Bottle Cap Table

 

 

Over the years I have been saving bottle caps from all the beer and "girly" beer drinkers from get togethers.  I first started collecting one of every beer that I tried.  Then I decided I wanted to make something out of them instead of just keeping them in a jar, collecting dust and taking up shelf space.  So I decided I was going to make a bottle cap coffee table.  This took several years of collecting bottle caps.  Mainly because I didn't start out trying very hard to collect a large quantity, and also partially because the more beers everyone would consume, the more often they forgot to save the bottle caps for me; so they would get thrown away.  Although in a previous post I stated I would try anything once as long as it wasn't too dangerous, I guess you would have to classify digging in the trash under the too dangerous category!! 

Flash forward to present day:  I finally got enough bottle caps and hot glued them to the top of a table.  Then I sealed them with a clear glaze coat (the same stuff they use to protect the serving bar at an alcoholic establishment with lots of liquid spilling on the tabletop!  Also same stuff they use to enclose scorpions to make a clear paper weight!!)

After the clear coat dried for 3 days, I had a piece of glass cut to the size of the table top and bought clear bumpers to put underneath the glass so it wouldn't slide around on top of the clear coat. 

This table took 10 years from the time I started collecting bottle caps to the time I finished the table.  It took about a year or two to collect enough once I set my mind to the task.  What I love about this table is the fact that every single one of my friends had a part in making this table.  I have truly amazing friends...Sigh!

How to Clean Car Headlights

So I have read in several places that toothpaste will clean your car headlights really well and make them look brand new again.  So I figured, what the heck, right?!  I will try it, cuz I will try anything once as long as it's not too dangerous!! :)  So I did try it, with Ultra Brite toothpaste, and OMG, it worked like a charm!!  I just put some toothpaste on a dry rag, wiped it on in circles.  Then put a second layer of toothpaste.  Then took a wet rag and wiped it down.  My headlights don't look brand spankin new, but WAY better!  And they shine a lot brighter in the dark now.  I am really impressed.  Everytime I get out of my car now, I walk in front of my car, just so I can stare at my clean and pretty headlights!!

Before

After 

 



Halloween Banner

This is the cutest halloween banner and it only cost about $11 to make!!  Fun craft for kids!!

 

 

 

Materials needed:

 

12"x18" foam sheet (2mm) - each color sheet will fit 2 faces

     1- white (ghost and candy corn) 

     1- black (bat and spider)

     1- orange (pumpkin)

     1- green (frankenstein and witch)

Permanent markers for outline, facial features, candy corn coloring, and pumpkin stem (**I originally used poster markers and they didn't dry well on the foam.  I don't know if regular markers would not dry easily either, but I would recommend permanent just to be safe.  The black permanent marker dried very quickly.**) 

Scissors

Tacky Glue

Wiggly Eyes - 6 large (25mm) for Frankenstein, Ghost, and Witch and 10 small (7mm) for spider and bat

Thick Black Pipe Cleaners - 4 cut in half for spider legs

1-Hole Punch

String

 

Draw outline of each character with marker and cut out.  Flip over so there are no markings from the outline. 

Use tacky glue to glue on eyes on each character.  Press firmly for several seconds so they stick well.  Draw the facial features on each character. 

Hole punch each character once on the left and once on the right side.  The spider will need 4 holes punched on each side for each leg.  I hole punched the 2 extra ones for stringing it on towards the top of the spider's head by the eyes. 

Put the end of the pipe cleaner through each of the punched holes for the legs and bend the end over to keep from falling out.  Then bend the legs in the center slightly so the legs stick up a little bit.  Cut the string to the width of where you want to hang it. 

Sring each character on.  You can either tie each end of the string onto where you want it, or tape it. 

 

And voila!!!  The foam sheets work really well because they stay put pretty well on the string without sliding around.

 





This is a close up of the spider.

Mosaic Tiled End Table

LOVE IT!!!

I had an old oak coffee table that had several rings and spill stains from drinks and it looked warn out.  I wanted to revamp it a little, so I decided to tile it with stone tiles in a mosaic pattern.  It cost me altogether just under $50 for the materials. (Would have cost me lessif I would have went with regular 12x12 ceramic tiles, as they are considerably cheaper.  The tiles I bought were $7.97 ea at Lowe's and I bought four 12x12 sections).



The is the before (Pretty wore out)

 



I got some 2x2 slate tiles that come together in a 12x12 tile with space separating each tile on a mesh backing.  (12x12 tiles can be cut down with a utility in 2" increments in the space between the tile to adjust to size needed).  I used a 1/8 groove trowel for the adhesive and a 1 qt container of mapei type 1 premixed tile adhesive.

1/8 groove trowel

1 qt premixed tile adhesive

 

First I taped off the outer edge of the table where I wanted the wood border to remain so I would not get adhesive on that part of the table.  Then I spread the adhesive with the trowel inside that taped off area.  Then I set my tiles into the adhesive, ensuring to push enough to sink them into the adhesive. Let dry.  Then I used a sanded grout in a caulking tube.  It was mapei brand also.  I squeezed the grout into each space and pushed it down into the spaces with a caulk smoother.  I then smoothed over the top of the tile with a caulk smoother for a smooth finish on the top of the tile.  Then I used a wet tile sponge to wipe the remaining grout from the tile.  (wipe at a 45 degree angle, not straight across or in circles).  Wipe water dry with a rag.  Then I let it dry for 2 days before placing anything on it.  I did not seal it with anything, although I will probably go in and seal the grout.

 

 

Recipes w/ star rating

I have listed foods that I have found on Pinterest that I have actually made myself and then given them my star rating from 1-5 of how good I thought they were. I included the link so they can be found directly so credit is given where it's due. Enjoy!!

-----DESSERTS-----

Lemon Cookies - 5 stars
http://www.somewhatsimple.com/lemon-supreme-cookies-3-ingredients/

Reese's Peanut Butter Bars - 5 stars
http://mybakerlady.com/2012/01/16/reeses-peanut-butter-bars/

Lemon Bars -3 stars
http://livingpractically.blogspot.com/2011/04/two-ingredient-lemon-bars.html#comment-form

Blue Moon Cupcakes - 4 stars
http://www.missmake.com/2011/08/blue-moon-cupcakes.html

 



-----ENTREES-----

Crock Pot Chicken Tacos - 4 stars
http://www.mychocolatetherapy.com/2012/01/crockpot-chicken-tacos.html

Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken - 5 stars
http://www.semihomemademom.com/2012/02/slow-cooker-salsa-chicken.html

-----BREAKFAST-----

Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Squares - 3 stars
http://gingerbreadbagels.com/2011/03/22/peanut-butter-banana-oatmeal-squares/

Hard Boiled Eggs - 5 stars
http://imgfave.com/view/2261198