How to Make DIY Fancy Glitter Holiday Shoes
The night I got introduced the wonderfulness that a little glitter could add to a pair of shoes was also the night I found out about the Rocky Horror Picture Show. I was seven years old and my mom and…
How Makers + Entrepreneurs Can Survive and Thrive during the Holidays
The holiday season has officially arrived and with it comes the familiar rush of parties, fairs, markets, sales, and social events. I work for an online retail company and we, like many makers and merchants, have been preparing for the…
How to Make DIY washi tape wooden gift tags
I never considered myself much of a paper crafter until recently. I have made exactly one scrapbook… over 10 years ago. All of that changed when washi tape hit the scene several years ago. If you aren’t familiar with washi…
why taking time out for self-care makes your creative business stronger
Hi everyone! My name is Erin Duncan, and I’m so excited to join the roster of “Dear Handmade Life” contributors. Before I get started, here’s a little about me: I run wrenbirdarts, a creative hand embroidery business and write a…
How to Make a Winter Woodland Snow Globe
Growing up in Southern California with parents who weren’t big on traveling, I didn’t have a chance to fully experience a white winter until my thirties. I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for snow, maybe since I…
10 WAYS TO ASSESS IF AN OPPORTUNITY IS RIGHT FOR YOU + YOUR BUSINESS
“I’m pretty sure my eyeball is about to fall out,” my husband said last week. It was our day off and we were shuttling between Costco, the grocery store and the hardware shop, prepping up for the week, like real…
How to Make DIY Fall Paper Flower Pumpkin Decor
As self-employed makers, my husband and I rarely get a chance to slow down and really enjoy the holidays. Starting in about the second week of November our online orders start rolling in and before we know it, it’s the…
How to Craft a Successful Crowdfunding Campaign
So you have taken the plunge and decided to run a crowdfunding campaign because you are burning with passion about your project and are ready to spread the word and raise money. You are excited but also nervous about what…
How to throw a backyard karaoke party
My favorite karaoke bar in my town closed down last year. Although I love karaoke, I’m not a diehard karaoke junkie but a few times a year I get this itch that can only be scratched by a night spent…
Goat Cheese, Sriracha + Artichoke Dip Recipe
The first time I ate artichoke dip was at my aunts house (not Delilah but one of my other aunts). The backyard was bustling. Kids hitting baseballs in the batting cage off in the distant way back of the yard….
