News & Spotlights — creativity

If you are anything like me, you are near-obsessive about Halloween and anything related to it. So I have a fun little DIY for those who want to start before the décor is in-store. The following tutorial is for a handmade clay spider and an easy 4 step eyeball flower for those wanting something a little incognito. Craft Project Items Needed: Crayola Air-Dry Clay (White) Parchment paper Kitchen knife Handmade Glass Eyes Acrylic Paint (Black) Paintbrush and pallet Setup: The first step to creating this spooky spider is to create a flat ball the size of your palm and one...

April from Benton, ME, makes unique animal-inspired scarves. To help add character and realism, she includes glass eyes from handmadeglasseyes.com. According to April, "These eyes are absolutely perfect for my scarves." (Above wolf scarf made with these pale blue mysterious mermaid glass eyes.) In one 5-star review, April states, "These were used for a horse scarf I made and donated to a local equestrian rescue. The eyes were PERFECT! Thanks so much!" and in another "These eyes are PERFECT for my kitty scarf. Well made, and shipped fast! You be the judge...look at this cat!.😁🐾🐈" Here is the horse scarf...

When you're a maker staying creative isn't a nice-to-have--it's a necessity. Here are my top 5 tips for keeping the inspiration on full blast... Tip 1: Define Creative BoundariesFor example, make your next project only out of red materials, or in a certain styleTip 2: Take a Walk In NatureDitch your phone, and your headphone and allow your mind to completely relax and wader as you go for a walk and breathe some fresh air. Letting your mind rest is often when the best creative ideas present themselves!Tip 3: Set Time ConstraintsFor example, have your next project be something you...