Wicked Halloween Prop | DIY Papier-mâché Spell Book

I specifically remember my first encounter with a book prop. I was in my early teens and working on a movie project with my closest friends. We were in need of a vintage-looking fairytale book. The film would open with a storyteller setting the scene; reading those oh-so-well-known first words to young and old:

“Once upon a time”

The camera would then zoom into the first pages of the book and dive right into our magical fairytale world, the first scene of our story. We were very ambitious back then. We had already had experience with several theatre projects, short films and lengthier movies too, so we were now hoping to master the fine art of a green screen to create the necessary effect of plunging into another world.

For that purpose we had even glued a square of green card board paper into the first pages of the book!

Yes, as you can imagine, that did not work very well. We are still no masters of animation, nor conquerors of the green screen – but the book looked great!

Nailed it | DIY TORTURED CANDLES

October has begun. Fall is upon us. Orange is everywhere.

While images of crumbling leaves, pumpkin patches and warm apple cider on the stove top do pop into my head most daily, I can’t help but feel more excited about the darker things coming up this month.

I certainly drool over the thought of pumpkin-pecan-maple-syrup pie (oh boy!), but that is going to have to wait just a little while longer. I have hundreds of teeny plastic spiders to arrange on all door knobs of the apartment. Bats are waiting to roam free. I need to find a supplier for custom-made cauldrons and practice some of my favorite spells. Where did I put my trusty broom stick?
Halloween is such a treat. It’s kooky and spooky and altogether ooky.

Mother’s Day Gift | DIY SUN CATCHER

Summer is on its way, the sun is out, it is hot, make it stop.

Ha, just kidding!

I’ve been looking forward to the warmer months and the one thing I like the most – apart from dipping my face into ice cream like every day – is the sun flooding my apartment. It’s almost as if I hadn’t noticed how dark the place can get until the sun beams coming glistening in, bouncing from wall to wall, immersing my personal space into a sea of light and sparkle. The latter only on the rare occasion that I mopped the floors. So basically never.

What’s on today? | DIY LETTER BOARD

Today I am sharing with you a slightly older craft of mine which I have resurrected: The reader board.

Letter boards have been all the rage for a little while now, mostly as a smaller version with little stick-on letters, or as a petite light box.

I however am sticking to my larger design which I made a few years ago, mimicking old movie theatre signs. Bringing old Hollywood back into my living room, you know.

Mr. DeMille, I am ready for my close-up!

Bottle it up | STRACCIATELLA CAKE IN A JAR

May I have your attention please: The sun is out! I repeat: The sun is out!

Which means it is about high time to spend your days out on the balcony. Ideally with a cooling beverage, or as I would prefer, a slice of cake with a scoop of ice cream slowly melting away, oozing over the edges of perfectly baked, crispy golden batter, dripping onto your favorite skirt… YUM!

Now I know this isn’t always an option. Mainly because there is only so many times you can wash your favorite skirt. But also because cake isn’t something you just happen to have in your pantry at all times. And here I go, making you drool – shame!

But imagine a world in which this were an actual, viable option.

Imagine a pantry brimming full with moist, yet crumbly cake sending sweet fragrances up your nose with every swing of the pantry door.

Easter mishap | DIY CRACKED EASTER EGGS

I’ve had a blast all day. I’ve been running around with a sad face telling everybody that I spent all morning painting Easter eggs, only to drop them shortly after.

It’s funny because it’s not true.

I mean, I did spend the morning making yet another batch of personalized Easter eggs, true. But the cracks didn’t occur from a tumble down the stairs, but rather from a carefully placed felt tip.

I was just cracking a joke.

Get it?

POW! | DIY COMIC BOOK EASTER EGGS

"Of all people, you know who I am… Who the world needs me to be. I’m WONDER WOMAN!”

Hands down, what I like most about comic books are the strong female characters. They are assertive and in control, they take charge and have a no-bullshit attitude. Are they overly sexualized? Most definitely. I mean, can a jumpsuit be any tighter?

But they are also powerful and physically strong. (Which in my opinion is something that should be way more natural in our perception of women and the female physique.) They have these handy manipulation skills and cool gadgets.

A boomerang tiara? A lasso of truth??