Introducing "TapStick" - The Gruesome DIY That Will Push All Your Buttons

You ever get an idea that is so wrong, but also super funny, so you have to inflict it on other people?

That's the only explanation I have for what I'm about to show you.

Well, that and John and I sometimes have to leave the house and get in elevators, or type in security codes at drive-up gates, and I figured we needed a better solution than using our elbows - which is especially tricky at drive-up gates.

In fact, it was when John was fishing an old McDonald's receipt off the car floor to use to tap in another code that I first mused, "We should really make some kind of pokey stick for pushing buttons. Like a sacrificial finger. Yup. A spare sacrificial finger." ::snerk::

John, clearly stunned by my brilliance, said nothing.

"But with a cap on it so it doesn't spread the germs around," I continued. "And it'd have to be purse-sized, and kinda spy-gadgety to make it fun. But also super disturbing to freak out any people nearby, because that would be hee-larious. Hmm."

More silence.

"I'VE GOT IT!!"

And now, a few weeks and far too many attempts later, here it is. Move over, ChapStick, here comes... TapStick.  

OH YES I DID

 
(We also debated calling it "TipStick", but that sounds more like a wang than a finger - and wang lipsticks already exist, because of course they do.)

 

The retractable finger sensation that's squicking out the nation!

 Just imagine pulling out one of these bad boys the next time you're in an elevator. Or at an ATM. Or when you just want to give someone the finger.

 

  

Available in 5 awesome colors that are sure to be real nail-biters:

Choose from:

"Frost Bit Elsa" 

"Poke 'Er Face Purple"

"Pinkie Pink" 

"Zombie Jamboree"

&

"Digital Goth"

You know that somewhere, Morticia Addams is smiling.

I originally planned to make all the fingers flesh-tones, but my molds aren't perfect, so painting them solid colors helps hide the problems. Plus I like that the fun colors require a double or triple take.

I'm not happy with my Zombie paint job - it needs more aging to bring out the nail detail - but to be honest I've sunk way too much time into this ridiculousness and I'm forcing myself to move on. :D

The matte black looks the coolest, but it's so hard to photograph. Here's my best shot:

The reason this took so much longer than I expected is that it turns out lipsticks are really skinny, and my Hobbit fingers are a bit too pudgy to fit in the tubes.

So naturally, I texted my tiny elf friend Julianne, and with zero explanation, asked if I could come over and mold both her and her 10-year-old son's fingers. 

It's a testament to our friendship that her only response was a photo of 2 hands and, "Ok, whose finger do you want?"

:D

In the end all 3 of Julianne's children demanded to have their fingers molded, and when we brought back the resin copies the next week they pretty much lost their minds with glee. It was like the Christmas morning scene in Nightmare Before Christmas, only with more giggling. They immediately invented a game called "Am I poking you with my REAL finger or my FAKE finger?" and spent the next half hour chasing each other around the house screeching.

Fake fingers. Who knew?

Anyway, if you're also the kind of person who likes to worry your friends in a kooky sort of way, and would like to make your own TapStick, then I'm happy to report it's super simple, although it does require some not-so-cheap materials:

You Will Need: 

(links go to the products I used on Amazon):

- The skinniest finger you can find, preferably still attached to a person (less messy that way)

- Mold Putty

- Casting resin

- Empty Lipstick Tubes   

(there are slightly cheaper options; I just splurged the extra $2 for fancy ones)

- Craft paint & Mod Podge (or any kind of clear coat)

I don't have process photos because John did all the tedious parts, but basically you squish the mold putty around your finger:

Like this, but use your pinkie, since it's the smallest.

Let the mold set up for 20 minutes, then pour in casting resin. Let THAT set up, pop it out of the mold, file off any bumps, trim the end so it fits inside your lipstick tube, and paint.

Boom bada boom. Now you have Halloween favors for all your friends!

I ended up with a bunch of spares, so you can bet I'll be hanging on to these for future use:

Really I just want to carry one around in my pocket, because some day - SOME DAY - my moment will come. I will face a large group of people somewhere in public, and say, "You know, something about this bugs me, but I just can't put my finger on it." And then I'll take out my fake finger and try to balance it on whatever's in front of me, and we'll all laugh and laugh and really I don't see why I don't have more friends.

:p



I hope this made you laugh, or at least give an approving sort of snort-chuckle, 'cuz hey, I'll take those, too. Also if you want your own TapStick but don't feel like making one, then allow me to give you a few pointers. (Eh? Get it? EH?)

Just tell me which color you like (but not pink; I'm keeping that one) and I'll pick 4 winners at random to ship the rest to. If anyone picks Zombie Jamboree, then I promise I'll try to fix the paint job before I send it out, since that really is bugging me, ha.


UPDATE: The give-away has ended!


The winner of the Frost Bit Elsa TapStick is Mica Hendricks
The winner of Poke 'Er Face Purple is Kara Davies
The winner of Zombie Jamboree is Cowgirl68
And the winner of Digital Gothic is Polandra

Congrats, you four, and please e-mail me your mailing address!
******

P.S. If you want more ridiculous DIYs, be sure to check out my Crafts page!