DIY magazine

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.

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Team DIY Month of Storage: Tip of the Day

Written on January 26, 2010 at 10:18 am, by Team DIY

Before you recycle glass jars, consider using them as under-cabinet office storage for little things like rubber bands, thumbtacks, and paperclips. Use glue or screws to affix the jar lid to the underside of your cabinet. Now you’re ready to screw the glass jar onto the lid for easy-access storage.

This idea also works in the pantry, or, here, in our armoire-turned-pantry.

Any other fabulous storage uses for old jars? Share them here!

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Giveaway Time!

Written on October 14, 2009 at 3:41 pm, by Team DIY

Rockin’ giveaway alert! Win a bunch of cool goods from our fall 2009 cover shoot. Click here to get in on the action!

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