DIY Hardware Accessories

In my older posts I mentioned how I sometimes find inspiration for my projects during trips to the hardware store. One of the upshots of these visits is a "tingga" choker that I created for Yahoo She!

Take a quick visit to your local hardware store and purchase a couple of pieces of washers or “tingga”. These disk-like thingies are generally used to support or fasten screws but is also used to play “sipa” if covered with  cloth or strips of plastic bags. 

Believe it or not, you could also use them to quickly create a fashionable accessory! Washers come in different sizes so feel free to experiment with different designs. 

For this specific piece use five washers in 3 sizes (1 large, 2 medium and 2 small). Keep the  smallest sized washers on each end, with the largest at the center. If you don’t like your choker to appear too shiny you may distress the washers by beating it with a hammer or by scratching the surface with sandpaper. Off set or balance the edgy hardware with a dainty and brightly colored ribbon. 

Materials needed:

Washers

Ribbon, about 1 meter

Procedure:

Step 1: Pass one end of ribbon through the under side of the 1^st washer.  

Step 2: Next slip ribbon through the 2^nd washer. This time pass it from the front towards the back 

Step 3: Flip 2^nd washer over and pass ribbon back through the 1^st washer 

Step 4: Insert ribbon into the 2^nd washer, from the back towards the front 

Step 5: Repeat steps 1-5 until you have threaded the 5^thwasher

Step 6: Tie both ends of the ribbon

Alonzo's 2015 Halloween Costume

How could it already have been a year since my last post?  Has it really already been a year ago when Alonzo was dressed in a Lego costume? Time sure flies by so fast. 

This year's costume is inspired by a vintage military tank toy hubby inherited from one of his cousins. It was Alonzo who requested to be a "tank" this Halloween. 

It really is not as complicated to construct as it may seem. The challenge was to find 3 boxes that would proportionately go well together. Luckily we have several boxes in stock (hubby knows me well enough to fold empty boxes flat and save them).

These are what you'll need:

1.Boxes(large,medium and small)- Find one that is just small enough for the wearer to fit but not unnecessarily massive to be heavy. The medium-sized box should complement the dimension of the larger one and at the same time also allow the wearer to fit through while the small box should just be enough to accommodate the "tank nozzle".  

 

2.Cardboard tube such as the one from paper towels, aluminum foil and plastic wrap - I used 2 tubes (1 longer and narrower than the other)but you could use just one.

3.Corrugated paper preferably in black or gray - For this project I used 2 cartolina-sized sheets

4. Paint for your base color, either dark green or brown

5. Spray paint, either gray, or brown  

6. Plastic take-out  bowl covers

7. Rugby adhesive

  

Procedure:

Step 1: Place the medium-sized box over the larger one.

Position it more towards what you decide to be the back ro

rear portion of the tank. Set aside.

Step 2: Place small box in front and at the center of the

medium box.Trace or mark this position with a pencil. Set

aside.

 

Step 3: Cut a hole at the center of the top and bottom part of

the medium box. Make sure that the top and bottom holes

coincide and that they are large enough for the wearer to fit

through.Set aside.   

  

Step 4: Similarly, cut a hole through the top and bottom of

the large hole. The holes here should coincide with each other

and also with the holes on the medium box.    

Step 5: Glue the large and medium boxed together with rugby. 

Secure the 2 boxes together with clothes pins or paper clips

until dry.

Step 6: Trace one end of the cardboard at the front end of the

small box. Cut around the tracing and insert the tube through.

Glue in place. 

 

Step 7: Glue the small box ( tube) at the marked position on

the large box. Let all pieces dry.

Step 8:Paint with base paint and let it dry completely.Use

spray paint to achieve a camouflage effect. 

Step 9: Cut corrugated paper into 3 equally measured strips.

Glue one end over the other to form a single strip. 

Step 10: Glue corrugated paper around the side of the tank

leaving about 2 inches off from the edge. Do the same on the

other side to form the "tracks" or "wheel links".

 

Step 11: Glue plastic bowl covers to form the wheels.        

Step 12: Insert narrower cardboard tube inside the shorter,

larger tube if you wish your tank to have a "telescopic

barrel". 

Step 13: Staple 2 straps on each side at the junction between

the large and medium boxes.     

 

    Happy Halloween and have fun treat or treating!!!