Arts n' Crafts

2007-04-07T05:55:00.000-07:00

Choosing Arts And Crafts That Are In Demand
By Terri Grace

Would you like to earn money with your arts and crafts? Are you tired of working for someone other than yourself? Would you like to build a business with your own creativity? Do you wonder how to make your craft marketable?

Below are five tips that will help you make an income with your own arts and crafts.

Build a business foundation: When building a business to earn money with your arts and crafts, make sure your product is in demand and a marketable craft. When picking your foundation products, make sure they are not seasonal items. You need to pick products that can be sold year round, then add a
few holiday crafts throughout the year. If you choose to produce crafts that have a shelf life, try to pick just a few items to sell in addition to the foundation product. By adding a large variety of products
to your display you will draw the attention of many different customers.

Arts and Crafts that are in demand: Look for items that are needed such as:baby items, home decor, personalized gifts, holiday crafts, jewelry or other personal items. The list could go on and on- your opportunities could be endless. One approach to help you make a decisions on products is to visit boutiques, craft suppliers and other retail stores in your area. By doing this and researching what sells effectively in your area, you can make those very important decisions.

Determine necessity: The best-selling crafts are the ones that are needed by consumers, not ones that are simply wanted. If you are making something like beautiful baby quilts, they are far more likely to sell than something like a higher priced wood carving.

Make your arts and crafts target your demographic: Where will you be selling your product? Are you selling it at a Craft Boutique? Then perhaps, you should not make a hunting related product, save that for a Hunting and Camping Expo. Instead, make something like a wooden home de'cor product.

Don't follow trends: Trends in crafts come and go. Don't base your business solely on what's hot right now. It's okay to sell trendy and hot items, but make sure you also have a variety of other items for when this trend is no longer popular.

By using these five easy steps, you should be ready to choose the arts and or crafts you would like to create for your business. You should start out slow-only making a few of each item until you see what is going to sell. This way you are not going to be left with hundreds of left over products that you just did not market well. The most important thing to remember when starting your own retail business is to have fun with it, and to learn from your mistakes. You will make mistakes, but that is the way a good business is built.

Bio: Terri Grace, successful business owner of a boutique for the past 5
years. Owner and entrepreneur of an online boutique. Expert in boutique
sales and marketing. For more information on boutiques go to =>http://www.terrisbluegooseboutique.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Terri_Grace
http://EzineArticles.com/?Choosing-Arts-And-Crafts-That-Are-In-Demand&id=490632

2007-04-07T05:54:00.000-07:00

Traditional Handprint Crafts
By Katrina Harper

Sensational New Handprint Crafts are Safer and Take Less Time to Complete than Ever Before.

Traditional handprint crafts are a fun way to preserve memories of your baby. All you need to make traditional handprint crafts are some easily available craft items and loads of imagination. Crafters have used these methods and variations of them for centuries.

You can put your 's handprints on ceramic tiles, clay, fabric or paper.

You can use colored paper to make traditional handprint crafts. For this you need paper plates or bright yellow and orange colored paper, scissors, gum, markers and wobbly eyes or nose if you so desire. Cut out the inner circle for the sun and trace the 's hands on to the colored paper for the rays of sunshine. Trace the handprints a number of times on the yellow and orange paper, cut them out, and then stick them alternately on to the inner circle. Make a face with the marker, stick the eyes, and nose to complete the face of Mr. Sunshine.

To Make traditional handprint crafts on ceramic tiles, you need an unglazed tile of 4" or 6" depending on the size of the hand, a soft brush, a pot of ceramic under glaze in a dark color, a container of clear glaze, sponge, and tissues to clear the mess. You can get all these materials at your local hobby center and order the tiles beforehand, as they may not be available singly.

Clean the tile with a wet sponge and wash the 's hands with soap and dry well. Paint a single coat of glaze across the palm and keep the fingers apart so that the fingerprints appear on the tile. Ensure that the hands are steady and then gently press the palm and fingers for the full hand impression. To commemorate this event, paint your 's name and date of birth alongside the handprint. Next, you must let the tile dry and then fire it before you put a coat of clear glaze. Your traditional handprint crafts are now ready for display.

Other traditional handprint crafts include casting the 's handprint in plaster. For this smear, some oil on the 's hand so that the plaster does not stick to the skin. Next, put the hand in the plaster in a container or a tray and press it gently so that the full imprint appears. Remove the hand and clean it thoroughly of plaster.

You can carve in the 's name and birth date in the wet plaster before it sets. Use your creativity to beautify the traditional handprint crafts with accessories. You can insert a straw in the wet plaster so that you can insert a ribbon and create a wall hanging out of your 's handprints. Once the plaster sets remove it from the container and it is ready to put on show.

Traditional handprint crafts can add a twist to your Halloween decorations. You can trace out the handprints on green paper and cut them out. Make them more frightful by adding pointy fingernails or a blood trail. Stick them behind doors to scare your friends. You can use other variations of this idea by using glitter and other dreadful colors. Thus, traditional handprint crafts can make a great memento for your child when he grows up.

Katrina Harper
Author-crafter-site owner http://www.katrinasbabyhandprintcrafts.com/Traditional_Baby_HandPrint_Crafts/
Wouldn't you just love to keep the memories of those very special moments you had when your baby was still small, Traditional handprint crafts ideas will allow you to do just that.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Katrina_Harper
http://EzineArticles.com/?Traditional-Handprint-Crafts&id=490921

2007-04-07T05:53:00.000-07:00

Easter Crafts Ideas
By Marcel Vigh

Easter is on the door-step... Do you need any Easter crafts ideas to decorate your home quickly?
My free Easter crafts ideas and projects are really practical, because they're so simple and you don't need any special accessories to make them.

You'll only need some glue, paint, scissors, felt, papers and your two hands to make these simple Easter crafts projects.

Easter paper craft using egg-boxes

You might think how is it possible to make decoration using egg-boxes. It's really simple and I think this is the most lovely Easter decoration on my site.

Take an hour or so, a paper egg-box, some felt, an egg boxes few other things and your creative two hands and create wonderful chickens!

The following two step-by-step guideline will explain you how to make them. Visit my site www.marcels-kid-crafts-com to see the pattern and the step-by-step pictures.

You'll need:

* egg-box (for the body and the wings)

* all purpose adhesive

* scissors

* red felt (for the crests)

* yellow cardboard (for the beak)

* feather (for the tail)

* white paper (for the eyes)

* black marker

* pen

The steps:

Print and cut the patterns out.

Outline the patterns.

Cut out pieces. (The wings are made of the lid of the egg-box.)

Cut the middle part, the peaks of the box.

Cut the bottom of the peak round as shown.

First, glue the two red felt pieces about the middle of the peak.

Next, glue the beak as shown and hold it for a few minutes.

Then, glue the edge of the first wing on the back of the chicken.

Do the same with the second wing.

Glue the two white eyes and draw two dots with the black marker.

Next, is the feather.

Glue it on the back of the chicken between the wings.

Hold it for a few minutes.

Finally, glue the crest on the top of the chicken and hold it until it stands firmly.

Wait 5-10 minutes until everything completely dried.

Dont't forget to have a look at the pictures!

Marcel Vigh
Marcel's Kid Crafts

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marcel_Vigh
http://EzineArticles.com/?Easter-Crafts-Ideas&id=494847

2006-11-11T04:25:00.000-08:00

Candles at the Hearth and Heart of the Home
By Yvonne Perry

The holidays are coming and that means gift giving. Candles make an ideal gift for just about anyone on your list. Store bought candles are lovely, but can be quite expensive. Why not say, “I love you” with a homemade candle? You don t need to buy a lot of fancy equipment and costly supplies to make candles at home. You can use things you already have. If you are willing to take the time, you can make beautiful candles for yourself and your friends. Homemade candles are a thoughtful gift anyone would be glad to receive.

There are several types of candles. Some are dipped; others are poured into
decorative glass cups, or into temporary molds that are removed to reveal a stand-alone candle. These instructions will focus on making poured candles. Following these simple instructions, you will be making your own candles in no time at all!

Let’s begin with a few safety tips. NEVER microwave the wax as it can splatter and be very dangerous. It also fades the color. A double-boiler is best to use for melting the wax. Always use pot holders or oven mitts when handling the double-boiler, the hot wax, or hot molds.

Next you’ll need to gather some materials:

An old sheet, towel or newspaper to cover your work surface and catch spills

An old saucepan or double-boiler

Large metal container such as a tin coffee can (not needed if you re using a double-boiler)

Oven mitt or potholders

Cotton twine or wicks purchased from an arts and craft

Masking tape

Store-bought or homemade molds *

Long metal spoon or ladle

Scissors

Pencil or stick

Wax chips or paraffin wax (you can use leftover candles)

Aroma/fragrance chips, lavender blooms, ground cinnamon or other aromatic
spice

Color chips

*Homemade molds can be constructed from small milk containers, boxes that bar
soap comes in, Hostess cup cake containers, toilet paper rolls, etc. If the mold has a bottom that isn't totally sealed then use masking tape to seal the bottom on outside of the box so it doesn’t leak. You may use glass containers if making votive candles, or store bought plastic molds purchased from an arts and crafts store.

It is best to use a double boiler, but don t panic if you don t have one. You can make one by using a metal coffee can and an old saucepan. Put one inch of water in the saucepan (or bottom section of the double-boiler). Add the wax chips or paraffin to the coffee can, (or the top section of the double-boiler) and sit the can (or top section of double-boiler) inside the saucepan (or double boiler). Heat on stovetop at low temperature until the wax melts. DO NOT allow the wax to boil! While the wax is heating, set up your glass containers or prepare the homemade molds.

Installing the wick:

First, you’ll need to prime the wick. Cut a piece of string a little longer than the length of the mold. Tie a toothpick or pencil to one end of the string. Hold the wick by the pencil and dip the string in the melted wax. Do this a few times, letting the wax harden on the string in between each dip. This helps the wick burn better. Tape the free end of the wick to the bottom of the container or mold. Set up wick in the container with the pencil balanced across the top. Pull the wick tight by turning the pencil.

Add the fragrance:

When wax has completely melted, let it cool a few minutes then add the color chips and fragrance chips. You can use the same kind used in making soap, which may be purchased at an arts and crafts store. A little goes a long way, so use color and fragrance sparingly.

Pouring and cooling:

Wearing an oven mitt, take a soup ladle or large spoon and dip a small amount of hot wax into the mold while holding the wick straight. The mold should have about ¼ of wax in the bottom. It is important to allow the small amount to harden before adding more wax. Once it does harden, add enough wax to suitably fill your mold. Leave space to add decorative materials. Due to contraction during cooling you may have a sunken area in your container. Simply poke holes near the wick with a toothpick and fill it again.

Decorating the candles:

You may add crushed or whole lavender flowers, coffee beans, cinnamon, or other aromatic spices, leaves, grain, etc. The material may settle to the bottom but they are still attractive. You may add leaves, seashells, orange slices, or flowers in the mold once the wax is poured and begins to cool

Once the candles are cool to the touch, you may tear away the paper molds, or remove the plastic molds. You can speed up the cooling process by putting them in the refrigerator but do NOT freeze them as they may crack.

Trimming the wick:

Using scissors, trim the top of the candlewick to about 1/3 inch. Turn the candle over and closely trim any wick that may be hanging from the bottom.

A word about clean up:

Do NOT pour hot wax down the sink drain! It will clog. Instead, pour the waste wax into smaller containers such as an old muffin pan or ice cube trays. The small size will make melting easier next time. Be sure to label the scent. If you spilled wax on a hard surface, scrape it off once it cools. If wax gets on cloth, pour hot water through it to melt it away. If wax gets on something you can’t pour water through (such as your carpet) let it harden, then rub it with an ice cube to make it brittle. Then scrape it with a dull knife. Metal and glassware can be put through the dishwasher cycle to clean.

Use and storage of finished product:

Now that you’ve completed your first at-home candle-making project, it’s time to enjoy the finished product. Remember to always use a metal, glass, or clay saucer underneath your candle to catch drips and avoid ruining your furniture. This is also a safety precaution. Trim the wick to about ¼ inch after each use, and allow the wax to cool and become solid before attempting to move the candle.

When not using or displaying candles, store them upright at room temperature, in a dark place, preferably in a sealed bag. This will keep the color, shape, and scent. Avoid exposing your candles to extreme cold or hot.

Candle making is an enjoyable and easy project anyone can do at home. The savings advantages and thoughtfulness of giving a homemade gift far outweigh the convenience of purchasing a candle at a retail store. With practice you could become an expert.

Yvonne Perry is a freelance writer and the owner of Write On! Creative Writing Services based in Nashville, Tennessee. She and her team of ghostwriters service clients all over the globe by offering quality writing on a wide variety of topics at an affordable price. If you need a brochure, web text, business document, resume, bio, article or book, visit http://www.yvonneperry.net. While there be sure to subscribe to the RSS podcast feed and the free monthly newsletter about writing, networking, publishing and marketing. Read more on Yvonne’s blog at http://yvonneperry.blogspot.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Yvonne_Perry

2007-01-27T05:54:00.000-08:00

Making The Cut With The Right Stencil Cutter
By Keith Londrie

Many say that stenciling is much about the cutting as it is with the painting, and they can never be more correct. Stenciling, after all, is an ages old art form that makes good use of prepared cutouts to help in the coloring process, resulting in precise and often stark designs that never fail to capture the eyes. This is the heart of stenciling, and this is the core of the craft itself.

Hence, a stencil cutter is a very important tool for the pursuit of this passion. It is that which helps prepare the patterns for the design that the artist has in mind. Instead of pencils before inking, or sketches before painting, or even turnarounds for sculptures, stenciling requires patterns that would help give shape and texture to the piece that will be a design reality.

Since stenciling can be applied to a variety of canvases like walls, floors, paper and even cloth, an equal variety of patterns are needed, and these require different kinds of cutters as well. There are manual tools, and there are electric tools, for these purposes. The choice of which to use depends on the preference of the artist as well as the needs of the decorative patterns for the canvass being considered.

A manual stencil cutter is the popular choice for traditional stencil artists. In the days of yore, stenciling was entirely done by hand, after all. There are many kinds of cutters that require some manual attention. Rotary cutters make those circular patterns and edges possible. Plastic cutters are perfect for plastic surfaces, as with glass, metal and wood cutters. Multi-purpose cutters are used by artists who often work with different kinds of canvasses. Line cutters are perfect for flawless rows.

An electric stencil cutter, on the other hand, can make the artist's work less strenuous. Though this kind is not generally preferred by traditionalists, there's no denying the precision and ease that it brings to the table. Some canvases do require more force and an electric cutter becomes necessary for such tasks.

A stencil cutter, regardless of its kind, however, is not possessed of eternal blades. As with other edges, the sharpness can disappear after prolonged uses. Replacements are in order, and it would be wise to consider the availability of the same whenever you're deciding on buying some cutters.

If you want to try out the fine art of stenciling, then a cutter would prove to be a great and essential tool for your needs. Invest on one that would be perfect for what you have in mind.

Keith Londrie II is a successful Webmaster of http://www.free-pumpkin-letter-tattoo-printable-alphabet-stencils.info/ A website that specializes in providing tips on Stencils that you can research on the internet. Visit http://www.free-pumpkin-letter-tattoo-printable-alphabet-stencils.info/ today!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Keith_Londrie
http://EzineArticles.com/?Making-The-Cut-With-The-Right-Stencil-Cutter&id=428365

2007-01-27T05:51:00.000-08:00

Acrylic Paintings
By Ken Marlborough

Acrylic paintings are relatively new as acrylic paint for painting was first introduced around 1950. Acrylic paint has now become an essential element of the arts and craft market. Many artists consider acrylic paint as a viable option for oil paints. Acrylic paints differ from the conventional oil paints in terms of their physical and chemical properties and thus necessitates special care of acrylic paintings.

Typically, acrylic paints are of two types, namely water-based and solvent-based. However, water-based acrylics are more popular among painters. Acrylic paints dry quickly as compared to oil paints and may hardly require half an hour for the entire painting to dry. Acrylic films are not very hard and may easily gather dust and grime.

Various types of additives, such as stabilizers, defoamers, coalescing solvents, thickeners, and preservatives, are added to the acrylic paint to produce the desired results.

The chances of acrylic paintings cracking are relatively low as the paint is flexible and can withstand pressure. However, acrylic paintings may become very brittle and crack in freezing temperatures. Sometimes acrylic paintings may develop a gray veil on the surface or form a yellow discoloration over a long period of time.

Since acrylic films are soft at room temperature, dust particles can settle on the surface and become mixed with the paint, resulting in stained paintings. Protective framing can combat this problem up to a certain extent. Varnishes can protect the paintings considerably from scratches and dust. Many artists do not like to varnish their paintings. Another major problem faced by acrylic painters is that of mold growth and as of now, no perfect solution has been devised for this problem.

There is a wide range of acrylic paints available in the market. It is imperative for acrylic painters to purchased superior quality products as poor quality paints fade easily when exposed to ultra violet light.

Regardless of high standards of care and maintenance, many artists continue to use acrylic paints because of their fast-drying quality and versatility.

Paintings provides detailed information on Paintings, Oil Paintings, Famous Paintings, Abstract Paintings and more. Paintings is affiliated with Oil Paintings For Sale.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ken_Marlborough
http://EzineArticles.com/?Acrylic-Paintings&id=428667

2006-12-28T04:16:00.000-08:00

Types of Indian Embroideries
By Gaurav Doshi

Introduction

India is a diversified country having varied range of cultures and customs. The Indian art and craft have become world famous. There is huge demand of Indian embroidered garments. There is huge variety of embroideries done in India, here are few of them which have got more fame in terms of popularity in international market : -

Zardozi embroidery

Zardozi work is an ancient form of embroidery basically done with gold or silver zari threads. It is also known as metal embroidery. Although now-a-days it is also done with colored metal threads. The word ‘Zardozi’ is derived by combining two words Zar and Dozi which in Persian language means gold and embroidery respectively. Therefore it is clear that this art of embroidery was originated in Persia which was bought to India by Moghuls. Initially it was done with real metal threads of gold and silver. It was done on clothes for the rich and royal, wall hangings, bedsheets, etc. In between the application of pearls and precious stones looks stunning on it. Basically it is done on silk, crepe, brocade and velvet fabrics. Zardozi embroidery saw its decline during the reign of Aurangzeb. It was revived after the independence.

Zardozi work is an extension of zari embroidery which is done with crochet hook. The embroidery done gives the appearance of chain stitch. The things required for doing zardozi are beads, dabka, coiled wires, sequins, etc.

As zardozi is done with coiled metal wires studded with stones, beads, etc is heavy in weight therefore is done on fabrics that are thick and heavy like silk, velvet, stain, crepe, etc. Thus the choice of fabrics is also royal and expensive. The design to be done is first traced on the fabric, then it is spread on the wooden frame. Further the embroidery is done by picking up single thread in the needle and sewing it into the cloth. This art requires patience and is quite complicated. Expertise is required to do it properly.

Earlier zardozi was done on wearable garments and bedspreads mainly for royal families. But now it has got into the reach of common people also. Clothes with zardozi are an integral part for any wedding or important functions as it depicts royalty. Apart from wearable garments, zardozi is also done on cushion covers, table cloths, wall hangings, fabric purses, etc. This embroidery is a costly affair.

Mirror Embroidery

Mirror embroidery is the specialty of Gujarat state. This work also originated in Persia during 13th century. Mirror work is never done alone, it is generally in combination with other types of stitches or embroideries. This embroidery is done with both large and small mirrors. Basically it was more utilized by Jats community. It is embroidered using colorful threads like red, green, blue, yellow, black, maroon, etc.

This art apart from Gujarat state is also practiced in neighboring state of Rajasthan and in appliqué art of Orissa. Many different types of stitches like cross stitch, buttonhole stitch and satin stitch are used in its combination. This art is often done by the aid of machine embroidery, but in some places it is still done through hand work which is more time consuming and a costly affair in comparison to the former technique. The mirrors used are of different shapes and sizes like round shape, diamond shape, square shape, etc. However round shape is the most common shape of mirrors used in this form of embroidery.

Mirror work is done on different fabrics and types of garments. Apart from ethnic garments it is crafted even on indo western clothes. It has huge demand in western countries. Mirror work is done on cushion covers, purses, bedsheets, curtains, wearable garments, wall hangings, decorative items, laces, etc. This embroidery has also seen the limelight of international ramp shows too.

Kantha Embroidery

Kantha is the traditional form of embroidery of West Bengal. It is running style of stitch. The embroidery is done on many layers of cloth. It is done on quilts, bedsheets, blankets, saris, salwar suits, stoles, napkins, etc.

It is also known as ‘Dorukha’. This word means making worn out garments into beautiful garments. Therefore it is also known as recycling art. In earlier times the worn out silk or muslin clothes where used to be put in piles and stitched together. It is believed that its date of origin lies during the era of Lord Buddha. They used to drape themselves with rags of clothes that were stitched together.

The artists usually embroidery images of human beings, animals, flowers, geometric designs and mythological figures. Generally the worker selects the figure of embroidery to which they relate to. There are different types of kantha done- Sujani kantha, Durjani kantha, Lep kantha, Archilata kantha, Rumal kantha and Oaar kantha.

Different types of patterns like jaal, folk life designs, dhan chori, etc are done in kantha embroidery. The rural women of West Bengal usually do it on cotton saris with thread taken from the borders of the sari and done all over.

Chikankari Embroidery

The state of Uttar Pradesh especially the city of Lucknow is considered to be the hub of Chikankari embroidery. Chikankari is derived from the word Chakeen that means elegant patterns on the fabric which is a Persian word. Earlier it was done with white thread on muslin clothes. However now it is been done on various types of fabrics like cotton, linen nylon, georgette, chiffon and synthetic fabrics. Apart from wearable garments it is also done on various other things like curtains, bedsheets, table cloths, pillow covers and cushion covers.

Unlike earlier times it is not only done on white colored cloths but also fabrics of various colors. But the thread used for the embroidery is generally white. Various motifs are embroidered through it like floral motifs which include flowers like rose, lotus, jasmine, creepers, etc.

There are many types of stitches used to make beautiful chikankari embroidery like chain stitch, buttonhole stitch, French knots and running stitch. The most beautiful is the motif having design created in the form of net or jhali all over the garment by generating thread tension. Shadow work is also done by chikan embroidery which is done on the opposite side of the garment.

There are three types of chikankari stitches ;

1) Jali work – It is done in the form of net design spread all over the fabric.

2) Flat stitches – The flat stitches are delicate and very fine stitch. It gives the look as if the embroidery is itself the texture of the garment.

3) Embossed stitches – This stitch provides beaded type of look to the garment.

In international apparel market also the demand of chikankari embroidered garments have seen a steep rise. The artisans of Uttar Pradesh earn foreign currency for the country. Many high profile designers intricate this form of art in their collections.

Conclusion

India is very rich in terms of art and crafts because of different communities and culture of its people. The above was just a glimpse of four the many types of embroidery art present in India. These arts have acclaimed international fame and are in great demand in western countries. After independence these arts were revived by the Indian government which improved the declining situation of the Indian embroideries. The main support came from the Indian government.

Fibre2fashion.com - Leading B2B Portal and Marketplace of Global Textile, Apparel and Fashion Industry offers Free Industry Articles, Textile Articles, Fashion Articles, Industry Reports, Technology Article, Case Studies, Textile Industry News Articles, Latest Fashion Trends, Textile Market Trends Reports and Global Industry Analysis.

To read more articles on Textile, Fashion, Apparel, Technology, Retail and General please visit http://www.fibre2fashion.com/industry-article If you wish to download/republish the above article to your website or newsletters then please include the "Article Source”. Also, you have to make it hyperlinked to our site.

Copyright © 2006

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gaurav_Doshi

2006-11-30T04:16:00.000-08:00

Boyfriend Gift Ideas for this Christmas
By Natalie Aranda

You can feel it in the air, Christmas season is coming our way so before it can find you doing anything else, get ready to jot down your Christmas gifts list, because it is never too late or to early to write down gifts that you know will be loved this holiday season.

Perhaps weird, or just odd, but every year we receive the same advice for plan ahead for our shopping time. In fact, more than often, we have in mind a series of Christmas gift ideas, but somehow we are caught before we could to anything to implement at least one.

Lack of time seems to be the "illness" of present times, but if everything turns around a boyfriend Christmas gift ideas, things change drastically. Your boyfriend is your "other half" so it will never hurt if you dedicate some of your spare time to finding meaningful Christmas gifts for him.

When it comes to Christmas gift ideas for boyfriends, only you can determine what to give. There are present that have no age or time, such as collectible action figures, but there are others more suitable for the businessman, like an executive handheld set that would be unsuitable if your boyfriend is a teenager, just like you.

Alternatively, who knows, there are young men who have well defined professional careers since their early high school days and may feel amazingly surprised with such a classy gift. On the other hand, a businessman will never be too old to receive caramels or toys decorated following the instructions of patterns with Christmas gift ideas or crafts for this very special season of the year.

If this year is the right one for getting ready your Christmas gifts list, add a special section devoted to boyfriend Christmas gift ideas, and add as many items as you think he will enjoy, whether alone or by your side sharing a kiss under your mistletoe central decor.

Christmas gift ideas for boyfriends may include some of these presents: a bottle of wine, a flashlight, or Swiss knife. If he enjoys games, try arcade games, or a wrist exerciser for guys who like to stay in shape. Other ideas include remote control vehicles, a digital camera, spy toys, a pocket calculator, a radio with clock, multi flavored chocolates, sport gear, and many others that your imagination dictates.

When is not time but lack of inspiration, ask your boyfriend about the things he likes. In fact, where have you been? This is something that you should know even before he actually turned into your boyfriend.

However never is too late to investigate, or nurture your inspiration with other sources. There are excellent Christmas gift ideas and Christmas gift ideas for boyfriends can be found by just surfing the Internet or taking a walk browsing the Christmas gifts shops near to your home, so good luck and happy shopping.

Natalie Aranda writes on home and holidays. When it comes to Christmas gift ideas for boyfriends, only you can determine what to give. There are present that have no age or time, such as collectible action figures, but there are others more suitable for the businessman, like an executive handheld set that would be unsuitable if your boyfriend is a teenager, just like you. There are excellent Christmas gift ideas and Christmas gift ideas for boyfriends can be found by just surfing the Internet or taking a walk browsing the Christmas gifts shops near to your home, so good luck and happy shopping.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Natalie_Aranda

2006-12-28T04:14:00.000-08:00

How To Save Money On Craft Show Supplies
By Natalie Goyette

Finding a supplier that isn't going to cost you an arm and a leg, and still have good quality might be a challenge at first. But, in my experience, it is always better to pay just a little bit more for good quality, than it is to buy bargain basement materials and have your customers be disappointed when the overall quality of your craft is poor.

Once you combine your experience with the supplies and the experience of making the craft, you will soon realize where you might be able to save a few pennies on supplies, and where you should just pay for good quality.

You'll need to have several excellent sources for supplies that are readily available in order to be a successful crafter. Initial research, then time and experience will be necessary for you to find your best suppliers in terms of cost, quality and promptness of delivery. Here are a few tips on getting the best supplies for the lowest prices:

Comparison shop with several vendors, and even after using one or two, keep an eye out for better deals. With a little bit of extra effort, you might be able to find the materials you want on sale, or at a lower price at a different vendor.

Ask other craftspeople for recommendations. Word of mouth is one of the best ways to find deals. If you belong to a craft group or if you know other people who craft, talk to them about where they are getting their supplies. They may give you a great lead on fantastic prices.

Always buy wholesale-all you need is your resale certificate to qualify. Wholesale eliminates the middle man in many cases. You should be able to save a great deal of money on craft supplies if you have a craft supplies wholesaler in your area.

Buy in quantity for greater discounts, maybe even by partnering with another crafter. It's the same is if you go to the grocery store – usually, the more you buy, the better overall deal you are getting. It may cost a little more out of pocket, but your cost per piece goes down significantly.

Use recycled materials and recycle what you can from your past inventory. You never know when scraps of other supplies will make great pieces elsewhere on your craft. This is a great way to save money on your supply cost.

Keep track of your supply inventory so you can order in advance at better prices for busier seasons rather than waiting until the last minute. If you wait until the last minute you usually don't have time to find a deal – you just need the supplies fast! This could end up costing you a lot of money.

Do your best to get 30-day terms, so you can pay suppliers after you've sold some product. You will probably have to pay with cash or credit the first few times that you go into a store, but after they recognize your patronage and you qualify with their accounting department, you can get terms that allow you to pay 30 days after you purchase the supplies.

Supply costs are one of the biggest costs when you are setting up your craft show business. As mentioned earlier, most crafts rely on materials of some sort or another. In order to ensure a tidy profit at the end of the day, you need to control the material expense so your prices stay competitive and you sell more product!

Natalie Goyette shows you how to make your craft show business profitable in her best selling ebook: Craft Show Success Secrets. Visit her site: Craft Shows

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Natalie_Goyette

2006-12-13T19:27:00.001-08:00

Holiday Traditions for Your Family
By Adriana Copaceanu

Kids, young and the young at heart, love the holidays and there are an almost limitless number of crafts that can be made to keep the kids busy, especially when the weather gets bad and they are home from school. Many projects can be done with common items found around the house.

Paper snowflakes are always a favorite and all you need is white paper, scissors and possibly glue and glitter. Fold the paper in half, half again and again, until you have a triangle. Cut small shapes, unfold carefully, you have beautiful one of a kind snowflakes. If you have glue and glitter, the kids may want to make them a bit fancier. They also make wonderful decorations to hang from the ceiling and windows for the holidays.

Recycled cards - let the kids cut the message parts off the cards, and by gluing them to the front of either folded construction paper or lightweight card stock, they can create their own cards to send to friends and family. Ribbon, glitter and other items can make nice decorative touches.

Ornaments/gift tags - by cutting out the pictures from the cards in different shapes (stars, circles, etc), maybe even using scrap booking edging scissors, some ribbon and glitter, they can make cute ornaments for the tree that can also be used as gift tags.

Candy dish - cut a hexagon of plain cardstock and then six pieces from Christmas card fronts (trying to get the nicest part of the picture showing on the shape) that taper slightly wider at the top than the base for the sides. Cover all the pieces with clear contact paper and punch holes along all the edges, evenly spaced. Sew the pieces together using ribbon or yarn, and you have a one of a kind candy dish. Let the kids experiment with different shapes and sizes.

Styrofoam ball snowmen are an easy project. Stack and glue together (use toothpicks to support the pieces) different sizes, and decorate with buttons, or scrap pieces of felt for the eyes and mouth and buttons. To make a cute hat for the snowman, place a standard size styrofoam coffee cup upside down on a foil lined baking pan. Place in the oven at a low temperature (adult supervision). Watch carefully as the cup begins to melt, shrink and reshape itself into a funny top hat. Remove carefully, let them cool, and they can be painted and decorated and glued onto the snowman's head.

Adriana is a busy mom of 2 who loves helping moms find what they need online.
Learn how to make a
piñata and create a walnut shell ornament at http://www.busy-moms-online.com/548/walnut-shell-cradle-ornament/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Adriana_Copaceanu

2006-12-13T19:27:00.000-08:00

Popular Christmas Craft Ideas This Holiday Season
By Rob Buenaventura

Christmas is one time of year when people of all shapes, sizes, and backgrounds begin looking for craft projects. The great news is that many project ideas and how to’s can be found quite easily online or off. The World Wide Web is chock full of all kinds of do it yourself craft ideas for Christmas fun. Women’s magazines make an excellent offline source for this incredibly useful information as well.

Looking for Christmas craft ideas? Try some of these:

Baking your own shortbread cookies. Of course the fun doesn’t stop with the baking. You then need to decorate them with colorful icing and sprinkles (the little ones love to help add the sprinkles). Once they’ve been baked and decorated, string them on fishing line and use them as decorations. You can use a knife in order to shape the cookies are opt for cookie cutters in wonderful shapes and designs for Christmas baking delight.

Making Garlands. This particular craft requires group participation. Not only do you need to pop the popcorn and smack the hands of those attempting to steal the popcorn, you also need help during the actual stringing process. Of course you aren’t limited to popcorn, you can also opt for cranberries or nuts.

Another great Christmas craft is the making of your very own Christmas decorations. You can find inspiration and crafting materials in the shape of Styrofoam, play dough, and ribbons. One great thing to do especially with kids is to take a package of ordinary Christmas balls and use glue in order to create patterns on the balls. After creating the design roll the ball in glitter for a sparkling pattern.

If you are truly dedicated to the craft of crafting, you can create your very own holiday candles (hint, hint: these make great gifts too!). The simplest way to do this is by rolling up sheets of beeswax. If this doesn’t appeal to you as much you can also melt wax in a double boiler to make your own candles. You can find scents to add to your wax at a local craft store, most will have some scents designed specifically for Christmas. You can find molds in popular holiday shapes to complete your craft project.

The time spent with family creating these wonderful crafts for the holidays will be remembered long after the toys, gifts, and gizmos have been forgotten. Take the time to enjoy making beautiful crafts together and strengthen the bonds you have with your children.

Rob Buenaventura is a successful webmaster and publisher of GetChristmasShopping. He provides tips on Christmas decoration ideas, unique xmas gifts, and other Christmas ideas. For more tips on Christmas decoration tips, check out http://www.getchristmasshopping.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rob_Buenaventura

2006-12-13T19:25:00.000-08:00

Grandmas Recipes, Bar Mixes, Christmas Information
By Bruce Chambers

Grandmas Recipes, Bar Mixes, Christmas Information

To save space on your computer, make a few files and name them
Recipes, Cooking Tips, Cleaning Tips, Bar Mixes. You can then
copy and paste only articles you would like to save.

Contends

Grandma’s Wrapped Turkey

Cooking, Roasting Time

Grandma’s Cooked Ham And Apples

Aunt Pat’s Favourite Tarts

Mom’s Mincemeat Cookies

Lightside

Christmas Information

Cleaning Tips

Responsible Drinking

Bar Mixes

Place dressed turnkey, breast up in centre of greased, wide,
heavy foil. Bring ends of foil up over breast. Overlap fold
and press up against ends of turkey. Place bird in shallow pan.
Open foil last 20 minutes to brown. Bake at 450 F, (230 C)
according to time table.

Weights Roasting Times

Ready To Cook Weight Roasting Time

8 – 10 lbs 2 ¼ - 2 ½ hours

10 – 12 lbs 2 ½ - 3 hours

14 – 16 lbs 3 – 3 ¼ hours

18 – 20 lbs 3 ¼ - 3 ½ hours

22 – 24 lbs 3 ½ - 3 ¾ hours

GRANDMA’S BAKED HAM AND APPLES

2 large slices of hamsteak

2 teaspoons……………..(10 ml)………………….prepared mustard

4 tablespoons………….(60 ml)……………………brown sugar

2 tart apples

1 ½ cups…………………………(375 ml)…………………apple juice

Place the ham in baking dish and rub with mustard. Sprinkle
with 2 tablespoons (30 ml), of brown sugar. Core the apple
and cut into thin slices. Cover the ham with the apple slices
and sprinkle with rest of brown sugar. Add apple juice. Bake
at 300 F, (150 C), for 30 minutes or until tender.
YIELD: 4-5 servings.

TIME: 40 minutes

AUNT PAT’S FAVOURITE BUTTER TARTS

1/3-cup ………………………(80 ml) …………………butter

1-cup………………………………(250 ml)…………………brown sugar

2 tablespoons…………(30 ml)……………………milk or cream

1/3 cup……………………….(80 ml)……………………currants

1 egg beaten well

1 teaspoon……………….(5 ml)………………………vanilla

Mix all ingredients together. Put in unbaked tart shells.
Bake at 450 F, (230 C), for 8 minutes. Turn down to 350 F,
(175 C), and cook until brown.

MOM’S MINCEMEAT COOKIES

¾ cup………………………………(185 ml)…………………shortening

1 ½ cups…………………………(375 ml)…………………sugar

3 eggs beaten
3 cups………………………………(750 ml)…………………flour

¾ teaspoon…………………….(3.75 ml)………………salt

1 teaspoon…………………....(4 ml)…………………..soda

1 cup………………………………(250 ml……………….canned mincemeat

3 tablespoons………….......(45 ml )…………………water

1 cup…………………………………(250 ml)…………………walnuts

Cream, sugar and shortening. Then add eggs. Sift flour, salt,
and soda together. Add to creamed mixture. Add mincemeat and
water. Stir until thoroughly mixed. Add nuts and stir. Drop
from teaspoon onto well greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350F,
(175 C), for 10-15 minutes.

YIELD: 4-5 dozen cookies

TIME: 1 hour

LIGHTSIDE
A rabbi, a priest and a pastor were all in a boat together
fishing.
The pastor said to the others, “I think I am going to go over to
that shore and sit down.” So he gets out of the boat, walks across
the water and sits down on the shore.

Then, the priest says to the rabbi, “I think I am going to go
over and join him.” So, he does the same as the pastor and sits next
to him on the shore.

The rabbi thinks to himself, “well if they can do it, so can I”.
He climbs out of the boat, but he falls right down in the water.
The pastor says to the priest, “do you think we should have told
him where the rocks were?”

CHRISTMAS INFORMATION

The word Christmas comes from the words Cristes maesse, or "Christ's
Mass." Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus for members
of the Christian religion.

Many of our Christmas traditions were celebrated centuries before the
Christ child was born. The 12 days of Christmas, the bright fires, the
yule log, the giving of gifts, carolers who sing while going from house
to house, the feasts, and the church processions can all be traced back
4000 years.

In 350 AD Julius1, a Bishop in Rome chooses December 25th as the
observation of Christmas.

Both Australia’s and New Zealand, Christmas occurs during summer and
is celebrated at the beach.

Christmas celebration was outlawed in Boston from 1659 to 1681, however residents of Virginia and New York celebrated the Christmas holiday freely.

Christmas was declared a U.S. federal holiday in 1870.

Many public buildings once commonly included Nativity scences. By doing
so the practice led to lawsuits, claiming the government was endorsing a religion.

In 1984 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled a city-owned Christmas display, including
a Nativity scene did not violate the First Amendment.

For a complete history on Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, Ramaden, Christmas Customs, Carols, crafts, click on the link below:

http://www.ask.com/web?q=christmas+history&qsrc=8

CLEANING TIPS

WARNING: DO NOT MIX BLEACH AND AMMONIA TOGETHER, THE FUMES CAN
BE DEADLY.

Commercial cleaning supplies can aggravate your allergies and
have long terms effects on your health. You can save on your house
cleaning bill with very good results using less toxic substances.

Ø Ammonia – cuts grease, cleans windows, Strip wax off floors.

Ø Baking soda – cleans, deodorizes, polishes, and removes stains.

Ø Bleach – whitens practically anything, removes mould and mildew.

Ø Cornstarch – cleans and deodorizes carpets and rugs.

*Rug Stains: Use a solution of half water, half white vinegar.

*Shirt or blouse stain: Just a little of water and cornstarch

will remove.

*Grass stains: Dampen stain with cold water, and rub with plain

bar soap. (One without moisturizers). The stain should come right

out. Then wash normally.

*Toilet bowl: use tang, or sprinkle baking soda into the bowl.

Drizzle with vinegar. Scour with toilet brush. Cleans and

deodorizes.

*Basin, tub and tiles: rub the area to be cleaned with a half

lemon dipped in Borax. Rinse and dry with soft cloth.

*Fix plaster walls: with white glue and baking soda. Try it,

crack will disappear in minutes.

RESPONSIBLE DRINKING
If you have teenagers, or in fact any adult, impress on them
the risks of driving while intoxicated. Statistics demonstrate
many fatal road accidents are caused by drunk drivers.

If you're having a Thanksgiving Day, Christmas party, provide
food with drinks. Offer non-alcoholic substitutes such as fruit,
soft drinks.

2 drinks taken within an hour by a person 100 pounds produces a
075 reading. One drink is equal to about 1.5 oz. of whisky or 2
bottles of beer. The rate of elimination for each hour after
drinking has stopped is 015. A 200 pound person, after 1 drink
produces a reading of .019, so you can see there is a big difference
due to weight.

As a host it is your duty to make sure no one leaves your party
impaired. Have some one drive them home.

BAR MIXES

Standard Measures

1 gallon (US)………………………….128 ounces

½ gallon…………………………………64 ounces

1 quart…………………………………..32 ounces

1 fifth……………………………………25.6 ounces

¾ quart…………………………………24 ounces

1 pint……………………………………16 ounces

1 tenth…………………………………..12.8 ounces

1 cup (1/2 pint) …………………………8 ounces

1-jigger…………………………………..1 ½ ounces

1 pony……………………………………1/8 ounce

1 dash………………………………………3 drops

John McClain

1 ½ oz scotch

I teaspoon syrup

A few dashes of Angostura bitters

Combine with ice; shake.

Strain and add ice.

Java Cooler

1 ½ oz. gin

1 ½ teaspoon lemon juice

A few dashes of angostura bitters

Tonic water

Add the limejuice, bitters, and gin over ice.

Stir well, fill with tonic.

Christmas, Juice Punch

2 quarts apple juice

2 quarts cranberry juice

8 oz. lemon juice

8 oz. sugar

2 bottles ginger ale

Combine everything except the ginger ale.
Stir well. Add ginger ale plus chunks of ice before serving.

Apple Cocktail

½ ounce applejack

½ ounce apple cider

¼ ounce gin

¼ ounce brandy

Shake with ice cubes. Strain into chilled cocktail glass.

Fresh Fruit Punch

8 ounces apiece of orange juice, pineapple juice, and
grapefruit juice.

1 bottle ginger ale. Sugar to taste.

Combine the juices with the sugar. Stir until the sugar is
dissolved and refrigerate. Add the ginger ale plus chunks of
ice before serving.

Enjoy your Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, and/or Ramaden.
Best wishes for a great and enjoyable 2007.

Article Source: Bruce Chambers sold his printing, publishing, mail order business and retired in 1980. He came on the Internet in 2003. He researched for 1 year, and then started a free monthly Internet marketing report, plus free monthly recipes, bar mixes, tips newsletters. At present he resells from his website.
You can subscribe to either or both free newsletters by going to his web site. Please visit:

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bruce_Chambers

2006-11-30T04:19:00.000-08:00

Because It’s More Fun To Make It Yourself – Homemade Kids Crafts
By Susanne Myers

One of our favorite things to do as kids was to play with play dough. I don’t even want to guess how many tubs of that stuff we went through. It’s always the hands-on, get-to-touch it kind of crafts that seem to fascinate young children the most. For my sister and me that included anything to do with some sort of craft dough, or finger-paints. We could spend hours over a large sheet of paper smearing the paint with our fingers or making handprints.

My favorite childhood memories revolve around both of these crafts and more specifically around making the supplies with my mom. There is just something magical about seeing a handful of household ingredients magically transform into pink play dough.

Give it a try. Make some simple salt dough with your kids and let them form it into pieces of art. Bake it in the oven and let them paint their creations after they are cooled.

Here’s a simple salt dough recipe:

Salt Dough

Ingredients:

4 cups Flour

1 cup Salt

1-1/2 cups Hot Water

Combine the flour and salt in a large bowl. Gradually add the water while stirring until the dough becomes elastic. If the dough seems too sticky, add some more flour. If it’s not pliable enough, work in a little more water.

Bake your child’s salt dough creations at 200 degrees until they are completely hardened. Baking time will depend on the thickness of the items. Cover them with aluminum foil if the items start to darken during the baking process.

If you enjoyed making this simple salt dough, consider making some homemade playdough, paper or even fingerpaint. You will find recipes and instructions for these on the pages mentioned below.

Kinderinfo.com provides a variety of fun craft ideas and recipes, including how to make homemade paper at http://www.kinderinfo.com/crafts/homemade-paper.htm how to make your own playdough at http://www.kinderinfo.com/crafts/homemade-playdough.htm and even how to make fingerpaint at http://www.kinderinfo.com/crafts/fingerpaint.htm

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Susanne_Myers

2006-11-30T04:17:00.000-08:00

Christmas Traditions: 25 Meaningful Ideas for Families
By Susie Cortright

The holidays are a time to revel in the gratitude and love we feel for one another. Here are 25 meaningful ways to celebrate your togetherness this season.

1. Go for a family nature walk near your home to collect seasonal items that you can use in your holiday decor. If you live near a forest, the obvious choices are pine boughs and pinecones, but long dried grasses can look just as festive tied with a holiday bow.

2. Make a few handmade holiday cards this year as a family.

3. Make appreciation cards. Replace the annual Christmas letter in your holiday cards with a brief letter of appreciation for the recipient.

4. Create or purchase new ornaments each year for the tree. Create or shop for an ornament that reflects a defining event or sentiment for the year.

5. Enjoy a Family Night with special holiday crafts or games.

6. Start a Christmas-themed puzzle somewhere in your home. A puzzle table, placed in a quiet room is great for holiday visitors. Whenever your guests want to get away from the action, they can retreat to work on the puzzle. This can be a great stress reliever, and it’s wonderful for those guests who always have to be busy doing something.

7. Play special music. What is everyone’s favorite holiday CD? Allow each family member to choose and keep them in the CD changer so everyone’s musical taste is represented.

8. Take a photo of your children standing in a particular spot each year -- in front of the tree, by the front door -- anyplace that will be consistent from year to year. Make a special holiday ornament or scrapbook album that depicts the growth and change of your family each year.

9. Research the holiday traditions of your nationality. Adopt a few of these traditions into your annual celebration each year to celebrate your heritage.

10. Ask each child to write a Dear Santa letter. (Small children can draw pictures). Keep a special record of these letters in an album or treasure box.

11. Create an evening tradition of taking a family walk or drive in your neighborhood to view the holiday lights.

12. Cut snowflakes from wrapping paper, festive holiday advertisements, or last year’s holiday cards, and string them together into a festive garland.

13. Adopt a special cause each year and spend some time as a family helping those in need, or raising or donating money for a charity of your choice.

14. What are your favorite holiday memories? Pose the question tonight at the dinner table. Use your family's answers to plan this year's celebration. You may be surprised at the special memories that have nothing to do with gifts or elaborate events.

15. For fifteen minutes, write down things in your life that you are grateful for. Ask each of your family members to join you in creating their own lists.

16. Bundle up and head outside. Make snow angels or build a snow fort with your kids. When it's time to warm up, build a cozy fire and roast marshmallows in your living room.

17. What's your favorite homemade holiday treat? Write down the recipe, and share it with your friends. Encourage them to do the same.

18. Challenge each member of your family to fill a box or bag full of items to give away. Decide as a family where to make a donation.

19. What was the best book you read this year? With whom would you most like to share its message? Purchase a copy for them and drop it off, anonymously.

20. Take your family to a performance of The Nutcracker. Purchase a CD or DVD of the Nutcracker to bring the memories home.

21. The holidays can take their toll. Make a holiday tradition of recharging your own batteries. Gather your daughter and your best friend and head to the day spa for a much deserved pedicure or massage.

22. Reach out to those whom you haven’t seen all year. It takes a little extra effort this busy time of year, but make a goal to send a card or note to someone you think about but don’t see much anymore.

23. Keep a "Joy Journal" this holiday season, in which you record the funny things your kids say, joyful times you share, your favorite things to do with your family (and by yourself), and all the things for which you are grateful. Use your Joy Journal as a reminder of the facets of your life (and this holiday season) that are really important.

24. Give small and simple gifts (homemade cookies or a small book) to a few of the people who make your everyday life easier, such as the trash collector and postal carrier.

25. Share your family traditions with friends and ask them to tell you about the family traditions that make their holidays sweeter.

Susie Cortright is the founder of Momscape.com and Susies-Coupons.com, where she hand picks only the very best online coupons and products, including coupons for photo processing and photo gifts.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Susie_Cortright

2006-11-11T04:26:00.000-08:00

Christmas Day Crafts Are Fun For Kids
By Gail Leino

Homemade gifts and decorations are the best kind and those made in the moment as part of a Christmas day crafts project are the most enjoyable of all. There's something cozy and comforting to staying in the warm on any cold winter day with hot chocolate and cookies. Add the crafting projects to the day and things are about as good as it gets.

Almost anything of a hobby or arts and crafts nature qualifies for this cold winter day activity. But those special for the holiday are probably a better idea. Sometimes it’s a nice idea to save decorating for a Christmas day crafts activity.
This solves many problems from entertainment to budget concerns and time shortages.

If vacation time together is limited then use the decoration of home and tree on Christmas day itself as the celebration of the holiday. That is an old fashioned idea anyway. Opening gifts doesn't take much time and it can leave a lot of time with no real entertainment plans. Christmas day crafts can be used as gifts themselves or the project elements can be presents. Children love to receive crafting kits or crayons, markers or glitter and glue.

Simple gift kits can include fleece no sew clothing or blanket kits. Pre-cut scarves that only need minor embellishment or afghans which only need tied laces are perfect and quick.

When these are opened and used to make Christmas day crafts to decorate then it saves money on decorations. Therefore money is saved on gifts, entertainment and decorations. It can also be cheaper to buy a last minute Christmas tree and is sometimes even left for free on the lot. That saves more money for Christmas dinner! It is also practical to have only a short stay of a fresh cut tree in the home.wares.

Mrs. Party... Gail Leino is the internet's leading authority on selecting the best possible party supplies (http://partysupplieshut.com), using proper etiquette and manners while also teaching organizational skills and fun facts. The Party Supplies Hut has a huge selection of free party games, coloring pages, word find, word scramble, printable baby and bridal shower activities. Free Christmas Party Games, (http://christmas-fun.com) party planning tips, recipes, menus, history with fun fact, printable educational activities and free coloring pages.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gail_Leino

2006-10-09T04:40:00.000-07:00

Scrapbook Adhesive - Sticky Situations - What Kind of Adhesive to Use in Your Scrapbook
By Casey Lee

The many adhesive options available on the scrapbooking supply market may leave you mystified as to which ones you need for your project. Not only are countless types of adhesives available, but you often are given choices between a number of brands as well. This can leave beginners frustrated and ready to go home and use a hot glue gun for the whole project. A word of caution, however—learning to use the different types of adhesives will help protect your photographs and keep your work in tact for many years.

There are three basic types of adhesives: glues, tapes, and corner mounts. The first, glue, is probably the item you are most familiar with using with your other craft projects. Hot glue and tacky glue, both common items around the house, are not good for your scrapbooking project. Although these adhesives are strong and permanent, the heat and acidity that comes with using them will ruin your photographs over time. Another common option is the glue stick. These are inexpensive, but remember that you get what you pay for—glue sticks lose their stickiness over time, and your pages will come undone. Many other glue options are available on the market especially for scrapbooking. These products will always say “acid free” and “photo safe” on the label to let you know that they are ok to use with pictures. Glue pens are popular, but one of the most innovative products in recent years has been glue dots. This product is pressure-sensitive and works very well for adhering embellishments to the page. Another helpful scrapbooking glue product comes in an aerosol can. When sprayed to an item such as vellum or tissue, you can adhere the light paper to the page without leaving marks showing through. Glue dots and aerosol sprays can be pricey, but are effective when used correctly.

When sticking your actually pictures to the page, however, glues are probably not your best option. The best way to go about adhering pictures to your page is to use a tape product. Again, be sure that the product label ensures that it is safe to use with photographs, since not all tapes are made the same. Traditional tape options, such as foam mounting tape or double sided tape are good to use in your album, but also check out the products made exclusively for scrapbooking. Mounting squares are a popular item, as are roll-on tape dispensers. Some temporary products are also available in case you don’t want to permanently attach your photographs to the page. This is also where corner mounts work well. Related to the tape family, these little triangles allow you to stick photographs to the page without commitment. Corner mounts work especially well with valuable photographs, but can only be used when you have cropped your pictures in a square or rectangular shape.

Whatever adhesive choices you make, remember that it is important to use the products correctly. Not all glues and tapes are made for the same purposes, so learning to use these products is vital. By experimenting with technique and following the usage guidelines you can create a beautiful and long-lasting album.

Tired of reading articles on scrapbooking? Try listening to scrapbooking articles instead. Casey Lee has been compiling articles that assist people in all avenues of life. The latest is to aide you in the art of scrapbooking. Visit EnVision Opportunity today and listen to more great information on Scrapbook Adhesive .

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Casey_Lee

2006-10-09T04:39:00.000-07:00

Craft And Hobby Woods - Basswood - Balsa Wood and Others
By Paul Wonning

Many hobbies involve building, carving, or wood burning which require speciality woods. These hobby and craft woods are available for just about any purpose. Hobbyists may choose from balsa, basswood, plywood, walnut, cherry, maple, among others for their project needs. Sheets or strips of these fine woods are available in thicknesses from 1/32 " to one inch, and in widths from 1/16 through six inches. You may purchase either sheets or strips.

Balsa is the most versatile of the hobby woods. Native to South America, these sixty foot trees are grown on large plantations. The wood is lightweight and strong. South Americans have been using balsa for boat and raft building since antiquity. Anyone who can recall Thor Heyerdahl's Kon Tiki adventures will know of his successful attempt to reach the Polynesian Islands from South America on a balsa raft.

Balsa's fine grain combined with its strength and light weight have made it valuable for a great number of uses. Its heat retention ability has made it useful for insulating refrigerator and ship holds. It is used in aircraft to reduce vibration. Surfboards and life preservers have also been manufactured from balsa wood.

Crafters and hobbyists will find balsa very easy to cut and carve, making it ideal for a multitude of projects. It can also be painted or stained any color the hobbyist desires. Its greatest value for hobbyists is undoubtedly in the construction of model airplanes. Free flight , control line, and radio control aircraft are all made primarily from balsa wood. Other uses for this versatile wood include model boat building and dollhouse construction, as well as many other craft projects. Model railroaders can use balsa for scratch-building houses and other structures, bridges, and structural support for scenery.

Basswood, or linden, is another wood crafters and hobbyists find very useful. This North American wood is grown primarily in northern Michigan and Wisconsin. Heavier than balsa, it shares many of it's characteristics - close-grained, strong, and lightweight. Basswood's hobby uses mirror those of balsa, but its heavier weight limits its use in building model airplanes. Because it carves easily, it is the premier choice for both beginning and advanced woodcarvers. Novice wood burners will also find basswood friendly, as it burns well. Like balsa, it is available in strips and sheets. Additionally, specialty shapes for dollhouse building include molding, siding, and roof shingles.

Special project needs may require the use of hobby plywood. This extremely high quality plywood ranges in thickness from paper thin 1/32 of an inch to 1/4 inch. Birch is the wood used, so it can take any stain desired. It is very durable and suitable for many uses.

Other woods are available for specialized hobby projects, including walnut, maple, cherry, and mahogany. Twenty four inch lengths include both strips and sheets. The maximum width for sheets is four inches.

Basswood and balsa are the most commonly available hobby/craft woods. Other types may need to be special ordered from your local craft or hobby shop. Check out the selection today for all your project needs.

Paul Wonning is the owner of
Toys, Hobbies and Crafts.com a web site which has information about many hobbies and crafts.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paul_Wonning

2006-09-12T04:41:00.000-07:00

Rainy Day Crafts for Kids
By Michael Russell

Bad weather days can keep your kids indoors, but television isn't the only answer to inactivity. Simple and fun craft projects that can be done with items you probably have around the house can easily become a fun family activity!

Edible Jewelry. This is a very creative and fun way to play with your food! You will need shoe string licorice (not the rope style, as the licorice will be the string) and goodies that have some sort of hole in them. Example would be: Cheerios, pretzels, gummy lifesavers, mini donuts and dried apple rings. String the items along the licorice 'thread' and tie the two ends together. You can make necklaces and bracelets!

Edible play dough. If you have young ones who tend to eat their play dough - this is a nice alternative. Mix together one half cup of honey, one half cup of smooth peanut butter and one cup of dried milk powder. Mix until you have the dough consistency you like, adding more powdered milk if it feels sticky. If you like, you can work in a few drops of food coloring at this stage. Then let the kids play with and eat it! This is meant for a single use, don't store this longer than one day.

Sponge stamps. For this, all you need is any type of sponges you can find. The more different the textures of sponges, the more fun the designs are. Just cut the sponges into different shapes with scissors. The kids can dip the sponge pieces into paint and create their own works of art. For more creativity, try gluing the sponge pieces onto a 3 inch paint roller.

Maracas. For home made maracas, all you need are paper plates, dried beans and tape. Give each child two paper plates. Have them color and decorate the bottom of the plates any way they wish. Fill one plate with about ¼ cup of dried beans, place the other plate on top, face down and tape together - making sure you seal all the way around. The hollow area creates the space for the beans to shake around and make noise!

Homemade clay. There are lots of recipes out there for homemade clay, this one is very easy, if a little messy! You will need, flour, 12 day old slices white bread (with the crusts removed), ¾ cup of white glue, food coloring. Tear the bread into chunks and put in bowl, add the glue and mix really well with your hand until it becomes a unified mass. Turn out onto a floured board and need until the clay is no longer sticky. You may need to add tiny bits of flour as you go. To color the clay, pull off a chunk and add a drop or two of food coloring. Knead well to incorporate the color. Let the kids form whatever designs they like, then air dry the pieces. It will take a day or two depending on how big the pieces are. Paint the dried clay designs if you like. Clean up with soap and water.

Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Crafts

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell

2006-09-12T04:39:00.000-07:00

Crafts - Drying Flowers
By Michael Russell

Drying flowers is a way to keep memories of an event or place for a long time. Whether they are flowers from a bridal bouquet, or from your garden, drying flowers is easy to do. When harvesting your flowers for drying, the best time is in the morning before the sun has had a chance to make the flowers warm. Cut a good length of stem with the flowers, as you can always remove whatever you don't need. The method of drying that you use will depend on the type of flower and craft project you will be doing. Air drying works well with sturdier flowers such as statice, marigolds, strawflowers and decorative seed pods. The sturdier the flower head, the better they air dry. Separate the flowers into groups of 8 or 10 stems. Remove any diseased leaves that you see on the stems. Bundle a group of stems together and use a rubber band at the end of the stems to hold them together. Make sure that the rubber band is very tight. As the flowers dry, the stems will shrink and the rubber band will shrink with them. You also want to make sure the stems are long enough so that the tops of the flowers aren't smashed together when the stems are rubber banded. Now you just need to hang the flowers upside down. You can use paper clips, string, wire hangers (unraveled) or florist wire. Connect the hanger to the rubber band and hang in a dry place away from direct sunlight. Depending on the flower it will take two weeks or so for them to be completely dry.

You can also use silica gel to dry your flowers. (Silica gel is the stuff that you find in your shoe box in little packets). It removes moisture from flowers without crushing them. This works great for very delicate flowers such as hydrangea, roses, carnations and asters. You can purchase silica gel at any craft store. All you need is an airtight box (preferably plastic) and silica gel. Lay a bed of gel in the bottom of the container. Place your flowers on top of this bed and gently sprinkle the silica gel on the flowers until they are covered. Using a spoon works best for this to get the gel into the crevasses without crushing the blooms. Cover the box and wait 48 hours. That's it! Silica gel works very fast and the flowers hold their color. The great thing about silica gel is that it can be reused. You just need to place the silica gel onto a baking sheet in your oven at 200 degrees to dry it back out again.

For the most natural appearance of dried flowers, try glycerine. This is really preserving and not drying, but the results are wonderful. The foliage on the stems will stay a bright green and the flowers will be a bit sturdier. Prepare the stems by removing any bottom leaves. You may want to thread a piece of florist wire into the flower head to keep it from drooping, or tie the stem to some type of support, like a skewer. Mix together one part of liquid glycerine to 1 part of warm water for fresh flowers and one part glycerine to two parts of water for woody stems. Submerge the stem end only into this mixture. This process can take 2 to three weeks, replace any absorbed solution. Once preserved, remove and rinse the stems, then wipe off any mixture that might have seeped out of leaves.

There you go - three different ways to dry your flowers. Try all three methods and mix the resulting flowers into your craft projects for a multi depth arrangement!

Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Crafts

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell

2006-08-25T04:35:00.000-07:00

Recycle Treasures From Trash for a Kid Craft Activity
By Nancy Johnson

Years ago I was invited to teach a workshop to recreational leaders on ideas for a kid craft activity. I chose to share how they could use items around the house to create low-cost kid arts and crafts. Recognizing how many budgets are limited, Treasures from Trash was created.

Enlist the children in saving items to contribute to your fun arts and crafts projects. This is a great opportunity to incorporate the importance of recycling and saving our landfills. Listed are some ideas of recyclable items to save, but look around and see if there are other items that can be used to create your own Treasures from Trash. Use your imagination and think “outside the box”!

These recyclable items make great arts and crafts projects. Make sure to check the items so that they are clean and safe for the children to use.

Egg cartons
Paper rolls
Berry baskets
Baby food jars
Plastic soda bottles
Tuna cans (no sharp edges)
Greeting cards and old calendars
Six-pack plastic rings
Paper grocery bags
Magazines (child appropriate)
Coffee and drink cans
Oatmeal containers
Newspaper
Assorted sized cardboard boxes
Clean socks (The ones not lost in the dryer!)

Some kid craft activity ideas include puppets, box sculptures, science projects, collages and homemade gifts. Puppets can be made from all sizes of bags, socks and boxes. Create a marionette with a shoebox and imagination! Many science projects such as making a tornado, rain or terrarium call for a plastic soda bottle. Use berry baskets to decorate for Mother’s Day, Grandparents Day or Easter gifts.

Making a collage is an inexpensive art project when using a lot of the items listed above. Put out old greeting cards, calendars, magazines, postcards, and paper scraps for the kids to create a unique collage. Save leftover craft supplies such as buttons, ribbon, lace, fabric scraps, and beads to be used on the collage.

I hope this is a beginning of you creating your own Treasures from Trash projects. If you run out of ideas, just put the recycled items out and let the children create! They can be very resourceful and imaginative.

As a mother, grandmother, and child development professional, Nancy Johnson, shares over 20 years experience working with children and planning activities on her website, Creative-Child-Activity-Notebook.com. Check it out for more school age child activity ideas including summer, holiday, party, nature, and child learning activity ideas.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nancy_Johnson

2006-08-25T04:33:00.000-07:00

Fun Kid Fall Activity Ideas Using Apples
By Nancy Johnson

Fall is the season for apples. Fun kid fall activity ideas include apple arts and crafts, games, and yummy cooking projects. September 26 is Johnny Appleseed’s birthday, so plan a party with apples as the theme.

Make a pretty apple garland with dried apple slices. Slice apples into 1/8” thick across the core. Soak in lemon juice and salt (1 ½ tablespoon salt per 1 cup of lemon juice) for 20 minutes. The lemon juice and salt preserves the apple slices and keeps them from turning brown. Pat the slices dry and lay on a baking pan. Sprinkle with cinnamon and ground cloves, and bake at 150 degrees for about 6 hours or until they look and feel leathery.

Have kids gather pretty fall leaves to add to the fall garland. Make a small hole through the center of the apple slices and leaves. Cut fall ribbon or fabric into 1” x 6” pieces. You will need lots of apple slices, leaves, and ribbon pieces for a long garland. To string the garland, thread an apple slice and several leaves onto jute string, and tie a ribbon bow onto the string. Repeat this pattern until the garland is the desired length. Tie autumn colored ribbon on each end to secure. Kids can take turns working on this fall craft activity until it is long enough to hang in the classroom or at home.

Kid friendly cooking recipes include making caramel apples slices and homemade applesauce. Melt about 25 caramel pieces with one tablespoon of water over low-heat. Core apples and slice to about 1” thick. Toss slices in melted caramel and roll in chopped peanuts. Cool the caramel apple slices on wax paper.

Homemade applesauce cooking smells wonderful. Peel, core and quarter 4 medium apples and place in pot. Add one cup of water to apples and bring to a boil. Turn to simmer and cook for 5 to 10 minutes or until apples are tender. Add ½ cup brown sugar, ¼ teaspoon cinnamon, 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg, and 1 tablespoon of butter and heat thoroughly. Mash the apples with a potato masher and cool.

Play apple games such as the popular bobbing for apples in a large bucket of water, or try biting into an apple tied to a string. How about having a relay race by pushing an apple to the finish line with your nose? Don’t forget there is always the Apple for the Teacher!

As a mother, grandmother, and child development professional, Nancy Johnson, shares over 20 years experience working with children and planning activities on her website, Creative-Child-Activity-Notebook.com. Check it out for more school age child activity ideas including party, holiday, learning, nature, and child fall activity ideas.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nancy_Johnson

2006-08-19T16:05:00.000-07:00

Arts And Crafts Ideas
By Kent Pinkerton

Arts and crafts is a world full of ideas that one can pursue and learn about. With arts and crafts, one can effectively use the trash of our house and convert it into good-looking, useful stuff. The knowledge of even the most basic skills of this craft is easy to learn.

Arts and crafts is a broad term that encloses a whole range of ideas to pursue. For kids, arts and crafts is about ideas. It is simply a way for them to get involved in developmental pursuits. They can learn to make a large variety of useful stuff and interesting toys through this art. They can learn to make paper toys, collage, pine cone bird feeders and more. They can also learn the basics of sewing and needlepoint, which they can then use to create colorful and designed knitted products. This is sure to give them joy and a sense of achievement. They can knit colorful pillows, bedsheets with their names, and more once they learn the basic tricks of this trade. They can also learn spray painting, drawing, candle making, and more, thus decorating their rooms with various colorful pots and designer candles. Even the arts of painting and making wall hangings can be pursued.

Not only is it fun to learn arts and crafts, but the freedom to create as one desires helps one to gain a variety of skills beneficial to mental development and advancement at any age. Plus, you might end up with a plethora of usable items for your home.

Arts And Crafts provides detailed information on Arts And Crafts, Kid Arts And Crafts, Arts And Crafts Stores, Arts And Crafts Ideas and more. Arts And Crafts is affiliated with Paper Dolls.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kent_Pinkerton

2006-08-19T16:04:00.000-07:00

Hand Puppets
By Kristy Annely

A hand puppet is a type of puppet that is controlled by a hand placed inside it. The puppeteer has his hand over the puppet’s head and controls the movement of the mouth and the head with other parts of the body hanging over the forearm. Other parts of the body can be operated by using the other hand, strings or rods, or more elaborate puppets may have mechanical apparatus with a remote control. Hand puppets can made simple items found at home such as an old sock, juice container or a paper bag, to more complicated items such manufactured with plastics and fabric coverings.

Creating simple hand puppets are usually part of children’s art and crafts class. Simple household items are used to create the puppets. Socks, juice containers, or small paper bags can be used as the body of the puppets. The eyes can either be drawn in with a marker pen or using paper cut outs. Additional designs could include the lips, the hair, design of the shirt, and others. A kid would usually design a puppet based on prominent character from a cartoon or TV show.

Puppets have been a great way to portray stories with moral lessons through puppet shows. Churches have long been using puppets to evangelize to both kids and adults alike. In fact, there are several puppet manufacturers who specialize in creating puppets based on biblical characters for evangelic meetings, outreach programs and Sunday schools. The puppets would have different skin tones, facial features, hair styles and costumes and props to depict one character from the other.

A beautiful puppet needs to be accompanied by a lively and creative puppeteer. The bright colors and costumes of the puppet may captivate the audience visually, but combined with a master puppeteer, it can become a complete entertainment experience.

Puppets provides detailed information on Puppets, Puppet Masters, Hand Puppets, Marionette Puppets and more. Puppets is affiliated with Jigsaw Puzzles.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kristy_Annely

2006-08-12T14:52:00.000-07:00

5 Best Reasons To Knit!
By Alice Seidel

It's early August, and I can almost hear sleigh bells. Can't you? Don't look now, but summer is on the wane! Without even knowing it, the days are growing shorter, already! Cool breezes are blowing and some foliage is actually going away.

But wait! There is a solution....instead of getting depressed, you need to do something. Like take up a hobby.

I can't think of anything better than learning to knit!

I don't care about all those other crafts and DIY projects; learn knitting and you can kiss those paintballs goodbye!

If you don't believe me, then let me give you *5* good reasons why:

#1 You can feel just like a knitting apprentice! After all, in centuries past an apprentice was someone learning a craft, and if you are new to knitting, then you're an apprentice! Even the Donald couldn't argue with that!

With knitting, there is a TON of information, and no matter how often you knit, or how much you think you know, there is always something new.

And that's good, because you never want to run out of ideas.

#2 Years ago there was a TV commercial for "Shake N Bake", which featured a little girl in the kitchen with Mom, and all she said was "Shake n Bake...and I helped".

Now, I know that has nothing to do with knitting. However, the best part of that, is when a friend asks you where you bought your pretty little purse, or new scarf, you can say, "I knitted it myself."

Old commercial, same premise. Take it from me, when you knit-it-yourself, it feels good!

#3 The Four Seasons. Knitting is strictly non-committal. It doesn't care what month it is or what holiday is approaching, there is always something fun to knit.

Halloween, autumn, Independence Day, Valentine's Day, graduations, weddings, take-your-dog-to-work-day, christenings, Christmas, you name the day, and there is a knitting pattern out there for it!

Your knitting creations are always one-of-a-kind, not to be seen in any store or mall. So, when you're knitting that Christmas stocking on the train home from work, you never know who you will be inspiring next.

#4 Unless you have been living under a rock or way out past left field, you know how expensive gasoline is getting! Daily, the price goes higher.

So, instead of getting in your gas-guzzling vehicle, and cruising around town, to no avail, take up knitting. Get a neighborhood group together, or start a club in your dorm or condo.

Buy some cheapy yarn, and needles, and download my ebook, "Ready Or Knit, Here I Come!" from www.TheKnitStitch.com and you will be amazed at the fun to be had!

#5 Knitting is good for you! We all live very stressful lives.

If it's not one thing, it's the other; and every-day life can be tough. Sometimes a bubble bath, or mood music just doesn't cut it.

Knitting can help. The mere click of the needles is soothing music.

Knitting one row, then another, creating stitches, patterns, projects, and seeing it all come together makes for satisfaction indeed.

It doesn't all happen at once. Many projects take weeks, and months to complete, if you want to do them right.

But, that's the essence of knitting.

Working with your hands, you are creating something right from the first stitch. You watch it come to life as you go, and little by little, your knitting becomes reality.

Exercise is great, yet, doing something for your soul, is just as important.

So, if you want to slow down, and find meaning in your life again, try knitting.

So, there you have it, 5 best reason to knit!

But, don't take my word for it, try it for yourself!

Copyright 2006 Alice Seidel

Keep YOUR knitting on the "Cutting Edge" with FREE patterns. The place where smart knitters gather resources and share stories.

FREE Details ==>[http://www.theknitstitch.com]

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alice_Seidel

2006-08-12T14:50:00.000-07:00

Making Money through Creative Beading
By Ed Whit

Not everyone can be a good bead crafter, but if you have a special talent for creative beading, you may be able to turn your talent into a lucrative profession. One way to know if you can make money this way is to listen to what other people are saying about your beading crafts, whether you do jewelry or other beading projects. Don’t just listen to what people say when you give them your beading projects as gifts; they aren’t going to be as honest as you would like. Instead, try to display your beading work in places where a lot of different people will see them, and try to eavesdrop on the conversations that they have about your work.

People love creative beading, and most people can spot good work when they see it. Whether you are making costume jewelry or adding beading to clothing, you are going to be able to make a good living from it if you find that people keep coming back to purchase your particular designs. Once you establish yourself as a bead crafter who does good quality work, you may want to make up some business cards for yourself and pass them around. Try to set up a booth at craft fairs as often as possible, and hand out your business cards to people who buy your products. Be sure to include your phone number and email address, and let people know that you are willing to do custom work. Your creative beading talent could very well provide you with a good full time income.

You can find this article and more like it at http://www.beadingcentral.info

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ed_Whit