DIY Life

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Michaels Stores, Inc., has issued a voluntary recall of about 310,000 seasonal writing pens. The surface coating on each of the Flower Writers, Christmas Writers, Easter Writers, and Spooky Writers pens, contain high levels of lead which violates the federal lead paint standard.

Manufactured in China and sold exclusively at Michaels retail stores from August 2007 through March 2008 for about $1, the recalled pens were sold individually as part of a series of four pens. Each pen has decorative ornamentation. Please check the CPSC press release for more information.

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled pens and return them to any Michaels store for a full refund. For more information on the product recall, contact (800) 642-4235 / (800) MICHAELS, or visit their website; www.michaels.com.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Master Lock is voluntarily recalling about 27,000 Lock and Leash locks, due to the fact that the red surface paint on the locks contains an excessive amount of lead, violating the lead paint standard. No injuries have been reported.

Manufactured by Fullyear-Brother Enterprise Co, Ltd. and sold by hardware stores and internet retailers from March 2007 through January 2008 for about $8, this recall involves only red Lock and Leash locks with model number 1551D. Please check the CPSC press release for more information about the recalled locks.

Consumers should stop using the recalled red lock immediately and return it to Master Lock Company Return Goods, c/o All in One Warehouse, 2050 North Smokey Lane, Suite B, Nogales, AZ 85621 for a full refund. For more information, contact Master Lock at (800) 464-2088 or visit the firm's website at www.masterlock.com.

The U.S. Consumer Safety Product Commission, in cooperation with Galison/Mudpuppy, has announced a voluntary recall of about 90,000 Wire-O bound journals, calendars, and activity books. The paint on the metal spiral bindings of the journals contains excessive amounts of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard. No injuries or incidents have been reported.

Manufactured in China and sold nationwide through specialty and gift stores, as well as online, the recalled journals sold for between $7 and $10, from August 2003 through December 2007. Mudpuppy or Galison and the ISBN numbers are printed on the back of the back cover of the journals and calendars. Check the CPSC press release for the journals and calendars involved in the recall.

Remove the back cover of the recalled journal and contact Galison at (800) 670-7441 for instructions on returning the back cover for a refund. You may also visit the firm's website at www.galison.com or email the firm at safety@galison.com.