CRAFTY de Mayo! Free Glitter!

Our friends South of the Border have sure been through a lot of heartaches lately - issues we won't go into! Let's think positive. Tuesday is Cinco de Mayo, which means fiestas are already in full force. For me that means friends, a few margaritas, some Tacky Glue, scrapbook paper, and glitter for what I call "Crafty de Mayo".

Here's how you do it right. Gather up some friends and have a Crafty de Mayo party! Make it like a potluck, where everyone brings a dish, one type of craft supply to share, and an iPod mix to play. Practice speaking Spanish. Choose something to make, at the end of th eparty, trade your projects with eachother by drawing names.

If you are in need of something make for your Crafty de Mayo party, I've compiled some of my favorite Mexi-craft projects for you to consider!

PRIZE: Choose a project from the list below for your Crafty de Mayo party. Use at least ONE Crafty Chica product in it (. Send me a picture of your guests (four or more) holding up their finished masterpieces - and I'll send you a jar of Crafty Chica glitter for each guest (limit 6). First 3 entrants only!

Loteria Flower Pot


Frida Fiesta Place Mat


Reverse Painted Candy Dishes


Mexican Calendar Art Coasters

I have way too many projects to list them all here, but I've chosen some of my favorites for you to make in time for next week! I'll also be posting projects several times a day through Tuesday, so fire up that glue gun!

Lucha Libre Cupcake Toppers
La Rosa Stenciled Tee
Cigar Box Birdhouse
Las Flores Crown
Super Chanclas de la Cumbia!
Guayabera Shirt Laptop Cover
Margarita Glass Candles
Papel Picado Luminarias
Sacred Heart Fabric Collage Handbag
Loteria Hurricane Lantern
Mexican Ice Cream Tank top
Firme Fabric Appliques
Lucha Libre Crafts
Cine Mexicano Postcard Pillows
Chip and Salsa Set
Super Santito Shadow Box
Spanish Language Pottery
Fiesta Patio Lights
Frida Jewelry Set
Chica Fabric Collage
Easy Tissue Paper Flowers
Suerte Love Charm
Embossecd Virgin of Guadalupe Necklace
Chile Can Candlerarias
Mexican Cowgirl Collage
El Sol Tropical Tote
Frida-inspired Pillowcase
Mexican Record Album Tote
Mexican Love Shrines
Sacred Heart iPhone Case
El Pastelito Greeting Card
Stamped Tissue Flower Pins
Empanada Pin Cushions

Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)

P.S. Check out my new book and product line!

Pop Up Cards (in progress)

Just goofing around with cards and paper. Still developing a more elaborate version of this one...

Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)

P.S. Check out my new book and product line!

Amy Sedaris to write new craft book

Yahoo News just announced today that Amy Sedaris is writing a follow up to her best-seller, Hospitality Under the Influence - and it will be themed all around our favorite subject: CRAFTS!

It is due out in 2010 by Grand Central Publishing.

Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)

P.S. Check out my new book and product line!

SIGNAGE: Tools for Sale!

My dad is one-of-a-kind. He is on dialysis, lost his leg to cancer, wears a pacemaker, and recently fell and hurt his back.

And he still keeps active with what he loves to do!! He has a garage sale every so often to weed out his tools. He has hundreds of hammers, wrenches, and drills that he has used since he was a teenager for woodworking, car body repair, metalsmithing, jewelry making, and all kinds of other mantastic activities. Every Saturday, DeAngelo goes over to help him. Last Saturday after dropping off Deangelo there, I checked out my dad's buffer thingies (name?? heavy tabletop machines that have two wheels on each end - a buffer and a sander/grinder), which I've always wanted for my own workshop. As I scoured through the hammers and anvils, I noticed him sketching something.

Tired of his boring marker-on-foamcore signs that he set in front of the house, he decided to upgrade his promotions and make a sign from wood. I watched as he drew the block letters and then talked about how he was going to use latex housepaint.

My hands began to quiver...

"Can I make your signs?" I asked.

"Sure!" he said. He handed me pieces of wood and I asked how he wanted them painted. "Just make sure the letters are even and that they are colorful."

Ooooh, little did he know that left it wide open for me to go to town! I used my Crafty Chica paints for the background and letters and then I outlined them with Tulip 3D Glittered Fashion Paint. I added a background of polkadots and then sealed it all in with high gloss varnish.

I dropped them off, and my sister took them and goes, "Wow, these are colorful."

"Dad said to make them COLORFUL!" I shot back defensively. (My parents house is decorated in nuetral shades.)

"No - I mean they are really cool, he'll like them!" she said.

I had so much fun with this project that I'm going to make my own version for my front door. It won't say "tools for sale", but something more like 'Home Sweet Home' - something along that line...

So next time you need a yard sale sign, pick up some light wood fromt he craft store and give it a paint job. You can nail it to two stakes to insert into your lawn, or a folding stand if it is for the sidewalk. Have fun with it - if your sign looks exciting and happy, it will increase the chances of people stopping by. Everyone likes happy, right???

Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)

P.S. Check out my new book and product line!

Linocuts and Block Printing, Part One

I recently discovered the art of making linocuts and prints. Yes, I am well aware that I am tardy to the carving party, but better late than never, correct?

This is just a sneak peek of my first attempts. I'll have a full tutorial coming up soon, along with a project to use these on! I was just so excited, I wanted to share my first try! VERY happy with the results and I'm excited to take it to the next level!

Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)

P.S. Check out my new book and product line!

Last Cake Standing!

My friend Stacy sent me a video from Last Cake Standing from the Food Network. Look at this amazing cake one of the contestants made!! Click on the link ot see the video.

Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)

P.S. Check out my new book and product line!

"Artful Sewing" Outtake: Pocket Page Purse

I was cleaning out some of my computer files this weekend and came across outtakes from my "Crafty Chica's Guide to Artful Sewing" book (still going strong, yay!!!).

This photo was from our first photo shoot. My editors discussed it and asked us to reshoot outdoors, which I'm so glad we did! It went on to become the My Life is An Adventure Pocket Purse. In the book, we used the rectangular version. This was the secondary bag that did not make the final cut. It's still super cute though!

I've had people write me to say how much they liked this idea and ask how I came up with the idea. Hereis the story: During my newspaper career, long before I started writing the craft column, I worked as a photo stylist and coordinator for the entertainment section. It was my job to set up and style photo shoots. I also had to keep all the photo slides organized for the page designers. To do that, I kept them in these slide protector sheets within big black binders. I loved that the pages had all those little pockets. I remember thinking how fun it would be to take a page with me and collect small things from throughout my day and insert them in those tiny compartments and then hang it up on my wall. As you can tell, I used to daydream a lot back then while sorting those slides!

When the time came for me to sketch purses for the book outline, I immediately remembered the slide protector pages. I wondered if they even had them anymore! They did! I bought a box at a local photography shop. In the end - the idea morphed into the purse.

The complete directions are in my book, but I wanted to share this picture and the concept! Here is a tip - whenever you are sewing through vinyl or plastic - always use Sewer's Aid on your needle and presser foot, it will make it glide on through!

Another idea is to use a pocket shower curtain (also sew on a liner to make it more sturdy!).

Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)

P.S. Check out my new book and product line!

"Inspired at Home" Radio - I'm on this week!

Have you heard of Inspired at Home? It's a new site and radio show aimed at motivating people to get crafty! It's not just any craft show, it is run by home arts royalty!

Painted & Glittered Hinged Wallet

OK, first of all, you'll have to forgive me for these photos. My daughter took my memory card from my camera to a party tonight, so I had to use my iPhone camera to get this project posted!

You know how hinged wallets are everywhere these days? Well, I saw a glittered vinyl purple one recently and could not resist buying it, even though I knew from the start it would be too thin to hold everything I need. Anyway. I bought it, and in true Crafty Chica spirit - I immediately altered it to make it my own.


First I stamped on it using an Aztec-themed design and a permanent black inkpad. Next, I painted the girl, and then used a stencil for the sun - which I then used Aleene's Paper Glaze to affix Crafty Chica Goddess Gold Glitter to it. I let it all dry and then set out a sheet of wax paper and whipped up a small batch of two-part resin. I opened the wallet so it would lay flat on the wax paper (with the bottom and top facing up) and I ever-so-carefully applied a coat of resin to my artwork. I also used a straw to blow out bubbles.

I let it set over night and the next morning I patted myself on the back for a job well done. The effect is a brilliant shine and surprisingly, the resin is not super hard, it's perfect! The texture of the wallet is still as cushiony as it was before.

I must admit, I love the effect so much that now I'm on the hunt for more glittered hinged wallets! I even showed it to my boss, Valerie, and I asked her if she wanted me to make her one. "Oh, Kathy, no it's ok, you don't have to..." she replied. And then she paused, looked at it again and said, "OK, Yah, I want one!" I got "wow-this-is-really-a-rad-project" goosebumps! I feel kinda the same way I did with those chandeliers - I want to just drop everything and go into the glittered/resined hinged wallet business!

Bring 'em on!

Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)

P.S. Check out my new book and product line!

"Indulge" Treasure Box

After juggling so many chores, duties and responsibilities, we all need a little bit of indulgence, don't you think? I do. That's why I made this box to remind me of that. I took a plain wood box and decorated it with paints and glitter and used the "indulge" card from one of the Crafty Chica Inspiration Decks.

After you have based coated the box, glittered the edges and glued down the card, add a layer of Aleene's Original Tacky Glue over the image and around the seams of the card. This will prevent seapage of the next step, plus make everything melt together for a polished, finished look. Now add a couple coats of high gloss spray varnish to seal it all in.

So what do you put inside the box? This is what I do - I write down little notes of things I like to indulge in and fold them up and put them in the box. Things like "Go get a fruit smoothie!" or "Go ask Patrick for a back rub!" "Step away from your current task and read one chapter of the book you are currently reading."Go take two bites of whatever dessert is in the fridge." "Go for a walk around the block for fresh air."

Everyday, at no specific time - when you feel like you need a treat, open the box and pick one out. Let it be a little surprise to perk you up!

You get the idea. This is a fun project to make for Mother's Day too! In fact - make one for you and your mom!
Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)

P.S. Check out my new book and product line!

Patrick's art on The Cougar TV show!

Those are his paintings in the background! He blogged about it HERE.

Ozzy getting ready to read.

The lenses are just clear :-)

Why does my family have so many eyeglasses??

Introducing...MantasticCrafts.com!

www.MantasticCrafts.com by Patrick Murillo.

It is Patrick's new web site, designed by Jacob Dietz from Porchlight MCG! Jacob is the magic man behind CraftyChica.com, and when we told him what we wanted for Patrick's site, he perfectly captured the energy and spirit!

Patrick has been tinkering with his new toy for the past month and today he granted me permission to share it with all of you! When I met Patrick, he was an aspiring architect working a day job at the traffic court. He is the one who ultimately talked me into decoupaging pictures onto wood boxes, and string beads into jewelry back in the day, and the rest is history! If it were not for him, there would be no crafty chica! For many years, his paintings served as our main source of income, and I'm so happy he finally has the cyber home he deserves!

Here is the REAL reason he wanted a site, heh-heh. He got tired of people asking him, "If she is the Crafty Chica, does that make you the Crafty Chico?" His machismo side emerged and he would say "NO! I am not the Crafty Chico!" One day he replied, "I'm into mantastic crafts. She's the Crafty Chica, and I'm the Mantastic Crafter..." And we both looked at eachother and raised one eyebrow - because it just clicked. We came home and bought the URL and he wrote his artist's statement.

Wow, so now we have three brands in our family: Crafty Chica, Maya in the Moment and now Mantastic Crafts! Drop Patrick a note to say hi, or leave him a comment. He is a shy blogger, I'm trying to lure him out of his typing shell. DeAngelo will be helping him with taking pictures and posting them. Although I'm not sure if I'll like that because you may finally learn the other side of all my kooky stories from Patrick's perspective...eek!

Read yesterday's blog post! His paintings were in a background shot of that new TV show called The Cougar on TV Land!

And double thanks with whipped cream and a cherry to those of you who already signed up for the next cruise! Jim from ScrapMap.com emailed me about a few hours after I posted the info and told me that people had been calling all afternoon to register. This cruise is going to RAWK!

Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)

P.S. Check out my new book and product line!

APRIL 2010: 4th Annual Crafty Chica Art Cruise!

Thanks to Jim West and the shiny team at ScrapMap.com, all the details are set in place for the 4th Annual Crafty Chica Art Cruise!

Special guest: superstar podcaster and savvy crafter, Sister Diane of CraftyPod.com! She will be reporting from our event and sharing some of her amazing crafty energy!

I took the feedback from the last cruise (yay, we added one more night to the package!) and put together a fun 6-day artsy adventure. Here are all the details! What I love the most is that there is only a $50 deposit. And if you sign up now, you can make monthly payments of $75! We are also including a special "Crafty Chica" t-shirt that we can all wear on the ship during the cruise!

CALL 1-877-887-1188 TO REGISTER!

Crafty Chica Cruise 2010!

DATE: April 10-15, 2010 (5 nights/6 days)
PORT: San Diego
WHERE: Cabo San Lucas (2 days in town, 2 crafting days at sea)
COST: $663.00 Inside Cabin. $710.00 Window Cabin (based on double occupancy). Discount for roomies who do not want to craft but want to join in all other group festivities.

PACKAGE INCLUDES:
Accommodations onboard the Carnival Elation, port charges, all taxes.
All meals, entertainment
Farewell cocktail party
Special totebag and gifts
Art swaps
5 Crafty Chica workshops/1 Mantastic Craft workshop
3 mini workshops ($5 each)
Crafty Chica T-shirt
Prizes
Book reading from Kathy’s new novel
Art technique demos
Mercado night (on the last night, we set up the room as a private art fair - bring your art to sell!)
Surprises galore!

OPTIONAL: Private arts & crafts shopping tour on the second day in Cabo. Info TK.

CLASSES: We will be making a tree of life sculpture, glittered resin collage jewlery, plus others including tin, fabric/sewing, assemblage, paper arts. Theme is always self empowerment, making visual representations of your life goals, and discovering something new about yourself!

TWO SWAPS: 1. Artist Trading Cards to trade on the first night. 2. Secret swap to be exchanged at the closing cocktail party!

DAY OF THE DEAD COMMUNITY ALTAR: We will make and assemble a beautiful altar to celebrate the lives of our loved ones and friends who have passed away. Cruisers are invited to bring or make a small shrine to add to this.

ALL SUPPLIES INCLUDED: We bring more than enough supplies and tools! Students are encouraged (but not required) to bring personal/favorite supplies, scrap fabric, task lamp, trims etc.

CRAFT ROOM PLUS DINING WORK ROOM!: We will have our own 24/7 craft room - AND access to a large dining room during the days with plenty of sunlight, and spacious tables to create on.

Aside from crafting, there will be shopping in Cabo, entertainment, a full casino, a $10 shop, coffee bar, karaoke, Bingo, a spa, (cost is separate).

$50 deposit. Monthly payment plan!

Returning cruisers $25 discount + $25 off if you bring someone new.

PHOTOS from past cruises! HERE and HERE and HERE.

Itinerary and pricing are subject to change. Some restrictions apply. Space is limited and on a first-come first-served basis. Please read our Terms and Conditions before placing deposit. Prices are per person based on double occupancy. Non-crafter companion rate is $125 less.

Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)

P.S. Check out my new book and product line!

Glitter Marker Lamp

This is lamp I made from an IKEA lampshade - I used glitter markers to color it in. I then decoupaged a picture of a Day of the Dead dog and cat on the lamp base. Way easy and adds a whole new punch of pleasure to your room!

Alternative! Use regular markers and then top with a coat of sparkly varnish, like Collage Pauge!



Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)

P.S. Check out my new book and product line!

Earth Day Recap! Contest Winner!

Bouquets of gratitude to everyone who stopped by my (cyber) Earth Day craft party yesterday! We had so much fun, I never expected the overwhelming response!

The most important takeaway is to think green when it comes to our artful lifestyles. In every way, shape and form possible. And not just the obvious! Yes, in the material sense, but also within our minds, thoughts, and spirits. Makeovers beautiful best when they happen from the inside out!

I'm so impressed with all the wonderful earthy ideas submitted in relation to my call-out! The name of the winner from the blindfold drawing is: AMY of the blog "glitter, vinyl and thread".

She wins two books: TWO books: Martha Stewart's Encyclopedia of Crafts: An A-to-Z Guide with Detailed Instructions and Endless Inspiration and Crafty Chica's Guide to Artful Sewing: Fabu-Low-Sew Projects for the Everyday Crafter!!

Here are all the tips that were offered by our fellow crafters. Thank you again for sharing, hope you make EVERY day Earth Day!

Stephanie Hall: I use empty snack packaging like Laughing Cow cardboard containers or empty nut tins to hold all my little bits and baubles and stuff like paper clips and sewing needles. Just decoupage them up or cover them with paint and stickers! And I like to use cereal boxes to weave little baskets and make stacking boxes.

Calamity Anne: I save shells of all sizes...they work great for just about any project where I want to have a beachy theme. Same goes for buttons. All those buttons that come with new clothes, I throw into my button jar to use in crafts. My current score is a couple of old license plates. I plan on turning them into a vase or a purse. By the way...I love your chockful of ideas you have on your blog today!!!

Jennifer:We use empty egg cartons for paint and glue trays for our toddler.

betsyann: Reuse an old, sturdy candy box as a gift box. Just cover the top with wrapping paper and you have a gift box for perpetuity, and it smells like candy!

Stacey B: I'm a knitter and always have a small amount of the skein of yarn left over when I finish my signature scarfette. I've been saving these to make a really long multi-colored scarf. You can also cut them up and use them in gift bags for a fun alternative to tissue or shredded paper.

crafterella: I use the plastic from deli container (type 6) to make shrinky dinks. I haven't had to buy "real" shrinky dinks in years and I get to enjoy the contents of the container too!

Liz: How about using the stuffing from old pillows to fill stuffed animals? I'm going to try that, since I've got some old pillows we're not using anymore, and I'm learning to crochet amigurumi.

Deborah:I use empty Egg Cartons to start me seedlings in for the garden. I also using a sturdy box as a loom to weave. I cover shoe boxes with pretty paper to make them storage boxes.

Sioux: Use the dried skin from paint or glue bottles as texture on mixed media pieces.

Deborah Sweigart: I'm an artist and my tip is for anyone who uses a lot of brushes. I keep a simple nail clipper in my tool caddy with my brushes. Whenever one gets its bristles "blown out" or has a stray hair, I grab my handy clipper and snip off the offending hairs. That way, I get extra service from my brushes just a bit longer. And also, old brushes with splayed out bristles can be used for a myriad of techniques and patterns when the brush itself is too useless for regular strokes. Love you CraftyChica!

Dawn: I use empty jars to keep all my buttons, beads, etc. They are not only handy..they are pretty with all the different colours lined up in a row.

Stephanie: Sometimes I turn soda cans into cookie cutters. I have to design them on paper first, then use some heavy duty scissors to cut the cans, but they work. Fold the edges and you're good to go!

Kati: I save glass jars from pickles, salsa, etc. to keep buttons and baubles in. you can embellish them with ribbon and fabric scraps and decorate your craft space with them. I also keep all of my little fabric scrappies for future applique projects!

Kelly C: I always save the plastic pouches with zippers that curtains, sheets, quilts, etc come in. I have one holding all of my circular knitting needles. Others with all kinds of embroidery threads and floss, little pieces of fabric, pieces of heavy paper or cool things cut out from somewhere that I want to keep. And, they are perfect for holding a small knitting or crocheting project that is in progress - you can just throw it in your purse and take it with you and everything stays nicely zipped inside.

Elexia: Hi! I always keep empty Quaker Oats Oatmeal containers and paint them. I like to paint mine gold! They are great for keeping all of my pens, pencils and markers in order. Also, I would have my siblings decorate them when they were little and they would used them to hide their secret treasures. They also make great gift containers!

Paula: I love to crochet with the serger leavings when I'm working on formals. Silk especially crochets up nicely!

Elena & Katie: I have a magnetic strip on the wall (a less fancy version of an Ikea style knife strip)and stick old coffee cans to it. I use it to hold supplies for my current works in progress. I can take the cans off the wall when I'm working on that particular project and stick it back on when I want to work on something else. This way, I can keep supplies for the project together when I tidy up.

Janel: I make jewelry so I have a bunch of pliers and tools. I use pretty, but chipped, coffee mugs to store them. Arrange them with 1 handle in the mug and the other out, so that the tool straddles the rim.

malinda: cut old print outs and use them as to do lists. That way they get at least one more use before they go in the recycling bin or the shredder for packing material.

Marywood Library: I get the cardboard inserts from reams of fabric at the fabric store and use them to wrap wrap yarn into a skein for dyeing. I get a couple every time and pass them out to my yarn-dyeing friends.

Tess: I save medicine bottles to use to keep small things in such as beads and needles. We also teach cub scouts how to use them for storing mini first aid kits. Empty toilet paper rolls are perfect cat toys. My cat loves them and doesn't even care they are so plain. When she looses interest I pick it up and hide it until she finds it again.

Francie Horton: i use every last bit of my magazines - inspiring images go into a gluebook. a photo corner punch makes pretty corners out of big blocks of color in the photos and ads. text is sometimes used in journals. the pages are then used to protect my table or desk from glue when i'm doing a project.

amy said: i save spaghetti sauce jars, and anything else around that size (pickle jars!) and use them to store dye after i've mixed it. i get to reuse the bottles, plus i reuse the dye! it's perfect for dyeing small things like lace or other trims, i don't even pour the dye back into the pot, i just remove the metal lid, drop the object to be dyed into the jar, and microwave it! also, not so much reuse, but something that i wish more people should do, is that i put a recycling bin in my bathroom. it doesn't have to be a big ugly blue bin, i just used another vintage wastebasket beside the regular one (it's bright green and fabulous!). we use so much cardboard in the bathroom! toilet paper rolls, the box your toothpaste came in, etc. it all adds up.

Anonymous: 1.I keep all random scraps of plastic, paper, metal, wood, broken toy parts,etc and give them to a local arts program for kids--they make robots, collages, dioramas, etc with them. 2.I also compost, recycle, reuse, regift, pull weeds instead of using poison, garden, use the library for books/movies/cds/magazines. I am very cheap and all this helps! 3.we just moved and we used Craigslist to find used moving boxes for free. -aLisa

bakar: When going grocery shopping, it's always recommended to have a list to check off to make sure you get everything you need. The same applies to packing supplies that you'll need to buy for moving your home. Here is a handy list of supplies you'll need to purchase:

Boxes
* Small box- These are usually 17x12x12 in size. These are great boxes for packing heavy items such as books and files or for small items like cds and dvds.
* Medium box- These are usually 18x18x16 in size. These are the most versatile size boxes you can buy because of the ability to pack the majority of your goods in it. It is also a size that most people can see over and carry comfortably.
* Large box- These are usually 18x18x24 in size. These boxes can be used for larger, bulky items such as blankets, pillows, electronics, speakers, etc.
* Wardrobe box- These boxes will be around 24x21x46 in size. They are used for moving clothes straight from hangers in the closet onto the bar inside of the box. Some stores sell the bar separately so make sure to purchase it if you're going to be using the box for hanging your clothes in it.

http://www.boxyourstuff.com/

Sharon: Instead of gift packaging, I use old linens--dishtowels & cloths, bath towels, pillowcases, tablecloths past their prime, even aged sheets for large items. I cut ribbons from fabric remnants to the size I need to tie the packages up and/or bundle them together. I have even used blankets! Fabric will almost never just be tossed out like paper and store bought ribbons. This works for male, female, young or old and any style. All that's necessary is to adjust the fabric to the occasion and the recipient. An almost constant supply of these is available on Freecycle (freecycle.org) which is dedicated to keeping STUFF out of landfills. Another trick is finding creative purposes for those tiny round plastic lids from juice and soymilk cartons. I use one inverted under my bar face soap in the bathroom, to eliminate the soapy mess from my pretty dish and make the soap last longer. Just slightly screw the lid right into the bar and invert it, "floating" in the middle. Another use is gluing a number of the lids sideways together to hold tiny beads and sequins during projects, keeping them separated but close at hand. They can also be used as checkers or other game pieces in homemade board games. One more thing: don't throw away old ice cube trays. I turned one into a holder for all my many pairs of smaller pierced earrings, to keep them from getting tangled up and lost. What a wonderful topic for Earth Day!

Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)

P.S. Check out my new book and product line!