Thursday, February 28, 2013

DIY Art Gallery

Did you ever want to have art pieces hanging around your house?  Now you can do it for a low price.  Check out this easy step by step tutorial about how to make art pieces out of posters.  Please see apartment therapy with any questions you might have.

This tutorial is inexpensive, easy, and best of all: low-risk. I was in need of some art for our bathroom, and it needed to be rather large and until I can afford what I've really got my heart set on — rather cheap.

I decided to take a poster that I liked (picked up at a craft store for around $10) and skip the large expensive frame. Instead, I made it look like a wrapped canvas, using a cheap old thrift store canvas I had lying around. Warning: this project is not for the perfectionist! If you're looking for large-scale art on a budget, and can accept some minor flaws, this is the project for you! I completed this project in less than 20 minutes.

What You Need

• poster
• canvas just a bit smaller than the poster
• adhesive such as mod podge
• brush
• staple gun or stapler

Instructions

1. Lay out your poster.



2. Place canvas on top to be sure you have enough room to fold the edges around.



3. Spread out your adhesive.





4. Starting at the bottom or top, carefully press your poster onto the gluey canvas, taking care to smooth out air bubbles. Note: I didn't photograph this step because I needed both hands — and you will too!

5. Flip the whole thing over and smooth it out.



6. Flip back over and use your fingers, a dry towel, or a brayer to smooth out any extra wrinkles.



7. Flip back over, and carefully wrap the edges around to the back of the canvas. Secure in place with staples.



8. Fold corners neatly like wrapping a present and secure with staples.





10. Hang, and enjoy!

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Track and Field Team Heading to Conference Championship

Thea LaFondThe University of Maryland track and field team is hoping to continue its early season success at this weekend's Atlantic Coast Conference Championships, hosted by Virginia Tech at the Rector Field House.

The Terrapins begin competing on Friday with some preliminary rounds of track events starting at noon. The first field event will start at 12:30 p.m. The meet then continues Saturday at 11 a.m., with the awards ceremony capping of the championships at 4 p.m. For a full schedule of events, please click the according link above.

So far this season, Maryland has had multiple standout performances from its student-athletes, highlighted by a steady balance from both upper and underclassmen.

One of Maryland's best events is the high jump and will take place Friday evening. With three student-athletes among the best in the ACC, the high jump will be one of the events to keep an eye on this weekend.

Sophomore Amber Melville cleared 6'0 in the high jump at the Virginia Tech Elite meet to become the first female in over 30 years to reach this height in indoor program history. Junior Amina Smith has also looked strong in this event, reaching a height of 5'10 early in the season. Sophomore Thea LaFond jumped at 5'8.5 at the Virginia Tech Elite meet.

LaFond has shown her versatility, earning a career best in the triple jump and 60 hurdles so far this season, in addition to her best mark in the high jump.

The Virginia Tech Elite meet also served as a highlighted event for the Terps with strong performances in the 800m by Julie Sinkovitz and Myah Hicks. Arielle Statham also earned a season best performance in the 400m.

The throwing events have also proven to be a strong area for the Terps, led by senior Moriah Young and freshman Chioma Onyekwere. Young set a lifetime best in the weight and shot put this indoor season. Onyekwere, who has been helped by Young all season, is following in Young's footsteps with strong improvements each competition.

There are various ways to keep up with the ACC Indoor Track & Field Championships this weekend. In addition to the links above, fans can follow the action on Twitter:
For more information see UM Terps.

The University of Maryland track and field team is heading to the Atlantic Coast Conference Championship hosted by Virginia Tech.  The meet starts Friday with preliminaries and ends Saturday afternoon.  The team has had many stand out performances by the student athletes throughout the season, and they are hoping to do well in the meet.

Thursday, February 14, 2013

A Valentines Party Treat


Chocolate-Dipped Shortbread Hearts

You may use any size heart cutters you like to make these shortbreads; the chocolate is optional. For the most beautiful cookies, don't reroll the scraps.

Martha Stewart Living, February 2000
  • Yield Makes 4 dozen 2 1/2-inch heart cookies

Ingredients

  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
  • 3/4 cup sifted confectioners' sugar
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 2 cups sifted all-purpose flour, plus more, for dusting
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 3 ounces semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
  • 1 teaspoon canola oil or pure vegetable shortening


Directions


  1. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter, sugar, and vanilla until combined. On slow speed, beat in flour and salt until combined. Wrap dough in plastic wrap; chill until firm, at least 2 hours, or overnight.
  2. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough until 1/16-to-1/8 inch thick. Cut out hearts with a 2-inch heart cookie cutter. Transfer cookies to an ungreased baking sheet; chill for 30 minutes.
  3. Heat oven to 300 degrees with a rack in the center. Press the tines of a fork into each cookie to make designs. Bake until just beginning to brown around the edges, about 18 minutes. (Cookies will keep in an airtight container at room temperature for about 5 days.)
  4. In the top of a double boiler or in a heat-proof bowl set over simmering water, melt the chocolate, stirring occasionally. Stir in the oil. Dip half or one third of each cookie into the chocolate mixture. Transfer cookies to a cooling rack to dry, or place them on a piece of parchment paper in the freezer for 10 minutes. Serve.
    For more information see Martha Stewart.
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