LEGO Christmas Projects!

It's that time of year again, gang!  Time to dust off the old fruit cake and polish your Christmas balls.  But what do you take to all of those parties or gift exchanges?  Especially if you actually like the people you're going to see?  Well, our pal Chris McVeigh has an answer for that yearly dilemma-- Custom Christmas Ornaments!  From mini arcades to snow flakes, Chris has been creating these DIY projects for several years.   

The Cooper

Mini Arcade Machines

Updated Guides Available

Another option is a Secret Santa gift exchange.  We've been doing this for a few years in VLUG (Virtual LEGO Users Group) on MocPages.  Larger in scale and more personalized than the ornaments, Secret Santa builds are a great excuse to get away from your usual style or interests.  I never thought I'd build a Filipino Parol out of Explorien pieces, but it seemed like a good idea when I drew Master Shifu's name out of the virtual hat. And I know he didn't see that coming!

It's also an opportunity to poke fun at your friends, like the gift I got from my buddy Hans Dendauw a couple of years ago.  You see, I'm a dentist, and I like to build Battlestar Galactica stuff.  Yeah, that's Hermey.  I laugh every time I look at it.  Thanks, Hans! 

Okay, I know, giving away LEGO is one of those things.  It's difficult.  It took me a while.  But once you do it, and see the reaction that follows, it's a lot of fun.   Plus it means you don't have to go out and fight the crowds shopping!

Merry Christmas From BrickNerd!

It's Christmas morning, I've got my Star Wars jammies and killer rabbit slippers on, the fire is crackling and soon we'll be opening presents. As I reflect on the past year I am filled with joy and happiness. Thank you all for visiting BrickNerd, watching my videos, hanging out with me and encouraging me to pursue this wonderfully ridiculous endeavor. I look forward to the year ahead and I hope you'll all be there with me. Merry Christmas!

santa_nerdly.jpg

Merry Christmas From Hoth

This is a delightful holiday surprise. One of the most celebrated alternative LEGO photographers, Avanaut, is back from his hiatus. And what a lovely return it is. This tells the story of TK-24/7 on a lonely, but quite agreeable patrol mission on Hoth. Who would have thought a AT-ST could be so tranquil?

The Two Legged Camper

Because These Presents Aren't Going To Deliver Themselves

Christmas is only 23 days away, so I'd imagine it's full tilt boogie at the north pole right now. And with so many presents for all the good little boys and girls, delivery can get hectic. Now I know there's nine reindeer up there up to the challenge, but I think if Santa's new sleigh (wonderfully recreated here by Milan Sekiz) works out, they can all have a well deserved retirement.

Santa's speedster
Santa's speedster

Gingerbread House

Would you believe this absolutely stunning gingerbread house was built by someone who's never actually had (a situation that needs to be corrected) a gingerbread house? Builder Swan Dutchman confesses to this fact in his description. As the holidays rapidly approach I know we'll have one of these at my house, but I know for a fact it won't be nearly as amazing as this delicious work of art.

Thanks for the head's up Guy

Anyone Got A Quarter?

One of my favorite builders and all around swell guy Chris McVeigh is ready for the holidays and wants you to be too. As is his tradition, he's releasing a series of building guides for creating some ornaments, and has something a little different this year, arcade machines! Being a kid of the 80's I was there for the golden age of the arcade, so I find these particularly appealing. Head over to his website for building guides, kits, shirts and more.

Build-It-Yourself 2014: Arcade Ornaments

Merry Christmas!

At last all good things must come to an end, including Seth Christie's rendition of the Night Before Christmas story. I would personally like to thank him for making my Christmas countdown just that little bit more special this year. I invite you all to start at the beginning of Seth's wonderful 21 part series if you have not already seen the whole thing.

Have a wonderful Christmas day everyone!

Night Before Christmas, #21

Sneaking Up On Santa

What do Santa Claus, the Loch Ness Monster, Big Foot, and Waldo have in common? Elusiveness, that's what. Part myth, part children's story the jolly old elf is rarely seen. Sure there are department store imposters but those, just like the blurry videos of big foot, are imposters, posers to the throne. I don't think it is technically possible to sneak up on Santa, with magic like his he is only seen when he wants to be seen.

Night Before Christmas, #17 Night Before Christmas, #18

Napping Santa

I know how you feel Santa, I'm tired too. But tonight's your night, I promise we'll put out some delicious cookies for you. And I've been super good, really! Now, I'd like a Steadicam, some new Canon lenses, a slider dolly, some LED panels, a butterfly frame and black background, some flags, some apple boxes, a junior cart, oh and a LEGO death star, an X-wing...

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A Merry Presentation

Telling a story with LEGO bricks via still photo takes a lot of setup and posing, along with the right camera angle and focus. Seth Christie pulls this off nicely throughout his Night Before Christmas series by focusing on the story elements in the photo instead of on the actual build itself. To some builders this may seem counterproductive as blurring out the background and cropping things tightly does not show off all your hard work. However, by focusing on the central elements Seth is able to tell us a story with the LEGO brick medium.

Night Before Christmas, #15
Night Before Christmas, #16

It's All In The Details

Up until this point we have talked mostly about the story part of Seth Christie's Night Before Christmas build. In today's two posts we will be take a look at some of the details that make this series so special. Specific things of note are the use of screwdrivers for chain pulls on the two floor lamps (brilliant), use of minifigure legs for the wall baseboard and don't even get me started on the fireplace.

Night Before Christmas, #13
Night Before Christmas, #14