Bottle Cap Coasters

If there was one grown up thing other than packing my own lunch that I've found I've weirdly gravitated to when older it's using coasters.  Seriously, there's nothing like protecting your own grown up coffee table (or someone else's!) that's important.

Now reminding you not to put the drink on your body.
<http://rlv.zcache.com/please_use_a_coaster_tshirts-rf72486aefff34c4db92c0293e800ee65_f0c50_324.jpg>

Also important: recycling!  More and more I'm seeing a bunch of crafts around reusing things and coming up with some clever tips to use everything from yogurt lids to the pull tabs on orange juice cartons. Though I'm not going to lie, I'm not really wanting to wash out your solo cup.  Even if "you can put it through the dishwasher!" *Pined*

Though this probably says it all
<http://craftsstalker.blogspot.com/2012/03/40-fun-toilet-paper-roll-craft-projects.html>

The most fun thing to recycle has got to be bottle caps.  I've even used them already to resurface the mini bar, and to remake a side table.  But it's not last call so there are always plenty more.  So since we're looking to open a few more cold ones, we're going to use the old caps to protect the furniture.  However, they can't protect from all the random dings that come from opening enough bottles to make the coasters possible.

Materials - yields 4 coasters

20 bottle caps, 5 per coaster

1 Box Epoxy Cast for jewelry (this means you won't die from fumes)

1 silicone soap mold 3"x3"

16 felt bumpers

Mix together your resin as directed on the back of the box.  I mixed together all of it as you actually use quite a bit to cover the bottle caps.  Plus filling the caps in since you don't want big holes in the back of your coasters.  Pour a small layer of resin into 4 of the molds just enough to cover the bottom & about 1/8 of an inch high.

 Let this cure until just solid, about 30 minutes depending on the temperature.  Check your instructions for how long to wait for your particular resin.  After this period of time, place the bottle caps face down into the mold.  This suspends the bottle caps in the resin.  fill over the bottle caps.

 Let cure for at least 24 hours; I let it cure for 48.  Pop out the coasters from the mold.  Look, your drinks are frozen in time!  Place felt bumpers under the 4 bottle caps in the corners so you can't see them from the top.

Acquire more bottle caps.  And keep your furniture looking sharp.  Potentially be the envy of your coworkers.

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Heartstrings: Chalkborad String Heart

When one of my friends decided to ask his girlfriend to marry him, he decided to marry technology & friendship by shooting a video of all their friends giving fun and serious reasons why she should say yes.  

Better than this digital get down
<www.bigmoviezone.com >

I thought this was the best thing I've heard of for a proposal.  I was so excited because they are perfect for each other, and I can be a bit of a romantic occasionally.  Just a bit.  So when he asked me to contribute to the video (I do!!!!), I wanted to add a bit of my own personal touch to my 30seconds.  Show them some love!

We know the shape of their hearts.  It looks like corporate production.
<www.metrolyrics.com/backstreet-boys-ml-music-videos.html>

Whip something up that tugs on your heartstrings.  But not literally because we don't want to pull these nails out.

Materials:
Wooden Board - 9.5"x4"
Chalkboard paint
52 (edge) + 18 (heart) small, flat headed nails
red string 
heart template (optional)
chalk for writing message (option)

Paint the board with the chalkboard paint.  Let dry and condition.  I found that you can get things almost day-after-the-janitor-cleans-after-CCD clean by rubbing down with a paper towel. 

Every 1/2" around the edge, place a nail.  You theoretically could eyeball it, but where's the fun in that?  Says the girl who taped out 1"x1" squares on a table.

Draw or trace your heart in the center of the board.  I did it freehand, and one half always turns out better than the other.  Every time.  I'm told this can be rebranded as "rustic".

Do a simple loop around the frame to establish some rays out of the heart and the bottom layer of coloring.

Ok, time to make some random lines!  Like the Steelers String Art I did earlier: embrace the random.  It's like mowing the grass in Putt Putt Joins the Parade and if anyone gets that reference, you get free drinks for life.  *You Got a Friend in Me plays in the background*

Loop around the nails forming the heart one final time to add an edge for the shape.  Wipe the chalk out with a paper towel and I found that holding a small piece in tweezers helps too.

Because sometimes in this crazy world it seems like nothing makes sense, but in some cases nothing couldn't be more clear.

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