Christmas Mice

These have become a tradition in our house...you just have to have a Christmas Mouse! These are super easy, kid easy, and go pretty quickly. So sit back, watch the tutorial and then watch out - they multiply very quickly!

Ribbon Wreath

Hey! Remember fourth grade? If you don't, this just might bring back a few memories. It's a tutorial on how to make a ribbon wreath...just like those ones we made way back in the day with tissue paper...only this time we're using ribbon. Go ahead and give it a look see!

Bleach Pen Skeleton Shirt Tutorial

Halloween Make Up Links

Halloween is the time for make up!
This site has a mom friendly ideas for creating that special costume look, with very easy steps.

Ghoul Skool is a few levels higher and has many other things to look at concerning costuming and make up. Be warned however, some links are dead.

Costume World has slide show type tutorials to explain the steps in their make up tips.

National Geographic has a video on the new trend of Halloween in Japan, a Green Guide to Halloween Make Up. and a story on Fair Trade Candy. Other articles include DYI for kids Pumpkin Carving with patterns! A DYI for kids, explaining how to make their own flying Witch, an article exploring the ritualistic killing of Black Cats, and lastly a fill in the blank Halloween Game for Kids Check out NatGeo., Some cool stuff in there.

Panacea 81 has video tutorials on Fabulous Eyes! This woman is adorable, very unpretentious and she demos her eye make up versions via her love of MAC cosmetics. Very dramatic! If you're looking for a dramatic eye effect for Halloween, she can set you up with something. Her videos take you step by step through over 176(!) different looks!

A great place to get Theatrical Make Up tips via video is Expert Village. Several videos to view there.

Multimakers's You Tube Channel has many video tutorials on Great Theatre Make up, seriously good "normal" physical ugliness (broken teeth, noses, bruising, bites, etc. and clear instruction.

Merely a flesh wound! Watch this video for (silent, but)clear instruction on making prosthetic wounds that actually flex like the real thing! eeek! Thanks Makinthisnthat!

Theassassinnox demos "Cats"style Theatre Make Up, silently with a nice music background, easy enough to figure out what she is doing by watching.

Ayabaya offers a silent you tube video of an actual Maiko or Geisha applying her make up...remarkable.

Askmemakeup demos a you tube Marie Antoinette, hair and make up!

BenjaminChu demos a true DYI "burn and scars" using rubber cement, magic markers and the imagination of a bored teenager. This kid has a career ahead of him!

Ford Model's hair artist Johnny Lavoy demos anAmy Winehouse do. Simple. Really! Also a great Gwen Stefani pony tail. Hot 40's look!

Marie Antoinette

This guy shows a very quick video tutorial substituting theatre make up plastics with bubble gum! to make those same scars!

Professional Artist, Kevin Haney applies Frankenstein make up done from start to finish for a show that was supposed to tribute the original make up artist for Frankenstein, Jack Pierce. Unfortunately the show was canceled last minute and he never got to see his "work".

How It's Made shows us how professionals make face prosthetics turning a beautiful 28 year old woman into an 80 year old version of herself. Start to finish it would cost up to $10,000. Cool video.

And these two videos from "The View" showing us how the Ladies get their Halloween looks from their hair and make up teams.

Super Toddler Craft - Dry Pasta Dying

This is a great project. Fast, easy, CHEAP, and really fun! Grab your cute little person and have them help you make some cool coloured pasta to use in crafting, art projects, school assignments or even to enhance a lesson through art.

A few ingredients, all found in your cupboard, and you'll be supplied with beautiful "beads" or pasta shapes.

Plus, a super cool SAFE threading needle that will help tiny fingers collect beads onto their strings with lots of success and little frustration.

This method will also work on rice! (Rice can be used for cool, vibrant "sand" paintings!)

Enjoy.

Fool Proof Photo Wall Arrangement

Have you ever gone to hang a picture--- measured it, marked it and then, when it's finally on the wall, you stand back to admire your handy work only to be disappointed that it's just a few inches off? Grrrr! Me too!

A few years working in Model Homes I picked up some trade secrets. Let me show you how we did it perfectly every time! It's easy. It's fast. And most importantly -it works!

$40 Christmas Tree Tutorial

Basic Tree Design:

1. Prep all decorations prior to setting the tree up. Sort by colour and size.

2. Set the tree up in the place you want it be, rotate to fine the best "front" view. Secure to the wall with fishing line if needed to stabilize.

3. String lights to every limb if it is not pre-lit, plug in so lights are on during decorating.

4. If you are adding garland, beading, or long draped fabric or ribbons, add them now. With horizontal designs work from bottom to top, dividing the circumference of the tree into 6ths or 8ths. This will help you visually drape your beads, etc., evenly. Stand back every now and then so you can make sure the drape is also level. With vertical or diagonal designs work the tree from top to bottom, again, standing back often to make sure your design is how you want it.

5. Large floral arraignments should be added now. Most large "one focus" design your design will look best in the top 2/3rds of the tree. Crescent, and "S" shapes work very nicely, with the bulk of your materials in the center of both those designs, tapering towards the ends.

6. You're going to begin by adding the largest ornaments first, then work down to the smallest. Add ornaments either very balanced, or in specific groupings. If you are using bows of large floral as ornaments, this is the time to add them.

7. Stand back and observe how the tree is coming along. Look for holes or crowding. Rearrange if necessary.

8. Fill in with small ornaments.

9. Add final bows or tinsel.

10. Top tree with spire, angel, star or other ornamentation.