5 Minute Crafts Magazine - April 2018

Kid Paintings 13 Art Ideas for the whole family

PLUS Homemade Nutella & Tea Bag Cleaning Tricks

April 2018 $5.99 (Canada) $3.99 (US)

04.2018

CONTENTS

"Sweet April showers do spring May flowers."

-Thomas Tusser

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APRIL 2018

CONTENTS

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style

home

VIDEO GREETINGS It’s becoming increasingly common to hold meetings over Skype, Zoom, and other programs and this does not just apply to work. Just like in any other social occasion, video calls have their own etiquette rules that can help you look good.

BLINDS CLEANING Dust and dirt regularly build up on blinds, which are difficult to remove because the slats are so close to each other. That’s why we usually have to remove the blinds, move them apart, remove the dirt, and hang them back when cleaning them.

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NATURAL EXFOLIANTS In addition to drinking lots of water and using sunscreen, it’s important to exfoliate your skin to keep it soft and free of dead skin cells. This includes every part of our face including, of course, our lips.

health

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55

features

food

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DRAWING MASTERS Everyone can master drawing. In the beginning, you have to learn simple techniques that develop your imagination and instill a love for creativity. For example, you can make an interesting painting out of balloons with paint, colored salt, or even colored sand.

HOMEMADE NUTELLA We all know that delicious chocolate and hazelnut spread that became a breakfast classic in many countries. Nutella is ideal for spreading on toast or it can be used to make crepes or pancakes.

51 CHINESE TRADITIONS Roasted duck with apples is a sophisticated hot dish that will become the centerpiece of your festive table. The recipe is very simple, and you’ll be happy with the results.

CHOP THESE ONIONS Some of us don’t even know what’s like to cut an onion without crying. This happens because onions release irritants directly to our eyes.

living

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HAIR LOSS Normally, a person loses about 100 hairs a day. But if you’re losing more hair than that, it might be due to nutrient deficiencies, stress, or some other factors.

PUT IN THERE PLACE Making a trivet for hot dishes is easier than you think. You just need materials that you probably have on hand, an action plan, and a little bit of time.

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APRIL 2018

departments

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EDITOR'S LETTER

61 TRICKS & TIPS

68 CHILL & DRAW COVER PHOTO © DEPOSITPHOTOS

TANYA WENMAN STEEL Editor In-Chief

FOOD DIRECTOR Annabelle Waugh FASHION & BEAUTY DIRECTOR Julia McEwen HOME & GARDEN DIRECTOR Brett Walther MANAGING EDITOR Day Helesic TEST KITCHEN SENIOR FOOD SPECIALIST Irene Fong FOOD SPECIALISTS Jennifer Bartoli, Amanda Barnier ARTICLES EDITOR, FOOD Gilean Watts INTERN Jessica Bronstein ART CONSULTING DESIGN DIRECTOR Brendan Fisher ACTING ART DIRECTOR June F. Anderson SENIOR ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR Henrietta Poon CONTRIBUTING ART DIRECTORS Lisa de Nikolits, Leanne Gilbert FEATURES HEALTH EDITOR Kate Daley CONTRIBUTING HEALTH EDITOR Tralee Pearce SPECIAL PROJECTS EDITOR Jill Buchner ASSOCIATE EDITOR, FASHION & BEAUTY Andrea Karr CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Jacqueline Kovacs COPY & OPERATIONS EDITORIAL OPERATIONS & ASSISTANT BUSINESS MANAGER Olga Goncalves Costa COPY EDITOR Stephanie Zolis CONTRIBUTING COPY EDITORS Ruth Hanley, Debbie Madsen Villamere ASSISTANT EDITOR Teresa Sousa INTERNS William Dixon, Thalia Gamage, Natalie Wong EDITORIAL DEPUTY EDITOR Jessica Pollack SENIOR EDITORS Ariel Brewster, Sadiya Dendar, Simone Olivero CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Claire Gagne ASSISTANT EDITOR Kevin John Siazon COPY EDITOR Kelly Jones PROOFREADER Janet Morassutti INTERNS Emily McDonald, Arisa Valyear ART CONTRIBUTING DESIGNER Colleen Nicholson IN-HOUSE PHOTOGRAPHERS Carmen Cheung, Erik Putz

MARKETING SERVICES & CREATIVE SOLUTIONS GENERAL SALES MANAGER Caroline K. Breton CREATIVE BRAND DIRECTOR Laura Denton CONTENT DIRECTOR Kim Alison Fraser MANAGING EDITOR Renée Sylvestre-Williams MANAGER, STRATEGY AND IDEATION Stevie Gorrie STRATEGISTS Sarah Drake, Jessica Lee, Marcela Perez ART DIRECTORS Susan Jackson, Suzanne LaCorte, Peter Robertson JUNIOR COPY WRITER Victoria DiPlacibo SENIOR DIRECTOR, CLIENT DELIVERY Stefany Pierce CAMPAIGN MANAGERS Melissa Carmichael, Ivan McBurney, Rob Stephenson, Inga Terzopoulos

PRODUCTION PRODUCTION TEAM LEAD Carol Zephyrine

RESEARCH SENIOR RESEARCH ANALYST Eva Chau MARKETING , COMMUNICATIONS & EVENTS SENIOR DIRECTOR Tracy Finkelstein MANAGER Silvana Sciortino SENIOR SPECIALIST Erin Quinn SPECIALISTS Carlie McGhee, Summer Varty, Alyson Young SENIOR DESIGNER Colin Elliott

CONSUMER MARKETING GROUP VICE-PRESIDENT, CONSUMER MARKETING Christopher Purcell GROUP CIRCULATION DIRECTOR Doris Chan PRODUCT MARKETING MANAGERS Yen Duong, Amanda Stone DIGITAL MARKETING MANAGER Jason Patterson DIRECTOR, NEWSSTAND SALES Pat Strangis

BUSINESS BUSINESS MANAGER Nancy Baker DIGITAL SOLUTIONS GROUP GENERAL MANAGER, NATIONAL PORTALS Ray Ostor

ROGERS MEDIA, INC. SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF DIGITAL PRODUCT CONTENT & PUBLISHING Steve Maich VICE PRESIDENT OF CONTENT John Intini SENIOR DIRECTOR, OPERATIONS Sean McCluskey SENIOR DIRECTOR, DIGITAL AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT Sarah Trimble DIRECTOR, BUSINESS PLANNING Chris Johnston CREATIVE DIRECTOR, CUSTOM CONTENT Christopher London DIRECTOR, DIGITAL MONETIZATION Andrew Myers VICE PRESIDENT, PRODUCT & INNOVATION Scott MacMillan EXECUTIVE EDITOR, CUSTOM PROJECTS Stefanie Di Verdi

Visit us at 5minutecrafts.site

Rogers Media Inc. can be reached at One Mount Pleasant Road, Toronto, ON M4Y 2Y5 or 1-800-268-9119

We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund of the Department of Canadian Heritage. 5 Minute Crafts is published monthly except January/February and July/August by Rogers Media, Inc. One Mount Pleasant Road, Toronto, ON M4Y 2Y5 or 1-800-2689119. Contents Copyright 2018 by Rogers Media, Inc. may not be reprinted without written permission. Article proposals and manuscripts must be accompanied by self-addressed envelopes and sufficient postage; otherwise they will not be returned or acknowledged. While the publishers will take all reasonable care, they will not be responsible for the loss of any manuscript, drawing or photograph. ISSN 0128-1839. Single copy price $5.99 + tax. Full subscription prices: Canada, 1 year (10 issues), $15 + tax. In the U.S., 1 year $45 + tax; Other countries $75 + tax, Indexed in the Canadian Periodical Index. Printed in Canada. 5 Minute Crafts, it's affiliate and assignees may use, reproduce, publish, distribute, store and archive such as unsolicited submissions in whole or in part in any form or medium whatsoever, without compensate of any sort.

EDITOR'S NOTE

Wedding Business W

hen we first married, my husband and I lived in an old row house in Washington, D.C. Every other Wednesday, I would open the door after work to find what I called The Sparkle. Cue the soaring John Williams soundtrack: Countertops shone, wood furniture was polished, floors gleamed. Those dust bunnies that had been gleefully homesteading in dark corners and under beds? Gone! The Sparkle was the result of a team of women who came through with vacuums roaring and dust cloths twirling—a cleaning service we hired during an especially busy time in our lives (ever-longer work hours for me, a graduate program and a full-time job for him). But while The Sparkle was a wonder, its magnificence—a level of cleanliness I never seemed to achieve on my own—also bedeviled me. What was their secret? Some kind of highoctane elbow grease? Magic? Elves? Magic elves with high-octane elbow grease? I had a vacuum and dust cloths, and I even enjoyed the satisfaction that came from performing a good, thorough cleaning.

Where was my Sparkle? After things settled down and we moved homes and resumed doing all the cleaning ourselves, The Sparkle became less a judgment than an aspiration, a standard I occasionally reach when incoming houseguests or some other motivation puts extra oomph in my Swiffer game. I’ve made my peace with it. I recognize that those cleaners were professionals who spent hundreds of womanhours mastering what they do, and I’ll always be an enthusiastic amateur. One whose baseboard moldings are magnets for grime and dust. That’s why we called in the pros for their best tips and tools to help you get the clean you deserve.

How was our last getaway? Should we have splurged more, or could we have spent less? Did we still feel at home in our city apartment? Was our daughter happy in public school? Now, moving on to debt... No, this wasn’t couples counseling. This was our annual planning session with our accountant, Jonathan. It’s been two decades since a wise friend sent me to Jonathan, who greeted me with the strange idea that “taxes can be fun, Tanya. And we’re going to take what you want to do with your life and make a money plan!” I’m not saying taxes are fun (accountants! crazy!), but it’s been great using that April 15 deadline as a yearly reminder to talk in a safe space about the realities of buying a home, saving for college, and investing for the future. I hope you’ll think more about preparing for high-expense life moments. Having a plan has made a difference for my money—and my marriage.

TANYA WENMAN STEEL Editor In-Chief

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APRIL 2018

style VIDEO GREETINGS It’s becoming increasingly common to hold meetings over Skype, Zoom, and other programs and this does not just apply to work. Just like in any other social occasion, video calls have their own etiquette rules that can help you look good.

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STYLE Good lighting

Position your camera at eye-level

The most important thing to remember is that you want to avoid harsh shadows on your face, which happens when you shine a direct light on your face from the side or above. You will get the best result when you have a soft diffused light shining on you, which you can achieve in a few different ways: The best option is always to have a window in front of you, since light from the outside will provide the most natural look.

If your work area does not allow you to sit in front of a window, you can get a desk lamp and shine the light on the wall that is behind the computer.

You can also buy a special LED desk lamp, that will provide very natural diffused lighting.

Place your camera in front of you, at eye-level, in such a position that you will have to look slightly up.

This makes you automatically lift up your chin a bit, resulting in a fresh and younger look. If the camera is too low, you risk showing more chins that you actually have.

Sit at least an arm’s length away from the camera The idea is to place yourself in the center and in front of the camera. Back yourself up from the camera about one arm’s length to show only the parts of your body that go from your armpits up until just above your head. This way your entire face can be captured onscreen.

Think about what you have in the background Make sure the room that you are in doesn’t have a lot of distractions, like piles of paper, a busy piece of art, or too many plants. Instead, try to sit down in front of a blank wall. Simple backgrounds will help you to look even more professional on camera. And even though it is tempting to put yourself in front of a bookshelf to show off your literary background, it is suggested that you avoid busy backgrounds like that, as they will distract the viewer from the most important part of the call — you.

Tip: If you don’t have a nice background or you’d rather not have people peeking inside of your home, you can set a virtual background on most of the video call services.

Look at the preview before entering the call Most video call services give you the opportunity to look at a preview of yourself in the camera before starting the call. Make sure you arrive on time to your meeting so that you have the time to check your appearance before showing it to everyone on the call.

Tip: On Zoom, you even have the option to touch up your appearance a little before entering the call, which will give you slightly smoother skin and fix the lighting around you.

Check the quality of your webcam Upgrade your webcam if it’s built into your computer.

If your camera has 720p quality, you’ll be better off purchasing a USB webcam that plugs into your computer or laptop. This way, you can look really crisp and professional in your video calls.

Look at the camera Looking someone in the eyes during a conversation is the key to making a social or professional connection.

Because of this, we tend to look at the other people in the chat while talking. Remind yourself that you will only get the same effect of looking your co-workers in the eye by talking straight into the camera.

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STYLE

NATURAL EXFOLIANTS

In addition to drinking lots of water and using sunscreen, it’s important to exfoliate your skin to keep it soft and free of dead skin cells. This includes every part of our face including, of course, our lips.

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STYLE Honey

Salt

1 tbsp of honey 1 tbsp of olive oil 1 tbsp of brown sugar

1 tbsp of salt 1 tbsp of coconut oil 1. Stir until a firm mixture is obtained. Add a little more salt if necessary.

2. Apply by massaging your lips in a circular motion and rinse with cold water.

1. You can add any essential oil of your preference to the mix, but read the instructions carefully, as some can be harmful if used in high quantities.

2. Apply to your lips, massage with circular movements, and rinse with cold water.

Coffee 1 tbsp of ground coffee 2 tbsp of olive oil 1. Once applied, leave on for 5 minutes, and rinse with warm water. Afterward, moisturize your lips with Vaseline or lip balm.

2. If the coffee doesn’t stick to your lips, try to use coffee that is more finely ground.

Sugar

Baking Soda

1 tbsp of Vaseline 1 tbsp of white sugar

1 tbsp of honey 1 tbsp baking soda ⅓ tbsp of olive oil

1. You have to stir for a while so that both ingredients are well combined.

2. Apply the mixture to your lips, massage it, and leave it to work for a few minutes. Remove it with warm water and a towel.

1. You will get a smooth and creamy mixture. Apply by massaging gently and leave on for 2 minutes.

Then, rinse with warm water.

General tips for having soft lips: After exfoliating your lips, use a moisturizer to hydrate them and finish the process.

Store your natural exfoliants in a cool, dry place in a glass container. If you detect strange consistencies or aromas, avoid using them.

Do not exfoliate your skin more than necessary, as this could generate lesions or irritation. In general, it is recommended to exfoliate your lips once a week and to do it during the night.

If you detect allergic reactions, avoid using any of the products we mentioned above and instead opt for hypoallergenic exfoliants.

Remember that exfoliants are only a complement to healthy skin. Drink plenty of water, eat healthily, and use lip balms with sunscreen.

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home BLINDS CLEANING

Dust and dirt regularly build up on blinds, which are difficult to remove because the slats are so close to each other. That’s why we usually have to remove the blinds, move them apart, remove the dirt, and hang them back when cleaning them. This process is tedious and timeconsuming, which is why we often postpone cleaning the blinds for as long as possible.

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HOME REMOVE THE DUST WITH A BRUSH.

1. Take a paintbrush, wet it with water, and place it perpendicular to the blinds.

2. Push the brush into the blinds and remove the dust.

3. Do the same with each slat and wash the brush when needed.

USE GLOVES

1. Take a bowl of water and put in 1 tbsp of baking soda.

2. Stir the water until the baking soda dissolves.

3. Put on a glove on your hard and submerge it in the bowl.

To protect your hand, you can also wear a latex glove underneath.

4. Clean each slat with the glove and baking soda solution.

USE A SPONGE

1. Take 2 sponges. Cut a wide hole on the side of each of them using scissors.

2. Grab a pair of kitchen tongs.

3. Put the tongs into the holes you made in the sponges.

4. Wet the sponges and use them to clean the blinds.

5. You can do the same with vertical blinds.

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HOME

CHOP THESE ONIONS Some of us don’t even know what’s like to cut an onion without crying. This happens because onions release irritants directly to our eyes.

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HOME

CHILL THE ONIONS Chill the onions in the fridge or freezer a few minutes before cutting them. This will prevent the compounds from rising toward your eyes.

USE A SHARP KNIFE A sharp knife will be less damaging to cell walls and will end up releasing less irritants.

CUT UNDER COLD WATER Cold water lowers the temperature of the onion and consequently reduces the amount of irritants reaching your eyes.

CHOP NEAR A SMALL FAN The circulating air that comes from the fan will blow away the irritant compounds present in the onions, so they don’t reach your eyes.

KEEP THE EXPOSED CUTS AWAY FROM YOU Start by cutting your onion in half, and as soon as you do this, turn both halves down. The side you will cut last should remain unpeeled. Once you slice the first half, move it into a prep bowl. The trick is to never have exposed parts facing your eyes for very long.

CUT THE ROOT LAST When cutting the onion, save the root for last.

The root has a higher concentration of enzymes and cutting it last can prevent you from a crying session.

USE ONION GOGGLES If none of the above work for you, you can always buy onion goggles, which can be found in specialty cooking shops or home stores.

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health

HAIR LOSS Normally, a person loses about 100 hairs a day.

But if you’re losing more hair than that, it might be due to nutrient deficiencies, stress, or some other factors.

Warning: If you experience sudden hair loss, hair loss in patches, or your scalp also itches and burns, you should see your doctor.

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HEALTH Eat more protein.

Hair follicles are made mostly of a protein called keratin.

That’s why a diet rich in protein will protect and strengthen your hair. ✅ Include a palm-sized portion of protein (about 120 g) in your breakfast and lunch. ✅ The foods you should consume more of are lentils, soybeans, beans, seeds, nuts, eggs, fish, peas, chicken, and turkey.

Style your hair properly.

Consume more biotin.

Biotin, or vitamin H, improves your body’s keratin structure.

In general, you should take about 30 mcg to 100 mcg of it a day. ✅ Add more biotin-rich foods into your diet. These may include organ meat (like liver or kidney), eggs, nuts (like almonds, peanuts, or walnuts), soybeans and other legumes, whole grains, bananas, cauliflower, and mushrooms. ✅ Choose raw or minimally-processed dishes as heat can reduce biotin’s efficacy.

⛔ Don’t wear tight braids or ponytails as they pull on your hair from the root and put too much stress on it. ⛔ Don’t use heavy styling creams and serums as they can also add unnecessary weight to your hair. ✅ Choose loose hairstyles without any styling creams instead. ⛔ Avoid heat stylers, like curling wands or straightening irons, as they can damage or break the hair shaft. ✅ If you want to curl your hair, use rollers or any other DIY methods. ⛔ Avoid brushing wet hair if you don’t want to increase hair loss. ✅ Brush your hair when it’s completely dry. But if you still must comb wet hair, use a wide tooth comb.

Apply essential oil.

Cedarwood essential oil reduces hair loss by balancing the oil-producing glands in your scalp. It also has antifungal and antibacterial properties. ✅ Mix a few drops of cedarwood essential oil with 2 tablespoons of a carrier oil (like jojoba or grapeseed) in a bowl. ✅ Using your fingers, massage the mixture into your scalp and leave it on for 10 minutes. ✅ Wash your hair as usual.

Tip: Instead of cedarwood essential oil, you can also use thyme essential oil, rosemary oil, lavender oil, or peppermint oil.

Try an onion hair mask.

Onion contains folic acid, vitamins B, C, and E, phosphorus, zinc, potassium, magnesium, and carotene. All these nutrients can help you regrow your hair. ✅ Grate an onion and press the juice out of it. ✅ Take a cotton pad and dab the onion juice on your scalp with it. ✅ Leave it for 20-30 minutes, then wash the mask off. ✅ Repeat the process twice a week.

Reduce your stress level.

Stress can cause your hair to stop growing and may lead to excessive shedding. ✅ Practice yoga. Some of the most effective poses are downward facing dog, forward bend, and camel pose. ✅ Meditate and practice breathing techniques. They will help you focus on the present moment and make you feel better.

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April 39

APRIL 2018

Drawing Masters Everyone can master drawing. In the beginning, you have to learn simple techniques that develop your imagination and instill a love for creativity. For example, you can make an interesting painting out of balloons with paint, colored salt, or even colored sand.

Balloons and tempera balloons primed canvas tempera and acrylic paints a sheet of cardboard Start with the background. Paint the top of the canvas with blue and white paint, and the bottom with light brown paint. Squeeze violet, white, and purple paints onto a plate. Dip the inflated balloon in them several times to mix the colors together.

Then touch the canvas with the balloon to create flowers. Make leaves with a smaller balloon using the same technique. Draw a vase on cardboard and cut it out, and then glue it to the canvas under the bouquet.

Glue, pastels, and colored sand clear PVA glue colored sand oil pastels a sheet of black cardstock Use glue to draw chaotic streaks on the sheet.

Sprinkle them with colored sand on top before the glue dries. Wait 10 minutes. Blow off the excess sand, then paint over the empty spaces with different colored oil pastels.

Crayons and gouache crayons black gouache a wooden stick with a sharp end (chopsticks work well too) a cardboard sheet First paint the cardboard sheet with wax crayons in a chaotic manner. Try to alternate contrasting colors, or simply paint the entire space with a rainbow. Then cover the entire sheet with black gouache. Wait until it dries. Now mark the outlines of the future drawing with a pencil and gently scrape it with a wooden stick, removing the black film from the cardboard.

Ink, gouache, cotton swabs, and a straw black ink cotton swabs gouache a straw 2 thick sheets of paper and cardboard

Salt, glue, and watercolor paint

Spill some ink on the bottom of the paper or cardboard. Use a straw to blow on the ink so that it spreads in different directions, to resemble a tree with branches. Then take cotton swabs, dip them in gouache, and draw red and white flowers, like in the photo above. Now, cut out a vase from another sheet of paper or cardboard, paint it, and glue it to the base of the tree.

clear PVA glue salt watercolor paints a sheet of black cardboard Use glue to draw butterflies. Then sprinkle it generously with salt before it gets dry. Wait 10 minutes. Put a brush into the paint and slightly wet it with water to color the butterflies.

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Palms, gouache, and markers gouache markers a sheet of paper Pour gouache onto a plate or in any other container, dip your left palm in it, and place it on the paper so that the base of your palm is in the center of the sheet, while your fingers point to the left. Repeat your actions with your right palm, placing the print of your palm on the right side of the paper symmetrically to the left. Now, draw the claws, eyes, and eyebrows of a crab with markers.

Don’t be afraid to experiment. This way you can turn the prints of your kid’s hands and feet into funny drawings and then give them to your family and friends.

Duct tape, acrylic paint, and kitchen sponges duct tape acrylic paints a kitchen sponge a thick sheet of paper Cover the sheet of paper with duct tape as shown in the photo above. Then paint the free spaces, combining colors according to the principle of a gradient (from darker to lighter shades). Use a sponge to move from one corner to another, touching the paints and gently mixing the colors together. Let the paints dry and remove the tape.

Acrylic paints and a hairdryer acrylic paints hair dryer a sheet of cardboard Squeeze some acrylic paint out on a sheet of cardboard in different places.

Use a hairdryer to blow on the spots and spread the paint over the sheet. Then apply white paint on top with bold drops and blow them over the sheet, also using a hairdryer.

Acrylic paints and wool thread acrylic paints wool thread a sheet of cardboard

Acrylic paints and a hair brush acrylic paints a hairbrush with bristles a sheet of cardboard

Cover the cardboard with black paint.

Pour yellow and orange paints into an empty container and dip the wool thread into the resulting mix. Take the thread out and put it on the sheet in a spiral shape. Then, by moving from the edge of the sheet to the center, gently pull the thread up, gradually lifting it to form splotches.

Draw a tree trunk and branches on a sheet of cardboard.

Then put red paint on the bristles and by touching the sheet gently, paint the crown of the tree. Repeat your actions with yellow paint to add volume to the leaves.

Try to add more details to the drawing with the same technique. Cover the bottom of the sheet with yellow and green strokes to imitate grass under the tree.

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Pastels, soap, and gouache oil pastels black gouache a bird-shaped stencil a bar of soap a metal sponge a sheet of cardboard Paint the entire sheet with pastel crayons. Then cover the entire surface of the drawing with soap and paint over it with black gouache. Wait until it’s dry. Attach the stencil to the sheet and use a metal sponge to wipe off the top layer of gouache.

Gouache, a kitchen sponge, and pieces of paper gouache a kitchen sponge paper pieces a sheet of paper First, create a background by painting the sky.

Then tear the pieces of paper so that they resemble mountains and hills in silhouette. Apply them to the sheet and use them as stencils. Paint with a sponge. Try combining different colors to make the picture look 3-D.

A plastic bag and acrylic paint a plastic bag acrylic paints a spatula a sheet of cardboard Cover the sheet with purple paint first and then with white paint. Take a plastic bag, fill it with air, and touch the sheet with it as shown in the photo above. With the help of a spatula, paint the leaves and stem of the flowers.

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food HOMEMADE NUTELLA We all know that delicious chocolate and hazelnut spread that became a breakfast classic in many countries. Nutella is ideal for spreading on toast or it can be used to make crepes or pancakes. In fact, the possibilities are endless.

And the nice thing about it is that you don’t have to buy it already made at the supermarket. You can also just make it at home and tweak the recipe to your liking.

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FOOD

HAZELNUT SPREAD Ingredients 100 g (1 cup) hazelnuts 200 g (1 cup) semi-sweet chocolate 200 g (¾ cup) condensed milk 1½ tablespoons honey A food processor or a blender 1. Toast the hazelnuts in a frying pan over medium heat until golden brown.

Make sure you stir them often so they don’t burn. They can also be toasted in the oven at 200ºC (350ºF) for about 8 minutes or until they begin to give off their characteristic aroma.

2. Peel the hazelnuts. The easy way to do this is to wrap them in a kitchen towel and make gentle movements as if you were kneading, which will make the skin come off easily without you having to peel each of the hazelnuts one by one.

3. Place the peeled hazelnuts in a blender or food processor and grind them several times until the natural oil of the nuts create a sort of paste. Open the food processor from time to time and, with a spatula, stir the paste a bit to make sure there are no loose chunks, and then keep blending.

Repeat the process several times until you get a thick, creamy, and smooth paste. Set aside.

4. Place the chocolate and condensed milk in a bowl and melt them au bain marie. Make sure you’re stirring continuously so that the mixture won’t burn.

5. Add the chocolate and condensed milk mixture to the paste you made by grinding the hazelnuts while it is still warm. Then add the honey which, together with the condensed milk, will sweeten your homemade spread.

6. Blend the mixture again for a few minutes in the food processor or blender so that all the ingredients are well combined. When the paste takes on the consistency of a spread, you just have to transfer it to a jar and enjoy.

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FOOD

CHINESE TRADITIONS

Roasted duck with apples is a sophisticated hot dish that will become the centerpiece of your festive table. The recipe is very simple, and you’ll be happy with the results.

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FOOD

ROASTED DUCK WITH APPLES Ingredients a 4-pound duck 5 medium-sized apples (choose apples with a sweet and sour taste) 10 ounces of prunes 2 tbsp of soy sauce 2 tbsp of Dijon mustard 1 tbsp of olive oil 2 tbsp of honey 1 tbsp of salt 1 tbsp of a mixture of ground pepper 1. Wash the duck, and dab it dry with a paper towel. See if there is a sachet with liver inside the carcass. If so, remove it.

2. Mix salt and pepper, and rub the poultry inside and outside.

3. Make a marinade by mixing the soy sauce, mustard, olive oil, and honey.

4. Place the duck into a mold or on a rimmed baking tray. Cover the duck thoroughly with the marinade inside and outside. Use the entire marinade you made. Leave the duck to marinate for 2 hours.

5. Prepare the apples and prunes. Wash the apples, core them, and cut each of them into 8 pieces.

6. After the duck has been marinating for a couple of hours, fill it tightly with apples and prunes. Fasten the edges with toothpicks. Put the remaining apples and prunes that don’t fit inside, around the poultry.

7. Tuck the skin of the duck’s neck inward, under the breast bone.

8. Preheat the oven to 360°F. Put the duck in the oven, cover it with aluminum foil. Roast it for about 90 minutes. About 15 minutes before the end of cooking, remove the foil to brown the duck. Pierce the meat with a toothpick to check if it’s done. If the liquid flowing out of the hole is clear, the bird is ready.

9. Serve the duck on a big plate decorated with the fruits it was roasted with.

10. Bon appetite!

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living

PUT IN THERE PLACE Making a trivet for hot dishes is easier than you think. You just need materials that you probably have on hand, an action plan, and a little bit of time.

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LIVING

FELT yellow or white felt (you’ll need approximately 1 sheet of felt in a white or yellow color) yellow and white threads to match the felt a needle a hot glue gun tailor’s chalk, a pencil, or a pen a ruler sewing pins 1. Cut out 2 equal circles of yellow felt about 6 inches in diameter and 1 circle 5 inches in diameter. You’ll also need 1 circle of white felt that is 5.5 inches in diameter.

2. Divide the smallest circle into 8 equal pieces with the help of the ruler and cut it along the lines.

3. Place the parts of the yellow circle on the white one, piece-by-piece, and secure them with the pins.

4. Sew the parts of the yellow circle to the white one with small stitches.

Hide the knots in the back.

5. Place the white circle on the big yellow circle and sew it along the edge. Try to make stitches small and equal-sized, and place them equal distance from each other.

6. Glue the 2 big yellow circles together with the help of the hot glue gun. The trivet is ready!

WINE CORKS wine corks thick cardboard binder twine a hot glue gun a cutter a pencil 1. Cut a circle about 8 inches in diameter out of thick cardboard. If you don’t have a compass, you can use a small saucer to make the circle perfect.

2. Cut each wine cork into equal parts about 0.2 to 0.4 inches thick. Glue them to the cardboard base with the help of the hot glue gun. Start from the center placing them down and making some sort of a flower pattern with 6 petals. Mover further to the outer edge of the trivet filling the space with the cork parts.

3. If the base is too visible from under the corks, cut it with scissors.

4. Decorate the outer edge of the trivet with the binder twine. Use the hot glue gun to secure it.

CHOPSTICKS COFFEE BEANS, BUTTONS, AND PEBBLES chopsticks a hot glue gun

1. Take 2 chopsticks and make the base of the future trivet. Place them at a distance of approximately 8 inches apart from each other.

2. Start gluing pairs of sticks on top, making gaps of about 0.2 inches from each other. Lifehack: To make sure the gaps are equal, use a chopstick. Just place it between the pairs when gluing them.

3. Continue to glue the sticks until you cover the base fully.

thick cardboard a hot glue gun scissors a pencil flat pebbles, coffee beans, or buttons of the same height (to your choosing) white, brown, or black acrylic paint 1. Cut a circle approximately 8 inches in diameter out of cardboard. This will be the base.

2. Cover one or both sides of the base with the acrylic paint, and let it dry.

3. Start gluing the beans, buttons, or pebbles moving along the circle from the edge to the center.

4. Let the trivet dry.

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LIVING

WOODEN DISCS 12 small wooden discs a hot glue gun 1. Place the discs on the flat surface to make them look like a flower with 6 petals.

2. Cover the sides of the discs with glue and glue them together.

3. Put the second level of discs on top of the first one. Place the discs above the gaps of the first level, covering their backsides with glue.

4. Let the glue dry.

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TIPS & TRICKS

TEA CLEANING

Tea is one of the most popular drinks in the world — after water, of course. There are many reasons for this. Not only can it make for a delicious drink, but it also has ingredients with special properties that, depending on the nutrient, will remain active even after the drink has been prepared. That’s why you don’t always have to throw away your tea bags after using them.

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TIPS & TRICKS

To clean wood surfaces 1. Place the used black tea bag in hot water and let it sit for 10 minutes.

2. Dampen a cloth in the resulting infusion.

3. Clean any wooden surface.

For pest control To clean windows and glass 1. Take several tea bags and place them in a cup or a glass for 20 minutes.

2. Filter the liquid and place it in an atomizer.

3. Apply it to the glass you want to clean 4. Rub it with a lint-free cloth or a newspaper.

1. Make an infusion with several tea bags.

2. Place the resulting tea in a spray bottle.

3. Spray your plants.

To eliminate bad smells from your hands

For cooking

Normally, when you chop garlic or onion, you end up having that annoying smell in your hands.

Thankfully, the remedy is to just take any used tea bags and aggressively rub them in your hands.

The tannins contained in tea are very effective for softening meat. You just have to prepare an infusion of black tea with leftover tea bags and marinate the meat with them.

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TIPS & TRICKS To remove bad smell from shoes To remove any bad smell from worn shoes, you might want to consider putting a couple of dry tea bags inside them. The tannins contained in tea can help remove bad odors.

To take care of your face Green tea contains antioxidants that are helpful when it comes to taking care of your skin. Just take a used tea bag, wait until it is cold, and rub it on your face.

To repel bugs and other pests Mint has repellent properties for certain insects.

Place mint tea bags at strategic points in the room and these will serve as a natural repellent to common insects and pests like spiders and mice.

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TIPS & TRICKS

For degreasing and dishwashing 1. Take 3 or 4 tea bags and make an infusion with them.

2. Soak your dishes in the infusion and add a few drops of detergent.

3. Wash your dishes normally. You can also rub the tea bags directly on the dirty dishes.

For an antioxidant shower Antioxidants contained in tea are a recommended ingredient when it comes to skincare. To get the best out of them, place tea bags in the warm water of the bathtub. If you do not have a bathtub, you can place the tea bags directly over the water outlet in your shower.

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CHILL & DRAW

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