Happy New Year's!

Happy New Year's! What are your resolutions for the new year? Let me know in the comments!

Blog Anniversary and Giveaway!

This week is My Thread of Thought's anniversary. To celebrate, I'm having a giveaway. The prize is a greeting card of your choice from my shop. To enter, you just have to leave a comment in this entry. If you post about the giveaway somewhere else (your blog, etsy forums, twitter, etc.), just let me know and you'll get an extra entry. The giveaway will be up until July 18th.

I can't believe it's been two years since I've had this blog. I posted my first entry on the Fourth of July of 2008. This blog has been a good way to talk about my Etsy shop and things going on in my life. I find it helps organize my thoughts and relieve stress when I write things down. I've gained 269 followers which is great. I thought I'd post some of my favorite entries over the years:

Fourth of July (July 4, 2008)
Getting Etsy on Other Sites (July 14, 2008)
First Sale! (July 21, 2008)
Craftster Challenge: Playing Cards (July 22, 2008)
Halloween Cards Tutorial (September 20, 2008)
Election Day Giveaway (October 28, 2008)
Valentine's Day Items (February 14, 2009)
World Autism day (April 1, 2009)
Record Store Day (April 18, 2009)
Etsy Day (April 23, 2009)
First Craft Show (July 13, 2009)
Luna's Famous! (July 21, 2009)
Vote for my Journal to be in the Gift Guide (July 28, 2009)
Giveaway and Hippo Treasury (August 11, 2009)
Vatican city Photo (August 24, 2009)
Worldwide Moment (September 8, 2009)
My Cousin's Wedding (October 24, 2009)
10 Things I'm Liking and New Card (November 17, 2009)
Gift Guide Part I (December 11, 2009)
Christmas & Snowflake Journal (December 24, 2009)
YouTube & Tumblr (February 6, 2010)
World Nutella Day (February 5, 2010)

Good luck on the giveaway!

Tie Greeting Cards

Every year for Father's Day, I make my Dad a mini greeting card shaped as a tie. I think it's fun to play with the shapes of cards. Here are some of the tie greeting cards I've made: 

I've never listed one in my shop, but let me know if you like them so I know if I should make some to sell. Did you do anything special for Father's Day?

Photography & Updates

I'm working on two new journals now. One has red flowers and is red on the inside. It started off good, but I made a few mistakes so hopefully I can fix it up and sell it. I really like how it looks though.

I also started one with the same pig fabric here and it's going to use glittery pink paper on the inside. I love how it looks, but I messed up the pages on the inside and might have to resew the whole paper part. Maybe I can find something to do with the pages I messed up. I might wait until I get my own paper cutter (which is coming in the mail) to try to do it again.

It's been hard to really work on items with school. I'm okay with that because you can't always do both. I've been doing a lot of photography in my Photography class. In our next assignment, we're supposed to make photos out of the words isolation, naked, contained, encompassing, and open. I have a few ideas for some of them, but let me know if you have any ideas. :)

Here's some photos I took sofar. These weren't for an assignment, they were just random photos I took:

This is a tree outside of the building I live in. I was just walking out and took a photo. I liked how it looked with the snow everywhere, my campus looks so pretty when it snows.


This is a photo of some fake flowers I have in my room. Once I lightened up the picture, I really like how it turned out.

I've also been doing a lot in my art journal lately. I got a moleskine sketchbook instead of using one of the journals I made. I felt weird about not using a journal I made at first (since I sell journals and everything), but I was curious about the moleskine. I really like it and it seems like the pages can hold a lot, which is nice.I might do some blog posts of scans of entries I've been making in my journal (I haven't been able to get my scanner to work lately though). There's some journal pages you can look at from my previous journals in my flickr.

When I sell journals, I also put a little note with journaling ideas and tell buyers they can always scan in journal pages (if it's something they want to share) and I can post it on my blog. I've only sold a few actual journals, so nobody's done that yet, but I hope someday people do so I can share what other people do with their journals on here.

So I noticed nobody did my game when I tagged them from the last entry. If you want, you can do the game from the post below. I didn't think I'd find a post that could relate to my shop and blog, but it happened that I found a good photo to talk about and maybe you will too. :)

What’s On My Christmas Wishlist 2023

These are some items on my wishlist for the holiday season this year. 

Canon EOS Rebel T7: I want a new DSLR camera. I would use it to take photos, but also on my Etsy shop and blog. I heard this camera was good. Another camera I was looking at is the Canon EOS Rebel T100. If you have any camera recommendations, let me know. I prefer the Canon brand. I had the Canon EOS Rebel XS before and liked it, but unfortunately lost the camera. 

Canon TS9521c Crafting Photo Printer: I heard this printer was good for crafting and printing out items to use with crafts. Let me know if you have a recommendation for printing photos. 

Scrapbooks and Photo Boxes: I am trying to scrapbook more and I am looking for photo boxes or ways to organize my photos. I found some I liked at Michael's, but let me know if you have any recommendations. 

Kindle Unlimited: I have a Kindle Paperwhite, but I need a Kindle Unlimited subscription to go with it. Let me know if you have any book recommendations.  

Life is Messy Planner: I need a new planner for 2024. There are some products by Mayi Carles want to purchase. I like the Life is Messy Planners here which have a blog, meal, fitness and other printable planners. 

Makeup and Beauty: I am looking for some products from Lush. I also have some items on Etsy I want. I want the GHD or Babyliss Pro Hair Straightener. I want an eyeshadow palette like the Too Faced Better Than Chocolate Eyeshadow Palette. 

Digital Products: There are some digital products I want on Creative Market and Etsy. I am looking for Lightroom Presets I can use on my photos for editing them. There are also some digital paper and graphics I want. 

What’s on your wishlist this year? 

5 Winter Skincare Tips

Does your skin get dry in the winter months? With the cold weather, you may need to switch up your skincare routine. Here are five winter skincare tips to keep your skin hydrated and protected during the colder months:

1. Moisturize Regularly

Cold air and indoor heating can dry out your skin, so it’s crucial to use a rich, hydrating moisturizer. Look for ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and ceramides to lock in moisture. Apply your moisturizer right after showering when your skin is still damp to seal in hydration.

2. Switch to a Gentler Cleanser

Winter weather can make your skin more sensitive, so it’s a good idea to switch to a cream-based or hydrating cleanser. Avoid products with harsh ingredients like alcohol, which can strip your skin of its natural oils. Opt for a gentle, non-foaming cleanser to maintain your skin’s moisture barrier.

3. Use a Humidifier

Indoor heating can cause the air to dry out, which leads to dehydrated skin. Adding a humidifier to your living space can help keep moisture in the air and prevent your skin from becoming too dry. This is especially helpful while you sleep.

4. Exfoliate Gently

Exfoliating helps remove dead skin cells that can make your skin look dull. However, in winter, it’s important to be gentle. Opt for a mild exfoliator with fine grains or use a chemical exfoliant with AHAs or BHAs to avoid irritation. Exfoliate once a week to keep your skin smooth and fresh.

5. Protect Your Skin from the Cold

When you go outside, don’t forget to protect your skin from harsh winter winds and cold temperatures. Use a nourishing lip balm to prevent chapped lips and wear a scarf or gloves to shield your face and hands from the elements. Always apply sunscreen, even on overcast days, as the sun’s UV rays can still cause damage during the winter.

These tips can help maintain a healthy, glowing complexion throughout the colder months.

Easy Vegan Thanksgiving Side Dishes

Thanksgiving is the perfect time to make side dishes. These are some of my favorites.

These Vegan Mashed Potatoes are a great version of mashed potatoes to try. They use garlic and chives to give them flavour.

If you love cranberry sauce and stuffing, try this Slow Cooker Cranberry Pecan Stuffing. It is a delicious version of stuffing to make this Thanksgiving.

All you need for these Rosemary Roasted Carrots are carrots, olive oil, rosemary and salt.

What are your favorite side dishes to make? Leave a reply in the comments.

It’s My Birthday!

It is my birthday today! 

These are a couple goals I have for the upcoming year: 

• Travel more
• Make more money
• Spend more time taking care of myself 
• Try out more recipes
• Make more art
• Get more subscribers and followers on my e-mail list, blog and social media 
• Journal daily
• Spend less time on time wasting activities 
• Practice gratitude 

The artwork pictured is by Margaret Berg. 

What do you like to do for your birthday? 

Chicago Lakeview Taco Festival

A few weeks ago, I went to the Lakeview Taco Festival in Chicago. I had never been to this event before so I thought I would go. 

 

The event was free to attend. The festival focused on just tacos for food. The vendors sold tacos from local restaurants that were both traditional and speciality. 

 

 

I had a hard time finding vegan tacos. I did find one taco was the specially made vegan. But they were all out. You could order tacos without the meat though.

 

Besides food, the event also had two stages of live music with several bands. The live music was pretty good. They had a lot of cover bands.

 

It was a fun event overall. I would go again. Have you been to any festivals lately? Let me know in the comments. 

What are Your Favorite Halloween Costumes?

 

Halloween is a great time to dress up. I am curious what your favorite Halloween costumes you have been were.

Let me know by e-mailing: 

mythreadofthought@gmail.com

Include a photo and brief description of what you were dressed up. They can be old photos or more recent ones. You can even include ones of pets or group costumes. 

If I get enough, I will post them on this blog. I look forward to hearing from you.

Mother's Day

I thought I'd share some items that would be good to buy for Mother's Day (Which is May 10th this year). There is a 10% sale in my shop from May 5th-May 10th. It seems like I've had a lot of sales lately, but I guess that's okay. :)

Iridescent Blue Photo Frame



This frame is perfect for your mom to put a favorite photo in or for you to put a photo of you and your mother in.

Laundry List Sticky Note Pad



Whether it's for shopping, things she has to do around the house, things she has to do for work, etc., a journal with blank to-do list sticky notes can always come in handy.

Cupcake Desserts Cookbook



This is perfect for the mother who likes to cook (especially sweets). I gave my mom a cookbook for Christmas.

Love Deeply Inspiring Quote Greeting Card (Pink Version)



I didn't have time to make new Mother's Day card, but there are some greeting cards in my shop with general inspiring quotes that could make great gifts. This card has the quote, "To love deeply in one direction makes us more loving in all others."

I think I already know something I can give my mom. It's something I made for a class (I can't reveal what it is yet because my mom reads my blog sometimes, haha). Last year I tried making a handmade card that had seeds in it (so you could plant it afterwards). I can't remember if the seeds actually worked, but it was a fun idea to try. Mother's Day is a good holiday to give handcrafted things because they're a little more personal.

I made a new poll on this blog. I think I might do a poll from time to time. This one just asks if you keep a journal. I started journaling a lot more last year and I have kept 3 journals this year. I don't have a journal right now and I'm not sure when I'll start a new one (even though there is one journal I'm using for a class that I'm going to continue to keep) so it just made me curious if people keep journals.

I have my last final tonight (which is weird, I've never had a final on a Saturday night before). It doesn't really feel like a weekend to me now, but after that, I'll be completely done with classes. I'm excited to get out for the summer. :)

Earth Day, Craft Show and Recycled Items

Happy Earth Day! My college held a craft show type event for Earth Day so I decided to sell some of my crafts in it. I had fun doing it. It was busier than I thought it'd be and reminded me of a craft show I did at Esperanza last summer. One of my cards sold right away. It was a newer card and I didn't have the chance to get a photo of it. I collaged photos from a magazine I had from the 1950s. That was the only thing that sold, but I got lots of admirers and comments which was nice. It was also fun to see what other crafts and recycled items people were selling.

Since it's Earth Day, I thought I'd post some items I have in my Recycled Items.

I have a couple movie poster recycled journals. I want to make more like these in the future:

Hope Floats Movie Upcycled Journal



Center Stage Movie Upcycled Journal



I have some items made out of recycled books. The "I Am a Little Duck" is the first item I sold on Etsy:

I Am a Little Animal Upcycled Journal



Upcycled Swan Flyaway Journal



These are some items I made with vintage items, from magazines:

Best Wishes Red Birthday Greeting Card



Vintage Girl Coptic Bound Book



These items are altered journals. I started with an old journal that was already bound and redid the covers:

Asian Print Mini Upcycled Journal



Altered Octopus Spiral Journal



What are you doing to celebrate Earth Day?

New Greeting Cards

I listed some new greeting cards. I listed these greeting cards that use paper from vintage magazines:

Wavy Fudge Ice Cream Vintage Greeting Card



Wavy Blueberry Pie Vintage Greeting Card



These are some other new cards I've listed:

Wavy Blue Checked Doughnuts Card



Blue and White Flower Greeting Card



I'm working on some new journals. I got some new decorative paper so I'm using it with these journals. I'm also trying to list new items frequently. Besides Etsy, I've been really busy with school lately. I feel like I'm at the point of the semester where you have a lot of work in all your classes. Are there any art projects or crafts you're currently working on?

Vintage Valentine Greeting Card Sale

I sold this Vintage Valentine Greeting Card:



I think this is the first Valentine's Day item I've sold. I'm also giving away two greeting cards in my Valentine's Day giveaway.

Art Journaling Tutorial

Art journaling is is a method of journaling using illustration and artwork instead of just writing. It is not about creating a perfect picture, but allowing you to be imperfect and express yourself. I discovered art journaling online around 2008 (about the same time I opened my Etsy shop). Art journaling allows me to play with pictures and not just use words which can be harder for me because I think visually a lot.



Here are some tips to get started art journaling:

- Art journaling is all about expressing yourself so just experiment until you find what works best for you. Remember, you don't have to show your journal to anyone so don't worry about it turning out a certain way.
- Use different materials such as paint, glitter, fabric, decorative paper, etc. You can keep a box or folder where you keep things you find that you might want to use in your art journal (e.g. magazine cut outs, photographs, receipts, etc.).
- Play with using both text and photos/images.
- If you don't know what to journal about, journaling prompts can help get you started. Google "art journaling prompts" or "journaling prompts" for a list of ideas for what to journal about.
- Set aside time to art journal to help stay consistent. For example, you might decide to make an entry every night or every Sunday.
- If you need inspiration for art journaling, you can google "art journaling" to find a bunch of helpful blogs and photos. Flickr also has a lot of art journaling groups where people post photos/scans from their journals.

You can see some of my art journaling on my Flickr. If you need a journal to get started in, I sell some journals in my shop that would be perfect for art journaling. Do you art journal?

How to Make a Veggie Dog for Fourth of July

Grilling veggie dogs is a great way to celebrate Fourth of July. If is a fun way to enjoy an alternative to traditional hot dogs. Here’s a quick guide on how to barbecue them to perfection:

Choose the Best Veggie Dogs

Start by choosing a vegan veggie dog. Look for veggie dogs specifically designed for grilling so they hold up better on the grill and provide a realistic texture. My favorite brand right now is Lightlife Smart Dogs. Field Roast is another good choice for veggie dogs. Try their Signature Stadium Dog Plant Based Hot Dog. Beyond Meat has a hot dog form of their Beyond Sausage that is perfect for grilling. You can also make your own veggie hot dogs like this recipe from Fat Free Vegan that use pinto beans and vital wheat gluten. to give them texture. 

Grill the Veggie Dogs

Place the veggie dogs on the preheated grill using tongs. Rotate them occasionally for even cooking. Watch for grill marks which will add visual appeal and enhance the flavor of your veggie dogs. Cooking time varies, usually 5–10 minutes. 

Serve with Toppings

Once done, serve on a whole grain bun and top with your favorite toppings. Veggie dogs can be customized with a variety of fun toppings! Here are some ideas:

1. Classic Mustard and Ketchup: A timeless combination that works well with any hot dog, including veggie dogs.

2. Relish: S

   weet or dill relish complements the veggie dog nicely. You can also use dill or sweet pickles that are chopped. 
3. Hot Sauce or Sriracha: If you like a spicy kick, add hot sauce instead of ketchup.

4. Grilled Veggies: have you tried grilled vegetables? Use your favorite veggies like peppers or mushrooms for variety. Also try caramelized which will bring sweetness and depth of flavor.

5. Chopped Tomatoes: This is a great way to replace ketchup. They also add a burst of color. Try using fresh tomatoes. 

6. Vegan Cheese: Melted vegan cheese (such as Daiya cheddar) will take your veggie dog to the next level.

7. Sprouts or Microgreens: Add greens to your veggie dog. Use sprouts or microgreens. You can also add avocado slices which will pair well giving a creamy texture. 

Remember, the best toppings are the ones you enjoy the most! Feel free to mix and match to create your perfect veggie dog. 

Have you ever made a veggie dog? Let me know in the comments what you like on your veggie dog. 

How to Make Fourth of July S’Mores

Here’s a delightful twist on traditional s’mores for your Fourth of July celebration: red, white and blue S’mores. These patriotic treats are easy to make and perfect for your Fourth of July party or barbecue. I found the original recipe from Sheri Silver. Let’s get started! 

Ingredients:

• Graham crackers 
• 1 cup red candy melts
• 1 cup blue candy melts 
• Decorative sprinkles
• Vegan marshmallows (I use Dandies to make them vegan, but you can use any brand)
• Chocolate squares (I use vegan dark chocolate)

Instructions:

1. Melt the red candy melts in the top half of a double boiler set over simmering water. 

2. Dip a graham cracker into the bowl of red candy melts and gently tap on the rim to remove any excess. Place on a lined sheet pan to cool. Repeat with as many graham crackers as you want.

3. Top with patriotic sprinkles if using.

4. Repeat the above process with the blue candy melts (do not top with sprinkles, if using). Let set.

5. To roast your marshmallows, you can do using a campfire or stovetop. Just find a stick in the woods or use a long metal skewer and toast the marshmallow over the flame until toasty. You can also use an oven or microwave as another method to toast s’mores (do this after placing them on a graham cracker).

6. To assemble the s’mores, start with a blue graham cracker. Add 2-3 squares of chocolate. Add 1-2 marshmallows on top of the chocolate. Gently press a red graham cracker with decorative sprinkles on top.

7. Serve warm and enjoy!