Gold Leaf Metal Clay

You can cover metal clay with gold leaf to make it look as if it is made of gold.

When you sculpt an object out of polymer clay, you can make it look as if it has been molded from a precious metal by using specific techniques. One option is to create your sculpture using a metallic version of polymer clay, then applying gold leaf to the baked sculpture to make it appear as if it has been made from gold. You can purchase metallic polymer clay and gold leaf at any art supply store.

Instructions

1. Sculpt the form you want to create out of metallic polymer clay.

2. Place the sculpture onto a cookie sheet.

3. Bake the sculpture in a 200 degree Fahrenheit conventional oven for 10 minutes. Allow the sculpture to cool completely.

4. Peel the backing off of a sheet of gold leaf.

5. Lay a butter knife over the top edge of the gold leaf and twist the knife slightly to curl the leaf over the knife.

6. Lift up the gold leaf slowly so that it does not tear.

7. Lay the sheet of gold leaf over the sculpture.

8. Dab the gold leaf into place using a soft watercolor brush.

9. Repeat this process until the entire sculpture has been covered with the gold leaf.

Make Animated Icons

Animated icons can create the illusion of movement by displaying various layers consecutively. Such animated pictures can add an eye-catching look to emails, webpages and instant messages. Some websites make animated icons for you, but often require you to look at ads or pay money. Instead, use a photo editing program, such as Adobe Photoshop, to make animated icons on your own computer.

Instructions

1. Open Adobe Photoshop. Click "File," then select "New."

2. Create a new, blank image palette with a height and width of 100 x 100 pixels. This size is the common size format used by icons in emails, webpages and instant messengers, such as Yahoo! Messenger and MSN Messenger.

3. Click "Window" in the menu bar and select "Show Layers." A small window will appear next to your image. In this window, you will see what layers your picture has. It should currently show only one layer.

4. Click the paintbrush icon in the image palette window and draw on the 100 x 100 image canvass. This will be the first layer to be displayed. You can also copy and paste an image file (a file ending in ".jpg" or ".gif") into this first layer.

5. Go to the "Layers" window that you opened in Step 3. Click on the button that reads "Duplicate." This will make a copy of the current layer.

6. Draw another picture using the paintbrush, or copy and paste another picture image into this layer. This will be the second layer to be displayed. When you're finished, click "Duplicate" like you did in Step 5. Repeat as necessary until you have filled up each layer with images or drawings. Each layer will be displayed one after the other.

7. Click "File" in the menu bar and select "Save As." Save the image as a .gif file. Adobe Photoshop will export your images with the built-in layers. You can now use this animated icon in emails, webpages and instant messenger programs that support the uploading of image files. When a user sees your icon, the icon will rapidly display each layer and the end result will be an animation.

Glue Mirror Squares In A Kaleidoscope

Instead of cutting your own mirrored glass to use in your kaleidoscope, you can purchase small precut square mirror pieces at craft stores or at the craft department in a department store and glue them onto Popsicle sticks to create the 1-by-4 inch mirror required for your kaleidoscope. The following steps will show you how.

Instructions

1. Purchase 1-by-1 inch square mirror pieces. You'll need 12 pieces of mirror squares to make a three-sided triangular mirror for a 4-inch long kaleidoscope.

2. Place a drop of hot glue on the Popsicle stick close to one end of the stick.

3. Press one of the square mirror pieces to the glue. Continue to press until it's securely in place.

4. Repeat Steps 2 and 3 until you attach all four mirrored pieces to the Popsicle stick. Try to cover it completely. If you have enough room left over, you can attach a fifth mirrored piece.

5. Complete two more sticks by gluing four mirrored pieces to the Popsicle stick.

6. Arrange your Popsicle sticks into a triangle and attach them with your hot glue gun.

Etch Glass Using A Dremel Tool

Glass etching with a Dremel rotary tool helps you turn everyday glasses and bottles like these into one of a kind gifts.

Glass etching with a Dremel rotary tool can add a unique and unusual touch to the most plain of glass items. It's a simple method to learn, but it can be used to make the most complex and beautiful designs. You can use a Dremel tool to turn a simple dollar store drinking goblet into a treasured gift for friends and family. Use it to create one-of-a-kind items for sale at local craft fairs.

Instructions

1. Choose a glass item to etch. For beginners, it's best to use thick-walled glass items like bottles or drinking glasses. The glass should be smooth and free of blemishes.

2. Choose a design to etch onto the glass. Designs with clear lines work best for etching with a Dremel tool. Using a stencil as a design is a time-saver. If you decide to use a design of your own, you'll have to turn it into a stencil before proceeding.

3. Tape the design stencil to the glass item with masking tape.

4. Clamp the glass item to a tabletop or workbench to keep it still while you work. If you are using a flat glass item like a plate, this step can be skipped.

5. Transfer the design to the glass using a permanent marker that writes on glass. Sharpie markers are fantastic for this purpose.

6. Remove the stencil from your glass. Check to be sure that all the lines have transferred cleanly so that you have a pattern to follow with the etching tool.

7. Etch the design into the glass using the Dremel tool at low speed. Use diamond tips to etch fine lines. Use silicon carbide stones to etch thicker lines. Use tungsten carbide lines to etch deep lines.

8. Remove glass from clamp. Wash with cool water to remove glass dust.

Get Your Superhero Published

So you've come up with a great new superhero, and you want to translate your concept into a comic book. You have a variety of publishing methods to choose from these days, but the ultimate goal for most creators is still securing a publication deal with a major publisher such as DC, Marvel or Image. Depending on your financial and artistic goals, you can find many satisfactory ways to get your superhero character published.

Instructions

1. Find a collaborator. If you do not possess the skill to both write and draw your superhero comic, you might want to find someone who can help you bring your vision to life. This will help you to divide the labor, which can help you keep to a publishing schedule. In addition, you are more likely to be picked up by a major publisher if you have a full creative team and can submit full-page artwork with a finished script.

2. Build a web presence. You can showcase your new character on your online portfolio or by starting a web comic. Several popular web comics have even been published in paperback form.

3. Consider self-publishing. You retain complete creative control, but the process can be somewhat expensive, depending on the size of your print run and whether you print in color or black and white. In addition, having self-published a comic expands your resume, which can make you more appealing to larger publishers.

4. Bring your portfolio and pitch materials to a comic book convention and meet with as many publishers as possible. Although most publishers won't accept your materials at the con, an interested editor will ask you to forward your materials to the office. This enables you to write "Requested Submission" on your mailings, which is a first step toward building a relationship with a publisher.

5. Research different publishers. Not all publishers are looking to publish stories about superheroes, and even major publishers like DC and Marvel who sell predominantly superhero titles are not always looking to add new character to their universe, particularly from young creators with few credits to their name.

Also consider that publishers vary in their options for creative control. Image is one company that allows creators to maintain full creative control over their characters, meaning that you will see a higher percentage of the profits. Creators who maintain creative control may make more money down the road if the character is optioned for a movie or action figure series.

6. Mail blind submissions to various publishers you would feel comfortable working with. Not all publishers accept unsolicited submissions, so make sure you carefully review each publisher's guidelines.

Get Your Own Silk Screen Equipment

Interest in the screen-printing industry is on the rise. This is due to the demand for screen-printed items as well as the development of printing equipment that make the process easy enough for anyone to learn. However, these machines are sometimes too expensive for new business owners who have other costs to consider. With some creativity and an eye for deals, new silk screen printers can find printing equipment they can afford.

Instructions

1. Purchase new equipment. You can buy screen-printing machines from online vendors or from a local store. A large number of manufacturers of screen-printing equipment also offer business opportunity packages along with their equipment.

2. Buy used. You can find used silk screen equipment in a variety of publications. Check the classifieds section of your local paper, community magazines and industry magazines, such as "Screen Printing Magazine" (see Resources below).

3. Buy into a business opportunity. Check the classifieds section in local papers and industry magazines for screen-printing businesses that are available for sale. The equipment is usually included in the sale.

4. Barter for free equipment. Websites like Craigslist are magnets for those who want to trade some items they would like to dispose of for something else they want. Check such sites regularly for the possibility of obtaining screen-printing equipment for little or nothing.

5. Lease silk screen machines. This is one way to save some money if you are not prepared to pay for a new or used system.

6. Build your own equipment. You can create a screen by stretching silk on a frame. However, it will take a lot of practice to produce professional results with such basic equipment, especially if you plan on using more than one color for your items.

7. Search auctions. Suppliers and printers usually post listings of their screen-printing equipment at online auction sites like eBay and uBid.com. You can also find local auctions with Auction Zip (see Resources below).

8. Join an association. Members of a group enjoy a variety of benefits, including access to information and supplies that can help improve their business. For instance, the Specialty Graphic Imaging Association maintains a searchable database of members who supply screen-printing equipment (see Resources below).

Get Your Comic Published On The Web

Get Your Comic Published on the Web

With the proliferation of Web comics, it is easier than ever to get your comic published. Instead of weeding through Diamond Comic Distributors' list of comic publishers and soliciting your work to each and every one, hoping for a publishing deal, you can go the e-route and self-publish on the Internet. Before you do that, you will need a digital version of your comic, preferably in a JPG or GIF file, and a place to put it.

Instructions

1. Set up your Web site or create your Blogger.com account. For those not well-versed in Web design, Blogger.com is your best bet as it's easily customizable through a series of point-and-click functions. If you are using your own site, you may need to employ a file transfer protocol (FTP) software program to upload your files.

If you are using Blogger.com, you can use its built-in tools to upload files directly from your computer.

There are sites, such as DrunkDuck.com, that will host your Web comic for you. However, you won't have the control you'll get from running your own site as your comic can be removed by them at any time. For directions on publishing with DruckDuck.com, visit the site.

2. Prepare your Web space by giving it a relevant title and choosing a color scheme that complements your comic. Make sure the color and designs you choose enhance the comic and do not draw the reader's eye away from it.

3. Choose a suitable domain name. If you have titled your comic, "This Is My Comic", try to purchase www.thisismycomic.com and then either use that address for your Web site or have that domain name re-direct viewers to your Blogger.com account. You can customize your Blogger space to receive redirects by going to the "Customize", then click "Settings", then "Publishing" and finally click on the "Custom Domain" link to enter your own web address.

4. Upload your comic file. It is best to accompany the comic with added text above or below it to give visitors more information, such as who created it, what it is about and when they can expect to see more.

5. Update your comic regularly. Comics as a medium thrive on episodic storytelling, which means you not only need to leave your readers wanting more, but give them more on a regular basis. Create a schedule for yourself and stick to it.

6. Promote your comic to friends, family, on Web comic message-boards like WebComic.net or TheWebComicList.com, as well as online social networking sites such as Facebook or MySpace. Scott Kurtz and his online comic, "Player vs. Player", began on the Web, and through increased popularity, Kurtz has landed a print publishing deal at Image Comics.

Get Tickets For The Oprah Show In Chicago

Get Tickets for the Oprah Show in Chicago

Since the debut of "The Oprah Winfrey Show" in 1986, the show has progressed into a pop culture phenomenon. This has sparked a high demand for tickets that far exceeds the supply. Although it only takes minutes to apply for free tickets to be in the Chicago studio audience, it could take multiple attempts to land the coveted tickets. However, being persistent could truly pay off in the form of seeing Oprah Winfrey live from your audience view.

Instructions

1. Register to become a member of the Oprah.com website. Membership is free and can be canceled at any time.

2. Check the "Current Reservation Availability" area of the website for information on when the next reservation window will open.

3. Submit a request for tickets using the online form at any time before the reservation window closes.

4. Check your email within 24 hours after the window has closed. Seats are filled by a random selection process, and you will be notified if you have been selected or not. If your request has been selected, you will have 48 hours to confirm the reservation.

Get The Cheapest French Train Tickets

French train tickets vary enormously in price.

The French train system is fast, efficient and comfortable. You can sleep on the Lunea, zip from one big city to another on the TGV or go cheap on the Teoz. But if you wait until the last moment and buy at the SNCF office in the station, you may pay more than you need to.

Instructions

1. Determine your itinerary as early as possible. Give yourself as much flexibility as you can in dates and times of travel. It is more useful to decide that you want to get from Paris to Hendaye at some point in the first week of August than to set a specific date and time.

2. You can get to all big cities in France by train.

Ascertain the names and ages of those traveling with you. The SNCF offers trip discount cards, including those for children under 12, adolescents between 12 and 21, and adults over 62. Although you have to pay for the cards, you can save as much as 50 percent on tickets, so one long trek more than pays for the card. The children's card is about 70 euros as of summer 2010, but it is particularly useful since it entitles you to a reduction of at least 25 percent on tickets for up to four passengers in addition to the child.

3. Paris is the hub of French train travel.

Go to the SNCF website. Click on the English option (look for the British flag in the list of flags) to get an English menu. Open the "Trains" menu, click on "Reservations" and type in your ideal itinerary. Review the list of tickets available. Try the day before and the day after, if that flexibility is possible for you.

4. Trains offer a quick look at French countryside.

Try the search again, specifying that one of your traveling companions is eligible for a reduction card, if that is the case. You indicate this in the description of the passenger. Rerun the possible dates and mark the differences in price. If you decide on a discount card, buy it in on the SNCF site or at any French train station. It is valid from the moment you buy it. You will need a passport to verify the age of the card-holder passenger as you travel.

5. French beaches are not far away by train.

Select the least expensive ticket that works for you. Note that some are "Internet only" tickets, with very limited refund possibilities, called iDTGV. These are the cheapest tickets you can buy without a discount card, and are sometimes cheaper than regularly priced tickets with a discount card, but buy them only if you are sure of your schedule.

6. If you choose a regular or discounted SNCF ticket, enter your credit-card information and whether you prefer to pick up the ticket from an SNCF agent or through the machines in the station lobbies. The latter option, while convenient, works only if you have a French-style credit card with a chip readable by French machines. Internet-only tickets must be printed on your own printer and shown at the gate to a special ticket agent for such tickets. The agents will be waiting beside the train.

Get Started In The Greeting Cards Business

Greeting cards are for sale at 100,000 U.S. retail outlets.

Greeting cards can be purchased from 100,000 retail outlets in the United States alone, according to the Greeting Card Association. And one-third of the cards sold are created by freelancers. If you have skills in the creative arts and writing, as well as a desire to either freelance for the greeting card industry or to create your own independent line of cards, you may be a good candidate to start your own greeting cards business.

Instructions

Preparation

1. Research the greeting cards market. The first thing you must have in a greeting cards business is--greeting cards. You must know the market so as to both fit in and to stand apart from it. Try to discern trends by what you see in stores, and then see if you can find a niche or style of card that takes a fresh approach--that follows trends without copying them.

2. Gather the names of greeting card companies and request their submission guidelines to build a business via the freelance route. Home Biz Tools.com provides a partial list of greeting card companies. Don't be afraid of rejection. Submit samples of your ideas until you find a company that wants to buy them. Once you have that relationship you can concentrate on design and leave the business end of things to them.

3. Decide upon a name for your business if you want to operate independently of major greeting card companies. Contact your local city offices to apply for a business tax certificate (business license). Design a logo. Have business cards printed. Make a price list for your products---another advantage of knowing the market. Supply your home office with all the materials you'll need to be ready to start production.

4. Find the best markets for your greeting cards. Explore different printers and sources for materials such as paper and envelopes. Look into the possibility of hiring sales reps or distributors. Get pricing for all these so that you have things firmly in hand when the orders start to arrive.

5. Invite a friend to critique your designs before showing them to possible clients.

Show your greeting cards to friends. Ask them to critique the cards and to look for spelling errors, so you can make corrections before showing your wares to merchandisers.

Take Your Show on the Road

6. Give your business cards to likely clients. Leave cards with florists, boutiques, gift shops, bridal shops, small bookstores, art stores, catalog companies and nonprofit organizations. Make up a sample greeting card, representative of your style. Include information inside about your business and your contact information, and leave it with them.

7. Test drive your designs at a local flea market to see how they sell.

Rent a spot at a local flea market or farmer's market for a few weeks. Set out your greeting cards and see what happens. Solicit people's reactions. Try out different prices to see where the most successful price point seems to be. If you do well at these venues it will give you confidence that there is indeed a market for your work.

8. Research web hosting services that can help you set up a website with a shopping cart, a secure server, a merchant account for credit card payments and a payment gateway, to sell your cards online. Use high-quality photographs of your designs on the website.

9. Offer free e-cards on your website to attract people to the site, once there they can see your entire line of products. Offer to keep track of people's special dates and e-mail them a reminder---which is also be a reminder of your cards. Offer to promote the products of other websites on your site in return for their promotion of your designs on theirs. Offer to send a free sample card to anyone who asks so that they can get a feel for the real thing rather than just an online photo. Use social media to get the word out and drive traffic to your site.

10. Some stores may agree to try selling your greeting cards for a few months.

Take a selection of your cards to stores in which you'd like to sell them. Ask the proprietors to carry them for a few months to see how well they sell. If they do well the owner may agree to a more permanent arrangement. Always send thank you cards to everyone who accommodates you by agreeing to carry your designs.

11. Schedule time to create a steady flow of fresh new designs. Hire a sales rep when your volume of business exceeds what you can handle yourself. For a cut of the pay, a sales rep can help you expand your territory and number of clients. Pay attention to reports from your rep, as well as the numbers and types of cards being ordered. This data provides valuable insight as to what direction to take your designs and/or verses.

Get Sponsorship For Art Projects

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How do I get sponsorship for art projects? Are grants available? How has the current economic situation affected grants and funding for the Arts? In this article, you'll find a number of ways to apply for art sponsorships or grants. With some dedication and a willingness to do your homework, you can find a sponsor for your art. Be positive about getting your funding, and let's get started!

Instructions

1. ARTISTS' COALITIONS - Through an internet search and through your networking skills, determine if your town has a local artists' coalition. Artists' coalitions exist, in large part, to support and promote the artistic community. Here are a number of examples:

Chicago Artists' Coalition - http://www.caconline.org/

Brooklyn Waterfront Artists Coalition - http://www.bwac.org/

Kansas City Artists Coalition - http://www.kansascityartistscoalition.org/

Sedona Visual Artists Coalition - http://www.sedonaartistscoalition.org/artists/home.php

Tulsa Artists' Coalition - http://www.tacgallery.org/

Global Artists Coalition - http://www.globalartistscoalition.org/home.html

2. CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP - This avenue is more difficult, especially now. Although corporations may still have it in their budget to sponsor in-school art programs or local museums, they are not as likely to support individual artists. Corporations are tightening their collective belts, so unless you have knowledge of a particular program being offered by a corporation in your community, you may want to put this lower on your list.

3. MUNICIPAL SPONSORSHIP - Many municipalities sponsor artists with the aim of improving the city. Here are a few examples. Check with your local city government.

Gaithersburg, Maryland Art Train - http://www.gaithersburgmd.gov/images/arttrain/FAQ_Arttrain.pdf

Estill County, Kentucky LocoMagic - http://www.locomagic.net/index_files/Page962.htm

Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation - Providing leadership and support for artists and art organizations in the Mid-Atlantic region and beyond - http://www.midatlanticarts.org/

Butterflies in Flight - http://www.shorewoodnow.com/userstoriessubmitted/41377187.html

Project for Public Spaces - http://www.pps.org/info/pub_art/art_funding

Hamiltonian Artists - Hamiltonian Artists offers a competitive two-year fellowship program for new innovative visual artists in all media. All promising visual artists who are currently not represented by a gallery are eligible to apply - http://www.hamiltonianartists.org/program.html

Funding Arts Network (FAN) is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting and enhancing the visual and performing arts programs offered in Miami-Dade County through member-supported grants to arts providers, capacity-building workshops for grant applicants, and forums for members which foster arts involvement, appreciation, and awareness - http://www.fundingartsnetwork.org/

4. CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS - There are a large number of 501c3 non-profit organizations whose purpose is to support or promote artists.

Charity Navigator rates national charities and gives information on what their purpose is - http://www.charitynavigator.org/

Springboard for the Arts for Minnesota Artists - http://www.springboardforthearts.org/

TransCultural Exchange Conference - http://www.transculturalexchange.org/conference_2009/sponsor_rates.htm

Virginia Artists - http://www.theartleague.org/

Alliance for the Arts - NYC - http://www.allianceforarts.org/

Arts for LA - http://www.artsforla.org/

Black Rock Arts - http://www.blackrockarts.org/grants/2009-grant-cycle

Global Art Project - http://www.globalartproject.org/about/purpose.html

5. NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS - Here's the good news! $50 million has been appropriated in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to the NEA. These funds are to be distributed in direct grants to fund arts projects and activities which preserve jobs in the non-profit arts sector threatened by declines in philanthropic and other support during the current economic downturn.

National Endowment for the Arts - http://www.arts.endow.gov/grants/apply/index.html

NEA Recovery Act funding will be posted at this site - http://www.nea.gov/recovery/nea-recovery-grants-awarded.html

6. SPONSORSHIP MATCHING SITE

Funding the Arts - Fundingthearts.org helps artists and art organizations list projects that are in need of funding by matching artists in need of funding with potential donors who support the arts - http://www.fundingthearts.org/faqs.cfm

7. GRANT or PROPOSAL WRITING - A final requirement for getting sponsorship or a grant is to convince the potential sponsor that your project is worth support. Here are a few tips on grant or proposal writing.

The long proposal is the most common document that funders seek. Three to forty pages or longer, it contains the cover letter and proposal summary. The usual format for a long proposal includes the need statement, goals and objectives, methods, budget, and evaluation.

Grant proposals must include specific details about the objectives, process and product resulting from your art project.

Find A Person By Their Email Id

Find a Person by Their Email ID

An email ID or email address is used to communicate with people online. It can also be used to gather personal information whenever you need the email ID, as it may be linked to blogs, online resumes or social networking profiles of the person who owns it. An email address is also an effective way to search for a person, since people may change emails because of spam overload or other personal preference, making it more difficult to trace a person whenever you need to.

Instructions

1. Type the email ID into a search engine such as Google.com or Ask.com. You may find something relevant to the email ID. If the owner has a blog, it may be included in the list of search results. Browse through the blog to know more about the owner of the email ID.

2. Search for the email address in social networking sites. Most internet users have accounts in popular social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace. Enter the email ID in the search box and search through the profile matches. Note that for security reasons, you will only be able to search for profiles if you have an account with these sites. If you do not have one yet, create one.

3. Use an online directory or email address directory to look for personal information linked to the email ID. Do a "reverse search" and enter the email ID that you have. The results should give you personal information such as the name, address and mobile number of the person who owns the email ID. If you are asked to enter your credit card or PayPal information, do so to continue the search. Save all the information you can find, and then contact the person, if necessary.

Get Rid Of A Nosy Neighbor

Sometimes neighbors are too noisy.

Sometimes neighbors can get a little close for comfort. One way neighbors become too close is by being nosy. A nosy neighbor will press you and probe you for information about your personal life. A nosy neighbor finds entertainment, and even personal value, in learning private information about other people. This can be annoying and even offensive for the other people involved. Getting free of a nosy neighbor takes tact and patience.

Instructions

1. Be general. Nosy neighbors will press you for details. Don't provide them. Give vague answers. Don't be committal if a nosy neighbor is trying to pin you down. A nosy neighbor might become frustrated by your generality and stop probing.

2. Reveal little. A nosy neighbor will probe into your every detail, even trying to glance at your mail when you are taking it from your mailbox. Keep your mail private. Don't talk about your family, your personal life or your professional life. Every bit of information will give your nosy neighbor more fuel to keep probing. Refuse to feed your neighbor's nosiness. If your neighbor's questions are more and more probing, resist revealing information. Eventually a nosy neighbor may become bored and leave you alone.

3. Make a joke, then change the subject. Smile and ask, "So when did the police hire you as a detective?" Then politely move on to a different topic before ending the conversation.

4. Excuse yourself. Let your neighbor know that you have to get going. Say you have to do laundry, vacuum, or run some errands. A nosy neighbor will probably want to detain you for a long time trying to probe into your life, or possibly tell you about another neighbor. Don't let him. Be polite and explain why you have to go. Then go.

Make A Decorative Motorcycle Out Of Metal

Welding small crafts is an exercise in patience.

Producing a decorative metal motorcycle that you can proudly display may not earn you a spot at your local art museum, but it's a fun project that can be accomplished using little more than the junk you may have scattered around your garage. When working with small and thin-gauge metal, it's best to turn your welder down as far as it will go to help prevent burning through the project.

Instructions

Engine

1. Construct the engine for your decorative motorcycle using washers of two diamaters in size and two machine screws. Washers will replicate the cooling fins and the screws will hold them in place. Begin by sliding a large washer over the screw, followed by a small washer. Follow this with a large washer, and continue until you have built two sides to the V-twin engine.

2. Secure the washers onto the screws by running a bolt over the screw and tightening it down. Weld the two pieces together in a V-shape.

3. Cut away any excess screw below the bottom of the V-shape with the rotary metal cutter to complete the construction of the engine.

Frame

4. Reference a photograph of a real motorcycle to see the shape of the frame. Use at least six nails to complete this part of the project, as well as two large nuts to serve as tires.

5. Weld two nails onto the nut so that when the nut is on its side sitting flat, the nails are positioned at approximately a 45-degree angle similar to the forks of a real motorcycle. Next bend a nail to the approximate shape of a motorcycle handlebar and weld it to the top of the two nails.

6. Bend two nails into curves similar to the bottom of a motorcycle frame, and then weld their heads together. Weld the second nut, which will serve as a wheel, to these nails.

7. In the same way that you constructed the engine, build a fuel tank but use smaller washers first, progressing to larger washers, then tapering down to small washers again. Secure them with a nut. Weld the fuel tank washers in place just behind the handlebars.

8. Weld the engine between the lower frame nails and the fuel tank, and then cut two nails that will represent shock absorbers to the same length as the distance between the lower frame nails and the approximate position of the motorcycle seat.

9. Weld a washer onto the screw just behind the fuel tank to represent the motorcycle seat.

Get Private Funding For The Performing Arts

Performing arts are important to society because the arts enrich the lives of performers and audience members alike. Performing artists use their skills in music, dance and acting to create performances that entertain, provoke and create an impact. However, for an arts company, ticket sales are not enough to fund programs and pay artists. Most companies apply for various funding from different sources to keep the dream going. Here are ways to get private funding for the performing arts.

Instructions

1. Contact businesses who have a presence in the community. Ask those businesses to sponsor your initiatives. A lot of businesses establish a good reputation by being involved in various community projects. Giving to the arts is a great option for them. Letting them know of the tax benefits and advertising opportunities involved with the donation can be the final advantage that wins a company over to giving.

2. Seek foundations that provide grants and fellowships. A lot of foundations are arms of giant companies and trusts. These foundations are established for the main purpose of providing funding to the arts. Philanthropic organizations are a charitable way to impact society by helping its artists develop and showcase their art. Contact a philanthropic foundation and inquire about grants. Gather materials and complete the application ahead of the deadline since this process can be rather time consuming.

3. Contact alumni. Artists may be able to secure funding by contacting the alumni center of his or her university. Inquire about alumni who may own or lead corporations. Particularly in prestigious universities, successful alumni have gone on to be executives, and they may be able to influence their company to fund the progress of a performing arts company.

4. Network with the arts industry. Arts commissions, especially in major metropolitan areas, help artists acquire funding by connecting them to companies and offering insights about maintaining a theater company. They may have a list of companies that offer grants, or they may even have applications readily available for those who are seeking help. Corporations and foundations also contact the arts commission to inform them of application information and updates.

5. Ask around in the arts community. Word of mouth is sometimes the best way to know who can help...and who can't. This will save you both time and money in the long run.

Get Prepared For An Eating Contest

Get Ready for Your Next Eating Contest with These Tips!

If the thought of scarfing down dozens of hot dogs, chicken wings or apple pies in an eating competition gets your mouth watering, take a look at these tips to find out prepare for an eating competition. As with any competition, eating competitions take skills and practice. Read on and win your next eating competition.

Instructions

1. Drink lots of water leading up to the day of the contest. This stretches the stomach allowing more food to be consumed on the day of the contest.

2. Practice, practice, practice. Competitors should practice eating the food that they are competing to eat in the competition at least once a week. This will give competitors ideas for tactics for the competition to increase the amount of food that they can consume. On the day of the competition, eat very little and drink very little. Go in to the competition with a big appetite, ready to win!

3. Exercise. This helps the body stay fit, keeps metabolism high and aids in digestion which allows the body to handle larger consumptions of food.

4. Eat small meals often leading up to the day of the competition. This will also help increase the appetite as you go into the competition.

5. Meditate on the day of the competition to prepare for the eating battle that you are about to partake in. Many times, eating contests are all about mind over matter.

Make Your Own Manga Covers

A reader may know never to judge a book by its cover, but the cover is the first part of the book that the reader will see. When you publish a manga-style comic, you need a stunning cover to compel readers to give your book a look. Since manga traditionally appears in black and white, the cover could be the one place where you get to draw your work in color. Study bestselling manga covers and then create your own.

Instructions

1. Brainstorm ideas for your manga cover. Look over popular manga covers and take note of thematic elements. Engaging backgrounds, vibrant colors and close-ups of one or two manga characters appear time and time again. Characters often appear in mid-action poses rather than in static poses.

2. Draw a thumbnail sketch of your manga cover, front and back. Roughly divide the paper in half with a ruler and pencil. Draw the front cover on the right side of the page if you want your manga to read in the American left-to-right format. Draw the front cover on the left side if you want your manga in the Japanese right-to-left format. Include the characters and basic background you want on your paper. Place the manga title and your author credit on the page as well.

3. Draw the front of your manga cover. Your finished manga cover will be 8 inches in length and 11 inches in height. If you draw digitally, create a 8-inch by 11-inch template for your work. If you draw on paper, fold your 11-inch by 16-inch piece of paper in half and draw on the right or left side of the paper, depending on which direction you have chosen.

4. Draw or design the back cover of your manga. The back cover of your manga can include a drawing or a summary of your manga. Include the price as well. Design the back cover on the untouched side of your 11-inch by 16-inch piece of paper. If you design the back cover digitally, do so on another 8-inch by 11-inch template. When finished, open up a blank 11-inch by 16-inch template. Paste each cover onto one half of the document.

5. Print or copy the cover in color on 11-inch by 16-inch paper. Make as many copies as you want.

6. Fold the papers in half so that the front cover and the back cover are separate.

7. Add the manga pages inside. The manga pages should also be on folded 11-inch by 16-inch paper.

8. Unfold the pages. Staple the manga cover to the manga pages along the spine. The top of the staples should appear on the outside.

Get Itunes To Embed Album Art In Metadata

Including artwork in song metadata enhances the browsing experience on an iPod.

Artwork is included in song metadata for songs purchased in iTunes, but is often absent for songs ripped from CDs. Metadata, according to TechTerms.com, is additional information about a file that is not given in the file name itself. This can include information about the song author, album name and audio quality of the file. Including artwork in this metadata enhances the listening experience when using an mp3 player or software that displays album art. It can make it easier to visually search for the song you want. It is easy in iTunes to embed album art in the metadata.

Instructions

1. Open up iTunes on your computer. Go to the "advanced" menu at the top of the iTunes window and choose "get album artwork." iTunes will search the Internet for album artwork for all your audio files. There may be songs for which iTunes cannot locate artwork.

2. Test songs to see if they have embedded artwork associated with them. Choose a song and double-click it to begin playing it. In the bottom left-hand corner of iTunes, you should see a "now playing" window with the album artwork featured. If this window is not displayed, click the upward pointing arrow to display the album artwork and video window. If the window is blank, no artwork exists in the song's metadata.

3. Search for album art on the Internet. A Google or Bing image search is one method of finding album artwork. You can also create your own in Photoshop or other image editing software.

4. Save the image to your desktop or somewhere you can easily find it. You can then simply drag the artwork into the artwork window in iTunes, where it says "drag artwork here." iTunes will then embed the image into the audio file's metadata.

5. Embedding artwork in multiple files at once, as in the case of an album, is a simple process as well. Select multiple audio files in iTunes by holding down the "control" key while selecting tracks. You can also select a range of tracks by selecting the first track and then pressing the "shift" key while selecting the last track in the range.

6. Go to "Get Info" in the "file" menu or press "Command-I" to get information on all the files. If iTunes asks you if you wish to edit information on multiple titles, choose yes. Then drag your artwork into the "artwork" window in the "info" screen. Be sure to place a check in the box next to the artwork window to tell iTunes you wish to display the artwork. iTunes will then embed the artwork in all the files you have selected.

Get Into Voice Acting

Voice acting is necessary in animated films.

Voice actors might not receive the accolades of film and TV actors, but they are just as powerful in their own right. Using your voice to display emotions so that listeners can visualize scenes is a real talent. Voice actors are necessary to bring alive the characters in audio books, cartoon characters, radio shows and other venues. Becoming a voice actor takes a certain amount of luck, tenacity and persistence to hone your craft.

Instructions

1. Record your voice while reading books aloud. Listen to the recording and note where you can make changes that reflect the actions of the character. Make a demo tape to send to agents.

2. Enlist the help of an agent; he will guide you to know where the auditions are and help you get your foot in the door. Acting agents can open doors for you in the world of voice acting that you would not know about on your own. Many casting directors will not allow you the chance to audition if you do not have an agent. Contact the actor's unions, such as SAG and AFTRA, to get the names of agents.

3. Enroll in acting lessons. You may not feel as if this is unnecessary, but it is an effective way to learn to throw your voice, disguise it and to evoke emotions with your tone of voice and technique.

4. Listen to professional voice actors in cartoons and audio books, anime features and other examples. This will help you to learn what distinguishes the voice for listeners.

5. Practice daily to be able to mimic the sounds and nuances in different types of speech. It sometimes takes years of practice to mimic certain cartoon characters or to train your voice to have the nuances required to reflect a disgruntled employee, a skittish giraffe or other characters.

6. Relocate to a location where voice-acting jobs are plentiful, such as Los Angeles or New York, if you want a full-time career as a voice actor. If it is something you want to do occasionally or as part-time work, then you will be able to find smaller jobs near other cities. When a casting director decides that she wants you to read for a part, it is typically within a few hours or the next day, not when it is convenient for you to fly into the area.

7. Train with a professional, he will be able to teach you about the different types of voice acting. For instance, sometimes a soft, menacing voice can be more inhibiting to someone than a loud shout of anger.

8. Speak with your entire body during the reading. Sometimes a raised eyebrow, a sneer on your lips or squinted eyes can inflect changes in your voice, according to The Unofficial Disney Animation Archive website.

9. Practice saying the lines of the character alone and with the help of other people reading the lines of other characters. Often, each individual character is recorded alone and then injected in the film or recording by a sound engineer. Other times, the film already exists and you have to fill in the sound matching your lines to animated characters mouth movements.

Make A Comic Book Cover

Comic books are a visual storytelling medium most commonly associated with superheroes such as Spiderman or The Fantastic Four but capable of telling a wide range of stories. When creating a comic for sale, it is important to design a cover which will draw in passersby and encourage them to purchase your comic. While there is no set "winning formula" for making a cover that will sell your comic, there are key principles to follow to increase the likelihood you will be successful.

Instructions

1. Write the title of the comic clearly on the front cover, with both the episode and series title clearly displayed.

2. Showcase the star of the comic on the cover so fans of the hero can quickly identify it as one they would like to buy.

3. Create a unique design that differs from the most popular style of recent covers. A cover which differs from its peers will stand out from the rack. For example, a darker cover will help a comic stand out amid a rack filled with bright covers.

4. Reflect the content of the comic accurately. A cover which does not accurately reflect the content of the comic may result in individuals interested in your comic passing it by when it seems to not be their style, while those who pick it up expecting one style will put it back down when they discover a different tone.

5. Draw the primary villain on the cover if featuring a popular villain to announce their presence, as you did with the hero.

6. Use artwork from the artist who drew the comic on the cover, if possible. This ensures the best match of content and most accurate representation of the themes and style.

7. Share your cover with friends or acquaintances in your primary demographic and determine if your current design appeals to the market you are targeting.

Get Icons On A Mac Desktop To Move

Get Icons on a Mac Desktop to Move

Mac OS X can automatically arrange the icons on your desktop by their name, type and several other factors. If you are not careful when exploring the desktop preferences on your Mac, it is possible to accidentally configure the Mac to automatically arrange the desktop icons. Once this is done, it is no longer possible to move the icons unless automatic arranging is turned off.

Instructions

1. Right-click in an open area of the desktop or hold the "Ctrl" key while clicking if you have a single-button mouse. Click "Show View Options" to display the view options for the desktop.

2. Remove the check from the box labeled "Keep arranged by". This restores the ability to move icons where you would like on the Mac desktop.

3. Remove the check from the box labeled "Snap to grid" if you prefer not to have the Mac automatically arrange your icons in a perfect grid.

4. Close the "View Options" window to save your changes.

Make A Hollow Book

If you are looking for the perfect hiding place in plain sight, think about making your own hollow book. You will have the satisfaction of creating your own secret spot for valuables, cash or anything you don't want sitting out in the open. As long as the item you want to hide is no larger than a hardcover book, this is a perfect project to take on.

Instructions

1. Choose the hardcover book that you want to turn into a hollow book.

2. Take the first few pages of the book and fold them back to the front cover. Place the front cover and these pages in a plastic storage bag and secure tightly with masking tape.

3. Use a pencil along a metal ruler to mark the size of the cavity that you want in your hollow box.

4. Mix together a solution of 50% white glue and 50% water. Brush the outer edges of the pages of the book with glue and water solution and let dry for 30 minutes.

5. Cut along the lines you have drawn inside the book with a box cutter. Use the metal ruler as a cutting guide and cut as straight down through the pages as you can.

6. Brush the glue and water solution along the cut edges of the hollowed out cavity that you have just created. Apply another coat to the outside edges of the pages and then a second coat inside the book.

7. Take the last page of the group of pages that you folded back to the front cover and cut it out of the book. Glue it to the top of the hollowed out area to hide the penciled lines and make it look neater. Place a piece of plastic wrap between this page and the folded back pages so they do not stick together in the drying process.

8. Let dry for 30 to 60 minutes. Open to page that is glued to the top of the hollowed out portion of the book and carefully cut through this page to expose the cavity. Keep the book open and let it dry overnight.

9. Enjoy knowing that you have created a "secret hiding place in plain sight."

Get Government Grants For The Arts

If you are involved with any type of art, you know that it sometimes takes more than a steady pay check in order to survive. One of the options that you can look into to ensure that you can support your own and others arts is through government grants. Taking the correct procedures will allow you to step forward and remain progressive with your passion for the arts. Read on to learn get government grants for the arts.

Instructions

1. Start with filing. Although there are other ways to get grants, the best approach is to do it as a business. This means that you will want to have a name for you or your group, then you will want to contact your state and the IRS to become a non-profit organization. This will put you in a classification to get art grants.

2. Get together the legalities. While you are putting together the files, make sure that you have the details of how you will function put together. This includes Articles of Incorporation, which states the way that your group functions, the mission that it has as well as details and provisions that are a part of the group. Samples of this can be found in order to use so that you file what you need in the correct manner.

3. Come up with a plan. Unless you are professional and prepared, you aren't going to get any money. You need to show your vision of the group you are with, have a mission and vision statement and a purpose behind what you are doing. Make sure that you write this out in a professional manner.

4. Start searching. Typically, you can go onto government sites that will have art grants available. These will usually be due in the month of April, however, you can always look for and prepare the different arts grants that are available. Make sure that you look into the right categories that fit the mission you have for yourself or for your group.

5. Meet with organizations. If you can't find the right grants online, another option is to meet with organizations in order to get what you need. There are typically arts councils available in every region, which are expected to guide and help you with the grants that are available. Depending on your region, they may have non-profit status for grants and can consolidate information and efforts for everyone's benefit.

Etch Glasses

Etching glass makes the surface look frosted instead of shiny. Using a simple etching technique to create designs on a wine glass, champagne flute, or beer mug is a great way to make personalized gifts.

Instructions

Preparing Glasses

1. Choose the surface of your glass to be etched.

2. Clean surface with glass cleaner and paper towel. Avoid touching the glass after it has been cleaned.

3. Apply a sticker or stencil to the glass. Covered areas will be remain shiny. Exposed areas will become frosty when etched.

4. Some stencils can be reused. If you have a single-use stencil and are etching more than one glass, prepare all the glasses to match.

5. Use masking tape to mark off any other areas that you do not want to be etched.

Etching the Glasses

6. Put on rubber gloves.

7. Apply etching creme to glasses using the foam or soft-bristled brush.

8. Allow creme to remain on glasses for as long as package directions indicate.

9. Remove creme from glass. You can use a clean brush and then run the glass under water, or you can run directly under water.

10. Dry glasses to see the full effect of the etching.

Get Free Federal Grant Money

Free federal grant money is never free.

Federal grant money is never free, no matter what they say on TV. Grants are awarded to help an organization, agency or individual do something the federal government wants done. It may be research, delivery of human services, an art project, data collection or testing of a new drug or weapons system. If you get one, you will be expected to do something with it the government believes benefits the public. Even receiving a Pell grant requires that you actually attend school.

Instructions

The RFP

1. Identify the project you want to do with your grant funding. This is the first and most important part. A good project, needed by the community and supported by community leaders has a very much higher chance of success.

2. Conduct stakeholder meetings. These are meetings of people who care about your project and want to see it happen. Stakeholder meetings help you collect good ideas and synthesize them into a plan.

3. Identify who will be the lead agency on the grant--who will handle the money, cut the checks and be responsible for the many detailed reports the government will ask for.

4. Write a project plan. This plan has pretty much all the same elements in it that a business plan has. You need budgets, staff lists, qualifications of key project leaders and organizations, certifications, licenses and permits needed to operate.

5. Find federal funding. To do this visit Grants.gov and sign up for their e-mail newsletter. This puts you on a list to receive announcements of requests for proposal (RFPs) from the various government agencies that award grants to projects like yours. Request a copy of any RFP for which you qualify.

6. Follow the instructions in the RFP closely. If you don’t understand something, call the federal agency’s contact person for help.

7. Collect the data, documentation and letters of support from the community that meets the requirements of the RFP. If there is a matching funds requirement (and for federal grants there usually is), raise the matching funds before submitting the application.

8. Fill out the application and attach the proper documentation. Send the application as soon as its finished. Don’t wait for the last minute.

9. Wait for the answer. Don’t call and pester the agency for information before it is scheduled to be released. You will only lose friends at the agency and they won’t tell you anything.

10. If you fail to get the grant this time, don’t despair. Most applicants fail to get an award the first time they apply. Call the agency, get copies of the grant reviewer’s comments and figure out what went wrong. Rewrite the grant as soon as the agency allows. If you won the grant, do what you said you would do with the money.

Get Free College Text Books

Some courses assign textbooks that go largely unused.

It goes without saying that students welcome anything that can help relieve some of the stress on their limited budgets. If you are an university student who will have to spend hundreds of dollars on buying new textbooks, there are enormous savings if you are willing to settle for used copies. Furthermore, you may even be able to get free copies of your textbooks and other course materials if you are willing to exercise a little creativity. Although you will never be able to get all of your textbooks for free, each dollar saved is a dollar that could go towards better things.

Instructions

1. Check with your university's library to see if they circulate any copies of the textbooks on your curriculum. If there are no copies available, see if the library offers any inter-library services and check with those services if copies are available with the library's partners. Place holds to check out copies if they are not immediately available.

2. Check with the library to see if they have any copies of the desired textbooks for in-library use. You might need to compete for limited copies with many people, but you might also use the chance to talk them into a group study session.

3. See if you can find and download a legitimate copy of the textbook or course materials online. There are many websites out there that specialize in offering free books on a wide range of topics. For example, if you need a copy of "Beowulf" for an English literature class, you don't need to buy a copy when you can download a copy from Project Gutenburg.

4. See if you can find copies of articles already published in academic journals if your course materials include anthologies. Your tuition probably already pays for free access to a number of academic databases containing hundreds of thousands of publications. Get a librarian to help you if you don't know access these services.

5. See if you can convince one of your friends to gift or lend you the textbooks if they have already finished the course. Even if you can't get the textbooks for free, this is a good way to get a discount on used textbooks. Some universities might even have established networks to facilitate such exchanges between students. Take advantage whenever and wherever possible.

Make Your Own Comic Book Using Software

You can either draw your pictures with pen and paper and scan them or use a pen tablet.

Special software can help you create your own comic book if you find the task too daunting or doubt your own artistic skill. "Comic Book Creator" does all the hard work, such as making the layout and panels for you. This program is the only dedicated comic book software that works on Windows 7 in 2011.

Instructions

1. Download the "Comic Book Creator" software (see Resources). Double-click the setup file to install the software once the download is complete.

2. Double-click the "Comic Book Creator" icon on your desktop to start the program. Click "Continue" then "New Comic Book" to get started with making your own comic book.

3. Fill in the details in the comic book wizard. You will be asked for information such as the title and author of the comic book you are about to create.

4. Select the layout type from the list of templates displayed. You can change options such as page size and amount of panels per page on the menu to the right of the templates. Click "Next" when you are satisfied with the layout, then "Finish" to get started on customizing your comic.

5. Click the icons on the top left panel to cycle through the various comic book options available. Browse through backgrounds, speech bubbles, caption boxes and text and click on the ones you want to use. Any items in the category you chose will be displayed on the left side of the screen in the "Resource" browser. Click on the item in the browser, then drag it into the comic panel in the main window.

6. Left-click on the magnifying glass underneath the object to zoom in on it and right-click to zoom out. You can add multiple elements to a single panel, such as a background, clip art and speech bubble. The program comes with clip art you can use, but if you already have images, place them in your "My Pictures" folder and you will be able to select them from the resource panel.

7. Click "File" then "Save As" to save your comic book once you are finished with it.

Get Cartoon Characters Published

There are many ways to get your cartoons published, but the surest way is to prepare your art samples and be persistent about your campaign to market your cartoons to art directors.

Instructions

Publish with art directors and editors as a freelance cartoonist

1. Subscribe to cartoon magazines to obtain the addresses of editors who are currently looking for cartoons.

2. Subscribe to a newsletter for cartoonists, and learn who is buying cartoons. Earn back the money you invest in the subscription by applying your cartoons skills and being persistent with the leads the newsletters generate.

3. Visit the publishing section of your local bookstore. There are numerous books on publishing, and some on publishing graphics, designers and cartoonists.

4. Create a postcard with your cartoons on the photo side, and your name, address and phone number on the other side.

5. Send your postcard out to art directors and magazine editors.

Get A Travel Grant

Grants to pay for travel

Travel grants help pay for costs involved in traveling for studying abroad, going to medical appointments/treatments, research, training and student travel. Costs covered with the travel grant vary greatly on the grant sponsor and reason traveling. Funding for for travel grants are typically through private foundations and small non profits, however some of the larger travel grants are funded through federal and state programs.

Instructions

1. There are a multitude of scholarships for study abroad. Make sure you explore financial aid options specific to whatever study abroad program you choose. For a list of available grants go to studyabroad.com .

2. Travel grants for medical treatment can be found through specialized organizations and hospital administration. Grants usually cover transportation costs (such as gas, bus ticket, or airplane ticket), eating costs, and hotel costs. Cost usually only cover patient plus one helper. Costs for a nurse if medically necessary may also be paid. Contact organizations that offers support to the reason you need to travel. For instance if you have cancer, contact American Cancer Society. For children consider contacting Children's Miracle network.

3. Research travel grants are available on a limited basis for scholars and teachers wishing to make short-term visits to various countries and cities. Search for universities that

4. Travel grants for training are available through various government organizations, non profit agencies, and private foundations. Training travel grants are available to pay expenses such as transportation costs, partial housing costs, some food costs but most do not include the cost of the training in the individual grants. If such training grants are available through the organization, expect to apply separately. Expect to share housing accommodations with other grant recipients when applicable. To pay for travel while training involving aging for health care go to www.nia.nih.gov. United States Department of Labor gives grants to companies, individuals, and grassroots organizations to help individuals pay for costs when traveling to specialized training that is in high need for the area.

5. Student travel grants are also available through some universities for either presenting at a conference or attending a conference. Typically a drawing is held to determine which qualified applicants will receive the grant money. Contact your universities financial aid office for more details.

Engage In Conversation

With different' personalities across the board, people find it challenging to engage in conversation. Whether a person is shy or just in a bad mood, engaging in conversation can seem a difficult task. However, it doesn't have to be. There is plenty of conversation to be had. Every person is full of interesting and useful information. There is always someone with a story to tell. If the right questions are asked and your body language is right, engaging in conversation can be fun.

Instructions

1. Conversations are engage everywhere. Whether at a party, in a check out line, over the telephone, on a bus, the list is continuous. Some find it difficult to engage in conversation. They feel that others may be reluctant to talk to them. In most cases this is not true. People always have a story to tell.

2. When you think about conversation you have to see that people enjoy it. It is our way of communicating with the rest of the world. Everyone enjoys talking about themselves. Some people are shy this is true, but they still have a need to talk. After all this is how we are created. So engaging in conversation is something that is natural.

3. Approaching others is sometimes what people have the most difficulty with. This is obvious. Everyone is afraid of rejection. However, the fear of rejection cannot stop you from engaging in conversation. After all, when is the last time you put someone down for talking to you? It is important to think of it in that way.

4. There are many ways to engage in conversation. Just think of a question or a comment that you are comfortable disusing. As long as it is interesting and not offensive you are golden. The only thing you have to look out for is questions that can lead to a yes or no answer. Other than that, ask or speak away. Everyone will appreciate you ability to engage in conversation.

Get A Painting Authenticated

Fine art, like this Renoir, require authentication for home insurance purposes.

Having a painting authenticated is not the same concept as having a painting appraised. Painting authenticity is often required by art dealers if you want to sell your fine art. Paintings by well-known artists, including Renoir and Monet, for example, are often copies. Painting authenticity can be achieved by taking the painting to a reputable knowledgeable expert, specializing in painting authentication. Before traveling with your painting to gain an authentication, which may damage it, there are requirements the dealer or seller will have before authenticating it. Being aware of these requirements up-front can save time and money.

Instructions

1. Inspect your painting for damage. Most art dealers or sellers will not authenticate a painting that is too badly damaged, too faded, ripped or one that has obvious stains. If your painting has any of these issues, you could be rejected for receiving an authentication.

2. Call various art dealers and art sellers to choose the right one for you. Understand going in that they are not all the same. There will be a cost involved to have your painting authenticated. The cost will vary depending upon the expert, their knowledge and the level of research done with your painting. If you want a dealer specializing in animal and plant DNA residue, high resolution digital images and mathematical formulas, as well as in-depth research done with your painting to achieve a highly accurate painting authentication, expect to pay more to achieve this goal. If cost is an issue, and you are not as concerned about how in-depth the research is or how detailed the authentication is, a less costly situation may be the answer for you. However, choose your authenticator wisely, as your insurance plan and the future of your painting depends on the authentication.

3. Schedule an appointment to take the painting to the dealer or seller. Cover the painting properly by placing it in a painting carrying case or carrying it in a soft cloth, protecting it from sunlight and the elements when you travel to the appointment on time.

4. Sign the appropriate paperwork if the dealer or seller accepts you as a client and accepts the painting as a possibility for authentication. Fine art appraisal is an art all to itself, and so no dealer can possibly accept all jobs offered to them. It is possible that your painting will not be accepted.

5. Leave the painting in the hands of the experts if they accept your painting for authentication. Wait while your painting is being researched. The expert will inform you of how long you can expect the painting to be returned to you.

Get A Great Guitar Tone

A guitar's tone is shaped by the player's hands.

Great tone is a hallmark of all exceptional guitar players---it separates renowned guitar players from average ones. Conversely, players with terrible tone come off as mediocre, even if they have extraordinary ability, expensive guitars and high-end amplifiers. Like learning scales and chords, finding the perfect tone takes practice. The process is a combination of how your hands interact with the strings, what kind of gear you use and the knowledge of your equipment.

Instructions

Basic Essentials

1. Tune up. Being in tune is required for great tone. Dissonance is hard on everyone's ears---it won't matter how well you play if your guitar is out of tune. Use an electronic tuner to get your guitar in tune.

2. Practice your playing attack. Correct hand technique is a key element to tone.

The way a string is picked will also have an enormous effect on how the instrument will sound. Picks are made in a variety of materials and thicknesses, all of which color your tone. Billy Gibbons gets much of his characteristic sound from using a Mexican peso as a pick. Varying the amount of your picking force will also create differences in tone. Attend a performance of a local guitarist and watch how he uses his picking hand.

3. Focus on touch. How your fretting hand touches the strings will change the tone significantly. Differing the amount of pressure while fretting has an impact on the sound that's produced. Dynamic players will constantly change their grip on the strings while playing.

Tools of the Trade

4. Pick the right pickup to get excellent tone. Professionals often use a neck pickup (the pickup closest to the neck of the guitar) for playing rhythm, then switch to a bridge pickup (the pickup closest to the bridge) while soloing. Since the strings have more tension near the bridge, bridge pickups have a brighter sound, which will cut through a mix better than a neck pickup.

5. Know your amp. Setting your amp correctly is important for good tone. Turning one setting all the way up while the others are set at a conservative level can teach a player the influence of each individual setting.

6. Create special effects. Effect pedals can be valuable in generating killer tone. Most players employ at least an overdrive and a delay pedal. Wah-wah pedals and flangers have helped players like Jimi Hendrix and Eddie Van Halen achieve signature sounds.

7. Learn to compensate. One challenging way to improve tone is to set an amp at a setting that's not to your liking and then find ways to improve the sound. You can do this, for example, by turning the bass all the way up and the treble all the way down, or vice versa. This is a unique way to practice using your hands to create tone and to learn the impact that touch has on sound.

Make A Byzantine Chain

Creating a Byzantine Chain is one of the easiest jewelry chains to make. You can either work from a kit or buy the pieces separately. Whatever way you choose, once you've mastered make Byzantine Chains you can make bracelets and necklaces for yourself and all of your friends.

Instructions

1. Measure your wrist or the wrist of whomever you're making the chain for with a string. Then take the string and put it against a ruler to determine how long your bracelet should be.

2. Make a double ring chain that is three links long by taking two jump rings and connecting them to two other jump rings and then connecting those jump rings to a third set.

3. Hold the first pair of rings, and then fold down the top pair of rings over either side of the middle pair. Push apart the rings you folded down, and then push the middle rings together.

4. Push a new ring through the newly created hole, and then add another ring to this new ring. Repeat this step to finish one segment of your chain. Keep weaving new segments until you've made your desired length.

5. Add a clasp to one end of your bracelet to finish your project.

Download Animations To My Cell Phone

Download Animations to My Cell Phone

Depending on the capabilities of your phone, you have a few options for downloading an animation. As long as you have an animation and a cell phone, you'll be able to do so. One of the most common ways to download animations is from websites that offer multimedia features for cell phones. You will most likely have to pay for the animation, but there are also many free websites out there. If you already have the animation on your computer, you can send or transfer it to your phone without the use of a third-party site.

Instructions

Downloading an Animation to Your Cell Phone

1. Search the Web for animations. There are many cheap and free animations that you will be able to choose from. Some sites may ask you to register for their service before you can download any animations. Make sure to read the "Terms of Use" before you register. You may get an extra fee charged to your monthly bill. These charges usually range in the $10 area.

Once you find an animation that you like, you can click on it and follow the prompts. There are links to sites that have animations in the "Resources" section.

2. Enter your cell phone number on the site and follow the prompts. Some sites will ask for your phone number so they can send you the animation in a text message. If so, just open the message and download the animation. Some sites will give you a URL to follow. In this case, all you do is open your phone's Internet browser and enter the URL.

Once you do so, you will be brought to a link that will allow you to download the animation. If your phone can't go on the Internet, you will have to download your animation from a site that sends it as a text message.

3. Save the animation to your "Images" folder. Once the image is saved to your cell phone, you can set it as your wallpaper or screen saver.

Sending an Animation to Your Cell Phone

4. Go online and open the email program you use on your computer.

5. Compose a new email message and attach any animations you want to download to your cell phone.

6. Email the message to yourself.

7. Open your Internet browser on your cell phone and open your email software.

8. Open the message and download the file attachments that are in your email message. Once they're downloaded, save the animation to your "Images" folder.

Transferring an Animation to Your Cell Phone

9. Connect your cell phone to your computer. Most cell phones connect to computers with a universal serial bus (USB) cable. Your phone should have come with this cable and all software needed to establish communication between your phone and computer. It is likely that you have already installed this software. If not, you will have to do so in order for your computer to recognize your phone.

10. Open your cell phone's folder on your computer. To do this, go to "Start" and open "My Computer." Your phone's folder will be listed under "Devices With Removable Storage." Double-click on your cell phone.

11. Open the folder that has the animations you want to send to your cell phone.

12. Click on the file and drag it to your phone's folder.

13. Click on the "Safely Remove Hardware" icon located on the bottom-right toolbar on your desktop to disconnect your phone. Once the computer prompts you that it's OK to remove your hardware, unplug your phone.

Once your phone is unplugged, you can open the folder where you saved the animation and set it as a wallpaper or screen saver.

Find Japanese Cosplay Accessories

Cosplay is a Japanese phenomenon with a growing presence in the U.S. Cosplay is the act of dressing up like your favorite anime or video game character. Cosplay costumes are distinguished by a high level of detail and are often handmade creations. In addition, the cosplayer takes on the persona of the character she is dressed as.

Cosplayers are dedicated to creating the perfect costume and obsessed with a high level of excellence. Many avid cosplayers have been known to travel to Japan for cosplay conventions such as Comiket to shop for cosplay accessories.

Putting together a perfect cosplay outfit can take a lot of persistence. The difference between a good costume and a great one usually comes down to the small details. The best way to assemble a great cosplay look is to have the perfect accessories.

These accessories might include jewelry (characters from Utena or Vampire Knight), weapons (Inu-Yasha's Tetsusaiga) or magical paraphernalia (wands for Sailor Moon or Cardcaptor Sakura).

While American cosplay shops have a fairly good selection, the Japanese stores have the best products. The Japanese stores will have merchandise that the U.S. stores do not carry, including cosplay accessories for anime that has not been distributed in the U.S., or merchandise from shows that are decades old and have waned in popularity. There is also a measure of pride an American cosplayer can have after obtaining a hard-to-find accessory that was only available overseas.

Instructions

1. Shop online retailers that specialize in merchandise sold direct from Japan. These include jlist.com, cosmates.jp and visusky.com. All of these retailers have English websites and offer direct access to officially licensed Japanese goods. U.S.-based cosplay retailers include cosplaymagic.com and cosplaylab.com.

2. Shop at the following websites if you can read Japanese: cosmate.net, cosmint.co.jp and cospa.com.

3. Travel to a cosplay store in Japan. Many of these will are located in Akihabara, Tokyo. Such stores include COSPA (with several locations through Japan and Tokyo). One of the more popular COSPA stores is located at Hagihara Building, Shibuya, Tokyo.

Another such store is Cosplay Academy Cave, located in the basement of the Usudamu Kouji building, Taito, Tokyo.

4. Subscribe to a cosplay magazine such as AniCoz or Cosmode. These publications list sources for the items found within their pages at the end of each issue. These publications also generally offer how-to guides for creating your own accessories.

5. Visit an anime convention and purchase accessories from a dealer. Conventions include Comiket in Japan, Anime Boston and Otakon in Maryland. The dealers vary from year to year, and there is never any guarantee that a certain dealer will be in attendance. Generally speaking, the convention's website will list all dealers who are scheduled to attend at least a month before the date of the convention.

6. Make friends with a Japanese pen-pal via the Internet. One established site is JFriends, an offshoot of the now-defunct "Foreign Correspondent" magazine. Another good place to find a Japanese pen pal is Japan-Talk.com. You can send your new friend candy and gifts that are found only in your country, and in exchange they can send you cosplay accessories.

Get A Comic Published

Comics are everywhere these days and come in a variety of shapes, sizes and genres. There are superhero comics, autobiographical comics, humor comics, horror comics, web comics, photo comics and manga, to name a few. Anyone who has an idea and a little determination can make her own comic, although finding an audience may prove more difficult. Because of the range of competition for a limited number of opportunities, finding a company to publish your comic can be a daunting task. However, following the instructions in the guide below may help you in your endeavors.

Instructions

Publishing

1. Make the comic. Unlike book and magazine publishers, comic book publishers are primarily interested in seeing a finished product. Submitting a query letter or project outline is unlikely to generate interest. If your strengths lie in writing rather than illustration (or vice versa), consider working with a partner.

2. Research your market. The annual Artist and Graphic Designer's Market publication (see Resources below) contains listings and contact information for many comic book companies. Review the listings and choose companies looking for work similar to your own.

3. Prepare your submission according to the publisher's guidelines. If you are unable to find this information elsewhere, check the publisher's website. When submitting your proposal, don't forget to include a self-addressed stamped envelope.

4. Attend comics conventions. Conventions are an excellent way to network with comics professionals and learn more about the process of breaking into the industry. Always bring a portfolio or a copy of your finished comic.

5. Self-publish. If all else fails, consider self-publishing. There are many options for self-publishing at your disposal, from print-on-demand services such as Lulu (see Resources below) to online publishing. These options often include additional means of generating revenue, such as advertising and merchandising.

Get A Comics Art Scholarship

comic artist

You're a talented young comic artist, but can't afford art school. On the high end, tuition costs for schools like Rhode Island School of Design are more than $30,000 annually. On the low end, New York City's School of Visual Arts costs at least $15,000 annually, but living in the Big Apple can be expensive. Fortunately, if you have the talent and the need, there are well-endowed scholarships available specifically for comic artists.

Instructions

1. Develop your portfolio. All scholarship applications will require you to submit examples of your work. Some general arts programs have strict parameters for what they consider to be "comics" - if you draw one-panel comics, you might be asked to submit them for "drawing" scholarships instead. If possible, develop a few one-panel comics, as well as a few multipanel ones; you want to stay true to your interests and style, but being able to cast a wider net never hurts.

2. Go to the National Association of Comics Art Educators' website to see the list of colleges and schools with a comics art curricula. Visit each school's official website. Almost all of them offer scholarships.

You can narrow your search a bit by considering your strengths. Are you an editorial cartoonist, a graphic novelist or a Marvel/DC-style comic book artist? If you fall strictly into one category, you'll better know which type of school and/or scholarship to aim for.

3. Look for independent merit-based scholarships. Some non-profit organizations offer scholarships or run yearly competitions for sizable prize money that can make a big dent in tuition. For example, Diamond, the largest comic book distributor, offers its "Diamond in the Rough" scholarship for the Center for Cartoon Studies. If you're an editorial cartoonist, the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists offers the John Locher Memorial Award for student cartoonists. The Jay Kennedy Memorial Scholarship is sponsored by the National Cartoonists Society Foundation (NCS), the organization that also gives out the prestigious Reuben Award every year, the equivalent of an Oscar for professional cartoonists.

Check with any local arts organizations, especially ones that seem to have corporate sponsors or enough support to hold benefits and well-publicized exhibitions. Also check with your favorite publications to see if they offer something like the "Diamond in the Rough" award.

Hang The U S Flag

Displaying the U.S. flag is a way for Americans to demonstrate their patriotism. Following appropriate flag etiquette shows your respect for your country, its flag and its customs.

Instructions

Before Hanging the Flag

1. Inspect your flag for wear and soiling. If your flag is very worn or soiled and it cannot be cleaned or repaired, do not hang it, but instead destroy it in a dignified manner. The U.S. Flag Code states that burning is the preferred method of destroying a worn flag.

2. Check the weather. If you have a flag designed for all weather use, then it is fine to display it. If the weather is bad and your flag is not designed for all weather use, wait for good weather before hanging your flag.

3. Check the time. Flags should not be left to hang outside all night unless the flag is illuminated with a light.

Hanging The Flag

4. If you are running a flag up a flagpole, this should be done quickly. If the flag is to fly at half-staff, the flag should be run up to the top of the flagpole, left there for a few seconds, then lowered to the half-staff position.

5. If the U.S. flag is being displayed with other state or municipal flags, it should be at the center of these flags. The U.S. flag should be at the highest level.

6. Those witnessing the hoisting or raising of the flag should stand at attention, with their right hand over their heart. Men should remove their hats.

7. Never allow the flag to touch the floor or ground, or to touch any object as it hangs. The flag should hang freely.

Taking the Flag Down

8. While the flag should be raised briskly, it should be lowered ceremoniously and should never be allowed to touch the ground or floor.

9. The same etiquette applies to witnesses to a flag's lowering as for its raising: Stand at attention, hand over your heart. Men should remove headgear.

10. The flag should be properly stored in a safe place where it is unlikely to endure damage from water, sun or vermin.

Make Prank Calls

Making prank calls can be a fun way to get revenge on a nosy neighbor or play a joke on a close friend. Whether you're kicking back at a sleepover or just spending a quiet night alone, pulling off a prank call can make the entire night enjoyable. Preparing for the prank call is the best way to ensure your success.

Instructions

1. Consider the consequences. Many actions including removal of phone privileges can be enforced if you are caught. Most people do not take prank calls well and will be upset when called. Is making the prank call worth possible fines, expulsion, or loss of privileges?

2. Compile a list of targets. Are you aching to prank your science teacher or best friend's sister? Create a list to narrow down your targets and individualize each prank call. Think of ways to annoy each person on the list.

3. Plan your words. This will help you to not freeze up when the phone is answered. Stick to the script to reap the benefits of hearing Ms. Parsons ask "Mr. I.P. Freely" to come to the front desk.

4. Block your telephone number. Use a calling card or calling features like *67 to ensure your phone number is not detected. Be aware that phone records can be researched in telephone harassment cases.

5. Disguise your voice. Use that brilliant southern drawl or foreign accent you've been dying to try out. Don't overdue the accent to help avoid detection. Consider using a voice changer to distort your natural voice.

6. Make it a group event. There is strength in numbers when making prank calls. This will help you remain confident during the entire call and serve as proof the prank call was made.

Make A Pumpkin Paper Basket

Make a Pumpkin Paper Basket

If you want some extra decorations for your Halloween party but are running low on cash, you only need some creativity and basic crafting supplies to fill the gap. This pumpkin paper basket craft project is very simple and inexpensive to make. Most people who do crafts often probably have all of the materials on hand. This is an excellent project to keep kids busy and happy while they wait for Halloween to come.

Instructions

1. Print the pumpkin paper basket template included with this step. You must click on the image to see the printable version. Cut the template on the solid lines with scissors, using a ruler to keep the cuts straight.

2. Place the template over a piece of orange construction paper. Trace around the cut areas with a pencil, and also trace around the outer edge of the template. Lift up the tabs to trace along the adjacent sides. Cut out the orange construction paper along the pencil lines.

3. Use the template as a guide to find where to fold the orange construction paper. Fold along each edge on the center square, and fold over each tab.

4. Draw two pumpkins on a piece of white construction paper. Draw jack-o'-lantern features, a stem and pumpkin striations in black permanent marker. Color in the pumpkins with red, orange and yellow pencil. Use the pencils to create shading along the striations of the pumpkin to make it look more dimensional. Paste the jack-o'-lanterns to two of the sides of the paper basket with a glue stick.

5. Cut out two cat faces from black construction paper. Make sure the faces are somewhat heart-shaped and have two pointed ears at each upper corner. Draw four almond-shaped eyes and two semi-circular noses on white construction paper. Color the eyes green and the nose pink with colored pencils, then cut them out. Paste these to the cat faces, then paste the cat faces to the two remaining sides of the basket.

6. Glue each tab to the back of the side next to it with a glue stick. Cut a strip of orange construction paper which is about 9 inches long and 1 inch wide. Glue it to the inside of the pumpkin paper basket. If you're planning a Halloween party, make several of these baskets. Fill them with candy, toys or Halloween potpourri.

Get An Internship At The Contemporary Art Museum In St Louis

Get an Internship at the Contemporary Art Museum in St. Louis

The Contemporary Art Museum in St. Louis allows student interns to work with the community and get others interested in art. The museum is especially fond of reaching out to the community, and bringing in unique exhibits. Interns get the opportunity to be a part of this process, and develop long-lasting relationships in the art field.

Instructions

Get an Internship at the Contemporary Art Museum in St. Louis

1. Pick a semester to complete the internship. The Contemporary Art Museum offers internships during the Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters.

2. Choose a subject. The Museum offers internships in marketing, curatorial, graphic design, development, and education. Some of these programs are only offered during particular semesters.

3. Be familiar with the internship position you want. Each position has a different set of specialties. If you are more interested in bringing in exhibits, you may want to work with the museum's curatorial team. Whereas, if you are more interested in getting people excited about visiting the museum, you may want to work with the marketing team.

4. Write a letter of interest. Include reasons why you want to intern at the Contemporary Art Museum, whether you would be able to stay in St. Louis, and when you would like to complete the internship.

5. Send your resume. Include information about your major, classes, and interests that would apply to the internship opportunities at the Contemporary Art Museum in St. Louis.

6. Work out the specifics of the internship. If you are chosen, the museum will expect you to work 15 to 20 hours per week, or even longer. Once selected, you will be notified and will work out your schedule with the museum.

Get An Art Grant

Getting an art grant can be a long process but with proper preparation and basic knowledge of grant awards, you can avoid excessive stress. Art grants usually range from $50 to $500,000. However, if you know which grant you want and where to look, you can easily find and become a strong contender for that award.

Instructions

1. Research art grants that match your skill and art medium. Many grants will be available to visual artists and writers, while other art forms tend to have a lesser percentage of grants available. Find three or four to begin with that suit your talents. Grants can range from community art grants to individual art grants.

2. Clearly read the criteria for the grant. Some grants have lengthy and arduous application processes. Make sure you know the rules and be flexible as they are typically subject to change.

3. Begin surveying your pieces or work to submit to the grant. Most grants will be very specific about the medium and the manner in which they want submissions presented to the selection committee. Many visual art grants require slides or DVD renderings of the artists' submitted work.

4. Decide which art pieces you want to include in your grant submissions. Then compile your art pieces into the format the selection committee asks for. Make sure your submission is clean and easily viewable, audible and readable for the committee.

5. Submit all of your application materials well in advance. Most grants have a checklist of items that needs to be submitted. Submit your application only after reading all pertinent materials regarding the grant.