Kitchen Makeover Ideas

Kitchen Makeover Ideas

People who are interested in giving their home a fix-up or making it look nicer should look into giving their kitchen a makeover. People might be surprised to see how much happier they will feel in a nicer kitchen. Just changing the paint could brighten up the room and make it a much nicer place to be. If people have nicer appliances then the whole kitchen will look more clean and inviting, and it will also function so much better.

It is very important for people to consider the chance of having a nicer home and a happier time spent in their kitchen. They will probably be amazed to see just how worth it they will find it to be after they spend the money.

Set a Budget
When people are considering a kitchen makeover they need to consider how much money they want to spend. They need to look into the prices of items and figure out exactly what they have the budget for. They could make grandiose plans only to be amazed to see how quickly things add up. Even the small expenses will add to the overall cost and make it all more expensive. So aside from deciding how much they want to spend, people can look into different options for saving money as they go. For instance, instead of purchasing new cabinets, they could just fix up the ones they already have. There are some really great cabinet refinishing companies that people could work hire to get the job done professionally, which could save a lot of money and make the kitchen look amazing.

Hit the Floors
Another great idea for a kitchen makeover is to invest in new flooring. That might mean wood floors or new tile, just depending on what people like. It will all be done according to their taste and according to their wishes. But when people have flooring that is stained and maybe even cracked or peeling, it is nearly impossible to get the kitchen looking nice and clean. So, replace the flooring and watch as that immediately makes the space so much more inviting. Another way to save money with flooring is to find a way to do it themselves, but if they are nervous about the outcome they could always hire a professional.

Light it Up
New lighting in a kitchen can make everything seem cleaner and brighter. New lighting will make the kitchen bright where before it may have been dingy and dark. If people are sitting in dim lighting in the evening while they are trying to cook or eat, they probably will not feel very happy about it. They need to give themselves some more light to see by so that they can do the things they need to in the kitchen. That will make the whole space so much more inviting.

Archie Johnson is a freelance blogger for Cabinet Coatings of America, a cabinet refinishing Phoenix company.

6 Tips For An Eco-Chic Bride

6 Tips For An Eco-Chic Bride

We love weddings and we would love them even more if they have a smaller carbon foot print, but is that possible?
For a stylish and sustainable wedding celebration, you’ll have to be as creative as! It’s not just a matter of finding a beautiful eco farm nestled in the countryside for your reception, it’s also all those little details that you might not have thought about.
If the environment is your passion, then this wonderful guide full of bright tips and handy advice is a real gem for you eco-chic brides.


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Hiring Plants
Instead of buying flowers that are only going to end up in the bin the day after your wedding, why not try hiring some beautiful plants? Bamboos or Palm trees would look absolutely fabulous and would be a fantastic exotic touch!
Another option for those of you, who have little green fingers, is you could plant the flowers you fancy for your special day yourself, and repot them! Obviously, you will need to know what you’re doing!

Fresh Rose Petals
If you have the budget, go for lovely fresh rose petals to distribute around your guests. They’ll look beautiful for the ceremony, such a romantic and sweet-scented idea!
 However, if rose petals area little out of your budget and confetti is a much more suitable option – remember think green and recycle that used confetti!

Wedding Dresses
Wedding dresses are very expensive and they’re only going to end up in the wardrobe anyway after that special day! So when we think about it, do we really need to have that ultra expensive, unique piece of fashion?
If you’re a lover of vintage clothes, go straight to a charity shop or log online at Gumtree, and you can re-use an old wedding dress and you may find an absolute gem - from the roaring 20s to the late 70s.

Candles
For an intimate and truly romantic wedding, you could decorate your tables with a few sets of candles arranged into lovely centrepieces; this is a great way to really enhance that intimate and romantic feel. Try scattering some lovely fresh rose petals randomly around the table to bring out some colour.


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Local Products
It’s somewhat a tradition for the guests to leave the reception with a souvenir. Why don’t you get them some luxury locally sourced mouth-watering treats? Home-made chutneys, delicious marmalades, local honey, or even some vegetable baskets from local producers!


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Organic Wine
In the UK, there are some great biodynamic wines that would accompany the wedding feast perfectly! Buying organic wine is certainly more expensive but worth having for your special day.
Make some calls to the nearest vineyards and find out whether they can offer a good price for a large order!
However, if wine is not to your liking and you are more of a cider or real ale fan; it may be worth getting in touch with your local organic breweries and see what they can offer you!
As environmental issues are strongly present in all of our lives, having an eco-friendly wedding is a step to helping the world we live in, and being chic is not incompatible with being green!

Make Your Own Throw Blankets

Make Your Own Throw Blankets This Summer

Looking for a fun, easy craft to keep you occupied this summer? Try making your own throw blankets. Come wintertime, you’ll be happy to have extra throw blankets around the house. Likewise, these unique, handmade blankets make perfect gifts. Here are two ways you can make your own throw blanket this summer:

Fleece Tie Throw Blankets. For the novice crafter, fleece blankets are easy to make. Not only do they require no sewing skills, they’re relatively inexpensive to make. To begin, you will need to purchase a  1 ½ yard piece of polar fleece, ruler, and a rotary cutter. While a rotary cutter is ideal, a pair of sharp scissors will work just as well. When purchasing the fleece, ask the crafts associate to cut the material straight. Make sure to trim any uneven edges before beginning.  Next, you'll need to cut a 4-inch square out of each of the four corners of the fleece. The next step is to cut 4" x 1" wide fringe all the way around the blanket.
Once you've done that, you'll want to use a seam ripper to make tiny slits at the top of each piece of fringe. The final step is to feed the fringe pieces through the backside of the slit you cut and pull it through, creating a neat and secured fringed edge. If you are planning to give throw blankets as gifts, you may want to personalize them. To do so, take the finished blanket to a sports store or graphic design store that does embroidery. You can have the store embroider the recipient’s name or initials on the blanket.

Quilt. Unlike a fleece blanket, quilts require basic sewing skills and more time. If you are willing to invest the time and energy, however, quilting is a great way to reuse old fabric. In fact, quilts made up of old jerseys or t-shirts make wonderful keepsakes for your family. Once you've gathered up the fabric you're planning on using, you'll need to choose a pattern as well as backing and batting materials.
The batting, also known as the inner layer of the quilt, is what makes a quilt warm and soft. To purchase batting and backing, you'll need to go to a craft shop so a professional can assist you in selecting the right materials.
As far as patterns go, there are tons to choose from, and most are available for free online. Take care when choosing your quilt pattern, as the difficulty and time spent working on the quilt will depend on the pattern you choose. Once you have all of your fabric squares, lay them on the floor and piece the quilt together in diagonal rows. To secure the three layers before it comes time to sew, you'll want to pin them together. To do so, lie the backing material wrong side up on the ground and place the batting material on top.
Next, lay the quilt top onto the batting and smooth the layers, making sure that they all lay straight and flat. Starting at the center, pin the layers (quilt top, batting and backing) every 3 to 6 inches until the entire quilt has been pinned with safety pins. This will keep your quilt pieces together until you are ready for the final step - sewing it together.
Whether you make a fleece blanket or quilt, a handmade blanket is the perfect accessory to any room in your home.

Rebecca Travis is a 2nd grade teacher who loves reading and making crafts. She gets great craft ideas from Collections Etc.

Fun DIY Crafts for Special Needs Children

Fun DIY Crafts for Special Needs Children

Learning life skills are essential for all special needs children to learn in order for them to be able to function well in society, beat the current statistics, and hold a job during adulthood. The term “life skill” encompasses a huge variety of skills that are necessary in order to function in day to day life. The category “life skills” is broad, ranging from getting dressed and brushing your teeth, to balancing a checkbook and doing laundry, therefore, there are endless possibilities for crafting as a means to learn these lessons. For example, fine motor skills are a basic necessity and are greatly improved through crafting.

Fine Motor Skills

Have children paint with black paint or use a large black marker to draw an outline on a big piece of white paper. Have them then draw more lines and shapes within their original outline. Then give the children scissors and a pile of colored paper. Allow them to cut many shapes from the paper in all sizes. Then have them glue the shapes inside their outline. Once they are finished, they will have created their own mosaic or stained glass window. The project involves a great deal of cutting which is good for their hand eye coordination as well as their fine motor skills.
Another quick project that is good for those fine motor skills and coordination is beadwork. If you go to your local craft or bead store and find a nice variety of medium sized beads, you can give the children each a piece of string or twine and a bowl full of beads and help them to string a bracelet or necklace together. Again, this helps with coordination and makes a nice gift for mom. Be careful though; you don’t want the beads to go from hands to mouth!

Hands-On Studying

Some children with special needs have the ability to retain information better when they are exposed to the information through hands on activities. A great way to get children involved and help them to have fun while studying geography is to create a topographical map. Begin with an outline of the region you are studying. Create borders with marker to distinguish the different regions. Discuss what those borders symbolize with the children and talk about what each region is and how they differ from one another. Now comes the fun part. Use salt dough to help the children create each region. Let them get in there and get dirty making mountains and valleys. After the dough has had time to dry, let the kids paint the regions. The finished product is one that everyone can be proud of and learn from.
The needs that these children have regarding learning the social behaviors and skills necessary to function and be able to take responsible care of themselves are many, and crafts are gravely important in helping implement these lessons. Whatever the activity may be, it probably will help them in some way. For example, just by creating their own art, children are learning confidence, what any person needs to learn, so that they will know they can do it.

A Picnic Tailgating Party

A Picnic Tailgating Party

Add some class to your next tailgating party with a picnic basket! While the boys are grilling, downing drinks, and talking sports, roll out a blanket and claim your own spot with a basket full of culinary delights which will definitely make them jealous. Even if you're not trying to show anyone up, the basket will be a great way to transport the side dishes that are necessary to accompany all of the protein being cooked onsite. Not to mention there's room for sunblock and ponchos- you can never be too prepared.

Set up Shop in a Truck Bed

Obviously a parking lot is not the most comfy place to spread a quilt and sit down for a picnic, so don't be shy about setting up shop in a truck bed where you can find yourself hanging out even after the meal. Since the great thing about a picnic basket is it can be cute and versatile, you can get away with propping up against it and catching a little shut eye before the game. Well you probably won't be sleeping at a tailgate, but no one is going to give you a hard time about bringing your basket. You definitely won’t be given a hard time when a picnic basket is loaded with home cooked and oven baked goodies that no one else thought to bring.

Decorate with Festive Decorations!

Feel free to get festive, that's what it's all about. Roll napkins in your teams color, throw in paper plates with the mascot, and add food coloring to your potato salad if you really want to get them going. People will be impressed with the level of spunk you can pack in your basket, so just let your imagination fly. This is an occasion where it's about getting full and having fun. Plus there's nothing better than a surprise from the basket. All the other food is out on the grill, so the desert in your basket will be a popular surprise towards the end of feasting.

Pack Your Own Wine Cooler

Since the boys are sure to have their coolers filled with beer, pack your own wine cooler filled with your favorite pinot grigio, chardonnay, or even a bottle of champagne! If you’re all recovering from a fun night before, be sure to pack some orange juice. Add a little champagne and you’ve got a mimosa- the perfect cure and pick-me-up!  Be sure to pack enough water bottles in your cooler to keep the boys hydrated while they’re watching the game. Since clean-up is as simple as tossing everything back into the picnic basket followed by placing into the back into the car, leave the portable grill and game to the boys and head out early for a girls day of shopping! 

Citations:

• Image via Martha Stewart

Paige One enjoys writing about fashion, outdoor summer activities, and more. Find Picnic Baskets for your next tailgating party that will help keep your food organized and you will also have a lot of fun!

Fun Wedding DIY Crafts With Paper

Fun Wedding DIY Crafts With Paper

Looking for some fun projects you can make for your wedding? Paper crafts are among the easiest DIY crafts to make, and there are tons of wonderful projects from which to choose. Get inspired by these fun wedding DIY crafts with paper.

Neon colors are a very hot wedding trend this year, and you can make some fantastic decorations using paper in those intense hues. I especially love the idea of making tissue paper flowers in day-glo orange, lime green, hot pink, and yellow. It would look super cool for the bride to carry a neon paper blossom bouquet. Just imagine how the colors will pop against a white bridal gown. Dramatic wedding jewelry and a pair of shocking pink shoes will complete the style.

Paper chains are something else that you can make with paper for your wedding. Think about the old school chains you used to make as a kid out of strips of paper – this is the same idea. To make them appropriate for a wedding, use special paper like patterned origami paper. Or use solid color paper strips in your wedding colors. They would be a terrific decoration for a wide open reception space, like an outdoor site or suspended from the rafters of a barn. What an easy and inexpensive way to add a lot of color to a big space. Best of all, making paper chains is so simple that you can enlist anyone to help you...even your groom!

Fluffy paper pom poms are another great idea for a wedding paper craft. They are usually made with tissue paper or crepe paper. You can use large pom poms in quite a number of different ways. The colors you select will have a big effect on the tone of your party, so be sure to select colors that make sense with the overall feeling you are creating with your flowers, bridesmaid dresses and wedding jewelry sets, and table decor. Create an ethereal look by filling the ceiling of an indoor reception venue with white and ivory poms. Or design a festive feeling for an outdoor summer wedding with paper balls in fuchsia, tangerine, and green. Crimson, aqua, and white poms will create a retro vibe. Paper poms are not just for hanging from ceilings; they can also go on chair backs, on shepherd's hooks lining the aisle, or almost any place else you can imagine.

Your wedding favor wrappers are another DIY craft option. Certainly you can make special wrapping paper for boxes by stamping or stenciling a motif on paper. You can also create little paper cones (perfect for holding Jordan almonds), tiny paper baskets, or decorative flat bags. The number one tip is to limit yourself to a number of paper crafts that you can realistically complete before your wedding, and to start crafting early. Your fantastic paper projects will definitely add a lot of color and charm to your wedding.

Ideas for Wedding Favors

Ideas for Wedding Favors

Your wedding is one of the biggest and most important days of your life! Naturally you will want to share this day and its memories with those whom are important to you, those that are present to make this special day even more special. Wedding favors are not just a token of appreciation, thanking your guests for gracing this event with their presence, but they can also be something that adds a little more charm, a little more color and beauty to your table which goes along with the wedding theme.

Wedding favors or also known as bonbonniere, is something that is shared across cultures worldwide. In Malaysia, the traditional wedding favors given out to guests during a Malay wedding were hard boiled eggs! However these days it is no longer common to receive hard boiled eggs at weddings, instead we find in its place, candies and chocolates, candles, porcelain trinket boxes, potpourri and many others, much like the wedding favors you find in the US, Canada and Europe.

It is up to the married couple to choose a wedding favour for their guests. It can be something simple and affordable like candies or a bag of mixed nuts, something personal like a compilation of favourite songs on a CD or a picture frame with a picture of the couple, something cute and fun, something practical like a candle or jewellery box . There are dozens of websites available that offer ideas, and even more that offer online shopping with hundreds of pretty options to make it as convenient for you as possible. So it is really up to you to figure out what you really want.

For me personally, I love how it is an opportunity for the bride and groom to share a part of them and their new life with the people they treasure most. And I love to receive something practical, something that I can display or use occasionally and be reminded of a good friend or a cousin's special day, how lovely it was and what kind of adventures I had making the long trip! 


I recently had an order of 100 sets of wine glass charms from a lovely lady from Canada as wedding favors for her spring wedding. Although I wasn’t directly involved in this special event, I somehow felt I was still a part of it and I felt honored by it. And I simply loved the idea of using wine glass charms as wedding favors, I have never thought of it but it is such a cool idea!  The charms can be something that suit the couple or the theme, such as a little bride and groom, a champagne glass, a bow tie, a cake, a heart; or if the couple are dog lovers it can be a little puppy, a dog bone; different little cars for car lovers; flip-flops, a beach hat, a seashell and a sun for a beach wedding etc. They are fun, they are practical, and they can last a long time. Imagine when your guests use them at a dinner or luncheon with some friends at their home many months or even years later, the charm are definitely something cool to talk about!

Here are some of the wine glass charms available in my Etsy shop!

Have a look at my Etsy shop: 

The Promise Necklace

The Original Promise Necklace

Ever made a promise which you intend to keep for a long time? Be it to yourself or to someone special? 

- A promise to always love and be faithful to a spouse
- A promise of friendship
- A promise to yourself to love and protect your family and loved ones
- A promise to work hard to achieve that academic, career or financial goal
- A promise that you will stay sober or will never pick up another cigarette

The Promise Necklace is a simple beaded necklace to remind you of a promise made. It is special, it is personal, yet a powerful symbol of an unbroken promise.

This Promise Necklace is made with quality glass seed beads and a 1.5-2 inches in length of assorted colored Swarovski beads. It can be worn at all times, and because of its simplicity, it will go well with any attire. 

This necklace is designed to be worn with the Swarovski beads slightly to the left, as a symbol that the promise will always be kept close to your heart. 
I wear mine in blue, which represents the love I have for my son, to remind me of my responsibilities to always care and nurture and protect him. Choose a color that speaks to you, one that best represents a promise you have made, and wear it proudly close to your heart.

Interested in The Promise Necklace? Go to my Etsy Shop and choose one that you like!

Check out the latest design for The Promise Ring in The Color Palette Series. 

(Click HERE to link to my Etsy Shop)

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4 Christmas Craft Ideas for Kids

 4 Christmas Craft Ideas for Kids

If you've got little ones around your home, you're probably reluctant to buy expensive or breakable holiday knick knacks. Avoid the trouble by having your kids make the decorations themselves -- it'll keep them busy and save you the headache of sweeping up shards of broken ornaments.
Here are 4 Christmas crafts to get you and your kids started on creatively decking your halls:

Paper Snowflakes
A tried and true tradition, the paper snowflake is a staple in homemade Christmas decor. Just like real-life snowflakes, the paper versions come out individual and unique every time. Grab a pair of scissors, fold a piece of paper into a square or circle, and start cutting! Personalize your design to your heart's content and unfold it to reveal your creation. Spice up this traditional craft by using patterned gift wrap or adding glitter to your finished design.

Countdown Candy Tree
This craft is simple and will entertain your kids from now until Christmas. Print up or hand-draw an outline of a Christmas tree on a piece of green paper, give your kids a pile of craft supplies and pieces of candy and let them go crazy. They can color or decorate the tree as much as they like, including writing the numbers 1-25 in the branches of the tree. Have them tape or glue a piece of wrapped candy next to each number, and the countdown is ready to go! Every day until Christmas, they can remove and eat a piece of candy and anticipate the upcoming holiday.

Homemade Gift Wrap
Keep things looking nice and creative under the tree by making your very own homemade wrapping paper. You can use butcher paper, plain white paper, or construction paper -- or if you really want to go green, opt for old newspaper or recycled brown shopping bags. You can use any art materials you want for this one, from glitter to fingerpaint to stamps. Adding your kids' handprints to the paper can make the gift wrap truly special for grandparents and family friends. Get creative by dipping different objects, such as old buttons, in paint and using them to stamp designs on the paper.

Glittery Yarn Ornaments
These ornaments aren't breakable, but they'll still make your tree sparkle! Instead of opting to buy gold and silver balls for your tree, all you'll need is yarn, glue, glitter and a package of balloons. To start, inflate the balloon to the size of ornament you wish to make. Hang a string across your garage or a room where you won't mind the ornaments hanging to dry, and attach the balloons to the string with clothespins or string. Dip the the yarn in glue and tie one end of it to the knot of the balloon. Wrap the sticky yarn around the balloon to form patterns and swirls. Sprinkle on glitter in whatever color you want, and leave the ornaments to dry over night. In the morning, pop the balloon with a needle or pin and remove your finished ornaments from their hanging place. Attach the ornaments to your Christmas tree with ribbons, or buy a package of metallic hooks at the grocery store.

The Art of Napkin Folding

The Art of Napkin Folding
 
Napkins have been around for centuries. Both the ancient Greeks and Romans used napkins, and no formal dinner party would be complete without providing a napkin for a guest to protect their laps and wipe their hands. 

In Europe, napkins are often referred to as serviettes, but the concept remains the same. Napkins may only be a simple square piece of cloth, but presenting napkins in a decorative and aesthetically pleasing manner has become an art form all on its own. 



Napkin folding can turn a simple square napkin into an elaborate and decorative ornament that will look fantastic positioned next to the cutlery, but napkin folding isn’t easy, which is why so many people opt to use napkin rings.
Similar to origami, napkin folding is particularly challenging due to the softness of the napkin material. However, by starching a napkin, you can fold it into some really lovely and elaborate shapes. Napkin folding is something you can do many hours in advance of a dinner party, while sat on a comfy chair or chaise sectional, but it does take plenty of practice.
 
The Pyramid
Often used by restaurants, the pyramid is perhaps the easiest shape in which to fold a napkin. To fold a napkin into a pyramid, first lay the napkin in front of you and fold it in half diagonally to make a triangle. Fold the two ends of the triangle to the center of the napkin to form a diamond shape. Next, turn the napkin over and fold it in half to form a smaller triangle. Turn the napkin over again and fold along the centerline. The result should be a neat and sturdy pyramid that can support its own weight when stood up.
 
The Bishop’s Hat
Another simple shape that you can fold a napkin into is the bishop’s hat. To create the bishop’s hat, first fold the napkin in half, but this time fold it to form a rectangle, not a triangle. Next, fold one corner down the centerline toward you. Then, turn the napkin over and fold the other end away from you so the napkin resembles a squashed rectangle. Turn the napkin around and fold the bottom half of the napkin away from you so the far edges run on top of each other. The next step is a little tricky, as you need to reach under the napkin and pull out the flap created by the folds on the right so it forms two points. You then need to tuck the left triangle underneath the right triangle. Then, with the points away from you, fold the right triangle into the left one. You should then have a hat shape that can be opened out to be stood up next to a place setting.
 
Diamond Pouch
The diamond pouch is a more complicated folded napkin, but this one creates a handy pocket in which to hold cutlery. To make a pouch, again you need to fold the napkin to form a rectangle and then fold again to form a square. Fold back one of the edges, using only one layer, so the point meets the corner of the square on the opposite side. Fold the next layer in a similar fashion just below the previous one, making sure the edges are even. Repeat this step for the next layer and then turn the napkin over. Fold the edges with all the layers over one another, and tuck one edge into the other to hold it all together. You can then insert silverware into the pouch you’ve created.
 
Napkin Rings
Even if you’ve followed these instructions carefully, chances are you may have not created the perfect pyramid, bishop’s hat or pouch. This is because napkin folding takes time, patience and practice. This is one reason why so many people opt to use napkin rings rather than mess about before a dinner party trying to fold napkins into shapes. Napkin rings come in many different varieties, styles and shapes that without any effort can still present napkins in an elegant and stylish manner. To complement napkin rings, wine glass charms add that little touch of elegance, which can make all the difference to a table setting, ensuring it looks good enough to entertain the fussiest of guests.