Hello and Happy New Year! Saying goodbye to 2012 was bittersweet for me. My husband and I shared an amazing year together after being separated by distance for most of 2011. This past Holiday Season was especially full of family, fun, and laughter for us. I wanted to share with you all something a little unorthodox but something I had so much fun creating. A shot ski!
OK, what is a shot ski? They are usually found in Beer Garden type establishments and consist of shot glasses affixed to a ski. Why you ask? So that a group of people (usually friends) can share and partake together in a fun picture worthy moment. Perfect for a New Year's Eve Party!
Inspiration struck when I stumbled upon a old, beat-up, lone ski someone had abandoned in my garage.
We were due to host a NYE party that included lots of out of town friends and it just clicked that I needed to re-purpose that poor lost ski into something special, a shot ski! Here is what I used:
First I had to remove all of the hardware I could.
Next I sanded it down to remove all old varnish and even it out. I used a sander that has different attachments which cater to the nooks and crannies.
Next up tack cloth. If you are sanding anything this stuff is your best friend! It is tacky (so wear gloves when handling!) After wiping with a damp rag, I used the tack cloth to remove all little dust particles that will bubble up to the surface and ruin your finish.
Next up staining. My husband and I refinished the wood floors in our bedroom last spring so I have some experience with this fickle process. I have learned that the best technique is to brush on (lightly!) in one direction the whole length of the plank or piece you're working on. (Its best to have brushes/sponge tips the same width as the plank/piece) Then use a sponge tip applicator to smooth out the stain. You don't want any puddles or visible extra stain. You want it to look like its been soaked in by the wood. Several thin layers are way better than a blotchy finish, which will be a pain to fix. Do not go over wet stain. Let each layer dry completely, sand lightly, tack cloth, then you can begin the next layer. It is time consuming but if you love a gorgeous stain like I do it is worth the time!
I used a steel brush to get some of the rust off of the hardware that I wanted to leave on.
Lastly I found these tiny beer mug shot glasses online for about a dollar each.
I snatched them up and one hot glue gun application later, tada!
Our New Year's Eve party was extra special this year because some of my husband's best friends since childhood made the trek to upstate New York to ring in 2013 with us. In light of that we deemed it appropriate to theme our NYE party as an Ugly Sweater Party. Having just created the shot ski for the occasion I decided to break out my hot glue gun again for our sweaters. Here is what I came up with.
Some sequins, felt snow people, glitter glue and peppermint candies, what more could you ask for?
I hope you all had a wonderful Holiday and a love filled 2013!
