Tag Archives: crafts
Six Tips to Improve Your Coloring
By Joanna Campbell Slan Although it seems like a fad, coloring was first prescribed by Carl Jung as part of his therapeutic regime for adults. For years now, therapists have suggested using coloring books as a way for adults to self-sooth. One theory is that the smell of the crayons reminds us of happier times and […]
An A -ma-ZINNing Afternoon with Alice Zinn
By Joanna Campbell Slan At first blush, Alice Zinn’s home looks like all the other houses in her neighborhood. The building is pleasant, on a pretty corner lot in a small city in Florida. However, when she opens the door and permits you entrance, you feel like you’ve fallen down a rabbit hole into an […]
Three Red Velvet Cake Recipes!
Although Ilona didn’t want to share her Red Velvet Cake Recipe, I was fortunate that three of my readers shared these yummy concoctions. Many thanks to all three! Joanna ** Carrie Wolfgang’s (Iona’s) Red Velvet Cake Recipe Cake Ingredients: 1
Taking Care of Yourself This Holiday Season
So often we take care of everything and everyone but ourselves during the holidays. I know, because I’m a poster child for trying to do too much. Right now, I’ve got a miserable cold, and I suspect it’s from getting too little sleep and working too many hours. The question seems eternal: “How do we […]
Excerpt from Handmade, Holiday, Homicide
Book #10 in the Kiki Lowenstein Mystery Series by Joanna Campbell Slan Chapter 1 People think that being pregnant is all about your growing belly, but the truth is, it also messes with your head. It’s like for every inch my waistband expands, I lose ten points of my IQ. […]
How to Make a Hummingbird Feeder — Miniature Tutorial (1:12 scale)
I love using things that would normally hit the trash can. This project reminds me to look at familiar objects with fresh insight. For years I’ve tossed away the lids to the McDonald’s beverages. I was amazed when I looked carefully and noticed the raised icons. I can’t wait to see what I can do […]
How to Make a Miniature Rustic Bench
My sister has this wonderful rustic chair outside her house. It was made with twigs (okay…BIG twigs), and I love it. Right now, rustic/twig furniture is all the small rage. This pattern will work for a real miniature setting (1:12 scale) or for a fairy garden. This was also inspired by the wonderful tutorial by […]
Miniature Basket Tutorial
This is a fun project that keeps another bit of plastic out of the landfill. Here are two finished versions of this project. SUPPLIES: Empty and clean plastic coffee creamer container Quilling strip (or strip of paper cut 3/8 inch wide) Duct tape (optional) Masking tape (cut into half inch pieces) Scissors Punch (optional) Paper […]
Excerpt from TEAR DOWN & DIE
Chapter 1 Early September… St. Louis, MO Sometimes you need to go backwards to move forwards. Especially when you doubt yourself and don’t know what to do next. All my packing was done. Boxes that would go into storage formed an untidy wall around me. “Where you moving to?” asked one of the men from […]
A Collage for My Beloved Beta Babes
This ZIA (Zentangle Inspired Art) was inspired by a new book, The Beauty of Zentangle, where a sister CZT, Kate Lamontagne, did a piece called “Under the Sea.” Kate was in the same CZT class with me. To create it, I started by making a blue-green watercolor background. I sprinkled rock salt on the paper […]