Make It Monday: Clay Valentine Hearts

Written on February 8, 2010 at 4:28 pm, by East Coast Style (Sarah Goldschadt)

This year make your valentine a special gift that can be displayed year-round. The best part is it won’t break the bank, and it can be made with a few things you have around the house.

In addition to the ingredients for the flour clay, you’ll also need:

• heart-shaped cookie cutters (I used the fondant shapes from Michael’s)
• baking sheet
• parchment paper
• straws
• toothpicks
• yarn
• scissors
• paint (optional)
• polyurethane (optional)

DIY Tip: Use a straw to poke holes in the top of the shapes. Snip off the end of the straw once it’s used so each hole is clean.

Homemade Flour Clay

• 2 cups flour
• 1/2 cup salt
• 1 cup water
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• red food coloring
• 1 egg, beaten

Directions
Mix ingredients together and knead. If you choose to add food coloring, separate the “dough” into as many parts as you wish.

Use a cookie cutter to make shapes and brush egg on top.

Bake on a cookie sheet with parchment paper  at 300˚ for one hour.

Shapes can be painted with acrylic paint and finished with a polyurethane finish.

Note: This recipe made enough clay for three colors and two baking sheets full of shapes.

---

Learning to Crochet: Fingerless Gloves Pattern

Written on December 3, 2009 at 3:12 pm, by East Coast Style (Sarah Goldschadt)

My friend Alicia is the crochet queen. She can crochet s’mores, ice cream cones, and even adorable safety cones. A few years ago she taught me the basics of how to crochet, and after a few projects I’ve been favoring my crochet hook over my knitting needles (sorry needles, I promise not to neglect you forever).

So this season with my gray color obsession in full swing and thought bubbles of fingerless gloves over my head, I set out to make the perfect pair. Mr. Google linked me to the pattern of my dreams and helped calm my fears when the crochet language of “Sc tbl in first fsc” almost stopped me in my tracks. Fast-forward to a weekend of being sick in bed with a cold and watching old episodes of My So-Called Life on Hulu, and my beautiful crochet gloves were born. The next time you’re daunted by a pattern, don’t be afraid. Take a deep breath and carry on. You won’t be disappointed. I promise.

---

Brooklyn Thanksgiving

Written on November 24, 2009 at 3:42 pm, by East Coast Style (Sarah Goldschadt)

Over the past few years, my friend Emily has been the gracious host to the 20 or so “orphans” who stay home over Thanksgiving. We pile into her homey apartment, watch The Muppet Christmas Carol, stuff ourselves on the array of dishes everyone brings, and give thanks. This year Emily hosted an early Thanksgiving, because she was heading out of town for the holiday. My attempt at making a new dessert failed, but who knew apple-cake-that-won’t-come-out-of-the-Bundt-pan could be turned into apple stuffing? And when paired with Emily’s homemade chestnut ice cream, it was pretty darn good.

This year, I also added a classic elementary school craft to the mix: pilgrim hats! All you need are a few basic supplies to cardstock paper into something fun, festive, and wearable.

Download the patterns here: ThanksgivingHats

---

Go, Go Party Ghosts!

Written on October 22, 2009 at 8:51 am, by East Coast Style (Sarah Goldschadt)

Yes, I’ll admit it. I can be a party-planning nerd. It seems that whenever I come up with a theme for a party, craft ideas immediately start exploding out of my brain. I try not to go too overboard and to keep decorations and food affordable, but my favorite part is making the DIY party crafts — aka, it’s OK to be a kid again. This year, instead of the usual orange-theme pumpkin party, I decided to go with a black-and-white-theme ghost party! So what are you waiting for? Here are a few simple projects.

Cupcake Toppers!

I’ve consumed more cupcakes the last few years than I ever did as a child. New Yorkers love their cupcakes, and with that said, no cupcake is complete without a fun little topper. So why not make your own? It’s easy. I promise.

You’ll need:

• Scissors
• Double-stick tape (or glue stick)
• Toothpicks

Download and print the cupcake toppers right here: Cupcake Toppers

Cut out and crease the middle. Place the double-stick tape on one side and place the toothpick in the center. Fold down. And viola! That’s it!

Cooooookies!

Sugar cookies are easy to make, and creating fun shapes and frosting is the best part. Did you know it’s also easy to make your own cookie cutter? Those cheap tin pans from dollar stores can do the trick.

Download the pattern here: Cutout Cookies

Cut 1-inch strips with a utility knife (make sure you have a self-healing mat or cardboard underneath). Staple strips together and arrange them over the pattern and secure with staples. Be careful not to cut yourself!

Use your favorite sugar cookie recipe and roll out your dough 1/4-inch think. Don’t worry if you don’t have a rolling pin; a wine bottle dusted with flour does the trick too. Gently push the cutter in the dough to create your shape. Bake the dough on parchment paper.

Once your cookies have cooled, ice those babies. Use food coloring to make the frosting black for the eyes. Then put the frosting in a Ziploc bag and cut off a small corner. Make dots on parchment paper and let dry.

Photomania!

Photos are great keepsakes. And this is a great excuse to make your friends dress up. Make your own “photo booth” with a fabric background (hello, IKEA sheets), helium balloons, and these fun, downloadable faces: Ghost Faces

To make the stick faces, cut out and attach them to bamboo skewers with tape.

Now put on that ghoulish grin and party on!

Ghost photos by Samatha Grass. All other photos by Sarah Goldschadt. All projects by Sarah Goldschadt.

---