How you can entertain your family

Embossed Votive Holder Shade

Create the look of a Stained Glass Votive Holder

Supplies Needed:

Most items can be found in the Scrap booking/Stamping section of your local craft store.

Straight-Sided Clear Glass Votive Holder

Vellum

Craft Markers of various colors

Hole Punch

Decorative String

Embossing Powder in your choice of color

Versamark Ink Pad

Embossing Heat Tool

Scissors

Tape Measure or Ruler

1. Measure the height and circumference of your Glass votive holder with a tape measure or ruler. Use these measurements to cut out a piece of vellum. It is important to make sure that the vellum does not extend past the top of the votive holder because this will increase the risk of a fire hazard.

2. After you have planned your design with your stamp(s), use the Versamark ink to stamp the design onto the vellum. At this point the design will be clear.

3. Now sprinkle the embossing powder onto the stamped design. Turn the vellum upright and make sure all stray powder has been shaken or tapped off. Also make sure that your entire design has been covered in powder. You will be able to see this because the embossing powder will stick to the design that you stamped with the Versamark inkpad.

4. Use your Embossing Heat Tool to heat the powder. But be careful because the heat tool can get VERY hot! You will now have a beautiful raised design of the stamp you chose! Let cool for 1-2 minutes.

5. Now you can just color inside of the design on the opposite side of the vellum. Darker Colors look better for this as they give a bolder appearance when the candle is lit. Allow to dry for aproximately 5 minutes or the colors may smear.

6. Finally, use your hole punch to make holes in the center of the shortest sides of the vellum. Run your string through these holes and tie around your votive holder!

And, VOILE! A One-of-Kind Votive Shade that was fun and inexpensive to make! You can find more candle decorating ideas at www.ExpressiveCandles.com

About The Author

This Article was written by Michelle Gauthier of www.ExpressiveCandles.com. Michelle owns and runs Expressive Candles. They offer hand poured scented candles and shaped tarts. Michelle also has written other candle decorating articles, tips and candlescaping articles.

“Optional Image link: http://www.expressivecandles.com/emailnewsletter/votivecovers.jpg

info@expressivecandles.com

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Posted on July 9th, 2008 by admin
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Party Favors

A party favor is a gift that will generally be low in cost, and it will be provided at parties. A common party favor that will be given to young children is a package that is composed of candy, a toothbrush, and toothpaste. Most party favors can be purchased at dollar stores or similar places. Party favors are generally given to children, and are composed of gifts that many children will enjoy. A child who is artistically inclined will enjoy receiving party favors that come in the form of colored pencils or markers.

In addition to this, bubblegum, rubber balls, bottles and stuffed animals are good examples of party favors. In addition to toys, party favors could also come in the form of food. Pizza or popcorn is very popular, as well as baked cookies. You will also want to make sure you provide party favors which are consistent with certain holidays. For example, if you are celebrating Easter or Christmas, you will want to make sure you choose party favors which are related to these holidays. Another popular party favor that can be given to guests is fortune cookies.

Giving fortune cookies to guests will allow them to open them to find out what their fortunes are. In fact, some companies will custom bake cookies for you that will feature personalized fortunes. This can allow you to put a special message or photo into the cookie. After you have baked the perfect cookies and placed messages in them, you will next want to put them in a nice package. Party favors are great gifts to give at various events throughout the year. These include birthdays, weddings, holidays, and other important events. Many children love coloring books, and they can be purchased for low prices. Not only will it keep children occupied, but they will enhance their artistic skills as well.

Children also love balloons, and you won’t want to give away party favors without including them. Instead of using plan balloons, why not use balloons that are shaped like animals or other objects? Balloons are great products to use and party favors, and many children enjoy them. If you enjoy arts and crafts, another great gift that can be given as a party favor are beads. There is no limit to the number of designs you can use for your beads, and children will enjoy the beautiful colors that you can add to the design.

Party favors are great gifts to give, because they don’t cost a lot of money, but they can do a lot to show that you care about someone. With homemade party gifts, the amount of money you spend is not as important as the thought and work you put into designing a specific gift. There is no limit to the number of different ideas you can use for party favors. The only thing that limits you is your imagination. These gifts can be given multiple times per year, and are good for virtually any party.

Michael Colucci is a writer for Party Favors which is part of the Knowledge Search network

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Posted on July 8th, 2008 by admin
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Decorate for Christmas

It’s your home/your apartment and you want to make it a special sanctuary this Christmas. How can you create a special place for your family and you? Well, we already have our centerpiecesee November’s issue Decorate for Thanksgiving.) Just replace candles and flowers. But how can you make your place shine with love and holiday spirit?

Your dining room table can have a nice Christmas cloth or runner. Replace the fall curtain scarf with Christmas co-ordinates to match your table cloth or runner. Look around your yard for any berries that you might use in your centerpieces. Be careful that little ones don’t put these in their mouths. Make a wreath for your door using a grapevine base and ivy you might have growing around the yard.place berries strategically around the circle. Make a bow of fine vines and place in the center, a couple of pine cones. What a unique heart warmer for your guests to enter your sanctuary by.

At the doorway, hallway, foyer, greet your guests with cinnamon sticks and and cloves stuck in oranges and apples placed in a wooden bowl on a hallway table. Cover the table with a plaid green and red cloth. Your kitchen can have all the smells of holiday cooking. Place a nice lantern in the window to remind us of those guests who couldn’t make it. Have a plate of finger foods for your guests. Simple things will do like a nice wooden bowl of cashews or give your guests something to do: serve pistachios.

Need something for the kids to do? Take tag paper and cut out a Christmas tree shape that is about 24 inches tall. Put it on a bulletin board, then make two different sized ornament patterns for the kids to use and have them trace ornaments on more tag paper. Let the kids cut the ornaments out. Take crayons and markers and decorate a couple to model how to decorate them for the kids. Provide some glue sticks and let the kids glue their ornaments on their very own tree.

In your living room or family room, create a warm feel with plaid coverlets thrown across your couches and chairs. If you have a mantel, string some berries into a garland.or use cranberries. Place wooden candlestick holders and white candles. Place ivy around the base.a very simple but elegant presentation.

After dinner have pie with coffee and tea. Pass out some carols and sing together. If you have a musical instrument, this would be a great time to accompany your guests. You can print some carols ahead of time. Make them into little booklets using old Christmas cards for covers. CHRISTMAS-CAROLS.NET - Rejoice in the Christmas Spirit!

Serve some spiced cider:
1 gallon of Apple Cider
10 cinnamon sticks
Some whole cloves (about 10)
Simmer on top of stove for about 15 minutes and strain into some nice Seasonal mugs.

Enjoy your family and don’t forget to take photos. Merry Christmas!

Caroline Shaw, Pittsburgh, PA
mom@amomslove.com
AMomsLove.com
Caroline Shaw holds a B.S. degree from Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA in Secondary Education, English. She is a mom to six children. She is Editor and Publisher of the Online Magazine,”A Mom’s Love.” Each issue contains informative articles for WAHMs, their children, single moms, working moms, and more. She lives with her husband, three “still at home” children, a collie, an australian shepherd and two kitties in Western Pennsylvania. Her hobbies are writing, cooking, gardening, decorating and crafts.

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Posted on July 7th, 2008 by admin
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