with this armor, nobody is gonna mess with you or your dog at the dog park, or taking a walk through rough neighborhoods.

I like to imagine an army of dogs dressed in armor, ready to do battle against an army of similarly-equipped cats. Depending on the size of your dog, you could spend as little as $150, while armor for larger breeds can cost $600 or more. You can place your order over on Etsy. Now when is somebody going to make swords and battle axes for dogs?

Pac-Man Inspired Coasters: Drinka Drinka Drinka

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Running around a maze with ghosts on your ass and gobbling dots all day works up quite the thirst. It’s important for a Pac-Man to keep hydrated. While Pac-Man Energy Drink is hard to come by these days, there are plenty of other thirst quenchers to choose from. Just be sure not to put it down directly on your coffee table or Ms. Pac-Man is gonna be pissed. What you need are some Pac-Man themed coasters.

The guys at SPSNOLA make these fun video game inspired coasters, also known as “Ghosters.” They come in two different versions – a colorful acrylic set that replicates the colors from the classic arcade game, and a solid hardwood version that looks a bit more substantial and classy. You can’t go wrong with either style.

Either 5-piece set will look great sitting on a table in your game room. The acrylic set sells for $24, while the hardwood set goes for $48. Just wakka wakka wakka your way over to Etsy to order your coasters now.

This LED Game Table Can Play Tetris

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Looking for a unique piece of furniture for your living room or game room? Well, skip the IKEA and go for something a bit more geeky, I say. This cool coffee table has LEDs built into its top which can display a colorful light show, or even play simple video games.

Etsy seller RetroGamesTable makes these neat pieces of electronic furniture over which pack a 12 x 12 grid of LED squares beneath their surface, each of which can be assigned a different color. Its Arduino controller allows it to display various patterns, as well as to play Tetris and Snake using a classic NES-style gamepad.

The light-up tables come in a single player square version that measures about 21.6″w x 21.6″l x 17.7″h, as well as a two-player rectangular model that’s 35.4″w x 21.6″l x 17.7″h, and has twice as many LEDs. The smaller one sells for $370, while the bigger one is $650. Keep in mind that these ship from Ukraine, so it might take a little while for them to get to you, but from the reviews I read over on Etsy, it should be worth the wait.

This Millennium Falcon Fire Pit Has Got Fire in Her Belly

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She may not look like much, but this fire pit has got it where it counts, kid. Normally, if you saw giant flames shooting out of the Millennium Falcon, you’d think it was curtains for Han and Chewie. But this version of their ship is designed to take plenty of heat as it emerges from hyperspace with the Empire on its tail.

This awesome Millennium Falcon fire pit was built by artist Alex Dodson of Burned by Design, and definitely looks like it could outrun one of their TIE Fighter candlesticks. Want to know how it did the Kessel Run in 12 parsecs? Fire is always a good source of motivation.

The fire pit measures 74 x 38 x 40cm (appx. 29.1″ x 15″ x 15.7″), and is welded together from durable 3mm mild steel. The design incorporates laser cut parts to give the ship lots of cool details, and its back section flips up to provide easy access to add and remove logs. I wonder if this how they work on the engines of the actual Millennium Falcon when they bring it in for service.

All this Star Wars craftsmanship doesn’t come cheap though. This unique fire pit is listed at over $1100 over on Burned by Design’s Etsy shop, and that doesn’t include the $200 or so it’ll cost to ship this thing over from the UK. If only they could ship it via hyperspace.

It’s hard to make real money selling virtual goods

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There’s plenty of news right now about how people are trying to make real money through video games, and not just by trying to get a taste of that Ninja game-streaming fortune. Most recently, people are selling items for hard cash inside the new Anim...