Mustache Glasses Tutorial

Etch your own Mustache Pint Glasses

Who doesn't like a good mustache?

Etch your own on pint glasses and sport a new mustache with each drink you pour.

Supplies:

Plain pint glasses (found at Target, Wal Mart, thrift shops, and other stores)

Glass etching cream (I use Armour Etch)

Contact Paper

Paint brush

X-Acto knife

Scissors

Pen

Paper

Magazine or cardboard (upon which to cut with your x-acto knife)

Mustache template or your own drawings (template below)

Instructions:

1. Cut out mustaches (template below), or draw your own from the many inspiring mustaches out there and cut them out to make your own templates.  

2. Make your stencil by placing your mustache template on Contact paper.  Trace with a pen.  Since a mustache is symmetrical, it does not matter on which side you trace your design.  It will always transfer the right way.

3. Set your contact paper on a magazine or cardboard and cut out the traced mustache with your x-acto knife.  (Bonus if you use a magazine with someone's face on the front.)

4. Clean your glass and dry it, making sure there are no finger prints or oils on the outside of your glass.

5. Remove the contact paper backing and stick the contact paper on your glass (see glass on right of picture).  Rub the contact paper down with your finger nails or a spoon to make sure it sticks really well, all the way up to the edges.

6. Paint the etching cream on your stencil, making sure it is thick and only brushed on the stencil (see glass on left of picture).

7. Let the etching cream set for 15-20 minutes (the jar says 5 minutes, but I have found that 15-20 does the trick).

8. Wash your glass with soap and water to remove all the etching cream.

9. Peel the contact paper off your glass.

10. Wash your hands.  Even if you don't think you got any on your hands, wash them.  This stuff is pretty toxic and it is always better to be on the safe side.  

11. Pour yourself a drink and admire your mustache as you consume your tasty beverage.  --or--

11.5. Wrap up your glass as a present for your friend/spouse/boss/sibling/parent, knowing that he or she will enjoy being mustachioed while drinking a cold, tall glass of a favorite beverage.

Thank Yous:

Inspiration number one: My brother Mike, a fire fighter and facial hair connoisseur.  

These glasses are for him.

Other inspirations: Salvaldor Dali, Mike Ditka, Charlie Chapman, Tom Selleck and David Crosby.

Mustache template below: Click and save.  Then print.

Ten on Ten November

Ten on Ten November

Take a photo every hour for ten consecutive hours on the tenth of each month.

Perhaps not as momentous as last month, but beautiful because every day is beautiful.  The simple rhythms of the day carry us along.  I am reminded in this exercise that you never know when an ordinary moment is going to become an extraordinary moment.  It could happen.  right.  now.  

9am.  Drop the boys off at childcare.  They love it so much that Sol doesn't even say goodbye, just jumps in a pile of leaves.  I watch from outside the gate.

10am: hay bales lightly dusted with snow under the autumn sky.

11am: The sixth grade rehearses their play in the auditorium.  I spend a few minutes watching.

12 noon: I work with an eighth grade student to write an essay.

1pm: Fourth graders ride on their unicycles at recess.

2pm: Seventh graders carving wooden spoons outside.

3pm: Back inside for a meeting.  I love entering through these doors.

4pm: Back at the gate to pick up the boys.

5pm: Some music before dinner.

6pm: Both boys splash in the tub.

And on to all the details Mama does after the kids are in bed...

More Circles

More circles for my Circle art project.

Today was a bit industrial in theme. 

Tomorrow I'm hoping for some food.  Egg, pie...??

What are your favorite circles?  

Leave me a comment and let me know.

Cheers!

Circles

Project in Process:

Circles.

For Christmas, I want to put together a canvas of photographs I've taken of circles.  This is for my youngest, Little O.  I've begun by taking some pictures around the house, but plan to venture outside soon.  

Please, let me know what your favorite things are that are circles! 

I would love to have some creative ideas to add to my collage.

Also, I think I'll crop each one into a square.  If that's the case, I may need to retake a few pictures.  I want a better one of a spool of thread--just a single spool.  I tried taking some pictures of a record but didn't get what I wanted.  Also on the docket--gear, tire, hay bale.  Oh, maybe I can get down to the train yard.  More to come...

So many projects, so little time

Having two children under the age of three and going back to work, even part time, means allowing for a certain amount of insanity to creep into your life.  It begins to slowly blur the edges, and then swarms in full force, like the hurricane washing over the calm eye of the storm.  

That's me in the eye.  Once calm and collected, I allowed the tempest of baby and toddler life to swirl around in their own cylindrical force, while I remained tall and solid in my central stance.  But they are a force to be reckoned with and I am losing my ground.  The puking didn't help.  One on Tuesday.  The other on Thursday.  Then each had a recovery day where they insisted on being attached to me like a whining, limp barnacle.  I know, when they are seventeen and hairy and wanting to stay out all night, I will miss this.  They are so sweet.

But, we sailed on.  We ate, we slept and creative endeavors continued.  

My Little O turned One!  He ate pumpkin pie, his first dessert.

My version of the birthday banner adorned our kitchen.

Sol, my little owl, flew on Halloween.  I found this awesomely easy tutorial for the body of his owl costume here: http://alphamom.com/family-fun/holidays/last-minute-kids-owl-costume/ Use felt or felted sweaters for the easiest way to create such a costume.  I added wings and my friend made the mask, attaching it to a swimming cap (a wool hat covers the top).

My two gnomes enjoyed Halloween festivities.  I found an awesome gnome hat tutorial here: http://acornpies.blogspot.com/2009/11/how-to-make-gnome-hat-for-young-child.html.  Little O's beard was actually the fuzzy top part of a pair of "Ms Santa" socks.  After removing the "beard", the socks were perfect for my older gnome. :)

In other project news, we made a baby quilt for IAJ:

Very simple 1 1/4 yard square quilt, with a solid fabric on one side and print on the other.  I used a free motion foot to quilt it and a third fabric for the binding.

Toadstool quilt up close.

I began making some plant mats out of old felted sweaters and old pants.

And made a very simple child's apron for my niece's 3rd birthday.

Oh dear, it's just about Monday again.  Time for some sleep.

Finally finished the winter purse

This purse lay unfinished in my work area for months.  Argh, I thought having the blog would light a fire for me to finish projects on time.  I tend to start, start, start, and then finish, finish, finish.  I'm either in a starting mood or a finishing mood.  Alas.  Yet, as soon as that crisp weather settled in, I finished it.

Pattern is the One Yard Wonders Folklore Bag pattern.

I used a pair of grey wool pants from the Gap I found at a thrift store and some leftover green Moda cotton.

This is a close up of the reverse applique design I created on the front of the bag.  

Someday, when I'm not spending each night canning amazing food from my husband's garden, I'd be happy to create a tutorial for this process.  Ah, winter...

Ten on Ten October--Baby Isaac born

Today is 10-10-10!

Ten on Ten--a photography journal project.
Take ten photos on the tenth of the month--one an hour for ten consecutive hours.

This morning I woke to a phone call from my friend Hannah, who had invited me to be at her birth.  She  was in labor.  Her contractions were eight minutes apart.  She told me to take a shower, have breakfast, take my time.  Her last labor had been 36 hours long.  She called me 30 minutes later to tell me to get there as soon as I could.  When I got there, her midwife, George, had just checked her out and said, "You're ready!"  She gave birth half an hour later.

8 o'clock hour: Hannah, looking radiant, taking a moment's rest in the tub.

9 o'clock hour: Her baby is birthed in the tub.  George brings the baby out of the water and places him in Hannah's arms.  This is the moment right after they looked to see that he was a BOY!  Throughout the pregnancy, they felt he was a girl.  Jeff kisses Hannah in celebration.

10 o'clock hour: lots of laughter.

10:30: George wraps Baby up in a sling to weigh him.  Nine and a half pounds!

(Ok, I know I'm cheating here with the once an hour picture, but I just can't help myself.  Time does funny things when a new life enters the world.)

11 o'clock hour: Hannah and baby boy cuddle.

12 o'clock hour: Baby is wrapped up in Papa Jeff's arms.  We take Hannah to the hospital for a check up.  Jeff snuggles with his son until we get back.

1 o'clock hour: Badger the pup waits quietly upstairs.

2 o'clock hour: His name is Isaac. 

Isaac means laughter. 

The alter is still alight with candles.

Mama settles back in the bed.

3 o'clock hour: Big brother Kai wakes up from his nap.  He holds his little brother saying, "He is soft.  He is all softness".

4 o'clock hour: Grandmother holds Baby Isaac while George watches their dance.

I drive home to see my own two boys.  

What a beautiful day.

Welcome to our world Isaac.