I know, I know, I have a slight obsession with wood crafts, but they're easy to work with. They come pre-made. No cutting wood to get the shape you want. No poking a whole to be able to hang them. Someone has already done the hard part for you. All you have to do is decorate and display.

This next craft series will feature wood tags and four different ways you can use them. First, ornaments.

Supplies Needed:
- Wooden tags of various sizes (click here to purchase from Amazon)
​- Paint and brushes
- Stencils, wood shapes, photos, etc. to decorate
          - If using wood shapes or photos, you'll need gorilla glue to glue to tag
- Twine

Note: if you have a Cricut machine, you can use vinyl to decorate, as well. For supplies, you need: Cricut machine, vinyl, transfer tape, weeder and scrapper.

Steps to assemble:

1. Paint the wood tags on both side.
2. ​Paint, print, assemble decorations.
3. Decorate both sides of the tags.
4. Cut twine to desire length (I did 6 inches).
5. Insert twine into tag and tie at the top.
6. Hang proudly.

No not those bath salts. I’m talking about the bath salt you use when taking a bath.

I am sure you are asking yourself “How the heck did Melissa get involved in making bath salts.” The answer is Yoga.

When I first started taking yoga, I attended a class called Slow Flow with Essential Oils. The instructor mixed in various combinations of essential oils into the yoga session. It made the experience invigorating and I wondered how she chose the combinations of scents that she did. I began doing the research, picked up a book to understand the combinations and mixes. As I familiarized myself with how essential oils and aromatherapy worked, I started thinking how I could incorporate this into the crafts I already enjoyed doing. And then it hit me, Harry Potter. No surprise there.

I started by creating scents that represented different aspects of the Harry Potter world. For example, scents to represent the different houses: Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw. Once the scents were created, I had to figure out how to use those scents. Harry Potter bath salts were born.

Supplies Needed:
- Sea Salt
- Epsom Salt (to soothe tired muscles and reduce inflammation)
- Baking Soda (to soften waters and alleviate skin irritation)
- Essential Oil
- Soap coloring (optional)
- Measuring cups/spoons
- Bowl and spoon to combine them
- Eye dropper to add the oils
- Jar to store the salt in
- Funnel to pour the salt into the jar

Steps to assemble:

1. Add the sea salt, epsom salt and baking soda to the bowl and combine. Here are the measurements:
   1. 6 parts sea salt, 3 parts epsom salt, and 1 part baking soda
   2. Part is whatever measurement you use. So if you use cups as your measurement, it would be: 6 cups sea salt, 3 cups epsom salt and 1 cup baking soda
2. Add drops of the oil to the salt mixture. I typically do ½ the amount of oz I am making. 2 oz = 1 drop of oil, 4 oz = 2 drops and so forth. 
3. Add soap coloring (optional). How many drops of soap coloring is equal to the oz you create. So, 2 oz of salt mixture equals 2 drops of coloring.
4. Stir and combine everything. 
5. Sit over night. This help reduce the rate of solidification. If solidification does occur, simply shake vigerously.
6. Add bath salt to jar.
7. Decorate as desired.

Nice gifts for friends and family.

As I mentioned, I am obsessed with block signs. Part 1 talked about blocks painted a solid color. This one will go through painting a block with two-tone colors. 

Supplies Needed:
- Wood blocks of all sizes (you can purchase all kinds from Amazon)
- Ruler
- Pencil
​- Painter's tape
- Paint
- Paint brushes
- Stencils, stickers, word shapes and letters etc. to decorate
          - If using wood shapes, you'll need gorilla glue to glue to sign​

Note: if you have a Cricut machine, you can use vinyl to decorate, as well. For supplies, you need: Cricut machine, vinyl, transfer tape, weeder and scrapper.

Steps to assemble:

1. Use the ruler to mark out the division in rows (I am using a 5x5 block, so my rows are 1 inch).
2. Tape up with sides of the block (to ensure no paint leaks to the sides) and use a line of tape on the first division line (to ensure a straight paint line).
3. Paint the first line the first tone you want.
4. Use the tape to tape on the second division line.
5. Paint the second line the second tone you want.
6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 until all division lines are done.
7. Remove all tape.
8. Touch up the division lines so there are no gaps.
9. Tape up the front edges of the block (to ensure when you paint the sides, no paint leaks to the top).
10. Paint the sides one of the top color tones.
11. Remove the top paint.
12. Touch up paint, as needed.
13. Turn block over and paint the back the other top color tone.
14. Decorate the front as desired using the stencils, stickers, wood shapes cricut vinyl, etc.
15. Display proudly.

In light of the Easter Holiday that is coming upon us, I give the Crafts Corner tips to Better Home and Gardens and their list of Easy Easter Baskets. Click here and check it out.  They have 13 various designs to choose from as well as printable patterns for you to start with.  So if you're one of those people like me who like to create things my own from scratch, you'll love some of these ideas, including the Easter Butterfly Basket shown in the image on the left.  Here's what you'll need:

Supplies Needed:
-The specified supplies indicated by BHG
-Easter Candy

Steps to Assemble:

1. Go to the BHG website by clicking here and choose which design to create.
2. Buy the supplies and Easter candy needed.
3. Assemble the basket using the steps provided.
4. Arrange the candy inside the basket.
5. Give to your child.