Sunday, November 18, 2007

If I had a hammer...


I know right now there's a few of you humming that song and you know which one I'm talking about. Okay... It's getting to be that time of year where the desire to 'illuminate' is great. Here's a fun project for those of you with time on your hands and a hammer.

What you'll need:
coffee can (who drinks canned coffee? check around the office)
water
hammer
sharp nail or awl
10 or 12 gauge wire

I spray painted a cleaned out coffee can to look rusty. (inside and out) Using a combination of matte brown, green and copper Krylon spray paint (any brand will do) You can use sandpaper to scratch through some of the paint and add some worn looking texture to the can.

Once dry, fill the can with water and freeze to a solid mass. Now here comes the fun part...

Using your hammer with a sharp nail or awl start tapping a design into the can. The tough part here is holding the freezing cold can. I sat on the concrete on a nice sunny day and placed a towel on the ground around the can securing a good position to hammer away. Once you are satisfied with your pattern. There is one more thing to consider and that is, will this luminary stand or be hung. If you decide you'd like to hang it, tap side holes for your 10/12 gauge which you will attach to the can. Let the water melt and pour out. warning : Be careful when trying to dry out the inside of the hammered can because of sharp edges caused by hammer and awl. You can use a metal file to smooth those edges down. Now it's ready to make it's debut at your entry, on your patio table, around the pool. Insert votive and viola! These are very pretty when lit and can stand being outdoors for long periods of time. Now if this seems like to much work and your desperate to illuminate, go buy a Yankee candle. By far the best fragrance candle ever made.

Don't forget to stop by my other place "The Way I See It"
Have a great day!

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