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CRAFTS

Eco-Art Crafts Made by You

1. Fragrant Bath Salts
2. Perfume Skin Oil
3. New Uses for Old Maps

Donna Weeks, an herbalist in Laytonsville, Maryland, contributed the following recipes for bath salts and perfume oils. She grows organic herbs for medicinal, cooking and cosmetic purposes and teaches others how to use them.

Fragrant Bath Oils
Materials

  • 1 cup epsom salts
  • 1 cup sea salt
  • 1 cup baking soda
  • 8-16 drops of your preferred essential oil (Peppermint makes you feel warm and is helpful for relief from a cold or tension headache, lavender induces sleep and relaxation, and rosemary provides an emotional pickup.)
  • Food coloring (optional)
  • Attractive glass or plastic containers with tight lids (e.g., apothecary or honey jars)

Mix the salts and baking soda. Blend ingredients with a wooden spoon or in the blender (for a finer texture). Add essential oils drop by drop, until you like the scent's intensity.

(Optional) To tint the mixture, add two drops of food coloring and mix well.

Scoop the bath salts into containers.
Use 4-6 tablespoons per bath or 8-10 tablespoons for a whirlpool tub.

Perfume Skin Oil
Materials

  • 1 ounce almond or jojoba oil
  • 10-15 drops of the essential oil of your choice
  • A small bottle with a tight fitting lid (e.g., a used medicine or perfume bottle)
  • Small funnel

Mix ingredients well and, using the funnel, pour into the bottle. May be used as perfume, a face moisturizer or massage oil.

New Uses for Old Maps
Bernice Arthur is a professional artist who also sets up recycling centers and shows others how to use non-traditional art materials creatively. The following project is excerpted from her self-published book, The Art of Recycle (Order from: Bernice Arthur; 122 Longmeadow Drive, Apt. 29; Holbrook, MA 02343. Price: $15 -- check or money order.)

Don't throw out old maps. Give them new direction as:

Colorful book covers

Placemats: Glue on to poster board or colored cardboard a little larger than the map. This will leave a colored border on the map side, and a plain reverse side. Cover the map side with clear contact paper.

Decoupage on trays, cans, wooden boxes, etc

Collage: Paste map on thin cardboard along with other objects from the map region. Personalize by circling meaningful areas with broad markers.


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