Tuesday 27 May 2014

Altoids Mini - Extremely Compact Survival Kit

Hello all ye bikers/trekkers/adventurers, DIY lovers and clumsy beings like me!!

This is specially for you! 
An extra mini powerful survival kit that packs quite a punch!! 

Altoids smalls tin - Size : exactly half the size of a business card














A look at all that you can fit in it!

















Its absolutely easy to carry, hardly weighs anything, and you can fit in so much more than you assume. 
Not just for adventurers, some of these things can be greatly handy any time !
Just make one, throw it into your bag and have some peace about emergency situations!

Materials in this box : 
















What you see here is everything that I have fit into this box

Matches with the striker
Allergy Tablet
Two mini candles (the birthday ones cut in half, they won't go out easily in the winds and these two bits will last about 20 minutes. 
A sharp kebab stick
Needle and some thread (wrapped in the stick)
4 Rubberbands (two in the stick, 1 with the matches and 1 outside the box)
30 Feet of Plastic wire / fishing line (if its fishing line, you can even squeeze in 50 ft) (you can throw in a fishing hook also)
4 safety pins
1 Painkiller
2 Paper clips (would be great if you land in a situation to pick locks ever!)
1 small stub of hot glue (can melt over things and keep it together. These are the ones you use in glue guns)
2 Bandaids
2 Exacto Knife blades, Medium and small, these are extremely sharp and very handy!
1 metre Binding wire (thin and sturdy one, it will occupy lesser space)
1 ft of Foil (worst case scenario you can even make a cup with this and heat some water at least!)
1 100 Rs note !
1 Metre Duct tape (optional, you have to hold it with the rubberband outside the box)

And here's to setting it up.

Layer the flattest ones first. Tape the blades and needles to the lid














Add the notes and foils now














thats it!















Option with Duct Tape



And here's the kicker, 
Altoids smalls tin : 130, enjoy the mints!
Rest of the material should hardly cost you another 100 rs!
Highly Valuable any day to carry with you. 

(If you want to squeeze in more things, buy the bigger altoids tin, double the size of this, and it will still fit in your pocket.)

 

Tuesday 20 May 2014

Storage Organizer - Shoe Boxes

Did you know that storage organizers are pretty much one of 
the most expensive things you can ever buy!?

So here's my quick fix idea for making your own just by 
using your old shoe containers, puzzle boxes etc! 
And you can use these everywhere, 
dressing drawers to keep lingerie and socks apart, 
to keep toiletries,
to keep condiments,
Saves a whole lot of money!

















Materials Needed : 
Old Gift Wrapping paper
Fevicol
Squeegee
Varnish

Step 1: 
Stick the gift wrapper on to the shoe box by decoupaging the wrapper.
Just like when you did with : 
http://funkyjunkart.blogspot.in/2014/05/yogurt-container-flower-vase-remember.html



















Step 2:
Varnish it with 2 to 3 coats. 
This helps if you want to wipe it down with a wet cloth.


















And you are done!! TADA!!!
Easiest, cheapest gorgeous storage organizers!!



Rustic Ganesha : Restyling a gift thats not to your taste

All of us always run into the habit of getting gifts that are not to our taste.
But they may be valuable, or can become very beautiful with a little nudge from you!
So here goes,
I got this Ganesha as a gift, and I changed it into that! :D


So here goes,
Going for a more minimalistic look here,

Just used some paints and a little varnish here!










This baby by pebeo can make anything metallic, its awesome!!
























I first started out by colouring the ganesha completely in a dark rustic brown that made it look flat


















When that dried completely, I decided to finish it up by highlighting the Ganesha with gold here and there, and with very little orange and white so that it completely stands out!


 


In the end, just add a couple of tassels and rock the look of the new Ganesha! :D

 


NOTE : The Gold I have used here specifically is an antique gold colour from camlin series. It gives a rustic look!



Sunday 18 May 2014

F.R.I.E.N.D.S Peephole Frame

Finally!!! 
After 10 years of being a crazy friends fan!! figured out a way to make one of these!! Thanks to me, so can you all now! :P (Even selling a couple of these when I finish!)























Materials:
Thin corrugated cardboard / Foam sheet (I used foam sheet as I had some already)
Newspaper
Fevicol / Modge Podge
White paper towel (even toilet paper will do)
Acrylic paint. Yellow and white
Cutter / Scissors / Brushes etc.
Print out of the template of the frame (exact size and measurements!)

You can find it from here!
http://wikisend.com/download/883648/F4AG3Q1HD4VLTQX.pdf














Step 1
Paste the printed template onto cardboard/foam sheet.
Soak rolled up bits of news paper according to the sizes you need in a can filled with fevicol diluted by water (1:1). This becomes your paper mache.













Step 2
Paste rolled up strips of newspaper paper mache to the board following the shape of the printed template. Allow the frame to dry out completely. 
Sit back, relax and start by watching your favourite friends episode! :D 



































Step 3
Add two layers of paper towel paper mache (soaking it with fevicol) to the front and allow to dry. Then trim the excess card / Foam Sheet from the outside and centre.






















Step 4 
This step is particularly for anyone who wants to hang this by a nail. I just fashioned a small nail hole out of the cut away foam sheet, and attached it to the back of the peephole. (I wont be needing that as I will be using double tape)













Step 5
Paint the entire frame with two layers of white paint. Wait for it to dry out.
Then two or three layers of the yellow acrylic paint. Allow to dry.
I went for a darker shade of yellow to match my door!













Step 6
I applied a light coat of varnish over it and let it dry! 
If you want a matte finish you can go for the acrylic spray varnish!











And once its dry, VOILA!!!!!
Now you can also look through the peephole and go "Helloooooooo"

 


Mistakes I Learnt from : 

My paper layer has to be about six times thicker!! that way makes it easier to define the pretty and simple shape! When you sit to do this, no breaks! its why it took me 2 nonsensical days to finish!! Otherwise you can finish it in 8 hours tops! 

Hopefully the next 2 I am making (to sell) Look more refined and pretty :D )So long folks!!!!

Coming up next :GAME OF THRONES rectangular coasters using rectangular HDF boards that I found discarded outside a printers shop! 





Friday 16 May 2014

Thursday 15 May 2014

Yogurt Container - Vase

Remember when you have all these useless yogurt containers lying around at home?
Well not anymore! With just a little bit of wrapping paper, glue and varnish, turn it into a retro looking flower vase! 

You can convert these containers into not just vases, 
they can become: 

1st aid boxes 
Planters for herbs (smaller yogurt containers) 
Cutlery holder
Toiletries Holder etc



























Materials needed : 

Wrapping Paper
Empty Yogurt Container
Scissors
Fevicol / Mod Podge 
Emery Paper (Sanding Paper)
Varnish and Brush
Squeegee (wiper or credit card can also be used)

Step 1 : 

Remove the sticker from your yogurt container. 

1 Kg Yogurt Container
















You can either remove the sticker by soaking it in soapy water, or you can use a sanding paper to scratch it off (in case of a vinyl print sticker like this one, it did not come off with water).


Step 2:

Once you are done with that, measure the wrapping paper, and cut it in two bits. 
This is because the container is curved inward a little bit, so one long strip will form wrinkles. 
And give half an extra inch wrapper in the bottom to fold inwards.  This will be useful to seal the edges when you varnish. 


Step 3:

Apply a thin layer or fevicol over the container, slowly stick the wrapping paper from one end to the other. 
Now use the squeegee to flatter the edges and make sure there are no bubbles or wrinkles. 

Let it air dry for an hour. Do not varnish till you are completely sure that its dry. 


Step 4: 

This needs at least 3 coats of varnish. This is in case the vase gets accidentally drenched in water. 

Leaving it to dry after 3rd coat of varnish















Step 5: 

Once its completely dry, just pour some water and place the flowers in it and you are done!!



These containers are extremely handy when you want clean storage. They have better use lying around at home every now and then instead of you spending another 100 bucks on plastic containers! 


Coming soon : Make your own storage organizers!