Miniature Book Charms

A while ago I had the brilliant idea to return to YouTube. It's something that I have a love/hate relationship with. I love making. I love helping other people to realize that they can make stuff too. But, I'm not a huge fan editing and technology loves to be a pain in my butt. 

I set myself a lofty goal: two tutorials a month. I planned a years worth of projects. I bought the supplies. I made notes! I did research!!!! I was all set.

And, it didn't happen.

Turns out there are things far more important to me than YouTube, like walking my dog, making home cooked meals, putting fresh linens on the bed, reading a book and drinking a latte with gingersnaps in the afternoon. So I'm setting myself a much more realistic goal of one project every month-or-so. No schedule. No pressure. No "like and subscribe". Just making and sharing for the joy of it.

This 'month-or-so' project is a tutorial for mini book charms. They are CUTE.

Making this tutorial was wrought with disaster. I got sick (I'm sure there's heavy breathing and coughing in the video tute). My ring light crapped out. My microphone was an absolute wiener. And one of my little charms actually go run over by a car! Cross my heart that's true. I attached this charm to my boot strap and it fell off while I was on a walk. Came across it on my way back home and it had been violated by a vehicle... but held up remarkably well.

This project is fairly easy and the tutorial should be a great jumping off point for you to add your own flair and create something that warms your bookish heart.

I made keychains, necklace pendants, bag charms and earrings with these cute little things.

My absolute favourite from this make were these book earrings. Margaret Atwood's "The Handmaids Tale" (my all time favourite) for one ear, and Madeline Miller's "Circe" for the other.

You can find the full tutorial HERE on YouTube

Here are all the supplies I used, all of which can be substituted to suit your own needs:

• Air dry clay (I used DAS)

• Acrylic paint
• Satin clear finish
• Mini printed versions of your favourite book covers
• Mod Podge

• Jewelry findings

• Disposable eyeliner brushes

• Wooden Pottery Rolling Stick Guide

Those linked products are NOT an endorsement of those specific listings/sellers. I simply included them to give you a jumping off point if they are something you're interested in.

Making Mandrake Roots

I think just about everyone knows the screaming baby mandrake roots from the Harry Potter series. But, the lore of the mandrake spans back thousands (Yes! Thousands!!!) of years.

My first brush with the mandrake was in a book of witches on my mothers bookshelf. Those creepy little human shaped roots were the pinnacle of magical herbalism in my young mind.

Mandrake is mentioned in the Bible as a fertility aid. In Roman times there was a ritual in which the harvester would swear, being as rude and lewd as possible whilst gathering the roots. It was during Medieval times that the idea of a nasty screaming root became popularized. It has been used for everything from an aphrodisiac, hallucinogen, anesthetic, poison, to lucky charm. It is far more than a prop from a fictional film series.

The mandrake has a long, complex lore that any weird history nut would find fascinating.

I've made many little mandrake roots over the years and now I'm sharing my process for creating grumpy potted mandrakes so you can make them too.

Pop over to my YouTube channel for a full walkthrough (just forgive the abysmal lighting, I'm working on improving my set-up). You can find the video HERE.

Supply list:

• Sculpy II (feel free to substitute with your preferred material)

• Aluminum foil

• Clay pot

• Acrylic paints

• Faux leaves 

• Glue

• Mosses (real and fake)