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Worst-Case Wednesday: How to Open a Bottle of Wine with a Broken Cork

The holidays are over, New Year’s Eve is in the past, but all that leftover wine… it sits there in your fridge (or not, depending on the kind of wine), waiting to be finished. And perhaps, just perhaps in the midst of your revelry, you broke a cork or two. It happens.

Never fear! The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook: Holidays has you covered.

Posted by Basia Padlo

How-To Tuesday: Crafting Your Own Pom-Pom Headband

Happy New Year, crafty readers! How-To Tuesday is back, and this week we're cracking open our Quirk Throws You 5 Awesome Parties eBook and showing you how to make this adorable Pom Poms Headband. This tutorial can also be found in Pom Poms!Crafters can shrink the pom on this showstopper headband to their liking, trimming it smaller for a subtler look. For a seriously glam look, use glittery tulle.

Posted by Basia Padlo

Kindle Daily Deal Alert: The Last Policeman Series

    

While you're still in post-holiday sale mode, have we got a sale for you! Today only, you can score all three of the books in the Last Policeman Trilogy by Ben Winters–that is, The Last Policeman, Countdown City, and World of Trouble are available for today's Kindle e-book deal!

The first book is only $1.99, and the other two books are only $2.99, so hurry up and get yours before the day is over! Follow the links below! 

Posted by Basia Padlo

We’re Bringing Spooky Back: Nine Holiday-Themed Ghost Tales

There’ll be scary ghost stories

And tales of the glories

of Christmases long, long ago…

                                                                         — “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year”

 

See that line there, the one about “scary ghost stories”? It wasn’t chosen just because it rhymed – it’s a direct reference to the longstanding Victorian tradition of telling ghost stories, family gathered ‘round the fire, during Christmastime. Even today, the U.K. continues the practice – although you may be gathered ‘round the telly instead of the hearth, watching something like Nigel Kneale’s version of The Woman In Black (on ITV in 1989) or the BBC’s 2009 Christmas broadcast of The Turn of the Screw.

But here in the States, it’s a different story; most don’t even know about this tradition. Such a shame, because even if you don’t celebrate Christmas, now’s the perfect time to use dark afternoons and frigid weather as excuses for a big, steaming mug of spooky.  Here, let us help:

Posted by Basia Padlo

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM WILHELM STAEHLE & QUIRK BOOKS!

 

Don't these cards just scream "Merry Christmas"? (Well, the knight, at least. He was probably screaming something before he got stabbed.)

Feel free to right click and "save as" the cards, for the full size image, and share with your friends. 

Posted by Basia Padlo

How-To Tuesday: Holiday Cake Pops From Jackie Alpers’ Sprinkles!

All this month, we're cracking open Quirk Throws You 5 Awesome Parties for how-tos to help your holiday party be The Greatest. This week, Holiday Cake Pops are on the menu. (This recipe can also be found in Sprinkles!) These silver and gold cake pops not only add a festive shimmer to your shindig, but they make perfectly sweet finger food to munch on while mingling!

Posted by Basia Padlo