Project: Snow Globes

I'm trying to plan some fun homemade crafts to do with my daughters this holiday season. Just wanted to share this with you in case you would like to do it too.



The shimmering magic of snowfall is always transfixing, whether it's outside your window or inside this classic toy. Homemade globes let you create a wintry scene straight out of your own imagination.

Almost any jar works for this project: Baby-food, pimiento, and olive jars are good choices. Look for plastic or ceramic figurines (metal ones are prone to rust) at flea markets and hobby or model-railroad shops. Synthetic evergreen tips are available at many floral-supply stores.

If the jar lids are not in seasonal colors already, paint them with oil-based enamel paint. Sand the inside of the lid until the surface is rough. With clear-drying epoxy, adhere the figurine to the inside of the lid, and let the epoxy dry.

Fill the jar almost to the top with distilled water; add a pinch of glitter and a dash of glycerin (available at drugstores) to keep the glitter from falling too quickly. Don't add too much, or the glitter will stick to the bottom of the jar when it's flipped. Screw on the lid tightly, being careful not to dislodge the figurine. Turn the jar over and back again -- and let it snow.

From Matha Stewart.

Hot Babes & Steampunk...

It's been a while since I posted anything. The holidays are keeping me busy. Not the typical busyness one experiences at this time of year but the busyness of keeping the fat off my ass. See:
(Bad photoshopping, I know.)


Speaking of asses, I watched the Victoria's Secret fashion show last night. I felt it was not quite as good as last year's show. But there was one outfit in particular that caught my eye:

This look is what you call "steampunk." Don't know what that means? Neither did I a couple of months ago. Google it. Steampunk is a subculture that encapsulates the aesthetic expression of a time-traveling fantasy world, one that embraces music, film, design and now fashion, all inspired by the extravagantly inventive age of dirigibles and steam locomotives, brass diving bells and jar-shaped protosubmarines of the 19th century. (-NY Times) I'm not quite sure how into it I am but I do find it very fascinating. Here's another look from last night that has a steampunk flavor:

And, here for your viewing pleasure, some more steampunk finds from the web:

Steampunk iPod






Steampunk Guitar





Steampunk Computer





Steampunk Laptop






Steampunk Nerf Guns





Steampunk Computer Mouse





Another Steampunk Computer






Steampunk Guys



I think the style is pretty cool, but it teters on a thin line between ultra cool and 40-year-old-virgin-living-with-his-mom-and-reenacts-medival-battles-in-the-park-on-Saturday-afternoon kind of nerdy. It's an extremely risky fashion statement, but some can and have pulled it off. Will.I.Am (& The Black Eyed Peas) did a commercial in which he was dressed in steampunk fashion, at this time I can't remember the commercial but it has aired recently. (If I remember, I'll let you know.) The Black Eyed Peas also performed at the VS show last night and I did recognize some steampunk influence there, too.

I don't know. What do you think? I'm just saying, I think we might be seeing more of this style soon. You've been warned.

In the meantime, if you are interested in Steampunk fashion, check out Steampunk Emporium.