5 Minute Crafts Magazine - March 2020

Parents Special Easy dollhouse for the whole family

PLUS Cookie Desserts & Meringue In A Stick

March 2020 $5.99 (Canada) $3.99 (US)

march 2020

CONTENTS

"People don’t take trips, trips take people" -John Steinbeck

5

MARCH 2020

CONTENTS

57

style

13

DYE NATURALLY If you want to dye your hair, doing it with natural methods and avoiding chemicals is always a good option. Most traditional hair dyes contain substances that could have negative effects on your health.

16

TATTOO ARTISTS INTO HAIRSTYLISTS Henna is a good option for people who want to dye their hair using only natural dyes, thus avoiding chemical products. Still, you should keep in mind that this natural dye can’t change the color of your hair completely like chemical dying does.

51

home

21

CHILD SAFETY Every parent is aware that when you have kids in the house, the place is bound to get cluttered. You cannot stop the mess, but you can surely control it in some nifty ways.

26

CHINA CERAMICS INTO DIY It can happen that your favorite cup breaks into pieces, but you can’t find it in you to throw it away.

Sometimes you get a mug as a present but you don’t like it and it stays in the back of your cabinet gathering dust.

health

35

SANITIZING HANDS You may find yourself in a situation where you can’t wash your hands but still need to keep them germfree. When this happens, you can use your own hand sanitizer

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features

40

CITY PHOTOS You don’t need expensive equipment to take beautiful photos — all you need to do is use your imagination. For example, a photographer only needs to get into a special position to create the effect of levitation in a photo, while a model will only need to stand on her tiptoes.

Moreover, the shots showing diving into the water can be easily captured with the help of an ordinary glass.

food

45

CREAMY FLUFFS Meringue is a tasty and easy-to-cook dessert that leaves space for creativity and fantasy. For example, a meringue on a stick can become a nice present for both adults and kids, whether it’s for a special occasion or simply no occasion at all.

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MARCH 2020

51

COOKIE CRUSH Chocolate cookies with filling are a common choice for many people. Some of us like them just as they are, while others prefer to dip them in milk — and then there are those who like them with a cup of coffee. They’re so popular, they’ve become a staple on people’s grocery lists to appease various sweet cravings.

living

57

DREAM HOUSE You can do many toys yourself. This way, you will save money and know exactly what the toy is made of and how safe it is. Besides, the process of creation can be really entertaining for both a child, and an adult.

departments

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EDITOR'S LETTER

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TRICKS & TIPS

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CHILL & DRAW COVER PHOTO © 5-MINUTE CRAFTS / YOUTUBE

PILAR GUZMÁN 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

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 PRODUCTION PRODUCTION MANAGER Pat Danaher DIGITAL COLOUR SPECIALIST Nicole Duplantis (on leave), Katarina Marinic

ART CONTRIBUTING DESIGNER Colleen Nicholson IN-HOUSE PHOTOGRAPHERS Carmen Cheung, Erik Putz

ST. JOSEPH COMMUNICATIONS CHAIRMAN + CEO Tony Gagliano VICE-CHAIRMAN John Gagliano PRESIDENT & PUBLISHER, SJC MEDIA Ken Hunt SENIOR VICE-PRESIDENT, REVENUE Lynn Chambers VICE-PRESIDENT, CONTENT & CREATIVE Maryam Sanati MANAGING DIRECTOR, CONSUMER REVENUE Allan Yue MANAGING DIRECTOR, RESEARCH & CONSUMER INSIGHTS Clarence Poirier MANAGING DIRECTOR, MARKETING Nadine Silverthorne DIRECTOR, CUSTOMER SUCCESS Terry Smith DIRECTOR, PRODUCTION Maria Mendes MANAGING DIRECTOR, Branded Content Sasha Emmons HEAD OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Jason Maghanoy DIRECTOR, MARKETING SPONSORSHIPS Jessika Fink

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5 Minute Crafts is published by St. Joseph Communications, 15 Benton Road, Toronto M6M 3G2. Montreal office: 249, rue Saint-Jacques, Bureau 201, Montréal H2Y 1M6. Vancouver advertising office: 180 West 2nd Avenue, Vancouver V5Y 3T9. Contents copyright 2020 by St. Joseph Communications; 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 0009-1995. Single copy price: $4.99 + tax. Full subscription prices: Canada, 1 year (10 issues), $15 + tax. In U.S., 1 year, $45; foreign countries, $75. Indexed in the Canadian Periodical Index. Printed in Canada by St. Joseph Communications, Print. We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada. 5 Minute Crafts receives unsolicited materials (including letters to the editor, press releases, promotional items and images) from time to time. 5 Minute Crafts, its affiliates and assignees may use, reproduce, publish, republish, distribute, store and archive such unsolicited submissions in whole or in part in any form or medium whatsoever, without compensation of any sort. This statement does not apply to materials and/or pitches submitted by freelance writers, photographers or illustrators in accordance with known industry practices.

EDITOR'S NOTE

Hunger Helps T

he idea of suggesting New Year’s resolutions seemed a bit boring and potentially preachy to us, so instead we decided to dedicate this issue to simply making 2020 a really great year. That means we aren’t going to ask that you make a list of impossible-to-keep promises, like going to the gym for an hour a day or giving up carbs. After all, shouldn’t the goal be to feel better—not deprived and miserable— inside and out? We thought about what makes us happy and collectively decided it’s a combination of more energy, less stress and looking great.

I've learned many things about the kids my daughter goes to public school with. For example, more of the girls than the boys play hockey (a point of pride for this mother of a hockey-playing girl), the twins are genetically identical but physically dissimilar (I get a refresher at every classmate’s birthday party) and one kid is severely allergic to sesame (so we help keep him safe by avoiding seeded breads in packed lunches). What’s harder to figure out, though, is which of the 23 kids in Isobel’s class go to school hungry.

Studies indicate that nearly one-third of Canadian elementary school students—which amounts to seven of Isobel’s friends—face the day without the benefit of a healthful breakfast; by high school, the proportion of kids missing breakfast jumps to 62 percent.

These kids are at risk of falling behind in their studies, struggling with behavioural problems and even developing medical problems related to malnutrition. Shockingly, Canadian doctors are seeing cases of rickets again, many years after the weakened-bone condition was all but obliterated by the wide availability of milk and other food products fortified with vitamin D. So what can we do to help? Some schools in high-risk neighbourhoods run in-house nutrition programs, but these are expensive to operate and receive only partial funding from provincial and municipal governments. What’s more, there’s no assistance at the federal level, making Canada the only G8 country without a national nutrition program.

PILAR GUZMÁN Editor In-Chief

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MARCH 2020

DYE NATURALLY

style

If you want to dye your hair, doing it with natural methods and avoiding chemicals is always a good option. Most traditional hair dyes contain substances that could have negative effects on your health. Not only that, but they can also pollute our planet because of the large number of toxins they contain. That’s why it’s good to keep in mind that there are natural alternatives that you can use.

These are often easy to make with things you can find at the supermarket or maybe already have at home.

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STYLE

Method 1: black dye

Method 3: purple dye

3 tablespoons of aloe vera gel 1/2 cup of activated charcoal 1/2 cup of flaxseed 1 cup of hot water

1 cup of blackberries 1. Put the blackberries in a resealable plastic bag.

2. With the help of a wooden rolling pin, crush the blackberries into a paste.

3. Remove the paste from the plastic bag.

4. Apply the natural dye to your hair using plastic gloves and wait 1 hour.

5. Rinse your hair with plenty of water until all the product is removed.

1. Mix all the ingredients in a food processor until you get a thick paste.

2. Apply the product to all of your hair. Wear gloves to avoid staining your skin.

3. Place the shower cap over all of your hair and wait 2 hours.

4. Rinse your hair with plenty of water until the product is removed.

Method 2: pink dye

1 cup of beet juice (obtained after boiling the beets for about 20 minutes) 2 tablespoons of olive oil 1. Mix all the ingredients in a food processor until you get a thick paste.

2. Apply the product to all of your hair. Wear gloves to avoid staining your skin.

3. Place the shower cap over all of your hair and wait 2 hours.

4. Rinse your hair with plenty of water until the product is removed.

Bonus

If you want to enhance the natural color of your hair, you can apply different plant-based products or solutions to increase vitality and brightness.

For brown tones, use chamomile tea as a rinse. The golden color of the infusion will highlight your hair. If you have more red hues in your hair, rooibos tea is a good option to get a deeper tone. Just spray it on your hair an hour before bathing. And for blonde hair, use honey diluted in water as a hair mask before your daily shower.

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MARCH 2020

STYLE

TATTOO ARTISTS INTO HAIRSTYLISTS Henna is a good option for people who want to dye their hair using only natural dyes, thus avoiding chemical products. Still, you should keep in mind that this natural dye can’t change the color of your hair completely like chemical dying does. However, it does give a deeper or more intense tone to the original color of your hair, and always with reddish undertones.

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STYLE

What you’ll need 100 g henna powder Plastic combs Bathing cap Plastic gloves Plastic container with lid Tongue depressor 1 cup of coffee beans

Optional: Petroleum jelly (Vaseline) or coconut oil 1. In the plastic container, pour in the henna powder and add the coffee beans. Mix well using the tongue depressor until you obtain a uniform paste without lumps.

2. Cover the container and let the paste sit for about 8 hours. During that time, the henna will activate and will pigment better. The mixture will be ready when the surface of the mix turns coppery orange.

3. Start by untangling your hair. With the help of a comb, section a strand of hair from the top of your head. With the plastic gloves on, apply the paste from roots to ends. Continue applying the henna one strand at a time until you’ve applied henna on all of your hair.

Massage the hair so that the henna adheres to each strand.

4. Once you have applied the henna all over your hair, wrap it with a shower cap while making sure that no hair strands are left out. Wait between 2 to 6 hours, depending on the intensity of the color you want. The longer you leave it on, the darker your hair will be. Massage the hair so that the henna clings properly to each hair strand.

5. Rinse, again, one section at a time, with warm water to remove all the henna from your hair, but do not shampoo it.

Untangle your hair with a comb and check for excess henna left.

Variations

The natural color of the henna pigment is reddish. But by adding different liquids or other powdered plants to the mixture, you can also dye your hair brown, blond or, if you prefer, black tones that will be added to the reddish color of the henna. If you want a brown color, prepare chamomile tea and add walnut shells. For blond hair, add chamomile tea. If you want a black color, use coffee beans. For a reddish color, just add water. Other options include cassia powder for lighter shades and indigo powder for darker shades.

Suggestions

Henna should not be mixed with metal. That’s also why you shouldn’t use metal utensils.

Always go for wood or plastic ones. Remember that henna can stain skin and clothing. Wear an old t-shirt or use an old towel when applying it to your hair.

Also, don’t forget to smear petroleum jelly (Vaseline) or coconut oil on your scalp around the hair that you’ll dye.

Finally, you should keep in mind that once the natural dye is applied to the hair, it cannot be removed, so you might want to try it on a strand of hair first and see if you like the results.

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home CHILD SAFETY Every parent is aware that when you have kids in the house, the place is bound to get cluttered. You cannot stop the mess, but you can surely control it in some nifty ways.

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MARCH 2020

HOME Not wasting toilet paper

A sheet of paper Colored sheets of paper: green, yellow, red A pen of any sort Toilet paper

Keeping candy from going bad and attracting bugs

1. Take a sheet of paper.

2. Now cut out a circle from the green sheet and paste it onto the white sheet as shown.

3. Repeat the step above with the yellow sheet of paper.

4. And now, repeat the same step with the red sheet of paper.

5. Write, STOP AT RED on the paper, as shown in the image above. Paste the sheet below the part where the edge of the toilet paper hangs.

6. Your child will make note of it and will stop rolling the paper once it reaches the red circle.

Managing toys

Plastic container from a Kinder egg A pointy metal object Googly eyes Superglue Lollipop

Toy box Hot glue Toy cars

1. Kids’ toys can sometimes cause physical harm too. Take care of yourself — here’s what you can do to prevent injuries: 2. Take the toy box and invert it.

3. Now, put some hot glue on the roof of the toy car.

4. Turn the toy car upside down and stick it to one corner of the box.

5. Apply some hot glue to another toy car.

6. Turn it upside down and stick it to another corner of the box. Repeat steps 3, 4, and 5 with 2 more toy cars.

7. Turn the box upside down and store toys inside of it.

8. Your portable toy box is ready.

1. Take the plastic container from a Kinder egg.

2. Poke a hole in its bottom lid.

3. The hole has to be made in the center as shown.

4. You can also paste googly eyes on it to make it look more interesting.

5. Now insert the lollipop stick through the hole.

6. Your candy is now safe from going bad.

Or in the bath

A plastic basket with holes in it

1. Run your basket through the bathtub filled with water when there are toys in the bath.

2. Pick the basket up to drain the water inside. Your bathtub is now clean.

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MARCH 2020

HOME

Keeping your kids’ clothes clean when they’re eating A towel A pair of scissors A satin ribbon Needle and thread

1. Fold a towel in half.

2. Fold it in half again.

3. Now cut along the lines of the towel, as shown.

4. Open the folds of the cloth and stretch it out to see the big hole cut out in the middle.

5. Now, take the satin ribbon and begin stitching from one end.

6. Stitch the satin over the entire hole in the towel.

7. Put it over your child so that it stays on their neck.

8. Now they won’t make a mess when eating.

Not letting food spill Your kid’s food bowl/plate Suction cups Cutter Hot glue

1. Take your kid’s food bowl and turn it over.

2. Now take a suction cup and cut it from the part where you hold it from behind. Cut it off in a way that the sliced part of the cup stays flat on the surface of the inverted food bowl.

3. Apply some hot glue on the sliced part of the cup.

4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 with one more suction cup.

5. Stick them onto the inverted part of the food bowl, as shown, and turn it over.

6. The bowl stays in place and your kid wouldn’t topple it over.

Not letting kids draw on the floor Plastic wrap

1. You may want to stop your kid before they color on floor with their markers.

2. Stretch out a huge sheet of plastic wrap.

3. Stick it evenly on the floor.

4. Your floor is now safe from the damage.

Keep kids away from electrical appliances Extension cord A plastic shoe container box A cutter

1. If you keep your extension cord out in the open, you should take precautions as soon as possible to keep the dangers of electrocution away.

2. Take a shoe, or other container, box and cut out a small rectangular slot on the side, as shown.

3. Now place your extension cord inside the box and place the wire in a way that it easily fits into the slot.

4. You can now close the cord box and keep your family safe.

Or, on the wall

A big cardboard box

1. If your kid has already ruined the walls with their crayons, follow the steps below.

2. Take a big cardboard box, big enough to fit your child in, with lots of space for them.

3. Put your child inside the box.

4. Hand them the colors and let them have fun by coloring the box from the inside.

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MARCH 2020

HOME

CHINA CERAMICS INTO DIY It can happen that your favorite cup breaks into pieces, but you can’t find it in you to throw it away. Sometimes you get a mug as a present but you don’t like it and it stays in the back of your cabinet gathering dust. Or you have a few old dishes that are no longer decent enough to be put on the table.

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MARCH 2020

HOME

Repair in Kintsugi style glitter food-safe ceramic glue

Mix the glitter and glue in a bowl. Apply the resulting mixture to the fragments of the dish with a brush and press them against each other. Let the plate dry. You can use the finished plate to decorate your interior or as tableware.

This craft is made in the Kintsugi style, the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery. The Japanese mend the areas of breakage with lacquer dusted or mixed with powdered gold, silver, or platinum to underline breakage and repair as part of the history of an object, rather than something to disguise.

A toy as a mug handle

a plastic or rubber toy with 4 standing points non-toxic all-purpose glue that can be used on ceramic a mug without a handle or a glass

Apply all-purpose glue to the limbs of the toy.

Attach it to the mug. Done!

This life hack will come in handy if you want to make an ordinary mug more convenient for your kid. Attach the toy to the empty side of the mug. This way, you’ll have a mug that your child can comfortably grip with both hands.

An organizer made of plates and candleholders plates and candleholders a hot glue gun

Apply glue to the base of the candleholder and glue it to the center of the largest plate.

Apply glue to the top of the candleholder to attach a smaller plate on top. Repeat your actions with the smallest plate or a bowl to place on the top of the future organizer. Let the glue dry. You can use this organizer for various items like beauty products.

If you are using plates in different designs that don’t look good together, make the organizer and change its color with porcelain and glass paint (choose one that doesn’t require further firing).

A home decor item

a cup and a saucer a fork a hot glue gun artificial flowers for home decor

Bend the fork slightly with its tines inward. Apply glue to the center of the saucer. Glue the fork to it. Then apply glue to the end of the fork and attach the cup to it.

Glue the artificial flowers all over the fork. Done!

You can glue small battery-operated lights around the flowers to turn the composition into a night light.

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MARCH 2020

HOME

A flower pot

drainage rocks for potted plants potting soil for succulents a cactus a cup and a saucer

Put a few drainage rocks on the bottom of the cup. Put the soil on top, plant a cactus, and add more soil. Lightly press it with your fingers.

Water the plant lightly and place the cup with the cactus on the saucer.

It’ll look more interesting if you plant a few cacti or succulents in a large cup, and cover the top layer of soil with sand or stones.

A bird feeder

A wall clock

a cup and a saucer a hot glue gun jute twine

Apply all-purpose glue to the limbs of the toy.

Attach it to the mug. Done!

This life hack will come in handy if you want to make an ordinary mug more convenient for your kid. Attach the toy to the empty side of the mug. This way, you’ll have a mug that your child can comfortably grip with both hands.

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MARCH 2020

a round tray 12 mugs a saucer a hot glue gun a clock mechanism with big hands

Use glue to attach the mugs along the inner diameter of the tray so that they resemble the face of a clock. Glue the saucer with the attached clock mechanism to the center of the tray. Done!

You can write numbers indicating hours on the bottom of each mug. Or you can put delicious souvenirs, mini-gifts, or messages timed to coincide with a specific hour for your family members.

SANITIZING HANDS

health

You may find yourself in a situation where you can’t wash your hands but still need to keep them germfree. When this happens, you can use your own hand sanitizer

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HEALTH Step 1: Prepare your space.

✅ Wipe down the countertops with a diluted bleach solution to make them free of germs. ✅ Wash your hands thoroughly.

Step 3: Combine the ingredients.

✅ Take a clean bowl and add all 3 ingredients to it. ✅ Mix the ingredients thoroughly with a whisk (or a spoon) to ensure that the alcohol is evenly distributed throughout the gel. ❗ Don’t touch the mixture with your hands until it’s ready for use.

Step 5: Let it sit for a while.

✅ Let your sanitizer sit for at least 72 hours after you’ve made it. This will help it to kill any bacteria that might have been introduced during the mixing process. ✅ Then you can use it on your hands!

Step 2: Gather the ingredients and tools.

✅ Collect all the ingredients that you’ll need.

2 parts Isopropyl, rubbing alcohol, or ethanol (91%-99%) 1 part aloe vera gel (or glycerin) for moisturizing your skin A couple of drops of essential oil for scent (you can choose from lemon, tea tree, clove, peppermint, or lavender) ❗ Don’t use any other types of alcohol (like methanol or butanol) as they’re toxic! ✅ Prepare the following tools and make sure that they’re clean.

A bowl A whisk (or a spoon) A funnel A pump or squeeze bottle

Step 4: Pour the sanitizer into a bottle. ✅ Take a funnel and use it to pour your sanitizer into a bottle. ✅ Screw on the top of your bottle tightly.

How to use hand sanitizer:

✅ Apply the sanitizer to the palm of your hand. ✅ Then start rubbing your hands together, making sure that you cover the entire surface of your hands and fingers with the sanitizer. ✅ Rub the sanitizer into your skin until your hands are dry. This should take about 20 seconds. ❗ Don’t rinse or wipe off the sanitizer before it’s completely dry.

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March 39

MARCH 2020

CITY PHOTOS “Rain” from rose petals

Collect rose petals and put them at the very bottom of an umbrella that opens automatically. While shooting, raise the umbrella high above you and open it, releasing the petals. In the fall, you can use small colored leaves instead of petals.

You don’t need expensive equipment to take beautiful photos — all you need to do is use your imagination. For example, a photographer only needs to get into a special position to create the effect of levitation in a photo, while a model will only need to stand on her tiptoes. Moreover, the shots showing diving into the water can be easily captured with the help of an ordinary glass.

“Levitation”

Tricks with perspective

Tie the laces of your sneakers to fasten your shoes together. Put one sneaker on your right foot, press your left to your right, and stand on your tiptoes. Keep your right foot perpendicular to the ground. With the right lighting, the shadow from the sneakers will hide the toe of the left foot and you’ll get the illusion of levitation in the frame.

Get your friends to stand back on a small hill and pretend as if they are holding a huge bottle. Move away from them by going down to the bottom of the hill, and take a small bottle of soda.

With the help of the camera, catch the position where the illusion that your friends are holding the bottle is created.

Tip: Try taking 2 photos with a focus on the girls in one photo and focus on the bottle in the second photo. Later join the photos so that you get a feeling that everything is happening at the same distance from the camera.

(Alice) Through the looking glass

Place a mirror into flowers and slightly bend it back so that it reflects the sky. Now get closer and take a pic of your reflection.

If the mirror is big enough, try to hide behind it so that your body is not visible. Only your arms, legs, and head should be seen. Bend the mirror forward so that it reflects the flowers and the lawn around it. As a result, you’ll get a beautiful effect that looks as if your body is disappearing into another dimension.

If you don’t have a bottle, you can take a photo with a giant foot. It’s important to shoot down up so that the sky and the tops of the trees get into the frame, which will make the foot look even bigger.

Flowers or even a doughnut will be ok to use for this trick too.

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MARCH 2020

The plane window

In order to imitate a plane window, you’ll need to take a photo of yourself with a toilet seat in the background. The main thing to keep in mind is that the background should also show the sky and the focus should be on the face.

Sunset in the lightbulb Long legs

Put your legs forward, slightly bending at the knees, stretch your socks, place your feet next to each other. The photographer should keep the camera close to the ground and tilt it slightly backward, which will make the legs look longer.

Walking on clouds

Take an ordinary lightbulb and, holding it in front of the phone, catch the gleam of the sunset to create a beautiful effect like in the photo above.

Fake partner or extra legs

Turn the camera and place your phone at the base of the stairs or a curb. Stand on the bottom stair or curb so that you lean on it with one foot. Bring the other leg slightly over the phone, without dropping it down.

Put jeans on your arms and sneakers on your hands. Bend forward. Now the photographer needs to move slightly back and remove your body and head from the frame.

Playing with reflection

Sit opposite a water surface so that your reflection is seen. Make sure it looks symmetrical. Take a photo and turn the image around by 180°.

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Extra lighting for the face

Use plain white paper or a sheet of foil instead of a light reflector to evenly illuminate your face when shooting outdoors, without causing discomfort to your eyes.

Beautiful shade on a sunny background

Take a colander and hold it over your head so that the sun shines through its holes creating a beautiful light and shadow pattern on your face.

Bonus: How to make a video of a flower growing on your hand

This trick is hidden in something called reverse shooting and is accomplished with the help of a second pair of hands. Place a handful of soil in your left hand and put a flower in its center. Hide its stalk between your fingers, under your hand. The second person should be holding the camera and taking a close-up shot of the flower in your hand from top to bottom. Pull the end of the flower with your free hand so that it goes inside the soil and disappears in your hand.

It’s ready to go!

Underwater shooting

In order to shoot underwater, place a phone with its camera turned on into a transparent glass. The camera should be located at the bottom of the glass. Partially immerse the glass in the water. This will let the camera go under the water and keep your phone safe at the same time. The higher the quality of the glass and the closer to the wall of the glass the camera is, the more accurate the photo will be.

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MARCH 2020

food

CREAMY FLUFFS Meringue is a tasty and easy-to-cook dessert that leaves space for creativity and fantasy. For example, a meringue on a stick can become a nice present for both adults and kids, whether it’s for a special occasion or simply no occasion at all.

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MARCH 2020

FOOD

Meringue on a Stick Ingredients 6 egg whites 1.5 cups of powdered sugar food coloring (gel or dry) and confectionery dressing (optional) 1. Get a bowl for whisking. It’s recommended to use glass or metal bowls, but in extreme cases, you can opt for a plastic one.

2. Cleanse the bowl to get rid of any dirt or wetness.

3. Fill the bowl with boiling water and lemon juice to degrease it.

4. Get the eggs out of the fridge in advance to let them warm up to room temperature. It will help you get a more stable, voluminous foam.

5. Make sure you use the freshest eggs.

6. Separate the whites from the yolks.

7. Place the egg whites in a mixing bowl.

8. Start to whisk them with the mixer at a slow speed — it will help the whites gradually get saturated with oxygen.

9. Slowly increase the speed. It isn’t recommended to decrease the speed once you reach the maximum.

10. You can start adding the powdered sugar to the whites once they change their color into white and start to form foam. Add the powdered sugar, bit by bit, not stopping the whisking process.

11. Continue whisking until the moment you start to get solid peaks from the mixture 12. Divide the mixture into several parts depending on how many colors you’re going to use.

13. Add food coloring to each portion and mix well.

14. Regulate the shade of your future meringue by the amount of colorant you use. For example, we did 3 shades of pink by adding different amounts of the same colorant. Start with one drop, mix it, and check the result. If you’re using a dry colorant, start with several grains.

15. Place the mixtures for the meringue in pastry bags. It’s best to use disposable transparent bags. For convenience, place the bag in a glass or mug and put the whipped foam into the bag with the help of a spoon.

16. In order to make the meringue bi-colored or tri-colored, place the mixtures of different colors into the bag. Try to arrange it so that they alternate each other, or position them next to each other.

17. Use nozzles of different shapes.

18. Take a baking sheet and cover it with baking paper.

19. If you want to give a certain shape to the future meringue, draw this shape with a soft pencil on the paper. After that, turn the paper over so that the lines are not imprinted on the dessert.

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FOOD

Meringue on sticks can be of different shapes. For example, a round treat will look more interesting if it’s bi-colored.

Add decorative details or just use confectionery dressing.

When designing something, always try to start with big details.

Only after can you complement the design with smaller details.

Try making a tri-colored meringue.

For this, we mixed white and 2 shades of pink in one pastry bag.

When adding details, keep in mind that meringue shouldn’t be too thick because it will increase in size when baked in the oven.

Mark the location of the sticks to which the meringue will be attached.

Squeeze a small amount of meringue on the bottom of the drawn circle and place the sticks over it. Don’t press the sticks so that they don’t go through the meringue mixture or touch the paper.

If you are going to make meringues of the same shape, it’s convenient to shape them simultaneously so that the pattern repeats.

Alternate the meringue colors.

Change the shapes of the nozzles you use.

The shape of the small meringues that will eventually make up the entire composition can be changed.

Make sure there are no gaps between the parts of the mixture.

Add the confectionery dressing at this point.

In order to save time, form small meringues on sticks next to the large ones.

You can make a heart-shaped meringue for Valentine’s Day. Choose nozzles with deep slots — it will help the meringue look more spectacular.

Confectionery sprinkles can help hide imperfect lines.

Use a nozzle with a flat slot to create a braid-shaped meringue.

Place the meringues of different shapes in a chesslike order to save space on the baking sheet.

Bake the dessert in a preheated oven of 230°F for 1 hour.

It’s forbidden to open the oven door while the desserts are baking.

Meringue can be served right after baking.

It’s recommended to store meringue in a closed container in a dry place.

Satin ribbons tied to a stick will complement the look.

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FOOD

COOKIE CRUSH Chocolate cookies with filling are a common choice for many people. Some of us like them just as they are, while others prefer to dip them in milk — and then there are those who like them with a cup of coffee. They’re so popular, they’ve become a staple on people’s grocery lists to appease various sweet cravings.

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FOOD

Cookies and cream ice cream Ingredients 5 filled chocolate cookies ¾ cup of heavy cream ⅓ cup of condensed milk 1. Detach both cookie sides from the cream, crush them, and place them in a glass.

2. Pour in the cream and condensed milk, and stir.

3. Keep the mixture in the freezer for a couple of hours, and serve.

Milkshake Ingredients 10 filled chocolate cookies 2 cups of whole milk ⅓ cup of chocolate syrup ½ cup of whipping cream 1. In a large pot, place a glass of milk and the crushed chocolate cookies over low heat. Boil it for a few minutes and let it cool.

2. Add a little more milk, and stir.

3. Transfer the mixture to a sieve to catch any uncrushed cookies. Set them aside.

4. In a bowl, pour some chocolate syrup and the strained mixture from the previous step.

5. Top with whipped cream and garnish it with crushed cookies.

Doughnut with toppings Ingredients 5 chocolate cookies with filling 1 filled doughnut ½ cup of vanilla buttercream ½ cup of frosting spread 1. Make a small hole in the center of the doughnut and fill it with vanilla buttercream using a cake piping bag.

2. Spread the doughnut on the side of the hole with the icing. Cover only the top of the doughnut.

3. Crush the cookies and place them on the glazed side of the doughnut.

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FOOD

Coated ice pops Ingredients 20 filled chocolate cookies 2 cups of heavy cream 4 cups of white chocolate, strawberries, and other flavored chocolate coating 1. Combine the cookie cream with the whipping cream, and stir.

2. In a popsicle or ice pop mold, place in the crushed cookies and pour the cream mixture over them. Freeze for a few hours.

3. Place the white chocolate and strawberry toppings in a large glass and coat the popsicles completely.

4. Wait for the topping to harden, and serve.

Fried cookies Ingredients 1 package of chocolate cookies with filling 2 eggs ⅓ cup of milk 1 ½ cups of flour ½ cup of powdered sugar 4 cups (1 liter) of oil 1. Beat the egg, milk, flour, and ¼ cup of powdered sugar until everything is thoroughly combined. Then, coat the cookies with the mixture.

2. Place them in a frying pan with plenty of hot oil and fry until golden brown.

3. Sprinkle with powdered sugar, and serve.

Cookie and white chocolate balls Ingredients 2 packages of filled chocolate cookies 4 tablespoons of cream cheese 2 cups of white chocolate frosting ½ cup of chocolate syrup 1. Crush the cookies and mix them in a pot with cream cheese.

2. Take some of the mixture with your hands and form a ball with it.

3. In a bowl, place the melted chocolate coating and decorate it by putting chocolate syrup on top.

4. Insert a wooden toothpick in each ball and dip them in the mixture.

5. Let them cool and wrap them in cellophane bags to take them with you anywhere you want.

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DREAM HOUSE

living

You can do many toys yourself. This way, you will save money and know exactly what the toy is made of and how safe it is. Besides, the process of creation can be really entertaining for both a child, and an adult.

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MARCH 2020

LIVING The base of the house

A hanging rack for clothes

shoeboxes wrapping paper frieze fabric white paint duct tape all-purpose glue

3 plastic straws 3 wooden sticks black paint 4 plastic beads 3–4 metal paper clips a polystyrene food box all-purpose glue

What to do: Attach the boxes together using duct tape, as shown in the photo above. Attach them with the duct tape on the outside too, to make the construction stronger. Then cover the boxes with 2 to 3 layers of white paint. Glue wrapping paper to imitate wallpaper to the insides of the boxes. Attach the frieze fabric to the floor of the house that will work as a carpet. The base of the house is done.

Recommendation: Use nontoxic paints like gouache. To make it more durable, mix it with PVA glue at a ratio of 2:1. You can also add chalk to the mixture. This way the resulting paint will be rough like plaster.

What to do: Cut off the bending parts of the plastic straws, about 0.5 inch from each end. Cut one stick in half. Attach the bending parts to the ends of one of the halves. Insert 2 other whole sticks into the holes of the bent straw to make the construction look like a rectangle without a bottom. Paint it black. Cut the base of the hanging rack out of polystyrene and secure the stick in it.

Glue plastic beads to the other side of the polystyrene base.

They will work as the legs of the rack. Take a paper clip, unbend it, and cut off the short end near the curved part.

Now bend the clip so that it looks like a hanger. Repeat the same actions with the other clips. Done!

A standing storage cabinet a shampoo bottle a cutter 2–3 wooden craft sticks a decorative napkin all-purpose glue What to do: Cut the shampoo bottle as shown in the photo above. Apply glue to the outside surface of the bottle and cover it with the napkin.

Break the sticks and attach them inside as shelves. Done!

A chair pieces of fabric a plastic cap from a gallon bottle a plastic lid of a yogurt cup decorative cord wooden lollipop sticks scissors all-purpose glue What to do: Cover the plastic lid of the yogurt cup (using glue) with fabric and cut off the edges to make it look like a flat semicircle. This will be the back of the chair. Attach fabric to the bottle cap using the same method.

A TV set an empty eyeshadow or blush palette a picture that imitates the TV screen a binder clip nail polish in red and green colors What to do: Glue the picture to the back side of the palette. Draw green and red buttons at the bottom of the screen. Attach the binder clip under it and remove the metal part. Done!

Glue the parts together as shown in the photo above. Decorate the edges with the cord. Cut the wooden stick into 4 pieces — they will be the legs of the chair. Apply 4 big drops of glue to the bottom of the chair and attach the legs to them. Done!

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MARCH 2020

LIVING

A TV stand a polystyrene food box 6 matchboxes white paint all-purpose glue 6 plastic beads What to do: Glue the matchboxes together to get 3 boxes in a row out of 2. Paint the construction white and cover it with polystyrene using glue.

Make sure that the drawers can still slide out. Then attach the beads to imitate the drawers’ handles. Done!

A couch 4 sponges a piece of fabric measuring 16 by 16 inches 2 wooden bars a piece of thick cardboard glue

A flower pot a wine cork 3 teaspoons of potting soil an artificial plant 1/2 teaspoon of water a cutter and fine-grit sandpaper

What to do: Cut the fabric into 4 equal pieces that measure 4 by 4 inches each. Wrap the sponges with these pieces and glue the fabric on them. Then glue the 4 parts together — 2 of them will be the couch’s seat, 2 will be its back. To make armrests, glue the piece of cardboard to the bottom of the couch so that its edges protrude from under the couch’s sides. Apply glue to these edges and the couch’s sides, and then attach the wooden bars. Done!

What to do: Remove the center of the wine cork with the cutter and file it with the sandpaper. Put the soil inside, insert the artificial plant, and pour the water inside the pot. Done!

A shower cabin and a sink a juice or milk carton foamiran in blue and white glue a cutter a soap dispenser bottle 5 plastic beads 20 inches of metal wire a Ziploc bag a plastic straw a silicone baking mold in the shape of a seashell What to do: Cut the juice carton in a way that you leave only the bottom and 2 neighboring sides. Glue over the carton’s insides with blue foamiran and the bottom with white foamiran. Make the bottom lip of the shower with white foamiran too. The cabin is done!

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MARCH 2020

LIVING A stool Cut off the upper part of the dispenser and glue the wire to it. Attach a plastic bead to the other end of the wire.

The shower head is done.

a plastic bottle cap a cotton disc a circle of fabric that is slightly bigger than the cotton disc glue a plastic fork

Cut the plastic bag along the seams with a cutter, removing the upper part with the lock. Pierce the upper end of the resulting piece of the bag with the wire. The shower curtain is done!

What to do: Put the cotton disc on the circle of fabric, put the plastic cap on top, and then apply glue to it. Tuck the edges of the fabric into the cap, and secure everything with glue. Break off the prongs of the plastic fork and attach them to the cap for the legs. You’ve got a tiny stool. Done!

Cut out one section of the silicon mold. Then cut it out along the outline. Glue 2 beads to it to imitate the faucet handles. Cut out the bent part from the straw, leaving about 0.5 inches of the straw on one end, and about 1 inch on the other. Attach the resulting faucet to the seashell. The sink is done!

Attach the items to the walls of the dollhouse where you think the bathroom should be.

Bonus: How to make other furniture and accessories for the dollhouse

A table 2 small plastic cups a metal lid of a jar white paint glue What to do: Paint the cups and the lid white. Glue one cup to the lid, then glue the other cup to the first one. Done!

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A shelving unit A table lamp A clutch bag A hairdryer A washing machine A bathtub A frying pan A kitchen knife A towel holder for the bathroom A Christmas tree

TIPS & TRICKS

How to Clean Your Smartphone Correctly

The screens of our phones are probably one of the thing we most touch every day, so it’s important to keep them as clean as possible.

Step 1: Start by unplugging your phone. Turn it off and remove the case.

Step 2: Take a soft cloth. Do not use tissue or paper towels, as they may scratch the screen. Use this cloth to remove debris and fingerprints.

Step 3: Spray a lint-free microfiber cloth with a small amount of a solution that contains 70% ethanol or isopropyl alcohol. Wipe down the sides and back. Be careful not to get any fluids into the ports. Alternatively, you can use mild soap and lukewarm water, but they’re not as effective as the ethanol or isopropyl alcohol solutions.

Step 4: You may also disinfect your phone with 70% isopropyl alcohol wipes or Clorox disinfectant wipes, if you can find them in your local store.

ADDITIONAL TIPS FOR A CLEAN PHONE Use a phone case so viruses can’t live as long on your phone.

Make sure it’s a silicone or leather case, and use a screen protector, which will guard the screen from acidic sprays and wipes.

PRODUCTS THAT WILL DAMAGE YOUR PHONE Never clean your phone with the following products or similar solutions: Household cleaners such as bleach, antibacterial spray etc.

Glass cleaner Hand sanitizer Antibacterial handwash Shampoo, face scrub, etc.

Makeup remover Rubbing alcohol Pure isopropyl alcohol Compressed air Vinegar

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CHILL & DRAW

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