How to Write and Publish Your Own eBook

If you want to write and publish your own eBook, it is not too hard to do. eBooks are digital formatted books that can be read on a handheld device or computer. Here are some steps to get you started.

Choosing a Topic

First, you need to choose a topic for your eBook. Start researching topics that could potentially sell well. You can focus on a topic you know about already or try to find topics that are trending and would make good eBooks. One way to choose a topic is to look for SEO keywords, using a tool such as Google Keyword Planner.

Writing

Next, it's time to write your eBook. You can start from scratch. If you have already written pieces, such as blog articles, you can put those together to form your eBook and then just edit it. You can also hire someone to ghostwrite an eBook for you. Use a word document program such as Microsoft Office or OpenOffice. If you want to focus on your writing as you write, you can use an application such as Bean which has a minimalist look that gets rid of distractions. An eBook doesn't have to be long. A short eBook can be just 5 or 10 pages.

Editing

After you write your first draft, you will want to edit and revise to get your eBook just right. It's good to have someone else edit for you once you edit it yourself. One trick is to use Fiverr to get someone to edit your eBook for you. If you don't want to spend money, another idea is to use the Hemingway App, which can check sentence structure and grammar for you. You can also get a friend to read your eBook and tell you what they think.

Photos

Photos add visual appeal. You can find free or paid stock photos to use in your eBook. For example, look on Creative Commons for free images to use. You can also use photos you have taken yourself. I like adding at least one good photo for each chapter or section.

Formatting 

Once you have your final draft, you will want to make sure your word document is formatted correctly. Have a cover page, table of contents and headings for each chapter. I won't go in to detail about how to format eBooks in this article. You can find an article on how to format eBook for Kindle here. If you don't want to format an eBook yourself, use a service such as Fiverr to get someone to format it for you.

Cover

Now, you need to make a good cover. You can hire someone on Fiverr to create you a cover for a good price. Another method is to make the cover yourself. Use photos you have taken and or stock photos that fit with theme of the eBook. 

Final Draft

Edit the eBook one more time and make sure everything is in place. Change writing if it needs to be changed and make sure the formatting is correct.

Publishing

There are many places to publish your eBook. I like publishing on Amazon Kindle and Smashwords. One good things about Smashwords is it will distribute your eBook to most of the world's largest ebook retailers. You can see a longer list here. It is also a good idea to sell your eBook on your own website or blog.

Have you ever written an eBook?

Chicago Festivals and Craft Shows

I love checking out festivals in the spring and summer. Many are free to go to or take a donation. A lot of them have craft vendors and live music. Though I am not planning to sell my crafts at any festivals or craft shows this summer, there are many Chicago summer festivals I want to check out. 

Do Division Street Fest and Sidewalk Sale

June 3 - 5, Donation

Division Street between Damen and Leavitt

This festival has craft vendors, live music, food and a fashion show. I went one year and was able to see the band The Good Life. They take a donation.

Chicago Tribune Printers Row Fest

June 11 - 12, Free

Historic Printers Row on Dearborn Street between Congress Parkway and Polk Street

This 2 day festival is the largest festival of books. It has author readings, music, panel discussions and programs for children.

Remix Chicago Craft Fair
June 11-12, Free
Between Fullerton and California 

This craft fair has only upcycled and reused crafts and items for sale. I love the idea of using only upcycled items. Even though I only have a couple upcycled items, I think it would be fun to participate in this craft show in the future. The event also has food, music and workshops.

 

Green Music Festival

June 18-19, Donation

Damen Avenue between North and Schiller

Sort of similar to Remix Chicago, Green Music Fest is an event that combines Art with social activism. You can see live music on a peop le powered bicycle stage. Besides music, there are also craft vendors and food. All vendors are required to be completely eco friendly.

Pitchfork Music Festival

July 15-17, $65-125

Union Park

Pitchfork Music Festival is an  annual music festival in Chicago organized by Pitchfork Media. This year, you can see  Carly Rae Jepsen, Broken Social Scene and Sufjan Stevens. I have never been, but it sounds like a fun summer music festival.

Veggiefest  

July 23-24, Free

Grounds of Science o f Spirituality in Lisle, Illinois

Veggie Fest is one of the largest vegetarian food festivals in North America with food demos, a food court,  speakers and more. I have been to Veggiefest a couple of times. I love that there is a whole festival dedicated to veganism and vegetarianism.   

Lollapalooza

July 28-31, $120+

Grant Park, Chicago

Lollapalooza is a 4 day annual music festival with over 170 performances on 8 stages. Lollapalooza is kind of expensive to attend, but if you go just one day, you can see a lot of bands. This year, I would love to see Radiohead, M83, Lana del Rey, Ellie Goulding and more. There is also food from over 30 vendors. Last year, I went to the Lollapalooza area without a ticket and was able to hear bands, such as Brand New, play while I was in the park even though I did not get in. 

Chicago Air and Water Show

August 20 - 21, Free

Along lakefront from Fullerton to Oak Street, with North Avenue Beach as the focal point

The Chicago Air and Water is the largest free air and water exhibition of its kind. The show features some of the top civilian and military pilots and aircraft including the U.S. Navy Blue Angels and the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds.  The first show was in 1959. I think this is a fun event to attend.

Do you like going to or vending at festivals? 

How to Cook Dried Beans

Have you ever tried making dried beans? They take longer to cook than canned beans, but it is interesting to go through the process of cooking beans from scratch.

I have been cooking dried beans instead of canned beans to save money. Some dried beans I have made are black beans, kidney beans and garbanzo beans. I usually buy the Whole Foods brand, but you can find dried beans almost anywhere. In this entry, I will show you how I make garbanzo beans. 

Ingredients:

1 pound dried beans 

1 onion, quartered 

Sea salt 

This recipe makes about 7 cups of cooked beans.

Instructions:

1. The first thing to do is find beans with any debtors or small stones and remove them. You can lay the beans on a baking sheet to do this. Then, rinse the beans well.

2. Soak the beans. Cover with cold water in a large pot or bowl. Let sit overnight or at least 8 hours. To do a quick soak, cover beans by 3 inches with cold water in a large pot. Bring to a boil and then remove from heat. Let set covered for an hour. Drain the beans. 

3. Cover the beans with cold water by 2 inches in a large pot. You can add an onion if you want. This will give the beans nice flavor. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 1-2 hours or until beans are tender. Cooking time may vary depending on the type of bean you are cooking. 

4. Drain beans and discard the onion. Add salt and season as desired.

I like to freeze the beans in serving size bags until I use them to cook with. I like to make a variety of things with garbanzo beans including hummus, chickpea "tuna" sandwiches, falafels and salads.

Do you ever make beans? Which is your favorite kind to make? 

Autism Awareness: Sponge Painting Tutorial

This entry is part of Autism Awareness Month. Autism is a developmental disorder that impairs the ability to communicate and interact with other people. Autism Awareness Month is a nationwide effort that helps promote autism awareness.

We decided to paint my brother’s old bedroom in our house. My brother, Teddy, has autism. Since it is Autism Awareness Month, I thought I would post a tutorial on sponge painting a bedroom wall since that is the technique we used on his bedroom. Sponge painting is easy to do and if you are painting with someone with autism, they can help out.

Supplies: 

• Latex Wall Paint: Get at least two shades of wall paint. You can do three or even four of five shades of you wish. I think having the same color in different shades works well. We used blue paint for my brother’s room. Blue is also one of the official autism awareness colors. You may want to try out paint chips before buying paint.
• Latex Glaze: Get latex glaze, not oil based glaze, which will thin latex paint. It also gives it a translucent look.
• Paint Tray: Use a paint tray to hold your paint.
• Sponge: Use a natural sea sponge which will give you a textured pattern. You may also get a smaller sponge or different size sponges if you are using a lot of shades of paint.
• Paint Roller: Use a paint roller or paintbrush if you need to paint a base color.
• Scouring Pads (optional): This is optional, but you may wish to get a synthetic scouring pad.
• Other Items: You may need other items as needed such as masking tape and measuring cups.

Instructions:

1. Let’s get started. Start by painting the base coat on the wall.

2. Mix the next layer of paint you want to use with the latex glaze.

3. Dip a large sponge in the paint and glaze mixture. Blot off most of the paint in the paint tray so it doesn’t drip. Start testing the sponge paint in a small area. See how the color looks. If you like the look, keep sponge painting with this technique on the rest of the wall.

4. Repeat this step with the next color. Use a smaller sponge for additional layers. Keep going until you get all the colors you want.

5. When paint is just dry to the touch, you may use a scouring pad to scour areas. This will get rid of any drips or blotches you don’t want.

We also wanted to go with a storybook theme for the room so we added storybook related items such as stuffed animal characters (like the Cat in the Hat stuffed animal pictured in the first photo). I like the way the bedroom turned out overall. The blue colors reminds me of the ocean and I think it really brightened up the room.

Have you ever used the sponge painting technique? Let me know in the comments if you try out this tutorial.

Earth Balance Review

Earth Balance is a company that offers plant based and vegan buttery spreads as well as nut butters and dressings. 

Earth Balance is a vegan, buttery spread that is good for baking and can also be used like butter on top of toast, It is completely vegan. They offer a buttery spread and baking sticks. 

Earth Balance started with a single innovative product - non-GMO, expeller-pressed Original Buttery Spread. This breakthrough creation gave vegans and food lovers a chance to enjoy craveable, meltable, buttery goodness again without dairy.

One thing I like about Earth Balance is its similar taste to butter. It doesn't taste artificial or fake. I also like the texture of it. I like it better than traditional margarine.

What is your favorite vegan buttery spread? 

Scrapbooking Articles for Beginners

If you are new to scrapbooking, these are some articles to check out to learn how to scrapbook.

Scrapbooking Supplies 101

If you are a new scrapbooker, this article has ideas of what scrapbooking supplies to get and where to shop.

Advice From a Been-There Beginner

This article has good advice for new scrapbookers with what to do and what not to do. For example, it is a good idea to shop with a list. The author thinks it is not a good idea to cut photos in to different shapes or overuse embellishments.

13 Ways to Print Instagram Photos

It is a great idea to print your photos on Instagram to have a physical copy of them.If you don't have your own printer, this article has 13 services you can use to order Instagram photos.

How to Scrapbook Your Memories with Not So Good Photos

I like this article which explains how to use photos you don't like as much in your scrapbookin such as by journaling on the photos.

Scrapbook Tips and Techniques

This article has some basic tips and ideas for scrapbooking.

I do some scrapbooking, but want to learn more about it and improve my techniques. Do you like to scrapbook?

Photos of the Moon

I took these photos of the moon and used Fotor on my iPhone to edit them. I got some interesting effects. Here are some of the photos:

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What do you like taking photos of?

How to Write an About Page for Your Etsy

Have you written an about page on your Etsy shop? An about page is important because it lets your viewer get a more in depth look at your shop. To edit your about page, go to Your Shop > Shop Settings > About Your Shop on the Etsy website.

Members

Your shop viewers will like to see who is behind the shop. This section allows you to include a short bio of yourself. You can add info about yourself, what your other job is, your hobbies or where you live. You can also add a photo. Add a headshot or a photo of you working in your studio. You can also add other members or people who work on your shop.

Your Story

Every shop has a unique story behind it. Your about page lets you share this story to your viewers. Start with a story headline that describes what your shop is all about.
The story section allows you to elaborate further on your shop. You can write about how you came up with the idea of your shop and how it get started. Maybe you have an interesting story or reason behind why you started your shop. Maybe you wanted to raise money to donate to a charity so you decided to open a shop selling a specific item to start earning money. Maybe you lost your job and thought opening an Etsy would be a unique way to earn money. Let your viewer know what your shop is all about. You can also include info on how your shop has grown throughout the years or places you have been featured on. Maybe you were featured in a magazine. This is a good place to write about it.
The story page also allows you to add five photos. Use high quality photos that are displayed 760 x 428 pixels. Since you already include photos of your items on your shop page, include other photos here. Studio photos work well such as photos of you working in the studio or in the process of making your craft. You can also add photos from craft shows, places you’ve been featured on, displays or your items or group photo shots of items.

Finally, there is a section for shop links where you can include links to your shop blog and social media sites. This will help viewers find you on other websites.

Manufacturers

Etsy might allow you to work with an outside manufacturer. If you do work with a manufacturer to create items for your shop, you can apply to work with a manufacturer in this section. Etsy will review your application.

What tips do you have for creating an about page for your Etsy?

Living in New York City and Makeup Gurus

I’m in New York City right now. I’m staying here for the rest of the summer. I thought I’d update with what I’ve been doing. I’m doing an internship is at an art gallery which I just started. I’m also volunteering at an animal rights organization called Mercy for Animals which should be interesting. I’ll update on those once I do more stuff with them, but I thought I’d share what I’ve been doing just exploring New York. If you have any recommendations for things for me to see, let me know in the comments.

This photo is from the plane ride.

I signed up for this yoga event on June 22nd called Yoga at the Great Lawn. The idea was to have 10,000 people do yoga at a huge class in Central Park. It was a great idea and I was really looking forward to it, but unfortunately it rained and it got canceled. They did start the class, but I was in the back of the line and didn’t have a chance to do any. I did get a free yoga mat though and I’m hoping to take a yoga class this summer. I found some photos on their Flickr.

I met I met two makeup gurus from YouTube on June 23rd. Makeup gurus are girls who are usually teen/college age who post videos with makeup tips. The videos are generally informal and just done from the person’s home, but a lot of makeup gurus have gotten so popular that they have been featured in magazines and on TV. I met Elle and Blair, who are sisters that each have a video channel on YouTube. One’s 17 and the other’s 22. I’ve been watching them for about a year. The event itself was really crazy because there were so many girls (even though they were only expecting 30 people, about 300 showed up). It was weird how much they were treated like celebrities just for being on YouTube. They took pictures with everyone though and they were really nice.

I also went to a concert (I’m planning to go to a bunch this summer) and did a lot of shopping around (I found this cute cupcake place right by where I intern). Etsy is located in New York so I have to visit their labs sometime.

What are you planning to do this summer?

06/29/15

Autism Awareness: Fashion and Beauty

This entry is part of Autism Awareness Month. Autism is a developmental disorder that impairs the ability to communicate and interact with other people. Autism Awareness Month is a nationwide effort that helps promote autism awareness.

Did you know you can do different beauty and fashion looks to promote autism awareness? Try some of the clever ideas below that incorporate the official autism awareness puzzle shapes and colors in to fashionable looks.

These looks are creative and fun. The eye makeup on the left uses gel eye liner and bright colored eye shadows to make the official autism awareness puzzle pieces. The puzzle lips on the right use bright colors to form a bold puzzle look.

The nail art on the left uses a dot effect with the official autism awareness colors. The nail art on the top right uses blue color on all the nails and the official autism puzzle on the ring finger. On the  bottom right, the nails are all blue with one puzzle piece in white on the ring finger. This is a simple way to add autism awareness to your nails.

How about wearing some clothes that help promote autism awareness? The Women’s Puzzle Piece Hip Wrap T-Shirt ($17) uses a bright blue color and has a v-neck style. This Different Not Less Crew Shirt ($24) on the right is great for men and has a saying that helps promote awareness of autism.

How about adding a nice scarf to your outfit with the autism puzzle symbol? The Autism Awareness Scarf ($12) on the left uses the official autism fabric. It is an easy way to add awareness to any outfit. The Autism Awareness Infinity Scarf ($20) uses text that says “imagine” and different colored puzzle pieces.

How would you promote autism awareness?

Thanksgiving Main Dishes

If you want to try something different than a traditional turkey for Thanksgiving, try one of these dishes below. They are all vegan. Feel free to experiment with them and add your own ingredients. Many main dishes can make a great dish for Thanksgiving.

This Roasted Acorn Squash is stuffed with wild rice. It is gluten free and vegan. Try stuffing other vegetables, such as bell peppers, if you don’t have acorn squash.
Mac and cheese can be a great main dish. To give out a Thanksgiving spin, try this Butternut Mac and Cheese is made with cashews and butternut squash.

Try this Simple Summer Corn Soup which can also be made in fall. It uses fresh corn and be a main dish or appetizer.
What do you like to cook for Thanksgiving?

New Year’s Resolution Tutorial: Magnetic Photo Board

This is part of a series of popular New Year’s resolutions for 2016 and crafts you can do to help your reach your resolutions.

New Year’s Resolution: Make New Memories

If your new year’s resolution is to  make new memories, there are crafts that can help you keep track of memories throughout the year. One way to organize your memories throughout the year is through a magnetic photo board. You can display it anywhere and easily switch photos throughout the year. 

Supplies:

• Photos: Find several photographs you want to put on your board. You can fit about five or six or more depending on the size. Use copies of photos since you will be gluing on the back of them.
• Cookie Sheet: The cookie sheet will be your base for the magnets.
• Spray Paint (optional): This is for spray painting the cookie sheet.
• Magnetic Strip or Magnet Sheet
• Hot Glue Gun or Double Sided Tape

Instructions:

1. Start by spray painting your cookie sheet if you wish. Lay down newspaper and spray paint both sides.. I decided not to paint mine since I liked the silver look of the cookie sheet.

2. Find photos you want to use. Use the scissors to round the corners or cut out shapes with the photos.

3. Cut the magnetic strip in to squares for each corner. Using four magnetic pieces in each corner and one in the middle worked for me. Another option is to make the entire back side magnetic so the photos are full magnets. I think I would do it this way next time so it sticks better.

4. Once they are dry, arrange the photos how you would like on the board. Other items can also be used as magnets if you experiment with different items. For example, small items can be turned in to magnets such as souvenirs or ticket stubs.

Let me know if you try out this tutorial in the comments.

Thanksgiving Desserts

There are many desserts you can try out for Thanksgiving. Try out the ones below.

If you are a chocolate lover, try this Triple Chocolate Pumpkin Pie instead of a traditional pumpkin pie.

If you have leftover Halloween candy, you can make these cute  Pilgrim Hat Cookies with just wafer cookies, peanut butter cups and icing.

These Chocolate Pumpkin Truffles use dark and white chocolate. They are perfect for a unique dessert

If you want something healthier, try these Healthy Baked Apples with graham cracker crumbs.

What do you like to make for dessert for Thanksgiving?

Pantone Color of the Year: Rose Quartz and Serenity

Every year, Pantone chooses a color of the year. I like that they chose a pastel combination this year and had two colors instead of one. The lighter tones are different from the darker red marsala color from last year. Try using makeup in Pantone’s pastel colors. Use Rock the Boat and Pink About It by Essie on your nails. You can paint half your nails pink and the other blue or using the opposite color on your ring finger. Eyeshadow by MAC in colors Yogurt and Moon Reflection has similar colors to Pantone’s choices. The Nude Pink Blush by Bobbi Brown  is one of the lightest shades and will give you a natural rose quartz glow.

The pretty pink dress on the left was worn by Rosie Huntington-Whiteley. The blue dress was worn in the Leanne Marshall fashion show.

What do you think of Pantone’s choice this year?

Etsy for New Sellers

I have revised and expanded the section of your e-book, focusing on clarity, flow, and incorporating the most up-to-date and official information available. The final section, "Naming & Registering Your Shop," has been significantly enhanced with detailed guidance on domains and business structure.

Choosing What to Sell

Before opening a shop, your first decision is what to sell. Etsy is a marketplace for unique, handmade, and creative goods. Start by considering crafts you're skilled at and have received compliments on—this is a strong initial signal of market potential.

If you're unsure, experiment. Try different crafts using online tutorials. The goal is to find a product you enjoy making. When starting, choose a main theme (like "fashion" or "home decor") and focus on 1-3 related product types. This creates a cohesive shop that's easier for customers to understand, rather than a collection of unrelated items.

Choosing a Style

Developing a distinct artistic style can make your shop stand out. This might be a specific technique (like mixed-media collage), a color palette, or a recurring theme in your work. A consistent style creates a unified brand identity across all your listings.

Don't worry if your style isn't fully formed from day one. It will naturally evolve as you create and interact with your customers. The key is to be intentional and let your unique creative voice guide your products.

Naming & Registering Your Shop: A Strategic Foundation

Establishing your shop's identity correctly from the start protects your brand and simplifies future growth.

1. Secure Your Digital Identity

Before officially opening your Etsy shop, secure your chosen name across key platforms.

· Email: Create a dedicated business email (e.g., using Gmail) with your shop name.

· Social Media & Blog: Immediately sign up for social media profiles and a blog using your business name to prevent others from taking it. Tools like NameChk can check name availability across multiple sites.

· Etsy Account: Finally, register your shop on Etsy itself.

2. Understand Business Structures & Legal Steps

Deciding whether and how to formally register your business is a crucial early choice.

· Sole Proprietorship: This is the simplest and most common starting point for Etsy sellers. There's no formal state registration, but if your shop name differs from your legal name, you may need to file a "Doing Business As" (DBA) registration with your local government.

· Limited Liability Company (LLC): As your shop grows, forming an LLC creates a legal separation between you and your business. This can protect your personal assets (like your home or savings) from business debts or lawsuits. It involves filing paperwork with your state and may have annual fees.

· Licenses & Taxes: Requirements vary by location and product. You may need a local business license, a home occupation permit, or a sales tax permit. Consult with a local attorney or accountant for advice tailored to your situation.

3. Establish a Professional Web Presence with a Custom Domain

A custom domain (like www.yourshopname.com) is a powerful branding tool that makes your business appear more established and professional.

Registering a Domain

You can register a domain directly through Etsy's Pattern service or a third-party registrar like IONOS.

· Through Etsy Pattern: From your Shop Manager, you can register up to three domains. Prices vary based on the domain ending (.com, .shop, etc.).

· Key Considerations: Choose a name that aligns with your shop. Consider purchasing WHOIS Privacy (about $3/year through Pattern) to keep your personal contact information out of public directories and reduce spam.

Connecting Your Domain to Your Shop

· If registered through Pattern: Etsy guides you through setup, and your site should be live within 24-48 hours.

· If registered elsewhere: Use your registrar's control panel to set up domain forwarding (or HTTP redirect) to your Etsy shop URL. This automatically sends visitors to your Etsy store.

Creating a Professional Email Address

Once you own a domain, you can create a custom email address (e.g., hello@yourshopname.com) that forwards to your main inbox, greatly enhancing your professional communication.

Managing and Renewing Your Domain

· Domains are registered for one year and must be renewed. Etsy and the registrar will send reminder emails before expiration.

· Your domain renewal is separate from any monthly Pattern site subscription fee.

By following these steps—securing your name, understanding the legal landscape, and establishing a professional web address—you build a strong, scalable foundation for your Etsy business.

I hope this revised section is helpful for your e-book. Would you like me to elaborate on any specific part, such as the step-by-step process for connecting a third-party domain or the differences between business stru

Item Feature: Wavy Autism Awareness Puzzle Greeting Card

This entry is part of Autism Awareness Month. Autism is a developmental disorder that impairs the ability to communicate and interact with other people. Autism Awareness Month is a nationwide effort created by The Autism Society that helps promote autism awareness.

One great way to support autism awareness is to buy products related to autism. This greeting card card in my Etsy shop uses the official autism awareness puzzle fabric. My brother, Teddy, has autism so I like including a few autism pieces in my shop. The border has a fun, wavy pattern.

This item is based on the Autism Awareness Journal, but I used the fabric on a card instead.

This card was pretty easy to make. I used fabric on the card instead of decorative paper like I usually do. After gluing the fabric on and letting it dry, I cut the border to make wave shapes. I also tried doing rounded corners and a zig zag pattern border, but I liked the wavy border the best.

I am thinking of selling gift sets in my shop. For example, an Autism Awareness gift set would include an autism themed greeting card, journal, mini journal and maybe something extra such as pencils or a small gift item. The gift set would include a reduced price from buying the item individually. Let me know what you think of the idea

Autism Awareness: Desserts

This entry is part of Autism Awareness Month. Autism is a developmental disorder that impairs the ability to communicate and interact with other people. Autism Awareness Month is a nationwide effort created by The Autism Society that helps promote autism awareness.

Making desserts are a fun way to support autism awareness. Using the official puzzle symbol and autism awareness colors can turn any treat in to an autism related dessert. Here are some ideas:

You can create a puzzle shape with a puzzle shaped cookie cutter. Add food dye to include the official autism awareness colors. When you display the cookies, you can arrange the cookies together to form a puzzle. 

These are some more creative dessert ideas. The top two photos use icing to add color to the cookies. I love how the puzzle shaped is baked in to the cupcakes in the last photo. See my Pinterest for links to recipes and even more ideas.

Would you ever try making one of these desserts?

Autism Awareness: About my Brother

This entry is part of Autism Awareness Month. Autism is a developmental disorder that impairs the ability to communicate and interact with other people. Autism Awareness Month is a nationwide effort created by The Autism Society that helps promote autism awareness.

Did you know April is Autism Awareness Month? My older brother, Teddy, has autism.

Teddy has had a great influence on who I have shaped up to be in my life. When he was a toddler, my parents noticed that Teddy seemed a little different from the other kids his age. When he was six years old, we took him to a doctor who told us he had a developmental disability called autism. 

Growing up with my older brother taught me how to deal with somebody with disabilities and taught me about commitment. He has a certain innocence and charisma to his personality that I admire. Despite his disability, he still shows signs of maturity and intelligence. He shows compassion by bringing his lively personality, sense of humor and helpful nature to everyone he meets. Whenever I visit him now, he has a smile on his face which brightens my day.
Do you know anyone with autism?

Autism Awareness: Crafts

This entry is part of Autism Awareness Month. Autism is a developmental disorder that impairs the ability to communicate and interact with other people. Autism Awareness Month is a nationwide effort created by The Autism Society that helps promote autism awareness.

Since it is autism awareness month, I am posting something related to autism every Saturday. This week, I am posting arts and crafts that are great to do with people that have autism.

I love this Rainbow Rice that uses watercolor paint or food dye.to add color to rice. This is good to improve people who have autism’s sensory skills by touching the rice.

Did you know you can make stained glass art with toilet rolls? This project uses black paint for printing the circles and watercolor paint to fill in the inside. This is another project that uses beautiful colors.

This DIY Edible Gumball Necklace uses a drill to make holes in gumballs. Here is another version of the Candy Necklace, pictured on the right. People with autism can practice their hand and eye coordination and fine motor skills while making or helping to make the necklace. 
All these crafts are also great for toddlers or children. What crafts do you like to do with people with autism or children?