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Drawing Designs for Custom T Shirts

If you like to display your own artistic work, you can do it on custom T shirts. First, though, you will need to draw the designs. You can do this by freehand, but there are certain things you should remember about drawing for shirts.

1. A design that looks good on a piece of art paper might not show up well on the shirt. If your design has too many small lines or dots, it might not show up well. The easiest way to be sure is to scan your drawing in to the computer and blow it up to the size it will be on the T shirt. Stand back from it and see if it looks the way you want it to look.

2. When you make black and white designs, the white might be the color of the shirt. Custom T shirts are often made so that the white on the image is considered a background and is not printed. Therefore, anything you leave white will be the color of the T shirt itself. To make things perfectly clear, specify if you want something done in white.

3. Before you make a colored drawing, find out how many colors the T shirt company can do for you. If may only be possible to do one or two colors effectively on a shirt design. It is great to make colorful works of art, but be aware that they are not always easy to translate into custom T shirt prints.

4. You do not have to draw the lettering if you choose not to do so. Some T shirt designs you might draw would have a caption as a part of the design. If you want the caption to appeal to your own artistic ideas, you might like to draw the caption yourself. However, if you want the caption to be clear and legible, it might be better to simply draw the picture portion of the design and use the shirt company’s design tool to add the text.

5. Simple designs are often the most striking. When you draw an elaborate design, the person who views the custom T shirts on which it is printed might be confused. If you draw a plain design with crisp, clear lines the response will always be immediate. Your audience might love your work or they might not like it at all. A straightforward design is more likely to carry a stronger emotional impact.

6. When you have completed your work of art, you will need to prepare it for printing. If it is a pen and ink drawing, you will need to make sure the ink is dry before you start to work with it further. When the artwork is ready, you can bring it into your shirt company. For an online store, scan it into your computer to upload it into their design tool.

You can display your artwork proudly on custom T shirts if you take the time to design them carefully. The computer has not rendered drawing a lost art; far from it. It has made it simple for artists to share their work with the world.

Ron Subs works with Sonic Shack as a public relations consultant, more information about Sonic Shack can be found at www.sonicshack.com

Instructions for Making Matchbox Prayer Boxes

Go through your craft supply collection and bring out the glue, rhinestones, glitter, acrylic or tempera paint, magic markers and bits of shell, glass, feathers, beads or other fun stuff. If you happen to have any photos or reproductions of religious figures, or icons these are nice too, use ones that have meaning to your and your religious or spiritual beliefs.

Begin by covering the boxes with color, use your paints or markers. When the boxes are dry on the outside, pull the little inside drawer out and cover it with color as well. The finished product will be seen half open, so the plan your colors accordingly. Don’t be afraid to splash on some vivid colors! Let the boxes dry completely before continuing.

Glue a photo of a religious figure or icon on the top of the match box. Cut the photo smaller than the box top so there is a frame of color around it when you glue it in place. You can, of course, glue photos on both sides of the box if you like. Let the box dry.

Now have fun and get crazy with the glue and shiny stuff. Glue squiggles of glitter on the box sides, or rows of rhinestones around the photo frame. Add any textural objects like feathers, shells, bits of glass. If you like, you can go back and paint designs on your base colors, spots and stripes in contrasting colors look nice. You can also add texture and glitter to the inside of the box, just don’t glue the little drawer shut! The finished product is supposed to be vivid, bright and shiny!

When you are done decorating your little prayer box, get out some nice textured paper and cut a small strip to go in each of your boxes. Using marker or ink, print or write a prayer to go inside each box. If St. Christopher is on the box, the prayer might be for a traveling friend. Is Buddha on your box? Maybe the prayer is one to help still the mind for a friend who meditates. If you like you can add small mementos in side the box along with the prayer.

Personally I added small religious medals that the recipients could wear if they wanted to. Hope this helps point you in the right direction if some day you choose to make your own match box prayer box.

Chris Jensen is a contributing Author of Jetfly Blog. For more related articles and reviews visit Jetfly Arts & Crafts Blog now. Also, for the Best up-to-date related Online Products, check out Jetfly Home Arts & Crafts Shop for Todays Current Online Deals.

Discover the Wonders of Glass Beads

Beads can be made of various materials like seeds, wood and plastic. But glass beads are the best ones from the aspect of looks as well as durability. Glass as a material is transparent and this is the reason you can add pulsating colors and textures to these glass beads. There are various types of glass beads like handmade dichroic glass beads, Czech glass beads etc.

The usage of glass beads is very common in making of lampshades, jewellery, bead embroidery and many more. The glass beads come in different shapes, which include round, oval, and shapes like various figures like fishes and birds. The textures that can be added to the glass beads are like druk glass and many more. The glass beads are comparatively expensive than the general ones.

Types of Glass Beads

The glass beads are categorized in various types according to the shape and designs. The beads that are perfect round in shape and often come with an optically polished finish are called the druk glass beads. The colourful beads with innovative twisted and figurative shapes are the glass beads made for lamp work.

Incandescent beads which are available in a whole host of contours. The Czech glass beads are the ones with pearl finish and vibrant colours. The glass beads are made from molten glass and different additives are used to bring the exquisite colours and textures.

Glass Beads and Jewellery Making

There are variety of designs and patterns available in glass bead jewellery. You can buy them from the stores or the professional jewellery designers or even make them on your own. Commonly bracelets, necklaces, earrings and other jewellery can be made with glass beads. As this jewellery can be made with a variety of colours and textures, they can be matched with the dresses quite easily.

There are many people who prefer their rosaries to be made of glass beads. A traditional rosary with 59 beads or a bracelet with 11 glass beads can look simply great. The process of making jewellery with glass beads is quite easy and takes very little time. You will just need a needle, some wire and few multicoloured glass beads to make an outstanding piece of jewellery.

Other Usage of Glass Beads

There are many people who like to decorate their designer tops with colorful glass beads. These beads can be used to make excellent patchworks and embroidery on women’s garments using the technique of normal bead embroidery. Then there are lamp workers who include the glass beads to create a dreamy effect in the lampshades.

Apart from the conventional usage you can use the beautiful glass beads in making handbags, stylish hair bands and many more with the bit of imagination in you.

April Kerr owns website Glass Art Selection which has details of where to buy glass art supplies including glass mosaic tiles and glass cutters.

Model Car Assembly Tips For Young Children

You have all seen the cute little model cars out there for small kids, right? You know, the wooden ones that have just a few moving parts and that usually come unpainted and ready to be assembled. Well, if you are looking for a rainy day activity that you can enjoy with your youngsters, then this may just be the one for you.

If you decide that this is just right for you and your children, then you will want to run a few errands and make sure that you have the right materials before you get started. You will need a drop cloth, garbage bag, or an old sheet to cover the table at which you will be working. You will also need some fat-handled paint brushes that will be easy for little hands to hold and use. The next thing you will want to get will be some non toxic water based acrylic paints. Water based acrylics wash out with very little work and so will come out of any clothes that they may just happen to get on.

Another way to prevent stains is to cruise through the kitchen center of your favorite local store and pick up some cheap aprons for the kids to wear. If you are feeling particularly crafty then you can paint each of their names at the top of the apron bib. If they are too long, then you can cut them shorter so that the children will not trip over their feet while they are trying to paint. Once you get everything together, you will be ready to start working on the project.

Divide the parts of the car by the number of children that will be working on each one. For example, if you have four or more children you should consider buying two or more kits so that each child will feel like they have a significant hand in the painting and assembly process. Have each child work on similar parts so that no one feels like the other is getting to do more than they are. It is also easiest to work with one color at a time. That way you do not have a huge mess to clean up as well.

Have the children paint the wheels first then the parts of the car body itself. Then make sure that you set them aside so that they have time to dry. Have some craft paper set aside so that the children can do some extra painting while they are waiting for the model car parts to dry. That way they will not get easily bored.

Once the parts are dry, you are ready to begin assembly. Involve the children by asking them to hand you particular parts such as “please hand me the wheels, the body, etc.”

Assembly the car according to the manufacturer’s directions making sure to follow them precisely. This will ensure that your children’s cars turn out the way they should. Also, if you get each child a car then you will be much less likely to have to mediate between them when arguments arise as to which car belongs to which child. Activities such as this can be a lot of fun on rainy days in which you can involve your children.

Victor Epand is an expert consultant for model cars, model trains, and model trucks. You will find excellent hobbying and trading resources here for scale model cars, model trains, and model trucks.

How to Get Free Wall Stencils You Can Download?

If you are creative enough, you can even create your own original art. There are a lot of art and home-decorating stores that sell beautiful stencils ready-made. These vary in price from a few dollars to several dollars. But why not save the money and gas?

There are online sites where you can download free wall stencils on your printer, that are just as beautiful as the store-bought ones. And you are not limited by the selection in one or two stores; you can search several sites to find the wall stencil you like, without ever leaving home!

First, you must get acetate sheets to print the stencils on. They can be printed on paper, but you have to be very careful when you stencil with delicate paper. Acetate sheets are easy to find; they are just sheets of thin plastic. You can find them at any craft store. But, if you don’t have a craft store near you, go to the nearest stationery, chain drug-store, or office-supply store, like Staples or Office Depot, and buy “transparencies”, which are just acetate sheets.

Very important: make sure you buy the acetate or transparencies for the type of printer you have laser or ink-jet, it should say on the package. If you get the wrong kind for your printer, it can fail to print or, more importantly, the sheet can get jammed in the printer, damaging your printer! When you print the stencil on the acetate, an Exacto or craft knife is best to cut out the pattern. Here are some great websites for downloading and printing free wall stencils:

Free Stencils - “Spraypaintstencils”

Not only does this site offer hundreds of stencils in 34 different categories: animals, flowers people, zodiac signs, and letter fonts, to name a few, but there are also tutorials on making your own custom stencils. This is an excellent place to start for wall stencils.

Free Stencils - “Free-stencilingpatterns”

Lots of unusual free wall stencils to print out. In order to get to the free patterns, you go to this page and give your first name and email address to be directed to the free wall stencil patterns.

More Sites for Free Downloadable Wall Stencils:

About’s painting guide - “Painting.about”

Buckingham Stencils - “Buckinghamstencils”

Warning: Wall stenciling can be addictive. If you lose control, you’ll start stenciling everything from furniture to clothing, to cloth napkins, all of which are possible and gorgeous with the right paints.

Chris Jensen is a contributing Author of Jetfly Blog. For more related articles and reviews visit Jetfly Arts & Crafts Blog now. Also, for the Best up-to-date related Online Products, check out Jetfly Art Supplies Shop for Todays Current Online Deals.

How to Choose an Easel

Are you an aspiring artist or you are a seasoned one? In both the cases you need an easel, which is a good quality one as this can make a lot of difference in your painting. As an artist you can compromise on any of the ingredients but cannot get an easel that is not up to the mark.

There are various art easels, which are available in the market, but you need to know the right features that are must-haves for an easel. In fact if the easel is good enough then they will help you to take the correct posture while painting on it.

Types of Easels

There are different types of easels available for different artistic requirement. You need to use a particular type of easel for making sketches and a different one for making the large oil paintings. The display and the sketch easels are comparatively less costly as they are smaller in size.

But the easels, which are large enough to stand on the floor, come at a higher price range. The beginners should be happy with the easels that are reasonably sized to stand on the tables. The easels are very important for an artist as they help you to keep your painting at the correct position and they also keep away the dust that often have a tendency to spoil the paintings.

There are easels that come with additional storage boxes where you can keep the paints and brushes that you need frequently. Then the lightweight easels are there which are portable and easy to carry. In fact they are just the perfect ones if you would like to take them outdoor.

There are other few facts that you need to consider seriously if at all you are looking forward to purchasing the right option for yourself. Now you can buy easels, which are assembled, and the other option is to buy them, which are known as knocked-down ones. The assembled easels are more like a piece of furniture for which you need to find out a particular corner within the room.

All the parts of these easels are joined in affixed manner and you can by no means dismantle them for your convenience. They look quite good as the wood with which it is made of is polished with oil and often these easels look like a decorative piece with your painting placed on it.

They are so durable that your forthcoming generation can also use them. The other type is the ones, which can be divided into parts and ideal for those who have a space problem. While buying an easel you need to make sure that it holds the right position responsible for the right posture and easy to view.

April Kerr owns website Artist Easel Depot which has details of where to buy artist easels including cheap art studio easels and used portable easels.

Things to Do With Paper Cutters

There are many projects and uses for paper cutters in schools, at home and at the office. As well, there are many different types of paper cutters on the market; there are manual, electric and hydraulic paper cutters, guillotine cutters, business card cutters, rotary trimmers and stack cutters. Those are just a few of the different types of paper cutters available, but more than likely, you will normally choose the cutter that best suits your project. So, what can you do with paper cutters? There are some ideas listed below, for starters, and then you can decide what type of cutter you will need.

General office papers can be cut with paper cutters whether you need to cut one sheet or 700. Most of the daily cutting tasks in the office can be done with a guillotine paper cutter much like the ones found in schools. If your office is accustomed to cutting high volumes of paper at a time, a better bet would be to buy a stack cutter. These types of cutters allow more sheets of paper to be cut at one time.

Business cards can be made with hand-held cutters or tabletop guillotine cutters, however, they even have a specific type of business card cutter available for you to purchase. These cutters can cut a page of laser printed cards into many individual business cards in just a small amount of time. This could potentially save your company a lot of money, time and effort in the long run.

Make employee badges for all of your workers by using a paper cutter. A good guillotine paper cutter will do this job easily for you. Your badges will be cut with clean edges ready to laminate and hand out. If you have already printed several on a single sheet of paper and laminated them, you can still use a guillotine cutter to cut them into individual badges.

Photographs and memorabilia to use in photo albums is a good use for paper cutters. Making pictures fit into your album will require accurate dimensions so that the edges aren’t overlapping or too long for the page. Choose a paper cutter with an attached ruler in order to get a precise measurement and size that fits perfectly.

Scrapbooking can be another project where you will need the aid of paper cutters. The craft store sells many different forms of paper cutters to be used in scrapbooking like straight, curvy and zigzag styles. You should first decide on a design plan for your pages and then get the paper cutters necessary to achieve the look.

Paper cutters can also be used when making sale advertisements and advertising flyers for your business or store. The size and shape of your signs or flyers can be creatively designed with special paper cutters, if you choose. However, the guillotine paper cutter will give your flyers a professional look with clean, crisp edges. Brochures and pamphlets can be crafted with the use of paper cutters, too.

Another thing that you can do with paper cutters is to cut wrapping paper when wrapping gifts at Christmas or other occasions. A manual or battery-operated handheld cutter will work well and is less strenuous than using everyday scissors.

Make your own greeting cards. You can use paper cutters to make your own Christmas or Birthday cards by printing two or more on a sheet of heavy paper or construction-like paper. People love to receive items that are hand-made and personalized because you spent not only money, but your time as well.

An additional item that you may want to use while you are making any of the above projects is a corner rounder. Corner rounders come in sizes from a simple and small craft-style rounder to a higher-capacity industrial corner rounder for larger uses.

Andy West is a writer for iShoppapercutters which offers in extensive line of paper cutters.

The Fun of Creating Alternative Bead Jewelry

A lot of people enjoy designing and creating their own bead jewelry these days because it’s a challenging and rewarding way to create something beautiful and useful at the same time. Most home made jewelry is created with beads bought from an online beading store or craft store, but there are more and more people who are pushing the bounds of jewelry making by using alternative materials to create some amazing jewelry.

Creating jewelry out of objects that are not primarily designed for jewelry making can be physically and mentally challenging. The first step is often figuring out how you’re going to string or mount your items on a string or chain and the next challenge is working out how you’re going to make it both beautiful and wearable at the same time!

Here are some of the many things you can create jewelry from:

Dried Beans and Seeds: Almost everyone has tried to make popcorn strings for a Christmas tree, and the principals behind using beans and seeds at beads is not much different. The key is to pick beans that are durable and dependable. To thread or string beans you’ll probably have to either use a tension mounting system of some sort or drill a hole through them. After that you will probably want to protect your beans or seeds with a spray on sealant to make sure they don’t dry out and fall apart.

Paper Bead Jewelry: This idea dates back from the Victorian times when making beads out of paper was a popular hobby. You can make paper beads by cutting out strips of paper and rolling them around a toothpick or similar small tube and then gluing the end. You may want to seal these as well so they don’t fray and get damaged at the first hint of humidity or moisture. You can experiment with different types of paper, different colors and even different shaped strips of paper when making your beads. Make a bunch and string them together!

Jewelry from a Hardware Store: This is an idea which a lot of people have taken and run with. Metal washers, screws, bolts and other fasteners can sometimes make for some incredible looking beaded jewelry! A visit to a large home improvement store can give you lots of ideas for making jewelry out of hardware items.

These are just some of the many alternative items you can make jewelry from. If you already know how to make your own bead jewelry then you probably already possess the skills and even the tools to make some of your own alternative bead jewelry!

Visit the Bead Jewelry Blog for more examples of bead jewelry made out of alternative materials and to find more jewelry making ideas, news, trends, tutorials and beading business advice.

Hand Embroidery: Some Simple Facts You Should Know

Hand embroidery is an old craft that has been practiced since the ages of your grandma and her mother. This involves motifs and needle works. You can learn this craft easily but it takes a lot of practice and patience to master the art of hand embroidery.
One who is confident about her creativity and artistic sense then she should try out hand embroidery as a hobby or profession. In fact the hand-embroidered stuffs are so popular among the users that they are sold at a high price. This shows that hand embroidery is a pretty good choice to earn the living.

Stitches Used in Hand Embroidery

There are quite a number of simple and complicated stitches, which are used to make different stuffs with hand embroidery. The simple ones are satin stitch, chain stitch and back stitch. The chain stitch can be used to make the flowers and other figures as it gives a round shaped knot-like look to the stitched area.
Satin stitch gives a comparatively fuller look and even look and this is the reason they are used to fill up the figures of the design. Then there are other stitches like Outline or Stem Stitch, Whipped Running Stitch, Crossed Backstitch etc. The stitches that are used for outlining are quite simple and often give a look like a continuous line.

Types of Hand Embroidery

Some of the most popular types of hand embroideries are Cross-stitch, Canvas work, ribbon embroidery, Black work embroidery and Bargello embroidery. In Cross-stitch an x-like design is made with the help of the threads and needles and various interesting floral and other patterns can be made with this particular type of embroidery.

Canvas work can be used with yarns and this can be done on various textures like synthetic material or silk. Ribbon embroidery is all about making the patterns with ribbons, which is probably the most romantic form of hand embroidery. The Black work embroidery is the type where the work is done using the black threads. Bargello is done on the woolen canvas and it involves stitches, which can be horizontal or vertical.

Usage of Hand Embroidery

Hand embroidery is used to prepare various utility items as well as artworks. Generally the hand embroidery is used in the women’s garments and they are priced quite high because of their aesthetic appeal to the users. This technique is used to make covers of upholstery, cushions, pillow covers etc.

You can also get various artworks like wall hangings, paintings and bags where hand embroidery is used for its exceptional beauty. These exquisite designs are made using the simple ingredients like needle, threads and some patterns. But the beauty of the product lies in the skills of person who is doing the hand embroider

April Kerr owns website Start Embroidery which has details of where to buy discount embroidery supplies including the cheapest silk embroidery threads and cheap embroidery machines.

How To Create Your Very Own Cross-Stitch Sampler

A cross-stitch sampler is an example of this beguiling craft that has been around for almost as long as cross-stitch itself. It is a decorative piece of work designed to showcase an eye catching variety of motifs, alphabets, and stitches, thereby displaying the stitcher’s skill and creativity. Samplers are “busy” patterns with their variety of colors and elements that, when well designed, blend seamlessly into a common theme.

However, many cross-stitch lovers may like some aspects of some samplers, but they really cannot find one that fits with what they want to do. If you are one of those people, then you might wish to consider making your own cross-stitch sampler. While the task may sound daunting, it’s nowhere near as difficult as it sounds.

Use Pre-Made Samplers
The easiest way to make a sampler your own is to use a pre-designed sampler and just change a couple of elements, such as the colors; whereby you can substitute your own colors for those listed in the pattern. You may also be able to change some wording or small design features.

However, if your need is in the design elements, you can actually use a combination of pre-designed samplers. Do some shopping on the internet and in your local craft store. You can take some of the best aspects of the designs to put them into your own sampler. You can accomplish this task in a variety of ways.

In order to compile your own designs, you can photocopy patterns and then cut and paste them onto a piece of paper, coming up with an accurate count for your pattern. You might need to fill in some blank spaces and make some adjustments. You can also take a piece of graph paper and copy down each design where you want it to create your own set of elements in your cross stitch pattern.

Create Your Own From Scratch
While using other elements in the cross-stitch pattern is one way to go, you can also create your own from scratch. You may decide that you want to draw your own sampler. If you are new to cross-stitch samplers, you might need to do some research first to see how other designers have incorporated elements that you are considering using in your own sampler. One way to get started is to use some graph paper and colored pencils to build your sampler that shows off your own skill and creativity. If you want to become even more advanced in designing your own cross-stitch samplers, you can also purchase programs that allows you to create them using your computer.

Using Computer Programs
Some cross-stitchers want elements of their samplers to come from photos or images that they have sitting around. In the past it would have been challenging to convert those photos to cross-stitch patterns. Today however there are several good software programs available that even match up the colors you are considering with name brands of floss. This makes the process much easier, and does not require the effort of going to the craft store to find your colors. Also, you can size your sampler to fit your needs by seeing how large or small your sampler will be using different cross-stitch fabrics.

These same computer programs that allow you to create cross-stitch patterns also allow you to convert scanned photos and images to patterns you can use in your samplers. However, remember that a sampler is just that: a sampler. You need to show off a little bit of everything you can do, so keep those images a small part of the big picture.

By following the advice given above you’ll soon have a beautiful sampler any stitcher would be proud of. A sampler designed to display your very own creative skills and cross stitch talents.

John Wigham has been a professional author and editor for 20 years and is a co-founder of Patterns Patch an online cross stitch club dedicated to counted cross stitch. The website has a small team of writers who are devoted to our cross stitch club and enjoy writing about their hobby.

Model Railroading Is Railroading On A Bench Top

The hobby of model railroading has been around for almost 100 years. Every Christmas, no matter where in the country we live, Santa would bring a train set and tracks, and it would run round and round the Christmas Tree.

Then, as soon as the Christmas tree would be taken down, the train set was stowed away in its packing box. It would sit in the family closet until next Christmas. Many times, another train set would join the older train set. Then, the two train sets would run around the tree. Oh what fun!

Just before World War II, a number of very interesting things happened. First and foremost was the emergence of the Lionel Corporation. About the same time, a man named A.C. Gilbert was launching his own company to be known as American Flyer. Suddenly, toy trains became real.

Lionel modeled a train set in the exact likeness of the New York Central. It sold in 1940 for over $200, a stupendous price in that day for a train set. American Flyer produced a number of very accurate models of both the New York Central and the New Haven railroads, which also sold for a very heavy price tag.

Soon thereafter, a number of authors wrote books showing how to design various track layouts. These showed how to install switches, build railway stations and houses, trees, and model factories. All at once, toy trains were evolving into model railroads. After WW II, model railroading took off and has not stopped since. A new industry and hobby was born.

What made it all happen? I believe it was the emergence of HO Scale as the model size of choice. The very first toy trains were scaled at a half inch to the actual foot. Lionel produced its toy trains at a quarter inch to the actual foot. This was known as O Gauge.

However, it was HO Scale that really launched the hobby. While Lionel and American Flyer produced excellent replicas of the New York Central and other railroads, they were just too big to fit inside a house or apartment.

In June of 1948, Gordon Varney, founder of Varney Model Railroads, issued the second of his “Commemorative Cars”. This was the Hollywood And Western. The H&W was a refrigerator car from the famous pioneering model railroad layout belonging to Jim Trout, Sam Raymond, and Dick Sutphen. Varney came up with the name and made the sides for the reefer car when he visited the layout at Trout’s home prior to World War II. At the end of the war, Varney decided there was a market for private owner car sides, and began producing HO scale refrigerator cars with Hollywood and Western markings. This car kit, along with the Firewater & Kicking Horse boxcar (Heritage Collection Issue No. 8), were the first recorded mass-produced private owner cars ever made available to the public in HO scale.

Varney soon had very good competition. In the late 1940s, the Athearn Corporation entered the HO Scale market. Athearn is an American manufacturer of model railroad equipment, produced and distributed by American hobby manufacturer Horizon Hobby of Champaign, Illinois, USA.

The story of Athearn really began in 1938, when its founder, Irv Athearn, started an elaborate O-scale layout in his mother’s house. After placing an ad selling the layout and receiving much response to it, Irv decided that selling model railroads would be a good living. He sold train products out of his mother’s house through most of the 1940s.

After becoming a full-time retailer in 1946, Irv Athearn opened a separate facility in Hawthorne, Ca in 1948, In that same year, he branched into HO for the first time.

Irv Athearn died in 1991. New owners took control in 1994, but Irv’s commitment to offer high-quality products at reasonable prices remained. Athearn was bought in 2004 by Horizon Hobby Inc. Athearn was then moved from its facility in Compton to a new state-of-the-art facility in Carson, California.

Another company, Wm. K. Walthers, Inc., is dedicated to manufacturing and distributing high quality model railroad equipment worldwide. Walthers carries over 85,000 different items for model layouts from over three hundred manufacturers. The company supplies model railroading products to thousands of hobby shops around the globe!

Under the leadership of Bruce Walthers, the company became the largest distributor of model railroad products in the world. Mr. Walthers successfully transferred the family business to the third generation in 1984, remaining active as Chairman of the Board of Wm. K. Walthers, Inc. to the present. He was a Board member and served as President of both the Model Railroad Industry Association and the Hobby Industry Association of America (HIAA). On January 28 of this year, Mr. Walthers passed away.

Undoubtedly, thanks to the work of Walthers and other firms, the most popular scale today is HO gauge (or OO gauge in Britain). The name HO came about because the scale is half that of O gauge. Because HO is only half the size of O gauge, this enables four times as much railway to be built in the same space as would be in O gauge. Trains can have twice as many cars as would be practical on an O gauge

HO gauge is still a scale large enough to incorporate a reasonable amount of detail in your layout. Your hobby shop dealer can give you a comparison between all model railroad gauges. The thing that should be uppermost in your mind is your space limitations in your home or apartment.

There is an enormous amount of ready to roll stock available in HO gauge, more so than in any other scale. This makes the construction of a proprietary layout where all of the rolling stock is off the shelf a relatively easy matter. The similarly wide range of kits and scratch building components also makes it suitable for the beginners layout where it is intended to move on to kit building and scratch building as soon as the you feel that you are ready.

This brings up the most endearing feature of model railroading. Because of the wealth of equipment offered by Walthers, Athearn, and other suppliers, you are totally free to model anything you wish. The only limitations are (1) your imagination, (2) your available space where you live, (3) your finances, and (4) an understanding spouse.

HO models offer brass replicas imported from Japan and Korea of some of the greatest steam engines ever built. You can build a model railroad depicting steam, early diesel, or current diesel engines. You can build a model railroad representing railroads that have since gone out of business or else have been acquired via merger.

Some of the most notable but extinct passenger trains like the Empire Builder or New York Central 20th Century Limited are running once again. You can check your model railroad supply catalog to see what’s available.

The other popular scale today is N gauge. It is called N gauge because the track gauge is nine millimeters and N is the first letter of the word “nine” in most countries where N gauge is used.

The advantage of N gauge is that because it is so small, there is room to run long trains. A four-coach passenger train in N gauge may be only slightly longer than an O gauge locomotive. Also with N gauge it is possible to fit it into a reasonable amount of the surrounding countryside and still have enough space for the trains. With N gauge you can achieve the effect of full length trains running through open countryside without requiring an aircraft hanger to house the layout.

The disadvantage of N gauge is that because it is so small, it is very difficult to include many of the minute details available in the larger scales. Even when you find a way to include the small detail you are very likely wasting your effort, because it will be so small that many people will not be aware that it is there (except for you of course).

Therefore the aim with N gauge should be to present the broad picture rather than the smaller details. N gauge can be used for small shunting layouts but does not appear as realistic as can be achieved with a larger scale. N gauge works best with long trains and plenty of open countryside. Thus it (paradoxically) really needs more room than layouts built in the larger scales.

There is a reasonable amount of ready to run stock available in N gauge, especially for those who model American railroads. Kits and scratch building components also exist although constructing models is made more difficult by the smaller size of the models.

Today, almost a half million model railroading enthusiasts are out there. They range in age from their early teens to very gray senior citizens. They flock to model railroading hobby shops located in every town and hamlet. They build model railroads as small as N Gauge to as large as G Scale garden railroads. They model all types of locomotives, cars, buildings, bridges, rivers and waterfalls, factories, coal yards, and everything in between. Their model railroads represent all of the principal rail lines that presently operate to a thousand or more fictitious rail lines that exist only in model form.

Model railroads represent every time era of American and world history. The time spent by these modelers is endless, where the model railroad may get more attention than the newborn baby. The quest for realism is equally endless, where models emit authentic sound effects, go through signaling systems, and even have video cameras mounted in the locomotives to perform a railroad video of the model itself.

I would begin your quest for your greatest model railroad by visiting the local hobby store. Spend a few hours browsing through the various displays and seeing what is out there. Do not be afraid to ask questions because these guys are just as anxious to have you as a new customer as you are to have a model railroad with endless fun. Do a search on the web for all related topics, and above all, subscribe to the leading model railroading publications.

Also, please do not get lost in your basement, and above all, keep the family cat away from your layout.

Bob Carper is a veteran information systems consultant. He holds a BS and an MBA degree. He is an ardent railfan and belongs to the New York Central Historical Society. If you want to get a conference together with fellow railroaders, go to http://www.secure-webconference.citymax.com

10 Good Reasons to Take Up Cross Stitch

There are a numerous reasons for taking up the beguiling, blue-collar craft of cross stitch, ten of which are shown below. So continue reading then pay a visit to your local craft shop and start your cross stitching career today.

1. Why “blue-collar” you might ask? Well! When compared to most other pastimes, cross stitch is truly inexpensive; there’s no fancy or expensive machinery. When you have bought a kit or the thread and fabric for your own design that’s about it for outlay (well, until you buy the next one anyway). Simple kits start from a couple of dollars and you’re guaranteed something at the end of it to show for your efforts.

2. Whatever you produce, be it a tiny picture of a mere few inches in diameter, or a sampler that stretches the length of your wall, you will always have it to keep. You can even hand it down to your children, thereby creating an heirloom.

3. Even beginners can make cross stitch works that look both beautiful and professional. Starter kits don’t need any previous experience and as you develop your skills you can progress to evermore complex patterns. You will never have to scour the shops for that special gift again.

4. Everything you make will be unique and very personal; the perfect gift for every occasion.

5. Cross stitch is great for stress relief and relaxation. Just sit down with your favorite radio program or CD on and stitch away to your heart’s content.

6. Cross stitch is a truly “portable” hobby. You can stitch while sitting in your armchair watching the TV or alternatively you can take it with you on holiday or on long train journeys. Boredom will surely be a thing of the past.

7. The huge number of cross stitch designs available today means that there will always be something you like, regardless of your ability. Simple designs for beginners incorporate a small number of color threads and very basic stitches so that you don’t need to go and read a manual before you make a start. However, as you progress and learn a few more stitches and techniques you can attempt more complex patterns until you really are the professional cross stitcher.

8. There are literally hundreds of websites that offer free patterns to cross stitch. You will have to buy your own threads and fabric but that is half of the challenge! There is absolutely no way on this earth that you will ever run out of things to cross stitch; it really is a hobby for life.

9. As you become more confident and proficient, you can sell some of your creations so making a bit of pocket money while doing something that you love to do. You can even advertise your talents and design patterns for individual customers. Given a few years you could have a nice little business venture as well as a great hobby.

10. Outdoor hobbies such as hill walking and bird watching aren’t much fun in the rain or in the middle of winter, but cross stitch can be done at any time of the year regardless of the weather. In fact it’s a great feeling to sit in a nice warm, cozy house on a dull winter evening and happily stitch the hours away.

Overall, cross stitch really is a universal hobby anyone can master and if your curiosity does get the better of you, you will undoubtedly become hooked in no time. Historically, cross stitching has a rather vague stigma attached to it as being thought of by many as just a “pensioner” activity. But this couldn’t be further from the truth, people of all ages cross stitch, even teenagers and children… and yes men too! … and hey! If you don’t believe me, have a go yourself, you’ll soon find out why cross stitch really is universally popular.

John Wigham has been a professional author and editor for 20 years and is a co-founder of http://www.patternspatch.com an online cross stitch club dedicated to counted cross stitch. The website has a small team of writers who are devoted to our cross stitch club and enjoy writing about their hobby.

How To Make a Cheap and Easy Gift Basket For A Baby

Gift baskets are always popular and a great idea to give as a gift. People love to receive gift baskets. Making your own baby gift basket is cheap and easy. You can fill them with a variety of inexpensive items and you have lots of choices.

You can easily customize each basket to your recipient. In this case the gift basket will be going to the new mom but will contain baby items.

I’ve put together a few great ideas for making newborn baby, baby or older baby gift baskets, complete with instructions on how to make them. You can make inexpensive gift baskets or expensive gift baskets depending on your budget.

You can find many inexpensive items for use in making your gift baskets or filling your gift baskets, at ‘dollar’ stores, craft stores, party stores, discount outlets, flea markets, close-out stores, etc.

For gift containers you can use: any type of basket, wicker basket, straw basket, bucket, laundry basket, plastic container, toy dump truck or other large toy truck, tin, seasonal container, large upside-down hat, or plastic storage container-put lid underneath.

For gift basket liner you can use: tissue paper, shredded paper, shredded newspaper, tea towels, dish towels, hand towels, kitchen towels, colored towels, colored napkins, placemats, diapers, baby blankets or fabric pieces.

For gift basket filler you can use: shredded colored paper, straw, Easter basket grass, crumpled newspaper comics, a bed of wrapped chocolates or other wrapped candy.

For items in the container it’ll depend on the specialty or theme of the gift basket– here is a small random sampling to give you a few good ideas:

a small book, inspirational book, baby bath and body products, stuffed animals, toys, receiving blanket, baby rattles, baby powder, baby shampoo, baby bath wash, hooded towels, baby-shower type items, age-appropriate clothes, or a baby birthday poem that you write or find.

For gift basket wrapping you can use tulle netting or I like to use cellophane wrap. You can buy it in large rolls. Look for specialty packaging outlets where you can buy it wholesale. Tie off the wrapped basket with ribbon. Wired fabric ribbon is best if you have it.

For bows: You can use pre-packaged bows but making your own bows is easy and the best if you can do it. Use a large or huge bow.

Assemble all your gift basket items, tools, etc. Now line your selected gift container. Now stuff the selected filler into the gift basket to give added height to your items.

Place, layer and arrange your selected items on the filler in the gift container. Put the larger items in the back, the smaller items in front.

Fill in the holes or prop up with more filler (shredded paper, Easter basket grass, wrapped chocolates, napkins or holiday napkins etc.)

Also you can use ‘picks’ of artificial flowers to fill in space. Place your cellophane or other wrap under the gift basket. Center the gift basket on the wrap. Bring the cellophane or other wrap over the top of the gift basket and tie it with ribbon and or a beautiful bow!

Use ribbon and bows to match your theme colors.

Tuck a card in the ribbon and that’s it!

You can find fabric or wired ribbon cheaply at Costco– especially in the fall prior to Christmas but often throughout the year in some stores. You can shred paper in a paper shredder.

If you’re going to need a lot of cellophane you can purchase it wholesale through the packaging specialty stores throughout the U.S. but should be easily found in craft stores.

General tips: Try to use non-perishable items except for fruit for fruit baskets. Use freshly packaged food items, because even packaged crackers and cookies can go stale in a couple of months. You can find filler flower ‘picks’ at garage sales for pennies.

If you buy wholesale they are usually around a dollar each. Try not to mix chocolate or other food fragrant items with non-food fragrant items in the same basket.

Also there’s nothing like learning how to make gift baskets from a video or DVD for making cheap and easy gift baskets. You can view it over and over again and share with your children, other family members and friends.

You can even charge for classes with your new-found knowledge and/or start a home based business if you so desire. In any event, making a gift basket for a newborn baby or baby is cheap and easy.

For more information on how to make gift baskets and how to start a gift basket business, go to http://www.HowToMakeBeautifulGiftBaskets.com
a website specializing in making gift baskets and gift basket business tips, help, advice and resources including information on drop shipping gift baskets

How To Make A Cheap And Easy Spa or Bath and Body Birthday Gift Basket

Gift baskets are always popular and a great idea to give as a gift. People love to receive gift baskets. Making your own spa or bath and body birthday gift basket is cheap and easy.

You can fill with a variety of inexpensive items or products and you have lots of choices.

You can easily customize each birthday basket to your recipient.
First make a list of your birthday recipient’s hobbies and interests. List everything you can think of.

Suggestions:

sports, books, television shows, in-house hobbies, outdoor recreation, camping, workshop or enjoy working with tools, golf, fishing, computer-related, environment friendly, golf, tennis, relaxation, food, cooking, coffee, chocolate, wine, spa, bath and body, fruit, cookie, etc.

These are just a few ideas.

I’ve put together a few great ideas for making birthday gift baskets, complete with instructions on how to make them. You can make inexpensive gift baskets or expensive gift baskets depending on your budget.

You can find many inexpensive items for use in making your gift baskets or filling your gift baskets, at ‘dollar’ stores, craft stores, party stores, discount outlets, flea markets, close-out stores, etc.

or gift containers you can use:

any type of basket, wicker basket, straw basket, bucket, laundry basket, plastic container, toy dump truck or other large toy truck, purse, tin, Christmas tin, seasonal container, large tea pot, large upside-down hat, or plastic storage container-put lid underneath.

Other items might be:

extra-large coffee mug, boot, potted plant holder, wire basket, large pasta bowl, large popcorn bowl, cooking pot, clay pot, tackle box, colander, small wagon, skillet, antique trunk, champagne bucket, hamper, Asian-style trunk or picnic basket.

For gift basket liner you can use: tissue paper, shredded paper, shredded newspaper, tea towels, dish towels, hand towels, kitchen towels, colored towels, colored napkins, placemats, diapers, baby blankets or fabric pieces.

For gift basket filler you can use: shredded colored paper, straw, Easter basket grass, crumpled newspaper comics, a bed of wrapped chocolates or other wrapped candy.

For items in the container it’ll depend on the specialty or theme of the gift basket - in this case a birthday gift basket. Here is a small, random sampling to give you some good ideas:

For a birthday spa, bath and body or relaxation basket:

Gift certificate for massage or spa visit, scented oils, scented massage oils, gift certificate to favorite store, gift certificate for restaurant, loofah, fragrant candle, matches to light candles, CD of nature sounds, favorite artist CD, DVD of newer release movie, how-to video or CD.

Or a poem, perfume, cologne, watch, framed photo, inspirational book, spa pillows, bath pillows, spa supplies, bath and body products, facial and body scrubs, handmade soaps, fragrant soaps, shampoos, hand and foot lotion, and fluffy towel.

Throw in some healthy snacks, well-wrapped cookies, some well-wrapped chocolate items or products and maybe some movie tickets.

If you’re creative add a handwritten birthday poem, which you can write or find.

For gift basket wrapping you can use tulle netting or I like to use cellophane wrap. You can buy it in large rolls. Look for specialty packaging outlets where you can buy it wholesale. Tie off the wrapped basket with ribbon. Wired fabric ribbon is best if you have it.

For bows: You can use pre-packaged bows but making your own bows is easy and the best if you can do it. Use a large or huge bow.

Assemble all your gift basket items, tools, etc. Now line your selected gift container. Now stuff the selected filler into the gift basket to give added height to your items.

Place, layer and arrange your selected items on the filler in the gift container. Put the larger items in the back, the smaller items in front.

Fill in the holes or prop up with more filler (shredded paper, Easter basket grass, wrapped chocolates, napkins or holiday napkins etc.)

Also you can use ‘picks’ of artificial flowers to fill in space.

Place your cellophane or other wrap under the gift basket. Center the gift basket on the wrap. Bring the cellophane or other wrap over the top of the gift basket and tie it with ribbon and or a beautiful bow! Use ribbon and bows to match your theme colors.

Tuck a birthday card in the ribbon and that’s it!

You can find fabric or wired ribbon cheaply at Costco– especially in the fall prior to Christmas but often throughout the year in some stores. You can shred paper in a paper shredder.

If you’re going to need a lot of cellophane you can purchase it wholesale through the packaging specialty stores throughout the U.S. but should be easily found in craft stores.

General tips: Try to use non-perishable items except for fruit for fruit baskets. Use freshly packaged food items, because even packaged crackers and cookies can go stale in a couple of months.

You can find filler flower ‘picks’ at garage sales for pennies. If you buy wholesale they are usually around a dollar each.

Try not to mix chocolate or other food fragrant items with non-food fragrant items in the same basket unless very well wrapped.

Also there’s nothing like learning how to make gift baskets from a video or DVD for making cheap and easy gift baskets. You can view it over and over again and share with your children, other family members and friends.

You can even charge for classes with your new-found knowledge and/or start a home based business if you so desire. In any event, making a cheap and easy spa or bath and body birthday gift basket is cheap and easy.

For more information on how to make gift baskets and how to start a gift basket business, go to http://www.HowToMakeBeautifulGiftBaskets.com
a website specializing in making gift baskets and gift basket business tips, help, advice and resources including information on drop shipping gift baskets

Beading Basics: What you Need to Know to Get Started Beading

Stringing beads is a fun way to reduce stress and explore your creative side. Put a colorful necklace together or create a beautiful matching set with a bracelet and a pair of earrings. Wear your creations, sell them, or wrap them in tissue paper and give them to your friends.

Basic beading is easy, fun, and relatively inexpensive. You will find beading supplies at most craft shops, art supply stores, and discount stores, in addition to the beading boutiques that often specialize in more expensive beads.

Here is a checklist of the basic tools and supplies you will need to begin working on your new hobby:

Beads
You will find an abundance of different sizes, shapes and styles to choose from. Start off with a few favorite colors using plastic beads so you can become familiar with color coordination and putting on the finishing touches. This way, mistakes will not be so costly. Work your way toward the finer glass, semiprecious, handpainted, wood and cloisonne beads.

Clasps
There is a wide variety of clamps, closures and clasps, also called findings. Again, do not be seduced into purchasing the best and the brightest in the beginning. Most products will have the instructions included on the front or back of the package, but if you run into a problem, consult a beading magazine or catalog, which you can find either online or at craft shops.

Containers
Depending on your budget and preference, you can use either the standard, flat containers or go up a notch to the drawer compartments that many people use in their workshops for nuts, bolts and screws. Any containers will do, but, while working, you will want your beads to be easily accessible. Storing beads in dark, confined areas makes them more difficult to work with and to color coordinate.

Crimping Beads
These are an important element in beadmaking. They are simply beads constructed of a flexible metal, which help keep the clasp attached to the necklace. Crimping beads come in gold and silver and in several different sizes.

Round Tipped Pliers
Invest in a good pair of round tipped pliers. You will need to use them often not only for picking up beads but also to hold the components while working with them. Flat nosed pliers also come in handy. Remember to select a pair that will allow you to crimp.

Trays or Boards
Using a beading tray is not mandatory but it makes it easier to preselect and measure your beads. Most trays are made of plastic and incorporate a measuring device either in inches, millimeters, or both.

Wire, Line or String
Again, depending on budget and preference, there is a wide variety of wire, line and string to choose from. Before purchasing, be sure that it is the correct size to fit the beads you have selected, or vice versa. Some beads have large holes to accommodate thick string while others, such as seed beads, have tiny holes that only thread or wire will fit through. You could even use fishing line to practice on, but beading wire is better it does not have a tendency to curl, shrink and distort the way plastic lines do. You could also use string, rawhide or thread. When beading with string or thread, use a special big eye or curved needle.

Children can also take part in stringing beads. Look for childrens beading supplies at most craft stores, generally alongside the adult supplies. Beading is a great way to teach children coordination skills, and to keep them happy and occupied while you are working on your beading projects. Keep in mind that many of these items should be kept away from babies and small toddlers.

Bead supply warehouses will often send color catalogs by request, listing hundreds of different products, along with accompanying images. Or you may want to subscribe to a beading magazine where you will learn different techniques and methods used by professionals.

Check online or at your local craft store for lots of great, free beading patterns and beading ideas. Once you have mastered the art of beading, you will be making attractive jewelry, and you will naturally gravitate to other beading projects. You may even start to decorate your handbags, create charming wall art, and make lovely bookmarks, suncatchers, key chains or plant holders. There are so many amazing things you can do with beads, you will wonder what ever took you so long to discover them.

Jamie Jefferson writes for Momscape at http://www.momscape.com . Visit today for the latest Online Coupon Codes including coupons for discount art supplies.

Learning to Crochet and It’s Benefits

Learn to crochet and see why millions of women and men around the globe have enjoyed crocheting for generations. Crocheting is a great hobby and a great way to make wonderful creations and even some extra cash!

Everyone appreciates something handmade and a crocheted scarf, hat, gloves, sweater, poncho, afghan or other amazing creation can prove to be a terrific gift. Crocheting is something virtually anyone can learn to do if you follow the instructions and learn the basic steps. More advanced crocheting will take time and practice but before you know it you will be making wonderful items for yourself, your family, friends and possibly even your customers.

When you learn to crochet you will learn some basic stitches that can be combined with more advanced stitches to create elaborate, stunning items. You can even learn how to create crocheted flowers and other items that will impress your family and friends and it all starts with learning a few basic stitches.

As you learn to crochet you will experiment with different yarns and needles to find the ones you like to work with. Each yarn has its own texture and it may take some time to get used to them. Crochet needles vary in width which will impact the size of the stitch and the overall look of what you are creating.

There are beginner classes, videos and books dedicated to teaching you how to crochet. Whether you learn to crochet on your own or with an instructor it is a great way to pass some time and create amazing items.

In recent years there has been a resurgence in the interest in learning how to crochet. Many women and men are beginning to learn to crochet to release stress, pass the time, earn extra income or just to make great gifts for family and friends. As a result of the renewed interest in crocheting there are many opportunities for you to learn to crochet whether you live in a large city or a small town or virtually anywhere in between.

Crocheting is a great skill to master and it all starts when you learn a few basic stitches and how to begin to combine these stitches into a great pattern. Starting young is great, but you can learn to crotchet at any age and it is easily something you can enjoy with family and friends. Pick up some yarn, grab a needle and learn to crochet!

Byran Kempa for Crochet Source

Fun Times Making Beaded Jewelry

Not only can you look great by making your own beaded jewelry you can also have a blast while you create to your hearts content. The first creation you should consider making is a beaded necklace for its elegance and simplicity. The second creation you should consider making is some beaded earrings.

Before you begin go to a bead or craft store so you can buy some supplies. The only things you really need to start are some thread or wire and some inexpensive beads. Always start with the inexpensive beads to learn with then move onto your favorite gem stones once you have the basics down.

Let’s make a beaded necklace first. In the bead or craft store buy some thread or wire, beads, two crimps and a clasp. Next use more thread than you will actually need so you will have enough to attach the clasp with. Layout your beads on the table in the desired pattern you wish to make on the necklace. Now you can string the beads onto the middle of the thread or wire in your desired pattern. Use a piece of tape at the end of each pattern to hold your place. You can also use a spacer bead instead of the tape.

At each end slide one of the crimps onto the thread or wire. Add one half of the clasp, then string the thread back through the crimp and use needle nose pliers and press firmly on the crimp. Now you can remove the tape.

Now you can wear your creation and start all over again to make more. Once you have the knack you will never run out of ideas. So pursue your new found hobby with all the energy you can muster. You’ll find it not only fun but also a great way to learn different avenues of self expression.

Next let’s make some beaded earrings. First here are the supplies you will need: 2 head pins ( or eye pins as they are sometimes called), 4 spacers, 4 beads, and 2 fishhook ear wires. Next you will begin by putting the beads on in a simple pattern: bead, spacer, bead, spacer, like that. Ok, now follow closely, make a loop right above the top bead: using needle nose pliers, bend the pin at a 90 degree angle. Then using round nose pliers, form a loop. Wrap the wire on the other side of the loop, back around the wire (in between the loop and the bead). Now cut with wire cutters. Next, take the fish hook ear wire, and open the loop. Attach your drop and close the loop. Repeat for the second earring.

Limitless adventures — that is what you’ll have now that you have mastered the first step in creativity. You’ll amaze yourself the more you allow yourself to develop and play. Don’t put restraints on your designs, instead just let them flow freely. Even if something seems like a long shot take a chance — what have you got to lose? Never again will you be afraid to walk into a new adventure. Fun and excitement is what you carry inside of you now. Watch it explode and mature as you allow yourself to develop your own style and grace. Remember today is the first day of the rest of your creative life.

Owen Walcher is a freelance writer, writing helpful articles about topics such as Jewelry. You can find an alternate version of this Making Beaded Jewelry article here.

Choosing a Theme for Your Scrapbook

The scrapbooking industry has taken papercrafting to an entirely new level in recent years, and that means there is an amazing amount of tools, papers, textures, and embellishments to choose from.

But all of these choices can make even the most inspired scrapbooking artists feel a bit paralyzed. It is helpful to choose a theme for your albums and mini albums. Doing so can help you stay focused, and it can help reduce the tendency to buy more products than you will actually use.

Here are a variety of scrapbooking themes to choose from. Choose one or two themes to work with at any given time, and enjoy the process of preserving your memories for generations to come.

Annual Scrapbooks.
Create one album each year, with a two page spread for each month. This is a great way to stay caught up, without feeling pressured to scrapbook every photograph.

Significant Life Events.
Of course, you’ll want a wedding album, as well as an album spotlighting your other shining moments.

Children.
Have one album going for each child, starting with those first ultrasound photographs. And remember to record all of the significant events, including the first tooth, first haircut, first day of school, etc.

Sports.
If your child or other family member is particularly interested in sports, have a running sports album going. Include team photos, rosters, and significant achievements. Record your children describing big games in their own words.

The Hero Scrapbook.
This is the place for the certificates, awards, and newspaper clippings for all members of your family. You could also do an album along the theme of “Good Deeds We’ve Done” and “Things We Are Grateful For.”

About Me album.
Imagine the joy of future generations as they learn about your favorite books, recipes, TV shows, hobbies, and, most importantly, your life philosophy. Record all the things that make you, you.

School Years Album.
Create a new layout for each year of school. Ask your children to sign their name each year and include a photo taken on the first and last day of school. Also include a copy of their school schedule, a photo of their teacher and significant achievements throughout the school year.

Holidays.
Have an ongoing scrapbook for each holiday celebration. Bring it out with your holiday decorations after Thanksgiving and enjoy adding to it during the festivities. For many families, scrapbooking is a fun family tradition in itself.

No matter what theme you are currently working on, the key to keeping it fun is to remember that not every photo needs to be scrapbooked. (That’s what photo albums are for, after all.) Choose the events and photographs and stories that are particularly significant and enjoy creating lasting memories for generations to come.

Susie Cortright is the founder of Momscape.com, devoted to providing valuable resources for parents. Visit the site today for the latest online Coupon Codes including special savings two of Susie’s favorite online retailers: Dick Blick Art Supplies Coupons and Target Coupons.

Sticking With Scrapbooking

Like most things, scrapbooking isn’t always easy to learn right off the bat. It can take patience and a development of your own creativity to get the most out of it.

Learning all about the various tools and techniques can also take some time. Scrapbook paper patterns and styles run the gamut of designs. Paper punches, rubber stamps and even the glues have a unique purpose, so it pays to know how to work with all of them.

If your just starting in scrapbooking, try not to get overwhelmed. Our advice is to focus on one project, and a single task and learn to do that well. You don’t have to tackle learning everything it once and there’s no worry or hurry. Simply enjoy the process one step at a time.

If you work on the process of creating your scrapbook project, with an eye on the end result, you’ll find yourself getting pulled in the direction of completing the project. One of the greatest challenges is staying motivated when you can’t finish everything at once. It’s what stumps a lot of beginners in a world where quick gratification only comes through some work and effort.

Stick to it though and you’ll find yourself greatly rewarded. My sister was always one to put off starting a new project on her kids. She used to say, “They’ll be grown up and moved away before I finish this baby scrapbook!” Amazingly though, one day she simply buckled down and got to work and in a few days,the book was done. Today it stands proudly on a mantle where friends and family can view it and it really is a showpiece of sorts.

If you need motivation in the challenging times be sure to visit some online scrapbooking forums and talk about your project there. Not only will you get some terrific support but you’ll also come away with some new ideas you may not have thought of before.

The same goes for picking up some good scrapbook magazines or dvd’s. While it’s true, they won’t finish the job for you, they can help get you back on track and fire you up enough to finish the job at hand. Afterall, it’s never an issue of you not being able to create the greatest journal ever…it’s just a matter of being motivated enough to focus on it and finish it.

Getting started in scrapbooking isn’t always the easiest thing in the world to do, but with the right guidance and the right attitude, you’ll be looking at some wonderful memories on your mantle sometime soon.

Mark Washburn is a freelance writer with experience on creative memory scrapbooking and scrapbook instruction.

The Simplicity and Enjoyment of Crocheting

Crochet purses are a classic and stylish replacement for leather or vinyl purses. Not only that, they are inexpensive and fun to make!

Finding the perfect pattern for your crochet purse is the easy part. There are literally thousands of purse patterns available for free online. From a traditional granny square bag to a freeform purse, from a ruffled handbag to Star Spangled clutch, you are sure to find what you want online. (Of course, if you want to have a picture of Whinny the Pooh or Mickey Mouse on your purse, you will have to pay for a commercial pattern.)

Now that you have your pattern, you are ready to start crocheting. The art of crochet is deceptively simple: all you need is a ball of yarn and a single hook. With these two things, you can create a single piece of fabric made by using the hook to loop and loop the yarn. By using different sizes of hooks, or varying the thickness, texture or color of the yarn, you can create endlessly innovative creations. The only limit when you are crocheting is your imagination.

The great thing about making your own purse, is that you can design it any way you like. The easiest designs are solid patterns, or basic geometrical patterns such as stripes or checks. Even with simple patterns, you can make your purse interesting by using different textures. At the more advanced end of the spectrum, you can actually crochet images onto your purse, although you should get a lot of practice with more simple designs before tackling such an ambitious project.

Nonetheless, despite the endless possibilities, if you are working on your first crochet pattern, you should probably stick to ones that use basic stitches such as the Afghan stitch, the puff stitch, or the V stitch. Trying more advanced stitches your first time out, such as the Tunisian Purl stitch, the double crochet cluster stitch, or the reverse popcorn stitch could leave you with a very mangled purse with oblong sides. (Of course, if anyone asks, you can always just say that you are trying to take crochet to new levels!) Indeed, before trying to crochet your own purse, it would probably be best to first try crocheting smaller items, such as coasters, or granny squares you can eventually incorporate into a larger project.

Making crochet purses can be a great hobby for you. It is an incredibly relaxing hobby that will leave you with stylish and functional purses. And best of all, it will make you part of a centuries old tradition.

Byran Kempa for Crochet Source - A site with news and articles on crocheting and crochet patterns such as crochet cape patterns.

Positive Aspects Of Quilting Classes

The developments that have occurred in technology over recent time has help to provide us with many of our comforts.

These things have tended to lack human emotions. The prime example of this would have to be machines. More pleasure may be gained by using some thing that is created by hand, especially if you have made it with your own hands.

You without are able to enjoy such a pleasure if you choose to learn a craft or art.

A example of this would have to be knitting, quilting and many more that can be found at quilting classes. Only after that you may begin to understand how much we have become so dependant on machines and have forgot the pleasure that creating something by hand can create.

Making quilts by hand can be a very rewarding experience.

Over the past years, the art of quilting has slowly began to show itself again in the world of artistry. Once you have learnt the quilting methods that are taught during quilting classes you will without experience the pleasure that creating a handmade quilt can have.

The common belief is that quilting is a very difficult task to learn. The truth is quilting has been done for over 200 years by women even when they had no electricity

There a number of ways to learn quilting, you can choose to learn online and offline. Either of the two is very accessible.

If you decide that you think you will be able to learn how to quilt by attending a couple of quilting classes then I can assure you this a near impossible task. You will have to practice whatever you are taught during quilting classes, this will involve a lot of practice and trial and error methods.

The best place to start out when learning how to quilt would have to be by learning the very basics first.

In quilting classes, first of all, you will be made clear with the concept of quilting. Thereafter, you will be told about the various styles of quilting i.e. traditional quilts and contemporary or art quilts.

Then, in quilting classes, you will be made to recognize the different parts of a quilt. You will be taught about the basic components of quilts, i.e. the quilt top, the batting and the quilt back in detail. At this stage, you will be able to get familiar with the different looks and methods to make these parts. You will understand their individual importance in a complete quilt.

Without having the ability to identify the parts of a quilt, it will not be possible for you to understand the instructions, which are given with quilting patterns.

The next lesson you would learn during quilting classes would be information on the use of the varies equipments used during quilting. This will help you to find out what the proper equipment is so you will be able to get it for yourself.

After providing you with all the basics of quilting, you will be taught to make a practice block. After learning the making of a block, you will learn to bind blocks made by you.

The main of quilting classes will for you to know the art of quilting and will enable you to make quilts for yourself or as gift for your family or friends.

You may even wish to begin selling your quilts. How ever this would be a long way down the road if you are only starting out as mastering the art of quilting can and usually does take a lot of time.

Pick up 5 Free lessons on crocheting and quilting by visiting crocheting for beginners To learn more about the art of crochet visit free crochet patterns for beginners

Koala Sewing Machine Cabinets - A Must Have for Sewing Enthusiasts

Koala cabinets for sewing machines are used by many people around the world who like the nice, yet functional design of these sewing machine cabinets. The Koala sewing machine cabinets are stylish, durable and functional, which is why people who enjoy sewing look for the Koala name when they are buying sewing machine cabinets.

Unlike other cabinets, Koala cabinets were designed with the sewer in mind. Every aspect of these cabinets is geared towards making sewing more efficient and easier, while also being efficient and minimizing wasted space. Available in a number of different styles and colors, the Koala cabinets are among the most sought after.

One of the most liked features of these cabinets is the fact that they have lift-off doors which make them easy to remove when you need the ability to move quickly around your space without the fear of bashing your legs against the opened doors. These cabinets are also on rollers which make them easy to move around your workspace as you need to.

Everything from the work surface to the draw space to the overall design and layout of these cabinets were clearly designed with efficiency in mind. You can keep your workspace neat and clean with these great cabinets while not breaking your budget to do so.

Super easy to set up, use and maintain, the Koala sewing machine cabinets are sure to make you love spending time in front of the sewing machine. Consumers looking for these great cabinets find the best selection and pricing online and that is why there is a complete assortment of these cabinets for you to choose from.

Retailers simply cannot stock these cabinets and keep the price down because of high overhead charges. Internet retailers have significantly less overhead and therefore can pass those savings along to consumers while also offering a wider selection of Koala cabinets and related accessories. You can choose the design and color you need to make your workspace neat, tidy and efficient. Koala cabinets are among the most popular in the industry.

You can keep your home or workspace looking great yet remaining highly functional when you invest in great Koala cabinets. For the serious sewer and the amateur sewer alike, the Koala cabinets are a must have. Choose the right cabinet for your needs and enjoy spending time with your favorite sewing machine.

Byran Kempa for Sewing Machine Resource - a resource site providing information on sewing machines and accessories such as koala cabinets.

The Benefits of Crocheting

Many people looked for a crochet cape pattern the day Martha Stewart was first released from confinement. The cape she wore quickly gained attention and the crochet cape pattern became an instant classic. Serious crochet enthusiasts, however, know that there are many different cape patterns for crocheting that are stylish, sophisticated and easy to make.

Crocheting has regained popularity in recent years as many people find it a great stress relief while also being practical. From crocheting great hats, sweaters, capes and scarves to crocheting afghans, throws and other items, crocheting is a great hobby that can also help you make great gifts or even make some extra money.

If you are looking to crochet a cape pattern, you will want to see different styles and patterns and make the right one for your needs. Perhaps you want to crochet a cape to be worn by a small child or a baby on a special day, or perhaps it will be worn by an adult as part of a casual outfit, or perhaps for a special occasion. You will be surprised to see the vast selection of crochet cape patterns available.

Many crocheting enthusiasts have found that the Internet is a great resource for information on crocheting, supplies, products and patterns. Rather than hunting store after store, the Internet is a great resource for you to obtain the information and products you need for crocheting, including finding the right cape pattern, afghan pattern, scarf or sweater pattern, etc.

Long gone are the days of trying to guess a pattern or spending more time ripping out what you crotched because the pattern was wrong. You can now get the right pattern and save yourself both time and money. It is also possible to buy great skeins of yarn online in an incredible selection which will make it possible to create some of the most beautiful capes, sweaters, hats, scarves and other items.

Everyone appreciates things that are handmade. Crocheting was almost a lost art that has recently regained popularity. There are many wonderful things that can be made by mastering a few stitches and practicing until you can create a stunning cape, blanket, layette, or just about anything else you put your mind to.

From Martha Stewart’s famous cape to a beautiful set for a newborn baby to the perfect gift, crocheting is a wonderful hobby that produces great gifts and items for enjoyment or sale. Find what you need online and enjoy the wonderful world of crocheting.

Byran Kempa for Crochet Source - a resource site providing information on crocheting patterns such as cape patterns.

Antiques. One Man’s Junk is Another Man’s Treasure!

In the end, an antique is as valuable as someone is willing to pay for it! Although an antique may indeed be 100 years old, that does not necessarily make it valuable. If it was not a desirable piece to begin with or it was of inferior quality, it would not be of interest to anyone today. Junk today is junk tomorrow!

An antique is generally considered to be 70 to 100 years old. This is of course not the only determining factor in it’s overall worth as we shall see. Value is determined by many factors, age, limited production or “scarceness”, uniqueness, quality and individual taste.

For example some of today’s mass produced furniture would not be valuable in 100 years probably (and we always have to say that, because who knows?) because they would be far too plentiful, of inferior workmanship and not particularly unique. Whereas the local furniture maker who is making everything painstakingly perfect in his home shop and with the highest of standards, would be a much more likely candidate for antique status in 100 years.

How do I tell what is an antique?

There are many tell tale signs that one can begin to discern right away. Obviously this is a subject that requires much research and learning and cannot be entered into lightly as one could easily spend a fortune with nothing to show except some very fine re-productions or even forgeries!

In a glass bottle for example the hand made antique has a small mark which indicates where the “pontil rod” was attached to the bottle to allow the bottle to be “blown”, a fascinating process if you have never seen it. I still remember seeing it for my first time many years ago in a small shop in Mexico and it is a vivid and entrancing memory. Even though the product being produced was not of particularly high quality and mostly for tourist consumption, the process is very fascinating.

Each area of antiques has unique markers for the experienced eye to see and determine age, where it was made, by whom and of course also approximate value. Anyone who has watched the antiques road show on tv knows how many an overlooked or unwanted piece kept forever in the garage can become the “cause celebre” overnight and be priced at a an unthinkable value.

Considering all of these facts you may well be urged to rummage through you r garage or offer to take some of your grandmother’s “junk” out of her attic for her and you may discover that one man’s junk is another man’s treasure!

Happy Hunting.

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Sew, Do You Like Knitting?

Many of us grew up with grandparents who enjoyed knitting and sewing. Before it became so easy to buy clothes and blankets, people would often make there own. It used to be that every woman needed to know how to do their own knitting and sewing. Today these wonderful skills are not as necessary for women to know, but rather they have become relaxing past times.

Knitting And Sewing Is Fun for All Ages

Since most clothes, blankets, and other materials are so often manufacture-made, knitting and sewing has become more of an art, rather than a job. Women can take pride in their ability to create their masterpiece, especially since so few women still know how to knit and sew.

Knitting and sewing can be very relaxing. When you are creating something with your own two hands, you are able to truly appreciate the beauty that surrounds you. It helps you recognize how much work goes into art and creating something new.

To truly enjoy your time when you’re knitting and sewing try to find a quiet spot to work; away from the annoyances of daily life. You might even want to set aside a special place in your home and decorate it in a way that inspires you.

If you have children, you might want to teach them too. That way you are not only teaching them a form of art, but you are also keeping the skill alive in the future. Knitting and sewing are especially good for getting your kids to develop their fine motor skills, which can help them a lot as they grow up. It’s amazing how teaching your children something special can not only help them learn useful things, but can also strengthen your bond with them.

What to Make

There are many different things you can make - just use you imagination. You could make clothes, blankets, decorations, etc. With each thing that you make, you can put into it your own style. To get some ideas of fun knitting and sewing ideas, check out the different websites that are designed for people who love to knit and sew. You can also find great fabrics and other materials online that can help you create your masterpiece. Some important materials to have include a sewing machine, a sewing table, fabric, needles, yarn, thread, measuring tape, fabric scissors, etc.

If you are a newcomer to the knitting and sewing world, you don’t have to worry. You can find easy to understand instructions online that will take you step by step. With a little practice you can begin to make all sorts of things sooner than you might think.

Eddie Lamb provides an array information on a range of topics including hobbies and pastimes. You’ll find a host of useful articles all about knitting and sweing listed on our site map page at Knitting Sew.

How to Repair Broken Jade

The best way to repair is often with a cement. Do the edges of the broken pieces fit together closely? If so, a good two-part epoxy cement is best. I recommend an epoxy which cures to a clear color, not amber like most. The brand name is Huges 330 Epoxy. It is made for gemstone material cementing. A craft shop should have this cement or may order it for you. If not, try an exposy cement from a craft shop or hardware store but do not get the quick setting kind. The best will harden in about 2 hours. Quick set cements cure in 5 minutes and this is too little time to make a good joint of the broken ends.

Clean the ends well with alcohol. This is needed to remove any traces of oils, etc. which will lead to a joint failure later. Arrange a means to hold the ends together so the ends will not be moved until the cement cures. Do this arrangement first and be certain it will work.

Then, mix the two part cement according to directions. Apply only enough cement to one broken edge to cover the end with a little cement. Push the pieces together and see if too much runs out the edges. If so, wipe off before the cement starts to cure then place together again. Hold the pieces in place as mentioned already.

Leave the left over on a mixing paper or plastic, whatever is used to mix the cement and place the mixer(toothpick, paper clip or other handy object) into the unused part. When the object is cemented hard on the unused portion of the cement, you know the jade is also cured and may be handled.

Excess if any may be carefully trimmed with a razor edge or left alone. Trimming of extruded cement will often leave a white and easily seen line. Sometimes it is best to leave the cement as is.

If you have way too much cement and way too much is pushed from the joined edges, clean in acetone or nail polish remover. Clean well as you can. Then start again with a new mix of the epoxy. Do not use “super glue” since this will not hold strongly for a long period of time.

If you want to try to do the work, I believe you can. The first try might be messy and you might have to try a second time. If you want someone else to do it, a jeweler should be able to cement the pieces together for yourepair depends on the sort of break in the bracelet. If the jade is broken and the ends of the break fit fairly well, a jeweler( or you if handy with such) may use a good expoxy cement to join the ends. A recommended epoxy is Hughes 330, recommended because it cures water clear and is quite strong with gemstone materials. In any case, epoxy cements have no strength when first mixed. The cure brings the strength. If you try it yourself, dry fit first to find a way to support the pieces during the 2 hour cure time.

If the break is jagged and the ends do not fit, the best solution is to have a jeweler make a metal tube, either of silver or gold, to go over the broken ends and bring all together as a jade bangle with “metal fittings”. The tube will need to have two ends angled to fit the curve of the jade pieces at each break.

I do hope the break is clean and will fit back together. If so, with a good cleaning to remove all traces of oils, etc., the epoxy solution to the fix will work quite well. If done carefully, there will be little to show obviously at the break line.

Victor Epand is the owner of JewerlyGift.biz, a huge online jewelry retailer featuring the largest and best selection of jewelry including personalizable items…

Who Else Wants To Learn How To Complete Different Wood Working Projects

One of the most important things for the novice wood worker who wants to make this a permanent hobby, is to keep your tools clean and in good repair. If you use dull or rusted tools, you work will turn out sloppy and you will most likely not want to continue to fine tune your skills. Orderliness and carefulness, with knowledge and patience, are sure to bring good results, just as a lack of them will bring failure.

Good workers take pride in keeping their workbenches in good order as well. Tools that are not in immediate use should be placed in their racks so they will not be damaged or cause injury to the worker. If the business end of the tool is touched, it should be wiped off to prevent corrosion.

Now that you know how to take care of your tools, let`s put them to work. But what should you make? A custom picture frame is a good thing for the beginning woodworker and will also make a nice gift for that special someone.

The first thing is to determine what size you want your woodworking project to be. Be sure that the inside or a hole` is the size of the picture. If you plan on putting a picture in the frame, the outside edges need to be bigger than that.

Now, for the material to be used in your woodworking project. Since you are doing a picture frame, you can use just about any wood you would like, whether it is picture frame molding that can be bought at local craft stores, builders molding or even just lumber from the lumber yard. The latter you can pick up at your favorite home improvement store. For the beginner or the more advanced woodworker, picture frame molding may be the best choice as it comes with the grove for the glass already cut. With the other two options, you will have to do this groove yourself with a router.

After you have your material and sharp, clean tools, you are ready to start your woodworking project. Now, using a hand saw, cut the material four lengths, one for each side. Cut the edges at a forty five degree angle be sure you measure for this when cutting. Now, lay them on a flat surface and arrange the pieces so they form the shape of the frame that you want. Now, join the corners using wood glue and corner clamps. This is done easily by applying the wood glue to the cut edges, then using the corner clamps to keep them tight while the glue is drying.

The next step is to turn the woodworking project over so it is upside down and put two V nails through the glued joints. This will give the frame more sturdiness for longer a longer shelf life.

Now, just let it finish drying overnight. In the morning, you can do any sanding and staining that you want.

Of course, this is an example of a basic woodworking project. With time and practice, you will get to the level of making chairs, coffee tables, beds and dressers.

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Don’t Let Your Books Fall Apart- Bind Them!

For a first-time book binder, the possibilities are endless in terms of materials, styles and one can let your creative imagination run wild. One is always on the look out for places where the best book binding materials are available at the best rates to suit your requirements. There are some places where you would get what you need regardless of your budget constraints. All you need is a little inclination towards some craft work, time, and a whole lot of imagination and you are on your way to book binding. The possibilities are endless and the materials you can use can range from simple stickers to decoupage to papier mache, painting, and well, you get the general idea!

If you are into decorative things then the local craft shop will have a lot of things you use imaginatively. Ensure that the binding you have done is durable and strong and then add the finishing touches to give it that special feel. From actual binding material to leather to little decorative pieces, all are normally found at the craft store. The book store is another good place to look around in. there are books galore especially the ‘how to’ books on book binding and decoration to help you though the binding process and ensure your job looks professional. Some known titles in this series are John Ashman’s Bookbinding: A Beginner’s Manual, Manly Banister’s The Craft of Bookbinding and Bookbinding and the Care of Books written by Douglas Cockrell. Your library may also stock books of this genre and you may not have to buy them unless you are a collector of books.

Print shops and local copy supply stores are other places where you can get book binding material. Office supply stores also cater to this type of clientele and a good idea would be to get in touch with the local publishing companies where you may get some discounts, tips on how to bind books and what points to keep in mind to avoid going wrong, material for various types of book binding or maybe they just might do the job for you at reduced rates.

The Internet is without question the most logical place to find this kind of information. Here you would get addresses and prices and also a list of things that you may need. Order online or else go to the concerned store and you know what exactly to buy and how much it is going to cost you. Things like binding needles, normally priced between $7-$13, and other types of specific binding equipment is available on the net. You can get ideas for maybe a renaissance look or a gothic look, explore new ways, ideas, and methods for that exclusive look that you would like. After your first successful venture, you just may get bitten by the bookbinding bug and who knows, there go all your albums, journals, school memorabilia all into fantastic covers and preserved for posterity. You may even branch out to giving self bound books as gifts to your friends. The sky is really the limit. Happy binding.

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Scrapbooking On A Tight Budget Is Not Impossible

Scrapbooking - it’s a great hobby, and also an important one. But many people find that they do not have the budget necessary to keep up with the constantly changing world of scrapbooking. Think of a new mom, for example. With a new baby in the family, there is rarely any money to purchase scrapbooking supplies, yet she will want to keep track of the exciting changes she sees every day! Is it possible to create beautiful scrapbooks on a tight budget? The answer is yes!

One thing that budget scrappers tend to do is purchase masses of supplies when there is a sale at their local craft store. This seems like a good way to get quality supplies at a good price, but there is a down side to this type of stocking up. When you start purchasing everything in sight at a big sale, you will almost always end up with items that you never end up using. Even if these were cheap, they still were a waste of money, because you never use them.

One of the most important things that you can do to keep yourself on track when purchasing scrapbooking supplies is to keep a list of the items you need. Just because a particular embellishment is on sale does not mean that you will need it. Keep the photos that you will be scrapping soon in the back of your mind, and only buy things that will be used with those pictures.

Another way to save money is with your text. You can create titles and sayings with scrapbooking stickers, but you will only get one use out of your sticker. Consider instead using rubber stamps. You can use rubber stamps over and over again, and inkpads have a long shelf life. Many budget conscious scrappers avoid the stamping isle at all costs because the up front cost of ink pads is so high. You need to keep in mind that while the up front cost might be high, you will get unlimited life out of them once you have them.

Another option to save money on text is to use your computer. You can use hundreds of fonts that are found in your word processing program, or you can try out that simple graphics program that’s loaded in your computer but collecting dust. Trying out fonts and adding designs into your scrapbook can be one of the most cost effective ways to create unique titles and journaling!

If you are going to splurge on a scrapbooking supply, spend your money on scrapbooking tools. Tools give you the ability to create unique pages out of any paper. The more tools you have, the more creative you can be. Shop stores during sales to stock up on tools like cutting systems and punches.

The most important idea about scrapbooking is that you are the one to do the putting together, and there aren’t any rules on how you get it done. You don’t need the latest gadget or special accessory just because everyone else has it. Use what you have available and be creative with what you have on hand. You’ll be surprised at what you can come up with. Who knows? You might be the one to hit on the next great trend in scrapbooking that will have everyone asking you how you did it!

Graham Johns runs and writes regularly for Easy Scrapbooking Ideas where you can read many more articles on scrapbooking on a budget. Also go to Well Spoken Audio for a wide range of informative and entertaining audio books.

Five Years and Five Continents: Completed at Last