DIY: Weighted Companion Cube paperweight

by Griffin McElroy { Dec 2nd 2007 at 10:30AM }

We know you're probably getting sick of all the arts and crafts based off this one geometric protagonist. We've seen it all, costumes, plushies, even cake -- but we think Alice Fox has the right frame of mind when it comes to cuboid craftwork -- "our friendly cube is weighted, not a stuffed and cuddly plush toy or a flimsy papercraft."

With that in mind, we present Fox's step by step instructions on how to create a companion cube paperweight. We won't lie, it looks like more work than it's worth, but we'd love to see one sitting on our desk, unassumingly holding down our important documents. It would definitely be a sweet, cost-efficient holiday gift for a gaming relative, or for your favorite Joystiq blogger.

Tags: Companion-Cube, CompanionCube, DIY, Portal

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Strykr @ Dec 2nd 2007 10:41AM

Nice bold font.

Yuccadude @ Dec 2nd 2007 10:43AM

I see what you did there.

I caught on once I saw a and lie boldfaced.

FrankTheCrank @ Dec 2nd 2007 10:44AM

I got my cake last night!!!

I absolutely love Portal. Valve, please give us more Portal. Like now!!!

The song was hilarious.

hydralisk456 @ Dec 2nd 2007 11:40AM

This was a triumph

Thatoneguy64 @ Dec 2nd 2007 6:54PM

I'm making a note here

vdeogmer @ Dec 3rd 2007 1:09AM

HUGE SUCCESS!

Lanturn of Ash @ Dec 2nd 2007 10:44AM

Seriously, enough of the companion cube shit. It was funny at first when everyone was talking about it and I hadn't played Portal yet, but inside the perameters of the game it turned out to be about as funny as a kick to the shins. Without Glados this thing is nothing.

Sieged Eagle @ Dec 2nd 2007 6:46PM

Thank you for your bright comment, oh corageous Captain Obvious.

Fernando Rocker @ Dec 2nd 2007 10:49AM

Griffin McElroy for the weekend FTW!

joh3n @ Dec 2nd 2007 10:56AM

What someone really needs to make is weighted companion cube kindling. That way, we can throw it in a fire as God intended.

Will @ Dec 2nd 2007 12:05PM

You, sir, are a cruel bastard. How could you do that to your one and only friend!?

hvnlysoldr @ Dec 2nd 2007 1:17PM

Anyone who lies about cake is no friend of mine.

Zombie Butcher @ Dec 2nd 2007 11:58AM

I want to see McFarlane make some portal toys.

But yea that was way to much work for me.

RadCap @ Dec 2nd 2007 1:14PM

I agree - the companion cube is properly WEIGHTED, not a plushie. That is why I hope Valve not only makes the stuffed cube, but also makes a paperweight companion cube.

hvnlysoldr @ Dec 2nd 2007 1:16PM

The only cube for me is the GameCube. What? my Wii plays all your games and there'll eventually be a VC for GB games? Then screw you Weighted Lunchbox Cube! AHHHH! It's stabbing me. If only I had . . side. .d.. with Weighted Companion Cube.... AHH! WCC stabbed me!

CubeGuy @ Dec 2nd 2007 1:20PM

...

...

*starts plans for WCC gamecube mod*

ThornedVenom @ Dec 2nd 2007 9:35PM

The Wii is a Double-Weighted Companion Block... seeing that it's made out of two... you know, with duct-tape and shit.

Fatass of Kickassness @ Dec 3rd 2007 2:36AM

'you know, with duct tape and shit' made me laugh harder than i have in a while. I dunno why.

Grant @ Dec 2nd 2007 1:37PM

so... they made it out of some sort of clay? i don't really see how that was all that hard.

you could also:
1.find a rock/ steel ball
2.cut large block of modeling foam in half
3.put in said item
4.glue back together
5.Model
6.paint
7.you now how have a weighted companion cube.

Mr.ESC @ Dec 2nd 2007 8:22PM

Bu..but where is the love?

I like to craft stuff but I know my WCC will end looking like after it was in the Aperture Science Emergency Artificial Intelligence Incinerator.

Naota @ Dec 2nd 2007 1:45PM

i'm going to see if my teacher will let me mill one out some time within the next few months.

ALex @ Dec 2nd 2007 4:08PM

OMG this was on weebl & bob!

Dio @ Dec 2nd 2007 2:32PM

I don't have a link, but I remember reading somewhere that Valve is going to sell a WCC desktop toy.

Jeff @ Dec 2nd 2007 6:10PM

What an awesome creation! Fox is an artistic genius. Some of the above commentary was obviously written my clueless children who have no concept of the creative discipline that is required to sculpt just such a unique item. Incidentally, GRANT, your simplistic production concept would disintegrate within a few weeks - or immediately upon falling on the floor while you're busy clicking away at your PlaySchool keyboard in order to blindly criticize a true artisan's work. I bet you couldn't even find your way out of a companion cube with a flashlight. Little kids ...

Grant @ Dec 3rd 2007 12:21AM

and something made of clay wouldn't?

clearly you must have some sort of magic pottery clay that can withstand a fall to the floor!
Please tell me more so we can go into business making everything out of such and make millions!

art + falls = usually broken.

Grant @ Dec 3rd 2007 12:30AM

P.S.
i also don't know what sort of modeling foam you use, but there are many types,and i have never seen it disintegrate in the sort of fast fashion if you get one of quality and properly coat/seal it(hence the painting).
Maybe you should consider the following, as you make it sound like you use some crap found at your local michaels/Pearl: http://www.generalplastics.com/products/product_detail.php?pid=19&

Sieged Eagle @ Dec 2nd 2007 6:43PM

That's a pretty nice WCC, and it's guaranteed not to stab you. Too bad I'm broke and don't have the cash for the stuff.

Also, nice subliminal message Griffin.

Alice @ Dec 3rd 2007 4:57AM

Grant: This wasn't earthen clay. It was polymer clay which isn't really a clay at all. It does not need a kiln to cure and the type I used (original Sculpey) doesn't feel brittle when fired. Some brands of modeling clay are very tough to break and with a thick sculpture such as this it's probably not going to shatter unless someone hurls it at a wall. I've already dropped it by accident - from admittedly short distances - and it hasn't suffered any damage. A chipped paint surface is the closest I'll ever get to breaking it and that can easily be fixed. It's certainly not indestructible but it could be if you used something like epoxy putty. Good luck trying to break that.

I'm curious as to how one would balance the rock/ball inside of a foam box. Wouldn't it roll around whenever you tried to move the cube? There would be no way to evenly distribute the weight.

No, I didn't find sculpting this to be difficult, and it's not the only way to make a weighted companion cube. That's why I'm trying to inspire people to make their own. I know, I know...I am a terrible person for wanting to help someone who has never sculpted before and would like to make one. :)

CubeGirl @ Dec 3rd 2007 8:59AM

Thanks for sharing your process with us, Ms. Fox. I'm inspired to try this myself. By the way, you should ignore feeble-minded jerks like Grant - he's obviously jealous of your talent! Keep up the good work.