DIY Birthday Candles

Materials

• Multi-colored sheets of beeswax
• Letter-shaped cookie cutters
• Hair dryer
• Toothpicks
• Candlewick

Instructions

1. For each candle, cut out 4 of the same letter from beeswax sheets using cookie cutters and make 2 stacks of 2 letters.  Soften the  wax slightly using a hair dryer on low.

2. Press a toothpick vertically into 1 stack, and then press a small strip of the candlewick above the toothpick.

3. Sandwich the toothpick and wick between the two stacks of wax; press to join the stacks of letters together.

4. Light your candles up and get ready to make someone's day :-)

Halloween 2014 - DIY Mug Shot Backdrop

F ALL THE HOLIDAYS, Halloween is without a doubt my favorite.  It wasn't even September and I already started decorating the house.  I didn't get to take pictures of all the goodies I made (and there were lots) but you can trust it was an intoxicating-ly good time.  I did manage to take a few photos early in the night of guests posing in front of an easy-to-make photo backdrop.

Here's what you'll need to make your own:

• Large poster paper (I used photo backdrop paper because I work with a photographer who uses this) -- you'll want to put together or cut a 5 ' x 5' piece, if not larger.
• Black duct tape
• Print outs of the numbers 3-7 (download font here)
• Red acrylic paint for "blood" splatter (I used this)

Instructions:

1. Measure 1' from bottom of the paper and place a 1' piece of duct tape from the right edge of the poster paper.  Paste the 3' cut out onto the sheet and place another long strip of duct tape from the number to the left edge.
2. Repeat step 1 for numbers 4 - 7.
3. Using a medium sized brush, splatter red paint across the paper.
4. Optional: find chalk and a mini chalkboard from your local craft store to use as a mugshot placard.

From top left to bottom right: B. Spears, Alex from Clockwork Orange with Cactus man, Raoul Duke from Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas with Suzy Bishop from Moonrise Kingdom, and Whoopee Cushion