The Zizzler

Living THE life on a shoestring budget. Traveling, DIY projects, general fabulousness.......

Friday, July 21, 2006

Not Just Jug Wine?

Everyone knows I drink boxed wine. It is no secret. However, I must now drink 33 bottles of chardonnay, so that I can make a Carlo Rossi Chardonnay Chandelier. Sorry to post an idea that I haven't tried, but I'm not a big wine drinker. So this may take me awhile. Maybe this could also be cool painted a solid color or white and nonfunctional?
Seriously, who knew Carlo Rossi was a designer as well? His website has a bunch of DIY furniture ideas- using both the jugs and bottles. So I guess I need to get a good white sangria recipe and start drinking. By fall I should have a wine bottle chandelier blog ready...

Wednesday, July 19, 2006

Readymade Recipe Amended

Like any crafty person, I subscribe to Readymade Magazine. I like the ideas, but usually most of their projects don't apply to me, being that I do not own a home, yard...or a child. I really liked this project for "Redone dishes." Readymade suggested using old patterned dishes and painting lines on them, using masking tape as a stencil. Good idea, but I thought stripes were kind of boring (note: do not look at my wardrobe.) I decided to try to use my old Mylar sticker stencil technique that I used with the glass etching. I'm no good at controlling paint. In fact, I dropped Painting 101 TWICE. So my first run with this didn't work out so well. I bought cheap cheap plain white Ikea plates for 99 cents each. Readymade suggests Pebeo Porcelaine 150 paint, because it's the only can of porcelain paint that you can eat off of. It's $3.99 at Pearl Paint, and you can fire it in your oven. Anyway, the first time I tried it, I used stickers of ribbon bows, and black paint. The black was kind of harsh. Then it got gloppy and ugly. THEN I couldn't get the stickers off. I ended up throwing them out without firing them. I almost gave up. Then I went back to my beloved horse stickers and thought I bought a light blue paint (it just wasn't mixed, it was navy.) This time I used a larger bristle brush and a lot less paint. Instead of waiting for the paint to dry, I VERY CAREFULLY pulled the stickers off while still wet. It seemed to work, but you have to have a steady hand. There is definitely a texture to the paint, which I don't really like but oh well. This could also work out great for someone who can actually paint well...polar opposite of me. And now for the Readymade directions:
you'll need
  • dishes
  • rubbing alcohol
  • Pebeo Porcelaine 150 paint
  • stickers/tape
  • paint brush/oven/etc
Wash the dishes and dry well. With a cottonball, wipe dishes with alcohol and let dry. Place stencils/stickers on plate and gently sponge or brush on paint. *Carefully remove stickers* Let dry for 24 hours. Without preheating the oven, place the dishes inside and heat to 300 degrees. Baked the painted dishes for 30 minutes. Turn off the oven and let the dishes cool inside.

Slop some food on them and pig out. Or put them on display.

Tuesday, July 18, 2006

Do Pigs Look Good Kissing?

And stuff. I just asked my friend Anna what's better, two chickens kissing, or two cows kissing? We couldn't decide. She had no idea what I was talking about. Then I didn't explain what I was talking about and just said "Yea. Chickens look better kissing, because the cows' bodies aren't as defined." Then I changed the subject. So here's what I meant Anna....
I bought this green little tote from a craft store for $2.99 thinking I'd just put some pins on it or something. I love green and it was so cheap. I also got a bag of these weird felt farm animals, about 30 assorted ones for $2.49, with no idea what I'd do with them. So today I decided to break out my trusty hot glue gun and do something with the tote. Originally I'd lined up three little pigs in a row, but I'm feeling rather lovey and nostalgic lately soI decided to go for the animal love. I hot glued them in place, got the chicken vote for the other side, but still felt it needed something. I cut the back off of a heart button (chicken side) and found an old old heart patch (pigsly) and voila! It's perfect for toting around my wallet, water bottle and keys in the summer, and will hang on my arm nicely while I eat some frozen yogurt. (NEVER water ice- ew ew ew)
And it was so cheap, it doesn't matter if I get popsicle stains all over it!

Monday, July 17, 2006

It is Sweltering

I have a permanent sweatstache. Although I have no appetite due to the heat, I feel giant and bloated. My fingers are swollen. Yep, its summer. But time for summer vacations! I love buying souvenirs..but if I bought for everyone I wanted to, I wouldn't be able to afford to go anywhere. So, having spent a ton of money and time on my useless Photo degree, I give family members prints of the only photos I really take anymore- my travels.
Instead of making an oversized print of your vacation, make a panoramic collage by standing in once place and slowly moving and snapping photos of your fave site. Not only is this a creative/alternative way to give souvenir photos, but it works great if don't have a super nice camera that has the capability of printing larger than 4x6. It even works with disposables. Be daring and create a large scale image! Scan 'em if you don't have a digital camera and match (and unmatch) them up in Photoshop. Don't make it perfect- slightly skewed is the way to go. Size and print it at 11x17 ($2.49 at Kinko's for color) and frame it! Instant and creative looking parental/family gift. You can buy a picture of the Eiffel Tower at the mall, so even if you aren't the best photographer, why not make something original instead of store bought?
In case you wondered, the image above is of a fountain designed by Josep Fontserè and his assistant, a young Gaudi, at the Parc de la Ciutadella in my absolute favorite city ever, Barcelona.

Someone please fan me.