Kristy Bowen

Everyone has a story to tell, but you may need some help getting that story down on paper; get that advice from books on how to write a book! The task may seem daunting, especially if you're a beginning writer, changing genres or new to navigating the challenges of the publishing world. While anyone can probably write a book, writing a book you are happy with necessitates a little help from those who have trod the same path you are embarking on, be they teachers, experts or other fellow write...

If you love books and reading, you've probably thought about how to write a book to add your own voice to the publishing world — be it through poems, a novel or a non-fiction book on your areas of expertise. If you're new to writing and publishing, you may be wondering where to start, especially if you’re feeling that first itch of creativity and the desire to be a published author. With a few great tips on where to start, you can be on your way to having a book with your name on the cover in...

Making paper airplanes can be a fun activity for children or adults alike, with many opportunities for experimentation and customization. Even better, you can create a paper airplane out of readily available and inexpensive printer paper or get more creative with other fun options like construction paper, wallpaper, wrapping paper, newsprint, magazine pages, maps and more.
Most plane designs take only a minute to make and are a great way to pass the time when you're bored at work or looking f...

Slime is an endlessly fun substance to both play with and create no matter your age. The rise of this sticky, gooey substance for sensory play and scientific reaction experiments has been witnessed in many homes. Not only is slime easy to create from rather common ingredients you may already have in your home, but it's also a lot of fun to customize for whatever use you enjoy, whether it's just digging your fingers in for sensory fun or using it to make horror movie style slime for your toy m...

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Design
DIY Home Decor
Sometimes, the most creative projects can have their roots in the humblest of places. Instagram artist @arte_fusiongallery showed off how she created dynamic textured art using recycled paper towel rolls. While her sculptural and beautiful minimalist paintings look luxe and expensive, creating a similar piece may be easier than you think. With cardboard rolls, plaster bandages, and texture paste, you can create st...

Looking for the best gift for a Baby Boomer in your life? The Boomer generation spans the birth years of 1945 to 1965, meaning it encompasses a historically large swathe of living Americans. The “Boomer” moniker reflects the large birth rate in the US that skyrocketed after WWII. This 20-year span means that its oldest are enjoying their retirement, while the youngest may still be in the workforce and watching kids leave home for the first time.
These new freedoms and changes in life offer ma...

In the past two decades, pole dancing and pole fitness classes have become one of the trendiest ways to work out. The muscle coordination and strength to maneuver your body around a standing pole, and keep to the music at the same time rivals gymnastics in its intensity. It’s a full-body workout that is excellent for core building, stretching and aerobic activity. It can also be a great dance class to help you tone and strengthen while pursuing other forms of dance.
If you are new to the pole...

Beautiful patterns and prints can instantly add personality to any room in your home. This is especially true in bedrooms, where adding patterns to bedding, throw pillows, and curtains may be what you may think of first. However, adding patterns in smaller, more subtle doses can add polish to a room, particularly one with a lot of solids or neutrals. By adding patterned fabric or wallpaper to unexpected places like lampshades, shelves, furniture, and on the wall, you can get all the benefits ...

Flowers and greenery add endless charm to both our interior and exterior spaces, with seemingly unlimited options for wall-mounted planters, hanging plant configurations, and other methods that use organic elements to make homes more inviting, layered, and inspired by the natural landscape. Plant walls in particular can be a great way to decorate a large and empty wall or create a dynamic focal point. Supplies and custom installation for an entire plant wall could get expensive, however. Many...

A useful and welcoming outdoor living space always needs the right mix of elements to make time spent there enjoyable. Lighting is one of the most important aspects of patio design, especially if you use your outdoor space more at night and for entertaining. While there are endless options for adding illumination, both accent and task lighting, they can be pricey for more luxe and decorative-looking options. TikTok user @redeux_style recently unveiled how she turned a bamboo bath mat from a d...

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Design
DIY Home Decor
Great storage options in your craft room or art studio are essential to making your time there productive and enjoyable. Even better if those options happen to be both stylish and inexpensive. If you think creatively, some of the best tools for craft room organization may already be harbored in your pantry or recycling bin. Simple glass jars have a multitude of uses for stowing supplies within easy reach. TikTok u...

Learning to draw can be both a challenge and an enormous gift. While it's one of the things in art that takes the most practice to do well, it also offers the easiest entry into art-making since all you really need is paper and pencil. Drawing is also the baseline for understanding things like proportion, depth of field and lighting and shadow that can be incredibly important as you move onto other mediums like sculpting and painting for beginners. Learning to draw well is one of the top pain...

Looking for a way to use belts you no longer want to wear? Leather belts are usually made of sturdy all-natural leather, making them a durable natural substance that will not break nor stretch under most conditions. It also means that the leather becomes richer, softer, and more charmingly supple with time. While there are many excellent ways to repurpose an old belt around the house, one of the most clever is to fashion them into a stunning woven chair that incorporates numerous belts and a ...

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Design
DIY Home Decor
Collecting items as you travel can be an amazing way to bring home both a piece of your favorite destination as well as fond memories of your trip. All too often, once you arrive home, you find yourself struggling to find a place to store or display them if you are already strapped for space. Finding clever ways to incorporate pieces you collect into your existing decor is crucial. Instagram DIYer @cotton_clara, h...

Large-scale artwork can add so much charm to a space, whether you are just looking to decorate a large and empty wall or trying to create a dynamic focal point in any room. It's especially great for spaces above sizeable pieces of furniture like dressers, headboards, and sofas, as well as a perfect way to add an immediately dramatic flavor to small spaces like entryways and hallways. Larger art can be expensive, however, especially when created by working artists. Even home retailer prints an...