#CRAFTS WITH ANASTASIA--PHOTO COASTERS WITH MYSTERY AUTHOR JAYNE ORMEROD

Jayne Ormerod is the author of more than a dozen novels, novellas, and short stories. After nineteen moves in conjunction with her husband’s military career, they, along with their two mutts, have settled in a cottage near the Chesapeake Bay. The influence of coastal living can be seen in many of her humorous cozy mysteries. Learn more about Jayne and her published works at her website and the Mutt Mysteries website.  

Greetings fellow crafters! My name is Pilar Pruitt, and I am the amateur sleuth in “Pawsitively Scandalous,” one of four cozy novellas in To Fetch a Scoundrel, Four Fun “Tails” of Scandal and Murder. I am a party planner by trade, which means I often need unique party favors for special occasions. Thank goodness my mom passed along her creative gene! 

These photo coasters are a fun project for any kind of stuck-indoors day (and we’ve all had more than our share of those lately…) I’ve used them for Christmas gifts (stacked, and tied up in a pretty ribbon) or at weddings showcasing photos of the bride and groom for attendees to take home. I recently used them at a Puppy Shower I threw for one of my clients. Each attendee went home with a stack of coasters decoupaged with adorable mutts. Who doesn’t love that? 

You ready to share the memories? Ok, then…On your mark, get set, CRAFT!

Materials:

~ 4x4 stone tiles (available at any home improvement store in various neutral shades from cream to taupe.)

~ Stunning pictures (could be precious pets, cute kids, extraordinary events, or lovely landscapes…basically anything you want to put on a coaster). Have them professionally printed on photo paper. (Ink-jet printed photos will not work for this project.) Keep in mind the photos will need to be cropped to fit on the coasters, so plan accordingly. You may want a 4x6 print, or if there is a lot of background that can be cropped out, go with a 5x7 size.

~ Small piece of cardboard cut in a 4”x4” square

~ Pen/pencil for marking cutting lines

~ Paper cutting tool--could be scissors (flat or decorative cut), traditional guillotine cutter (watch your fingers!), utility knife (used with a metal-edged ruler), or trendy Trimmer (a must have for any serious crafter.)

~ Modge Podge

~ 2” paintbrush, either bristle or foam

~ Clear spray-on glaze

46” of 1/2” pliable rope for the back

~ Super Glue

~ A can of your favorite beverage (full or empty)

Directions:

Place cardboard over the image you want to go on your coaster. Trace cutting lines.

Cut the photo inside the cutting lines to avoid leaving marks on the finished project.

Apply a thin coat of Modge Podge to the tile face. Press the photo onto the tile. Make sure it’s centered. Push out air bubbles. (Very similar process to hanging wallpaper, if you are old enough to know that kind of agony.)

Seal the photo by applying a thin coat of Modge Podge on top. Be sure to wipe any drips off the edges.

Balance the finished coaster atop the beverage can to allow it to dry. If you are making multiple coasters at one time, you may need to consume multiple beverages. (That’s my excuse, and I’m sticking to it!) If you are making more coasters than the number of empty cans you have, there are other options for setting your tiles to dry. Anything less than 4” square and 6” high. Wait 20 minutes.

Repeat Modge Podge/Wait steps. Repeat again and again, if you desire a thicker, more protective finish, up to 5 coats total. Allow to dry for 24 hours.

Spray with clear glaze, one with a hard, heat-resistant finish. Allow to dry per manufacturer’s guidelines.

Now for the back. Using Super Glue (or any strong adhesive that dries clear), start in the center and apply the rope in a tight circular pattern. Press rope firmly to ensure it sticks. Make sure the end is glued tightly. I am the first to admit, this method can be time consuming. I’ve seen other crafters use adhesive spray and apply a piece of 3-1/2” x3-1/2” cork. You can also use felt pads or furniture pads pressed to the four corners. To ensure proper adhesion, be sure to place a heavy object on top while they dry.

Fun. Fancy. Functional. What more could you ask for in a craft project? Time to stock up on Modge Podge and get to work!

To Fetch a Scoundrel

Mutt Mysteries, Book 2

The mystery-solving mutts are back! To Fetch a Scoundrel, the second in the Mutt Mysteries collection, features four tail-wagging novellas. Each story puts pups’ noses to the ground, as scandals are unleashed and killers are collared. Once you’ve finished reading these tall “tails,” you’ll no longer wonder “Who let the dogs out?” You’ll just be glad somebody did! Stories include:

“The Fast and the Furriest” by Heather Weidner

Isn’t there enough action under the lights at the Amelia Race Track without the drama of a love triangle? An altercation leads to murder, and owner Cassidy Green and her Rottweiler Oliver have to uncover clues and find the killer before the bad publicity destroys her business.

“Pawsitively Scandalous” by Jayne Ormerod

What’s with the crime wave in the Grant’s Garden neighborhood? First a respectable member is arrested for crimes unknown, and then another neighbor dies under mysterious circumstances. Pilar Pruitt and her black lab/mix Natti are on the case, and the secrets they uncover are paws-itively scandalous!

“Ruff Goodbye” by Rosemary Shomaker

Does everyone bar owner Len Hayes knows have a secret? Yes, and secrets unravel after a funeral home visitation for Len’s late friend Curt. Miniature poodle Cloud signals danger. A certain black Lab may safeguard the truth. Will canine intervention ensure no one pays the ultimate price?

“A Doggone Scandal” by Teresa Inge

Catt Ramsey, owner of the Woof-Pack Dog Walkers, is back on the case when she receives a mysterious note in her pet supply order. Convinced the sender’s motive is scandalous, Catt packs up her SUV and heads to the Outer Banks with her sister Em, family friend Jonathan Ray, and pups Cagney and Lacey to solve the mystery.

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CRAFTS WITH ANASTASIA--PHOTO COLLAGE WITH GUEST AUTHOR KAREN HALL

Writer and environmental engineer Karen Hall has many passions. She’s joined us previously to talk about her writing and her crochet. Today she’s joining us to talk about her passion for photography and photo collage. Learn more about her and her books at her website. 

How to Build a Photo Collage

I love photography because it’s all about the moment:  I take a photo, and I know the same group of people, animals, flowers, or whatever I’m shooting will never occur again in quite the same way.  So for me, photographs are precious glimpses into a world preserved only by the pixels that appear on my screen or on the film that’s printed for my next collage.

There are a couple of ways to do a photographic collage.  The first is to purchase a large frame with several windows for photographs.  You’ve all seen them at Hobby Lobby, Michael’s and other craft stores.  They’re by far the easiest option—if your photographs are sized appropriately for the windows.

The second way to do a collage is to use a graphics program (Publisher comes with a lot of Microsoft Office packages) and “paste” them together.  Or you can, of course, go old school and print your photographs, then cut and paste them together.

No matter which way you do it, here are a few tips for making your collages terrific:

Faces  If your collage is made of photographs of people, be sure to highlight their faces.  Make sure they’re readily visible and not dwarfed by the surroundings.  Close-ups work best, of course, but you can always print the photos in a larger size and crop/cut them so the faces are correspondingly larger.

Shapes  Are your photographs taken in portrait mode (taller than wide) or in landscape (wider than tall) or both?  If you’re using a purchased collage frame, you may limit yourself in the selection of photographs by what the frame wants you to use.

Backgrounds  Try, as much as possible, to use photographs with simple backgrounds.  If the backgrounds are busy, filled with buildings or other people or complex landscapes, your eye won’t know where to go.  Use photos that focus on a single subject for at least half of the collection; if you must use shots with complex backgrounds, alternate them with simple ones.

Light and Shadow  Photographs are, really, all about light.  When you’re building your collage, try to alternate light with dark; your eye will better discern individual photographs, and the overall effect will be stunning.

Color  If you use only black and white shots, pay more attention to light and shadow.  If, however, all your photographs are in color, mix them up!  Don’t concentrate all the reds in one part of your collection unless you’re specifically going for that look. 

Here are a couple of collages I put together for pre-purchased frames.  The one at the beginning of the blog was for my father who moved to a very small assisted living apartment and wanted a collection of family photographs for his wall.

Here’s a smaller collage, a grouping of black and white photographs I took one fall afternoon at the University of Minnesota arboretum.  Note the light and dark contrasts.

Here’s a sample collage of nature photographs.  I’ve tried hard to vary the backgrounds and the light/shadow, as well as the subject matter and color.  It’s not always easy, as you can see.

Finally, here’s a color collage I just made for my sister-in-law, at whose birthday party they were taken.  I tried to pay close attention to all the tips above.  Let me know what you think. 

These days it’s tempting to leave your photos on your computer or your phone, but if you do, you’re the only one likely to see them, and then only when you search them out or select them as wallpaper for your phone or desktop.  If you don’t have a photo-quality printer, there are a number of online services that will print them for you.  I use Snapfish.com simply because my sister does, but there are many others available.  You can easily upload your photos and order prints, and you can also share them once they’re loaded to the site.  Your friends can either copy and paste the photos you’ve shared to their own hard drives, or they can order prints, too.  Either way, your photos will be out there for others to enjoy!

Unreasonable Risk

First in the series.  Hannah Morrison’s place of business might as well be a bomb. Nearly everything inside the fence is either flammable or explosive—and somebody is trying to blow it up. Hannah’s friend and mentor has already died, and though she knows it was sabotage, she can’t prove it. With the help of photojournalist Noel Keller, Hannah uncovers suspect after suspect as the stakes mount for the refinery, its neighborhood and the entire city. Determined to avenge her friend’s death, Hannah works to identify the saboteur before he decides: WHO WILL BE THE NEXT TO DIE?

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CRAFTS WITH ANASTASIA--PHOTO COLLAGE MONOGRAM

Photo Collage Monogram

Materials: large Masonite letter (available in craft stores), white spray primer, acrylic paint in your choice of color for background, sponge brush, family photos, copy machine, scissors, glue stick, X-acto knife, clear plastic adhesive sheet (such as Contact Paper) large enough to cover letter.

1. Prime Masonite letter. Allow to dry.

2. Paint sides and front of letter with acryllic paint. Allow to dry.

3. Make black and white copies of photos, reducing size if necessary.

4. Cut out photos and glue in desired positions to letter. Allow glue to dry thoroughly. Trim photos to edge of letter with X-acto knife.

5. Carefully apply clear adhesive film to top of letter. This can be tricky. The easiest way is to cut a piece slightly larger than the Masonite letter. Pull away the backing sheet on one edge and tape the two corners of the sheet, sticky side up, to a flat surface. Slowly remove the remainder of the backing sheet and tape down the remaining corners. Place the letter face down over the adhesive sheet. Using a scissors, trim away excess close to letter. Turn the letter face up and burnish the film. Then using the X-acto knife, trim the remainder of the  film even with Masonite.