#tip list

As the days are getting colder and colder, and it is frequently freezing at night, Wintering The Garden becomes essential, if you want to see it beautifully abloom come Spring. Now is the ideal time to feed and enrich your soil, too; next year's harvest will reward your efforts!

Leaf Mould 

Lasagna Garden (Update One) (Update Two) (Update Three) (Update Four)

Wintering Camellias 

Mulching 

Wintering Geraniums 

Pruning Fruit Trees 

Pruning Hydrangeas 

AN: I am by no means an expert. I am only writing this in hopes of helping another first timer avoid things I ran into when making my first face up! So take all these mentioned tips with a grain of salt.

1: Match Project to skill level

I was making big big big plans for my first face up doll. Thankfully my helpful sounded board keeps bringing me back to reality. He even reminded me I probably shouldn’t be trying to add extra arms to my 2nd OOAK. :) Try to keep your skill level in mind when you are making your project, or think of ways that a big idea might be more executable, ex: use oven baked clay and not time dry epoxy for first time sculpting.

2: Use the right glue

Knowing your glue is important. You don’t want to use the wrong glue and melt plastic, or the right glue and mix mediums that it doesn’t stick to. All glues will tell you ideal uses and you can use google for odd uses if you aren’t sure it will work.

3: Learn from your mistakes

Mistakes will happen. Use them to learn how to do something better, or not to do something. Don’t let mistakes defeat you. It’s your first try, you can only get better with practice!

4: Mark your scissors!

As a crafter who deals in many different kinds of crafts. I have over 10+ scissors. And any multicrafter, or any sewer will tell you. “I swear if you cut anything with my fabric cutting scissors I will end you.“ Mark your scissors, if that is with sharpie, colors ribbons, colored handles. Whatever you need to do make sure you don’t miss use scissors. Since scissors are known to grown legs and move around the house.

5: Know your paints, sealants, and primers

Just as with glues specific paints will work on specific surfaces. Some surfaces might also be paint resistant requiring primers! And always seal your paint. You don’t want your work to fade away or accidently get wiped off!

6: Be safe, read the product labels

Depending on what chemicals or products you are using you might find you are working with toxic or acidic things! Read the labels and know what you are working with. Wear appropriate safety gear.

7: Shake your spray sealant to mix well!

I had a serious mixing problem with my first face up. Going so far as to even clump and gather in one of my doll’s tear ducts. Even one side of her face (the first side I sprayed each time) was hard to draw on. Properly mixing your sealant is important.

8: Finish your project

I know how hard it can be to finish a project when you start loosing interest in it or things aren’t looking how you want them too. But finishing a project is a great feeling and you can’t get that feeling if you don’t. Besides, wouldn’t you be proud of yourself to have a finish product to show off?

9: Budget extra money for unexpected expenses

More than likely you will forget something you didn’t anticipate you needed. Some of you  might not have an issue with that, others who function on project budgets- give yourself a bit extra to use later. Just in case ^_~

10: Fray check or glue secures thread!

If this is your first foray into anything crafty! Please keep glue or fray check on hand if you are going to hand sew or do any sewing on a small scale. It will keep your thread form unraveling. Keep in mind fray check does visibly stain some materials.

11: Puff paint is... weird.

I used puff paint on my first OOAK as well as on my spider hair accessory. Both times it has deflated on me. I’m not sure if I have done something wrong, or if it was simply too cold or hot where I lived. Use puff paint with caution? Or at least research interesting materials like this before use unlike me! hah.

12: Attitude is everything! HAVE FUN.

I don’t know about everyone else, but for me, grocery shopping can be one of the most anxiety inducing things I do. It’s crowded, noisy, and my budget is an almost constant pressure on the back of my head. So, a few tips and tricks I’ve learned to make things easier:

Plan ahead. Make a note of when your groceries are running low, so it doesn’t blindside you when your milk runs out.

Take a shower and wear clean clothes. I know that sounds stupid, but it’ll make you feel more human.

Know how much money/food stamps you have. And, in turn:

Keep track of how much you’re spending. All groceries have a price listed, and writing it down will help you stay on budget. I round up to the nearest $.50, just to be safe. (So $3.15 would be $3.50, and $5.76 would be $6)

Make a list. Know what you’re going to buy, and don’t spend ages wandering around.

Try to avoid busy times, such as weekends, lunch, and the early evenings. My local grocery stores tend to be slow late at night, early mornings, and Tuesday afternoons (1-3pm.)

Don’t try to buy everything at once. If you have to go to the grocery store twice a week, that’s okay. Assuming you can afford it.

Go with somebody. Going grocery shopping with someone else can help make it less anxiety inducing. Let them know that it’s something you find hard, and you would appreciate their support.

If your order is small, self-checkout works just as well as checking out with a cashier. I limit my self-checkout orders to under 15 items.

Tip #1 in dating two people at the same time: always make sure that the possibility of a threesome is real.