DIY BDSM gear

Chelsea Gamble
Nothing hurts more than being whipped with a studded riding crop. Except, of course, the painful sting of its $50 price tag.
And that's the sort of pain we'd all like to avoid (if anybody out there does get off on paying high prices, drop me a line). So how do we suffer at home without suffering at the bank? The solution is clear: Make your own toys.
Why Do it Yourself (DIY)? Even if you're a Dom with enough OSAP to buy a dungeon's worth of torture toys, there's nothing like homemade nipple clamps to show your submissive that you care.
For Submissives, there's a certain perverse joy in making the implements of your own torture. They also make lovely Christmas gifts.
Vegan enthusiasts will find they can make a much wider range of animal safe toys than would normally be available in stores.
Making your own gear also allows first timers to explore without breaking the bank.
DIY bondage gear is cheap, fun, and allows you to feel as crafty as Martha Stewart, even as you tighten your grip on your handcrafted cat-o-nine-tails (note: this article in no way advocates thinking about Martha Stewart before, during, or after any sexual activity. Not even if you're fucking Martha herself. Especially if you're fucking Martha herself).
For the beginner DIYer, I have one indispensable piece of advice: ping-pong paddles. They're cheap, easy to customize, and a great first project. Here are just a few possibilities:
Use a hot-glue gun to cover one side of the paddle with faux-fur, and the other with rough grain ultra suede. Or, if you're slightly more adventurous, use fine-grain sandpaper.
Once the glue dries, you're free to be as soft or as rough as you'd please.
Drilling three or four holes in the face of the paddle cuts down on wind resistance and creates a satisfyingly loud cracking sound whenever you make a good connection.
For those that are a little more craftily advanced, trace your hand onto a quarter inch thick piece of rubber (available at most hardware stores).
Use shears to cut it out, and hot-glue it onto the paddle. Now you've got a custom spanking tool.
Sure, you could just use your actual hand, but there's just something special about making a personalized ass-slapping device. It's a good thing.
In the mood for a more ambitious project? Most of the projects at http://come.to/pervy.tool.time can be made in an afternoon, and includes awesome tutorials on making hook and eye restraints, tack bras, manacles, and a couple of things that not even I fully understand how to use. Break out the woodworking set and enjoy all the wonderful possibilities.
Made a toy you're particularly proud of? Join the BDSM Toymaking Discussion Group and show it off. They have links to tons of other DIY pages, so you'll almost always find something that appeals to you.
So now that you know how, there's no reason to spend your 6-month anniversary out to dinner. Lock your dorm room, secure your breakables and have at it. Because nothing says 'I Love You' like a riding crop to the balls.