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Archive for December, 2009

Soaps are so taken for granted that we hardly pause to think more about how they are made. The general feeling is that the entire process is far too complicated, industrial, and way out of being made a hobby. In reality, soap making is a simple process, and there are ready-made melt-and-pour type of kits available that allow us to make soaps with our own chosen colors, fragrances, herbal ingredients, and shapes.
Soap making can be pursued as a hobby, and can even be turned into a small home-based business. All it takes is an interest in the making of soaps and some diligence in the whole process.
Soap is a simple mixture of oils and caustic soda (lye.) The resultant liquid when left to solidify forms soap with a lot of glycerin, hence also called glycerin soap. The industrial soap manufacturers remove excess amounts of glycerin and use other ways to make the soap soft and mellow.
The oils used in soap-making are common oils like palm oil, coconut oil, olive oil, grape seed oil, etc. The caustic soda used should be of industrial quality.
There is some amount of heating involved in soap making, and this therefore requires caution. The exact proportions of mixing oil and lye should also be known beforehand.
A melt-and-pour soap making kit can introduce a novice into soap-making. Simply buy the kit and follow the instructions that come along. Once you are familiar with this process, you may consult other sources and can try making soap yourself.
Everyone wants to have herbal soap, one filled with natural oils and fragrances. Children are delighted with soaps of various shapes such as animal figurines. Pursuing soap-making as a hobby allows you to make soaps as you desire.
A great and fun idea you can do with soap is by molding it into different shapes, shades, and sizes. Kids love writing on the tub when bathing and they can with soap crayons. Or you can experiment on soap flakes recipes. You can make your own with finely grated bars of pure soap to make soap powder. The amount of water may need to be decreased, so start with less water and add as needed. If you don’t want to make your own pure soap flakes, you can buy a package in the laundry aisle at the grocery store.
A few creative projects involving soap and how to make them are given below.
1. Bath Time Crayons
Combine 3 cups of soap flakes and ½ to 1 cup of water. Add 1 teaspoon of food coloring. Put the mixture into lightly greased ice cube trays, candy or soap molds. Press soap dough into molds lightly and let dry over night before un-molding.
2. Soap on a Rope
You will need some string for this project. Shape the soap with your hands. Cut a piece of string and tie the ends together. Push the knot gently into your finished shape. Let the completed soap dry before hanging it by the rope.

3. Cookie Cutter Soap Shapes
Pat or roll out mixture and let kids use cookie cutters or theme cutters to make individual soaps. Make “soap on a rope” by cutting two identical pieces and sandwiching the string between the layers.

4. Multi-color Soap or Soap on a Rope
Make two-tone soaps by using identical shapes of different colors and sandwiching them together. Small cookie cutters make nice shapes in guest-soap size that can be placed in a small wicker basket for a gift, bathroom display, or drawer sachets.

Balloons have always been associated with a fun, festive, and carefree time. What better to show that your party is a time to celebrate than having a balloon centerpiece or two around the room. Although there are professionals you can hire to do the work, have fun and learn how to do your own balloon centerpiece by following some tricks and hints.
An easy way to create a great centerpiece that incorporates festive balloons and fragrant flowers is to use this method. Simply choose a balloon in your favorite color, fill it 1/3 of the way with water, place a fresh flower inside, and place ribbon, netting, or even tulle around the balloon. Make sure the central balloon is stationary, and watch the flower and water ebb and flow whenever the people at the table get up to dance. It truly is a beautiful and festive centerpiece.
Another great way to create centerpieces using balloons is to place a small battery powered candle inside the balloon. Make sure the wattage of the candle is extremely low, and the balloon is inflated just enough to allow for a gentle glow over the table. Add a garland of flowers and ribbons to suit your taste, and you’ve got a great conversation piece as well as a great centerpiece. If you want to take it a step further, give the balloon and flowers a light spray of a white or silver glitter for a frosted look. It’s a simple idea that makes each centerpiece look like a work of art.
If you want a spectacular look when creating your balloon centerpieces, you can’t go wrong with this idea. Take some long, pre-cut ribbons and attach one end of the ribbons to the center of the table, either through weights or tape. Take the other ends and attach them to some balloons filled with helium gas. As the balloons rise and twist into the air, they create a great sight and conversation piece for your next party.
As you can see, these are but a few of the choices you have to make very festive centerpieces using a few simple balloons, pieces of ribbon, or the occasional ring of flowers.
It is amazing what a few ribbons, balloons and a little imagination can do. In no time, you’ll come up with centerpieces that will be the talk of your party. Let your imagination run wild and you will come up with a truly unique centerpiece.

Although there are some things we wish could last forever or a moment we wish would never end, ultimately they do. The memory of the special event, however, can be preserved for us to recall and enjoy for a long time to come. Drying flowers is a simple and inexpensive way to preserve these cherished moments. There are multiple ways to use your flowers and preserve them for crafts and decorations. Whether they were a gift, or from a special day, they can be made into something to enjoy long after that time has passed.
One way to preserve flowers and use them in crafts is by hanging them to dry. If you decide to preserve your flowers whole, and intact, you will need to decide this before they have fully bloomed. If a flower has opened up too much, when it is dried the petals will fall off. The brighter and more vivid the fresh flower is, the better color it will have as it dries. If you want more intense colors, be sure to start with that trait in the fresh flower. If the dried flower will be used with its stem, it would be best to wire the stem while the flower is still fresh. Then attach the flower, upside down, to a wire hanger and leave in a dark place for two to three weeks. If the dried flowers will be stored a while before use, cover them with a light material, such as tissue paper to keep the dust off.
Flowers preserved in this way can be used for a variety of purposes. For a special event, such as a wedding, some people want to preserve their bouquets. After following drying instructions bouquets can be placed as a wall hanging next to the wedding photo, in a shadow box, or simply placed on a table or in a hutch. After flowers are dried they can also be put back in a vase and set on a table. If a single flower is preserved, perhaps to save on space, it can be laid over the wedding frame or in front of the wedding photo. Individually dried flowers can also be used when making a wreath. Flowers do not have to have special meanings; any flower that dries well can be used to make an arrangement. In addition to adding a variety of leaves, berries, ribbon or other embellishments, dried flowers look beautiful in a wreath. Sometimes less is more, if your wreath is not looking right, try lessening the amount of items in it.
Flowers can also be preserved by being pressed. This method is simple and can be used for things you want to keep forever, or for special cards or invitations. Although you can buy kits to press, they can also be made by having several layers of cardboard stacked with flowers laid out on each sheet and then bound with adjustable straps that you can tighten to ensure a successful drying process. Pressed flowers are very versatile in their uses. When making wedding announcements a pressed flower of the wedding colors is a beautiful addition to the invitations. They can also be used to make cards or baby announcements. Another option for pressed flowers is to place them as a garden scene in an old window or frame. Glue them on a separate piece of glass, not part of the original frame, cut to the same size, and then place and secure to the frame. Any size can be attractive and used anywhere in a home, from a bathroom to bedroom. The flowers do not have to be the center of the picture, but can also be placed around a photo or poem on the mat. This is a wonderful way to incorporate the flowers to the event, but do it in a small, elegant way.
If you can find a way to preserve special memories they will bring joy for years. Although fresh flowers are beautiful, dried ones can be just as enjoyable. By finding various ways to use your flowers, you will be surrounded by your memories and remember those happy times when life might be more difficult.

One of the most famous gifts for Easter is a gift basket filled with chocolates, toys, and fun little items for children to enjoy. As you get older, perhaps your children grow up and there is no longer that joy of helping the Easter bunny put together special holiday gift baskets. That doesn’t mean, however, that you cannot continue the tradition with other holidays and special occasions.
Christmas is a wonderful time to make your own gift baskets and can be a terrific way to add a personal touch to any present. If you know a woman who loves to pamper herself, consider purchasing a nice basket and adding a bottle of her favorite bubble bath, body lotion, perfume, and anything else that you know she loves. If you have a sports fan in the family, a basket filled with his/her favorite teams memorabilia will be a big hit. Some examples may be a t-shirt and baseball cap, a rare trading card, or other official collectibles. For any recipient, consider his or her hobbies and interests to select a theme.
One trick of the trade is to fill the bottom of the basket with packing peanuts. This will give the illusion of a fuller basket and make the gifts easier to see. Think about safety when making a basket for a child. Over the ‘peanuts’, place a thick layer of gift-bag or basket filler, shiny shred, or tissue paper. Overfill the basket as it will be weighted down as gift items are added. Begin adding the biggest and tallest items toward the middle or back. Aim for balance in weight and arrangement. To hold some items in place, use tape to attach them to each other, to the basket handle, or to the container. The deep filling makes it easier to keep things still by “sinking” them in a bit. Continue arranging gifts and then “fill out” the look of the basket. Make sure the paper or shred shows through. Fill in with more, if necessary. Add little items such as wrapped candies, silk flowers, Christmas ornaments, pine cones, or whatever works with the theme. Gift cards are a good small-space addition.
Once you have filled the gift baskets with goodies, its time to purchase clear cellophane gift bags. After opening the gift bag, carefully place the gift basket and all of its contents inside. Once you have it perfectly situated, secure the top with clear tape or a staple. A large bow at the top will make your gift baskets not only personalized, but the recipient will also know that you put a lot of thought into the design and look of their gift.

Another terrific idea for gift baskets is to include a colorful variety of fruits, including apples, oranges, pears, strawberries, plums, etc. If you purchase gift baskets that do not feature a handle, these can be placed on a dining room table or as the centerpiece in the living room. Fruit gift baskets are ideal for teachers, doctors, lawyers, or the health-conscious family member.

If you are looking for some additional gifts to include, consider jewelry, a leather wallet, special event ticket, gift certificates, stuffed animal, favorite candy, etc. The more color and variety you can add to a gift basket, the more festive your gift will appear.

Still need some theme ideas for gift baskets? Many enjoy creating personalized pet gift baskets, baby gift baskets, and even newlywed gift baskets. There is no end to the number of creations that can be made with a little imagination and some time and effort.

In Japanese, “ori” means to fold and “gami” is paper. So origami literally means paper folding. The main goal of this art is to create a representation of an object by using geometric folds and crease patterns without gluing or cutting paper and is restricted to using only one piece of paper.
Origami, the Japanese art of paper folding, only uses a small number of different folds. They can be combined in a variety of ways to make intricate designs. The most well known form is probably the Japanese paper crane. Generally, these designs begin with a square sheet of paper whose sides may be in different prints or colors.
Starting with a square sheet of paper, fold the side by placing it on the diagonal line. Repeat the same by placing the adjacent side of the square on the diagonal line. Now fold the along the diagonal again. Hold the folded paper with the left hand. Use your right hand, the thumb and index finger, to hold the tip outside and pull it down. Press with your left hand thumb and index finger. Now you have made the beak of a bird. Make another fold so that you make it into a bird with a beak, neck, and body.
Familiarizing yourself with the basic steps of folding and the terminologies listed below, you can now follow instructions in origami diagrams and make hundreds of interesting things. You may also create your own models and share it with others.
1. Valley Fold: Folding the paper sheet inside.
2. Mountain Fold: This is reverse of valley fold. Instead of folding inside, you fold outside.
3. Petal Fold: The petal fold lifts a point and brings it upwards so that the two edges of the paper lie together. It is best to pre-fold both layers of paper along the valley and mountain folds before making the petal fold.
4. Rabbit Ear Fold: Pre-fold along the three valley folds first. Then fold the two sides down to the baseline. Fold the top point to one side to make the mountain fold. (Take care that you fold the top point to the right side where the mountain fold is set.)
5. Squash Fold: Pre-fold both sheets of paper along the valley and mountain fold. Then open the paper. Fold one layer of paper along the valley fold and flatten the model using the mountain fold.
6. Reverse (Inside) Fold: Pre-fold both sheets of paper in both directions (mountain and valley). Then open the model a little bit and bring the top point down so that the mountain fold edge becomes a valley fold edge.
7. Reverse (Outside) Fold: A crimp is used as a way of incorporating two reverse folds to change the direction of a flap or point. In most cases it is easiest just to make two reverse folds one after the other (pre-crease both folds before).
8. Sink Fold: The sink fold is a method of blunting a point that has no open edges. The fold should first be pre-creased. Then carefully open the model and tuck the point inside. Then, flatten the model along existing creases.
Origami is extremely easy to follow with the help of simple diagrams which are given well in all origami help books, websites, etc. One can get an elementary hold of origami by practicing the basic steps mentioned above.

When the autumn winds blow, nature paints the leaves on the trees into hues of reds, yellows, oranges, and browns. It is a magnificent sight but sadly only for a short time. Using leaves in your crafts can really improve the look of almost anything, from your scrapbook to your curtains and windows.

You can start out collecting fallen leaves from your backyard or the park. Bring your kids along with you on a nature walk. This can be a fun learning and bonding moment with your kids. Collect a bunch of leaves and glue them onto a sheet of cardboard or heavy card stock paper. Let it dry completely.

Once dry, pour a small amount of paint into a paper plate. Dip a paint roller into the paint and then roll it over the leaves. You can also use a paint brush and paint the leaves in different colors. Once the leaves are covered, lay a piece of construction paper over the painted leaves and rub it to get a good print. Lift the paper to see the print and let dry.

You can use this leaf stamp on fabrics but be sure to have every bit of it come in contact with the fabric to create a solid image. Do this by running your finger along the outline of the leaf and systematically across the middle. Liven up your old shower curtain, tablecloth or quilt. Be sure to use waterproof fabric paint for those fabrics that need regular washing.

Another great idea of using dry leaves is by putting them between wax papers, and ironing them together. They will stay colorful for a long time and will make a nice display to your boring window.

Leaves can also be used to create a unique and textured photo mat. This is great for any fall-themed photo. Collect some fall leaves and press them. Then get a photo mat of the desired size. Place the leaves on the mat and use a dab of glue to secure them. Trim around the edges to make sure that the mat fits in the photo frame. Then find the perfect picture for the mat and you’ve got a creative picture frame!

Scrapbooking with leaves is also a great idea, especially if you are working on an event or occasion that occurred during fall. You can either collect leaves, press them, and place them in your journal or in your scrapbook, or you can make a stamp out of the pressed leaves. To do this, take your pressed leaf and either dip it in an ink pad or take a roller and gently roll the paint over the entire leaf. Just be sure that in either method you choose, you completely and thoroughly cover the whole leaf with ink. Then place the leaf on your scrapbook page. Take a piece of paper and lay it over the top so that you can gently rub the leaf, enabling all the ink to get on the scrapbook page. Use a variety of leaves so that you get a great result.

Paper is probably the most universally available versatile material there is. We encounter it on a daily basis. It is the newspaper we read in the morning, the box holding the cereal we eat, the letter that arrives in the mail, the catalog with the pretty new dress we would like to order, or the book on our bedside table. These things are necessary in our lives but do not show the creative potential of paper.

Paper crafts encompass a wide field, from origami to scrapbooking to card making and more. Paper crafting has been a very popular activity for a long time now. Most kids are given a taste of paper crafting when their teachers show them how to start doing paper crafts in school. They usually begin teaching the child with very simple paper folding to come up with simple paper crafts such as airplanes and boats. This activity usually involves allowing the child to pick from several color options and also several shapes of construction paper to work with. Majority of the teachers typically give the child several ideas to start with, but each child is encouraged to show his/her creativity on his/her crafting project.
Paper folding as a form of arts and crafts can also be very stimulating for adults. Some use the paper crafting material for decorations by placing them in a gift basket or using them as gift wrap. Others use them for an American favorite pastime called scrap- booking.

Paper crafts are also easily changed to fit any holiday theme. For example, holidays like Valentine’s Day encourage many to create heart-shaped Valentine’s cards to pass around to friends or family members. On St. Patrick’s Day, many are inspired to use predominantly green colored materials in their paper crafts. So, for the next holiday, no matter what it may be, wouldn’t it be great to use paper crafts as your next crafting idea?

Creating a scrapbook can be fun if you let your imagination run wild! This form of paper crafting is very easy to do because you do not have to stick to a particular pattern. The main idea behind keeping a scrapbook is to keep a journal of your life or things that you like and present them in the arts and crafts form. Another idea is to display your thoughts, feelings, and emotions without writing a single word of text, but only using paper and images on paper.

Another popular paper craft is origami. Origami originated from Japan and is more popularly known as the art of paper folding. The idea behind this craft is to take paper and fold it in the shape of objects like animals and flowers. This is a very beautiful art that can be traced back many centuries ago. Origami can be made in various shapes, sizes, and colors. All these attributes can be changed by simply changing the type of paper used. Paper crafts are only limited by your imagination, which makes them one of the best craft ideas.

Cards, whether they are for a birthday invitation, a wedding, the announcement of a new baby’s arrival, or simply to let someone know you remember him or her, are used all year round. They don’t have to be bought from the store. A lot of people are now making their own cards to add a more personal touch. With a few basic tools and the creative spirit in you, you can create a masterpiece that will be truly appreciated by the recipient because of the thought and the effort put into it.rd ideas

The inspiration for creative handmade card ideas can be found everywhere. Unique handmade cards should not necessarily need a lot of fancy materials and crafting tools. Just a bit of imagination, a little of creativity, and a touch of originality will do the magic. In fact, just by looking around the house, you can probably find a lot of fun stuff to use in order to make a unique greeting card. Recipients of a handmade card do not usually scrutinize the craftsmanship or the worth of the card because they are usually overwhelmed with joy in knowing that you took the time to make them a very special homemade card.

Hunting for readily available objects around the house could be a fun activity worthy of involving your kids. This scavenger hunt can be turned into a craft-making party! Allow your kids to roam around the house and garden and collect objects and things that they would find suitable for the hand-making card occasion.

A few suggestions for creatively handmade personalized cards are listed below:
1. Use old gift wrapping paper. Wrapping papers are typically designed for specific occasions like Christmas and birthdays. Cut the designs on the paper and paste them on your card.

2. Use old calendars. Old calendars are great sources of scenic images useful for the front of your card or even as a background of your card. Trim down the pictures of romantic sunsets or majestic mountains or pristine beaches using jaggedly edged scissors and make them as a backdrop of your message.

3. Use old magazines and junk mail. Magazines are excellent sources of funky fonts in a multitude of colors. You have the choice of cutting out letters individually or by phrase to use messages. Look for quotable quotes in magazine reviews of movies to add a poetic feel to your card.

4. Use old postage stamps. Collecting stamps from your billing envelopes will give you enough stamps to make a collage as a backdrop of you card.

A scrapbook is defined as a collection of pictures, notes, clippings, and other memorabilia which collection is specially organized and mounted on a purchased or hand-made blank book. These memorabilia either have some sentimental value, remind someone of a good memory, or represent an event that someone would always want to remember and look back on to reminisce the feelings associated with the experience.

Photographs, clippings, ticket stubs, pressed flowers, chocolate wrappers, and what-nots are often accompanied with quotations, short narrations, and even poetry. The pages of the scrapbook are embellished with pieces of fabrics, ribbons, and pieces of artwork that tell of the fun memories and colorful history contained within its pages. These special chronicles and historical records of the lives of people can be created for personal satisfaction or given out as gifts to special people.

Over the years, scrapbooking has become one of the fastest growing activities in the craft industry in the world. The advent of science and technology has made it possible to include voice and sound recordings, mass duplication, and distribution. The Internet paved the way for the evolution of scrapbooks into virtual form as in personal websites.

Traditional scrapbooking can become an expensive hobby as the cost of supplies continues to increase with the demand. A little resourcefulness can help you get a long way. Firstly, you have to organize your supplies and materials so you know what you already have. This lessens the chance of buying duplicates. Label each container so you would know where to look for things in case the need for them arises. Colored pens, cutters, and adhesives can be placed in properly labeled Ziploc bags while embellishments can be organized in tackle boxes. You should also save and organize your scraps because these can be used in other projects.

Secondly, make use of your computer and Internet prowess to make your own unique layout or pattern. Also, there is a wealth of free fonts and printable clip arts in the Internet that you can take advantage of.

Thirdly, buy quality tools. Always keep versatility and quality in mind when buying your tools. Quality tools may be expensive but may serve you over a long period of time. This will prevent you from buying cheap but lower quality tools that would ultimately save you money.

Fourthly, join a direct sales scrapbooking company so you can get discounts for your purchases or scrapbooking clubs for low-cost ideas. You could also look for discount coupons in your local newspaper because these coupons can be very useful when buying large purchases. Buying in bulk also saves you money. Take advantage of sales promotions and look for clearance bins. With a little tinkering, you can customize old ribbons and fabric to match your layout.

Engaging in arts and craft is one worthwhile activity that brings out the artist in you. Arts and crafts are not only for those artistically gifted people but are also good for just about any type of person. The activities involved can be a good therapy for someone undergoing a tough time because that person can express his thoughts and feelings through the brush strokes on the canvass or the splash of colors, for example.

Engaging in arts and crafts is increasingly becoming popular nowadays and is enjoyed by people in all age groups. It is not just a simple hobby but has become a passion and even a source of income for others. Among the most popular craft ideas today is candle making.

Making candles is fun and easy. Candles are not only excellent gifts but are easy to sell as well because of their many uses. Candles are not simply used to give light; they are also used in aromatherapy and as elegant decoration in the home and office. With the diversity of materials available for candle making, you can say that the sky is the limit in terms of what you can do to make original designs, forms, and shapes.

With gel waxes, you can make just about any fancy candle, from bubbling champagne in a fluted glass to a strawberry pie. Gel candles can add a touch of elegance to your home decor. They come in many different shapes, sizes, and scents. Gel candles can be placed in labeled fruit jars, fancy glass bowls, wine glasses, and mugs.

You can go as far as dress up your gel candle jars with ceramic shades and adorn them with cute trinkets to make them look like miniature lamps. Be more creative and add character to your candles by making use of miniature shapes and embedding them in your gel. A multitude of shapes of embeds are commercially available, such as miniature colored stars, candy corn, dolphins, shells, hearts, fruit slices, and many more. Glitters can be added as well to add sparkle to your creations.

In addition, there is a wide variety of scents available, like peanut butter or lilac. If you enjoy the aroma of fresh baked pies and goodies, try one of the many gel candles that are shaped and scented like strawberry, apple or blueberry pie, or freshly baked cinnamon rolls. You can enjoy the aroma of freshly baked goodies in your kitchen without all the work!
Starting the hobby of candle making is not as hard as it seems. There is a wide selection of gel wax candle kits available in the market which includes all of the supplies you will need to design your own candles. These kits are inclusive of instruction booklet, pre-made gel, labels, wicks, dye, embeds, scents, and jars.

Pre-made gel wax is sold in three different densities – low, medium, and high grade. The medium grade is the most popular because it allows for more fragrance and is a firm gel that works in most projects. The high grade costs more, but allows for even more fragrance and heavier objects that can be used as embeds into the gel candles.