By Alix Shedd

This is a perfect my-first-silicone-casting project for those who are incensed by the high price of dildos (on average $60-$100). Upon completion, you will have a high-quality silicone dildo that will put that scarf you knitted to shame. Lesser dildos are made of latex, which is more porous, and therefore more likely to harbor germies. The silicone dildo is non-porous, so that means that cleaning is a cinch, and you can even share it!

1. Mold It
Use a soft clay to mold the toy of your dreams.
The possibilities are endless.

2. Paint It with Latex
Push the base of the clay toy onto a piece of cardboard so it’s nice and steady.

First cover the clay in Vaseline so you can slip the clay out later. Use liquid latex (the kind at art stores meant for making casts, not the sex-shop body-painting kind) to paint layer after layer onto the clay, as well as about two inches in radius onto the box around the toy. Latex takes a long time to dry, so it’s best to paint lots of thin layers. Use a hair dryer to speed up the process. Make sure each layer is dry before applying the next. Use about four to seven layers. You might have to let it dry overnight in order to do the last few layers.

3. Wait
The latex takes about a week before it is dry enough to use without breaking apart. (Borrow a toy from a friend if you’re getting anxious! Just make sure to use a condom on it and/or boil it afterwards.) After it’s done drying, squeeze the clay out slowly.

4. Fill ‘er up
Now it’s time for the silicone. The most easily available silicone is the kind found in tubes at hardware stores, used for caulking windows and such things. It’s very important that you get 100 percent silicone with no chemical additives, so doublecheck the container. Many hardware stores will only have white and clear silicone, but if you look around, you can find it in a wide variety of colors.

To apply the silicone you’ll need a caulking gun – a metal device that squeezes the silicone out of the tube. Every woman should have a caulking gun. Most hardware stores should have these as well, and they’re not too expensive.

Cut a hole in a cardboard box slightly bigger than the width of your toy, and tape the latex so that it hangs into the inside of the box. This is where that extra two inches of latex come in handy.

Put in the silicone slowly, squeezing it down through the bottom of the latex to make sure there are no air bubbles.

5. Enjoy
You’ll have to wait 24 hours for the silicone to dry, and then you can peel off the latex and enjoy. You can use the latex mold over and over again. Now there’s a stocking stuffer!