Free Do It Gorgeously: How to Make Less Toxic, Less Expensive, and More Beautiful Products by Sophie Uliano

of different styles. My favorite is the “apothecary” look, where I find a cream or beige card and write with brown ink in curly writing.
    GLUE
    You’ll need some good strong glue. It’s very important to buy nontoxic glue, as many of the white glues contain chemicals that are extremely bad for the environment.
    I recommend the Natural Glue from Green Crafts (www.green-crafts.com). You can also make your own glue—give it a go, as it’s really easy.
    Homemade Glue
    Yields: 1 quart
     
    Storage: in sealed container in fridge
     
    Shelf life: 1 week
    ----
    1 quart skim milk
    1 tbsp. white vinegar
    ¾ tsp. baking soda
    10 oz. water
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    1. Place the milk and the vinegar in a double boiler or in a bowl set over a saucepan of boiling water. Heat on a low heat until the curds separate from the whey. (The curds look like ricotta cheese and the whey is a greenish liquid.)
     
    2. Drain the whey from the curds in a colander lined with cheesecloth.
     
    3. Wash the curds in the colander under running water.
     
    4. Place the curds in a clean bowl.
     
    5. Dissolve the baking soda in the water and pour over the curds. Stir.
    PROTECTIVE LABELS
    If you don’t mind your labels getting a bit worn and the ink smudging after a while, I suggest going without a clear sticky protective label. The trouble is that the only clear labels you can get are made from vinyl, the manufacture of which is extremely toxic to the environment. But don’t feel too guilty if you want your labels to remain perfect—it’s only a little bit of vinyl that you need. They can be found at most craft and office supply stores.
    PENS
    I highly recommend buying some interesting ink pens for the job at hand. If you can find an old-fashioned fountain pen, it’s the most eco-friendly way to go. I love the Safari Calligraphy Fountain Pen by Lamy (www.lamyusa.com). Make sure you order the ink converter so that you can use bottled ink instead of cartridges. The green or turquoise inks are beautiful. If you take care of your pen, it should last for years.
    You can experiment with all kinds of different styles of writing. I managed to create the old “apothecary” style very easily.
    SCISSORS
    Do invest in some decorative-edge craft scissors. These will make your labels look artsy and professional. You’ll find a great selection at Fiskars (www.fiskarscrafts.com).
    HAVE FUN
    Having assembled your supplies, it’s now time for lots of fun. It’s like being back in a great school art class. I highly recommend getting some friends or kids to join you. Put on some good music and lose yourself in an hour of craft joy.
    I recommend making your labels before or right after you make your products. You’ll need them at the ready so you don’t get confused as to what’s in each jar. Cut out the paper labels to the desired size and then experiment with writing on a piece of scrap paper before you actually write on the label. You can come up with all kinds of really fun names for your products. Always write the date you made the product on the label.

Two
Miraculous Mama
    When I was pregnant with Lola, I became more than a little anxious about the impending expense. By the time I was six months pregnant, I’d been convinced by peers and magazine advertisements that I needed a top-of-the-line—and by that I mean super expensive with all the bells and whistles—stroller, crib, mattress, car seat, and a vast number of other things! I was also made to feel a bit cheap if I wasn’t willing to fork over my hard-earned cash for all kinds of lotions, potions, and admittedly adorable outfits. I justified the expenditures by telling myself it was my first and possibly only child, and that once I got over the “baby” stage, I’d start getting a bit more sensible.
    That time never came, because all the subsequent stages carried their share of peer product pressure too. Lola’s first pair of shoes had to be from a particular fancy store or I risked deforming her delicate toes.