Patraw-- HUGE congratulations on winning third place in the Shiflett Bros. contest!  You rock!  

Thanks, Eirewolf & Hisart!   I was surprised that I made it into the top three, there was some really mindblowing competition.

Zariche
 
A nightmarish fusion of skeletal spider and double-headed brute that can be found in Sega's 1992 Arabian-themed Defenders of Oasis Game Gear video game (original Japanese title: Shadam Crusader: Harukanaru Oukoku). Zariche is the first of six Wizard Kings you'll have to face in the game's final dungeon--this unnatural fortress can only be reached by flying from the top of the Tower of Jiklart on the mythical Roc's back.  
 
While all three of the hideous amalgam's heads have nasty dispositions, the left humanoid is particularly high-strung. For reasons that not even the dread Ahriman can fathom, Zariche cannot, nay, WILL NOT, tolerate anyone touching its left shoulder. Should an individual be foolhardy enough to insult Zariche by breaking this strange taboo, the fiend will fly into a berserk rage, attacking until the offender is reduced to little more than a greasy red smear. Ahriman, taking full advantage of his minion's eccentricity, has peppered the narrow, maze-like corridors of an entire wing of his Underworld lair with statues of Zariche, and, as you can probably guess, the tempermental monstrosity will still take offense if you happen to bump the wrong shoulder of an inanimate stone likeness. Apparently, Zariche has some kind of magical sixth-sense attuning it to the replicas, as it can, and will, instantly possess and awaken any profaned monument and use it to attack the defiler--"killing" the statue will not vanquish Zariche itself, as the temporarily beaten creature will simply withdraw to whatever plane of existance it normally inhabits, from whence it can return again, completely restored, to control one of the other sculptures. Needless to say, few would-be trespassers survive long enough to cross Ahriman's gallery of Zariches.  
 
The edges of the massive battle axe Zariche wields are coated with potent venom (doubtlessly milked from some unholy orifice on its twisted body); any successful strike with the weapon, in addition to causing substantial injury, will poison the unfortunate victim (with the exception of the Genie, who, being magical in nature, enjoys immunity from all material toxins). If the venom isn't neutralized, either with the Genie's "Haoma" spell or the "Snake Act" item, the afflicted will succumb to the poison in a short amount of time. Additionally, the bony arachnid that serves as Zariche's lower body can exhale plumes of 1093o C/2000o F flame, charbroiling its foes.  
 
 
Materials:  
Newsprint, Kleenex, white glue, hot glue, crazy glue, wire twist ties, sand, nail polish, and acrylic paint.
 
Dimensions:  
[NOTE: Due to the articulation, these values will vary depending on how the joints are positioned;
the numbers given assume a neutral standing pose without the weapon accessory attached.]  
7.2 cm/2.8 in. x 7.4 cm/2.9 in. (widest point x highest point)
 
Articulation:  
Thirty-four points: Necks (2); shoulders (2); elbows (2); wrists (2); waist; skull mandible; and spider legs (3 each, 24 total).
 
Time:  
Two weeks; March 5-7, 9-11, 13-15, 17-19, 23-24 (2010).
 

 

 
More photos/information:
http://kramwartap.fortunecity.com/zariche.html
 
Additionally, if you'd like to see all of the creatures found in Defenders of Oasis, visit my monster sprite archive for the game:  
http://kramwartap.fortunecity.com/DoO_bestiary.html
 
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My Mother asked me to make a new snout for this broken elephant figurine.  She wanted the trunk upraised, as she claims its good luck, but other than that, I was left to my own devices regarding the size/length/etc.  The first three photos show it in the original state, the rest all depict my repair job.  The new snout is made out of a mixture of Kleenex and white glue, painted with acrylic paint, and attached to the figurine with crazy glue.  Unfortunately, I did a terrible job of matching my paintwork to the resin color of the original, so the new snout is a lot darker than it should be (I used a white base coat with a light gray wash).  I probably should have used something other than acrylic, or repainted the entire thing so everything would match.
 

 
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And here's my prize from the Shiflett Bros. Chloe contest, that I received in the mail Wednesday morning:
 

Whoa! Very cool!
 
Autographs, very nice!
 
It just amazes me at how much detail people can get on such little figures!
 
Keep up the good work.

Interesting!  Thanks.  I find it so fascinating that you can get so much detail in such a small figure.  Are you self-taught?

Here's a little critter that can't decide if it wants to be a cephalopod or a crustacean. It's from the 1993 Gameboy RPG Saga III: Jikku No Hasha (Final Fantasy Legend III here in the states). There's a number of asymmetries in the sculpt that I don't like, but I guess it turned out half decent.
 
 
 
Materials:  
Newsprint, tissue paper, white glue, crazy glue, wire twist ties, sand, nail polish, and acrylic paint.
 
Dimensions:  
[NOTE: Due to the articulation, these values will vary depending on how the joints are positioned;
the numbers given assume a neutral pose.]  
4.7 cm/1.9 in. x 2.8 cm/1.1 in. (widest point x highest point)
 
Articulation:  
Eight points: Shoulders (2); elbows (2); wrists (2); and pincers (2).
 
Time:  
Three days; April 20, 22, and 23 (2010).
 
 

 
More images/info:
 
http://kramwartap.fortunecity.com/amoeba.html

Nicely done!
 
I'm still amazed at how small some people can work.

One day?  You're crazy, man.  Crazy in a good way.    
 
I love it!  It's a very cute and clever idea, and quite appropriate for Mother's Day.  I bet your mom loves it.