Creative Inspiroation with Digital Spirograph

We know what you may be thinking…No, inspiration is not misspelled. Inspiroation is a new word that has been coined by combining inspiration with Inspirograph, the new creative tool that we just discovered. Warning: it’s bound to make you addicted — if you like Spirograph, like we do.

While waiting to post about new designs, until some more prep can be ready, most folks might just take a walk around the block to get energy, blow off steam or when they have a mental block or just need a refresher; however, finding creative inspiration is my reboot.

Are you too young to remember Spirograph, that iconic children’s drawing toy that was popular in the 60’s & 70’s?

Actual Spirograph featured on casartblog — Actual Spirograph

Original Spirograph instruction booklet on casartblog — Original Spirograph instruction booklet

It was educational and taught geometry and spatial relationships without one even knowing it. It made math fun, especially for those more artistically inclined.

It was the best!

I even still have my original set! I won’t tell you how old it is though but let’s just say we share a birthday.

I’ve been out of the toy buying market for quite some time so I wasn’t even aware it was still being made but guess what, it’s celebrating it’s 50th year! How timely for this posting.

Now it’s back in digital format. You can create designs just as if you were using those plastic Spirograph gears but instead of punching holes in your blank drawing sheet to hold the gears in place, which always messed up the sheet unfortunately, you can create your designs online and get this — without messing up!

How cool is that!

I certainly don’t want to take anything away from the original Spirograph since it really is one of the best, smart, old-fashioned, gadget-type-toys that should be experienced by every kid but if you want to try your hand at it digitally, here’s how it works. Simply go to Inspirograph and play.

Inspirograph gears — Inspirograph rotating gear (inside a ring)

Choose your fixed or rotating gear-discs and your rings in either the smaller 144/96 or larger 150/105 sizes.

The rotating gear makes your pen travel on the inside of a ring.

The fixed gear makes your pen travel around the outside of a fixed-in-place, centered, gear-disc.

Inspirograph-fixed_on casartblog — Inspirograph design that rotates around a fixed gear

There is also the oblong disc that was always too cumbersome to use well but creates some interesting shapes.

Select your pen color and background color on the right side. You can play with different background and color choices during and after your design is complete. You can also undo and erase using the key controls.

Inspirograph Key shortcuts on casartblog — Inspirograph keyboard shortcuts

Save your design to download and submit to the gallery. Viewing the gallery will give you “inspiroation” from what others have done. It’s also nice to see that others are as equally excited about this new digital Spirograph.