Lets get creative!

AlyceInWonderland

Awwllrrighty, My boyfriend's birthday is coming up, and he told me to not buy him anything, but I still want to do something nice for his birthday.

I've decided that I want to make him something (I have a LOT of supplies [art school/illustration student]), but I don't really know what I should make him. I want to do something more than a drawing on paper. Maybe work with wood or something, but I'm kind of stuck on ideas at the moment.

So yeah, hit me with some interesting ideas, and I'll work from there!

Thanks!

Edit: Some background on the guy
-He is in the military, and has been training in tae kwon do for over 12 years (Going to be a 3rd degree blackbelt within the year).
-He likes weapons...a lot. He collects them.
-He's turning 20 (i duno how that would be important but there ya go)
-He likes batman, and Iron man... a lot.
-Thinks Superman is a pansy.
-He's a sheetmetal worker, and is currently making ringmaille armor/bags/jewelry/whatever he wants as a hobby.
-He thinks ninjas are super cool
-Thinks Kenshin is a great anime, and loves Final Fantasy and mortal Kombat.
-Dragons and Phoenixes are his favorite mythical creatures. He has a tattoo of a dragon on his left arm. Getting a griffin on his left, and a phoenix on his back. They all represent something important to him.
-

Thanatos

Chainsaw woodcarving.

TychoCelchuuu

Make an origami ninja star and decorate it?

Edit: WITH A DRAGON

Rye

-He is in the military, and has been training in tae kwon do for over 12 years (Going to be a 3rd degree blackbelt within the year).

• Does it have to be a surprise? You might be able to design and print a patch for his gi or belt. Make sure he'd be OK with it first because for some people the patches and belt designs are a bad thing.

• Help him design his next tattoo?

• If he's making ringmail, jewelry etc. you can help him by making things to display it. Make an armor stand (like, a super simple mannequin on a pole with a stand), or make some leather satchels / display boxes for his jewelry.


• At the very least, it's always sweet to hand design a card for his birthday. Pick a nice piece of textured paper and design it well. Even if you have bad handwriting, just try and write carefully and plan out what you're going to write and how it's going to lay on the page. If he has any sentimental juices in his body, it will be something he'll keep for a LONG time.


That's all I can think of now.

VisionOfClarity

Make him a potholder. They're personal and practical.

Sarcastro

You could make him an illustrated step by step kata (um, or whatever TKD calls their practice routines) guide for his next degree for his practice room. Make him the star of the drawing.

And Also, then use the same mechanical format to show him pwning a dragon in the final step.

AlyceInWonderland

Sarcastro wrote: »

You could make him an illustrated step by step kata (um, or whatever TKD calls their practice routines) guide for his next degree for his practice room. Make him the star of the drawing.

And Also, then use the same mechanical format to show him pwning a dragon in the final step.

Actually, this entire idea is fucking rad! I just may do it.

More ideas are welcome.

fuelish

I work metal and just got a vintage Hay-Budden anvil. That was excellent. As is any metal working equipment: Hammers, shot bags, dollies, etc.
I also enjoy any graphic novel collection I do not already have. I think the Gunslinger just came out in hardback?
I just found out about Zatoichi, the blind sword master, lots of DVD choices. Not really Tae Kwon but still of interest to the martial arts fan.

MoSiAc

Does he have a display for his past belts that he doesn't wear anymore for TKD, it would be kind of cool to have a very personal belt rack maybe, much like a gun rack but for belts. If hes pretty humble about doing martial arts then that might not be a good idea.

Aldo

Perhaps some sort of bust to display his armour on? I'm going to hazard a guess he's not wearing it on the job anyway.