Member of Blacklug Spotlight – Simon Scott (Tvrulesmylife)
I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Simon for about three years now, and honestly—it’s been nothing but a joy! We’ve shared the stage at plenty of shows, and every time he’s been nothing short of kind, supportive, and just a smooth, easygoing guy to be around. We’ve even shared a few drinks along the way, and he’s always proven himself to be a top-notch bloke.
For me, as someone still fairly new to the LEGO community, it’s been humbling to sit alongside an actual LEGO designer and have that kind of direct access outside of shows. Simon’s always been generous with his advice—whether it’s about LEGO builds or just life in general—and it’s something I’ve really valued.
On top of all that, he’s been a huge supporter of BlackLUG, always asking how he can help push the message forward. He’s not just an incredible builder and designer, but also a truly invaluable member of the community—and more importantly, a great friend. I’m really grateful he’s taken the time to do this interview and share a bit more about what makes him the amazing builder, designer, and all-around top guy that he is.
Brief Introduction
Simon Scott (aka Tvrulesmylife) is a UK-based LEGO enthusiast, marketing manager, and fan-designer who brought Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas to life as an official LEGO Ideas set. Hailing from Ilkeston, Derbyshire, Simon works in digital printing and has a lifelong passion for LEGO, which reignited as an adult when building sets for his children.
Over the past several years, he’s built a strong presence in the AFOL (Adult Fans of LEGO) community. He actively participates in UK LEGO user groups and ran the country’s largest, Brickish, from 2022–2024
The Road to LEGO Ideas Success
Simon originally submitted his Halloween Town MOC (My Own Creation) on LEGO Ideas around 2020/2021, where it earned 10,000 votes but was not selected. Encouraged by friends and inspired by seeing others succeed, he re-submitted an enhanced version—including expanded features like a Town Hall and more playability in the graveyard and Jack’s house—which reached 10,000 supporters in just 38 days and captured the LEGO Team’s attention.
The resulting official set, 21351 Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, spans 2,193 pieces and faithfully recreates three iconic scenes from the film: the Town Hall, Jack Skellington’s house, and Spiral Hill.
Reflections and Legacy
Simon shares that LEGO stayed “as faithful as possible†to his original vision, tackling design challenges like the film’s crooked architecture in a LEGO-friendly manner. He praises the final set as “a wonderfully playable set that is just as appealing as a display pieceâ€.
In a delightful Easter egg, his name is subtly integrated into Jack’s Christmas “formula†within the set—a nod from the designers that his creation made the official version possible
On the Nightmare Before Christmas LEGO Ideas Set
Q: What inspired you to bring The Nightmare Before Christmas into LEGO form? Was it the movie’s charm, the characters, or the visual style?
A: The release of the Jack & Sally CMF’s in the Disney Series really. I wanted a place to display them and started to build the Spiral Hill section to display in a deep-set picture frame. The rest of Halloween town developed from there.
Q: How did you approach recreating such a unique and quirky world with LEGO bricks?
A: I always work to a snapshot of the finished model I have in my mind’s eye. I rewatched the film a couple of times to get an idea of colours and styles and then set to work recreating it with physical bricks.
Q: Which part of the set are you most proud of — and why?
A: I do like my version of Spiral Hill TBH. It does uncurl just like in the film and it took alot of revisions to achieve the curl whilst providing enough ‘clutch’ power to hold it in place and allow it to be manipulated to uncurl.
Q: Was there a moment during the design process when you thought, “Yes, this really feels like Halloween Town�
A: When I pulled the 3 sections together (they were built separately) to join them into one model. (I love that the official version can be separated, though)
Q: Were there any features or details you wanted to include but had to leave out due to size or design limitations?
A: I did want to include the Mayor figure in my version but his unique shape prohibited me from creating a likeness, as it needed curved triangular stickers or printed bricks which at the time I didn’t have the skills to achieve. LEGO has righted that wrong though and included him in the official set.
Q: Do you see this set as more of a Halloween set, a Christmas set, or the perfect mix of both?
A: It’s a question I get asked a lot and as the original film was released halfway between Halloween and Christmas (25th November) I’d have to say a mix of both.
Simon’s LEGO Journey
Q: When did your LEGO journey begin? Do you remember your first LEGO set?
A: I had Lego as a child but finished with it around the age of 14. I don’t recall my first set back then. I rediscovered my love of it after the birth of my son when I purchased a Star Wars Luke’s Landspeeder (My son is called Luke) to decorate his room with in 2012. I started to buy more “for him†and gradually started buying more for myself.
Q: Did you ever imagine as a kid that one day you’d design a set for LEGO Ideas?
A: Never, this was a very happy accident for me and a case of choosing the right IP time & place to create my original MOC. Pure dumb luck!
Q: What’s your creative process like when starting a new build? Do you sketch first, or dive straight into bricks?
A: As I mentioned before – I build to a picture in my head. I always use real bricks when doing my models unless its a mosaic where I use digital software to create a template.
Q: Outside of Nightmare Before Christmas, do you have a dream IP or theme you’d love to design for?
A: Castles do have a special place in my heart along with Indiana Jones.
Q: What’s been the biggest challenge in your LEGO journey so far — and the most rewarding moment?
A: Space, its always Space – not the theme I just need more of it to display!
Knowing I’m one of 75 Lego Ideas fan designer in the world (at the time of writing) that this has happened to. Its such a unique experience and a very special club to be part of.
Q: How has the LEGO community (both online and offline) supported and influenced your work?
A: My AFOL friends have been incredibly supportive along with the LUGS I am a member of. Fans have reached out to me with some lovely comments. I get a lot of inspiration from other builders I see online and meet at the various shows & events i display at and attend.Q: Do you prefer building official sets, creating MOCs (My Own Creations), or a mix of both?
A: A mix of both for me. I like creating my own MOCs but it can be a lot of pressure to live up to when people ask what my next submission will be but at the same time its quite a therapeutic process for me. I like to build the odd smaller set to relax now and again though.
LEGO & Creativity
Q: What do you think makes LEGO such a timeless creative medium, even in today’s digital world?
A: I think its strongest positive is that it hasn’t changed all that much in the last 60 years. Its only limit is people’s imagination.
Q: For fans who dream of getting their own LEGO Ideas project made into a real set, what advice would you give?
A: Build something you’re passionate about and do your research properly to see if its a viable theme. You then have to be prepared to work at getting the votes you need. It can be a long arduous process but I still think I got lucky with my source material being popular and timing it right. I do believe playability has a big part to play in fan designs too.
Q: How important is storytelling when designing LEGO builds, especially for sets based on beloved movies like The Nightmare Before Christmas?
A: I think its incredibly important especially when using a IP for a set. I tried to incorporate as many opportunities to recreate scenes from the film within my build.
Q: If you could collaborate with any other LEGO Ideas designer, who would it be and what would you want to create together?
A: I think I’ve been really lucky to work with Jordan David Scott, Laura Perron & Cesar Soares already on this set – I already own several of their sets and they were amazing to meet in person. I love to catch the eye of Stuart Harris though, the LEGO house Master Builder. I’d love to create something to feature in the Masterpece Gallery over in Bilund – Thats the next tick for my Lego bucket list.
Q: Finally — if you lived in Halloween Town yourself, what kind of LEGO creation would your character be building?
A: I’d love to be building a tall gothic castle with lots of spindly towers.
At the end of the day, Simon isn’t just a brilliant designer or a talented builder—he’s a genuine friend and a true asset to the community. His kindness, support, and willingness to share his time and knowledge have made a lasting impact, not just on me but on everyone lucky enough to know him. It’s been an honour to learn from him, laugh with him, and see the incredible things he creates. Here’s to many more builds, shows, and good times ahead with one of the best in the game.
be sure to follow Simon’s instagram and show love https://www.instagram.com/tvrulesmylife
