DIY: Glass Icicle Ornament by Chris Habana
Chris Habana has made a career out of making daring jewelry based on gothic iconography and pop culture. We asked the designer to ice us up...only we meant it literally.
Materials:
Mirrors of any kind
Black and white paper printouts (in whatever design you choose)
Wire
Black Plasti-Dip (available at any specialty hardware store)
*Plasti-Dip comes in a few colors, but we chose black of course, because we are CHRISHABANA!
Supplies:
Shallow tray
Glue stick
Pencil
Scissors
Hammer
Spatula
Safety gloves
1. Break the mirrors using the hammer. Using the safety gloves, gently pull pieces of the broken mirror and set aside. Please wear the safety gloves whenever you are handling broken mirror fragments!
2. One by one, take each piece of mirror (reflective side up) and lay on the back side of the black and white paper print outs. Take a pencil and trace each mirror shape.
3. Cut out each shape from the printouts.
4. Glue the printouts (design facing out) to the backs of the mirror pieces. You will end up with a piece that is mirrored on one side, and a black and white design on the other. Repeat this step for all mirror pieces.
5. Cut a long piece of wire and gently wrap it around the top end of each mirror piece. The "top end" should look like the top of an icicle. Twist the wire at the top onto itself but make sure to leave 4" excess wire to bend into a hook shape. Repeat for all pieces and set aside.
6. Pour Plasti-Dip onto a shallow tray. Please make sure you are in a well ventilated area. Don't inhale the fumes!
7. Take a spatula and coat the edges of the mirror pieces, coating even the wire and hook edges with it. To achieve a "melting" effect, let the Plasti-Dip dry and then reapply with more Plasti-Dip.
8. Let all "the icicles" dry for about an hour. Prepare your tree, garland and other ornaments while you wait. You can then use the dried icicles in many ways, whether they're for a wall hanging or your very own holiday tree or garland. The trick is to use a lot of them when decorating to achieve a maximum reflective effect.
Chris also offered to share is favorite holiday memories with us.
Favorite holiday memory: I always go back to when I lived in the Philippines. New Years there is always amazing. It's not about pretty fireworks and kisses, it's about blowing stuff up with dynamite! Literally. It's loud and dangerous. But the best part is early the next day, on January 1, when me and my brother and cousins would ride out and look for stray, non-lit fireworks pieces, gather them up and relight them all over again.
Favorite holiday movie: Home for the Holidays
Holiday shopping–get it done early or last minute: I usually tart in the beginning of December, but really, more like the middle of December. I love giving gifts but I hate shopping, so most of the time I make stuff to give as gifts.
Favorite holiday tradition: When the ball drops, I'll do my New Years kisses, but I immediately spend 30 minutes calling my friends and family from all around to wish them a happy New Year.
Most annoying holiday song: The Little Drummer Boy...snooze!
Best New Year's kiss: Hopefully the one I'm gonna get this time around.
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