When we finally decided and picked on the perfect pumpkin, we thought to ourselves, what should we do with it? Carve it of course! This brings us to today's hobby, creating a jack-o'-lantern. A jack-o'-lantern is a carved pumpkin in which the top is cut off, and the inside flesh then scooped out; an image, usually a monstrous face, is carved onto the outside surface, and the lid replaced.
While stumbling the vast pumpkin patch and searching for the most bountiful pumpkin, we came across many disturbing images. Hundreds of pumpkins were stepped on and even thrown down on the floor, exposing their seeds and flesh. After we realized what had happened, Mike turned around and looked at the path we had created and said, "Ohhh God." It was a very unsettling sight but through all the horror, Patty pointed to the most beautiful sight, a snowpumpkin! We all sprinted towards it and dropped to our knees (possibly killing baby pumpkins), completely in shock and awe. Long story short, that snowpumpkin's head came home with us and we carved the most monstrous face ever!
"Loop Hobbies dumpster diving"
Materials:
-Pumpkin
-Newspapers
-Knife (Preferably a serrated knife)
-Bowl
-Spoon
Pros:
-Scare children
-Relaxing and fun activity for Halloween
-Creative with the design
Cons:
-Getting out all the internal flesh
-Only a seasonal project
-Messy
Basically, if you're not using a serrated knife, be very gentle when carving. We learned that the hard way. Just be creative and let your imagination run wild! Have fun with it and hope you guys enjoy this weeks hobby.
Also, have a happy and safe Halloween!
Friday, October 29, 2010
Monday, October 25, 2010
Hobby 16: Pumpkin Pickin'
Continuing our weekly hobby updates, we bring you the very seasonal hobby, Pumpkin Picking! Pumpkin is a gourd-like squash of the genus Cucurbita and the family Cucurbitaceae (which also includes gourds).
We really wanted to carve a pumpkin, make pumpkin seeds, and bake pumpkin pie, so we went to the nearest pumpkin patch. Turns out making a pumpkin pie requires the outer part, so we couldn't carve it and make a pie at the same time. Even though our plans were ruined, we still had fun.
A snowpumpkin. Or possibly, a pumpkinman.
Materials:
-Pumpkin Patch with pumpkins left
Pros:
-Plenty of uses for pumpkin
Cons:
-Most pumpkins have been stepped on
How to Pick Your Pumpkin
Step 1: Find pumpkin on ground. Check to see if it has been stepped on. Don't step on other pumpkins in the process.
Step 2: Pick up pumpkin.
Step 3 (Optional): Place pumpkin in wagon. Learn from our mistakes; make sure the wagon has all four wheels before you take it.
Step 4: Wash pumpkin in dirty water with filthy brush.
Some Things You Might Run Into
Baby pumpkins!
These green pumpkins may look exotic, but don't be fooled. They just aren't ripe yet.
Watch out for this strange green thing that may find its way into the pumpkin patch. It's not actually a pumpkin.
That should be it! I hope you've enjoyed this weeks hobby.
We really wanted to carve a pumpkin, make pumpkin seeds, and bake pumpkin pie, so we went to the nearest pumpkin patch. Turns out making a pumpkin pie requires the outer part, so we couldn't carve it and make a pie at the same time. Even though our plans were ruined, we still had fun.
A snowpumpkin. Or possibly, a pumpkinman.
Materials:
-Pumpkin Patch with pumpkins left
Pros:
-Plenty of uses for pumpkin
Cons:
-Most pumpkins have been stepped on
How to Pick Your Pumpkin
Step 1: Find pumpkin on ground. Check to see if it has been stepped on. Don't step on other pumpkins in the process.
Step 2: Pick up pumpkin.
Step 3 (Optional): Place pumpkin in wagon. Learn from our mistakes; make sure the wagon has all four wheels before you take it.
Step 4: Wash pumpkin in dirty water with filthy brush.
Some Things You Might Run Into
Baby pumpkins!
These green pumpkins may look exotic, but don't be fooled. They just aren't ripe yet.
Watch out for this strange green thing that may find its way into the pumpkin patch. It's not actually a pumpkin.
That should be it! I hope you've enjoyed this weeks hobby.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Free Game: Blocks
Here's another free game to play while waiting for our next hobby post.
It's very simple, players stack blocks of the same color. The more consecutive blocks you stack, the faster the blocks fall on your opponents side. The game is mixed up with several bonuses and completely customizable rules. Play against the computer or another player!
Click to image to play or Download here!
Bonuses:
-Add 6 blocks
-Remove 6 blocks
-Next 4 blocks are flaming blocks
-Skull block can't be stacked
-Rainbow block stacks on anything
-Next 4 blocks can't be flaming blocks
-Bomb destroys column
It's very simple, players stack blocks of the same color. The more consecutive blocks you stack, the faster the blocks fall on your opponents side. The game is mixed up with several bonuses and completely customizable rules. Play against the computer or another player!
Click to image to play or Download here!
Bonuses:
-Add 6 blocks
-Remove 6 blocks
-Next 4 blocks are flaming blocks
-Skull block can't be stacked
-Rainbow block stacks on anything
-Next 4 blocks can't be flaming blocks
-Bomb destroys column
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Hobby 15: Drawing
Our first hobby of 2010 is drawing, presented by Jeff. Drawing is a visual art that makes use of any number of drawing instruments to mark a two-dimensional medium. It all began many years ago with cave drawings, eventually evolving into pictures on wooden tablets, but drawing began to flourish in the fourteenth century once paper became generally available.
Everyone has drawn something at sometime during their life, but not too many people take the time to sit down and just draw. As for me, I began to draw for fun during high school and I continue to keep up with this hobby. I feel it is great practice for me because I am studying to be an architectural engineer. While at school I create technical drawings, but I feel drawing in my own style is a great way to keep up and help improve my skill.
Pros:
-Intellectually stabilizing
-Inexpensive
-Relaxing
Cons:
-Time consuming
This is an excellent hobby and I highly suggest you pick it up if you have some spare time. Don’t be worried that you will be bad at drawing, as you practice drawing more often, you will eventually be able to see an improvement. I can say this even though I still am an amateur, but when I started, my sketches were terrible but as time was spent practicing, I could see great improvements in my ability to draw.
Everyone has drawn something at sometime during their life, but not too many people take the time to sit down and just draw. As for me, I began to draw for fun during high school and I continue to keep up with this hobby. I feel it is great practice for me because I am studying to be an architectural engineer. While at school I create technical drawings, but I feel drawing in my own style is a great way to keep up and help improve my skill.
Pros:
-Intellectually stabilizing
-Inexpensive
-Relaxing
Cons:
-Time consuming
This is an excellent hobby and I highly suggest you pick it up if you have some spare time. Don’t be worried that you will be bad at drawing, as you practice drawing more often, you will eventually be able to see an improvement. I can say this even though I still am an amateur, but when I started, my sketches were terrible but as time was spent practicing, I could see great improvements in my ability to draw.