There's an awkward space between the stairs and the wall in my art studio. After some thought, I decided to turn it into a cozy little nook for my son. I've filled the space with pillows and hanging baskets with toys, books, snacks, and more. It's a place that he can call his own when he comes up to the attic. IMHO, decorating a special kid-dedicated space is about nurturing -- providing him with a sense of ownership, independence, and confidence. He knows that Mommy has rules about her space and art supplies, but this is a little nook where... Read more →

If you know me, you know that I looooove place cards. However, we will only be four people at this year's Thanksgiving and so there's really no need for place cards. But I wanted to add something homemade to the table decor. I finally settled on utensil pockets and they are my new favorite thing to make. So fun! I plan to create many many variations for every possible holiday. Take a peek: And I put together a tutorial video that takes you through the process. It's really so easy and so customizable. Make these from scrapbook paper, hand painted... Read more →

Have you ever thought about etching glass? It's super easy to do and takes almost no time. Here's what you need: Etching Cream Tape Adhesive-Backed Flexible Stencil -- I made my own from adhesive-backed vinyl, but you can buy pre-made stencils too. Rubber Gloves Access to Running Water Glass Object Timer Good Ventilation Optional: Apron The process is simple: Place the adhesive-backed flexible stencil on your glass object. Tape off any areas not covered by the stencil and which you do not wish to be etched. Put on your gloves. Make sure you're in a well-ventilated area and near running... Read more →

Is it too late to share some Christmas-ish photos?! I hope not, because I'm going to do it anyway. Is this like wearing white after Labor Day? No longer taboo? First up, this is the gingerbread house that my Mom, my son, and I made: Making projects with him I am always yelling at myself in my head: DON'T TRY TO CONTROL THE PROCESS. LET IT BE WHAT IT IS. Most of the time, I manage to roll with whatever he wants to do. And in the end, it's always lots of fun and nothing that I expected. And now... Read more →

As I mentioned to weekly newsletter subscribers several weeks ago, I was hoping to make the time to create some sort of non-fire related Hanukkah countdown thing for my son. Well, I finally figured out a simple project that would work for his age and interest level, but still work for us as a family down the road. Plus, it's pretty. Inside each of the little houses is a small toy and a piece of Hanukkah gelt. After we light the candles each night, he can untie the bow on top of the appropriately labeled little house to release the... Read more →

Here's an idea for your Thanksgiving table: sun printed napkins. Sun printing is a surface design technique where you allow the heat and light of the sun to help you dye your fabric. Besides sunlight, it requires stencils or masks to create the pattern. You can learn more about sun printing (even without the sun) in my online class all about it. Class is $25 with lifetime access, and the technique works on paper as well as fabric. I used cloth napkins I bought online, but you can also print fabric yardage and make your own napkins. Here's a look... Read more →

It's almost the Fourth of July! It's a holiday that basically demands red, white, and blue decorations for a backyard barbecue. As a crafty gal, I love to decorate for the holidays. However, I'm in a season of life in which my DIY decorations need to be quick and easy or they won't get done. I'm sure that as my son gets older, I'll be able to return to more elaborate DIYs, but I'm keeping it simple for this year's 4th of July festivities. As I'm sure you realize, simple can be outstandingly gorgeous. I cut my shapes out of... Read more →

Here's a super fun holiday craft tradition that you can start any time: memory ornaments. The front of each ornament features the year and a "title" and the back features a bit more detail about that particular Christmas. I used vinyl, which I cut with my new **Maui** ScanNCut SDX85M, for the front of each ornament. ...and transfer paper for the text on the back. This is a simple and elegant way to personalize your Christmas decorations! The new ScanNCut SDX85M is a great machine. Here are five features I appreciate: It has the AutoBlade – a total game changer... Read more →

On today's podcast I'm talking about two big life changes through the lens of art: moving into a new house and having a baby. If you do not see the podcast player above, please click on this link. You can listen to a podcast anywhere and at any time. It is a recording that is available to you whenever you'd like to listen. If you'd like to download it to your iTunes library, click here. You can also pause and rewind or fast forward as you desire. I like to listen to podcasts while I'm making art. It's a little... Read more →

I needed a curtain for the bathroom in the studio. In a pile of linens, I discovered a single canvas curtain panel with a few holes in it. I decided that I needed to repair the rips and shorten the curtain (no one wants a curtain dragging on the floor right by the toilet). I stitched up the holes... ...and cut and shortened the curtain: As you can see, I tacked it up to my painting wall and then went to town with spray paint and spray ink: It didn't feel quite done at this point, so I added some... Read more →