Floral Arranging as a Hobby

Flower arranging has become increasingly popular as a hobby, for people of all ages and backgrounds.

Have you ever put flowers in a vase and they just don't sit right? By learning a few basic principles you will be able to create attractive floral designs for your own home.

Flowers add the finishing touch. Imagine the pleasure you will get by being able to make a lovely flower arrangement for your entrance hall or a floral centrepiece for the dining room table.

Flower arrangements make the perfect gift for so many different occasions, such as birthdays, anniversaries, get well wishes, or to simply say "I care".

Unlike many other hobbies, you don't need a lot of expensive equipment. You can often use flowers and foliage from your own garden or you can buy some inexpensive flowers. Once you learn how to position flowers and foliage correctly, you can quickly make eye catching floral designs. You can also create floral designs using silk flowers. There are some very natural looking silk flowers available, and you will be able to make lasting floral designs. Imagine the thrill of being able to say "I made it myself".

The benefits of learning flower arranging are many -

Flower arranging is creative and fun

Relaxing. It's a great stress reducer

Interesting. Flower arranging is never boring

You will have a sense of achievement by learning a new skill

You will save money by making your own floral designs

Discover the exciting world of flower arranging. We teach you set-by-step how to make professional looking flower arrangements. It's easy when we have shown you how. Flower arranging is very interesting.There are so many different varieties of flowers available. In our flower arranging classes you will learn how to use them to their best advantage to create many different types of arrangements.

Home study flower arranging courses are available.

Copyright ©1996-Present Fay Chamoun

Do You Really Know What You're Buying?

Recently, I had the opportunity to attend a popular gift show in my local area. My purpose in attending this gift show was to scope out my competition and the quality of their soy candles compared to what I offer. I was truly surprised with the results of how many candle exhibitors were present and was more so surprised with the results of how well they didn't know their product.

Now my results are in no way to badger the company in anyway, but to open the eyes of our consumers, the results are:

Candle Exhibitor #1:

This exhibitor stated that they're soy candles were handmade. I was told that their soy candles burned great had no soot or mushroom build up and had an awesome scent throw. Well, fortunately the exhibitor had several candles burning and I notice on their candles that the wick that was chosen had a lot of mushrooming and a little bit of soot build up and no scent throw unless your nose was directly above the flame. Speaking of flame, the flame on these candles was high and had a wild burn, which can be a fire hazard.

Candle Exhibitor #2:

This exhibitor informed us that she handmade her candles as well, but honestly the candles appeared to be machine poured because every candle look the same and had no imperfections. When candles are handmade properly, there are imperfections that actually make the candle perfect because it gives it a unique design. With handmade candles no two are alike. My business associate was asking various questions to see if the soy wax was compatible with essential oils. This vendor kind off "skated" around the question and wasn't too sure. We were offered a sample of the candle where I later tested the candle. This particular votive candle was actually made using palm wax and then burned all the way down in 2 ½ hours. That's the fastest burning candle I have ever seen. When this vendor found out that I was a candle maker, her eyes had gotten wide and at that point wanted to end the conversation. It's interesting how one candle maker can be intimidated by another candle maker.

Candle Exhibitor #3:

Lastly, this exhibitor primarily advertised that their soy candles can also be used as body oil and that you can deep your finger in the candle while the candle is burning. Well, Kandle Indulgence highly suggests that you don't put her finger or anything near and open flame serious injuries can occur. Yet again, my business associate asked the question concerning essential oils and/or what type of essential oils did their company use. She kept saying the fragrances come from flowers, but the question was what type of flowers, are these essential oils? Finally, after the exhibitor couldn't fully explain the company's product and was getting caught up in lies she basically said "I don't know." My question is "if you make the candles why wouldn't the candle maker know where the fragrances come from and what type of fragrances is used?"

In the seven years that I've been making candles I have received positive and negative feedback always concerning the scent throw of my candles and I took those negative comments and turned into positive feedback by constantly studying and researching my product also doing a lot of testing. Although other research was conducted from other exhibitors the three mentioned above sums up the most important part of a business?know your products, business and to be honest to your consumers because you never know who you may meet.

By Jameel Nolan

Rubber Stamps - For Teachers and Students

Once again we are reminded that summer is not long enough. It is the beginning of another back to school shopping season. New clothes, notebooks, pencils, and rubber stamps fill out the shopping list.

Teachers and students all have to prepare for another nine months of education. There is some fun involved every once in a while too. When the class has had their lessons for the day, it's time to develop some crafting skills. Children young and old get that chance to use their creativity in making projects, greeting cards, and seasonal crafts.

Rubber stamps come in handy in the classroom more than just for grading papers. Students alike have access to use rubber stamps on their projects. Stamping is a way to dress things up and to add a little personality.

There are many types of stamps that can be fun for boys and girls:





Animals. Everybody likes a caricature of jungle lions or giraffes.

Cartoon characters. Spongebob, Powerpuff, and Disney round out the top choices.

Sports. Baseball, basketball, and soccer to name a few.

Alphabet stamps. Great for identifying with student's names.

Seasonal rubber stamps. From Halloween ghosts to snowflakes to turkeys.





Limits on rubber stamping really do not exist. There is a style and design for everyone and the project they are doing. Rubber stamping companies are continuously designing new stamps for crafting.

Getting the most out of rubber stamping projects is having a large variety to choose from. Storage containers for all the stamps make them easy to find and clean up. Stackable stamp bins are inexpensive and don't require a lot of space.

Keep an open mind when shopping for the upcoming school year, and don't forget the school supplies that kids can use for life. They'll bring home projects for the refrigerator posting that the whole family will enjoy.

By Robb Ksiazek

An Interesting Look at the Cuban Cigar

Even most non-cigar smokers have heard some of the lore surrounding the Cuban cigar. Long revered as the finest and best tasting brands in the world, they have traditionally been extremely difficult to procure. Consequently there exists a very profitable market for importing and distributing Cuban cigars to cigar-lovers worldwide. There are many brands of Cuban cigars available, but some of the most well known include Coronas Especiales (rumored to be one of Fidel Castro's favorites) and Montecristos.

Many people assume that the distribution of Cuban cigars on U.S. soil is illegal. The truth of the matter is, although there are certain restrictions placed on the importing of cigars from Cuba, there is no outright law forbidding their presence. Recently the Department of Justice altered the original embargo on Cuban products, allowing limited amounts of cigars to be brought back from licensed trips to Cuba. That law has since been expanded to include personal quantities, up to two boxes, for personal use.

Although there is actually no law governing the importation of Cuban cigars for personal use, large business have been fined, at times, for the selling or distributing of large volumes of Cuban cigars to the pubic. Fines are a rare occurrence, however. Many private settings that sell Cuban cigars, such as hotels or casinos, have experienced little or no problems over the years.

In recent years there has been a growing black market for fake Cuban cigars. Most of the time, they are easy to spot because of their poor quality and appearance, but occasionally there have been Cuban imitations that are more difficult to regulate. The only way to ensure the quality and authenticity of a purchase is to take proper care to go to a reputable, reliable dealer of Cuban cigar products.

For any concerned individuals who hope to purchase Cuban cigars, but are worried about legal ramifications, there is little cause for concern. Purchasing Cuban cigars for private, non-commercial use has been going on for years among the most high-profile cigar aficionados, including politicians and movie stars.

Gourd Enthusiasm Growing Around the World

Gourds played an essential role in the daily life of early cultures. Commonly used as containers and vessels, they were also used for musical instruments. Some cultures used gourds for birdhouses and feeders and this is what most people today think of when they hear the word gourd. Or maybe you can remember a dipper made out of a gourd at Grandma's house years ago.

Now artists and crafts people have discovered a new medium to develop their creativity. I'm not sure when the gourd craze officially started but it worked it's way into my life about eight years ago by way of an article in a gardening magazine. It looked interesting and so that spring I decided to grow a couple gourd plants.

My first creations were, of course, birdhouses. Later, after some research and book purchases, the world of gourds exploded and I have found that the creative possibilities are limitless. Even if you can't come up with your own ideas there are a multitude of books and tutorials written by gourd artists and crafters explaining different techniques that can be done with gourds.

Gourd craft is working its way into the hands of accomplished artists who have found the gourd to be an exciting new way to showcase their art. They are not just for crafters anymore.

So now that you have gotten a little gourd enthusiasm of your own what comes next? Well, the gourd of course. Gourd growers and suppliers, once few and far between, are beginning to pop up everywhere. Many can be found on the internet.

Gourds come in all shapes and sizes, from minis to giants. The name of the gourd can give you a clue about the shape, such as egg, cannonball, canteen, basketball, bottle and so forth. You get the idea.

In order to work with the gourd it must be dry. If you happen to find gourds being sold in the fall at a farmers market they will most likely be freshly harvested. These will have to dry for a few months to a year or more depending on size. I personally don't like to purchase green gourds, as they are called, just in case they haven't fully matured. Some growers new to the world of gourd craft don't understand the needs of the gourd artist. They are only concerned with growing gourds for fall decoration. A poorly grown gourd, instead of drying, may rot or have a shell too thin to work with.

I'm in favor of buying gourds that have already dried. This way surprises and disappointments can be reduced. You still may have a few along the way though. When gourds dry they produce a moldy skin that eventually dries on the gourd. This skin has to be removed before art work can begin. After the skin is removed you may discover some holes or warts on your gourd. Or during cleaning you might discover your hard gourd has turned soft once you got it wet. This is the sign of a thin shell. There are things that can be done with a thin shell but for the most part we look for gourds with thick, sturdy shells.

To avoid these problems, look for cleaned, ready to craft gourds. These gourds have been cleaned for you. Cleaning is a messy job and you may not have the desire or area in which to do it yourself.

So come and join in the fun and find out for yourself the addicting powers of the gourd.

By Martha Bloom

Airbrush for Profit - Sell Your Services to Colleges

Colleges, schools, university and the like are one way you can make money from airbrushing. Why they are a good market is that there are plenty of students to begin with. Therefore, you are starting with a big customer base. Generally, look for any large groups when you want to make money from airbrushing. The cost of advertising will be low, and you will get to concentrate all your energies on one group.

You could arrange to sell your products and services at different school events. You could set up a booth at the school fair, paint at concerts, sell at dances, or any other big event or day they may have. Sell face painting, t-shirts, temporary tattoos, anything really.

One particularly good event that you can sell your product or service is graduation day. Call the organising committee and see if they would like a particular product airbrushed for the Graduating Class. One product that would be a good money earner, that students would love to get their hands on are "Class of 2005" t-shirts. Paint something that will remind them of the school or the year that past. Ask the organisers what they would like to see on them, and give them a few FREE SAMPLES to model for you around the school. You never know, a school with 200 graduates could be a good weekends work, not to mention the extra money you could make.

Talk to the committee and see if you are able to set up a work area at their end of year function. That special night, could also be a special night for you. Most times, students love to remember the night. You could be the right person to give them what they want!


By Roger Vail

Decorative Metal Work Techniques From The Early 1900s

Today's Metal Craft workers should truly appreciate the artistic skills & techniques used exclusively by the highly skilled metal artisans from almost one hundred years ago.

Decorative metalworking is undergoing a new renaissance as more & more people become involved in hobby metal craft. The skilful use of simple metal craft hand tools, allows the worker to create fine metal work items.

The casual onlooker of the magnificent ornamental metalwork's found on many historic public buildings in the USA, United Kingdom, Canada & many other countries, would hardly realize the many painstaking weeks or months of work involved in creating these elaborate metal works.

Every day, thousands of people walk straight past the beautifully crafted iron work, & decorative iron arches in public buildings & gardens, and not give them a second glance.

But the new age metal-craft worker of today would stop and admire & appreciate the design & craftsmanship skills required to create these superb handmade iron & metal-works of yesteryear. It is a learning experience.

Examples of old bent iron design work can also be used as inspiration for ideas to incorporate into new items made for today's lifestyle which any skilled metal worker of today could reproduce, things such as: garden structures, outdoor garden furniture, household utensils, or high quality items could be produced to sell to customers who are willing to pay the price for custom made iron & metalwork items.

But first, the metal craft worker needs to re-learn the special old time metal working skills used create these beautiful metal works

Most of this knowledge has been preserved for anyone who wants to become involved in artistic metal work. An ebook has just been republished which explains in full, the correct way to go about designing genuine reproduction bent ironwork, this ebook will show the novice or advanced metal worker the design concepts, and how to transfer drawings into real life full size objects.

Ironworkers over a century ago did not have arc welders to join their creations together, instead, they used special methods to bind the intricate metal work together, many of which are still in good repair today, even after one hundred years, such was their skill.

Metal work skills also combined the art of chemical etching of intricate designs onto copper and brass, & special methods of colouring or creating patinas on all kinds of metals for different unique effects.

Sheet metal cross strips and borders were also used for outdoor garden tables and chairs, this exacting skill is explained and described in detail so that the home hobby metal worker can reproduce them.

The special skills explained in the ebook will enable the artistic metal worker to recreate ornamental iron works just like the metal craft masters did over a century ago.

A Beginners Guide to Buying Authentic Swords Online

Looking at all the various swords for sale online can make you feel a bit like a kid in a candy store. But if you are looking to buy authentic replica swords online, it can be a bit harder to get what you really want than it otherwise might first appear?

Sure, if you are just looking for an ornamental sword to hang on the wall - it's pretty easy. Just look around for a sword that takes your fancy, don't spend much more than US$50 and your chances of getting what you want are good?

But if you are like me when I first started my sword collection, you might not know that there is a world of difference between an ornamental sword that you hang on the wall and a REAL sword that you can actually swing through the air or cut things with!

The reality is that the vast majority of swords for sale on the internet are what experienced sword collectors call "sword like objects". Even just swinging one of these swords through the air is asking for trouble, and may the gods help you if you try to cut something as simple as a cardboard box! More often than not, the swords handle will break, the blade will shatter or worse still, come flying off like some demented helicopter blade at a speed of just over 40mph (trust me, voice of experience here!).

The fact of the matter is that if you are looking for a REAL sword, you need to start your search looking for what online sword sellers refer to as a "battle ready" or "functional sword."

Unfortunately though, not all sword sellers are scrupulously honest in their description of a battle ready sword? And quite often, this description is applied to swords that are anything but "functional".

Essentially, there are three main characteristics that all REAL swords have in common. And those characteristics are:



They are made of high carbon steel, NOT stainless steel.



The swords have been properly heat treated to ensure they are not too brittle and not too soft.



The sword has what is called a "full tang". In other words, the metal insert that goes into the swords handle is forged as part of the sword, and not welded on afterwards.



Of course, not all "functional" swords being sold online accurately describe if they have these characteristics. Luckily though, there is a fairly easy way to determine if a sword is REAL or not. And that is by only buying swords made by a well known and respected sword manufacturer.In my opinion, the best "bang for your buck" swords are all produced by 3 companies - Windlass Steelcrafts, Generation 2 and Paul Chens Hanwei Forge. All of these manufacturers make good quality REAL swords at prices around the US$150 to $200 mark.

While you might think that this is a lot to pay for a sword, especially when compared to the cheap swords being sold online for $30 or $40 - the reality is that you are not comparing apples with apples. And believe me, for this price range you can get some very mean, strong swords that you would be proud to show off to your friends.

Discover the Truth about Comic Book Collection; Nerdy Geeks or Shrewd Investors?

It is unbelievable when one says, yeah, I collect comic books, what the general public response might be? Oh no, a slightly off the wall geek. Here is someone who has lost touch with reality. Or someone that is in his or her own little world. I think not. Yes, comic book collectors may sometimes march to the beat of a different drummer, but who says we all have to be cut from the same mold. Comic books are big business.

Back in the days of my youth (what, several millennia ago?), I loved reading comic books. And so did a lot of my friends. Whenever we had an extra dime or sometimes a quarter, we could run up to the local small town grocery and spend some very happy times at the comic book rack.

We would even go out and find small odds jobs for pocket change, which was enough then to purchase 2 or 3 good flights of adventure and fantasy. I can even remember crawling under our house to retrieve a cat that had the misfortune of dying there. My Dad couldn't stomach the smell and enticed my friend and I to accomplish the chore for ample pocket change. We braved the spiders and other crawly creatures to retrieve and bury the unfortunate cat. Not long after that, we were the proud owners of yet, several more intriguing comic books. Even the local bully (who was really a pretty good guy) would purchase our worn out or unwanted magazines for far more than they were worth, so we could purchase new ones.

I didn't know much about collecting then. I just liked saving what I enjoyed. I had a large cardboard box that I kept under my bed, filled with all my little treasures. I didn't realize that I had the beginnings of what could have been something very lucrative. In later years when I headed off to college, I dragged my large cardboard box with me. At one point in time, I left most of my belongings in the charge of what I thought were trusted friends. When I returned from my forest firefighting adventures, my box full of magazines were no where to be found. And needless to say, were my trusted friends either. Others had seen the value in what I had and wanted it for themselves. Oh well, live and learn. That limited collection of comic books and other magazines would have been worth a small fortune today.

Are there big bucks in the comic book genre? Just look at what Hollywood has been up to for the last few decades. As far as I can tell, the really big blockbusters started back in 1978 with the release of Superman, The Movie. And since then there has been comic book hero after comic book hero to hit the silver screen. And they all make tons of money. The Hollywood moguls may or may not be "into" the genre, but they can smell large profits. And these kinds of profits aren't harvested from a small out of touch with reality niche. It take large numbers of individuals forking out 5 to 10 dollars a pop, to accumulate the astronomical profits that Hollywood is seeing these days. Made up bu individuals who may or may not want to admit their avid interest in comic book characters. I will stand up and say, I enjoy watching these movies and have even started my own collection of comic book character DVDs. Who knows, maybe some day my DVDs will become as valuable as comic books. Probably not.

Although, not every individual's collection has magazines worth thousands of dollars, there are a sizable amount of collections that can be worth hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars. These are not people that have lost touch with reality. A while back, the actor, Nicholas Cage, put his comic book collection of about 400 magazines up for auction. Word was that he might have realized a value into seven figures. That ain't chicken feed.

It is not uncommon for single additions to be worth several hundred to several thousand dollars. Some comic books can enter the realm of several hundred thousand dollars for one magazine. Now the owners have to be some pretty rich economically savvy geeks. Are these the types of small niche individuals who have lost touch with reality or don't want to confess they like comic books? So the next time you hear someone profess, yeah I collect comic books, you may want to look inside yourself and say, how do I release my hidden passion and start collecting myself?

Now that you know this, isn't it about time you start a comic book collection for yourself? It is fairly simple, but there are several things to take into consideration. To get started on the right step, I am accumulating some of the best information on the Net about comic book collecting. Come on over and satisfy your curiosity.

By Dave Gieber

Pagan Crafts

Greetings to all Crafty Pagans,Witches and those who want to learn Pagan crafts.The purpose of this is to provide doable crafts and to create crafts and tools that will have your positve energies that will enrich your power while performing rituals or spellworks and in your every day life.

I would like to share with you many Pagan crafts which we will cover from creating your altar,to making candles,wands,athames,hemp jewlery,bath salts,walking sticks,spirit sticks,medicine bags,divination articles such as runes, scrying mirrors,pendulums and much,much more.

I would also like to include crafts for the children,so that it would be educational for them as well as fun to do.While making these crafts the children will learn the traditions and paths that Pagans and Witches travel in their life time.

There are eight celebrated Sabbats throughout the year and the year is called The Wheel of The Year.The four major Sabbats are,Samhain,The Witches'New year,October 31st/November 1st,Imbolc/Candlemas,January 31st/February 2nd,Beltane,April 30th/May 1st,Lughnasadh/Lammas,July 31st/August 1st.The four minor Esabats are,Yule is the Winter Solstice,on or about December 21st,Ostara,on or about March 21st,Litha/Midsummer,Summer Solstice on or about June 21st,and Mabon/Harvest,on or about September 21st.Each and every one of the Sabbats have many crafts that can be made to celebrate and honour them.

So gather your glue,scissors and thread,and I hope to share with you the crafts I've mentioned.

Many Blessings, )0(

My name is Lady Ameasha and I am a practicing Pagan Witch. My chosen path is Celtic/North American Indian (Cherokee)which is my ancestory.

I live in Southwestern Ontario,Canada, in the Country along the Nith River, where nature surround me. At almost any time of the day I can see a rabbit or two,a deer running in the pasture, racoons playing along side the river bank,and birds of all kinds.

I have lived in the country for over twenty-five years and thoroughly enjoy every minute and thank my Lord and Lady for blessing me with such pleasure. I have been crafting for as long as I can remember and enjoying each and every one of my projects.

A Look at the Humidor Plan

There are many styles of humidors that range from the smaller traveling humidor to the large cabinet and even walk-in room humidors. By far, the most popular humidor is the glass top humidor also referred to as the desktop humidor.

While many people will choose to purchase an already made humidor, for those who are more inclined, the art of making one's own humidor can be a very appealing idea and lend bragging rights at the same time. By making one's own humidor, the cigar aficionado can choose the materials, the size, the design and the specific humidifier for his or her own personal creation. The only limit is the imagination of the individual. Whether one chooses to make a simple, rectangular box design or one decides to be more elaborate, choosing to tool the wood with intricate designs, there is no wrong approach.

Performing a simple search for a humidor plan, one can find a wide variety of designs and plans, some for free and some for very inexpensive prices. If one so chooses, there are even plans on the internet for making a humidor out of Tupperware®. One can make any humidor from the traveling humidor to the glass top humidor to the cabinet humidor. The biggest question one must ask is how much time and effort does one want to invest in the finished product.

The major materials for starting ones own project include: -Cherry or rosewood (for external sides of the humidor)
-Spanish cedar (for the interior finish)
-Hinges (for the top)
-Hygrometer (mounted externally for monitoring)
-Humidifier (for maintaining humidity levels)
-Propylene glycol and distilled water (to maintain humidity levels)
-Weather stripping material (to maintain a tight seal)


The basic process for making a humidor from wood with the hygrometer and the mechanical humidifier is as follow:

-Cut the cherry wood to make a bottom, the four sides and the lid
-Cut the Spanish cedar to fit inside the cherry and to be used as the internal lining
-Drill a hole in the front wall of the humidor to receive the hygrometer
-Place weather-stripping around the hole where the hygrometer will be inserted and mount the hygrometer
-Attach the walls and the bottom of the humidor according to the design. Usually, with smaller cases, simple wood glue can be used with small brad nail for support
-Insert the humidifier according to the instructions for the specific humidifier purchased
-Mount the lid hinges to the lid and then mount this to the back wall of the humidor
-Attach weather-stripping along the lip of the humidor where the lid will sit
-Turn the humidor on and allow it to run for at least 24 hours to test the operation and to ensure that the humidifier maintains an approximate 70% humidity level
-After checking, place your cigars in the humidor and enjoy

There are many variations of humidors, affected by taste, requirements and funds available. However, the above plan describes simple steps for building an effective humidor.

A Look at Patriotic Lapel Pins

Perhaps the most popular type of lapel pin is the patriotic pin. Dating back to the Civil War in the United States, lapel pins that declare a person's patriotism are popular, highly collectible and trade-worthy! From the Civil War through WWI, patriotic lapel pins were medallions hung from ribbons pinned on a lapel. After WWI, there were more factories and the ability to mass-produce die-cast metal led to the popularity of die-cast lapel pins. The trend took off and patriotic lapel pins became more popular and collectible as the nation moved into a depression and everyone tried to do their own part, even something as simple as a lapel pin. The quality and craftsmanship of these earlier lapel pins is excellent, and a single patriotic lapel pin can sell at auction for $25.00 or more, depending on the subject matter.

The most patriotic symbol for any country is the flag, and in the US is no different! The American Flag is the most patriotic lapel pin that a citizen can wear. Fortunately there is no shortage of pins to be had! There are cloisonné, die cast, sequined and any imaginable variation of the American Flag on patriotic lapel pins. After 9/11 the sale of American Flags in the form of flags, pins and signs skyrocketed from the shelves, and today that patriotism is still evident with the American Flag everywhere, including on lapel pins. An American Flag lapel pin is a simple way to declare your feelings of pride in your country. Many of our politicians and celebrities have begun to wear patriotic lapel pins every day as part of their normal dress. American Flag lapel pins are elegant, and come in a variety of designs. Many people who travel internationally take American Flag lapel pins along on their travels to exchange with people from other countries or to hand out as small tokens from America.

Of course, there are many other patriotic lapel pins including military pins in support of our troops, pins remembering the 9/11 tragedy and the police and firemen heroes also from 9/11. A patriotic lapel pin gives recognition to those who have sacrificed to protect the nation's freedom and rights, and shows that you are aware and thinking of that contribution. The commemorative Olympic lapel pins are also patriotic and among the most sought after pins by collectors. So, dig out your Lake Placid Olympic lapel pin and wear it with pride!

Many patriotic lapel pins can be purchased in 14karat gold and sterling silver, which make great gifts. Be sure to shop carefully and purchase a pin that truly reflects your patriotic enthusiasm. Most of all have fun, enjoy your lapel pins and wear them!

Machine Embroidery Digitizing - What Youll Need Besides the Software

You've purchased an embroidery machine, practiced the designs that were included in the package, maybe even bought a disc of designs or downloaded a few designs off the Internet to stitch out. Now you're thinking about investing in digitizing software and taking your embroidery to the next level. But the digitizing program is just a part of what you'll need before entering the creative world of embroidery digitizing.

Choosing the Hardware

An embroidery digitizing program is image editing software capable of converting a digital picture to stitches and saving it in a format that can be read by your embroidery machine. And, like any robust image editor, a digitizing program is resource intensive. The program's packaging will state the manufacturer's recommended minimum computer system specifications to operate the software. Let's take a look at just such a recommendation and see how the 'minimums' stack up. (I won't mention the program or the manufacturer but these are actual recommendations from a popular digitizing software. Yours may vary but probably not by much.)

The Computer

Manufacturer recommends: IBM-PC or compatible computer originally equipped with a USB port.

I recommend: The same.

Operating System

Manufacturer recommends: Windows(R) 98, ME, XP or 2000.
I recommend: Windows(R) XP Pro with the latest Service Pack and updates. You might be able to get by with an antiquated operating system but not for long.

Mouse

Manufacturer recommends: N/A

I recommend: Any comfortable, optical, non-rollerball mouse. When doing imaging you cannot attain the precision you need with a rollerball. And an optical mouse means there is no ball on the bottom to catch or jerk at a critical time.

Processor

Manufacturer recommends: Pentium 500 MHz or higher.

I recommend: Pentium class 1 GB or higher. The faster the processor the better. We're imaging, not typing a letter.

Memory

Manufacturer recommends: Minimum 64 MB (256 MB or higher is recommended.)

I recommend: Minimum 512 MB. Memory is cheap and more is always better. You can never have too much.

Hard Disk Free Space

Manufacturer recommends: Minimum 100 MB

I recommend: You'll need 100 MB free to install the software but you're going to need a lot more than that to store your creations. Purchase a hard drive with a minimum of 40 GB, 80 GB or higher is better. A hard disk is like a garage: It collects junk and you rarely clean it out. Give yourself plenty of room for storage.

Monitor

Manufacturer recommends: SVGA (800x600), 16-bit color or higher.

I recommend: 17" SVGA (1024x768), 32-bit color. You're going to appreciate the extra screen real estate from a large monitor, and you'll need to be able to easily differentiate your thread color choices.

USB Port

Manufacturer recommends: USB Ver. 1.1 or higher.

I recommend: USB Ver. 1.1 or higher, 2 or more. Some programs will run only if a card reader/writer is installed. That's one port taken. If your machine accepts input directly from your computer you'll need another port available to send your finished file to your machine.

Printer

Manufacturer recommends: A graphic printer that is supported by your system (only if you want to print your images).

I recommend: A graphic printer. You will want to print your images and the associated thread color data. As a side note: I'm not sure why anyone would have a printer that was not supported by their system.

CD-ROM Drive

Manufacturer recommends: Required for installation

I recommend: The same, but with a minimum twenty-four-speed (24x) drive speed. A higher speed drive is fine, it transfers data faster but it's also a little noisier.

CD-ROM Recorder Drive (RW)

Manufacturer recommends: N/A

I recommend: Once a year or so when you're in the cleaning mood, you'll want to burn your images to CD to reduce clutter on your hard drive and reorganize.

Deciding to purchase machine embroidery digitizing software is just the first step to truly creative embroidery with a personal touch. Get the most out of it by making sure it is happy in its new home.

By Digitizer Deb Schneider

Make Your Own Professional Gift Baskets

Ever given your family or friends a beautiful gift basket? Gift baskets are such a wonderful gift and can be given for any occasion. However, if you are like me you don't have a clue where to start, let alone how to put one together?.. and the thought of creating a gift basket is the last thing on your mind? Then read on?.

Let me tell you how easy it is to make an amazingly beautiful gift basket like a professional. Even you won't believe you've made it!

To begin lets start with your "basket". When you hear gift basket the first thing that pops into your mind is a typical wicker basket. Well things have changed; you can use anything as your "gift basket". Once you decide who you are creating this gift basket for then decide on the type of basket which would be appropriate for that person. For instance if it is a teenager try a makeup bag or a plastic bucket for a gardener or a beach bucket for a child, try a laundry basket, a small plastic container or even a pretty purse, depending on the occasion and who it's for (you are only limited by your imagination for the type of "basket" you choose).

Next, find your fillers. The fillers don't have to be expensive but ensure that they match the type of gift basket you are creating. Make sure that what you buy will fit inside your basket. The secret to the presentation of your gift baskets are to make sure it looks like it is overflowing. The type of fillers you use will depend upon the theme of your basket and again, who you are creating it for.

Now for the fun part - decorating! Start arranging your items into the basket. Make sure to put the bigger, taller or larger items to the back and the smaller items in the front. You can use shredded paper or any other "stuffing" to prop things up or fill in the holes if you need to. I like to cover the basket in cellophane and then type of personalized card.

Finished ??. how easy was that!

Create A Gift Basket For A Cat Lover!

The choice of what gift to give your family and friends can often be a difficult one. One of the best gifts that you can give is a themed gift basket. A gift basket is that one present that comes in many shapes, themes and of course price ranges. A gift basket can also be a new arrival gift idea for that family pet.

The diversity of gift baskets is never-ending. You can give a cat gourmet food gift basket (make sure they are good quality products to ensure the feline doesn't reject the food!) or a bath and grooming necessities gift basket. In fact the list is endless.

Here is a simple basket that you can easily create yourself for that special "Cat Lover".

Pick a basket style. I like to use either a bucket (can be used to store grooming products in) or a cat basket. There are a lot of choices on the market so choose between one with two side handles or without handles. A cat likes to feel snug in their environment so a closed in fabric padded style basket will also be well received. Make certain the basket is large enough to hold the gifts you have selected and of course if it is intended for the cat to sleep in it, large enough to accommodate that special Feline.

Choose a color that complements the cat lover's home decor. If in doubt, choose a neutral color by selecting a natural wicker basket.

Next select a variety of items that have a cat theme. When selecting the gifts for the cat lover choose items with cat themes such as cat calendars, coffee mugs, computer mouse pads, T-shirts, note cards, stationery, cat magazines, include fiction and nonfiction books and picture frames.

Select some grooming brushes and cat toys for their cat.

If you are on a budget try a small basket and include:

A photo frame, a disposable camera to take some memorable moments between the recipient and their special feline, a photo album, along with a voucher for photo finishing.

When you are finished choosing the gifts and have selected the basket, wrap the completed Gift Basket with cellophane paper and a nice ribbon to give it a finishing touch. Use shredded paper inside the basket to hold the goodies in place. Tie a humorous gift tag with a message for that added touch.

By Donna Hamer

Create A Gift Basket For A Dog Lover!

The choice of what gift to give your family and friends can often be a difficult one. One of the best gifts that you can give is a gift basket. A gift basket is that one present that comes in many shapes, themes and of course price ranges. A gift basket can also be a new arrival gift idea.

The diversity of gift baskets is never-ending. You can give a doggy gourmet food gift basket or a bath and grooming necessities gift basket. In fact the different type of gift baskets you can create is endless.

Here is a simple basket that you can easily create yourself for that special "Dog Lover".

Pick a basket style. I like to use either a bucket or use a dog basket. There are a lot of choices on the market so choose between one with a handle, with two side handles or without handles. Make certain the basket is large enough to hold the gifts you have selected and of course if it is intended for the dog to sleep in it, large enough to accommodate the dog.

Choose a color that complements the dog lover's home decor. If in doubt, choose a neutral color by selecting a natural wicker basket.

Next select a variety of items that have a dog theme which will later be packed into the decorative basket that you have chosen especially for the recipient.

When selecting the gifts for the dog lover choose items with dog themes such as dog calendars, coffee mugs, computer mouse pads, T-shirts, note cards, stationery, dog magazines, include fiction and nonfiction books and picture frames.

Select some doggie bones and dog chew toys for the pooch or pooches.

To add a little extra to your gift basket for the Dog Lover include: A cap with the dogs name embroidered on the front, some sunscreen for when they are out walking together and a poo catching holder for the collection bags;

If you are on a budget try a small basket and include:

A picture frame, a disposable camera to record an outing with their pooch, a record book to record events, a photo album, along with a voucher for photo finishing.

When you are finished, wrap the Gift Basket with cellophane paper and a nice ribbon to give it a finishing touch. Use shredded paper inside the basket to hold the goodies in place. Tie a humorous gift tag with a message for that added touch.

By Donna Hamer

Ever Wanted to Make Your Own Themed Gift Baskets?

If you've always wanted to know how to make your own gift baskets, this article will give you some tips to get started. Gift baskets are such a wonderful gift and can be given for any occasion. Creating personalized themed gift baskets is a great gift to give that someone special. Gift Baskets are easy to make and a joy to give.

When creating a themed gift basket, don't limit yourself as to the type of basket that you can create. It can be something simple and small, homemade or lots of great goodies that make a really beautiful gift basket.

Here are some unique themed gift basket ideas for children, teenagers and parents:

Teenaged Girls Gift Basket

Find a small to medium sized basket and line the basket with pink tissue paper or raffia grass. Buy a sampler pack of flavored lip glosses, powders, lotions, a makeup kit and a light sporty fragrance and artistically arrange. Don't forget bracelets, rings, watches, earrings, and necklaces. Wrap the basket with colored cellophane and tie with a pretty ribbon and bow.

Teenaged Boys Gift Basket

Place a couple of their favorite CD's or DVD's in the basket along with a pocket comb, cologne, and skin care products designed for males.

Smaller Children Gift Basket

Using a medium sized basket, place a thin and soft blanket in as a liner. Select a couple of dolls, stuffed animals, cars, or whatever toys the child might enjoy inside.

Older Children Gift Basket

Big kids are wild about cartoon pencils and erasers, stickers and trading cards. Add small games (like a Game Boy along with accessories) and the latest Harry Potter book.

Infants and Babies Gift Basket

Place a soft receiving blanket in along with socks, teething rings, rattlers, and a small plush toy. Baby brush sets, clippers, bottles, and pacifiers can be added. Or make a basket filled with baby skin products and diapers.

Ladies Gift Basket

A romantic gift basket for her should include chocolates, scented candles, perfume, a framed photo of the two of you, and a handwritten poem or note.

Gift Basket for a Man

Include his favorite drink (which may be wine, beer, bottled water or a soft drink), his favorite munchies, aftershave, a handwritten poem or note and a photo for beside his bed.

If you are looking for more themed gift basket ideas or How to Make Gift Baskets, visit us at www.101giftbasketideas.com.

By Donna Hamer

Plastic, Zinc, Brass, Embossing and Marking Stencils

Marking Stencils

Stencil is a cut-out form for an alphabets, numbers, symbols and illustrations. Embossing and Marking Stencils provide quality of work and save plenty of time. Stencils are available in a wide variety of materials and fabrication methods. Stainless steel and plastic are the most commonly used materials. Thickness ranges from a few millimeters to 0.040 depending on the components to be placed.

Marking Stencil Material

Stencil material can be a critical variable in the stencil printing process. The dynamics of deposition and release are quite different between metal and plastic stencils.

Plastic Stencils

Plastic stencils have several advantages over metal stencils. Plastic stencils are easy to clean and store. There is no rust problem with plastic. Plastic stencil weighs less than metal stencils. Typically plastic stencils are much thicker than metal stencils and small apertures may require more aggressive cleaning such as high pressure spray or ultrasonic methods. Plastic is more durable and flexible material. Mylar is a special type of plastic usually used in making plastic stencils. It has one side shinning and other side dull to create difference between stenciling side and underside.

The plastic stencil has disadvantages, as well. Since the apertures in the plastic stencil are drilled, only round shapes are possible. Also, since plastic stencil technology is new, they are not as widely available as are stainless steel stencils and may be more expensive. Finally, the plastic stencil may be harmed by metal squeegee blades and, therefore, only polyurethane or special blades (provided by the stencil manufacturer) are advised. Plastic stencils have been recommended when the application requires a wide range of dot heights in a single print pass.

Metal Stencils

Metal stencils are available at comparatively low prices. There is a complete freedom of aperture geometry. Metal stencils are recommended when only small dots are needed. We offer variety of metal marking stencils including brass stencils, zinc stencils and stainless steel stencils.

Zinc stencil letter sets of non-interlocking and interlocking zinc stencils in a range of sizes. zinc stencils are useful for making signs and marking cartons and packing cases.

Brass stencil letter sets of non-interlocking and interlocking zinc stencils in a range of sizes. Brass stencils are useful for making signs and marking cartons and packing cases.



By Bob Jonathan

How to Make a Simple Gemstone Necklace

With gemstone beads, every bead is precious. Every bead is beautiful. A little more effort is needed when stringing a gemstone necklace together.

First, decide on the design. Take a fishing line and string the gemstone beads through it. Hold the string of beads around your neck in front of the mirror to see how the necklace would look. When you are pleased with your design, then start stringing the beads together properly.

For that, you need colored thread that matches the beads and some nylon thread to strengthen the necklace and to needles that can go through the beads, 1 at a time.

Thread both needles with as much colored string and nylon thread as they can take.

Twine an end of the strings from both needles together Thread the needles through the hole on one side of the clasp and tie decorative knots to secure the strings to the clasps.

Use both needles and tie a knot as close to the clasp as possible.

Slip both needles through the first bead, one needle at a time, then tie another knot to secure the bead. Make sure the knot is large enough so the bead cannot slip over the knot. Slip the needles through the next bead and tie another large knot to secure the bead. Repeat the process until you have secured all the beads for your necklace.

Now slip the needles through the hole at the other part of the clasp and tie a decorative knot as close to the beads as possible. Slip the needle back through the previous bead to hide the string and then snip off the excess string.

Craft Crocheting from Your Home

Crocheting is not only a craft but an art. Once you master the basic stitches you will be well on your way to creating masterpieces you will be pride to share with your family and friends. Anyone can learn to crochet as long as they put their mind to it.
Before you run out and buy your crocheting supplies decide what you want to crochet first. According to the item you choose, you will need different size needles and yarn weight. All this information is with the patterns and you will see just how easy it is to achieve your goal of crocheting your first work of art.
You will be crocheting from toys to sweaters in no time. There are so many different items you can crochet. There are snowflakes for the Christmas tree, sweaters for your best friend, and house slippers for every member of your family. You can even learn to crochet baby bibs, blankets, and outfits.
No matter what you choose to crochet you will find everything you need on the Internet! No need to leave the house. Some websites provides you all the supplies for crocheting and knitting with just a click of your mouse. You will need crochet hooks, yarn, and sometimes needles. The crochet hooks come in several different sizes. The yarn is in different weights and you can find them all right by shopping online.
So, when you need to buy your crocheting supplies, come at Crochet Resources first. Save yourself some time and money by shopping online.