Monday, December 26, 2011

The Candle: Wooden Wicks

!±8± The Candle: Wooden Wicks

There's been quite a bit of buzz lately about wooden wicks and I'd like to explore what they really are.

Literally, this wick is made from a piece of wood, and they are fairly new to the candle making community.

Wood wicks tend to come in two varieties: hard wood wick and soft wood wicks. While hard wood wicks are available, soft wood wicks offer a superior product. When they are burned, soft wooden wicks produce a unique crackle and popping sound, like that of a log fire in the fireplace.

The soft wicks are created from 2 pieces of wood. The flame is made from the wide, soft piece of wood. The heat is produced from the narrow piece of hard wood, called the booster. The wood pieces are treated with a solution that increases the crackling when burning, and allows the wood to light easily and remain burning. When the candle is finished, the wood from the wick should extend about and eighth of an inch above the wax line.

Wooden wicks are not for use in votive candles or pillar candles. They are an excellent choice for container candles and work well with soy wax. They are also recommended for gel wax, vegetable wax and most types of paraffin wax. If the candle is being made from pure soy, a large or extra large wooden wick is recommended. Since soy wax tends to hold in the heat and scent, the melt pool needs to be big enough to melt the candle.

Achieving a good crackle sound, is based on the right amount of candle scent, the type of wax being used and the amount of dye that is included. There are differing opinions about whether the candle scent helps or hinders the crackling sound, so this is something you will have to discover based on trial and error.

The wicks need to be placed in the tabs that come with the wick and assembled before they are placed in the liquid wax. After the candle has been poured, it should be allowed to set overnight to cure the wick. When the candle has been cured and ready to light, light the wick from the wax line, not the top of the wick.

Wooden wicks come in many different sizes. The size you will need is based on which type of wax you are using, color & scent, and the diameter of the container. Help is available from any of the candle supply companies who supply wooden wicks.


The Candle: Wooden Wicks

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Sunday, December 4, 2011

How to Make Hip Hop Beats - 10 Easy Steps

!±8± How to Make Hip Hop Beats - 10 Easy Steps

When you're just starting out how to make beats it can be fun and frustrating at the same time. Trust me I was there. But it really is easier then you think. If you're making a beat here are 10 tips that will get yo stated.

1. Pick a style- Know the style of beat you want to make before you start making it. Like rnb,rap,pop, etc. There have been plenty of beats that I made and could not figure out what style it was.

2. Pick A Major Artist- Think of a known artist that you would want to make the beat for. Like if you chose a style a rap, think now what rap artist do you want to make the beat for. Try to imagine that artist on your beat. This will make your hip hop beat-making experience a whole lot easier.

3. Listen To Their Song- Take a listen to the rap artist you are making the beat for songs. See the style. Get a feel for the kind of hip hop beats the artist raps over.

4. Formatting The Song- Very important. formatting is, the intro, verse, chorus, verse, bridge, etc. That's all it is but basically you just change the order around however you feel like it. Turn on the radio and see how your favorite artist formats there song. When instruments come in, when they drop out. The most basic form to start with is, 2 or 4 bar intro, 16 bar verse, 8 bar chorus, 16 bar verse, 8bar chorus, 16 bar verse, 8 bars chorus. This is the most basic beat-making song format. This is very common in rap. If you want an even simpler way, you can create an 8 bar loop and keep it the same throughout the whole song. I have seen this done a lot.

5. Laying down the beat- I have learned that for starters, it's easier to start with the drums. Kick, Snare, Hi hat, are always a good start. Record a pattern for four bars with those first. Then layer that with maybe some toms, cow-bell, symbols, etc. Whatever you want to use. THE DRUMS ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT IN MAKING HIP HOP BEATS! Your drums must hit and hit HARD. The best way to get your drums hitting hard is by not using "pitty pat" free kits you downloaded from the internet for free. If your drums are weak, then your beat is going to be weak.

6. Laying Down A Melody- This is where most hip hop beat-makers have the most trouble. Because most eat makers can't play the keys. For starters, you might want to learn basic keyboard skills. The major thing you need to learn are, major and minor scales. After you learn that, try and do different combinations and patterns with the drum beat you have made. Use an instrument like, a lead guitar, horns, clav, something that will stand out. Your melody can be however you want it, but for starters, you could do a 4 bar melody, or an 8 bar melody.

7. Layering The Beat- What is done a lot in beat making is layering. If you have your whole beat finished. You can go and make it sound bigger by layering. All you do is fill in some gaps, do the same pattern you did with one instrument with another instrument. Do this throughout your beat. This will make you beat sound a lot fatter.

8. Pan- Panning is basically having an instrument all the way to the right, all the way to the left, and anywhere in between. You pan for all kinds of different reasons. It gives each track its own little space in the stereo field. There are no rules for panning, put you have to do it. So just try it out and see what you like best.

9. The Mixdown- Very important! Very Important! Very Important! If you have a poor mix on your beat, then you have pretty much wasted your time. When mixing a beat, start with each track individually. Solo each track and make sure it sounds good by itself. EQ it if you have to, but if each track sounds good by itself, the whole beat will sound that much better. DO NOT DISTORT! If your master levels are in the red before you bounce to disc or .mp3, your distorting. Don't worry about if its not loud enough. You never ever ever want to distort. If you are distorting, check any instrument that has boom or low end, Like a kick, bass, sub, etc. these tend to distort more often.

10. The Bounce- Now that you made you're beat, Its the hottest hip hop beat ever, you want to put it on cd or upload it to the internet. When you're exporting a beat for cd, Use .wav file. 44.1 16bit. If you want to upload to the internet use, 320kbps (the highest .mp3 quality) or 128kbps. Most websites wont accept 320kbps because the file size is too big. So go with 128kbps.

These are all just guidelines to help you get started. There are millions of ways to make a beat, But this is just to help you get your feet wet if you don't know where to start.


How to Make Hip Hop Beats - 10 Easy Steps

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Thursday, December 1, 2011

6 Easy Options to Customise a Compact Mirror Before Gifting

!±8± 6 Easy Options to Customise a Compact Mirror Before Gifting

When it comes to gifts and accessories, customization is a hot favourite and custom compact mirrors are a great option. Though you can easily buy a variety of fancy compact mirrors from the market, but in order to add a sprinkle of glitter to it, you can customise the compact mirror and present it to her. Customising compact mirrors is not a difficult task at all. You can easily customise a compact mirror before presenting it to your loved ones by simply using your own creative sparks. Here is how we do it.

Option 1 - With the help of glue, you could stick a few small rhinestone or sequins to the back of your mirror in order to add more style to it. You can pick rhinestones and sequins with the help of tweezers and can simply paste them with the glue. You can glue the stones in different designs like letter shapes, wavy patterns or swirls. To fill the empty area, you can use different colour stones. Option 2 - Spray paint on the back of your mirror. Your girl will definitely like a faux finish spray paint or a metallic paint colour on her mirror. Besides this to make your mirror look stainless steel or new bronze, you can use crackle paint on it. With the help of a newspaper, you can apply spray on the rear side of the mirror and allow it to dry. Option 3 - you can also hot glue flowers to your mirror. This will surely impress your girl. Cut the bloom of the flowers and hot glue it to the back of your mirror. The flower blooms of daisies or silk mums add a fanciful look to your mirror. Option 4 - Bead your mirror. In order to decorate your compact mirror, use small paste small beads to it. Beads can easily be glued down to your mirror. You can also create a design with these beads, like a straight line, curvy lines, or others. Beads come in a string that can be applied straight away on your mirror. Once the glue is dry, you can pull the string, in order to avail a high- dollar look. Option 5 - Add an animal print. You can also decoupage paper animal print or can hot glue fabric animal prints to the back of your mirror. A classic zebra print or a leopard print will always look classy. You can trace a circle on a paper or fabric in order to glue it on. In this process be careful while cutting the paper. Option 6 - Apply your favourite objects. In order to present a gift and on the same hand create an impact on your girl, you can decoupage, stamps, shells, buttons or even love letters on your mirror.Presenting your girl with a customised compact mirror will always make her feel special and your thought would surely impress her.


6 Easy Options to Customise a Compact Mirror Before Gifting

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Friday, November 25, 2011

Bird Cage Album

This is a kit from Bona of LiveLoveScrap. This one came with the chipboard cut outs and I used my own paper

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Tuesday, November 22, 2011

How to Spray Paint Stencils

!±8± How to Spray Paint Stencils

So, you want to spray paint stencils! Spray paints leave a clean, smooth finish that is free of paint brush lines and the splotches that sponges might create. But, as easy as it is to spray paint from a can, it's not so easy to get good results. So, there are a number of tricks you need to know about.

The challenge with spray paint stencils is getting crisp edges and clean lines. Most commonly the end result is a fuzzy image. That is just the nature of spray paint. If your project is going to be OK with fuzzy edges then you're in business. In fact, if that is what you are trying to achieve, then you should know that the further you hold a stencil from the surface the fuzzier it gets.

However, if you still want to spray paint stencils and need crisp edges then read on for all the tricks you'll need to know.

To get clean lines, you need to make sure that the stencil is as close to the surface as possible. If any part of the stencil is lifted it can allow paint to spray under (which is called "overspray").

One way to make sure that your stencil is in good contact with the surface is for the stencil to have an adhesive backing. There are a couple of ways to do that. You can copy your stencil onto a piece of full page label paper and cut it out. Or you can coat the back of the stencil with spray adhesive or a glue stick.

I need to tell you that if you use a sticky back stencil you may have a problem with the background paint or finish being lifted off with the stencil when you are finished painting. Make sure to read all instructions on any products you use and test before doing your project.

If you have decided to use spray glue, place your stencil face down on a piece of newspaper and spray the back side that will be placed on your surface. I know this sounds silly because of course you are going to spray the back side, right? But how many times are we doing something with our minds somewhere else and before we know it... Well, anyway, I just wanted to remind you. Also, make sure to spray with newspaper underneath. Spray glue is like spray paint - it goes everywhere!

Let's say you want to work with a glue stick. It's best to tap the glue around the islands and bridges. If you drag the glue stick you will likely get globs of glue around the edges of the islands (openings). In order to get crisp edges on your painting the islands have to be clear of glue.

Follow along with me as I spray paint a fleur de lis stencil design on a stool.

Here are some of the things that you'll need.

Of course, you'll need paint. I'm not going to recommend any brands because what works for me may not be what works for you. All I can say is to experiment with different ones until you find a brand you can stick with.

Some of the qualities you want to look for in a spray paint are truthfulness of color and a consistency that is not too thin. It just needs to spray on a nice color. Experiment with a few brands until you find the one you like.

You also want to find a brand that can offer some reliability of the nozzle. There is nothing worse than having a nozzle that clogs and sputters out large blobs of paint.

I've found that just because one brand of paint is more expensive does not necessarily mean it is the better choice. A can of discount brand paint may not go as far as a more expensive brand. So, you need to buy more of the discount brand paint. However, you may still come out ahead in the long run. You be the judge.

Also, I have had some paints create a crackling effect when sprayed. The best way to keep this from happening is to apply a thin layer of spray paint and let it dry thoroughly before another coat. It's better to apply many thin coats of paint than to try and finish it quickly with one or two thick globs of paint. Spraying a thick coat of paint can cause a number of problems besides cracking paint (like running, pooling, dripping...).

And you'll need stencils - hence the spray paint stencils part! The variety of stencils available to you is mind numbing. So, it's next to impossible for me to recommend any one kind of stencil because I don't know anything about your project. My best advice is to experiment and test different stencils and materials.

I would like to share with you a comparison of stencils made from thick and thin materials.

When using a stencil made of thick materials (like plastic) you need to spray at a perfect 90 degree angle especially around the edges. If you spray from a side angle, the edge closest to the sprayer will be fuzzy because the spray of paint is blocked by the thickness of the stencil. On the other hand, a thick stencil which is durable and heavy will cover your surface better and prevent overspray.

A stencil made from a thin material (like paper) doesn't have an edge thick enough to block the paint as it is sprayed. So the edges should be crisp even if you are not holding the can at an exact 90 degree angle from the surface. However, a thin material (like paper) might be flimsy allowing paint to get under the edges if it curls or gets blown by the spray. If you are using paper, you may want to consider an adhesive backing option as described above to keep this from happening.

You will need an object to paint. It can be anything you want - a t-shirt, furniture, floor, rug, cardboard...whatever! Just make sure that the surface to be stenciled is prepared properly. If it has a previous layer of paint, make sure it is dry. Paints do not stick well to semi-gloss or gloss paints. So, if you are painting the entire surface of the item before you stencil, use a flat paint. If it has already been painted, you may need to sand it down to rough the finish. If you are stenciling a t-shirt or other fabrics, make sure they are washed so that any surface treatment which may discourage paint from sticking has been removed.

I do not advocate illegal graffiti so if you plan to use spray paint stencils on a train or a building, make sure you own it!

I am going to recommend safety gear like a face mask or respirator, eye protection and rubber gloves. You need to be aware that spray paint is very toxic and you don't want to breathe it in especially over long periods of time. If you are spray painting inside, get a good respirator. Remember it's always good to be safe than sorry!

You will also want to have some old newspaper to cover the areas around the stencil from overspray. Spray paint has a way of going everywhere. It gets carried in the wind and lands on any exposed surface. So it's important to cover anything you don't want to have a painted haze.

You will need some masking tape to secure the stencil and any newspaper that you use.

You will need a good place to apply the spray paint. Hopefully you have a room with good ventilation. However, you don't want to be in an area where there is a breeze and dust is blowing around.

Well, on to the spray painting of the stencil. First, you want to secure your stencil to the object to be painted and cover all exposed areas outside of the stencil with newspaper. If you don't use an adhesive on the back of the stencil as described above, then tape down all the outside edges so that your stencil will not move during the entire process of painting.

For the fleur de lis stencil, I tapped a glue stick on the back side of the stencil over the thin bridges and around the edges of the fleur de lis. This made the stencil adhere better to the surface and helped in preventing overspray. When the stencil is in place on your surface to be painted, run a finger firmly around all of the island edges.

When spraying paint, hold the can 8 to 10 inches from the stencil. Use a gentle waving motion, spraying paint in horizontal lines from side to side. Release the nozzle at the end of each row and move down far enough so that when you start to paint your next line in the other direction, you are starting a new line and not repainting over the last line. You are looking for a slow and gradual build up of color with even coverage. Allow the paint to dry thoroughly after each thin layer. Be careful not to let the paint build up too fast because it will run, drip, create ripples like in a pool or start a crackle effect as it dries. Remember, it is going to take several layers of paint with a time period for thorough drying in between. No rushing!

Don't try to paint the outline of the stencil. Just stick to the back and forth motion described above. Forget that you are working with a spray paint stencil and just sweep across the entire stencil as though you are painting the whole area. Again, this is going to help you build up a gradual and even layer of color.

Make sure to hold the can upright at all times and spray toward your surface at a 90-degree angle. Holding the can upright keeps the flow of paint consistent.

Let the paint dry thoroughly before lifting the stencil. Removing a wet stencil can cause smudging. Try to pull the stencil straight up or hold down at one end and roll it up carefully from the other end. The idea is to avoid dragging the stencil over a wet surface.

And Voila! It's finished. How was that for your first spray paint stencil project? As you can tell using spray paints adds a few challenges but there are some benefits too. As you experiment with stencils using spray paints or brushes or sponges you will find out what method works best for you. So, always try new things and have fun stenciling!


How to Spray Paint Stencils

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Friday, November 18, 2011

Rich Mullins - With The Wonder, Sedalia, Mo 1991

Rich Mullins & Beaker performing "With the Wonder", from his album "Winds of Heaven, Stuff of Earth", during a concert in Sedalia, Mo. on September 28, 1991.

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Saturday, November 5, 2011

Blue Pottery with Crackle Bead Oil Lamp

!±8± Blue Pottery with Crackle Bead Oil Lamp

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Blue Pottery with Crackle Bead Oil Lamp


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Thursday, November 3, 2011

Interior Design Colors - Painting Picture Frames to Match Any Decor Is Easy and Fun

!±8± Interior Design Colors - Painting Picture Frames to Match Any Decor Is Easy and Fun

Painting is not limited to your walls. How about painting picture frames and making them your own. You can paint them any color using virtually every painting technique. Painting picture frames is fast, fun and a great way to create custom artwork in your home. Within minutes you have your finished creation. This is a good way to test a new color or technique without spending a lot of money or time.

Let's get down to business and talk about some great options for creating unique and interesting picture frames. I will warn you this is fun and can get very addictive.

Picture Frames Without Pictures

That's correct no pictures, it is very popular in the design world right now. Often large vintage picture frames are used, with colors that are muted giving that worn aged look. But you don't have to do that, step outside the box and do something bright and bold, paint them something that is a contrast with your current color decor, creating that unexpected pop. Have fun and give it your signature look. The frames look best when grouped together, remember use an odd number the eye likes that look. You can also sprinkle a few frames with photos mixed in.

Antique and Embellish
This is a very easy technique with amazing results. I typically use a painted picture frame (sand it lightly) and then put a dry coat of paint over it. Dry painting is exactly what it sounds like, put a small amount of paint on your brush and then take most of it off on a paper towel. When there is only a small amount of paint left, brush it onto the frame. Brush it out until it is all gone and repeat the process. If you get too much paint use a paper towel and take it off and thin it out. Remember less is more and you just want an illusion of the top paint color.

Use a color that creates a contrast, some options are silver over black, or white over blue, anything that gives a slightly muted or lighter look to the base color.

Now for the fun part embellish it, you can add anything, buttons, beads, shells, jewelry, fabric, metal objects, glass objects anything that fits the size of the frame. Secure it with the appropriate adhesive and your frame is finished. You can make the frame specific for a child or any holiday, what about customized Christmas presents?

How About Wallpaper
This one is great fun with unlimited options. I also love to use specialty papers, you can find them in any style or weight, and they adhere very well to the frame. Wallpaper is easy to work with, make a template of the frame and cut the paper to the correct size, adhere with adhesive and you are done.
You can enhance the paper with small amounts of embellishing powder found in most craft stores to add an accent to the paper. Remember less is more start with small amounts.

Just Paint
You can use just paint and be as creative as you would like, paint it a single color and leave it at that. Or paint a beautiful design, detailed, geometric or a very simple flower. Using stencils to create a design is easy and very effective. Use sponge painting techniques, crackle paint or gold, silver or copper leaf for a magnificent look. This project is only limited by your imagination. Look all around you for inspiration.

Most techniques that you can use on your walls can be used on picture frames with great success. It is a lot of fun and as I warned you in the beginning it is easy to get hooked. Be sure to take a before and after picture. You can find inspiration everywhere you look. If you see something you like take a picture and recreate it, the sky is the limit.


Interior Design Colors - Painting Picture Frames to Match Any Decor Is Easy and Fun

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Sunday, October 30, 2011

Fire Pits As a Source of Inspiration For Artists and Crafters

!±8± Fire Pits As a Source of Inspiration For Artists and Crafters

In order for an artist to truly get in a creative state of mind to create arts and crafts or do various creative hobbies, they must be in an inspiring environment. This environment should inspire creativity and help the artist get away from outside responsibilities so that they can focus solely on the craft they are working on. Being in front of fire can be both inspirational, give a sense of peace, and focus to an artist creating their work. It also allows the artist to get away from daily responsibilities and leave behind their cell phones and television for a relaxing environment instead.

Fire pits can be used as a backdrop for artists to do their crafts and hobbies. A painter can set up their easel in front of the fire to capture its flames on canvas. They can explore the different colors, they way the flame wisps in the air, and the different shapes it makes as it burns. In addition to capturing the beauty of the flame on canvas, other artists can use the fire for their source of creation as well. Photographers can sit in front of the fire pit, snapping away photos to try and capture the dance of the flames as they crackle and move about in an elegant manner. They can even use the filters on their professional cameras to give the fire a type of mood, such as angry, gentle, passionate or peaceful. This would also work great for videographers in the same manner, with the addition of getting clear sound bits for their videos.

Other crafters or hobbyists can enjoy sitting in front of the fire pits doing their crafts, such as knitting, beadwork, model airplanes and even scrapbooking. For crafts that require more intricate detail, they can set up a table to hold their crafts, tools and accessories needed to create their designs. Writing is also a form of a hobby or craft and sitting in front of the fire pit is a great source of inspiration. Looking at the flames can spark creativity and help the writer come up with passionate poetry, heartfelt letters, detailed memoirs and possibly even the next bestselling novel. Groups of crafters can gather around the fire to socialize and create their crafts together. It can be the perfect setting for all types of artists to focus solely on their true passion of crafting and art.


Fire Pits As a Source of Inspiration For Artists and Crafters

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