Step one is going through photos. Children love to look at pictures. Young children love to tell you who the person in the picture is. Older children love to tell the story of the photo or ask you to tell the story of the photo. Both of my kids always love to look at the photos my mom has, many are in black and white. They love to see the differences between life back then, and life today. Of course my mom enjoys sharing with my kids about life back then.

Again, depending on the age of your kids, they can help you choose the color of the paper used, the stickers you use, any lettering you use and can help design the overall layout of the page. When you open a scrapbook there is a page on the left and a page on the right. Often, my kids will each design one side. If you have all of the supplies organized, its very reasonable to be able to create several pages in one evening.

The adhesives I use are all zots, or precut small squares that are double sided. These adhesives are very simple to use. Even young kids can attach one side to the photo and then when ready peel off the other side and then press into the album. I am not an artist by any means. I also can not cut a straight line. One of the things my own children most love about the albums Ive given to them is that every album has crooked pictures. We truly laugh until tears roll down our faces about how I can not even attach a photo straight onto a page. So, even if your young children do attach a photo a bit crooked, seeing the album, knowing you and child made it together will bring you great joy.

If your children are old enough to write, have them do some of the journaling. Help them write their story about the pictures they are putting into the album.

Scrapbook pages all should be in sheet protectors, so even small fingers cant smudge photos. It really is a joy to watch young children take out the scrapbook album they helped to create and watch them tell their dolls or imaginary friends all of the stories behind the various photos.

Scrapbooking is multi generational, allowing young children and even great grandparents to participate in an activity together. One thing that always makes my own children giggle are the bathing suits my grandparents wore in one photo we have. My grandparents were both born in the late 1800s and so the bathing suits were quite different from what we see today.

I was born in New York and so we have photos of me in a baby carriage in the snow. Living in California today, these photos are all of a different place and different time to my own children. They have so enjoyed my own mother telling them about life in New York. Since both of my children are older (driving age) and since we live in California, neither has ever driven in snow. Asking my mom about driving in the snow has provided conversation that would not have taken place if we didnt have the photos and scrapbooks to talk about.

Scrapbooking and photos truly are a way to provide conversation, to bridge the gap between generations and to provide a wonderful opportunity to spend quality time with your children.

Family Time Can be Scrapbooking Time is a post from: Home And Family Blogs

Play dough is also a nice creative way to spend time together. Roll it, mold it and create great works of art. It’s safe and can be used over and over again. You can make your own play dough and make different colors. Here is a great play dough recipe I have used many times with my own kids.

4 cups flour
1 cup salt
4 cups water
4 tablespoons oil
1/2 cup cream of tartar
food coloring (use this to create the colors of your choice)

Mix all ingredients in a sauce pan. Cook and stir over low/medium heat until play dough is completely formed and no longer sticky. Allow to cool slightly before storing in an air tight container or zip lock bag.

Shaving cream art is also fun and easy. Using a vinyl table cloth or plastic place mats just spray some shaving cream on and let them use like finger paint. I would recommend using the sensitive skin brand of shaving cream. Another great favorite is collages. You just need construction paper, some magazines, elmer’s glue and safety scissors. Have the children cut out pictures of interest to them and glue them all over the construction paper. Once their project dries hang proudly on your fridge.

Make a dreary day into a fun and exciting day with your child.

Family Fun – Children’s Activities – Arts and Crafts is a post from: Home And Family Blogs

You dont need to add any scent to a bees wax candle because the wax is naturally scented with honey. Therefore beeswax candles rarely have any additives and this includes color. The natural yellow color adds to the ambiance of a bees wax taper candle and the scent of honey will perfume the air. Like soy candles, bees wax candles burn longer and cleaner than paraffin candles. However, one of the disadvantages of using bees wax taper candles is that they cost more than soy or paraffin candles.

The wax used in making beeswax candles can vary from white to a light brown. In some cases, candle makers may add bleach to the wax to lighten the color of the bees wax. Candles that have been bleached may not have as much of a honey scent to them, but you wont be able to smell the scent of bleach. The bleach also helps to filter the beeswax. A candle made from unfiltered bees wax may contain small bits of wood or even parts of the bees.

Over time, you may notice that there is a white powder on the outside of your beeswax candles. This does not mean that the bees wax candles are no longer any good. The development of this powder is a natural occurrence with beeswax taper candles and is called blooming. You can easily wipe the powder off of the beeswax candle. It is actually a good thing for this to happen because it will tell you that your bees wax taper candles have been made from pure beeswax.

If you like making your own candles, beeswax candles are the easiest ones to make at home. Beeswax is sold in sheets and you dont have to bother with any additives, colors or candle scents. The bees wax that you buy is already filtered so you dont need to bother with bleaching it. All you have to do is melt down the bees wax and pour it into your molds to have the perfect beeswax candles.

Everything You Need To Know About Beeswax Candles And More is a post from: Home And Family Blogs

One of the best ways to learn new arts and crafts is to sign up for a class. There are probably several arts and crafts shops in your local area that offer classes on a whole variety of topics. Are you interested in learning how to knit or croquet? If so, there is likely a place near you. Or maybe you would rather learn to make your own pottery or even to paint pottery. Regardless of what kind of arts and crafts you want to explore there should be a class or a community of people to learn the skill in. If you have no idea what you want to do perhaps it would be good for you to start exploring the world of arts and crafts by looking first at the classes that are offered and then simply choosing one.

Spending time doing arts and crafts of any kind is a great way to relax. We all know how busy work and home become. It is so easy to get swept into the routine of all that needs to get done that we forget to take time out for ourselves to enjoy something new and fun. Arts and crafts are a great way to sneak away for a while and make something you will want to treasure at the same time. When choosing what you want to do, be sure that whatever arts or crafts you choose sounds relaxing and not stressful to you.

Isn’t every woman wishing she had more time to spend with close girlfriends, her sisters, and mother? Doing arts and crafts together is a great way to spend quality time while doing something everyone enjoys. You can get away from your children and coworkers and enjoy quality conversation about things and people that you care about. Consider starting an arts and crafts group in your home once a week and inviting some women you want to see more of. You will be surprised by how great an arts and crafts night is for reconnecting the women in your life.

Is there an important holiday or a special event coming up that you need to remember with a gift? If so, use arts and crafts to make the perfect present. Think about the person you are making the gift for and then use your free time to relax and enjoy arts and crafts. There is never a better gift than one that was made with love.

Take time today to check out local shops that are offering arts and crafts classes. Enroll in a class that interests you or consider hosting a class in your home. Invite your close friends, sisters, and mother and you will enjoying relaxing time doing arts and crafts before you know it.

Enjoy Arts And Crafts is a post from: Home And Family Blogs

Now there’s a grown up way to save and preserve your treasures: Scrapbooking.

The concept behind scrapbooking hasn’t changed since grade school. You can still place photographs, newspaper clippings, poems, and tickets into your scrapbook to display and preserve your memories.

However, scrapbooking techniques and tools have matured substantially since you were a kid. Scrapbooking albums have replaced the messy bundles of paper. These albums are generally bound or placed in a three-ring binder. In this way, your hard work won’t fall apart. Furthermore, new specialized covers allow protection from the outside elements.

Paste is also a thing of the past. Specialized glue dots and two-sided tape makes mounting your treasures simple and mess free. Many of these products are so strong that you can now decorate your scrapbook pages with ribbons, feathers, flowers, or even metal charms.

Due to these new techniques and tools, the uses of scrapbooking have expanded drastically. Scrapbooking is still used to hold personal keepsakes and for gift giving.

However, now scrapbooking techniques can be used to make baby announcements, grandparent books, gift cards, artwork for kid’s rooms, recipe books, and even educational tools.

What Do I Need to Start Scrapbooking?

The best thing about scrapbooking is that although there are a plethora of scrapbooking supplies available on the market, you really don’t need a lot to make your very first scrapbook. Basically, all you need 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 used to embellish your scrapbook.

As you get more acquainted 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 be sure to place the object you plan to cut onto a mat or wad or 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 is a hassle. 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 glue dots, two-sided tape, Xyron, acid free photo tabs, and polypropylene corners.

To increase the preservation of your scrapbook and your treasures, look for 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 come in virtually any color and texture.

Easy Way to Get Started Scrapbooking is a post from: Home And Family Blogs

A home made jewelry box: Give the child a small paper mache box – sort of like a jewelry box, any shape with a lid. Now, put down some newspaper, put acrylic paints, brushes, glitter, buttons, charms, ribbon or lace, glue, colored markers or crayons down on the paper, and let your child do the work. You will be surprised what they can come up with.

They can also use the same materials to make a card for Mom on Mothers Day. Just get a thick card stock to fold in half so they can decorate it. You can also use poster board and help them make a big Happy Mothers Day sign, to greet her in the morning with.

Another idea is to get some cheap plastic beads with big holes, some string and let them make a matching set of bracelets and a necklace for mom.

Cut out hearts of red, pink, lavender paper or poster board, color it, put glitter on it and hang them all over the house.

Modeling clay is always a nice medium to play with. There are clays that only need to dry in the air and need no baking at all. Modeling clay allows your child to form anything that comes to mind. They can use their imagination with no limits, except for the limits of the clay. Once the project is dry, your child can paint it or dress it up any way they want. It is an inexpensive way and fun way of letting your child make and give of their heart to their mom on Mothers Day.

Check your local craft shop for other project ideas that are appropriate for this age group. Take your little one to the store and let them decide what they want to make for mommy. Just remember to read the age group limit on the outside of the box.

Always remember to supervise the children, especially with glue, paint and scissors around.

Easy Crafts for Kids Aged 3-5 to Make for Mother’s Day is a post from: Home And Family Blogs

When the Portuguese, the first Europeans to come to India, arrived, they did not find any familiar furniture, it was them, and later, the Dutch, the French and the English, who inspired the composition of domestic furniture to cater to their settlements. The Indian carpenter turned out to be precocious in adapting foreign designs and inducing in them an indigenous flavor of craftsmanship. Thus, as Joseph Butler mentions in an article in Encyclopedia Britannica, India’s place in the history of furniture is that of an adapter or transformer of imported Western styles rather than a creator of independent styles of its own. It was the play of these influences that gave birth to the Mughal style, the Goanese, the Indo-Dutch style, the use of ebony and ivory in the manner of Chippendale and Sheraton.

English predominance since the 18th century resulted in English influence in furniture styling, and this became so popular that even Indian rulers became patrons (this latter tendency could simply be a reflection of the Anglicization of the rulers, of their desire to identify with the ruling class). In the 19th century, the ornamentation assumed primacy, divorcing itself once again from utility.

A tropical country with about eighty varieties of hardwood available for woodwork, India has an old tradition of furniture making. Subsequent to the English influence who cultivated teak as a royal tree for shipping industry (teak is tremendously resilient to water and weather), teak assumed tremendous popularity for quality woodwork. Almost all large articles were composed on wood. Royal houses and rich households have always been the traditional patrons of the furniture industry, and even today the royal palaces strewn across the four corners of India feature some of the most illustrious examples of indigenous woodwork. Frederick Litchfields Illustrated History of Furniture (1893) mentions many such marvels that still mesmerize. Like the two wooden teak doors sent as gift to the Indian Government and now kept in the National Museum (Kolkata). Or the shisham wood (rosewood) carved window at Amritsar with its overhanging cornice, ornamental arches with pillars and intricate work on the body. Royal gifts sent to the Queen and the King as well as the Princes also showed an obsession with details that is unique to India. Even today, much of British royal furniture is of Indian vintage.

In the years since the British left the furniture industry in India has evolved. Utility and simplicity gained primacy over art. Price considerations have driven down ornamentation to the minimum, and cheaper wood varieties have come to be used to cater to the huge low cost demand. Yet, in niche areas the old forms of furniture still continue to be crafted. In many places, like Rajasthan, that still has a royal ethos in a Republican India, with its dozens of Palaces, the old form of furniture making is still preserved. Here, one can take a time travel and find works of an earlier day being crafted with the same expertise. Exported around the world wherever antique and ornamental furniture is appreciated, the Jodhpur furniture forms the focal point of this industry. Nowadays foreign designs are adapted with local styles that are hugely popular with Western customers. Once again we are back to the Portuguese days when designs were an inventive amalgamation of European sensibilities and Indian craftsmanship.

East meets the West Evolution of Indian Furniture is a post from: Home And Family Blogs

If you cant find exactly what you want, consider making it yourself. Even a novice can pull this off this sewing project. The magic of Velcro and fabric glue can also eliminate the sewing. Just think of a duvet as a giant pillow case with some sort of closure at the end. That doesnt seem too hard does it? A pillow case keeps the pillow clean as you sleep on it, and the duvet does the same thing. All types of bedding should be soft and supple since it is next to your skin. You are going to be making this yourself, so dont scrimp on fabric. Find good quality fabric in a soft cotton or blend. I love flannel on the bottom and it is available in lovely colors and prints. It will be repeatedly washed so look for one that is yarn dyed. You can even find two sheets on a clearance table that are a steal. This would be the easiest because no cutting is involved. Wash and dry either fabric or sheets before you begin, as this will curtail shrinking disappointments down the road. If you have not already purchased a comforter, think about how it will look on the bed. Do you want more of an overhang on the sides or is your partner prone to stealing the covers? If so, you might want to buy a size that is a little larger than your size of bed. The completed presentation might look more finished if you do so.
Measure your comforter and add one and a half inches to the width and three and three fourths inches to the length allowing for seams and hems. If you have sheets, just look at the dimensions on the package.
If you have chosen sheets, I would suggest not buying two of the exact same thing. Make things more interesting by buying complementary patterns and colors so it can be turned over for a new look. Dont be afraid to mix it up a little.
If you have chosen fabric, you must piece it together as you wont find fabric with the width you need. Here is where creativity comes in. You can choose lots of matching patterns and colors and stitch them together to make the top of your duvet, just measure how big you want your blocks of fabric to be and go from there until you have enough for the top of the duvet. If this sounds like too much work, just use one or two fabrics and do the measuring.
Place the wrong sides together and stitch with a quarter inch seam along the top sides. If a sewing machine is a foreign thing to you, there are many types of glue on the market that will do the job as well.
You can create a fanciful closure by sewing large buttons at the top, folding it over and stitching ribbons to the other side of the top. Make sure it represents a nice fold and tie the ribbons to the buttons. Nothing could be simpler. For a more country look, take strips of torn fabric and stitch them where you placed the ribbons. They will fray, but thats the point. Your duvet cover will take on a shabbier chic look.
Let the creative side come out and makeover your bedroom in the style and color that you choose, and save money at the same time.

Duvet Covers For a Quick Bedroom Makeover is a post from: Home And Family Blogs

Although beeswax candles are supposed to be the best candles, soy candles come in a close second. In addition, beeswax candles are rarely scented whereas highly scented soy candles will hold the scent until the candle is completely burned out. Like beeswax candles, these highly scented candles are cleaner when burning and do not give off black soot as do paraffin candles. Soy candles are made of all natural ingredients and do not contain any petroleum by-products, such as oil.

Highly scented candles give off the scent even when they are not lit. For this reason, many people have highly scented soy candles simply for the decorative effect they provide. Whether you choose pillar, taper or votive soy candles, you can choose from a wide variety of scents and combination of scents. If you are not sure whether the scented candles use fragrance oils or essential oils, a quick look at the name of the scent will give you the answer. Names such as hot fudge sundae or cinnamon pie are likely to be fragrance oils. Essential oils come from plants and bear the name of the plant, such as eucalyptus, marjoram, chamomile, or ginger, for example.

If you want highly scented aromatherapy candles, you need to choose candles with the plant names for the scents. Knowing a little about the healing properties of such highly scented candles will also help you choose the right ones. The color has little to do with aromatherapy, but it is likely that the color of the candle will be closely linked to the scent. Lavender is one oil that is known for its soothing and relaxing properties and most highly scented soy candles of this nature are some shade of purple or lilac. Similarly, soy candles highly scented in pine are likely to be a shade of green.

Highly scented candles can mask the odor of cooking or of pet odors. When you use soy candles to do this job for you, you also have a healthier home. By using highly scented soy candles, you have the sweet scents in the air without having to use any harsh spray chemicals. Highly scented candles have many more uses than just setting the scene for romance.

Dont You Love Highly Scented Candles? is a post from: Home And Family Blogs

A generation of wanna-be Bruce Lee’s was spawned by that very scene. How many of you went out and haphazardly manufactured your own ‘chucks after seeing this flick? I was certainly inspired to do so, and so were most of my friends. Most of us used wooden handles, and after some experimentation decided to switch to something softer. Twenty years later, I still have a bump on my head.

After introducing my son to the magic of Bruce Lee, I decided to manufacture a pair of Nunchakus for him to play with. Having learned from my rather painful mistakes, I constructed them from those disposable glow sticks that all the Raver kid’s use. Here’s how you can make some, too:

Acquire a supply of glow sticks and some nylon rope.
Cut a length of rope approximately 5 inches long.
Attach two glow sticks together with the nylon rope.
Start swinging.

Admittedly, it is a simple design. My first set was constructed in record time, which must have seemed like a lifetime to my son as he waited patiently. I made a second set and we spent the afternoon playing fun ninja games. After that, we had a Power Rangers movie marathon. My son is particularly keen on the Red Ranger. I prefer the Blue one.

Later on that evening, we decided to have one more ninja battle before bed. It’s amazing how inspiring Bruce Lee can be. The wonderful thing about our new nunchakus is that they glow in the dark. I dimmed the lights and performed my best Bruce Lee impression. My son was completely awestruck, as he watched the twirling glowstick nunchakus. I only hit myself in the head once. Only this time, it didn’t hurt.

DIY Glow Stick Nunchakus is a post from: Home And Family Blogs