Wouldn’t it be great to be able to frame your own photographs, pictures and any other artwork you desired? This is actually a fun process and is relatively easy to do with the proper framing tools and a good set of instructions.

Most of the instructions will start off with how to cut a mat board, as many people feel that is really the first step in picture framing equipment.

framing equipment
If you do decide to use a mat board, then you will need a good quality mat cutter and ruler. Start by marking the borders that need to be cut on the back side of the board and make sure that it will completely cover all edges of the picture by subtracting about 1/8 of an inch from the size of the image (length and width). Then attach your mat by applying only two pieces of acid free tape to the top edge.

In order to figure out the amount of frame moulding you will need, simply measure the artwork and the mat that you want to use and then add an additional 3 mm (0.118110″). This ensures that the artwork will fit into the finished frame easily.

When gathering your framing tools you want to be sure to include a mitre cutter, as the 45 degree angle cut needed for the frame is one of the most important aspects of making a frame; the joining is only as good as the cutting.

Add the length and width together, then multiply by two to give you the overall length of the frame that you will need. You will also have to allow for those mitre cuts, so multiply the width of the moulding by ten and add this to the total needed for the custom picture frame.

Cutting one side is easy, but cutting the other sides so that they are the same all the way around is harder. Be sure that your measurements are accurate.

wood picture frames
Another item you are going to need among your other framing supplies are clamps, as tightly clamping the frame is essential in order to have a solid frame. You want to use clamps that will allow you to see the four corners all at the same time, as it makes aligning the frame easier.

A pushmaster is another piece of framing equipment that is good to have, as it allows you to tap the V nails into the wood much more easily. You can push the nails in by hand but is generally easier if you use some type of mallet to tap in the nails. It will make the job easier.

Scrapbooking is slowly making its way into the hearts of many Americans. It is a great way to bring people together, preserve memories, and give a heart-felt gift. custom scrapbookingare generally inexpensive and readily available. Making your own scrapbook will mostly likely cost less than scrapbooking supplies done by a business. Making a scrapbook can be very time consuming, but it truly is the ultimate gift. We have always been told that it’s the thought that counts, and a scrapbook shows lots of thought and love. Additionally, scrapbooks are full of nostalgia and joy. Heartwarming images and memorabilia are kept together with whimsical designs and layouts. It is never a bad idea to give someone a scrapbook.

One great event to give a scrapbook for is high school graduation. I gave one to my older brother, and it made him tear up. A great way to go about this is to take everything important during their four years of high school and create a page for each. I made a sports page, and academic page, a page for his senior trip, and a page for each of his 6 closest friends. The friend pages had a personal letter written by each person. This was the most touching part of the scrapbook; however it took a lot of planning. Scrapbooks do require thought and planning, but they are fun and meaningful.

Another very appropriate occasion to create a scrapbook for is a wedding anniversary. They are great gifts for big anniversaries such as 20 or 40 years of marriage. Getting written letters is also very touching for these scrapbooks. You can have close friends and family members write to them about what they know of the couple and just how they see the two people. Getting pictures from the wedding, early years of their marriage and their kids is not only necessary, but an adventure!. To do a scrapbook such as this, you have to be close with the couple so that you can make a connection on a personal level.

Lastly, making a scrapbook for your young ones as they age is tons of fun. This provides the child a way to look back at to remind them of their childhood, and it can be a fun parent-child activity. These are usually begun when the child is a baby with baby pictures and “first” moments. However, as the kid ages, parents and children can create pages together. It’s the perfect rainy day activity.

Sometimes you just can’t figure out what gift to give, but a scrapbook is almost always appropriate. A scrapbook can be formal or informal, serious or whimsical, expensive or easy-done. The best part about receiving a scrapbook is knowing that the person thought about their gift. Taking the time to create something that comes from the heart is a trait someone will appreciate. In addition, a well-done scrapbook is really timeless. It can hold so much nostalgia for a person in such a great package! When you don’t know what gift to choose for mother’s day, Valentine ’s Day or graduation, I highly advise falling back upon the scrapbook plan. It is foolproof.

Continually looking for new deals on becoming a scrapbooking master? It’s not shocking to learn that tons of people buy stencils, stickers, and much more, but they don’t work. When I got the Cricut Cutting System for my birthday, a whole new world of scrapbooking possibilities opened up to me. The Cricut products can do scrapbooking, as well as other things. Wall décor is one of the other things they do. There’s no denying that Cricut has a great line of products.

Cricut products are varied, in terms of both price and use. From the $89.99 Cricut Jukebox to the $499.99 Cricut Expression, you have a lot of choices to pick from when purchasing your Cricut Machine. The Cricut portable machine is a nice choice. It functions like the Expression machine. The Cricut Create is as small as the original, but allows you to make bigger cut-outs. This machine has all kinds of great functions. These features can be employed with ease. This product has a great display screen. This Cricut machine comes with the Don Juan font, as well as the shape cartridge (6″ x 12″ mat, plus needed cords and manuals). This machine is exclusively sold at Michael’s. One thing is for sure – the Cricut Machine is an unparalleled scrapbooking machine.

The Cricut Personal Electronic Cutter Machine is a cheaper version of the Create, and a cheap Cricut Machine. You don’t even need a computer to run it! You just need an outlet. This is machine to be used on small projects. This machine brings you into the realm of great scrapbooking. And make sure to apply it along with Cricut Cartridges which really add style to any project.

The Cricut Jukebox is compatible with any Cricut Machine. 6 Cricut Cartridges can hook up to any one Jukebox. This makes things so much easier. Just hook it up, and alternate at your choice. The list of Cricut accessories doesn’t stop there. A deeper blade lets you cut thicker. Thick materials are easily cut with this blade. And who could forget about the fantastic Cricut Essentials set? This kit contains everything you might need. A spatula, a trimmer, two replaceable blades, two replaceable cutting mats (6×12 inches), rainbow cardstock and “celebrations” cutting paper all come with the Essentials. It comes with a tool kit, which proves to be very handy.
For scrapbooking of the highest level, the Cricut Machine is what you want. It has rocked the scrapbooking community to the core. Cricut is definitely comprised of a smart group of people. And that’s something that we can definitely all agree on. How could anyone disagree, when you carefully examine the results – the products themselves?

No Cricut product beats the Cricut Expression. There is no limit to your cutting options with this machine. There is no doubt that the Expression is a different beast. The Expression is larger than the Cricut Machine. Would you be interested in creating the best scrapbooks ever? Then keep on getting the goods on the Cricut Expression the top of the line scrapbooking device.

The Cricut Expression is the ultimate cutting tool. It’s a breeze to figure out and use. Cutting can be done in just three steps. You can create a great scrapbook in no time. Add a little flavor to wherever you’d like. Create a personalized card for someone special. There are just so many options. Christmas cards, wedding cards, and more. And making cut-outs has never been so much fun. Fonts are very easy to use as well. You can decorate your walls, create stencils, and all other kinds of stuff. I’d like to watch the Cricut Machine do that much!

The Cricut Expression has many amazing functions, one of which is its ability to etch onto glass. Create beautiful portraits in glass – now that would look cool! And we should not forget, least of all, how the Cricut Expression aids scrapbooking. This machine really can take you to the highest peaks. Creating layouts is a piece of cake. The creation of a scrapbook is such an amazingly simple thing with this machine. Fabric can also be cut with the aid of the Cricut Expression. Take your quiltmaking skills to a higher level. It’s also very easy to create large signs. Signs for business, for sale signs, you name it. What an innovation in scrapbooking by Cricut a cutting-edge corporation.

The Expression would make a great gift for the classroom. There is no doubt that the Cricut Expression is a fantastic tool for young kids. The Expression can cut any paper, vinyl, cardstock, chipboard plastic – up to .7 mm thick. To be energy efficient, the Expression saves paper. The Expression can easily cut most image sizes. From under an inch to over 23 inches. This machine requires no computer in order to work. This system has in one contraption what you would otherwise have to get by buying many different items. What a great tool.

Eliminating blinking from photos has always been a huge challenge for photographers. And as far as challenges go, we can also add looking in the wrong direction, sneezing, and last-second movements to the list.

So when I ran across the Blink Eradication System, I HAD TO EXAMINE IT. I won’t keep you in suspense until the end of this review…

What Is Their Approach?

I was ready to scream “waste of time,” thinking that the Blink Eradication System would consist of the usual… “make sure you count to 3 so they know when you’re taking the shot” type of “wisdom.”

Instead, they use a logical 2-Phase Approach that addresses every eventuality:

1. Practical information for “Minimizing” blinking before taking the picture (They actually say Minimize not Eliminate, which gained credibility points, since eliminating it is impossible.)

2. A software tool that totally eliminates blinking afterward, if any blinking made it through

What Do They Do And How Well Do They Do It?

For the “Minimizing” phase, it works pretty well. They begin with a scientific conclusion:

“For groups smaller than 20, divide the number of people by three if there’s good light and two if the light’s bad. That’s how many shots you need to
take.”

Then, they cover a lot of ground on how to minimize blinking BEFORE taking the picture. Categories include equipment set up, preparing the environment and subjects, and even some posing tips. I give this phase a 4 out of 5.

For the 2nd phase, they knock it out of the park! The software worked flawlessly during the 6 times I used it. Even though they didn’t write the program, they were very upfront about all aspects of it.

Two animated tutorials are provided that eliminate the need of reading Help files. This phase gets a 5 out of 5.

Conclusion

Does it Work as Described?
Yes, and quite well, with an overall score of 4.5 out of 5.0.

What Are The Drawbacks?
Note that I can find drawbacks to anything. With that said, the only point to be aware of is the software only operates on PCs that use the Windows XP operating system.

Given the state of Vista, that may not be an issue anymore. If you do use Vista, and would still like to use the software, they provide several ideas for workarounds. The simplest one is to maintain two operating systems on your PC (sounds very scary, but after using their software, you just might be tempted).

Is it Worth It?
If you take nothing but landscape photos, the answer is “no.” But if you take photographs of people, especially groups larger than 2; the answer is a categorical “yes.”

For what you’re getting, the Blink Eradication System is a bargain. In addition to what I’ve mentioned, they throw in a clever way to remember everything required prior to taking any photographs — two “Cheat Sheets;” one for Indoor, and one for Outdoors. Anyone who doesn’t have a photographic memory will find these helpful.

And, as is the custom of online digital offers, they provide a few bonuses to sweeten the deal. Their 5 bonuses actually provide some value. Plus, they stand behind the Blink Eradication System with a 100% satisfaction guarantee.

Final Conclusion
Imagine I’m shouting: major photographic breakthrough! The Blink Eradication System is a product that I wish I had 10 years ago. At what they’re charging, all I can say is better late than never.

My favorite decoration will always be the Snowman. Whether we make them out of cotton balls, puffy paint, cloth, or pine cones, we always find an honored place in our home to display our new friends. Now we have a wonderful Marshmallow Snowman to add to our snowman family. Of course, this snowman tastes as good as it looks! It’s tempting to snack away while you’re building your Marshmallow Snowman because everything looks so yummy. Hold off long enough to finish your project though; you’ll love the clever little faces and snowman bodies you’ve just created. You’ll want to make one for each family member, embellishing each one with “personalized” details. Perhaps a little glitter candy added to one for your “Rock Star” daughter, or some orange sprinkle candy glued in the shape of a vest for the hunter in your family. Whatever you do, these Marshmallow Snowmen are a guaranteed family favorite.

Your typical American will spend hundreds, or even thousands of dollars on Christmas gifts. Even during lean years, you have to get a Christmas present for everyone. Although few people admit it, most people at one point or another look for cheap Christmas presents. You don’t want anyone to know that you are getting a cheap Christmas gifts, of course. You want your present to look expensive, valuable, and exclusive. Nonetheless, if you can save a lot of money on Christmas gift ideas, it can really help you out in the new year.

One of my favorite solutions is to make cheap homemade Christmas presents. A lot of people don’t realize how many fascinating, thoughtful presents can be easily made at home. You can make frames for photos, beautiful collages, organizers, shelves – basically, almost anything that you would want to buy someone, as long as it is not high-tech. And because it is homemade, it has that personal touch to it that your friends and relatives will really appreciate.

Of course, not everyone is crafty. A lot of people just never spend that much time making things, and don’t know how to go about it. For these people, making cheap Christmas presents at home is simply not an option. Another good suggestion for finding presents, however, may be more fruitful. One of the best things to do is to buy closeout and overstocked items. Often, you can get high quality clothes, furniture, books, and other products if you are willing to choose based on price. You can save even more money if you’re willing to buy your cheap Christmas presents online. The earlier you start, the better. After all, the price is bound to increase when it is getting towards Christmas time!

Another way to save money on cheap Christmas presents is simply to agree about it ahead of time. Most people don’t like doing it this way, but some families do. One year, me and my sisters were all poor. We decide that we would all get each other cheap Christmas gifts. We agreed on a spending cap, and no one went over it. That meant that no one had to feel bad for spending too little money. Everyone felt happy about the gifts they got and the gifts they gave, and it was a great Christmas holiday. I was glad that we decided to talk ahead of time.

If you want to find a gift that is of quality, but might not be too expensive, you should start looking all throughout the year for ideas. This has worked well for me. I can find great stuff, but when you look at the price I paid, you might think I have gotten a cheap Christmas gift. In reality, I have just been smart about shopping. I always check through clearance aisles for things that have not sold, but that I know someone in my family would appreciate. I store them in my closet and then pull them out for the holidays. I save a lot of money on some great gifts this way.

Beadwork is most frequently found in jewelry, but there are many projects that can involve beadworking other than jewelry. In the past, it was a craft for many people. It is still used to make money, but more people are turning to it as a form of relaxation. Beading can be seen in many different projects including wall hangings, sculpted works, pillows, and lamp shades. A great place to start when looking for great beading projects is www.beadhuddle.com.

Beadwork crafts can be integrated into just about any style and projects. Adding beading to such items as pillows can create an elegant look to any room. Beadwork patterns can be found in craft stores as well as by searching online. These beadwork patterns will give you the necessary list of supplies, accessories and equipment to buy in order to complete the projects. It is easiest to create a pillow from scratch by completing the beading design prior to filling and sewing the pillow closed. Obviously, this project needs some degree of skill in both beading and sewing, but the finished project is a beautiful handcrafted beadwork pillow.

One of the most popular and easiest beadwork projects is the beaded lamp shade. This project begins with a plain old lamp shade and is transformed into a handcrafted beadwork piece of art. It is a good idea to not attempt to overload the lamp shade with too many beads or it will end up looking tacky. Use a beadwork pattern to pattern the lamp shade and then glue or thread the beads. Beads can also be hung from the base of the lamp shade to add an additional touch of character. The best part of the beadwork lamp shade project is that the possibilities are endless. These lamp shades are perfect in the home and given as gifts. This is also an ideal project for youngsters. A handcrafted beadwork lamp shade is a great starting project.

Beadwork bracelets may seem like an easy beadwork project to tackle, but this is not always the case. Yes, it is easy to string beads together, attach a clasp and call it a beadwork bracelet, but the fun is in designing and creating a truly unique piece of jewelry. There are a lot of beads available at craft stores, but those beads are often just not enough to be able to design and create something truly unique. There are some great online shops as well as retail craft outlets devoted entirely to beadwork that will have the range of different beads necessary to create a unique beadwork bracelet. Beads come in all different shapes, sizes, and materials. The possibilities of combinations and designs are endless. Beadwork jewelry is the most common use of beads, but that is because it is very gratifying to create something that other people will admire every day.

Beadwork is most often seen in jewelry, but these projects, including the pillow and lamp shade break out of that mold. The beadwork bracelet is a great place to start in beadwork design. Beadworking provides a wonderful outlet for creativity and imagination.

If you love beading and are interested in joining a new and exciting online beading community where you can share your passion, learn and meet other beading enthusiasts, then a great place to visit is BeadHuddle.com. At BeadHuddle.com, you can set up your own profile pages, post photos of your latest beading creations and designs, upload and share ‘how to’ beading videos, chat online, write articles and blogs about beading and beadworking, ask questions, share tips and participate in forum discussions and polls, post comments and rate other member’s contributions, take part in quizzes, post events and announcements about beading fairs, markets and shows in your local area, and so much more. Best of all, the site is free to join.

To learn more about BeadHuddle.com, go here: Beading Online

One of the best thing about scrapbooking is that although there are plenty of scrapbooking products available on the market, you really don’t need a lot to makeyour very first scrapbook. Basically, all you require to scrapbook is an album, some glue, a pair of scissors, and some photographs or newspaper clippings. Any fabric, ribbon, or bits of leftovers from other projects can be utilized to embellish your scrapbook.

As you get more familiar with scrapbooking, you will find products that save you time and frustration. Many of these products are well worth the extra cost. At the top of this list is an exacto knife. This strong and versatile blade allows you to cut almost anything into any shape. When the blade is dull, the end is simply broken off to reveal another sharp tip. Just make sure you place the object you plan to cut onto a mat or a thick wad of newspaper before using the exacto knife. Otherwise, the knife will cut right through your picture and into your scrapbook page or dining room table.

The next best tool is a pair of tweezers. Trying to pick up and place small gluey pieces can be troublesome. Tweezers, though not very high tech, allow you to move pieces without touching them.

Speaking of gluey pieces, various glues and affixing options are available. These quick and less messy options include double side tape, glue dots, Xyron, acid free photo tabs, and polypropylene corners.

To increase the preservation of your scrapbook and your treasures, buy albums with acid free, lignin free pages. Both acid and lignin accelerate photo fading and general deterioration. Lignin is a chemical found naturally in the cell walls of plants. If the lignin is not removed in the paper manufacturing process, the chemical will cause the paper product to gradually yellow and crumble. Lignin and acid free products are available in virtually any color and texture.

The theme of your scrapbook can be simple or complex. Your theme could be a special event such as a birthday, a baby shower, a wedding, Christmas, or Halloween. Themes can also be personalized to the scrapbook recipient’s special interests. Special interests themes might include favorite colors, sports, favorite music, tv prpgrams, the outdoors, or cultural influences.

When planning a scrapbook always ask yourself these three questions

What is the overall purpose for your scrapbook?
Who is the scrapbook for?
Who is the scrapbook about?

The answers to these questions are all considerations in choosing a suitable theme. For instance, the scrapbook you are giving your nephew as he graduates from medical school is probably completely different than the grandparent book you send to your mother.

Another great hobby is face painting. And of course you can combine it with scrapbooking. For instance for a Halloween theme you could take photos of your face painting creations. There are so many face painting designs that are suitable for Halloween such as a vampire.
Face painting designs
Face painting pictures
face painting ideas
Check out the articles they are packed with great tips and advice on face painting ideas and designs. With a little practice you’ll be able to create great designs.

Each and every year we all get enticed by that one special holiday that drives us to create and celebrate. That holiday is Christmas, and it goes without saying that every year there’s another person on television or some master crafter in a magazine trying to show you how to make the best Christmas crafts for you and your family. There’s all kinds of different crafts and nick-knacks out there that you can create for the Christmas holidays.

Christmas wreaths have been around for thousands of years and used by people throughout history to create beautiful works of art. My favorite Christmas wreath to make as a kid was the paper plate wreath. It’s one of the most familiar Christmas wreaths for those with young kids, especially toddlers, and they’re very simple to make. All you need to do is cut a hole out of the paper plate and decorate the remaining circle. I put a magnificent bow on mine (I’ve started making them every Christmas – it reminds me of being a kid) and glue red and green tissue paper all around it to make it more Christmas-like. These are very good to put up around the home or stick on the refrigerator, as a reminder of your and your child’s talent. Making these with your kids will make their Christmas that much more enjoyable and let you spend more time with them. Who wouldn’t want that?

My all time favorite of the Christmas crafts though is the candy cane reindeer. The best part about the candy cane reindeer, like all candy cane crafts, is that it’s very inexpensive. You’ll need to get some tacky glue, an 8 inch piece ribbon, 2 wiggle eyes, a red or brown pom-pom (for the nose), and last but not least, the candy cane itself. The cool thing about making the candy cane reindeer is that you can make dozens and dozens of them in one sitting, if you have enough material. Ornaments are the easiest of the Christmas crafts to make, however, if you’re looking for simplicity.

Ornaments have been a Christmas tradition for ages now. Your Christmas crafts wouldn’t be complete without at least one of these to hang from your tree. You can get ornaments at virtually any supermarket chain around the holidays, but I feel it’s always better to make your own. There’s a lot of clear and blank ones that you can purchase at these stores. My suggestion is to get a bunch of the clear and blank ones and get some painting supplies. You can decorate them any way you want, and put your family’s names on them too. I always put the date on the ones I make so I can remember when I made it and when I pull them out of the storage box, the flood of Christmas memories relating to that particular ornament always washes over me. Sending some of the ones you make to relatives as a gift is also a good idea. The kinds of Christmas crafts you can make are limitless.

Christmas crafts are something for the entire family to partake in. Be it wreaths, candy canes, or ornaments, it doesn’t matter because any kind of Christmas craft you make will be remembered by you and your family for years to come. Spending time with your loved ones by making Christmas crafts is just another way to show that you care about them, and could become a time-honored tradition in the future. Your kids may want to pass the tradition down to their kids and continue it for generations.