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Jack Devaney makes pencil cases out of dead rats. He's also used mice, moles, squirrels, and even had a go with a rabbit. But Jack's been most successful with rats.

The student, 22, moved down from the north to attend university in Exeter, Devon. He's studying 3D Design and is in his third year. His work includes wooden boxes and vacuum-moulded heads.

Lately, Jack's turned his skills to more peculiar ventures, crafting stationery out of animals. It's a bizarre, yet practical form of taxidermy. And he's getting orders. Internationally, as it happens.

"They're most popular in America, but I've also sold them in Norway," Jack said. "I think it's great that I've managed to sell some."

Some 500,000 people have viewed on Imgur a series of images showcasing his homemade white rat pencil case – probably his signature piece. Jack said this global recognition has sparked real interest and has been good for business.

Jack has built an Etsy page and is using Facebook and other social media to advertise. The reaction has not always been positive.

"There's been a varied response," Jack said.

"The average posts range from, 'this guy is a nut job', to 'where can I get one?'

"But I'm always polite when I'm responding."

Jack has encountered difficulties past 'bad comments' after posting some of his unusual inventions online. Not everyone has a taste for mole pen holders and bunny rabbit bookmarks.

He mentioned that he's been banned from various buy/sell groups, where he found himself frustrated by an all-too-regular penchant for domestic appliances.

"They [other members] were selling boring stuff like fridges and no one was talking to each other," Jack said.

"All I wanted to do was put a smile on their faces. I think some people choose to be offended. They could just ignore it."

Jack told Devon Live that he first decided to "make daft stuff" while surfing the web with his girlfriend. He enjoyed perusing pictures of 'bad' taxidermy, and though he'd begin his own furry adventure.

"I'd worked part-time as a butcher for nine years so I've been sort of desensitized to the process," he said.

"It also meant that I knew how to pluck, skin and dress different animals.

"I used to have a snake when I was younger and I knew that you could buy frozen mice, rats and chicks from different pet stores."

Jack's project has taken experimentation and practice. He began with mice, then began to branch out to the likes of moles and squirrels.

Many of the animals Jack sources from pest control companies and estate managers – common in Devon. He also put out requests on Facebook, and had, he noted, people getting back to him "within ten minutes".

Jack recently bought four moles for £25. Delivery costs about £12 – but comes the next day, so as to avoid any unsavoury odours. Currently, he doesn't really make any money. The dead rat pencil case sells just £34.99.

The process of making each item doesn't sound easy, either. The trick is to set to work while the animal is still frozen.

"It's different for each animal, rats are quite thick-skinned but rabbits are much more delicate," Jack said.

"The next step is to turn the pelt inside out and apply Borax powder to the skin to dry it out.

"Once that's done, turn it the right way round and apply a small amount of powder to the fur – then brush it through with a toothbrush."

Jack added that he doesn't use his own toothbrush for the latter. And was also keen to allay any feelings of a wider message.

He explained: "Some people have suggested my work is satirical or that they have a deeper meaning but they are just daft. The mole for instance, it's got these weird hands that are bent the wrong way and the only thing they can hold are a spear or a wizard staff.

"Once I made him the spear, he needed a helmet too so then he became a medieval pikeman.

"If no one buys them then I'll just have a load of moles hanging around."