Tree Trunk Plant Stand, Anything Stand

My dad likes to chop down trees in my backyard, as a result of his paranoia. I found these tree trunks that were lying idle and rotting. I decided they would make really good plant stands for the outdoors. I can imagine they would make good stools too if they wood is cut well. Whatever the purpose you want them to serve, if you slap on paint around the grain it gives it a very modern effect. Images below show the though process of creating them. I will update you on the status of the garden area that I am designing when I have completed. 

Concept Drawing

Tree Trunk Plant Stand, Anything Stand

 Renovating Area

Movie Suggestions 07042013

1. An American Affair

2. How to Survive a Plague

3. The Invisible War

Today's Playlist 07032013

Check out these tracks!

1. Bambi- Tokyo Police Club

 

2. Murderers- John Frusciante

 

3. The Ghost Inside- Broken Bells

 

4. Vanished- Crystal Castle

 

5. Nighttiming- Coconut Records

 

Pinning Insects in a Shadow Box

• Soak the insects in alcohol for a half hour. 

• Let them dry on a paper towel. 

• Purchase a white foam board from your crafts store or office supplie store

• Using a box cutter cut to the size of the shadow box you intend on using

• Lay out the insects where you would like they pinned, make sure it doesn't look too squashed together or too far apart

• Using pins that you can get at a hardware store, office supplies store, arts and crafts store, or sewing/fabric store pin pin the insects into the foam board 

• Place into the back of the frame, use double stick tape to secure

Egg Plant Mozzarella Salad

FRESH & HEALTHY

Ingredients Needed!

• 1 medium size eggplant (make sure it has a good diameter)
• fresh basil (I got mine from fro-gro (fresh grocer) with the roots still intact)
• 2 tomatoes
• salt and pepper
• bread crumbs
• eggs
• olive oil
• mozzarella cheese

DIRECTIONS

1. Peel the eggplant.

2. Slice the eggplant into slices about 3/4 of an inch

3. Crack and beat eggs. Drench the eggplant slices in eggs.

4. Cover the eggplants in the bread crumbs (you may add salt, parmesan cheese, etc into the bread crumbs for additional seasoning)

5. Cook at low heat in pan with olive oil.

6. Slice tomatoes and mozzarella cheese to desired thickness.

7. Once eggplant is golden brown, layer them and add fresh basil on top.

8. Drizzle a tablespoon of olive on top and sprinkle with salt and pepper lightly.

9. Bon appetite

My Rendition of Salmon Burgers

QUICK and SIMPLE!

Ingredients Needed!

1. garlic bread (you can make your own or purchase in the frozen section, I got mine at the local coop)

2. onions

3. pre-made salmon patties

4. butter

5. sugar

DIRECTIONS

1. Dice onions

2. Add onions to a frying pan and add butter and sugar to caramelize them

3. toast the garlic till they're crispy and a little golden brown

4. pan sear your salmon patties with the lid closed so that they can cook evenly

5. put it all together and ENJOY!

Rehabbing an Old Bench

I found this old bench in my garage that was not be utilized or appreciated. I turned it into a modern bench that also has storage space at the bottom. If you have any types of old furniture you're considering of throwing out think again. Perhaps it can turn into something new and modern. All you have to do it think, renew, and repaint!

I found old 1" x 3" lumber in my garage that wasn't being utilized. However if you want to purchase some it is fairly cheap at your hardware store. You can get it at homedepot between $3-$10 depending on the quality of the wood.

Using a tape measure I measured the distance between the legs. I made sure that it was a quarter of an inch over estimated so that it would fit snug when inserted and nailed to the preexisting skeleton. I cut three long pieces and nailed them (leaving space beween them) to the two pieces I had attached to the legs of the bench as support. I then sanded the bench and slapped on a two layers of paint to unify the lumber. This gave it a fresh look that doesn't just scream new and hip but practical and innovative.

Embedding Things in Resin

If you have little knick knacks that you want to preserve in resin here is how. You can make them into display pieces, jewelry, paperweight, the ideas are endless! In this example I am embedding June Beetles that I caught in my backyard. 

1. Fill a mason jar (or any jar) up with isopropyl alcohol (also known as rubbing alcohol) you can find a bottle at your local convenient store or drug store. Make sure that it is at least 70% alcohol. 

2. When you care catch an insect drop it into the jar. This will immediately paralyze them and eventually kill them. It also helps preserve them. Leave them in the solution for about an hour. 

3. After your specimen is done soaking in the solution you will need to dry them off. Lay down paper towels and use a tweezer to remove them from the jar. You don't want to use your hands because the alcohol will dry out your skin. 

4. Let them sit and dry for about a half hour. This will allow residual alcohol to evaporate. 

5. Using casting resin, which you can buy at your hardware store or arts and crafts store (I got mine at A.C. Moore similar to Michaels Arts and Crafts), mix the specified ratio if liquid to catalyst. Make sure you mix evenly. If the ratio is off the resin might not dry completely. 

6. Using a plastic mold pour in the mixed resin half way. Let it sit until it turns a jello like consistency. 

7. Add your insects of object. Then repeat step 5 and add the rest of the resin to the top edge of the mold. Wait 24 hours for the resin to dry completely. 

AND

VOILA