Merlins Tower

DIY: How to make your own Parchment Paper

Posted on February 18th, 2007 by Merlin.
Categories: Art, Coffee, Craft, DIY, Hack, Journaling, Leather, Tutorial.

Today I decided to write about a project I did some time ago it was make a new sheet of paper look old. Or how to make some good olde fashioned parchment paper. To the left is an example of what it could look like

First - I wrote in my best calligraphy handwriting on the page - (I used a heavier high cotton blend for the fiber look and feel).

I had to use Noodlers black ink as this ink will not run when adding the paper coloring. I let this dry while I gathered up the rest of the items needed.

• 1 cup of strong brewed coffee (I made two - one for me to drink while working on the Calligraphy and one to sit and wait till the right time to be put to use)
• 1 tablespoon of any instant coffee (This is to add the extra color on to the paper in a varied pattern)
• 1 baking pan - large enough for the paper to be put into.
• 1 sponge or several paper towels
• an Oven or hair dryer - I prefer the oven method - but both work
  if using the oven pre-heat it to 200-225 degrees
• An Iron (Optional)
• A zippo lighter (Optional)
• Woolen Yarn or Leather Strip (Optional)

Now this is the hard part - after you finished the calligraphy work on the paper - You need to first tear the edges in varied patter to give it that old torn look (Do this if you want to) Doing this before adding the color helps the edges get better coloring in them. Next is the really hard part - you need to crinkle the paper up into a small / medium size ball. Then you need to unball it and flatten it down - almost flat but will some of the crinkles still showing to hold the coffee to help break up the solid pattern of color.

Place the flattened sheet into the pan and pour the coffee all over the page. Making sure to cover the whole page. 

Now wait a few moments or about 1 min then sprinkle the instant coffee randomly across the page. Don't make it even as these will soon dissolve and give the page that extra color that will make it look more like beautiful old parchment paper.  

Next you want to use the sponge to blog the coffee off the paper - I waited about 2 or 3 mins to let it soak in. Use different amounts of time depending on how much color you want.

Now empty any remaining coffee back into a cup if you intend to do another sheet or throw it away. (I heard coffee grounds were good for some plants - I wonder if you could use this for some of them plants)  

Now put the paper on the tray into the oven for about 5 to 7 mins. (Make sure to watch and check often - you don't want the paper to burn after all this work)

The last step is optional - I used an iron on low setting to remove all the creases in the paper and make it flat again. Some people will like the the creases in the paper. It does look good both ways.

Now this last step is also optional - I only did this to one of my parchments and it looked really classy but I was afraid of redoing all my work. Get out the zippo lighter and light it up and get near the edges to "Burn" them slightly. This really will give it that old world look - just like this was an old pirate treasure map.

Now you can mouth this in a frame or if you want to use these for other uses you can roll this up and tie a woolen piece of yarn around it or a strip of leather to tie it with a bow. 

You can use this for creating a beautiful love poem for your wife or girlfriend, or if you are having a party and want to have some cool invitation (Great for a kids Pirate Party) or You are running a scavenger hunt - these make cool looking location maps or scavenger hunt lists. The Ideas for what you can use this for is endless. I have seen a photo printed out on a laser printer in a grey scale pattern to make the photo look like an old sepia type print.

Good luck and Stay warm (Brr)

Technorati Tags: parchment, sepia, old, fashioned, olde, diy, paper, craft, hack, calligraphy, fountain, pen, ink, noodlers, black

5 comments.

DIY: Auto To-Go Tissue Holder and Picture Frame

Posted on February 14th, 2007 by Merlin.
Categories: Anything Else, Art, Craft, DIY, Health, Office, Weird Stuff.

I just finished making of these tissue holders. No more needing to purchase the small boxes or the really rough tissue that rips your nose a new hole. I really wanted an easy way to have tissues in the car that I didn't have to toss on the back seat or just was just some lousy quality nose tissues (Ahh I love Puffs and Kleenex Brand with Lotion). Sorry I like comfort when I have to blow my nose. 

First, This project didn't take that long to do and it was not that expensive and can easily be refilled. And don't forget these are pretty cool looking. You can even decorate the cup if you are really feeling creative. I didn't but I know a few people that would take their kids image and print it out on their printer and glue it to the cup to have another photo of their kid to talk about. :-)  Well actually you can put what ever you want on the cup and make it happy as if you need a tissue you probably are not feeling too well.

For Complete directions Check out:
Curbly: How to Make a Coffee Cup Tissue Holder

Images for decorating the cup Just a few Samples From Google Images:

A photo of some Germs or a photo of a nice Vacation Spot - Hmm - I could use a nice Cruise Ship or a nice sunny spot on a beach in Florida - Hey I have some friends in Fort Meyers - Hmmm I wonder if they have some room for me and my cat until Pennsylvania Thaws. Did I ever mention I hate  -ok- Despise Winter and the Freezing Rain - Snow - and all the salt all over the car. Yet alone getting sick. YUCK.

Technorati Tags: Coffee, Cup, Tissue, Holder, DIY, Craft, germ, warfare, vacation, cup, cheap, inexpensive, easy, fun, decoration, office, auto, car, van

0 comments.

The Blue Man Group: Music Art

Posted on February 11th, 2007 by Merlin.
Categories: Art, Communication, Movies, Pipe, Video, Weird Stuff, YouTube.

Tonight I got to talking to some friends about one of my absolute favorite music groups - The Blue Man Group. I have seen then Three Different times here in Pittsburgh (Once at The Coke a Cola Starlake Amphitheater - Once at the AJ Palumbo Center @ Duquesne University and Then Once at the Mellon (Civic Arena).  Besides seeing them here in Pittsburgh, I have also seen then when I was in Boston, MA and Have seen then Twice in Las Vegas. (But I can't Talk about that Remember what Happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas {wink} {Wink}. So if you ever get a chance to see them do yourself a favor and go. You will not be disappointed. Just one word of warning. Don't show up late. They like to make fun of the people by putting them in the spot lite as they come in. It is alot of fun. Plus If you show up late you get to miss the famous LED signs that get the audience participating in the show before the show even starts. Plus now you can even text message the signs with your cell phone and have your messages appear and get some good laughs.

I have to say the Las Vegas shows were fun and the theater was built for them so it really is a great place to see them - But the Show in Boston was FANTASTIC the theater is quite small compared to the other theaters but I got some fantastic close up seats. I almost got some paint on me.

If you can't get to Vegas I would recommend getting a copy of the Blue Men Group DVD @ Amazon  Or you can get a Blue Man Group CD From Amazon As Well.

But now for your Enjoyment from You Tube - The Blue Man Group - Playing a Pipe and not smoking a pipe.

Technorati Tags: Blue+Man+Group, Blue, man, Men, Group, Music, Electronica, classica, drum, rock, video, new+age, Pittsburgh, Las+Vegas, Vegas, Boston, Mass, Vacation, Concert, Concerts

0 comments.

Free Font: Caliph Font

Posted on February 10th, 2007 by Merlin.
Categories: Art, Craft, Journaling, Photoshop.

I was looking for a nice calligraphy font to use for a greeting card I was sending off and I found this Font - Called Caliph - I really nice looking Calligraphy Font.

0 comments.

Guide to Writing in Elvish - Free Online Tutorial

Posted on January 29th, 2007 by Merlin.
Categories: Anything Else, Art, Communication, Drawing, Freeware, Hack, Journaling, Movies, Sketching, Tutorial, Weird Stuff.

Had a long hard week and for some fun I learned a new language - well only learned how to write in Elvish. Ever see those fancy scrolls in Lord of the Rings or any of the other movies / books / games that have Elvish Language written on them? Well This web page has a quick and easy guide on how to convert any english writing in very artistic and fancy elvish writing. Well To the left is my first time trying to write Merlins Tower in Elvish. It really is pretty easy to follow along and accomplish. I can see doing this with a nice broad nibbed fountain pen or a wide italic cut nib. I didn't have any of my wide nibs with me so I had to make due with what I had at hand. This was accomplished with my art book using a find sharpie marker to get the nice broad strokes. (I filled in the lines I drew) I really want to try this out with some of my calligraphy pens when I have a free moment. This guide can be printed out for ease of use. This would be pretty good for making your own scrolls and Mystical Books. Or if you just want to hide what you are writing.

Well thats all for today - Enjoy - Stay Warm and enjoy some nice tobacco in your pipe - You know I am. 8 :-?  <– Merlin Smoking a Pipe  

Technorati Tags: calligraphy, handwriting, fountain, pen, fountain+pen, ink, art, elvish, lord, of, the, rings, scroll, writing

4 comments.

Sim Aquarium - Free Simulation Game

Posted on January 24th, 2007 by Merlin.
Categories: Anything Else, Art, Email, Gadgets, Opera.

For some strange reason I enjoy relaxing while looking at some fish swim by and when I was using my Opera Browser the other day I got to play with SimAquarium.

I usually switch up between Firefox or Opera depending on what I am doing. (Yes, I rarely use IE much anymore - And I suggest the same to you - Check out BrowseHappy.com and See why IE is NOT SAFE)

The Opera Browser has what they call Opera Widgets that you can use to enhance the Opera Browser. One of the new and popular widgets is the SimAquarium - This aquarium gives you $100 to start out with - where you have to purchase some fish - and hope they breed. After you have a few baby fish you can sell them back to the store to allow you to upgrade your lights, backgrounds, filters, and buy other types of fish.

Bonus - Build up your Money and get to purchase a Dolphin for your Aquarium.

Screenshot 1 - ScreenShot 2 - ScreeShot 3

Technorati Tags: simaquarium, aquarium, free, fish, opera, browser, browse+happy, Hate, IE, Security, Risk

0 comments.

Mr Picasso Head - Make your own portrait

Posted on January 19th, 2007 by Merlin.
Categories: Art, Craft, Drawing, Game, Hack, Web Service.

Now with Mr Picasso Head Anyone (Yes ANYONE) can be an artist. With this very artistic webpage you can be your own artist.  First you get to pick your head, eyes, nose, mouth, eyebrows, abstract shapes, and you get to rotate them, resize them, place them anyway you want on the digital canvas and don't forget to sign your masterpiece. Have a Fun Picasso Friday!

 
Here is My Portrait.

Technorati Tags: Flash, SWF, Merlin, Picasso, Picasso, Head, PicassoHead, Toy, Story, ToyStory, Portrait, Digital, Art, Digital+Art, DigitalArt, Viritual, Canvas, Painting

1 comment.

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