Knitting Corner

Spice Up Your Relationship With That Special Someone With A Unique Romantic Gift Basket

Give the gift of love to that special someone in your life with a romantic gift basket created uniquely to meet his or her desires. Any romance gift basket must be loaded and specially fashioned with all sorts of treats and goodies. Everything from fine chocolates and wines to pampering spa packages for two can be combined to create the perfect Valentine’s Day gift basket or a romantic gift basket for just about any occasion at which you choose to say “I love you.” With a romance gift basket designed with only the very best in mind, you are certain to give your sweetie the extravagance he or she has been waiting for.

Every couple wants to express his or her love for their significant other, and there is often no better way to do this than with a romantic gift basket overflowing with love, care, and flair. Romance gift baskets are certain to delight and add to the excitement of any special time for every man and woman. Furthermore, romantic gift baskets are just the right touch for saying “I love you” with style and creativity, so now is definitely the time to fashion one for the one you love the most.

No matter what your heart wishes, you can always find a way to add this special touch to a beautiful and unique romance gift basket. Flowers, champagne, and chocolate make a stunning arrangement for any lovely gift item. These are sure to make every loving heart swell with joy, and can be appropriate for every occasion. No matter if you have a Valentine’s Day gift basket or just a basket that tells another how you feel, regardless of the day of the week or the time of year, a romantic gift basket designed with love will make the day right.

If champagne and sweets are not for you and your loved one, then you may consider filling your romantic gift basket with other goodies that are sure to delight and please your significant other. Jewelry is always a winner for males or females alike; bath items, such as colognes and perfumes are yet another way to fill your gift basket with love. Their pleasant, enticing aromas will make for a delight of the senses and lead to an evening that is filled with joy and excitement that will never end.

Valentine’s Day gift baskets are fun presents to give on this special day that revolves around love and relationships. As one of the most anticipated holidays of the year, Valentine’s Day offers you an extra opportunity to show your spouse or significant other just how much you care. A romantic gift basket given on this day should be filled with care, love, and creativity, and once you have found the perfect additions to your design, you will discover that this is exactly what you need to make your sweetie feel like the most important person in the world. A Valentine’s Day gift basket can say it all!

Romantic gift baskets are one of many special ways to express to someone just how much you care. Fill these baskets with items you know your loved ones or friends will enjoy and cherish, and you just cannot go wrong. This is a dynamic way to give back to others everything that they give to you every single day. So do it with flair, do it with care, and give someone a romance gift basket that they will remember fondly for many years to come.

To purchase a unique romantic gift basket visit http://www.giftbasketontheweb.com/romantic-baskets.htm


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Art Lighting As Art

To treat Art lighting as art in and of itself requires first an understanding of the scientific and aesthetic qualities of light. Light is a universal constant, because the speed of light is the fastest velocity in physical reality, and it can neither be altered nor exceeded. Light always travels in a straight line, and any obstruction in its path casts a shadow. Light always reflects to some degree off of any surface, which is what makes it possible for us to see any work of art. Light also can fill a space without consuming it, making it possible to use any form of lighting as art provided the angle of incident is aimed correctly at the piece. Improper angles will not only create shadows resulting from light spillage, but they will create glare as the beam reflects off the surface of the work back toward the viewer’s eyes.

Because light possesses many qualities that are absolute and inviolate, it is in one sense impossible to completely eliminate glare and shadow, because no matter what you do, some light is going to reflect off the piece, and sooner or later, the light will encounter some sort of obstruction that casts a shadow. A skillful art lighting company who specializes in designing light as art understands this, and rather than engage in the futile attempt to eliminate glare and shadow in defiance of the laws of physics, works instead in harmony with Nature’s laws and seeks to position any resulting glare and shadow outside of the viewer’s line of sight.

The old cliché "Out of sight, out of mind," rings very true when approaching artwork lighting as an art form unique unto itself.

To accomplish this, it is necessary to understand angles from a three-dimensional, as opposed to a two-dimensional, point of view. Light striking the surface of any art, including modern contemporary art from a nearby fixture constitutes one angle of incident. The reflected light coming back to the observer constitutes a second. The two must be measured carefully in relation to one another if one is to determine the appropriate position of any lighting fixture. If the right balance is struck, then reflective glare and resulting shadow will be hidden from his or her line of sight, allowing for an uninhibited experience of light and art from that particular viewing angle.

This calls for the art lighting designer to take a number of factors into account when installing an picture or art lighting system. First, the designer has to pinpoint all points of observation within a room where viewers will possibly be standing when they view various works. These points vary greatly based upon the environment and the type of room involved. Vantage points in museums are vastly different from those in office foyers and private living rooms. Secondly, the designer has to look at the surface of the art itself to assess its reflective qualities. High-end photography and certain forms of paint cause the surface of the image to have a “sheen” that acts as a virtual mirror, casting not only reflected color back into the eyes, but portions of the light beam itself. Dimmable, recessed art lighting is often required for such artwork in order to disperse illumination sufficiently not to shine back into the eyes.

Finally, one very important element to art lighting as art that many fail to even consider is the size and type of frame housing the piece in residential art designs. Light from a fixture that is placed too high will actually be blocked by the upper lip of the frame and cast what is called a “frame shadow” over the work. Something as simple as adjusting the level of the painting can often remedy this problem, although in formal galleries this may not be an option, and special fixtures with complex reflectors and filters may be needed to create a more indirect “wash” of luminance that results in both painting and frame being bathed in a radiant field of light as opposed to a bright beam of focused, direct light.

Perhaps one of the best tools available to art lighting consultants is a high-end art projector that allows for a variety of lighting level adjustments, advanced lighting filters and special reflectors, and the ability to proportionately size a beam to the precise dimensions of a work. While this does not completely eliminate glare and shadow (which the laws of physics mandate are inevitable with any form of lighting), it does give the collector or curator more power to control these negative elements, or in some cases, even turn them into art lighting attributes.

For example, many painters such as Goya, and certain genres such as surrealism, rely upon shadows to emphasize themes connected to the dark side of man, or the apparent duality of Nature itself. Placing too much light on such artwork will diminish its statement by overriding elements of shadow that the artist intended to be present. Phantom art lighting projectors can be dimmed and adjusted for such works so as to create a “lighted from within” effect that preserves the artist’s use of dark elements and negative images, providing just enough visibility for the viewer to see the work and its key aesthetic elements.

In a philosophical sense, we might say then that even darkness comes from light, and reality is more of a variation in luminance instead of a contrast between light and absence of light. Art challenges our thinking in much the same manner, forcing us to confront a world of color, light, and shadow that coalesce together in often-ambiguous patterns that force us to question our view of the world and explore the unknown through the eyes of the artist. The same hold true when designing and installing and designing landscape lighting.

To light art, you must understand both light and art, and art as light from the vantage point of a trained consultant. While becoming a consultant may take years of training and practice, with the help of a qualified electrical contractor, you can achieve the same results through partnership and dialogue with an expert.

Illuminations Lighting and Design multi-specializes in a variety of indoor, outdoor, high-end, and landscape lighting design services. ILD is also a licensed electrical design and repair firm. Visit http://www.illuminationslighting.com/art-lighting-as-art.htm and http://www.illuminationslighting.com for more details.


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Digital Scrapbooking With Adobe: Get Creative With Your Photographs

One of the reasons that Adobe is such a great company for modern-day computer users is that they offer a wide range of products. These products help you to not only create documents, but to really enhance them when you're working with photos and other graphics. So, using Adobe for digital scrapbooking can be a fun and enjoyable way to create stunning graphics and pages for your own albums.

There are some common questions that you might immediately have when it comes to getting started with digital scrapbooking with Adobe, so hopefully we can answer some of those basic questions here, and get you on your way. Once you learn how to use Adobe Photoshop you will be able to add more creativity to your scrapbooking pages.

When talking about digital scrapbooking with Adobe, chances are you're referring to the Adobe program of Photoshop. Photoshop is a program that many people use to crop, edit, and otherwise work with photos on their computer. If you have ever seen some funny pictures that have obviously been doctored – the President's head on a weightlifter's body or a dog riding the space shuttle – chances are that person used Photoshop.

One of the tools that Adobe Photoshop has is the selection feature. This allows you to take any area of one picture and remove it from its original setting, expand it, and so on. For example, suppose you have a favorite photo of your two children, but wish you could have them in individual photos to work with your scrapbooking projects.

Photoshop allows you to select and manipulate the part of that original picture you want and make it into its own new picture. This is one of the best ways to begin scrapbooking with Adobe, as you are not limited by the pictures you have and the way they've come out.

Some of the most creative scrapbooking pages are those that have more than one copy of the same picture, or several shots that were taken right after one another, and so on. When digital scrapbooking with Adobe Photoshop, you can copy your pictures, reduce their size, expand their size, and add as many other pictures as you want, all with the click of a mouse. This way there is no damage done to your original photos, and you don't need to keep copying, cutting, pasting, and so on, until you get it right.

Adobe Photoshop offers several different versions depending on your level of computer skills. You will want to decide how much of a learning curve you want for your digital scrapbooking software. There are full versions used by professionals. These are quite expensive and take a considerable amount of time to master. For most scrapbookers, Adobe Photoshop Elements is a more reasonable and cost-effective option.

Using Photoshop for your digital scrapbooking can be a great tool to work with your photos and create beautiful and stunning scrapbook page layouts. It has a full range of special effects that you can add to your photos. Taking the time to learn Adobe Photoshop will add a new techniques to your digital scrapbooking projects.

Christine Perry invites you to her website, http://www.intoscrapbooking.com for more scrapbooking ideas and and ideas for scrapbooking horse pages.


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Photography And Photo Albums

Humans have always favored the visual media. From cave paintings to monumental sculpture, mankind has sought ways to recreate the images of the world around him and through art, the things of his imagination. Art is however, a subjective form of expression and all such early images, no matter how carefully crafted, were not true representations. This began to change in the nineteenth century as the photographic process began to be developed.

Photography is the process whereby a light sensitive chemically treated surface was exposed to light through a focusing lens. The exposed "film" could then be processed with other chemicals to permanently stain the unlit areas so an image would appear.

The process has continually improved to the point that now photographs can be taken directly to a digital format through the use of a Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) chip or a Charge Coupled Device (CCD).

Historically, the photograph (light picture) was first produced by the Frenchman, Joseph Nicphore Nipce in 1826 with the use of silver and chalk as a substrate. The idea of capturing live images propelled the inventiveness of others. Louis Daguerre brought photography to the next level with his use of specially treated metal plates being used instead of glass. While the image was delicate and could degrade over time, the daguerreotype set an impressive standard for photographic imaging.

The next great developments in photography occurred in the mid eighteen hundreds in the process of finding the right types of paper and chemical mixes. The collodion process used a glass plate negative that could transfer the image to albumen paper. The gelatin process of photography appeared in 1871 and is still the most often used process for black and white photography.

While color photography has been possible ever since the process was created, the efficiency of color reproduction lagged behind black and white image making. It was not until 1903 that Autochrome Lumire was revealed to the public. With the right direction in research finally discovered, the Autochrome was soon replaced by the more effective Kodachrome. As these systems became for accurate in their color representation and ease of processing, color photography has become the state of the art and over 95% of all photographs taken in the world today are done with color.

Photographs are no longer exclusively limited to photographic paper. The early etching process and them the lithographic printing process developed ways to break the varying shades of gray into dot patterns that allowed photographs to be reproduced quickly and effectively. Newspapers quickly took up this ability and have made photojournalism a distinguished profession. It is through them that we see a picture can truly be worth a thousand written words.

Motion picture photography has added another dimension to the photographic repertoire. By exposing a series of still pictures and replaying them at speed, the image so projected gives the illusion of movement. The movie industry has been a prime source of improved photographic development ever since it began.

Now that computers have emerged as the most powerful source of information on the planet, photography has evolved to take full advantage of the digital age. There are more digital cameras now than there are analog cameras. Imaging programs can modify and enhance existing photographs for greater details or artistic effects.

Digital photographs do not even need to be printed but can be saved in image files on computer hard drives or Compact Disks and viewed on screen. Color jet and laser printers can produce a hard copy of your photograph that is almost indistinguishable from a chemically treated photograph.

Create Photo Albums and Digital Albums.


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Free Scrapbooking Layouts

Get some photographs that are related, add some special effects like borders, glitter, and explanations and you have a scrapbook. A scrapbook is for preserving memories. New computer technology have turned the art form into a commercial concern. Back in the day people collected photos, added comments and preserved them in an album together with some effects to draw eyes.

Digital scrapbooks have taken over and appears to be the force that is driving the popularity of the art form. With digital cameras everywhere now and simple photo editing software being affordable, it is now possible for every computer user to create their scrapbook with improved layouts.

With the non-computer scrapbook, the producer has to cut, arrange, attach and decorate photos with strips of different colors and writings. With the power of the computer, those functions have gotten much easier and lots faster. One click, backgrounds change, shapes rearrange, and stamps change shapes.

Scrapbook layouts are not only sequences of photos but an impressive and artistic representation of your memories and collection. To make your scrapbook appealing to people who view it, you have to have an overall effect of decoration. Think of the happiness you will achieve as people appreciate your project. Remember this is a sharing of your memories through the scrapbook. There has to be a flow of events and pictures. Although picking every photo can be confusing, you must work beyond that.

Now with the huge hard drives on computers, it is easy to store all your photos. With the help of many available layout ideas, you can organize your collection in numerous sequences. Again one click and you can easily change the album layout.

These days with the growing popularity of scrapbooking, in large part due to digital scrapbooking, there are many options for layouts. The number of websites working to help and guide scrapbookers is increasing every day. Another good thing about these services are that the majority of them offer lots of stuff for free.

Basic story telling with tact and printed materials, along with some interesting comments is the heart of scrapbooking. There are hundreds, maybe thousands of alternate layouts available online. These free scrapbooking layouts can present your ideas more effectively. You can use readymade templates or go wild and create your own.

To make your scrapbook better, use your imagination in conjunction with what you can get online. You can use entire layouts or use just the elements of the layouts and your imagination to add your unique touch to your scrapbook. Individual scrapbooks are like fingerprints, each one is different. They are different and special because you have added your unique style.

Along with free scrapbooking layouts you can get more ideas from your friends who are also doing scrapbook. Discuss your ideas with them and they may have some suggestions that can be useful. A different set of eyes see different things. Things that may be nearly invisible to you may jump out at them. They see your album from a different angle. Their suggestions may make your scrapbook layout more interesting. Sharing layout ideas is a give and take. Offer your own suggestions and they are more likely to open up and share their ideas.

While you are scrapbooking, keep your eyes open and look critically at every technique you see. There are layout examples everywhere. With most helpful websites offering free templates, you save some money and make the hobby affordable. As with anything else though, you get what you pay for and the layouts and supplies bought are likely better than their free cousins.

Been there, done that, scrapped a page about it Ken


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Fathers Day Gift Baskets

Father's Day is fast approaching. It will be here before you know it! Give your father, or other special man in your life, a truly unique and appreciated gift. This year, surprise the recipient with a gift basket designed especially for him.

Father's Day gift baskets come in all shapes and sizes and can be tailored to fit any budget. You have the option of purchasing them off the shelf or as a custom made gift. Whether Dad is a fishing nut, racecar fan or a lover of gourmet goodies, you can easily find a basket that he will enjoy. (And, not take up room in his sock drawer.)

If the special guy in your life is a movie buff, request a Father's Day gift basket created around this theme. Imagine his surprise when he receives a basket filled with a variety of treasures such as his favorite DVD (or movie rental gift card), gourmet popcorn, plenty of concession-stand type candy, movie trivia guide and a collectible movie tin.

If Dad is a "golf junkie", there are many Father's Day golf-related gift

baskets that will fit him to a t. or in this case, tee. Choose small themed items. maybe a book filled with great golf tips, a handy notepad or a perpetual calendar. Add to that, a bucket of chocolate golf balls, Dad's favorite nuts, snack mix and a golfer's coffee mug, filled with a variety of gourmet coffee singles.

Does your Dad claim to be the "master of the grill"? If so, BBQ-related, Father's Day gift baskets are an option worth your consideration. Start with a wicker tray-type basket filled with a variety of sauces and marinades. Add items such as a small chopping board, BBQ mitts and/or utensils, smoky cheeses, a themed cookbook and a gift card for Dad's favorite grocery store.

There really are Father's Day gift baskets appropriate for everyone on your list, regardless of their interests. This year, take the time to have your favorite gift basket vendor create a special basket that won't end up in the back of the closet, collecting dust!

La Tunya Sifford is a all occasion gift consultant and owner of http://www.fullmoongiftbaskets.com A one stop shop for all your gift, and gourmet needs- providing free gift basket drawings, personalized and custom themed gift baskets for all occasions.


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How to Use Armatures for Sculpting OOAK Babies

Many sculptress do not use armatures. They have the ability to barely touch the clay and others, like myself, can't work without an armature. I always end up smashing a place that I had already finished and it takes me a long time to smooth it. I did some research and found out that there are several armatures nowadays; I will talk about the ones I have used or know they exist:

Resin Polymer clay Plaster of Paris Gesso Wire
Vinyl Plastic Wood Styrofoam Aluminum Foil

Out of all these armatures my favorite is foil, but I'll talk a little bit about all of them.

I like the resin armatures, because you get a resin head and limbs. The limbs have a wire that goes through them with gaps between the feet and knee, so that you can bend the wire to pose the limbs. Once they are posed, you fill the gaps with polymer clay and bake at 265 Fahrenheit degrees for 30 minutes. Once it cools, you can start covering the head and limbs armature with clay.

The resin armatures are nice because you don't need to use a lot of clay, they cure even and you can work fast, but the inconvenience is that they are expensive. The smaller ones start at $9.99 and the bigger ones go to $19.99 If you are already selling your OOAK babies at high prices, that's fine, but if you're not, then wait and don't spend as much money. You can find the resin armatures at Jack Johnston's Art Dolls website.

The polymer clay armature is pre baked before you start sculpting and you make the head and limbs, bake them and then you sculpt over these. I recommend these armatures for very small babies. You don't want to waste so much clay in an armature. No one sells these. You have to make them yourself.

The plaster of Paris armatures are made out of a mold and they are hollow. I have only used the head armature. I haven't seen limb's armatures made out of plaster of Paris. They sell them covered with aluminum foil and you're not supposed to remove it. I did out of curiosity and found out they are two halves and they are held together by the foil.

You have to be careful to work with the plaster of Paris, because you can't press hard or you will break it. It's fragile. Other than that, they are a great help to work with and you can buy them at Pat Moulton's website.

The Gesso armatures are better to work with, because they make it out of the gesso casting strip. They are made out of a ball of paper, then you have to wet the gesso strip and put it around the ball of paper. You can make limbs out of this too, but I don't like it because it's messy and you have to wait for it to dry. No one sells them, so you have to make them yourself.

The wire armatures are used mostly for small sculptures such as babies, fairies, elves, or miniatures. They form the wire as a body and then cover it with white floral tape. This works great for small or miniatures, because you can pose the wire armature any way you want. Some fairy sculptors sell these ready made wire armatures, but for whatever price you are going to pay, it is cheaper to buy the wire and make them yourself.

After you have the armature covered with the floral tape and posed the way you want it, you can start adding the clay. For extra strength, you can dry the first layer of clay with a drying gun. Your sculpture will be so strong it will not break.

The vinyl armatures are fairly new. The are sold by Secrist Dolls. It is the only place where they make them so far. You can work fast with them but they are hollow and the vinyl is not very hard, so you have to be careful not to press too much and when you bake them, you have to let them cool completely so you don't break the head sculpture.

The risk of these armatures is that they crack very easily so until they find a way to make them better, I am keeping away from these. I had to fill mine with glass pellets and seal them before starting to sculpt, because I cracked a few and they are expensive too. They come in three sizes: Small, medium and large.

Plastic armatures are good too, but once you put them in the oven they melt, so make sure you cover them with a fairly thick layer of clay and don't handle them until they are completely dry. Jack Johnston sells them too, but they are expensive and not very reliable.

Wood armatures are great, but just for small babies' heads. No one sells them. I came up with the idea to buy wood balls in the crafts section and then I add the clay. They work beautiful, never crack and the weight of the wood makes them very realistic. They have a hole on one side, so I insert a small wood stick like a lollipop and the job is much easier.

Styrofoam armatures are very good, but it's not just any styrofoam. If you put regular styrofoam in the oven, the fumes are toxic, so don't do it. They are special styrofoam armatures that you can buy from a lady in Doll Fan or in Europe. They don't make them here in the US yet. They have the head armature and they also have limbs armatures, but you have to break the styrofoam if you want to pose them in other positions rather that the 90 degree the foot and leg are positioned.

They work great to sculpt, but the inconvenience is that they shrink once you get them in the oven. As a matter of fact, you can hear them rattle inside the head sometimes, but if you add a fairly thick layer of clay you should not have any problems. The advantage is that these armatures are very affordable.

Aluminum foil armatures as I said before are my favorite. They don't shrink, you can pose them before you add the clay and will make your armature so strong it'll never break or crack. The only disadvantage is that you have to make them yourself and work hard at them. The harder you get them, the best, and if you work on the shape of the heads and limbs too they will make your job much easier.
There are some people who sell them already made, but they are expensive considering it's just a ball of aluminum foil. The only difference is that these armatures are very well defined, formed and smooth, because they cover them with a last layer of foil when the head and limbs are done, but then again, you can do this yourself and save a lot of money.

Arts 'n Dolls is an online community where you can buy, sell, or trade. Click here to see more arts, crafts, OOAK, and reborn baby guides and tutorials. You can also see our free tutorials and visit our arts, dolls, & crafts forum.


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Church Candles Always Shedding Light WhateverThe Time

The history and use of church candles goes back many thousands of years and can be traced through many religions across time. One of the first recordings of candles in use lies in the Egyptian history books where it is said the Egyptians frequently used church candles made from beeswax, however mention is also made of types of taper candles for ritual purposes using tallow covered rushes. These rituals where for the purpose of interpretation of dreams and communication with he gods through meditation as one closely studied and focus on the heart of the flame.

The relatively steady rate of a burning candle has lent itself since the turn of the last millennium to the use of time keeping. Candles used in this way would normally have sections marked on their side to represent each period of time, in the case of western communities this would be in periods of an hour. In China the Sung Dynasty made use of church candles in this way. Later on time keeping candles were developed further with the addition of weights pushed into the side which would then fall into a dish to make a noise marking the passing of time. In more modern times we in the west are now familiar with the Advent church candle, used to mark the 24 days leading up to Christmas day.

The use of church candles in 'modern day' religions can be traced to the early days of Roman Catholicism. Initially the Roman Catholics cast great scorn on the use of candles in church due to the known rituals of pagans and their use of candles within them. Gradually however the attitude of the church changed and by the fifth century the use of candles in their services and ceremonies where readily accepted and recognised as a symbol of the divine spirit.

It wasn't until some centuries later that church candles were actually allowed to be used on the alter and their use was seen to be both symbolic and practical in representing the force of good against evil. Often however the history books draw different views on this, with some stories reporting witches using candles to place evil curses on their victims, whilst conversely other stories report towns folk taking up candles as a way of protecting themselves, their families and their animals against the evil intentions of witches. In a similar vein some centuries ago the Jews took up the practice of lighting candles at the bedside of the dying to ward off the approaching demons and evil spirits.

Even today in the modern world many people place great credence on the influence and behaviour of a candle with those that believe a candle with a weakening flame is a forecast that someone in the household is about to die and others who interpret different meanings according to the colour that the flame burns.

More practically in the modern world churches in the west now lay down close specifications for both the construction of the church candle and its specific uses. For example the Roman Catholic church specifies that the liturgical church candle must contain more than 50% Bees wax. In most western churches the Paschal church candle is seen to symbolize Christ's resurrection and can only be used during the religious ceremonies of Easter, Baptism and Funerals.

In modern Judaism to church candles carry specific symbolism with a pair of candles being lit to mark the start of the Sabbath celebration on Friday and then on Saturday a special candle made of several wicks is also lit to mark the end of the sabath, this is known as the Havdalah ritual.

Shaun Parker is an expert on all types of candles including Church Candles, Scented candles and Aromatherapy candles and he shares his expertise to help you.


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5 Tips For Making Online Photo Sharing More Meaningful For Family And Friends

It seems like everybody is sharing photos online. But it also seems as if it’s less about sharing memories, and more about sharing a funny photo they found on the Internet, or just putting a bunch of photos from a vacation into a file folder for people to view.

That’s a little like dropping an envelope of prints on someone’s desk and expecting them to understand what’s going on in the pictures. If the person wasn’t with you when the photos were taken, they’ll have no idea what they’re looking at.

When you share your photos, be sure to include a story about them. Some sites allow for easy storytelling, some don’t. Search “easy photo sharing” on the Internet, and you’ll find sites that let you tell stories quickly and easily.

Below are some tips you can use to make your photo sharing a little more meaningful for family and friends. These are ideas you can use to bring the photos you share to life for the people you send them to.

Share memories from your life. This is especially important as parents age and kids grow up. Both are important times filled with milestones you’ll want to remember. Without a doubt, there will be people in your circle of friends who will want to see pictures of your mom, dad, or relatives whom you have a significant relationship with. People love stories about people, especially when they have deep meaning.

Share your passions. If you’ve got a hobby, child, husband or something else you’re particularly proud of, be sure to catch a special moment with a photo and then share it.

For example, if you’re husband’s a woodworker, be sure to capture shots of him working on a project, then get a picture of him with his finished project and show it off! You can document the project start to finish in photos, and then add just a little bit of text to each one.

Share a wonderful moment. With digital photography, it’s so easy to snap a quick picture and send it off in an email. So if your dog does something cute, or if you child does something even cuter, capture the moment and send it off to grandma, a favorite aunt, a friend … whoever you think would love to share the moment with you. This is a really fun thing to do. It engages your friends and family in your every day life, and is a great way to stay connected.

Share a day, a month or even a whole year. Easy photo sharing sites make it easy for you to organize your photos so that you can share magical memories from a day, or the events and milestones from an entire year. That’s the beauty of online photo sharing – you can catch people up with your life in an instant!

Plus, you don’t have to wait for a special occasion to do so. People love to hear about what’s going on in your life, so don’t be shy. If you have a particular milestone or event you want to share, or a series of events you want to catch people up on, go ahead and share!

Share memories across the years. This is perhaps the greatest untapped part of online photo sharing. Just think of all those old photos you have sitting in a box or in photo albums. Why not break them out, scan them into your computer and start sharing them with the people in your life in a new and exciting way.

That’s right, in this modern digital age, you can connect with the past faster and in ways you never dreamed possible. Imagine reaching out to an aunt you haven’t seen in decades with pictures from the summer days you spent with her.

Think of the joy your loved one will feel when they receive photos from days gone by. And you can share this joy with a simple email or you can lovingly create a Photo Album or other printed Keepsake and send it directly to the person you’re reaching out to.

There are a lot of different ways you can share photos, but the key is to add enough information so the recipient of the photo will know the story behind the photo – and everybody love’s a good story!

Matt Smolsky develops marketing programs and has written articles for a variety of clients, including Hoorray, a new website for easy photo sharing and easy photo printing.


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Why Do I Need A Dummy Camera?

First of all, what is a Dummy Camera? A Dummy Camera, often called a Fake Camera, looks just like a real surveillance system camera that you would see in any store, warehouse and even on the outside of houses.

However, they don't record any video so what good are they?

Well, here are a few ideas as to how a Dummy Camera can help you:

Since Dummy Cameras look just like a real surveillance system camera, you can't tell the difference between the Dummy Camera and the Real McCoy. And guess what -- neither can the bad guys.

Dummy Cameras are deterrents to criminals. The first thing that bad guys look for is a surveillance system. They'll be convinced that your area is being electronically monitored and they don't want to take the chance that "Big Brother" is watching them -- so they'll move on to easier targets.

A real surveillance system is expensive and can cost you a lot of money to set up. Dummy Cameras are inexpensive and therefore are cost effective and easy to install.

And don't forget, Dummy Cameras are battery operated, so they'll keep working even if the electricity goes out.
Dummy Cameras stand alone -- they're not wired to another system, so they are portable and can easily be moved.

It's a good idea to make it easier for criminals to see you have video protection. Put a sign underneath the Dummy Camera saying, "Warning: CCTV" or "This store is video monitored 24/7 -- Shoplifters will be prosecuted".

Did you know that many Dummy Cameras come with LED flashing lights, motion detectors, and some even have an alarm with pre-recorded verbal warnings such as "Intruder alert -- vacate immediately", which sounds as soon as a person passes the restricted area.

Many Dummy Cameras are weatherproof and designed to be used outside. Some will pan back and forth for 30 seconds every 2 1/2 minutes. A red LED light on the front will flash continuously, which adds to the Dummy Camera's realism.

Just a suggestion -- if a criminal sees a Dome Dummy Camera on the ceiling, he won't know in which direction the camera is pointing. That means you can save a lot of money by placing just one Dome Dummy Camera in the middle of your store or warehouse to show that the entire room is under surveillance. A potential shoplifter would have to be pretty desperate if he were to see a camera aimed directly at him.

DON'T BE THE NEXT VICTIM! If you are on a tight budget but still need a way to deter shoplifting, inventory theft, or to just keep people away from your used car lot, then a Dummy Camera could be the answer for you!

Dummy Cameras come in all types with many applications. For more information on these amazing products, please visit http://www.feelsafeandsecure.com/dummy_cameras.html.

Please note -- if you need a REAL working surveillance camera that records on videotape or, even better, if you want to view what's going on in real time in your store, warehouse, car lot, etc. from anywhere in the world using your computer, please visit http://www.feelsafeandsecure.com/wireless_hidden_cameras.html.

Feel Safe and Secure is a seller of home protection and self defense products as well as wireless hidden cameras. For more information about these products, please visit our website at http://www.feelsafeandsecure.com


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How to Draw - Some Tips for Young Artists

If you want to learn how to draw, you don't just want know how to do "nice" drawings, and you don't want to learn how to copy somebody else's drawings. You want to create great drawings of your very own, don't you?

So what does it take?

It actually takes less magic than most people think.

I don't know who started the myth that only a few especially talented people can learn how to draw. There are even some art teachers out there who believe that.

But if you learned how to draw the alphabet, and are able to write a sentence that other people can read, you can learn how to draw. It just takes lots of practice, and some guidance from people who have learned a few tricks.

In a way it's a lot like learning to play baseball - you need to train your eye to see better than you ever have before, and you need to train your fingers and hands to move the way you want them to.

The first time you took a swing at a baseball, you probably missed. So don't expect to become a professional artist overnight.

Now, does that mean that everyone who has the patience and the willingness to learn will become a famous artist?

No, not necessarily. It means that if you are willing to practice and to make mistakes, you will very soon be drawing far better than just about anyone you know, and your friends and family and teachers will be amazed.

People may even ask you for copies of your drawings, beg you to make special ones just for them, and request that you make drawings for the school newsletter or your club's brochure.

So even if you don't become world famous, you can still get a huge amount of personal satisfaction from your drawings. You can also give wonderful, thoughtful gifts to people you care about, without spending hardly any money.

Soon, your drawings, (after you have practiced just a little), will seem almost magical to the people who see them.

Materials

It doesn't cost hardly anything to learn to draw and create wonderful works of art. To start out, all you need is some cheap paper without lines (copy paper is fine) and some pencils. The #2 pencils that are used in schools are perfectly OK - you don't need to go to the art store and buy special ones.

You should find a good eraser, though, because the ones that come with your pencils are not big enough, and soon wear out.

That's it! That's all the materials you need to draw.

What's the first thing you need to do? Find something that you would enjoy drawing. It should be something fairly simple, like a cup or a book.

Sit and look at this object very closely, and notice things you usually don't see - things like where the shadows are, and how the shapes look different from different angles. Learning how to see is probably the most important skill for any artist.

Then start putting on paper the things you see.

When you have one drawing finished, draw another one. Keep practicing, just like you would if you were going to try out for the school baseball team.

You can't expect to create a masterpiece on your first try - after all, even Michelangelo had to practice before he was good enough to paint the Sistine Chapel.

If you keep at it for at least 30 minutes every day, you'll probably find that you want some help. Your local school or city library should have some beginning drawing books.

Avoid books that teach you how to copy someone's cartoon. Even if you want to become a cartoonist someday, you still need to be able to create your own.

Choose a book that shows you how to see shadows, and how to know where to put the parts of a face, and how to make a drawing look 'alive.' These are the lessons that will make you a true artist someday.

Another way to learn how to draw better pictures is to search the Internet for websites that show artist's drawings. Pay attention to how different artists show shapes and shadows and expressions. Then see if you can make your own pictures feel that way.

And be sure to show your drawings to your friends and family. Showing off your creative spirit is what it's all about, isn't it?

You can learn how to draw the mythical, magical animals from the world of Harry Potter at Jonni's website, http://www.drawfluffy.com


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Beginner Quilting - Beginners Guide To Make Block Quilt

Quilting - this is something you can have fun with and use it too. Fun, well don't we all like to stay warm in extreme conditions, sit in a warm quilt and watch television.

Add some really true blue colors to that quilt and fabric that makes you feel extra comfy. With heart felt trueness - there's no better feeling than to be able to utilize one's own self created product.

Today machines have overpowered our lives beyond imagination and yet if you were able to have something that you can claim to be handmade wouldn't express be an achievement of sort.

Quilters like us can have that distinction, yeah almost handmade, as we would require a sewing machine. If the craft of quilt making is to be kept alive then the responsibility will have to be shouldered by some of us thus a start to finish education in very essential for that.

Quilts can be either the simple ones or the more elaborative designed ones, the latter being for the more experienced quilters. Starters always have a query as to what's the simplest form of quilt making and it is - a basic block quilt.

But what they forget to inquire "How to make block quilt for starters?" Sorry if you are looking for an as easy answer, there can be a whole think fat book written on this matter and I can talk about it for ages. Right now though no lengthy explanations, here is a primary guidance for those looking to start and finish a hassle free project.

List of tolls and supplies required :

* Customary sewing machine

* Spray starch

* Rotary cuter

* Embroidery needles - general size 12

* Iron

* Needles

* Cutting mat

* Quilt batting

* Fabric in 4 colors or 4 shades.

* Pins- beaded head

* Design for block quilt

* Rotary ruler

ASSEMBLING A BLOCK QUILT:

Block quilt is nothing but a quilt that is simply designed. In simple terms, one design on a selected block in sewed on after the other in similar fashion till the desired size is accomplished.

A block can be called as the unit for the quilt. Here below are some steps that could make your block quilt making experience much easier.

1) Get the fabric ready: washing the fabric separately is a prerequisite. That is if you want to ensure that there is no color loss or shrinking fabric dilemmas later. Let it dry dey and then proceed to iron the material once you have sprayed starch to it. Make sure that the material is entirely dry and hard sans wrinkle.

2) Cutting of fabric: Take the fabric and put over a place mat in the form of a heap one over the other. Then take a measurement scale and slash 2 inches X 2 inches pieces using a rotary cutter. Create as many pieces of out the fabric depending on the dimension of the quilt that you'd like o make.

3) Assembling a Block: Once you have the pieces stitch them all to make a bid square or a simple block. Carry on sewing to make multiples of identical blocks.

4) Piecing: This process will see you create the wanted dimension of the quilt once all the blocks have been stitched together.

5) Batting: The batting material should be placed above on the piecing. The upper side of your piecing should face the mat while the sewed portion along the batting. Take the lining material above it.

6) Quilting: take the help of a sewing machine to stitch all 3 layers with one another. For first time learners its recommended that stitching take place on and around a primary block while those who have prior knowledge may select extravagant patterns.

7) Binding: All sides of your fabric should be binded.

Discover free beginner quilting tips instructions and 101 beginner guide to quilting at http://www.quilthowto.com, written by experienced crafter, Jennifer Walter.


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Welcome A New Baby Into The World With A Unique Baby Gift Basket

Having a new baby is an event that everyone including close friends and family members will wish to share with the new parents and joyful couple. It is at a time like this that you need to show this new family just how much they mean to you, and what better way to do this than with a gift basket overflowing with items carefully selected with love and care? With the gift basket option, there are countless choices for every budget and need. Whether you wish to select a baby gift basket with goodies and supplies for the little tyke or if you want to treat the new parents with some rest and relaxation, a newborn baby gift such as this is the perfect answer for your gift giving needs.

There are a number of ways to be a success with your baby gift basket ideas. You can always find a wide selection of pre made baby shower gift baskets from which to choose, as well as newborn baby gifts that will make any proud new parent thank you time and again.

Scores of baby gift baskets are dedicated to the care of the new infant or baby to be. The baskets are fashioned with all sorts of wonderful items, ranging in diversity from diapers and formula to other care items like blankets and sleeper sets. New stuffed animals certainly make a great addition to any baby shower gift basket, and these snuggly surprises are a welcome site for the parent and growing child alike.

Announcements are another creative way to highlight your specially designed and crafted newborn baby gift basket. One very hot trend that continues to grow in popularity is the announcement cookie. The cookies are homemade and yummy as can be, but they come uniquely decorated with the new baby’s name, birth date, and even weight if you choose. Cookies in a beautiful baby gift basket such as this make the perfect alternative to the tired cigars that were given out years ago. These cookies are so good, as well as so beautifully decorated, that it is hard to stop admiring their craft and take a bite of this exclusive and tasty treat!

For those who have had a baby themselves, you may have other plans for a baby shower gift basket. As is appropriate, at this time the baby is receiving all of the attention. But sometimes new moms and dads need a little spoiling too! This is why many baby shower gift baskets today are designed with mommy and daddy in mind. Baskets with this in mind may include champagne and chocolates for after the arrival of the baby; furthermore, flowers and spa package gift cards always add a nice and relaxing touch to the baby gift basket. This will certainly be a time when those parents need a little respite, and your creativity can help you deliver only the very best.

The arrival of a new baby is such a blessing for many families, and a creative baby gift basket is just one of many newborn baby gifts which will show the new family just happy you are for them. Br creative, have a little fun, and let a matchless baby shower gift basket express exactly how you feel about the wonderful new arrival in this world!

To purchase a unique baby gift basket visit http://www.giftbasketontheweb.com/baby.htm


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A Guide To Online Candle Gifts

When searching for the perfect online candle gift the customer should be looking for the widest selection of scented and unscented candles. The most important consideration should be the purpose of the candle purchase.

Many people simply like burning candles for the atmosphere they create, the mood they set or the scent that fills the room. Others however relate themselves closely to the affinity they have with the inspiration a candle flame can bring and its effect on the human imagination. Many feel that a candle flame symbolizes and demonstrates the notion that 'we are not alone'.

For many years candles have been associated with sensuous intimacy and privacy usually around the bathroom or bedroom. The soft flickering of a candle flame is often associated with total calm and a time when ones thoughts are restricted to the immediate surroundings and people close to us.

Many think our fascination with candles is psychologically caused by the need to push back the boundaries of the darkness and replace it with the soft warm shimmer of a candle flame. Candles can be said to represent hope in the dark and a force against the 'evil' of darkness.

Often a candle can mean so much through a memory triggered by its beautiful scent or even by the safety that a candle flame can represent. And what better way to create the perfect dinner part atmosphere than the warm comforting glow that reminds the guests that they are in the safe company of friends and good hospitality?

Fascination with candles is universal across the world. Whilst candles were much needed in the 'dark ages' before electricity for light, those in the far east have used candles for many years for meditation and decoration. Some people believe that the lighting of a candle is a signal for the chaos of the world to be ended and the start of remembering the importance of ones 'inner self'.

And of course the 'power' of candles can never be overlooked in church, an everlasting symbol of light throughout the world and a force of good against the blackness outside.

All these factors should be considered when deciding which online candle gift to purchase. Prices is of course important as well, however customers should be wary of basing their decisions on price alone as quite often cheap does not always represent good value for money. Many low quality waxes will not burn cleanly or evenly and so can be most disappointing for the recipient.

Consideration should also be given to the candle burn time and any other candle quality information provided by the website. Despite their 'simplicity' it should always be remembered that candles presented in the correct way and sometimes with the necessary scent can almost portray a sense of 'magic' in what is often seen as a troubled world.

Shaun Parker is a leading candles expert with many years of experience in the candles industry. Find out more about Scented Candles at http://www.thecandlelightcompany.co.uk


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Chocolate Gift Baskets For Sweet Gift Giving

When you’re looking for a unique way to celebrate a special occasion, send a ‘thank you’ note, or simply cheer someone up, chocolate gift baskets and candy bouquets offer plenty of opportunities to make it a memorable event!

It’s rare to find someone who doesn’t like chocolate, and selecting chocolate gift baskets for that upcoming special occasion can be a simple way to send some good wishes in a unique way! Chocolate gift baskets can range from simple assortments of quality chocolate bars and baked treats, to elaborate candy bouquets that are filled with the recipient’s favorite brands of confections. From tempting truffles to decadent cookies, you’re sure to find something special for that upcoming event or occasion.

Chocolate gift baskets are a great choice for a hostess at the dinner party, a birthday celebration, or even as a get well soon gift for someone who is ill. Filled with samplers of premium brands and classic chocolate bars, chocolate gift baskets make it easy to send a memorable gift.

For the recipient who has a gourmet sweet tooth, a variety of premium assortments and confections are available from the world’s finest chocolatiers. Milk chocolate, caramel-filled squares, dark chocolate truffles, and exotic candies make it easy to create a customized chocolate gift basket for any chocolate lover. Dark chocolate squares and milk chocolate balls can be used as ‘fillers’ to create a unique assortment, along with giant chocolate bars, coffee samplers, and boxes of mint chocolates. All of these can be included in any size basket, creating a signature gift with the recipient’s favorite tastes in mind.

Candy bouquets offer another option for classic chocolate and candy enthusiasts; these are created in a presentation that resembles a real flower bouquet, and can be put together with the recipient’s favorite candies or assortment of classics. If you’re looking for a simple way to cheer someone up, candy bouquets offer a great alterative to a simple card, balloons, or flowers. Brightening up someone’s day with a Sunshine Bouquet, or celebrating a recent achievement with the Star Attraction are wonderful ways to shower someone with an assortment of treats that they can enjoy any time of year.

Gourmet sweets baskets filled with chocolates, snacks, and gourmet baked treats offer another opportunity to indulge. When you’re looking for a gift that provides some unique dessert options for a celebration dinner, anniversary, or even a wedding party, chocolate gift baskets filled with baked treats offer an alternative to standard gifts. These chocolate gift baskets can be made with an assortment of brownies, cookies, and other delights that are a welcome gift for anyone who enjoys sweet treats on a regular basis; they’re also a great option as a ‘Thank You’ or ‘Congratulations’ token of appreciation, and can be shared with the entire family or group.

Chocolate gift baskets and candy bouquets are the perfect addition to any upcoming celebration, and can be created in a variety of unique ways. From the simple box of chocolate treats to elaborate bouquets with classic confections, you’re sure to find something to suit any sweet tooth!

To purchase unique corporate gift baskets visit: http://www.giftbasketontheweb.com/chocolate.htm


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Celebrating An Anniversary? Celebrate It With A Unique Anniversary Gift Basket

Anniversary gift baskets are the perfect way to celebrate a wedding and send your best wishes to the happy couple! However, you don’t need to settle for taking a wedding anniversary gift basket to a party or event; consider sending an anniversary gift basket to the workplace or the couple’s home where they can enjoy their special day with a sweet celebration! From gourmet treats to baked goods, there are plenty of ways to find a completely new combination of treats that will leave a lasting impression.

Many people send flowers or gourmet chocolates to celebrate a wedding anniversary or other wedding-related occasion, but these don’t necessarily stand out from other gifts received on the special day. A wedding anniversary gift basket can add a unique touch to the celebration with creative combinations of hand-decorated cookies, chocolates, and engraved wine glasses. Imagine their surprise when they receive a Pink Rose Anniversary gift assortment designed with flower-shaped cookies, or an anniversary basket filled with a bouquet of delicious treats and baked goods! Gourmet chocolates and specialty confections can also be presented in a unique way for a wedding anniversary gift basket; just add a handwritten note or card to the presentation for a gift they’ll cherish forever. From simple to elaborate creations, a wedding anniversary gift basket is the perfect accompaniment to any couple’s special day.

Anniversary gift baskets sent between the couple may include champagne and chocolate to make a special toast for the night, or commemorative gifts such as photo albums and scrapbooks to showcase their memories. Gourmet chocolates, exotic truffles, and premium baked treats can also be added to elegantly decorated baskets, and are most suitable for the occasion. Whatever the final selection may be, each basket can be decorated with attractive ribbons and elegant touches for a show-stopping centerpiece. Consider sending a large wedding anniversary gift basket as a centerpiece for a party, or a special surprise delivery; the wedding couple is sure to appreciate the unique gesture!

Toasting an anniversary or wedding event can be much more special with a meaningful gift basket; from spa products to commemorative wine glasses, you’ll find a variety of unique treats and gifts to include for any upcoming occasion. Anniversary gift baskets are the perfect way to celebrate the memories of a wedding, celebrate, a personal milestone, or simply sent between the couple as a unique way to express their sentiments for each other. Each one can be filled with exotic gourmet treats, special wine glasses, and quality champagne. Mothers of the brides and other family members can also enjoy a luxury gift; anniversary gift baskets for all members of the wedding party are available, and can be custom made

Sending anniversary gift baskets for a wedding anniversary celebration or other event is a great way to show you care, and each one is designed to include a variety of specialty items, treats, and gifts. If you’re looking for a unique gift to commemorate an event, consider sending a beautifully decorated wedding anniversary gift basket instead of simple flowers and cards!

To purchase unique anniversary gift baskets visit: http://www.giftbasketontheweb.com/anniversary-baskets.htm


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Want To Make Someone's Birthday Even Happier? Buy Them A Unique Birthday Gift Basket

Birthday gift baskets are a personalized gift option when you want to send a heartfelt message; instead of a ‘traditional’ gift of balloons, flowers, or a simple birthday cake, consider some more creative options with a unique birthday basket instead! What better way to celebrate a birthday or special occasion than a custom-made gift basket filled with treats? No matter what age the recipient of the gift basket for birthday events may be, a unique creation could be just what you need to make a lasting impression.

Birthday gift baskets can be filled with plenty of fun surprises, treats, gourmet food, and even baked goods; instead of traditional birthday presents such as flowers, balloons, and other simple gifts, a basket that is made with quality products and beautifully presented in an attractive box or fabric lined basket can suit a variety of personalities and ages.

Consider the benefits of a Happy Birthday gift basket filled with meaningful gifts, and designed to be color-coordinated with the birthday party’s key themes. From cartoons to your recipient’s favorite movie, it’s easy to find a birthday box or basket that fits right in with the party’s main theme. Birthday gift baskets can suit almost any occasion, and you can find a completely unique combination with decorative touches, signature colors, and specialty gourmet food items. Traditional birthday gift baskets can be made with simple gifts, a card, and perhaps a soft toy. More contemporary styles may include noise makers and gag gifts, baked goods, and a handwritten card as a finishing touch.

A creative birthday basket is perfect for young kids and teenagers as well; consider sending a birthday bear and mug set, decorated with ribbon and a hand written gift enclosure. Plush toys are a great accompaniment to a variety of birthday gift baskets, and can make the gift even more meaningful. For dessert lovers and sugar fiends, a cookie or candy bouquet is another trend in today’s popular birthday gift baskets. These are sure to brighten up anyone’s day, full of tasty treats in a variety of colors and designs. Hand-decorated cookies and other baked goods are a wonderful way to enjoy a birthday event or get together; imagine their surprise after receiving this exceptionally unique gift that can be shared with the entire group!

If someone is sick or ill over their birthday, why not send them a birthday care package instead? A birthday care package that includes their favorite candy, snacks, and other treats, could be just what they need to brighten up their day. Along with miniature balloons and a plush toy, it’s a ‘Happy Birthday’ gift basket they’re sure to remember for years to come! Celebrating an ‘Over the Hill’ birthday? You’ll find a variety of humorous birthday gift baskets stocked with toys, cards, and fun anecdotes to commemorate the event.

Children and adults alike are sure to delight in some of today’s creative and fun birthday gift baskets; they are ideal gifts when celebrating a ‘tween’ birthday or just sending get well wishes for someone who can’t celebrate as usual! A gift basket for birthday celebrations that is filled with the recipient’s favorite foods, snacks, and treats can be the perfect gift to make a lasting impression.

To purchase unique birthday gift baskets visit: http://www.giftbasketontheweb.com/birthday.htm


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Oil Painting Tutorial for Reborning and OOAK Babies

Oil painting is the process of painting with pigments that are bound with a medium of drying oil - especially in early modern Europe, linseed oil.

Often an oil such as linseed was boiled with a resin such as pine resin or even frankincense; these were called 'varnishes' and were prized for their body and gloss. Other oils occasionally used include poppyseed oil, walnut oil, and safflower oil. These oils confer various properties to the oil paint, such as less yellowing or different drying times.

Certain differences are also visible in the sheen of the paints depending on the oil. Painters often use different oils in the same painting depending on specific pigments and effects desired. The paints themselves also develop a particular feel depending on the medium.

Traditional oil painting techniques often begin with the artist sketching the figure onto the canvas with charcoal or a "wash," which is thinned paint. Oil paint can be mixed with turpentine or artist grade mineral spirits or other lean vehicles to create a thinner, faster drying paint. Then the artist builds the figure in layers.

A basic rule of oil paint application is 'fat over lean.' This means that each additional layer of paint should be a bit oilier than the layer below, to allow proper drying. As a painting gets additional layers, the paint must get oilier (leaner to fatter) or the final painting will crack and peel.

There are many other painting media that can be used in oil painting, including cold wax, resins, and varnishes. These additional media can aid the painter in adjusting the translucency of the paint, the sheen of the paint, the density or 'body' of the paint, and the ability of the paint to hold or conceal the brushstroke. These variables are closely related to the expressive capacity of oil paint.

When looking at original oil paintings, the various traits of oil paint allow one to sense the choices the artist made as they applied the paint. For the viewer, the paint is still, but for the artist, the oil paint is a liquid or semi-liquid and must be moved 'onto' the painting surface.

Traditionally, moving paint was accomplished with paint brushes, but there are other methods, including the palette knife, the rag, and even directly from the paint tube.

Oil paint remains wet longer than many other types of artists' materials, enabling the artist to change the color, texture or form of the figure. At times, the painter might even remove an entire layer of paint and begin anew. This can be done with a rag and some turpentine for a certain time while the paint is wet, but after a while, the hardened layer must be scraped.

Many oil paintings reveal evidence of such scraping on close inspection, particularly when the surface itself is examined. Oil paint dries by oxidation, not evaporation, and is usually dry to the touch in a day to two weeks. It is generally dry enough to be varnished in six months to a year. Art nservators do not consider an oil painting completely dry until it is 60 to 80 years old.

Arts 'n Dolls is an online community where you can buy, sell, or trade arts,

crafts, OOAK and reborn babies. You can also see our free tutorials and visit our arts, dolls, & crafts

forum.


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OOAK Polymer Clay Baby's Hands Tutorial

I have made this tutorial to share with you the way I make the hands of my polymer clay OOAK babies. You can follow this tutorial for babies from 4" - 22". If a bigger baby has the hands open and straight fingers, make sure you add a foil armature to the fingers as well so that they don't break, but if they have their hand in a fist I don't add foil armature to the fingers.

Supplies List:

Aluminum foil Polymer clay (Any polymer clay will do: Prosculpt, Puppen Fimo, Sculpey, Modelene, Cernit, etc.) Pasta machine (If you have one, if not a roller or even your hands) Clay shaper or any tool with a round point Needle Triangular knife or any knife Pointy wooden tool or a knitting needle

I always use an armature for babies 4" and bigger. I cut a piece of aluminium foil, the length is the size of the arm, scrunch it and twist it until I get a width I am happy with. Don't make it very wide. Remember it will get wider with the polymer clay. Then I wrap it in a small layer of polymer clay I passed through the pasta machine, like in pictures 1 and 2

Now, before you wrap or after you finish wrapping, you can pose the arm in the position you want it to be. I always do it later, but that's a personal choice.

I use a clay shaper to press in the middle of the hand and make a small slump in the center of the hand like in picture 3 I will start to work on the fingers next. I cut 10 pieces of clay and roll them to make the 10 fingers, like in picture 4 I attach all the fingers on the hand making sure I press hard enough so that the fingers will not fall off and I make the folds and wrinkles like in picture 8. Make sure to smooth every time after you add clay. Then I measure the other 5 fingers with the fingers I have already attached to the hand, to make sure the size is the same on both hands, like on picture 9

The other hand will be with a closed fist, so I start attaching the fingers and again pressing hard so that they don't fall off, making small indents so that I can fold them easier as in the images numer 10 and 11 and 13 and 14

At this point I add more clay where the hands need it as in pictures 22 and 23, to make them fatter or wider I add more small indents for the wrinkles and at this point I will fold the hands for the pose I want, with a small triangular knife or any knife. Look at pictures 24 and 25 When the hand is folded how I want it then I start to add the clay to the rest of the arm like in pictures 26, 27 and 28 The hand is almost done, so now it's time to smooth, smooth, smooth all the clay and leave it all nice and rounded. I either do it with this pointy clay wooden tool, with a knitting needle or with my fingers Smooth as much as you can and make the flange or insert the loop you are going to attach your arms with and both hands are done. Thanks so much for your time. I hope this OOAK Babie's Hand Tutorial can help you!

Arts 'n Dolls is an online community where you can buy, sell, or trade arts, crafts, OOAK and reborn babies. You can also see our free tutorials and visit our arts, dolls, & crafts forum.


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Scrapbook Ideas

Wikipedia defines scrapbook as “Scrapbooking is a method for preserving a legacy of written history in the form of photographs, printed media, and memorabilia contained in decorated albums, or scrapbooks”. While the photographs, printed media and memorabilia make it distinct, the “decorated” part identifies the project as a scrapbook as opposed to a basic notebook. Here are a few scrapbook ideas for you to improve your end-product.

The person that produces a scrapbook should keep in mind that the project is an extension of one’s self. Through the layout, decorations, colors, and textures, the producer controls the project.

A lot of thought must go into what may seem mundane. Things such as size, number of pages, materials required have to be planned and determined before the fun or creative stuff. Go ahead go wild. Don’t hold back your creative juices. The producer defines the perfection of the project. All these aspects have to be present to reach perfection. Scrapbooking as a hobby lets people express their creativity.

Don’t underestimate the power of color combinations. With the right color combinations, the project looks great. If the combinations are wrong for the project, an otherwise effective project loses some of its attractiveness. With improper color combinations the project can look shabby.

The proper enhancements to your scrapbook can spark up the project. These enhancements can turn a poor effort into a decent looking project. If you start out with a good project, the proper enhancements can make it shine and glitter.

One of the most important aspects in the formation of an attractive scrapbook is the use of borders. Borders can be made of stickers, stamps or stencils. Borders should highlight the focal points of the page, they should not steal the show. While attractiveness is certainly a big consideration, the story is what the scrapbook is about. There should be some contrast between the borders and the outlines of the individual photos or clippings. Main photos should be highlighted with different colors of pencils, even multi-colored pencils for each individual piece. Borders, whether page or picture are an important vital role in the scrapbook. Along with the highlighting function of borders, they will also add spark to the project.

There is usually an individual or group that is the focal point of the story. This should be the root of the scrapbook and everything should flow from it. The photos should be placed in the proper order, most likely chronologically. The order of the photos plays an important role in the telling of the story. The order should also be pleasing to the eye. The realism of the scrapbook is determined by the proper flow of the photos.

Related accents should again enhance the main focal points on the page. Things like clippings, article references, and quotes add a lot of pizzazz to the scrapbook.

Triangles are a very important concept in layouts for scrapbooks. Placing pictures, clippings, or stickers in triangle forms, make the end project more pleasing and eye-catching.

To enhance the looks of a scrapbook, it should be divided in multiple sessions.

Along with the triangle mentioned earlier, the principle of “Rule of Thirds” should be kept in mind with forming a scrapbook. Dividing each page into thirds offers a lot of possibility as to formation and layout. Divide each page into three sections both horizontally and vertically. This leaves you with 9 different cells and placement guides. Across, down, or diagonally all can be used effectively for layouts.

The attractiveness of the scrapbook includes consistency. If the same stickers or stamps are used throughout the project, the entire look of the project improves.

To boost the looks of the scrapbook, use effective sketching for the important photos.

The scrapbook is classified in the form or three or five accents.

Been there, done that, scrapped a page about it. Ken


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