Autism Awareness: Tattoos

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. 

Want to really make a statement with autism awareness? Tattoos are one way to promote autism awareness and can mean something personal to you. These are some of my favorite tattoos I found on Pinterest.

You can see more tattoos here and here.

Would you ever consider getting a tattoo related to autism?

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? 

A Guide to Vegan Mac & Cheese: From Boxed to Homemade

Craving the classic comfort of macaroni and cheese? Going vegan doesn't mean you have to miss out. You can enjoy this staple by choosing a store-bought vegan brand or crafting your own creamy sauce from scratch. Here’s a look at a few popular options.

1. Earth Balance Vegan Mac & Cheese

· The Vibe: A familiar, Kraft-style boxed mac and cheese.

· The Process: Quick and easy to prepare. Note that it typically requires you to add your own butter (or a substitute like Earth Balance) and milk, so you may need these ingredients on hand. For a simpler version, you could try using just soy milk.

· The Result: The texture of the cheese sauce was acceptable. However, the pasta used is quite thin; a thicker macaroni would provide a more satisfying bite.

2. Daiya Cheezy Mac Deluxe (Cheddar Style)

· The Vibe: A thick, hearty macaroni in a rich, ready-to-use sauce.

· The Process: Extremely convenient. The cheese comes pre-mixed in a sauce pouch—just drain the pasta and stir it in.

· The Result: The sauce has a notably creamy and cheesy flavor. The thick pasta holds up well, making for a very satisfying texture. A great choice when you want maximum comfort with minimal effort. (Note: Daiya offers this in a variety of flavors).

3. Homemade Vegan Mac & Cheese

· The Vibe: Fully customizable, rich, and restaurant-style.

· The Process: Start with elbow macaroni and prepare a vegan cheese sauce from scratch. A common method is to adapt a vegan Alfredo sauce (using ingredients like cashews or cauliflower) and add cheesy elements like nutritional yeast or shreds of a vegan cheese alternative.

· Key Advantages:

  · Flavor Control: You can tailor the taste perfectly to your liking.

  · Baking Option: A major plus! You can bake it with a breadcrumb topping for that classic baked mac and cheese experience, which isn't recommended with most boxed versions.

  · Make-Ahead: The cheese sauce can be made in advance for a quicker meal assembly later.

· The Drawback: It takes more time and effort than opening a box. The reward, however, is a superior flavor and texture that many find well worth the extra steps.

Final Takeaway:

· For ultimate convenience and a classic "boxed" feel, try Daiya.

· For total control over flavor and the option to bake a classic casserole, homemade is the best route.

· Whichever you choose, a delicious, creamy vegan mac and cheese is entirely within reach.

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.

Food - Earth Balance Review/Butter

compare

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.

- buttery spread
- good for cookies
- can also be used like butter on top of toast
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:

\

What do you like taking photos of?

Business - Ways to Use Evernote

Evernote is an application that allows you to stay organized. It is good for keeping track of websites, doing research or taking notes.

One way to use Evernote is to use it as a bookmarking tool to clip websites. For example, I use Evernote to clip supplies I want to buy from bookbinding websites I find online.

With Evernote Plus and Premium, you can save emails directly into Evernote (up to 200 daily) using your unique Evernote email address. Those with Basic accounts can try this feature out and send a total of five emails. Save your travel reservations, email announcements, weekly automated reports, or anything you receive as an email, to Evernote, and access them from anywhere.

Notebooks are the most common way of organizing notes in Evernote, and are commonly used to separate notes by category, location or purpose. For example, you might create one notebook called 'Work Notes' and one called 'Personal Notes' to keep these types of notes separate and easier to find.


You can use Evernote moleskine journals to ... (shop link)

yI like using Evernote as a tool to stay organized. Here are some tricks for using Evernote.From short lists to lengthy research, no matter what form your writing takes, Evernote keeps you focused on moving those ideas from inspiration to completion.

Here are some more tips:

Brooklyn Botantic Garden

A few weeks ago I went to the Botantic Gardens right by the Brooklyn Museum (after I went to the Etsy fashion show). I've been meaning to post these photos. You can see more on my Flickr.

Has anybody else been here? Or have you been gardening this summer? I don't have a garden (living in an apartment/college), but seeing how beautiful the gardens were made me want to garden.

Vegan Made Easy: Stovetop Popcorn

It is not hard to find snacks that are vegan. Popcorn is a great choice for a snack and is completely vegan if you avoid or substitute the butter. Try the recipe below that uses a stove top instead of the microwave.

Ingredients:
1/4 cup canola oil or nondairy butter
3/4 cup popcorn kernels
1 teaspoon salt or additional ingredients

Instructions:
1. Add the oil or nondairy butter to a large pot. If using nondairy butter, turn the stove on medium and heat until melted.

2. Add the popcorn kernels to the pot. Cover and shake the pot back and forth for about a minute. Listen for the sound of popping. Shake the pot a little bit every few minutes.

3. When the popping slows down or stops, take the cover off the pot and check the popcorn to see if it has fully popped. You want to check occasionally to make sure it doesn’t get burnt. If it needs to cook longer, put the cover back on and cook until popping stops.

4. Add additional ingredients to popcorn, if desired, and toss until coated completely.

Try these ideas for popcorn combinations:

– For traditional movie popcorn, melt 3/4 cup of nondairy butter and toss with popcorn. Sprinkle generously with salt.

– For a cheesy flavor, sprinkle nutritional yeast generously on popcorn.

– Add 1/4 cup vinegar for salt and vinegar flavored popcorn.

– Add chocolate chips and mini vegan marshmallows for a s’mores inspired dessert popcorn.

– Want to make caramel popcorn? In a medium saucepan, add 1/2 cup corn syrup with 1 cup vegan brown sugar. Stir constantly until it bowls. Let sit for 5 minutes on medium heat. Add 1/2 teaspoon baking soda and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Pour syrup mixture over popcorn and break apart when cool.

 This post is part of the Vegan Made Easy series in celebration of World Vegan Month. For more vegan recipes, check out the Vegan Made Easy eBook.

 

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

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?

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?

Italy: Venice

This is part of a series of posts of my trip to Italy. See past posts here:
Rome   Montefalco   Florence   Verona   Venice

Venice was our last stop on our trip to Italy. Venice is so pretty. I love how unique it is and that the roads are all water. The only means of transportation are by boat and walking.

I had to do a research paper and presentation while in Venice. I did my presentation in a museum in Venice while pointing out different paintings. It was fun to be able to present in a museum and see all the famous paintings I studied in real life (the paintings were a lot bigger than I expected).



I went on a gondola ride which I’ve always wanted to do. I got lots of good photos on my gondola ride.







This was a view of the Grand Canal. I had a photo of the Grand Canal in my dorm room so it was fun to see it in real life.



I got this photo of candles in a church in Venice.

Overall, this was my first trip overseas and my first time visiting Italy. I am happy I finally made it to Italy since I took Italian in high school. I wish I had more time in all the places we went to. I definitely want to go back someday.

Italy: Bologna and Verona

This is part of a series of posts of my trip to Italy. See past posts here:

Rome   Montefalco   Florence   Verona   Venice

Our next stop was to Bologna. It wasn’t so tour-isty which was nice, but it kind of felt like we were in a bad neighborhood and we were warned not to go out alone. There was graffiti everywhere. We didn’t see as many sights there as in the other places except on the first day where we broke up in teams and went on a “scanvenger hunt” for different places.

 Verona was our next stop which is famous for Juliet’s balcony from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Even though the story is fictional, the story makes references to the balcony in Verona. It is the most famous balcony in the world. I thought it was really fun to see. Somebody was blowing kisses while I took a photo. Romeo’s house was also there, we couldn’t go inside because it is privately own.



I went to a garden in Verona. It was really pretty and I loved the lemon trees.

Have you ever been to Bologna or Verona?

More Halloween Costumes

Want even more Halloween costume ideas? Check out my previous posts with Halloween costumes.

Grayscale
Clown
Chocolate Chip Cookie
SkeletonPaper
Gameboy
Spider-Man
Vampire
Minnie Mouse
Leopard

What are you going to be for Halloween this year?

Glitter Sandals Tutorial

I transformed some black strappy sandals I had in to gold glitter sandals. I saw some people do this online and I thought I’d try it out because it looked pretty simple to do. Here’s how you do it.

Supplies:

• Old Shoes: Take some old shoes you want to add glitter to. I never wore these black strappy sandals and they were kind of plain so I thought I’d try it out with them.
• Glitter: Use your favorite color. I used gold for these shoes.
• Mod Podge: Use mod podge or another adhesive.
• Paintbrush: Use a paintbrush for painting on the glue.
• Wax Paper or Newspaper: This is for covering your area.

Instructions:

1. Start by laying your shoes on newspaper or wax paper. If your shoes have straps like mine, unbuckle them first. You might want to lay some wax paper on the sole of the shoe (cut to fit the shape) so glue or glitter doesn’t stick to the bottom.
   
   
2. Use the paint brush to paint a layer of mod podge on the outside of the shoe. I’d recommend working in small sections. Sprinkle glitter over the mod podge and then shake the excess glitter off on to the wax paper or in to a container. Repeat this step with the other shoe (you can use the excess glitter). You can also separately mix the mod podge with glitter before painting the layer on if you’d rather do it that way.
   
   
3. I missed a few spots the first around so I repeated this step so glitter was on all parts of the shoes I wanted it to be on. Add a final layer of mod podge to seal in the glitter.
4. Wipe off any glitter or glue that got on the bottom or soles of the shoe. Let dry overnight.

You can use this method for any type of shoes. I like how my sandals came out. It was a little harder to do the sandals since they have lots of straps and details, but I think they’re more unique and fun now and having the glitter makes me excited to wear them. Let me know if you try out this tutorial!

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?

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.

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?

Art Journaling with Autistic People

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.

Art journaling has many benefits for people with autism or children. Since people with autism are often visually oriented, working with help can help them communicate since they often have problems communicating verbally. Making art can improve their ability to imagine and think symbolically. Working with texture can help develop fine motor skills. sensory images such as fine motor skills and texture

Supplies:
These are some good materials to use with people with autism:

• Journal or paper: Check out the autism journal and mini journal in my shop. You can also use thick sketch paper.
• Old illustrated children’s books
• Markers
• Crayons
• Watercolor
• Sponge: Good for using with watercolor or other paint.
• Scissors
• Glue or other adhesive

Techniques:

Here are five prompts you can try:

1. Have an old storybook you don’t read anymore? Have you or the person with autism cut images or characters from the book. Rearrange the images and glue them down to make an art journal entry. You can add other times such as decorative paper, glitter or paint.  My entry above uses cut outs of animals from an illustrated children’s book along with tissue paper.
2. Another idea is to make a list of  of different emotions or feelings. Write them down on the art journal and add a checkmate next to each phrase. Ask your hold or person with autism if they agree with the phrase and then put a checkmate if they do.    .

3. Try having the person with autism doodle random lines and patterns. Alternate with different colors. O used markers in this journal entry.-doodle
4. Have them collage paper. Take decorative paper or images and have them tips up the images. Then rearrange the images and glue them back together.
5. Create different shapes with marker and then have them color the shapes in.
What tips or ideas do you have for making art with people with autism?

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?