Card Game & Deck Building Game Organizers

I realize it's been quite some time since the last build, but as you all know, life can get hectic sometimes! I built the start of what I hope to make into a K'nex ball factory, but got builder's block (kinda like writer's block). :P So instead, I made these card holders, specifically for when my Hubby and I play Dominion (which is a deck-building game). In Dominion, you have 10 stacks of action cards, 3 stacks of coin cards, and 3 or 4 stacks of victory point cards. Also, another deck may be added if you are using curse cards. As you can imagine, trying to keep 18 stacks of cards neat and organized can be a real chore. I created two card organizers for the game. Each one holds 9 decks: 3 on bottom, 6 up top. I could see one of these also being useful for Settlers of Catan, LIFE, and other games where you have to use upwards of 5 stacks of cards.

I hope you enjoyed today's Knex Kreation! Let me know if you've got any ideas for items that you would like to see made solely out of knex!

Knex Storage hosted by Callie, My Cat

I have long tried to figure out what the best way to store K'nex is. I have finally found a method that works well for me, and you may like it, too! It is time-consuming starting out, but it saves lots of rummaging through bins later on.

"My human likes playing with knex. Some people say it's a kid's toy, but she thinks it's a fun and creative hobby to have. I like them because I can chase them around the house, and they're small enough to pick up and carry off! When they are in storage, though, it's a lot harder for me to get at them... Here's how they are stored:

Depending on how many k'nex you have, you will need some empty bins. (I love bins! They are so fun to sit in!)

My human uses two bins for hers, but she probably would need three if all her builds were disassembled.

You can also use some of these nifty storage bins for the pieces that you have lots of. (This bin is just my size!)

Seriously, though, I love bins... and boxes... and anything I can sit in, really.

She also uses this K'nex case she got with her very first set. Somewhere along the way, the other knex bins she had got lost, though. She uses this bin for various odds and ends.

She then uses ziploc bags to separate out the different colorful pieces. These are all her connectors.

(OH HAI! Here I am. Much better picture than that last one.)

And here are the different rods! She even likes to separate out the bendy rods from the solid ones.

My human just feels so much better when her k'nex are in order, and so do I!

These are all the specialty/random parts she has. She likes to keep the track tubing in bags, too, so that it doesn't get tangled... or chased by me...

When you disassemble builds, just have all your bags/bins nearby so you can throw pieces in the bags they belong in!

The pieces mostly fit in these two big bins! And when my human wants to use them, all she has to do is pull out the ziploc bags! 

Now you see what I mean... they are just so much harder to pick up and run off with when they are all stored like this!

Well, that's about all I have for today. Maybe my human will let me pose with K'nex more often now! If not, I will just keep stealing her pieces as she works... it drives her crazy. xD 

Sincerely,

Knex Kitten"

Excited K'nex Cat

Knex Cat Bed

This build is was purely for entertainment, but it turned out great!

The bed frame

I made a "mattress"out of an old pillow case and some fiberfill

Put a piece of fleece on top of it

And BAM! Cat bed!

Review: Loopin' Lightning Coaster

The other night, I made the Loopin' Lightning Coaster, which uses classic *and* micro Knex. This was my first coaster using both types of K'nex, and here are my thoughts on it...

The coaster was easy to build. It took me a mere 1.5-2 hours to build. However, the coaster did not work correctly. It had trouble getting over the first small hill, and it would never catch on the chain once it made it to the bottom. Also, I was not a huge fan of the track. I feel it is much less reliable than the ones that use tubing. Since the track is all attached with micro knex, it is much easier to break or just come apart.

Consequently, I did have to make some modifications to the track to allow the coaster cars to make it all the way down the track and attach onto the chain. So technically, this coaster isn't exactly the Loopin' Lightning, but it is fairly similar.

Knex Yard Game: Ladder Toss

The past couple days, I have been devoting most of my knexing (is that a word?) time taking down my Ferris wheel. Why, you ask? Because I really needed more blue connectors freed up. xD  However, tonight I got inspired to make a ladder toss game! I have seen it made out of PVC pipe, so I figured I could make one out of knex! It's portable enough that you could take it to a tailgate or just use it out in your lawn during a cookout!

Coming soon: some sort of big build. Haven't decided what exactly I will make yet, but I am thinking maybe a coaster or a ball tower.

Knex Guest Builder: Elijah

I received these pictures from some friends who saw my post about hosting guest builders! So, here is our first guest builder: Elijah. I always enjoy seeing the different creations he makes on Facebook. He seems to enjoy building by himself as well as with his grandpa! 

Elijah and his recent build: a knex gun.

These types of guns work with the use of a rubber band! You just slip the rod into the barrel (the white part) and pull the orange and black trigger out of the way. The rubber band acts as a spring, propelling the red rod through the barrel.

Some more of Elijah's creations.

Rubber bands are one of my favorite supplements for knex builds, and Elijah has found them quite useful as well!

While he loves building catapults, he does enjoy making all kinds of builds. These are some vehicles that he made.

Thanks so much for sharing your creations with us, Elijah! You're proof that even from a young age, you can enjoying building with K'nex. I look forward to seeing what you create in the coming months and years!

Knex Photo Frames

This build is easy enough for pretty much any age! You can make these with your kids, and then they can pick out some of their favorite photos to put up in their bedroom or playroom! Knex photo frames are fairly easily customizable to whichever size you need. I found that Wal-Mart's photos are weird sizes (the middle two frames). I am thinking a collage frame would be pretty cool made out of k'nex as well, but I am trying to figure out what exactly that should look like. So, I may get around to doing that a little later on. Without further ado, here is today's knex creation:

Four frames I made using random old pictures I found.

5x7

Back of the 5x7

Weird Wal-Mart size

Back of weird Wal-Mart size

Wallet size

Back of wallet size

Wal-Mart wallet size

Back of Wal-Mart wallet size

 If you've got ideas for new, creative, interesting, or ingenious builds, just let me know! Also, I am looking for builders to guest on my blog! So, if you've got something ingenious or useful you'd like to share (no matter your age!), just send me a tweet/message/e-mail/comment!

Knex Lazy Susan (or turntable)

Hello, cyberworld! If you've never been to my blog before, welcome! I try to take K'nex and make them into everyday, useful items. Sometimes, I just make things for fun, though, because let's face it... Knex are meant to be fun! Today, my build is more of a functional build: a lazy susan. Now, let me note that this is not for placing really small or skinny items on, as I did not cover the whole area with platforms. My main intent for this was that it be useful for cake decorating. However, it could be used for various other things. For instance, it can hold condiments or a pizza on the dinner table. You could also use it in your cupboard for storing spices (although, depending on the size of the spice bottles, you may want to lay down some cardstock or cardboard first). In that same vein, you could make a second tier and put larger bottles on the bottom and the short ones up top! Use your imagination!

The top on the lazy susan.

The lazy susan flipped upside down so you can see the base.

Side view.

View from the bottom.

Another side view.

If you would like more thorough details on how to build one of your own, just ask! Also, I am always grateful for more build ideas. If you'd like to be a guest builder on my blog, just let me know!