I created this small crossword the other day. It’s done in the style of the NYTimes crossword, basically, but with some 2-letter words. The difficulty I would say is medium (my parents play-tested it).

crossword

Here are the clues:

ACROSS 
1. Use wind
5. College for big cats?
10. Rings when struck 
12. Like 7-down but more 
13. Resident of the sky, maybe 
14. Kind of times 
15. Beginning for elflife? 
16. Scholar reads it 
18. Party 
20. It's not you 
21. Top level internet domain 
24. A short, old romantic? 
28. A dance when doubled 
29. Common disc 
30. Your father's mother's daughter-in-law 
31. Killed 
33. French or 
35. Final frontier 
38. Something to climb 
41. What witches cook with? 
42. '... never gonna believe this'
43. Open 
44. Lincoln, Honest, et al. 
DOWN 
1. Element of chutzpah 
2. Old cross 
3. Found on universities 
4. Untruth 
5. One who overshadows 
6. Python Eric 
7. Unusual 
8. Originally, in name 
9. Pot that keeps its profile when turned 
11. Acronym for a tram or subway 
17. Chemical suffix 
18. Life code 
19. Australia 
21. Ontario Docs belong to it 
22. Email subject starter 
23. Ancient board game 
24. Cdn. province 
25. ___ Henry! 
26. Strong note 
27. Infinite syllable 
31. Device to make things like 31-across 
32. Desert condition 
33. Nasty brute 
34. Takes advantage of 
35. Evil UNIX Co. 
36. Perspective 
37. ___ Maria 
39. Three vowels 
40. essence of story

And finally, when you are done, here is the solution