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Archive through May 13, 2008

Reality TVClubHouse Discussions: General Discussions ARCHIVES: Jan ~ Apr 2009: The Hobby Hall: Looking for crafty help:: Archive through May 13, 2008 users admin

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Wargod
Moderator

07-16-2001

Friday, November 16, 2007 - 2:14 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Wargod a private message Print Post    
I ended up putting Darren in charge of helping Caleb with the Egypt project. Dakota was struggling too much with the book report and I was better suited to helping her than Darren (he'd rather stay away from language arts.) I shared the suggestions with him and they headed off to the hobby store.

Dad's think different than moms. They picked up a styrofoam cone, some plaster stuff (it looks like an ace bandage, I guess the same stuff doctors use to make a cast,) and then modeling clay. They cut the styrofoam cone down to form a pyramid shape, made three of those, then wrapped them in the plaster stuff. Then they used the modeling clay to make the sphinx and wrapped most of it in the plaster stuff. They all came out looking pretty good.

They used sandpaper for the ground cover and picked up some wheat grass stuff that they used for wheat crops. Caleb has to paint the pyramids and sphinx tomorrow and then glue them down and label everything. The great thing is the whole thing is pretty light.

Sunshyne4u
Member

06-17-2003

Friday, November 16, 2007 - 5:01 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Sunshyne4u a private message Print Post    
that sounds Expensive!!!

LOL Definitely Dad's think differently LOL

BUT I bet it looks great! I never thought about Styrofoam and I should have LOL

Here in town is a sculptor who works with Styrofoam. He makes all kinds of bizarre stuff and replicas of famous buildings by carving into large blocks of hte stuff.

Jasper
Member

09-14-2000

Friday, November 16, 2007 - 12:12 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Jasper a private message Print Post    
I used to own a hobby shop, it wouldn't have been too pricey from what I remember. I'm sure they had a ball doing it together.

Wargod
Moderator

07-16-2001

Friday, November 16, 2007 - 2:49 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Wargod a private message Print Post    
Yup, it wasn't that pricey. Darren had a 20 and came home with change. Best part is there's enough of everything left that we're going to make some Christmas decorations out of the modeling clay and plaster stuff that the kids can paint next week when they're home for Thanksgiving vacation.

Lumbele
Member

07-12-2002

Saturday, November 17, 2007 - 9:27 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Lumbele a private message Print Post    
Hey, all. Never did get around to making those kites - yet. Winter will be long though, so there is hope.

Got a new question. I downloaded a crochet pattern from the net for some slippers, and am having trouble understanding the following instruction.

Slip st in next st, ch 2 (counts as first hdc), turn; hdc in next st and in each st around, remove marker; join to top of beginning ch-2.

What does that last "-2" mean? Must be having a brain freeze. Ack!

Egbok
Member

07-13-2000

Saturday, November 17, 2007 - 9:29 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Egbok a private message Print Post    
Lum, I know nothing about crocheting but I just wanted to pop in and say HI! to you!!

Prisonerno6
Member

08-31-2002

Saturday, November 17, 2007 - 9:47 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Prisonerno6 a private message Print Post    
It probably refers to the first ch 2 you did on that row. You're joining the two ends together to form a round.

Rosie
Member

11-12-2003

Saturday, November 17, 2007 - 9:48 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Rosie a private message Print Post    
Waves to Lum.

I know nothing about crocheting too but wonder if those are instructions for making a bomb?

Lumbele
Member

07-12-2002

Saturday, November 17, 2007 - 9:52 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Lumbele a private message Print Post    
Hi, Eggie, how's the quilting going?

I just finished a crochet throw, which was fun to make. Also sewed a few cushions for my couch. A couple of minor details and they can go out for "parade".

Ooooooooooooh, seeing Eggie reminds me. Dh and Charlie came back from a walk with this tumble
weed the other day. It is too pretty not to do *something* with it. Thought of some silver spray, maybe, but not much else. Any ideas?

tw


ETA: Duh, Prisoner, thanks for clearing my fog.

LOL, Rosie, sometimes I wonder, too.

Beekindpleez
Member

07-18-2006

Saturday, November 17, 2007 - 10:12 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Beekindpleez a private message Print Post    
Lumbele...I once gathered three tumbleweeds in descendinging sizes and stacked them like a snow man. Sprayed them with flocking and ran white lights thru them...used blue christmas tree balls for eyes, red ones for buttons, twigs for arms, scarf and hat, etc...and put him on my porch. He was very cute!

ETA: Be sure to wear gloves if you do this.

Beekindpleez
Member

07-18-2006

Saturday, November 17, 2007 - 10:14 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Beekindpleez a private message Print Post    
Oh, and Prisoner is right about the Ch-2

Lumbele
Member

07-12-2002

Saturday, November 17, 2007 - 10:21 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Lumbele a private message Print Post    
Bee, that's why Eggie's presence here reminded me of having to figure out something to do with this thing. You see, Egbob tempts fate every Christmas season collecting 3 tumbleweeds to make their traditional Californian snowman.

If my boys had brought home 3 of them, I would have swiped Egbob's idea, but alas there was only one.

And thanks for the Ch-2 confirmation. At the moment I am doing a bubble row on those slippers, and let me tell you, they make the bubble inthe just crocheted hdc, which is not so bad in the round, but when you have to sling that sucker around the 2 chs starting the round, it's a bloody pain!!!.
Stay tuned, there are a few more rows to finish this project, I might be back for some help.

Nyheat
Member

08-09-2006

Saturday, November 17, 2007 - 10:25 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Nyheat a private message Print Post    
Nor sure how pliable those weeds are, but you could make a wreath out of them.

How to Make a Christmas Wreath

Beekindpleez
Member

07-18-2006

Saturday, November 17, 2007 - 10:26 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Beekindpleez a private message Print Post    
How about using it as hair on a Thanksgiving scarecrow?

Lumbele
Member

07-12-2002

Saturday, November 17, 2007 - 10:33 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Lumbele a private message Print Post    
Don Tumbleweed King?LOL Our Thanksgiving is long gone, Bee and the scarecrow we had outside, along with one of the 3 pumpkins was stolen one night. Hilarious idea, though, thanks.

Nyheat, it's not pliable at all and way too big to fit between screen and house doors.
The table it is sitting on is 42" wide, to give you an idea of just how wide and high this thing is. Otherwise I would have used your idea right away. Thanks.

Beekindpleez
Member

07-18-2006

Saturday, November 17, 2007 - 10:40 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Beekindpleez a private message Print Post    
I thought of Don King, too. LOL

I'll bet you could shape it like a tree and put little decorations on it. That might be cute.

Nyheat
Member

08-09-2006

Saturday, November 17, 2007 - 11:55 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Nyheat a private message Print Post    
That's okay, Lumbele. I'm sure you'll think of something good!

Lumbele
Member

07-12-2002

Saturday, November 17, 2007 - 12:05 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Lumbele a private message Print Post    
Well, Nyheat, that makes one of us.LOL

Egbok
Member

07-13-2000

Saturday, November 17, 2007 - 12:47 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Egbok a private message Print Post    
Hi Lum! Hmmmmm....looking at your tumbleweed, I'd suggest that you thin it out some, just a bit. Then flock it white and decorate it with small colorful ball ornaments. Maybe find one of those battery operated string of colorful lights and thread it through your tumbleweed. You'll have a great Christmas centerpiece!!

I'm sure Egbob has been spying out tumbleweeds in restricted areas once again. This time I'll have 3 to worry about because I'm sure the boys will go out for the illegal tumbleweed gathering adventure this year now that they're both home.


Kearie
Member

07-21-2005

Sunday, November 18, 2007 - 11:04 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Kearie a private message Print Post    
LUM

How about making it into a christmas ball. With your silver flocking spray. Then decorate it with silk flowers, poinsettas, red berries, maybe a foam cardinal bird. Then a big bow on top.

Wargod
Moderator

07-16-2001

Tuesday, May 13, 2008 - 12:13 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Wargod a private message Print Post    
Mosaic patio tables. I've been looking at some recently and while I love them, they are really pricey. I have a kitchen table that's wood (not worried about the weather here, and if it gets too nasty can easily move a table inside) and I had the thought that doing a mosaic table myself might not be too hard. And much cheaper than buying one.

After thinking about it some I told Darren I'd like to check the hardware store for tile, either buying some that are in small enough peices already or buying whole peices I can break up myself, then deciding on a pattern, putting it on the table, then gluing the peices down and then grouting and sealing.

I've spent a couple hours tonight reading do it yourself websites and it seems I have the right idea (though most say use metal tables because of weather issues) and it seems like it's a pretty straight forward, fairly easy, though time consuming project. The closest I've ever come to doing something like this though is those little stepping stone craft kits, lol.

Has anyone done projects like this? Is it really difficult and not worth the time? Any tips and advice? Anything to stay away from?

I do have some small, metal end table bases in the garage (the glass tops were broken by kids...sigh) and may start out with those first for practice. Worst case, I decide it's a project I hate and haven't wasted as much time as if I were doing the bigger table. Best case, end up with a couple end tables to use in the house or on the patio at a fraction of the cost of buying them new.

With the kids older now, we're really starting to focus on making the backyard and patio in particular a nice, relaxing place to hang out and entertain. If I can craft something myself, I'd be very happy about that!

Sewmommy
Member

07-06-2004

Tuesday, May 13, 2008 - 6:40 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Sewmommy a private message Print Post    
I have never done that myself, but like you it seems not too difficult. Just time consuming. Maybe if you approach it as a stepping stone sort of project it would work.
I would think because of the table top weight, a metal table would be better.
Have you checked Michaels? I am thinking they have some supplies specifically for that.
Good luck! It sounds like a lot of fun!

Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Tuesday, May 13, 2008 - 6:43 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Julieboo a private message Print Post    
Yes, I'd go with a metal top as well... But it does sound like a very doable project. Hope we get to see pictures!

Bonzacat
Member

07-08-2003

Tuesday, May 13, 2008 - 9:30 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Bonzacat a private message Print Post    
War - I'm here for you. :-) I started out knowing nothing about tile, started reading online and by now have tiled a lot of surfaces both inside and outside. I also bought a few books about mosaic and tiling as time went on.

Here's the thing - if your wood kitchen table is going to be under a covered patio, you might be able to get away with using it outside. You could have a sheet of cement backer board (Home Depot) cut to the size of the top, secure it to the top and tile over that. The backer board is waterproof. You can tile directly over the wood top if the table would be staying indoors. Just seal it well. Hell, you can tile over almost anything but it really depends on the indoor vs. outdoor use for it.

If a wood table is going to be outside, uncovered, I fear that the legs getting wet would eventually result in the swelling of all the wood. That might make the top grout crack and then you'd be in repair hell to keep the project in good shape.

Michael's does have mosaic supplies but they tend to sell them in small quantities and it works out to be an expensive way to go. You can get a ton of ceramic and glass tiles now at Home Depot, plus they have a good selection of adhesives, grout colors and sealers.

For your small metal base 'practice' tables, you can also use the backerboard for a top surface -or- if you can find glass tops in the right size (Pier 1 has a lot of sizes) you can tile right over glass.

My best advice for outside projects (or items that are going to live outside) is make sure you use 'sanded' grout, use a decent-quality grout sealer when it's done and seal once a year after that.

It is time-consuming but when each project is finally finished, it's worth it.

Wargod
Moderator

07-16-2001

Tuesday, May 13, 2008 - 9:44 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Wargod a private message Print Post    
I have the choice of a couple tables to use, the wood one or a glass top metal patio table. One of the diy sites suggested taking the top off whatever table you use (would definitely have to with the glass top one) and using concrete board. Looks like drywall except it's what you use for brick work. I've just spent the last six weeks watching little "adopted" sis' hubby redo their fireplace (a project we plan to do at some point) and know the concrete board is pretty lightweight and easy to cut and work with. Not sure yet that I want to use the metal table because it's bigger than the wood table and I'm not sure I want to tackle that big of a project yet. I may eventually end up doing both of them, since one of our problems when we entertain family and friends is that we run out of space for people to sit and eat.

Little "adopted" sis offered me a couple cases of white tile today. I don't want to do the whole thing white, but it'll also save me some money on supplies.

Michaels does sell mosaic supplies, (another) but, they sell them in such small quantities it'd cost a fortune to buy all of it from them. I will probably pick up some stuff like the broken glass for accent designs/patterns once I decide on exactly what I want to do with it. They also have the different colored grout stuff that I will buy from them unless the hardware store has it. My biggest weather concern here is the wind/dust/dirt and white or grey grout would start to look dirty real quick.

I'm going to check Michaels sometimes this week and see if they have any patterns I might be interested in. Whatever I do it has to be fairly simple because I'm not much of an artist and the pattern will have to be drawn on first. I've seen some done with animals and flowers that I really like, but may end up sticking with shapes for simplicity.

Julie, lots of pics, especially if it turns out good, lol. I'm hoping to start within the next couple of weeks (this weekend would be great!) I'm not sure how long it'll take to finish though. I'm usually one of those people who just keeps working to get it done quickly, however, I think this will be one of those projects you have to go slow with cuz if you screw up it's not like you can take it apart and start over!