Have an idea for an eco-friendly product you need — but don’t have the crafting skills to create the thing yourself? Try submitting the idea to Ponoko.

Self-described as “the world’s easiest making system,” Ponoko invites anyone to submit a design idea — then lets designers bid to turn that idea into reality. The submitter then chooses a designer, the idea gets made and sold.

Apparently Ponoko’s been around since 2007, but I’ve just discovered it. The site seems useful for turning something you think could be handy into something that is. I have 6 envelopes of a very odd size, for example — so maybe I can get a designer to create pretty cards that fit that size, thereby making good use of the envelopes.

Much like a less girly version of Etsy, Ponoko also offers an online store of readymade and made-on-demand designs — like this make-your-own toy bus kit.

Ponoko also promotes DIY, if you fancy yourself a crafter. One dude came up with a design for turning an iPod into a scanner of sorts (via The Far Edge). You can buy the iPhone Document Scanner, made of eco-friendly corrugated cardboard, for $19 — or download a free EPS file and make it yourself.

Images via Ponoko

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