DIYke Club: Making Personalized Lighters and Flaming Dr. Peppers

DIYke Club_Rory Midhani_640px

Welcome to the new DIYke Club! Some friends and I started a DIY/crafting group that gets together a couple of times a month. We try a fun drink recipe and do a craft we haven’t made before. We’re having a blast and thought you might want to get in on the action. Maybe you’ll start your own local DIYke chapter? Let’s all get liquored up and make things!

Sooo you’re a flamer, don’t you want to have a craft night that’s just as flaming as you are? Perfect — DIYke Club has your back. We’ll personalize your lighter and then use it to ignite a delicious Flaming Dr. Pepper! If you’re anything like me, all things fiery are inherently exciting (I think this might be called pyromania, but why pathologize fun, right?). And as an added bonus, your new lighter-swag might also impress the next cute girl who asks you for a light!

Personalized Lighter

Supplies needed:

Standard BIC lighter (just make sure the top and bottom circumference is the same or your stencil won’t line up evenly)
9 x 7 cm decal (printed out, clipped from a magazine etc.)
Mod Podge (or make your own by mixing 2 parts white glue and 1 part water together in a recycled glass jar)
Brush or makeup wedge

Step 1:

Apply Mod Podge to the back of your decal.

Step 2:

Apply Mod Podge to your lighter.

Step 3:

Carefully wrap decal around lighter and brush with Mod Podge. I like the texture the brush strokes provide so I left mine, but you can smooth them out with a makeup wedge if you want. The Mod Podge will dry clear.

Step 4:

Impress the ladies with your awesome lighter.

Flaming Doctor Pepper

The gestalt of this recipe is much tastier than its ingredients imply I promise! Plus, FIRE.

Prep time: 3 minutes
Serves: 1

Supplies needed:

1/2 a cheap beer
3/4 shot amaretto liqueur
1/4 shot Bacardi 151

Step 1:

Poor ¾ shot of Amaretto liqueur into a shot glass and place in a larger glass of approximately the same height.

Step 2:

Fill the remaining ¼ of the shot glass with 151, pouring carefully over a spoon to ensure the 151 floats on top.

Step 3:

Fill the outside glass with beer, being careful to avoid splashing the shot inside.

dppics1

Step 4:

Light on fire and enjoy the fun for a second. Make sure you blow it out before trying to drink it! When all the flavors mix, it should taste reminiscent of a Doctor Pepper soda.

Note: sometimes it is easier to light the shot on fire separately and then poor it into the glass of beer.

Header by Rory Midhani

DIYke Club: Etched Glass Tumblers and Whiskey Neat

DIYke Club_Rory Midhani_640px

I learned lots of things at October A-Camp. Like how to spell chlamydial, adorable marriage proposals make me cry uncontrollably, and glass etching is my new favorite hobby. It’s so simple even craft-challenged weirdos can pull it off, and I mean really – who doesn’t feel like a baller sipping whiskey out of a personalized glass?

camp_glass

Etched Glasses

Supplies Needed:

+ Glasses to etch
+ Sticky stencils
– I ordered custom vinyl stencils here for camp
– Or you can make draw your own stencils on contact paper, and cut them out with an exacto blade
+ Masking tape
+ Armour Etch glass etching cream (It is reusable so it will last a long time. You can find it on Amazon for $11/ 3oz -OR- $22/22oz)
+ Makeup sponge
+ Latex gloves

Steps:

1. Choose your design. If you are an amazingly talented human (which I am not) draw or trace it onto the contact paper and cut it out with an x-acto blade. If you are an averagely talented human like myself, order a custom vinyl stencil from Etsy.

2. Clean your glass so they are free of dirt/smudges (you don’t want to etch dust or fingerprints onto your glass). A paper towel and some hot breath are fine, glass cleaner will also work.

3. Carefully place the stencil on the clean glass surface, then rub down to get all air bubbles out. When the stencil is securely attached to the glass remove the top carrier sheet.

4. Tape the edges of your stencil just to make sure no etching cream escapes your carefully placed stencil (but be sure not to overlap your design). Prepare to etch! Shake your bottle of etching cream thoroughly (for best results the AmourEtch website suggests your cream and glass surface be at least 70 degrees – however, it was snowing at camp and our glasses still came out fine).

5. Put on the latex gloves to make sure icky chemicals don’t touch you and apply a thick layer of etching cream with a make-up wedge (you should not be able to see the stencil or the glass beneath) while staying within the taped area.

Photo on 10-6-13 at 12.40 PM #4

6. LEAVE CREAM ON FOR 10 MINS.

7. After ~10 minutes have passed, use the makeup wedge to scrape excess cream back into the bottle (reusable!) making sure not to contaminate any of the clean glass surface. Then run your glass under lukewarm water until any remaining cream has rinsed off.

Photo on 10-6-13 at 12.41 PM #3

8. When the cream is gone, peel the rest of the stencil off (some of it might come off with the rinse – this is normal) and dry off your glass. Then clean your glass (soap/water or glass cleaner) and sip some whiskey!

Photo on 10-6-13 at 1.24 PM

Whiskey Neat (Rocks if you must)

Prep time: 0 mins

Serves: as many as you want… this isn’t a real recipe duh!

This is by far the least complicated beverage your DIYke group will ever make – but you’re making whiskey glasses so I’m not really sure what you expected. No idea where to start with whiskey? Ask Ali – she might be able to help you!

Step 1: Pour whiskey of choice into amazing etched glass tumbler.

Step 2: Sip whiskey of choice out of amazing etched glass tumbler.

Step 3: Talk about kittens or something.

Header by Rory Midhani

Thanks for reading DIYke Club! Some friends and I started a DIY/crafting group that gets together a couple of times a month. We try a fun drink recipe and do a craft we haven’t made before. We’re having a blast and thought you might want to get in on the action. Maybe you’ll start your own local DIYke chapter? Let’s all get liquored up and make things!

DIYke Club: Washer Necklaces and Blackberry Margaritas

Header by Rory Midhani

DIYke Club_Rory Midhani_640px

For those not in the know, we made hardware jewelry at A-Camp 4.0! Who knew all you weirdo humans are so talented and creative? Spoiler Alert: I did. Anyway, I’ve seen tutorials for these washer necklaces on the interwebs but pictures are confusing so I made a video to help demystify the process. Don’t panic, there are still pictures.

Seriously though, what says, “I love Home Depot, but still care about my hair” better than a necklace made out of washers? And if you’re not convinced that’s what you want your jewelry to say about you, have a blackberry margarita and then we’ll talk.

Washer Necklaces

Supplies needed:

+10-25 of the 5/16th inch cut washers from your local hardware store
+1-2 yards 5/8th inch width grosgrain ribbon in the color of your choice (Again, quantity depends on desired length. I used 1 yard.) This can be found at craft stores and Etsy
+lighter

items

Step 1:

Pinch edges of ribbon together and gently burn with a lighter. This will make the edges hard and thus easier to thread your ribbon into tight spaces.

newstep1

Step 2:

Slide one washer face first (if you can’t tell the difference between face up and down ignore this–it is only relevant to certain types of washers) onto the ribbon. Leave enough space at the end to tie the necklace in a bow around your neck. I left a little more than a foot.

step2

Step 3:

Slide another washer onto the ribbon, this time backside first. The new washer should neatly stack on top of the first washer.

step3

Step 4:

Thread the ribbon over the top washer into the bottom washer. As you pull tight, the top washer will flip over so it is also face up. Take your time to make sure your ribbon doesn’t get tangled or to straighten any twists that may have occurred in the ribbon.

step4

Step 5:

Thread the ribbon up through the space between the outside of the bottom washer and the inside of the top washer. As you pull tight take your time to make sure the ribbon doesn’t get tangled.

step5

Step 6:

Repeat steps 2-5 until your necklace is the perfect length. I used 12 for the maroon necklace and 10 for the periwinkle necklace. Some people use upwards of 20 so it’s really up to you.

bothFade

Step 7:

When finished, put the necklace on and tie in a bow or a gentle knot behind your neck.

step8

Here’s the video I mentioned earlier in case this is confusing!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-H8KvWH0C0

Blackberry Margaritas

Prep time: 10 minutes
Serves: 6

Supplies needed:

+ 6 shots Silver Tequila
+ 3 shots Triple Sec
+ 9 shots lime juice
+ 1 small package of blackberries
+ ½ cup sugar + 1 Tbsp
+ 1 cup water + 1 Tbsp

Step 1:

Muddle berries (with several reserved for garnish) with 1 Tbsp sugar and 1 Tbsp room temperature water. Set aside.

Step 2:

Make simple syrup by mixing ½ cup sugar with 1 cup boiling water and stirring until sugar dissolves completely. Set aside.

Step 3:

Stir together tequila, triple sec, lime juice, blackberry puree, and simple syrup. Pour over ice and garnish with blackberries.

DIYke: Hanging Flower Vase and Iced Chai Latte

Header by Rory Midhani

DIYke Club_Rory Midhani_640px

So you’ve been cooking for that cute vegan girl you just met. And the more vegan food you make, the more spices you use (because let’s face it — not even vegans are crazy enough to like plain tofu). Now you have a surplus of empty spice jars you don’t want to throw out because naturally you’re an environmentally conscious queer.

Rustic Hanging Vase

vase1

Supplies needed:

+3 recycled spice jars
+Twine
+Key ring
+Gorilla glue -or- hot glue (White glue will work as well but it is not usually water proof which would make it difficult to wash out your vases)
+Filling of choice (I used black pebbles and fresh flowers that were definitely not from my neighbors yard)
+Scissors

vase2

Step 1:
Remove the labels on your spice jars. If they don’t scrub off easily, soak the jars in warm water and a dash of vinegar for about 10 minutes to loosen the labels before scrubbing.

Step 2:
Cut one long piece of twine that is 1.5 feet plus the length you want the vases to hang (when making this decision think about -or even measure- the space where you want this to hang). My twine was about 3.5 feet long.

Step 3:
Put a dab of glue on your key ring and attach twine. Start wrapping the twine around the key ring until the entire ring (including your dot of glue) is fully covered. Tie the twine in a knot around the key ring.

Step 4:
Apply a ring of glue to the rim of your first spice jar.

Step 5:
Starting with the bottom of the twine, wrap the twine around the sticky rim of the spice several times.

Step 6:
Apply a dot of glue to the string when finished and hold tightly with your fingers ~30 seconds to ensure the twine stays put.

vase3

Step 7:
Measure just shy of 1/3 of your remaining twine and repeat steps #4-6 to attach the second spice jar. Then one more time for your final spice jar.
*These measurements are only a suggestion–adjust the proportions to suit your preferences!

Step 8:
While your glue fully dries (depending on the type of glue you choose, dry time may vary–read your glue packaging), fill the spice jars with an inch or so of pebbles and flowers of your choice.

Step 9:
Hang up on a hook or nail and enjoy your handy work!

Pretty sure this is what Martha Stewart’s windows look like

Notes:
These aren’t just pretty with fresh flowers. You can fill exclusively with greenery or even paper flowers if you are feeling less motivated to water living things

Iced Vanilla Soy Chai Latte

What’s that? You don’t have a bunch of empty jars right this moment because you use things at a normal rate? No worries. This Chai recipe will surely deplete your spice collection and spice up your life. And if it doesn’t work, try this.

Prep time: ~5 minutes
Cook time: ~10 minutes + optional freezing time
Serves: 4-6

Supplies needed:

+3 cups water
+3 cups vanilla soy milk
+2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
+1 teaspoon ground cardamom
+1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
+1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
+1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
+1 pinch (preferably white) ground pepper
+6 black tea bags
+1/3-1/2 cup sugar

chai3

Optional Supplies:

+ice cube tray
+4 shots of vanilla vodka
+4 cinnamon sticks (for garnish)

chai2

Step 1:
Mix all the ground spices with water and bring to a slow boil in a small stovetop pot

Step 2:
Reduce heat and toss in black tea bags and steep to taste (approximately 5 minutes).

chai1

Step 3:
Remove tea bags and stir in sugar.

Step 4:
CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE!

a.)Pour the chai tea mix into an ice cube tray and freeze for refreshing frozen chai whenever you want it.
Fill glass with chai cubes and pour ~1/2 cup soy milk (and ~1 shot vanilla vodka if desired).

-OR-

b.)Pour chai tea mix over ice and add ~1/2 cup soy milk (and ~1 shot vanilla vodka if desired).

chai4

DIYke Club: Rainbow Boozesicles and Vegan Candles

Header by Rory Midhani

DIYke Club_Rory Midhani_640px

As a grad student, ‘free time’ and ‘spare cash’ are about as common as magical unicorns. This makes it difficult to find enough time/money for all of the hanging out, hobbies, and drinking I’d like to do. While agonizing over the injustice of it all, I decided the only thing to do was eat popsicles and surround myself with as many rainbow things as possible. In the unlikely event that your life is lacking in either of these departments, I’m here to help. Pride should be year long after all, no matter what your liver and amount of REM sleep say.

Boozesicles

candle1

Supplies needed:

+Piña colada mix (or some other freezable, sweet alcohol mix)
+Food coloring
+Popsicle molds -or- Dixie cups, foil, and popsicle sticks
+Container with pour spout

Alcohol IS in it

Step 1:
Mix 1/6th of the drink mix with a couple drops red food dye in a container with a pour spout.

Step 2:
Pour this red mix evenly into your popsicle mold of choice.

Step 3:
Freeze this layer until solid. Repeat with orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple.

popsicles

Notes:
Just in case you don’t have all the colors of the rainbow, here is a color-mixing chart.

Kindergarten color crash course

Candles

candles4

Supplies needed:

+ Glass votive holders (reuse old votive holders or purchase new ones)
+ Friendship bracelet string in red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple
+ Hot glue (or super glue)

Step 1:
Using a dot of hot glue, attach the string to the middle of the glass votive holder.

candles2

Step 2:
Wrap the string around the middle of the glass. The more haphazard your wrapping pattern is the more interesting the candle will looks when burning.

Step 3:
When you are satisfied with how it looks, glue the other end of the string to the glass with a dot of hot glue.

candleholder

Supplies needed:

+1 lb soy wax flakes
+Pre-tabbed candlewicks
+Something to hold the wicks in place while the candles cool. (pins, bobby pins, tin foil, toothpicks, coffee straws and twisty ties, etc.)
+Two pots to make a double boiler -or- a pot and a candle making pitcher
+Essential fragrance oils (1 oz per pound of soy wax should do the trick unless you’re using a stronger scent, I used lavender)

Step 1:
Glue the wick tab (metal base of the wick) to the center of the votive so the wick stands straight up.

Step 2:
Start melting your wax in the double boiler. When it is melted, stir in fragrance.

candles3

Step 3:
Stabilize the wick so it stays upright in the center of the candle as the wax cools.

Step 4:
Pour the wax into each of the glass votives.

candles4

Step 5:
Wait for the wax to cool. Once the candle has hardened, trim the wick to its desired length.

candles1

Notes:
–Choose a soy wax to best suit your needs. I used Ecosoya Advanced Soy Wax.
–Candle Science is a great resource for more technical candle making questions. You should also take the time to choose your wick. I used 6″ pre-tabbed HTP 52 wicks. Try to avoid zinc-cored wicks if possible as they can irritate the lungs while burning.

Now kick up your feet, enjoy your boozesicle, and watch the candles flicker in your amazing smelling room.

Got a drink or crafting idea you think we should try?