Muppet Babies Numbers

After the popularity of the Muppet Alphabet, I had quite a few requests for "Muppet Numbers". So here they are:

I went with the Muppet Babies so that I could include the most popular Muppets without necessarily copying the same images from the Alphabet image. Besides, they are awfully cute.

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Super Mario Alphabet

Yes, I've done another one. No, I don't see an end to these... :)

This time, I wanted to pay tribute to one of my favorite Nintendo franchises. I limited the characters only to those who have appeared in a game that directly featured Mario (so no Donkey Kong or Wario exclusives). I've posted the key below, along with each character's first appearance. Don't highlight the text if you don't want to know.

Depicted are: Ackpow (Super Paper Mario), Bowser (Super Mario Bros.), Cheep-Cheep (Super Mario Bros.), Donkey Kong (Donkey Kong), Professor E. Gadd (Luigi's Mansion), Freezie (Mario Bros.), Hammer Bro. (Super Mario Bros.), Iggy Koopa (Super Mario Bros. 3), Jibberjay (Super Mario Galaxy 2), Koopa Troopa (Super Mario Bros.), Luigi (Mario Bros.), Mario (Donkey Kong), Ninji (Super Mario Bros. 2), O'Chunks (Super Paper Mario), Princess Peach (Super Mario Bros.), Queen Bee (Super Mario Galaxy), Rosalina (Super Mario Galaxy), Shy Guy (Super Mario Bros. 2), Toad (Super Mario Bros.), Ukiki (Super Mario 64), Virus (Dr. Mario), Wario (Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins), X-Naut (Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door), Yoshi (Super Mario World), Zip Toad (Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door)


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It's a World of Hellos and a World of Goodbyes

I found out about the It's a Small World T-shirt contest over at Threadless about 4 hours before the deadline. I wasn't going to enter but I had an idea I wanted to get out there.

The background: It's a world of "Hello"s and a world of "Goodbye"s with this fun and educational shirt inspired by the end of the "it's a small world" ride, where boaters are wished goodbye at the end of their voyage in several different languages. The front of the shirt welcomes others in many different languages while the back wishes a fond goodbye.

Star Trek Alphabet

Everyone seemed to have a fun time guessing the Harry Potter characters in my Harry Potter alphabet before I posted a key, so I thought I would do the same here. Have fun! By the way, two of the letters are identified by their races, not their character names.  (EDIT: Key now available at the bottom of the post in white text).

Prints, skins, iPhone cases, T-shirts / hoodies and more available as a licensed product at Redbubble.

Depicted are: Jonathan Archer (Star Trek: Enterprise), Benjamin Sisko (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine), Pavel Chekov (Star Trek), Data (Star Trek: The Next Generation), Elim Garak (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine), Quark the Ferengi (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine), Geordi La Forge (Star Trek: The Next Generation), Hikaru Sulu (Star Trek), Ilia (Star Trek: The Motion Picture), Kathryn Janeway (Star Trek: Voyager), James Kirk (Star Trek), Leonard "Bones" McCoy (Star Trek), Montgomery "Scotty" Scott (Star Trek), Neelix (Star Trek: Voyager), Odo (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine), Jean-Luc Picard (Star Trek: The Next Generation), Q (Star Trek: The Next Generation), William Riker (Star Trek: The Next Generation), Spock (Star Trek), Tribbles (Star Trek), Nyota Uhura (Star Trek), Valeris (Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country), Worf (Star Trek: The Next Generation), Xindi-Reptilian (Star Trek: Enterprise), Tasha Yar (Star Trek: The Next Generation), Zefram Cochrane (as depicted in Star Trek: First Contact)

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Toy Story Vinylmation - Series 2 Proposals

A big thanks goes out to the folks at Destination Vinylmation for featuring my Toy Story Vinylmation Series 2 proposals over the last week. I've gathered all of the designs below, but you can also check out all of the original posts at http://destinationvinylmation.com/category/mike-boon

Mr. Potato Head
Toy Story (1995)
Voiced by: Don Rickles
Licensing issues with Playskool no doubt put a damper on any attempts to include Mr. Potato Head with Series 1, but he would be a vital addition to a second series. The head of the figure and one ear could be clear plastic along with, perhaps, the feet. This could give the impression of his feet being just barely attached (as on the real Potato Head). The back could either show the inside of his little compartment (for example, his other eyes) or a different expression.

Mrs. Potato Head

Toy Story 2 (1999)
Voiced by: Estelle Harris
If you are going to include Mr, Mrs Potato Head makes for a terrific partner. She’s been designed to complement Mr. Potato Head on the shelf and could be approached in much the same way with options for clear plastic and a possible alternate expression on the back.

Dolly
Toy Story 3 (2010)
Voiced by: Bonnie Hunt
This sassy rag doll didn’t have a major role in Toy Story 3 but will no doubt be seen in future efforts (such as the Toy Story toons, books, merchandizing and more) considering how she is one of Bonnie’s toys. Plus, she’s cute.

Mr. Pricklepants
Toy Story 3 (2010)
Voiced by: Timothy Dalton
Like Dolly, Mr. Pricklepants – a thespian with a love of lederhosen – had a relatively minor role in Toy Story 3 but will be part of the Toy Story crew for years to come. His entire back would be covered in his “prickles”.

Slinky Dog
Toy Story (1995)
Originally voiced by: Jim Varney (Toy Story)
Like the Potato Heads, licensing issues likely got in the way of having Slinky appear in Toy Story Series 1. But considering his prominence in the series, that’s a wrong that would need to be righted. I pictured the body component to be clear, with the slinky coils stretching around his midsection.

Stinky Pete the Prospector
Toy Story 2 (1999)
Voiced by: Kelsey Grammer
The crafty and deceitful villain in Toy Story 2 can participate in all sorts of adventures with Woody, Jessie and Bullseye from Series 1. I tried to stick to the limitations of the mould, but this would obviously look great with a hat accessory and/or a pick-axe.

Chuckles
Toy Story 3 (2010)
Voiced by: Bud Luckey
The perpetually dour Chuckles isn’t fond of Lotso’s scheme to turn Sunnyside into a prison. Eventually, Chuckles makes his way into the home of Bonnie (along with Andy’s other toys) and he finally smiles after seeing Bonnie has drawn him with a big grin on his face. Chuckles with a smile would make a great variant.

Trixie
Toy Story 3 (2010)
Voiced by: Kristen Schaal
Rex’s dinosaur partner from Toy Story 3 – on-line name Velocistar237 – would look great with some real horns (Disney can use the same ones they used for Buttercup). If not, they could be painted on the ears.

Chunk
Toy Story 3 (2010)
Voiced by: Jack Angel
This rock-like toy starts off as one of Lotso’s henchman, but is reformed by the time the credits roll. His expression changes with the press of a special head spike. I thought this played really well with the Sunnyside Daycare logo. One side (the Sunnyside one) shows a smiling Chunk. The other side shows an Angry Chunk with a variation on the logo to play up the prison-like atmosphere of Sunnyside. My only concern with this is the size of it. It may actually make a better 9”.

Peas-in-a-Pod
Toy Story 3 (2010)
Voiced by: Charlie Bright, Amber Kroner, and Brianna Maiwand
The most minor character I chose for this series, mostly because my daughter sleeps with her own Peas in a Pod every night but also because I was happy with the end result. The peas – Peatey, Peatrice and Peanelope – are shown pea-king out of their pod.

Babyface
Toy Story (1995)
The leader of Sid’s mutant toys in the first Toy Story, Babyface consists of a baby doll head atop a spider-like body made of an erector set. Though Big Baby in Toy Story Series 1 was a disappointment, I like the mix of dark and cute in this character design.

Woody’s Roundup Woody
Toy Story 2 (1999)
Voiced by: Tom Hanks
I wanted to include either Buzz or Woody in this series. I thought about a Spanish Buzz, but the puppet Woody from the TV series Woody’s Roundup seemed like more of a treat. I tried to tie the design into the Woody from Series 1. This would be the chaser for the series.

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Color Me Sesame - Threadless

For over 40 years, Sesame Street has inspired, entertained and taught children all over the world and all of different backgrounds. For many kids, Sesame Street opened up their world to people of different skin colors, beliefs and abilities. Most importantly, everyone on the show was treated with the same level of respect and understanding, even if they happened to live in a garbage can or be a bumbling superhero. 

With this entry in the Sesame Street Threadless contest, I wanted to pay tribute to this diversity and history with a colorful design. 

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Sesame Street - T-shirt proposals

I'm currently hooked on designing T-shirts for Threadless' Sesame Street contest. As usual, more ideas than time to get them on paper. Here's what I've contributed so far:

POCKET GROUCH: Let your pocket do the talking with this tribute to everyone's favorite grouch. Lucky for you, his friend Slimey came along for the ride. Does not come with actual pocket or actual Oscar. ;). 

REMEMBERING MR. HOOPER: When considering ideas for this challenge, I searched through my memory banks for some defining moments in the show. But nothing on Sesame Street still resonates with me as much as when, as a youngster in 1983, I learned that Mr. Hooper (and actor Will Lee) passed away. The child in me still gets very upset as I remember it but, viewing the scene as an adult, I am shocked at how expertly the Sesame writers handled that moment. A truly amazing moment in children's television. 

C IS FOR COOKIE: C is for Cookie (and Cookie Monster). That's good enough for me. 

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