FDC – Page 201 – Factory Direct Craft Blog

FDC

With a passionate colorer around the house, it’s been hard lately to keep up with all those marker and all those marker caps. Inevitably, one (or three) would show up capless at the end of the day, too dry to salvage. This project dresses up an old teacher trick to help keep those caps from getting lost and help the makers last longer. And bonus! It also keeps them from rolling all over when your little artist is hard at work!

Things you’ll need:
Markers
Plaster of Paris
Shallow flower pot
Tempera paint
Ribbon
Glue
Painters tape
Disposable container and stirrer

Things to do:
1. Start off my masking off the hole on the bottom of the pot. Use at least two layers of tape and smooth down well.

2. In a disposable container, mix 2 parts plaster to one part water and stir until smooth. Plaster will begin to harden within a few minutes to you’ll want to have everything ready before you mix.

3. Add tempera paint, a tablespoon at a time, and mix into the plaster until you have the color you are after.

4. Pour the plaster into the pot and tap lightly to work out any bubbles and smooth the surface.

5. Insert your markers, lids down, into the plaster, leaving about 1/2 inch between each lid.

6. Using a generous bead of glue, wrap the rim with ribbon, folding the raw end over to avoid fraying.
7. Allow the plaster to dry completely before using.

DIY Homemade Laundry Soap

FDC

If you’ve made a mason jar soap pump for your bathroom, perhaps you’re looking for something interesting to put in it? I’ve spent a lot of time ridding my house of as many harsh chemical cleaners as I can and one of my favorite DIY cleaning items is homemade laundry soap, just the thing for a pump jar!

Things you’ll need:
1-cup borax
1-cup washing soda (not baking soda)
Bar of soap
2-cups Water
Food Processor or grater
Pot or pan
Mason dispenser jar or dispenser pump kit and mason jar
Immersion blender

Things to do:
1. Grate the bar of soap finely in the food processor or with the grater. Melt the soap gently in the pot of water.

2. Remove the pot from heat and add in the borax and washing soda. Stir until dissolved.
3. Pour enough of the soap mixture into each of your jars until they are 1/4 full. Add enough water to fill each jar to be about 3/4 full.

4. Allow the mixture to sit up for a few hours. It will separate as it hardens, but that’s ok.
5. Use your emersion blender to emulsify the mixture. Once it’s blended, it will stay slightly fluffy and gel like. If it’s too thick, add a little more water to thin it, blending to evenly disperse the liquid.
6. Add your pump top and a label to your jar. Use two to three pumps of soap per load.

DIY Marker Saver

DIY Homemade Laundry Soap

Before you go