| How to Paint Light Bulbs Posted: 05 Apr 2018 05:00 PM PDT If you're looking to brighten up your room with some custom-painted light bulbs, it's pretty easy to do. You'll need at least one clear 40-watt or less bulb, some special heat-resistant glass paint, and your own creativity. You can also reuse old light bulbs to make a variety of unique decorations for your home. Use any bulbs and any types of paint for recycling old light bulbs into new decorations. EditMaking Colored Light Bulbs - Select a clear, 40 watt bulb. Light bulbs below 40 watts will also work. You just want to ensure that your paint withstands the heat made from the bulb once it's turned on.[1]
- Clear bulbs will give you the best effect of the light shining through the paint.
- You can use frosted bulbs, but the colored light coming through won't be as vibrant.
- Purchase special heat-resistant glass paint. Find paint that is made for glass or safe for painting ceramics at your local craft store. Do not use regular acrylic or oil-based paint on light bulbs. When you turn your light bulb on, regular paint on the hot glass can cause your light bulb to explode.[2]
- Examples of appropriate paint to use are DecoArt Glass-tiques, Decoart Liquid Rainbow, FolkArt Gallery Glass Liquid Leading, and Vitrea by Pebeo
- Clean your light bulbs with rubbing alcohol. You'll want a clean, dust free surface for painting, so that the paint adheres to your bulb well. Soak a cotton ball with rubbing alcohol and rub your light bulb with it.[3]
- Use soap and water if you don't have any rubbing alcohol.
- Dry your bulb with a clean towel or allow it to air-dry for 1-2 minutes.
- Prop your light bulb up with tack. Use a small amount of blue tack or "sticky tack" to prop up your light bulb so that it won't roll around while you paint. Blue tack is available at craft stores and in some office supply stores.[4]
- You can also use Play-doh or some air-dry clay if you don't have any blue tack.
- Use small brushes to apply your paint. Apply your first color in a light, thin layer and see how it looks. You can free-hand your picture, or use stencils by using peel-off stickers or stencils you design yourself with paper.[5]
- Paint a detailed picture on your light bulb, cover it with stars or flowers, or simply make blocks of color for a stained glass or rainbow effect.
- For Halloween bulbs, paint pumpkins or ghosts on your light bulbs.
- For custom holiday lights, paint your bulbs red and green or with snowflakes.
- Allow air-dry paint to dry for 1 hour. If you're using an air-dry glass paint, allow your bulb to remain standing on the tack for 1 hour to dry. Refrain from touching the bulb before it's completely dry.[6]
- Add more layers if you would like brighter colors. Some glass paints may need additional layers to get the effect that you want. Allow each layer to dry before adding new layers.[7]
- Heat cure your light bulb in the oven if your paint requires it. Some glass paints, especially paints also used for ceramics, require heat curing. Follow any instructions on the packaging of your paint for heat-curing your light bulb in the oven.[8]
- Remove any food or cooking items from your oven before using it to heat cure your light bulbs.
- Place your light bulb on an oven safe pan if your paint instructions require it.
- Allow your painted bulbs to cool completely in the oven after curing them.
EditTurning Your Light Bulbs into Ornaments - Make glass hot-air balloons for a whimsical décor. Use glass paint to make a hot-air balloon design of your choice onto your light bulbs. Glue four pieces of string up the sides of the light bulb and tie them all together in a knot at the top. Make a loop out of one string to hang the bulb, and trim the rest.[9]
- Instead of painting the design on the bulb, you can attach fabric scraps with decoupage to the bulb before gluing on the strings.
- Make a light bulb turkey for fall. Paint your entire light bulb dark brown and allow it to dry completely. Paint 2 small wooden hearts orange and allow them to dry, then glue them side by side as feet on the wide bottom of your bulb. Glue a pair of googly eyes and an orange beak made from felt to the front of the bulb to make its face.[10]
- Glue 6-8 fall-colored feathers to the back of the turkey in a splaying tail pattern.
- Add a small straw hat from a craft store to the top of the turkey's head if you want.
- Make a snowman ornament for your holiday tree. Paint your light bulb with glue and cover it in white glitter. Allow that to dry, then use black puffy paint to make a snowman's face and buttons, with the narrow socket side being the top. Hot glue small twigs on the sides of the bulb for snowman arms, and wrap the socket top tightly with twine, leaving a loop to hang onto your tree.[11]
- For best results, use a frosted white light bulb.
- Create a Santa ornament for your tree. Using black permanent marker, draw an oval-shaped fluffy cloud onto your light bulb for the outline of Santa's face. Fill this cloud in with acrylic paint of skin-tone color of your choice. Paint the rest of the bulb with white acrylic paint and the narrow socket top red.[12]
- Allow your painted bulb to dry on a piece of Play-Doh for 1 hour.
- Draw Santa's face inside the flesh-colored cloud on your dried light bulb with permanent marker.
- Attach a cotton ball to the top of Santa's red hat, or the socket top, with craft glue. Wind some string or fishing wire around the hat with a loop for hanging it up.
- Make a light bulb penguin for the holidays. Paint the entire back and sides of a frosted bulb black, leaving an hour glass shape in the front white, and allow it to dry. Cut the end off a finger from a child's glove to make a hat for your penguin and glue a pom-pom to the top, then glue this to the narrow screw-top on your bulb. Tie a shiny gold ribbon that's in length into a bow and glue it around the neckline of your penguin.[13]
- Use a black permanent maker to draw your penguin's eyes up near the hat and buttons down the front below his bow tie.
- Cut off the pointed end of a toothpick and glue it onto your penguin's face for its beak.
- Create a light bulb reindeer for the holidays. Use a colored bulb or paint a clear one any color you wish and allow it to dry. Glue a red pom-pom toward the end of the bulb opposite the screw top for the reindeer's nose and glue a pair of googly eyes up near the screw top. Tie an piece of sparkly ribbon neatly around the screw top in a bow. [14]
- Bend a piece of brown pipe cleaner into a U-shape and then make more small bends in each end for the antlers. Glue the antlers to the screw top behind the bow.
EditCreating Vases - Use needle-nose pliers to remove the brass contact and wires. Use a pair of needle-nose pliers to grip the little point on the end of the light bulb and give it a good twist. This breaks the brass contact and one of the wires leading to the filament. Pull these parts out with the pliers.[15]
- Wear gloves and eye protection while hollowing out your light bulb in case it breaks.
- Use a screwdriver to break the fill tube inside the bulb. Once you can see inside the bulb, you'll see a small tube connected to the parts in there. Dig in there with a screwdriver and break this tube. Once you have that out, you can shake the rest of the small parts from inside the bulb out.[16]
- Empty the contents of the bulb onto a paper towel or cloth that you can easily throw away.
- Clean the inside of the bulb with soapy water. Take your empty light bulb to the kitchen sink. Fill it with some water and a couple drops of dish detergent, shake the soapy water around, and dump it down the drain.[17]
- Dry your light bulb with paper towel. Stuff a crumpled paper towel into the end of your light bulb to dry it and wipe away any powder or glass bits that are left inside. Allow any remaining water to air dry.[18]
- Paint the screw cap or the glass to add some sparkle. Use nail polish or any acrylic paint to hand paint your own design on your vase. Or you can paint the cap only for a simpler look. Allow your paint to fully dry before filling your vase with water and flowers.[19]
- Fill your vase with water and flowers. Put water into your light bulb vase and some short cut flowers to place inside it. The weight of the water should allow your vase to stand on its own.[20]
- Wrap some twine around the screw cap for a rustic look. If you'd like to hang your vase, tie some twine or ribbon around the cap. Hang the vases up on your porch or patio, or keep them on hooks inside.[21]
- Finished.
- Do not use regular acrylic or oil-based paint on light bulbs that you intend to use. The effect of the paint on the hot glass once the light bulb is on can cause your light bulb to explode.
- Use gloves and eye protection if hollowing out your light bulbs for a vase.
EditThings You'll Need EditMaking Colored Bulbs - Clear 40-watt or below light bulbs
- Heat-resistant glass paint
- Small paint brushes
- Rubbing alcohol and cotton balls
- Blue tack
EditMaking Ornaments - Paint and paint brushes
- White glitter and glue
- Twine or string
- Pom-poms and googly eyes
- Brown pipe cleaner
- Sparkly ribbon
- Black permanent marker
EditCreating Vases - Gloves and eye protection
- Needle-nosed pliers
- Screwdriver
- Dish soap and water
- Paper towels
EditSources and Citations
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| How to Travel in Spain Cheaply Posted: 05 Apr 2018 09:00 AM PDT Spain is a beautiful country with plenty of character and some of the cheapest accommodations in Europe! If you're looking for a colorful, budget-friendly travel experience, this is a great place to start. Find inexpensive transportation, lodging, food, and excursions to make sure your trip is unforgettable! EditFinding Inexpensive Transportation - Fly into high-traffic cities for cheaper ticket options. Major cities like Madrid and Barcelona act as travel hubs to the rest of the world, which makes them the cheapest and most convenient options for flying in or out. When booking your ticket online, look for flights that depart or land in a major city and compare prices with other destinations to find the best price.[1]
- Some of the other cheapest cities for flights include Palma Mallorca, Málaga, and Valencia.[2]
- The most expensive airports to fly out of include Bilbao, Gran Canaria, and Santiago de Compostela.
- Travel on the city bus lines for 1-3 euros per trip. The train and bus system in Spain is one of the best in the world. The buses are often clean and comfortable, and some even have extra amenities like TV screens in the seat backs. To get the best bargains, book your rides with companies like ALSA.[3]
- Overnight buses are also the cheapest option for intercity travel, with tickets for about 18 euros each.
- Buy a metrocard if you plan on staying in 1 city for a while. These cards can be purchased from the metro on a weekly basis, with a flat rate for unlimited rides. Individual rides cost about 1-3 euros, but the travel card lets you take as many rides as you want.[4]
- Choose slower regional trains over high-speed trains like Renfe. While high-speed trains generally cost between 50-140 euros, slower lines only cost around 15-45 euros per trip. Generally, overnight trains are the cheapest option, at about 18 euros per ticket.[5]
- Use car-sharing programs like BlaBlaCar for quick rides around cities. This French car service is extremely popular in Spain, and it's perfect for road-tripping across the country or between cities for a reasonable price. Simply create a profile and find drivers on BlaBlaCar's website, then book a ride online.[6]
- For example, you can get a ride from Madrid to Barcelona for only 35 euros.
- Set up your ride-sharing profile at https://www.blablacar.es. If you're from the U.S. or any other English-speaking country that's not listed, just select the U.K. as your home country.
EditSaving Money on Lodgings - Book a hotel room between November and March to save up to 40%. Spain's major tourist season lasts from April to October, so try to book your trip between November and March for the best hotel deals. Visiting during this time also means you won't be surrounded by throngs of tourists, which can make the trip much more relaxing.[7]
- Some cities don't follow the high season rule. For example, hotels in Seville often drop their prices by 40% during the hottest months like July and August.
- Look for small local hotels or inns to get an even better deal. These smaller, B&B-style inns are known as ''pensiones'' or ''hostales.'' You can find lodging at a 10-room ''pension'' for 45-80 euros per night. Book your travel dates online to compare the ratings and prices between different locations.[8]
- At smaller inns, you may have to share a bathroom with other guests.
- Avoid ''pensiones'' located on the city's main plaza or strip, since these tend to be expensive and noisy. Instead, look for rooms located on side streets or further into the ''barrio.''
- Reserve a rustic mountain cabin for cheap lodging in the highlands. Practically every Spanish highland region has a selection of mountain cabins for travelers to rent. The cabins are very rustic and only include basic amenities, but they're extremely cheap, making them a really budget-friendly option. You can reserve a cabin through the website of the Spanish Federation of Mountaineering.[9]
- To book a cabin, click the "Refugios" link on the home page of https://http://www.fedme.es.
- Visitors who aren't members of the Federation will pay 15 euros, while members pay half-price.
- You can also purchase some affordable meal options, such as breakfast for 5 euros and dinner for 15 euros.
- Rent out a private room in someone's home for some extra comfort. Use websites like Craigslist, Airbnb, Homestay, or a local apartment rental agency to find private rooms. You can often rent by either the day or week, and depending on what kind of room you choose, you could pay as little as 15 euros per night.[10]
- For the safest options, look for homes in the center of the city, or even in a student or international flat.
- Stay in a hostel for a cheap room and a chance to meet travelers. You can either choose a private room, which will generally start at 40 euros for a double bed, or go for an cheaper dormitory-style room, which is usually around 30-40 euros. This is a great option if you're looking to meet up with fellow travelers and potentially join a group of new friends![11]
- Free Wifi is standard in Spanish hostels, and many even offer a free breakfast as well.
- Couchsurf for very low-budget lodging. Look for couchsurfing options in major cities, and be sure to book your stay quickly, since the couches often fill up quickly! Use websites like Couchsurfing.com for a safe, streamlined booking process. Some hosts will even act as tour guides and give you insider information about the area.[12]
- Look for hosts with plenty of personal information listed and lots of positive user reviews.
EditEating out on a Budget - Get breakfast at a café or check if your lodging has free breakfast. Instead of getting breakfast at a restaurant, look for a local café that offers breakfast food. You could also check if your accommodations offer a free breakfast option for the cheapest solution!
- A traditional Spanish breakfast includes café con leche (coffee) and bread with crushed tomato and olive oil.
- Grab a meal of tapas and sandwiches for a cheap, easy lunch. You can find these dishes on the street or in bars for around 3-7 euros each. Tapas are a small, snack-sized portion of food, and they can range between savory, sweet, and spicy. They also vary between regions, so be sure to try out some different dishes wherever you travel![13]
- In Valencia and Catalonia, fried potatoes served with aioli dipping sauce are very popular.
- ''Croquetas,'' or fried balls of meat, fish, or vegetable filling, are served in bars and restaurants across Spain.
- You could also try ''montaditos,'' which are small grilled sandwiches filled with meat, fish, or vegetarian fillings.
- You can often add a glass of wine to your tapas or sandwich meal, bringing your total cost to 10-13 euros.
- Ask for the menu of the day at restaurants for a cheaper lunch option. Generally, a restaurant meal can cost around 13-22 euros, but the menu of the day options generally only cost around 7-9 euros. This is a great way to save your money and still experience local dishes![14]
- The menu of the day often includes a starter, main course, dessert or coffee, and a soft drink, wine, or beer.[15]
- To ask your server about the menu of the day, ask "¿Cuál es el menú del día?"
- Avoid eating at restaurants for dinner, since prices tend to skyrocket for evening meals.
- Buy your own groceries from local markets if you're staying for a few days. Eating out can add up quickly, so if you have a kitchen or a small kitchenette in your room, making your own food is a great way to save money. Avoid grocery stores and opt for local markets instead, which will give you the cheapest and freshest options for produce and meat.[16]
- For example, you could shop at Barcelona's ''Mercat de la Boqueria,'' a bustling, colorful indoor market hall filled with fruit, vegetables, seafood, tapas, and even pizza.[17]
- Find a reasonably priced tapas bar for beer or wine on a night out. Do some research online and compare the prices and special offers between several bars in your area. There are many bars in the south of Spain, smaller towns, and even Madrid that will even offer free tapas with the purchase of 1 drink.[18]
- Expect to pay about 1.2-1.6 euros for a bottle of beer and 1-4 euros for inexpensive local wine.[19]
EditChoosing Budget-friendly Excursions - Go to a museum to learn about Spain's culture and history. This will cost between 2-14 euros. Most museums also have specific free hours when you don't have to pay admission. Check the museum's website to find out when its free hours are.[20]
- For example, the Museo del Prado in Madrid is free on Monday through Saturday at 6-8 pm, and on Sundays at 5-7 pm.[21]
- Buy a citypass for a variety of sightseeing options. If you're staying in a major city and you plan to do a lot of sightseeing, this is a great way to save money! Most passes include access to several different museums, attractions, and activities. You can purchase passes for major cities like Madrid and Barcelona online through the companies' websites.[22]
- If you're traveling with your family or a big group, you may be eligible for a discount as well.
- Some of the activities may include sporting events, walking tours of the city, or meal discounts.
- Check out local festivals to experience the city's colorful traditions. If you visit a major Spanish city during the summer, odds are you'll be in town for a local festival! These are free to attend, and they can truly be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Google the local festivals or ask your hotel, Airbnb owner, or local guide about any events coming up for more details.[23]
- For example, you could visit Barcelona in late September to catch the ''Festes de la Mercé,'' which fills the city with free concerts, dancing, fireworks, acrobatics, and lively parades.
- Carnival is celebrated all throughout Spain, but the biggest parties are in Tenerife and Cadiz. Tenerife dedicates the whole month of February to glittering parades, contests, and parties in honor of Carnival.[24]
- Walk around and view the city's architecture for free. Spain's cities are full of beautiful cathedrals and impressive mansions, especially Barcelona, Seville, Granada, Salamanca, and Córdoba. Although the interiors cost a small admission fee to view, but the exteriors are just as impressive and absolutely free![25]
- In Barcelona, you can walk around and take in the dramatic, powerful work of Antoni Gaudí, such as the Casa Batlló, La Pedrera, and the Sagrada Família.
- In Granada, you can visit the Alhambra Palace, an elaborate Moorish castle and fortress.
EditSources and Citations
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| How to Make Vegan Milk Chocolate Posted: 05 Apr 2018 01:00 AM PDT Being vegan can be a difficult task, especially when you miss your favorite snacks, like milk chocolate! It can feel like specially made vegan snacks from the store just don't taste the same as the non-vegan food. If you're vegan and having a milk chocolate craving, you can make your own milk chocolate at home without any animal products. EditIngredients EditUsing Cocoa Butter - .5 cup (120 g) cocoa powder
- chopped cocoa butter
- maple syrup or agave nectar
- vanilla extract (optional)
- 1 pinch of sea salt (optional)
EditUsing Coconut Oil and Milk - 1 cup (240 g) cocoa powder
- coconut oil
- shaken coconut milk
- vanilla extract
- 1 cup (240 g) confectioners sugar
- .5 tsp (2.5 g) salt
EditUsing Cocoa Butter - Fill a large saucepan with of water and bring to a boil. To make the chocolate, you're going to need to create a "double boiler" to keep the chocolate away from direct contact with a heat source. The saucepan will act as the bottom part of the boiler, and the heat from the boiling water will cause the ingredients to melt.[1]
- To make the water boil faster, cover the saucepan until it begins to boil. Then, remove the lid to begin making your double boiler.
- If you already have a double boiler, you can use that instead of making your own.
- Place a bowl on top of the saucepan, above the water. Use either a ceramic or glass bowl for best results. This is the second part of your double boiler and where you'll be placing your ingredients as you work. It's important that the bowl doesn't touch the water, as this can cause too much heat and make your chocolate burn.[2]
- You can test the size of the bowl for your double boiler before you turn on the heat by placing it on top of the saucepan to see if it touches the water. If it does, pick a bowl that's shallower.
- Melt of chopped cocoa butter in the bowl on medium heat. Melting the cocoa butter will take 2-3 minutes. Stir the butter with a spoon as it melts to ensure that the heat is even across the bowl.[3]
- If the butter melts completely in less than 2 minutes, your heat is too high and you can adjust the temperature of the water by turning it down slightly.
- Whisk in of maple syrup or agave nectar. Add the maple syrup or agave nectar to the mixture after the cocoa butter has melted completely. Whisking will help to combine the ingredients fully and make sure the chocolate has a sweet taste throughout.[4]
- Whisk in the cocoa powder. Add the powder in small amounts, whisking thoroughly to combine. Make sure there are no clumps of powder in your mixture.[5]
- Combining small amounts at a time will keep the ingredients from falling out of the bowl and allow them to combine evenly over the heat.
- Add an optional of vanilla extract and pinch of sea salt. After the cocoa powder is combined, you can add the vanilla to make the chocolate slightly sweeter. The sea salt will bring out the taste of the chocolate more distinctly.[6]
- Taste the mixture and add additional maple or agave syrup to taste. If the mixture isn't sweet enough, add additional maple or agave to give it a sweeter taste. Doing small amounts will prevent you from over-sweetening which can ruin the taste of the chocolate.[7]
- If the mixture is too sweet for your liking, add a tbsp of additional cocoa powder or an additional pinch of salt to make it more bitter. Remember, milk chocolate will be sweet!
- Pour the chocolate onto a lined baking sheet, cupcake tins, or a mold. Make sure the chocolate is poured evenly. You can spread it with a wooden spoon or spatula, and gently tap the sheet, tins, or mold on the countertop to remove any bubbles from pouring.[8]
- Make sure the baking sheet or cupcake tins are lined to prevent sticking. You won't need to line a mold because they are normally made of non-stick materials.
- Freeze the chocolate for 10 minutes to set. Place the sheet, tins, or mold in the freezer so that the chocolate is sitting on a flat surface. Allow the chocolate to set for at least 10 minutes in the freezer, or longer if you're planning to transport the chocolate.[9]
- The chocolate is set when it's hard to the touch and has a matte, not shiny, finish.
- To remove chocolate from the mold or cupcake tin, simply press on the back side of the mold until the chocolate pops out or flip the tin over so the chocolate falls out.
- To remove from a baking sheet, you can cut or break the chocolate into smaller pieces for storage.
- Refrigerate or freeze the chocolate in an airtight container. Your vegan milk chocolate can last up to 1 week when stored in the refrigerator. If kept in the freezer, it can last up to a month.[10]
EditUsing Coconut Oil and Milk - Combine the cocoa powder and coconut oil. Using a mixer, food processor, or a bowl and spatula, combine the cocoa powder and coconut oil completely. Keep mixing until a paste is formed, which can take up to 3-4 minutes.[11]
- Make sure there are no clumps of coconut oil in the paste. If there are, break them up with a spoon and continue mixing until you don't see any clumps.
- Boil of water in a saucepan and cover with a medium-sized bowl. Make sure the upper bowl is glass or ceramic and situated about above the water. This creates a double boiler which will gradually heat the chocolate to prevent burning.[12]
- Once the water is boiling, you can add the bowl to the top of the saucepan to slowly heat the bowl.
- If you already have a double boiler, you can use that instead of making your own.
- Add the cocoa powder and coconut oil mix to the saucepan. You can stir it with a spoon or spatula as the mixture melts. It will become significantly thinner and you may notice some smaller clumps of oil, which will melt and combine as you stir.[13]
- Make sure the mixture doesn't boil. If you begin to see bubbling, reduce the heat and continue stirring.
- Return the mixture to the mixer and add the shaken coconut milk. The mixture should thicken slightly as the coconut milk combines with the cocoa powder and coconut oil. Mix for 1-2 minutes to ensure that it's properly integrated into the mixture.[14]
- Add the vanilla extract, confectioners sugar, and salt to the mixer. Once the coconut milk is combined, add the rest of the ingredients. It may be helpful to add the sugar ¼ of a cup at a time to prevent it from spilling out of the mixer.[15]
- Run the mixer until the chocolate is smooth with no clumps, which should take 2-3 minutes.
- Transfer the mixture to a lined baking sheet, cupcake tins, or mold. Pour slowly and firmly tap the container on the countertop 2-3 times to remove any bubbles in the chocolate after you pour. Since this mixture is thick, you make need to use a spatula or spoon to scrape the bowl.[16]
- It's important that the baking sheet or cupcake tins are lined to prevent the chocolate from sticking to the material. Molds are usually made of non-stick material, so you can pour the chocolate without lining them.
- Place the chocolate in the freezer for 10 minutes to set. Once the chocolate is set, it will look shiny due to the oil. You can remove it from the freezer and enjoy![17]
- You can store the chocolate in an airtight container for up to a week in the fridge, or 1 month in the freezer.
EditThings You'll Need EditUsing Cocoa Butter - Large saucepan
- Medium glass or ceramic mixing bowl
- Spatula or spoon for mixing
- Baking sheet, cupcake tin, or mold
EditUsing Coconut Oil and Milk - Mixer or food processor
- Large saucepan
- Medium glass or ceramic mixing bowl
- Spoon or spatula for mixing
- Baking sheet, cupcake tin, or mold
EditSources and Citations
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