The Greatest "Space Craft" Designs From NASA And Etsy's Joint Contest

3D Original Winner Patrick Burt won the 3-Dimensional Original category with his creation, Brother Sun, Sister Moon - a titanium ring embedded with tiny diamonds, gold and silver pieces that represent different bodies in our solar system. Courtesy Etsy

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As the space shuttle program winds down, DIYers and tinkerers are commemorating the occasion with their own creations. To inspire the 5.8 million users of Etsy, an e-commerce site focused on homemade goods and original art, NASA hosted a “Space Craft” contest.

The contest aimed to inform Etsy users — the majority of whom are women around age 35 — that it’s not all over after the shuttle. NASA’s future exploration plans could provide inspiration for all kinds of arts and crafts — black hole quilts, solar system rings, and more.

Contestants entered creations in two-dimensional original art, reproductions of original pieces, and three-dimensional art. The 2-D pieces included paintings, drawings and mixed media; the 3-D category ranged from wearable art like a space shuttle hat to furniture and sculptures.

A panel of judges, including a PopSci editor, handed down their verdicts in a ceremony on Friday. The grand prize went to a round table inlaid with a star field — press on the north star, and a secret drawer pops open.

There were plenty of other terrific entries — and some perhaps not-so-terrific, but that’s the nature of Etsy. Check out our gallery of the winners and some other memorable entries.