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Thursday, April 2, 2026

Overview of CherylsArt on Zazzle

This is the first of a seven part series of my various stores on Zazzle.

Zazzle is a print on demand company. They print, ship, and handle the orders and any returns. Artists and designers open stores on Zazzle and upload their designs to various products. My first store that I'll be giving an overview of is CherylsArt.

CherylsArt is my general overall store and my first store on Zazzle. You'll find a lot of different design types and product types there.

The current main categories are:

+ Affirmations

My most popular item in my Affirmations section is the Proverbs 25:11 verse featuring an apple of gold on a background of silver, on magnets. There are a lot of different affirmations, on various products, to choose from in this store.

A word fitly spoken is like Apples of gold magnets
by CherylsArt

You will find quite a few affirmations here on a variety of products. Sometimes we all can use a reminder to feel good and or to refocus.

+ Apparel and Fashion Accessories

The apparel part includes leggings, tank tops, and tshirts. The accessories part include belt buckles, belts, hair ties, hats, head bands, nail art, necklaces, pin on buttons, scarves, and watches.

Although I designed this apple watch back in 2013; it didn't start selling until Christmas of 2025! I think it finally became the right time for it; people were ready for a bit of humor I believe.

Red Apple Painting and Numbers Watch
by CherylsArt

+ Art and Wall Decor

Art and Wall Decor includes canvas prints, drawings on faux wrapped canvas, drawings on wrapped canvas, posters, wall decals, wall panels, and wall tapestry. The drawings categories have their own categories so that the ones that can be painted in can easily be found. They make fun activity options.

+ Baby

The Baby category includes, adoption, announce baby, baby bags, baby bibs, baby blankets, baby shirts, baby shower, binders for photos, burp cloths, clocks for the nursery, dry erase boards, and pillows for nursery.

These cloud themed dry erase boards are a great way to share messages about the baby. They come in a choice of pink and blue. This is especially great for new and busy parents who need a way to communicate what's up.

Pink Sky Bubbles and Clouds Dry Erase Board
by CherylsArt

+ Celebrations

The Celebration category is about all things that can be celebrated. This category includes birthday, candle parties, graduation, neighbor get together, party hats, retirement, ribbon, rubber stamps, stickers, tissue paper, and wrapping paper. This category pretty much covers what isn't a birthday or wedding themed.

+ Elections

The Elections category includes products for my preferred candidates, as well as informational items on helping all votes to count.

+ Holidays

The Holidays category includes Christmas in July, Christmas/Winter (which also includes other winter holidays), Easter, Father's Day, Halloween, Independence Day, Mother's Day, New Years, Saint Patrick's Day, Thanksgiving, and Valentine's Day.

+ Home, Pets, Sewing, and Car

The Home, Pets, Sewing, and Car category includes sub-categories for each of the mentioned categories.

The car category includes bumper stickers, car mats, license plates and frames. The home category includes accessories for the home, bathroom, bedroom, calendars, clocks, doormats, dry erase boards, hand sanitizer, kitchen and dining, light switch covers, moving, ornaments - that aren't holiday, and tiles. The Pets category includes dog beds, pet bowls, and pet tags. Sewing and Crafts includes fabric. There are sub-categories under fabric to make browsing easier.

A popular item in my Home category, is this Moving postcard, in the Moving sub-category. The truck painting proved to be a very popular choice for awhile. As with any item in CherylsArt, if the item includes artwork, the artwork is created by me. With the truck image, I saw a truck that I thought was awesome, and got permission from the driver to include my artwork of it on products. He said it was fine as long as I included his name in my description. Here is a shout out to Dan Hyde. p.s. The color choices are mine.

We're Moving, change of address postcards
by CherylsArt

+ New Products

You will not normally find any products in this category. Usually I choose the category right after designing the new item.

+ Office and School

The Office and School category has a lot of sub-categories. They range from alphabet rulers to yard signs, and pretty much anything you can think off, in between.

+ Sports, Toys, and Games

The Sports, Toys, and Games category includes games, guitar picks, sports, and toys.

No, these aren't throw pillows. They are actually game bags for cornhole games. So you will find these in the Sports, Toys, and Games Category, under the sub-category of Games.

Personalized Beach Theme Cornhole Game Bags
by CherylsArt

+ Stationery

The Stationery category includes pretty much anything stationery related, that isn't birthday, graduation, or wedding related. Items include address labels, cards, envelopes, letterhead, notepads, photo cards, postcards, rubber stamps, stationery, and stickers.

+ Travel

The Travel category includes luggage, luggage handle wraps, luggage tags, travel mugs and tumblers.

+ Weddings and Anniversary

The Weddings and Anniversary category includes a long list going from Anniversary, to all types of items wedding related. I don't know how it works for customers searching in individual stores on Zazzle, for wedding, but for me when I search for a wedding item in my store, I need to include the item type to get any search results. I guess it may be because there are so many wedding items.

These address labels are in the Wedding category, as I designed them for with a couple in mind, though anyone else can use them. There are also matching wedding invitations, etc. for this design, in Weddings. If you're not sure about which category to begin your search, go towards the top of the page, below the header, and do a Search this store search; i.e. fern address labels.

Green Fern Branch Leaves Address Labels
by CherylsArt

And there you have it. I have changed my store layout a number of times over the years. At one time I based it on the designs, but that got to be way to many. Then I sorted the categories by product type only. That was too much of a mix match. So I currently decided on general themes, and then did further breakdowns into sub-categories. You will find more sub-categories in my CherylsArt store, once you explore on any category that has a lot of items in it. If you know the item type and theme that you are looking for, you can also fill in the Search this Store box that is located below my store header.

Hope this helps for when you're shopping at CherylsArt on Zazzle.

Cheryl Paton

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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Friday, January 23, 2026

Crafts in the House of Sylvestermouse Reviewed

Have Fun and Craft On!

Let's Play, Create and Make A Lifetime of Treasures

I love handmade gifts and crafts! I guess I have been crafting all of my life. I honestly cannot remember a time that I did not have a hook or needle of some kind in my hand or a project in some phase of construction.

One of the most frustrating problems a crafter or needlework enthusiasts faces, is getting patterns, ideas, or instructions without spending a lot of money. The supplies alone will often deplete any crafting budget.

Because I understand the real desire to make original treasures, I am sharing some of my own personal ideas and instructions for making unique heirlooms. I have also written several articles that teach basic skills for beginners.

Cross Stitch Memories

My favorite needlework is cross stitch. It is certainly one of the easiest forms of needlework and there are tons of patterns and kits readily available.

I started cross stitching when I was in jr. high school (It is called middle school today). One of my earliest projects is still one of my favorites. I cross stitched the flowers in the photo for my grandmother. I made one for my mother as well. My mom helped me make them into pillows.

After my grandmother died, my step grandfather put a lot of her personal treasures in boxes. He later gave some of them to my mother. She discovered the pillow among those items and brought it back to me. The pillow was stained and the cross stitch cloth was "aged." I cut the cross stitch design off of the pillow and carefully cleaned it with Woolite in my kitchen sink. This cross stitch heirloom now resides in my bible. A world of memories right there in that one little square.

Tutorial: Visit How to Cross Stitch on Crafters Kingdom

Beaded Ornaments ~ A Gift to Cherish from Year to Year

Another one of my favorite craft projects is beaded ornaments. They are fairly easy and require very little talent. They do, however, demand patience since they entail working with small beads and pins.

Not only do I enjoy making these ornaments for our family tree, I like making them to give a gifts. The ornament in the photo was a gift I made for my son. I bet you can guess his favorite color.

In just a few hours, I made a lovely treasure, a precious gift and a lasting tradition.

Tutorial: Visit How to Make Beaded Ornaments

Crochet With Love

When it comes to home décor, there is nothing prettier than the lacy effect of a crocheted doily or tablecloth.

I enjoy browsing in antique stores and it never fails to bring tears to my eyes when I see a beautiful crocheted afghan or tablecloth in one of the display cabinets. I know from experience how many hours are lovingly stitched in these beautiful heirlooms. I simply can not imagine selling one of these family treasures. I am always tempted to buy them, take them home and give back the love they deserve.

Tutorial: Visit Beginner Crochet

Beaded Easter Eggs

If you are really looking for something original, this craft project is for you!

Out of sheer determination to find a new, unique gift for my children one Easter, I dreamed up these eggs. They are really very easy and require a minimal investment for the supplies. I actually made the first few with beads and glue I already had in my craft supplies.

They make a great surprise or grand prize in the traditional Easter egg hunt.

Tutorial: Visit How to Make Beaded Easter Eggs

Let's Party ~ Mad Hatter Style

I made this Mad Hatter's Hat for my son right before the debut of the new Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland movie.

Yes, he actually wore it to the movie on opening day! Can you imagine how much fun he had with his group of college friends when they donned their "Alice" attire and stormed the theater doors? I wish I could have been there. I would have at least like to have had a picture, but you know kids, they don't worry about such things.

Tutorial: Visit How to Make a Mad Hatter's Hat
like Johnny Depp's in Tim Burtons Alice in Wonderland Movie

My Decoupaged Purse

One of my most treasured gifts is the decoupaged wooden purse that my grandmother decoupaged for me when I was a young girl.

I love all of the photos on the purse, but the photo on the right shows my favorite picture. I have always loved giraffes and I always had long, blonde hair.

I loved it when she originally gave it to me back in the 70's. I carried it everywhere I went and actually used it as my everyday purse. My grandmother died several years ago and I treasure the gifts she so lovingly and painstakingly made for me. I can't touch this purse without thinking of how her hands touched it so many times as she turned a wooded box into a beautiful work of art just for me.

Tutorial: Visit How to Make a Decoupaged Wooded Purse

A Very Special Valentine

I love the stories behind the original sailor's valentines!

I can assure you, the sailor's valentines that I have made reflects a greater depth of love than those 19th century sailors felt for their valentines.

In the tutorial linked below, I have told about the origin of the Sailor's Valentine and given instructions to make your own. There really isn't a prettier way to express your love.

Tutorial: Click here for - How to Make a Sailor's Valentine

Beaded Cross Stitch Pin

Embellishing cross stitch with shining beads is simply a joy!

I love adding beads to my cross stitch. The beads add another dimension to cross stitch.

I use the beads to highlight and accentuate focus areas of my cross stitch work. I love the way the little beads will pick up and reflect light and color.

I made the beaded cross stitch pin for my son for Halloween. As I was making it, I took the time to take lots of pictures to show in an article.

Here is my Tutorial: How to Make a Beaded Cross Stitch Pin

Halloween Ghost

I made the original ghost over a decade ago for my son who just loves ghosts and anything Halloween.

This is my own pattern with step by step instructions and photos, which I have shared exclusively on Crafters Kingdom.

I hope you enjoy my friendly ghost! I am certain he will enjoy being with you.

Tutorial: How to Make a Halloween Ghost with Fleece

A Unique and Impressive Holiday Centerpiece

During the holidays, we decorate our homes with glitter and sparkle that reflects the beauty of the lights on our trees and in our hearts.

I originally made this centerpiece with beaded fruit for autumn and Thanksgiving, but when it was time to decorate for Christmas, I changed the floral picks to gold and red berries.

Since I was changing it out anyway, I photographed the process and wrote an article describing the steps to make a sleigh centerpiece. Regardless of the holder or vase, the steps in the article below will show you exactly how to make you own original arrangement.

Tutorial: How to Make a Christmas Sleigh Centerpiece

Some Things Really Are Just Too Easy

These ornaments are probably the easiest crafting project I have ever made.

You will be surprised and thrilled to find out just had simple these ornaments are to assemble.

We had a bit of an unplanned craft party one year when our family was gathered during the holidays. I had just purchased some glass ornaments and I had a wild idea for all of us to make something and exchange them with each other.

These ornaments are the results of our afternoon of antics and fun. A wonderful memory!

They smell good too!

Tutorial: How to Make Quick & Easy Glass Ornaments

Just Playing Around - Making a Pincushion

As a seamstress, I can really appreciate a large pincushion. If it is pretty, that makes it even better.

I was inspired by a pattern book that gave some basic instructions on how to construct a felt pincushion.

Intrigued, I gathered my supplies, called my mother and we went to work creating our own pincushions. I also created the article below. I have given step by step instructions with lots of photos so you, too, can create a felt pincushion.

This really is a very easy project. The hardest part is choosing the supplies.

I will never again look at my pincushion without thinking of the day my mother and I were just playing around!

Tutorial: How to Make Felt Cupcake Pincushions

Mosaic Picture

Mosaic pictures are rather impressive when complete, but they don't have to be hard to make.

Several years ago, I made the raccoon mosaic picture for my father for his birthday and he loves it.

Making the mosaic was not hard since I used a kit, but I do have several tips and suggestions for making the craft easier.

This is a craft that does take a good bit of time, so organization and taking your time is key to successfully creating a beautiful mosaic picture.

Tutorial: How to Make a Mosaic Picture

__________________

This tutorial directory page was originally published on a website that is not longer in existence and All Photos are the Exclusive Property of Sylvestermouse.

Friday, January 16, 2026

Easy Recipes by Sylvestermouse Reviewed

I enjoy cooking for my family. Like most of us, I prefer recipes that are fast and easy. Fortunately, I am surrounded by people who appreciate my effort, my recipes and seem to sincerely like the meals placed before them.

I readily admit that I play in the kitchen. I play with recipes by changing the ingredients to suit my families tastes. I play with cupcakes, cookies, desserts, etc, because I enjoy decorating the food. I mess around with it until I get the desired effect.

I also enjoy the company of other family members in the kitchen. So much so, that I consider us playing in the kitchen. Since I began writing articles online, I have been periodically sharing highlights of our kitchen adventures so you and your family can be encouraged to "play" in the kitchen. In this article, I will provide links to the different easy recipes and fun articles that I have published.

I consider that my Recipe for Making Memories in the Kitchen. So, without further ado, let the games begin!

My Own Personal Roast Recipe

This recipe is the result of trial and error. I just kept playing with different ideas until I found a tasty, tender way to cook a roast in the oven.

It has become a family favorite and I have allowed it to be published in several charity cookbooks over the last 40 years, but it is still my own original recipe. Although I was very young when I developed this recipe, I still cook my roast the same way today.

Published on Cooking for the Holidays

Having Fun in the Kitchen

I started cooking when I was a child and still living at home with my parents. My sister and I both helped in the kitchen and it was not unusual for us to have real, honest to goodness food fights with the leftovers. We frequently made mashed potato balls and hurled them through the air at each other or any unsuspecting individual who entered the kitchen. We flung spaghetti noodles against the wall and said we were testing it to see if it was done. By dinnertime, there would be 10 or 12 noodles hanging from the wall on spaghetti night.

While I still enjoy throwing pasta noodles against the wall, I have found that test does not work with pasta shells. No matter how many pasta shells I have thrown against the wall, none have ever stuck. Perhaps someday one will stick. I'll just have to keep testing them.

This easy pasta recipe is also shared on Cooking for the Holidays and, if you click it, the link will take you to that website.

Easy Pasta Recipe - A Family Favorite for Dinner or Side Dish

More Easy Dinner Recipes featured on CookingForTheHolidays.com

Photos are Linked to Recipes

Easy Salmon Loaf Patties Recipe How to Bake Potatoes Chicken Enchiladas Recipe How to Bake a Turkey Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup Instant Pot Recipe Homemade Barbeque Recipe for the Best BBQ Sandwiches

Click Here for More Dinner Recipes

Playing with Ingredients

Working in the kitchen with my sister was fun. We occasionally experimented with the food. Sometimes we would put a little extra pepper in one of our brothers' bowls of stew or add a little something extra to spice up their lives and the dinner table. Oddly enough, the boys consumed whatever we fed them and much to our distress, rarely noticed a difference. I only remember one brother gagging on hot barbecue sauce and believe it or not, we were not responsible.

Of course, there are the recipes from my mother and grandmother that I have never played with, never changed and never shared except on websites I own. My motto for this group of recipes is "you can't improve on perfection, so why try!"

Directions for making the pizza pictured on right, can be found at Halloween Haven

Playing with Your Food Recipes

These are some of my favorite recipes. They are really step by step instructions on decorating, so I call it playing with my food. Sometimes making these special treats can be messy, but they are always fun as you create your own original work of food art.

Don't just make these treats alone to serve to your family. Grab your child, your husband, your sister, your mother or even your father and make these treats with your family!

To see some of my favorite fun food articles, simply click the source link below each photo. That will take you directly to the recipe and tutorials for creating your own fun food.

Photos are Linked to Recipes

How to Decorate Panda Cupcakes How to Decorate a Snake Cake How to Make Marshmallow Flower Cupcakes 4th of July Party Flag Cake Recipe How to Decorate Snowman Cupcakes How to Make a Chocolate Halloween Ghost Castle Cake How to Make a Chocolate Halloween Ghost Train Cake How to Make a Cupcake Pumpkin Cake

Teaching an Old Dog, New Tricks

I am happy to say that I married a man who enjoys messing around in the kitchen too! The Breakfast Buddy featured below is his delicious creation and when I wanted to learn how to grill, I asked him to teach me. He has always made the most incredible steaks! In the article below, I share his secrets as I take you step by step through my own "grilling" education.

Photos are Linked to Recipes

Breakfast "Buddy" Sandwich How to Grill the Perfect Steaks Cooking Hamburgers on an Indoor Grill

Special Treat and Finger Food Recipes

My family loves fruit and chocolate so it only seems natural for me to dip fruit in chocolate. Once I started dipping fruit, it was impossible to stop! I think I dipped every type of fruit we had in the house, then ran to the grocery store for more. Of course, then I wrote an article about each one.

Here is my collection of dipped fruit recipes. Be very careful though. Chocolate dipped fruit can be very addictive!

Photo Linked to Recipe

Chocolate Covered Fruit DIY Recipes

Taking Care of the Cook

Over the years, I have learned many things about cooking, about family and about fun. The most important thing I have learned, is that the three things go together. Have fun cooking with your family.

I watched my grandmother and my mother work in the kitchen during every holiday for decades. Too often, they missed out on the fun simply because the party was happening in another room.

I believe in bringing the party to the kitchen, enlisting help and taking care of the cook. Perhaps, I see it more clearly because now I am the cook, but I love to share ideas with others about how to have more fun with your family, instead of working alone in the kitchen. Believe me, you can create your own load of memories in the kitchen by simply letting others help in the kitchen.

A Lot of Good Food and A Load of Memories

I think it is because of my experiences and our experiments in the kitchen when I was a child, that I approach the kitchen with humor now. I still cook the old standards passed down from my great grandmother, grandmother and mother, but I enjoy creating new treats for my family too and it is even better when I get "help."

Over the years, a lot of good food and a load of memories have been made in our kitchen!

Easy Dessert Recipes

Photos are Linked to Recipes

Easy Strawberry Trifle Easy Blackberry Cobbler

Candy Recipe

I am not going to tell you this recipe is extremely easy. It seems easy to me because I have been making it for 40+ years, but making candy takes a bit of practice to perfect.

While I try to walk viewers through the process with photos, I know this is something that is simply learned by trial and error because the outcome when making candy depends so much on the climate of the day, as well as the altitude of a region.

Here is my mother's Peanut Butter Fudge Recipe. I could never improve on this recipe. It really is delicious!

Photo Linked to Recipe

Peanut Butter Fudge

Easy Beverage Recipes

Take time to relax! While the food is in the oven, or after all of the work is done, sit back with your loved ones and enjoy a cup of tea, hot chocolate or perhaps a cool glass of lemonade. These are the moments you will want to capture and hold for as long as you can.

Photos are Linked to Recipes

Spice Tea Recipe Homemade Lemonade Recipe Hot Chocolate Mix Recipe

Chocolate Hot Cocoa Bombs Recipe

For a Complete List of All of my Published Recipes
Click Here to Visit the House of Sylvestermouse Recipes

Check Out More Recipe Reviews at
ReviewThisRecipes.com

Easy Recipes by Sylvestermouse Reviewed Written by:

This recipe article was originally published by me in 2011 on a different site that no longer exists.
Unless otherwise noted with the individual photo, all Photos are mine and should not be used without written permission.
© Sylvestermouse

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Thursday, November 13, 2025

Cozy Mystery Review-Murder at Cape Costumers

In her latest book in "A Cozy Capers Book Group Mystery", Maddie Day again brings together all of the interesting characters in a small Cape Cod town's book club. The book group is dedicated to reading and discussing cozy mysteries, but when a real murder mystery happens in their small town they feel a need to help the police uncover the murderer.

Synopsis of the Book

In a charming village on Cape Cod, a Halloween murder shocks the community. Enzo, the victim, is found dressed as a skeleton. A group of amateur sleuths from a local cozy mystery book club can't resist the urge to investigate, despite the police warning them to stay out of it. As they dig deeper, they uncover a web of secrets and motives among the villagers, including the new owners of the costume shop, Shelly and Harini, an investment advisor, and the victim's nephew. Can the book club solve the crime before they become the next victims?

The Book on Amazon

Maddie Days books can be found on Amazon in paperback, audible and kindle versions. Here is a link to all 7 of the Cozy Capers Bookclub Mysteries. Cozy Capers Book CLub

More Cozy Mystery Reviews

I always enjoy a good cozy mystery and so do many of the other writers for Review This. Here are a few of the cozy mysteries we have reviewed.

Murder on Cape Cod This is another Maddie Day mystery.
Tea by Sea Wednesday Elf reviews this cozy mystery.
Irish Village Mystery series Margaret reviews a mystery series that takes place in an Irish Village.
Toes on the Dash This delightful cozy mystery series takes place in Colorado, and the main character is a high heeled tow truck driver.
The Lighthouse Keeper Lou reviews this cozy mystery that takes place by a lighthouse.
Everything Bundt the Truth This cozy mystery is one of a series that takes place around dinner parties.

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Thursday, October 30, 2025

Adding to the Fun of Halloween

Halloween is such a fun holiday; it's one of not only treats and goodies, but lots of creativity. From costumes to decor, and more.

One of the way that I like to add to Halloween fun, is to dress up, at least somewhat, when I give out treats to the trick or treaters. Sometimes I have worn funky glasses that make my eyes look all weired. Sometimes I have dressed up as a pumpkin. The kids seem to enjoy my festive looks and sometimes weird looks.

This year, I'm changing up my looks. This year I shall be wearing a cute witches' hat.

I had wanted to wear some bunny ears but couldn't find any of those. I looked through the costume section at Walmart for other head band options, but couldn't find any in adult sizes.

Then on my last trip to Walmart, I browsed the clearance isle and found a witch hat decoration. It was made to sit on a table. That would be perfect!

I wanted something colorful to accent the all black hat; like little colorful Christmas balls. I didn't find any of those, but did find a pretty purple strand of beads.

After I got home, I cut open the base of the hat and pulled out over half of the stuffing. Then I just pulled from other supplies that I had left over from previous projects, and began enhancing my witches' hat.

I had to also figure out a way to get it to stay in place on my head, and not readily fall to the ground. An old light blue shoe lace was the trick for that.

What do you think?

Do you dress up when giving out treats for Halloween?

Another thing that I have done to add to the fun of Halloween is to make coloring designs on postcards, that kids can color in. This one features my drawing of a cat face pumpkin.

Happy Halloween Cat Face Coloring Gift Postcards
by CherylsArt

Another thing that I usually do, weather permitting, is to play music outside and dance around, to help get in the Halloween spirit. The trick or treaters seem to enjoy this and have commented about my music and dancing. It's especially fun when The Monster Mash is playing.

If family and friends are coming by for a Halloween get together, a Halloween themed cornhole game set can add to the fun.