Hasta La Gadget!

This clock by Instructables member dodgey99 uses an Etch A Sketch to draw the time, then flips over to erase the markings and update the time. It’s the kind of clock you would expect to find in one of Doctor Who’s TARDIS rooms, along with other strange and cool stuff. However, this one is right here and now on Earth.

Its creator adapted a pre-existing body of code that used stepper motors to write random lines on an Etch A Sketch. He rewrote the program so that it would not only compose specific lines, but reset the stylus on an analog device. The motors are directed by an Arduino. Pulleys connect the knobs to a pair of overpowered stepper motors mounted on a frame of acrylic sheets. Despite being a bit slow at drawing the time, it’s still genius.

Check out the video. Great job dodgey99. I want one.

[via Neatorama]

Instructables Community Manager and avid maker Mike Warren figured out a way to work on his gaming skills while walking his dog. He gutted a broken Xbox 360 controller and turned it into a large but somewhat practical dog leash.

I say the mod is somewhat practical because Mike replaced one of the gamepad’s rumble motors with a poop bag dispenser.

Check out Mike’s Instructables page to see how he did it. An Instructables commenter suggested hacking the controller’s buttons so that they trigger sound effects, or perhaps make your dog’s collar light up.

[via Neatorama]

Christmas may be over, but there’s always next year. And if it is treats under the tree and tweets on the tree that you want, you can prepare for next December right now. Instructables member Gelotology will show you how to make this Tweetball. That’s right. It’s an ornament that displays a stream of tweets from a certain username, hashtag or keyword.

It is especially handy if you are waiting for a tweet from Santa. Gelotology made it with an Arduino controller and two PHP scripts. If you want to make one for yourself, you can find step-by-step instructions at the link above. You’ve got plenty of time to get it done, so you have no excuse.

Santa will be very impressed with you next Christmas.

[via Hack A Day via Neatorama]

Minecraft fans will enjoy hanging these paper snowflakes on their Christmas tree this year. You have probably already downloaded and cut some other paper snowflakes. Now you can add some Creepers.

These snowflakes are from Instructables contributor Penolopy Bulnick. You can choose from snowflakes with weapons or one that looks like a bunch of Creepers. They looks great and blocky just like in the game. If your tree happens to be pixelated, these will look even better. At least until the Creepers explode.

You’ve spent hours upon hours playing the game, so you might as well deck the halls with Creepers this year. Have a very Minecraft Christmas and a Creeper New Year!

[via Nerd Approved]

The Iron Throne. It is what everyone is fighting over, even though it is the least comfortable chair in all of Westeros. Well, if you are tired of not having one for your very own and are sick of waiting in line for the chance to sit on one at comic cons, you can build your own.

All it takes is a plastic Adirondack chair, some yardsticks, foam, paint, screws and a dream. This DIY throne comes from web developer and gamer flaming_pele! who has shared the info so that we can all have our own. The plastic Adirondack chair is a perfect starting place because it is lightweight and you can build off of it using common materials.

You can check out the entire step-by-step tutorial on Instructables. After that, just sit back and rule your kingdom.

[via Laughing Squid]