Incorporate Diversity In An Organization

Incorporate Diversity in an Organization

Incorporating diversity into the workplace involves first recognizing the inherent diversity of the employees. Diversity training for your organization develops mutual respect for differences among the staff. Approach diversity training from the perspective of understanding culture. Sharing information about cultural perspectives allows your workers to understand the basic, universal rights of every worker in the organization. Understand how your workforce represents the community you live in. Provide opportunities for staff to exchange ideas regarding diversity in focus groups and staff meetings. Monitor group discussions with a professional trained in cultural competency.

Instructions

1. Establish a diversity mission statement and work to implement systematic approaches to diversity. Eliminate discriminatory practices by developing cultural competency training workshops or seminars. Use the local EEOC office for support while incorporating diversity policies through your human resources office. A diversity mission statement will establish precedence and structure to the heightened awareness of diversity within your group.

2. Address any critical incidents that have occurred within the organization with the EEOC office. Respond to critical events immediately. Provide counseling for groups of workers affected by critical incidents. The EEOC office and affirmative action is a reactive method of approaching diversity. A critical incident validates a need to address diversity within your organization.

3. Institute diversity training to support a proactive work environment. The purpose of these trainings is to offer staff a forum to give honest statements of their level of awareness related to diversity within the organization. No one individual can represent an entire culture. Never allow the forum to evolve into negative stereotyping of any race, ethnicity, gender, class, age, disability or socioeconomic status.

4. Assist all participants with language interpreters as necessary. Every participant in your diversity trainings is encouraged to share their perspective candidly. Incorporate ongoing diversity training as part of the continuing education process. Delivery of these programs can be delegated to individuals within the organization with the appropriate training, or contracted to an outside consultant.

5. Solicit and value the experience and perspective of consumers and families who receive services, as well as staff. Proactive diversity trainings engage workers, their families, and community members. Assume that your organization will gain in diversity awareness. Plan to incorporate community partners for future diversity trainings.

6. Work future diversity training evaluations into the structure of your organization monthly, bi-annually, or annually. Actively contribute to an ongoing continuum of change. Incorporating diversity training will allow your organization to plan, deliver and evaluate their service internally. This training will produce greater efficiency and retention of your staff.

Make Decorative Word Wall Art

Decorative word wall art is the latest trend in home decor. Designers are using this technique to decorate every room of the house, from the foyer to the nursery. Hiring a professional or purchasing a prepasted design can be quite pricey, but if you have a bit of crafting experience you can easily create your own custom decorative word wall art with a few basic supplies from your local craft store.

Instructions

1. Open your editing software and choose the desired font. Decide on the poem or text you wish to place on your wall. Type the poem or text in the desired format, and insert any design elements.

2. If your printer can produce large-format sheets, size the image to the desired size and print. If your printer does not support large-format paper, size your text to one to two words a page. The first capital letter should be 1½ to 2 inches tall. These pages are your wall stencil.

3. Tape graphite paper to the back of your printed image or images. Using a laser level, tape the prints to the wall in the desired location. If you use multiple pages for your text, overlap pages to avoid large spaces between words.

4. Use a pencil to trace the outline of the text and any design elements. Remove the paper slowly and make sure the image was properly transferred.

5. Trace the outline of your text and any design elements on the wall with a paint pen. Allow the text to dry. Fill in the text and design elements with a paint pen. Allow the text to dry. Repeat fill if needed.

Make Dark Blue Icing With Food Coloring

Blue icing forms the canvas for a rainbow cake.

Powdered sugar is the main ingredient of the icing recipe used as the base for dark blue icing. The recipe is adapted from C&H Sugar's basic buttercream frosting. Light colored frosting accepts food color readily. Any white icing, even ready to spread icing from the store, could be used as the base for dark blue icing. Dark blue icing is suitable for frosting cakes, making layer cakes, frosting cupcakes and decorating cookies. There is no cooking involved so children can help.

Instructions

Dark Blue Icing

1. Allow the butter to soften. Using the bottom of the spoon, cream the powdered sugar and butter, using back and forth motions.

2. Add the vanilla to the butter and powdered sugar mixture. Add most of the water and mix until smooth. The frosting should be a spreadable consistency and not watery.

3. Add 5 drops of food coloring to the mixture and stir. Evaluate the color. If the frosting is not dark enough, add another 5 drops, mix and evaluate. It may take up to 24 drops to achieve a satisfactory dark blue color.

4. Check the consistency of the icing. It should spread easily, but stay in place on the cake or cupcake. If the icing is too watery, add powdered sugar a teaspoonful at a time to thicken it.

Make Cute Cheap Wall Art For Under $10

Create your own modern or traditional art to decorate any room of your home.

Stylish wall art for your home and office doesn't have to cost you hundreds or thousands of dollars. With a few crafting supplies, you can create your own beautiful and chic wall art for under $10. Dress up your cubicle, bathroom, bedroom and every space in between with elegant, handmade wall art you can make in less than 2 hours.

Instructions

Fabric Wall Art

1. Choose a piece of fabric that features an image or pattern including colors that complement the d cor of the room the art piece is intended for. Cut the fabric into a square, rectangle, oval or circular piece measuring 2 inches longer and wider than the wood frame or circular embroidery hoops you have to stretch the fabric onto.

2. Stretch the fabric over the wood frame or embroidery hoops. Pull the excess material over the edges and onto the back of the frame. Fold the excess material onto the back of the frame and secure it into place with a staple gun.

3. Dress up the fabric panel by stitching around the images on the panel or using a hot glue gun to attach buttons to the fabric front. You may also add ribbon, rhinestones and other fabric embellishments.

Plate Wall Mural

4. Prime and spray paint a set of plastic, glass or ceramic dinnerware purchased on the cheap at a dollar store, yard sale or second hand store. Choose plates of various sizes and designs and spray paint in one or more shades to bring out the main decorating colors in the intended room. Spray both the front and back of each plate with primer and paint to prevent the plates' original colors from showing around the edges.

5. Lay the painted plates out on the floor in front of the mounting area. Arrange the plates in the layout you wish to position them on the wall.

6. Attach picture mounting hooks onto the back of each plate, centering the hooks in the middle of each plate. Adhere the hooks with industrial strength glue or a hot glue gun, depending on the plate material's heat tolerance.

Wall Mural

7. Skip traditional wall art by painting images and patterns directly onto your walls. Draw an outline on your wall to signify the edges of the wall art. This outline may be any shape you desire, from letters to squares, ovals and circles. Place painter's tape around the perimeter of the outline to prevent your wall art from looking sloppy when finished.

8. Paint images and patterns onto the wall inside the painter's tape outline in acrylic or oil paint. Paint images and patterns that introduce accent colors from the room's existing d cor.

9. Allow the paint to dry completely before removing the painter's tape outline. Create a new, slightly larger outline to paint on a faux wood frame, or create your own one-of-a-kind frame in any style and design by painting an outline around the pattern or image from the previous step.

Download Futanari Clips

Download Futanari Clips

While the Internet is a great resource for finding clips of just about anything you may want, finding futanari can prove to be a bit more difficult. Since futanari features graphic sexual content and nudity, many websites ban the posting of clips and images. Still, with just a bit of sleuthing, you can download futanari clips for your collection.

Instructions

1. Expect most American futanari clips to contain 3D characters, which differ greatly from traditional futanari style and may contain an abundance of men. Unfortunately, the best futanari websites are often in Japanese.

2. Click around on Japanese futanari websites. While you may not be able to read anything, you can follow the images. Japanese sites tend to host more free clips without any downloading restrictions.

3. Try downloading futanari clips through BitTorrent if you feel brave. While torrents may contain all kinds of nasties, you may come across the uncensored free clips you desire. For more viable downloading options, try searching for your favorite artist instead of using generic search terms.

4. Check out doujin or doujinshi (loosely translated to "self-published" or "amateur") clips. These often do not fall under copyright laws, as the original artist is freely sharing his futanari clips.

5. Act fast. Futanari clips often disappear from the web as quickly as they are uploaded. If you happen across a clip, especially a recommended one, download it right away.

6. Avoid fan sites and basic blogs where you'll only be sent to paid advertisements and useless porn previews. Instead, check reputable sites like Fleshbot or the J-List Side Blog (see Resources below). These corporate sites offer clips, or links to clips, that are usually authentic and legal.

7. Request flash and anime clips at a futanari message board. No one knows you're looking if you don't ask. The more specific you are in describing what you want, the more responses you'll probably get.

Make Creative Letters For Posters

Creative letters can be made using many mediums, fonts, and colors.

Posters can be used for innumerable types of projects, from school reports to protests to home decorations to advertising. Whatever their purpose, most posters communicate some type of message -- and this means the text is crucial. Making the letters stand out, immediately and effectively communicating your message, is the poster-maker's greatest challenge. Applying a little creativity to the letter-making process will help your poster attract attention and communicate effectively. In addition, creative lettering adds an artistic flair to any poster.

Instructions

1. Draft your text. This step will guide you in sizing your letters, crucial to achieving balance and neatness on your poster. For texts longer than just a few words, create a small-scale replica of your sign, to test word placement, the number of lines you will need and how much room your text will take up.

2. Choose capital or lowercase letters. For a bold look or very intense statements -- like on posters used for a protest or rally or for school election campaigns -- consider using all capitals. For a more decorative, artsy look, write letters all lowercase. For general text such as quotes or messages, following normal capitalization rules is usually effective.

3. Choose a font. This will be affected by the purpose of the poster. For artistic, decorative posters, Arial is simple and minimalist, while curvy scripts are romantic. For kids' birthday posters or signs for casual events like yard sales, "bubble" letters or blocky, all-caps lettering is bold and fun.

4. Prepare your poster, using "cheats" if necessary. Consider lightly penciling straight guide lines on the poster, using a ruler or straight-edge, to make sure your text remains straight and balanced. For the most perfect sizing and spacing, consider using stencils to trace each letter of your text. You may decide to create your poster digitally on your computer, using the many fancy and creative fonts available in word processing programs, and have it printed at your local print shop or office supply store. If you choose to letter the poster by hand, begin using a pencil, then fill in the text using a more permanent medium once you're done.

5. Decorate your creative letters using a variety of mediums. Markers and paint are readily available, easy to use and instantly make text more colorful and flamboyant. Glue on embellishments like pom-poms, glitter, sequins, or even natural material like small stones or seashells. Consider decorating with items relating to your topic; for example, nuts, leaves, and twigs for a nature poster.

Dress Like Andy Warhol

Pop artist Andy Warhol was a man obsessed with image and style. He had a lot of ideas about fashion and paid close attention to the clothes he wore and how he presented himself. He made several statements about fashion and how one should dress, such as, "Think rich, look poor." If you want not only to look like Warhol but act like him as well, study some of the footage available. Warhol did many interviews, though he usually said very little in them and maintained a calm and quiet demeanor.

Instructions

1. Wear an oversized blonde wig. This, above all else, is a trademark of Warhol's signature look.

2. Wear a shirt with horizontal stripes, ideally white and black stripes, or white and blue stripes.

3. Wear a leather jacket. It should be a pretty standard leather jacket, not one with chains or anything resembling a biker's jacket.

4. Wear tight-fitting, black pants. Black jeans will work just fine.

5. Wear black boots. They should be fairly plain looking.

6. Wear dark sunglasses. Warhol was almost always photographed wearing sunglasses.

Make Crayon Candles

Use Old Crayons to Make Crayon Candles.

Any house with children is bound to have crayons. Inevitably these crayons will be broken into small pieces making it difficult for children to use for coloring. Instead of throwing the crayons out, recycle them into a fun adult-supervised craft project. The crayons can be melted and used to create colorful and unique crayon candles.

Instructions

1. Gather up the old crayons and have the children remove all of the paper. The paper will interfere with the candles so it is important that the crayons be free of their paper wrapping.

2. Find glass jars to use for the candles–old baby food, pickle and jelly jars are good choices.

3. Cut the candle wicks so that they are slightly taller than their respective jars.

4. Tie the top of the candle wick to a pencil and then place the pencil over the top of the jar. You don’t want to hold the wick until all of the wax dries. The pencil will hold the wick in place freeing you up to make other candles.

5. Place a pot of water on the stove and bring to a boil.

6. Place the unwrapped crayons into a wax boiling bag. These bags can be purchased at your local craft store, and they make the cleanup process much easier. You will not have to worry about removing wax from your good pots; simply throw away the bags after you are done with your crayon candle project.

7. Mix and match the crayons in the bags to create unique color arrangements. If you want purple but don’t have purple crayons, mix red and blue. You can also boil individual colors in separate bags to use for layering colors in a later step.

8. Check to see that the crayons have completely melted. Once they have melted, you are now ready to start pouring the candle wax into your prepared jars.

9. Carefully pour the candle wax into the jars. This is where you can get creative and mix and match colors. If you’re making holiday-themed candles, mix orange, yellow and white for a candy corn themed Halloween candle. For Fourth of July, place blue on the bottom, white in the middle and red on top.

10. Let the candle jars sit until the wax has completely cooled off and is solid. This will vary depending on the size of the jar but it is a good idea to wait at least 24 hours.

11. Decorate the crayon candle jars with a bow, stickers or glitter to match the candle’s theme.

Make Homemade Tattoo Stencil

A tattoo stencil can help you transfer a challenging design from paper to your body with less chance of error than free form drawing on the skin. It can be used in conjunction with tattoos, henna or markers on your skin.

Instructions

1. Draw your design on paper. Do not start the stencil creation process until your drawing is exactly the way you want it.

2. Place the transfer paper on a table or other flat work surface.

3. Put the carbon paper down on top of the transfer paper, with the ink side toward the transfer paper.

4. Place your design, face up, on top of the carbon paper, and tape the entire stack of papers together securely.

5. Trace your design carefully. Use steady, firm pressure to ensure that the design transfers completely.

6. Separate the pieces of paper and cut your design out.

7. Cover your skin slightly where you want the design with Speed Stick deodorant to make the transfer stick. Press the design on the transfer paper onto your skin for about 30 seconds.

8. Carefully peel the transfer paper away from your skin.

Make Crayons For Kids

White bar soap can be used with beeswax to make homemade crayons.

A fond memory of childhood, held by many people, is coloring with crayons. The smell and feel of crayons can transport you back to sitting in elementary school, coloring a picture. Beeswax crayons are very similar to store-bought crayons. However, when made at home, it is difficult to replicate the streamlined shape of typical crayons. Using a muffin tin or candy mold, these beeswax crayons are larger and are easier for young children to hold. Your child will enjoy seeing how crayons are made and coloring her own pictures with her new crayons.

Instructions

1. Cut the beeswax into small pieces and grate the bar of white soap. Use equal amounts of the beeswax and soap.

2. Place the beeswax pieces and grated soap into a microwave-safe measuring cup. Microwave the mixture, with constant supervision, for around one minute so the mixture does not boil.

3. Stir food coloring into the melted mixture.

4. Grease the candy mold or muffin tin with vegetable spray or shortening.

5. Pour the mixture into the molds, letting the hot wax dry completely.

6. Turn candy mold or muffin tin upside down so cooled crayons pop out.

Make Nuts And Bolts In The Microwave

Create your own version of nuts and bolts snack mix in the microwave. Take the original recipe, found in resource 1, and alter it to your personal tastes. The only items you need for this snack mix to live up to its name are ring-shaped cereal (nuts) and pretzel sticks (bolts). This recipe makes six cups of snack mix, but you can double it for a large party.

Instructions

1. Place the butter in the 1-cup microwave-safe bowl and heat over high for 90 seconds or until the butter has melted. Stop the microwave every 30 seconds to stir the butter.

2. Add the Worcester sauce, garlic, onion, liquid smoke, and cayenne pepper.

3. Mix the cereal, mixed nuts and pretzel sticks together in the 2-quart microwave-safe bowl.

4. Pour the butter mixture over the cereal mixture, and toss to coat the cereal, pretzels and nuts completely.

5. Place the cereal mixture into the microwave and heat on high for 2 minutes. Remove the cereal and stir.

6. Return the cereal to the microwave and heat for another 2 minutes on high power. Stir. Then finish heating the cereal mix for 2 to 3 final minutes on high power.

7. Spread the cooked mixture onto a surface to allow to cool completely before transferring to an airtight container for storage.

Make Cosplay Wigs

Bright-colored wigs are often needed for cosplay.

Cosplay, the performance art of costumed role playing, often requires a wig for complete accuracy, especially for the costumes that have very odd or very complex hairstyles or hair colors that are difficult to reproduce with real hair. The use of a wig can make it easier for the wearer of the cosplay costume to dress up without spending hours on their hair every time they want to wear a costume or to change hairstyles to their character's costumes without changing their personal hair style preferences.

Instructions

1. Purchase a wig that has longer hair than the cosplay costume requires, but is the appropriate color. The excess hair will allow for style changes. Place the wig on the mannequin head before starting the style process.

2. Look at the reference picture for the hair design. Cosplay hair designs, especially those based on manga and anime characters, can be very complex, with individual strands standing out at odd angles. Pay close attention to the reference picture so you can plan the entire wig styling process.

3. Pin back most of the hair. It is easiest to style a wig in sections, especially when spikes or other oddities are needed, than to try cutting and styling with all the hair in the way. Starting from the bottom layers of hair or the front is ideal.

4. Cut the hair in the appropriate lengths according to your reference picture. Keep in mind that some cosplay hairstyles will have very differing lengths, such as long in the front and short in the back, with random long strands in the short sections. Pay attention to the picture and cut to the appropriate lengths, using the mannequin head as a guide. If the style requires some side strands cut to chin length, use the mannequin head as your guide.

5. Spray the wig with hairspray while you're working. If it needs large spikes, form each spike while cutting and spray it liberally with hairspray until it stays exactly as formed. You may have to use a great deal of hairspray for the most complex styles.

6. Work from the bottom up or from the front backward until you've completed the entire wig in a style that resembles your reference picture. Keep in mind that oddities like weird stiff strands of hair that look like antennae or odd curls that stick out should be executed last to shape them properly and combine them with the rest of the hairstyle.

With some patience, attention to detail and a lot of hairspray, you can make cosplay wigs to enhance any characters you choose to enact.

Make Cosplay Swords

Some costumes are incomplete without a sword.

Swords are a popular accessory in cosplay (costume play), but they present something of a problem. Real swords are heavy and dangerous, and are often not allowed at conventions. Many video game and anime characters' swords are extremely unrealistic. Fortunately, there are ways to make your own cosplay sword that looks good, is light enough to carry around all day without being too fragile, and is not a danger to anyone.

Instructions

1. Draw the outline of your sword on the flat side of the rigid foam insulation. Make the drawing full-sized and include any hand guard you plan to have in your design, but do not include the grip.

2. Cut out the basic shape of your sword. Cut slightly outside the lines of the outline, and save any fine detailing for later.

3. Sand the sword into shape, including any fine details, with sandpaper or a power sander. Taper the blade while sanding to create a realistic blade shape, and make the surface as smooth as possible.

4. Cut the 1-inch dowel to the length you want your sword's grip to be. Drill a 7/16-inch hole down the center of one end of the dowel about half as deep as the grip is long, and drill an identical hole in the center of the base of the sword where you want the grip to attach. Cut the 7/16" dowel to the length of both holes combined. Insert the smaller dowel into the foam, then place the larger dowel over it.

5. Lay the fiberglass cloth over the blade of the sword and apply the epoxy over it according to the manufacturer's instructions so that the epoxy completely covers all of the cloth. Add some epoxy to the join between the foam and the grip as well. Allow this to dry overnight, and apply additional coats of epoxy as needed to completely cover the bumpiness of the cloth and give the sword a smooth texture.

6. Sand off any large bumps in the epoxy. Do this gently so as to avoid sanding all the way through the epoxy.

7. Paint the entire blade with silver metallic spray paint and allow it to dry.

8. Paint only the "sharpened" edge of the blade with chrome finish spray paint and allow it to dry.

9. Wrap the grip with any color of duct tape to simulate a cloth or leather sword grip.

Make Cosplay Costumes

Sakura from Naruto

Cosplay is a fun and enjoyable way to dress as a character from your favorite anime. Cosplayers meet at conventions and cosplay parties. (If you're in Japan, you can cosplay anywhere!) If you're looking for an idea for a fun theme party, you might want to think about having a cosplay party. Here are some steps to put together a cosplay costume.

Instructions

1. Pick your character. Choose from Anime characters such as Naruto, Bleach, Deathnote, Sailormoon, or games such as Kingdom Hearts. Choose a character that is most like yourself and you will be more successful.

2. Reference your character's costume at resources like photobucket, Google, and Flickr. Print out the best picture you can find to have a reference.

3. Buy your costume. Japanamation or cosplay family dot com are great sites to start. If you're on a budget, you can mix and match pieces of your outfit from your existing wardrobe or pick them up at the Salvation Army or Goodwill. Don't forget to raid your sister's or brother's closet to find potential cosplay treasures.

4. Learn sew. Some of the articles you desire for your costume may not be available in the United States. Learning sew is a really good way to supplement your cosplay costume.

5. Get accessories. This may be the hardest part to putting together a good cosplay costume. Shopping online is the surest way to find the perfect accessory. If you're buying you costume, the accessories will probably come with it. If you're putting together a costume from scratch, this is where you will spend the bulk of your budget.

6. Put your costume together. You might find you are missing an element you weren't aware of. For example, if you are cosplaying Ichigo from Bleach you may find that once your costume is put together you forgot the sword. Or if you're cosplaying Kankuro from Naruto you might have forgotten to pick up some face paint.

Make Cosplay Boot Covers

If you're a fan of cosplay, then you know having the perfect costume is one of the most important parts of the experience. However, one part of the costume is often overlooked: the shoes. Yes, finding a pair of shoes that match your character's outfit exactly is next to impossible. But it is possible to take a standard pair of shoes and turn them into the finishing touch of your costume. And all it takes is a few basic sewing supplies and a crafty touch.

Instructions

1. Put on one of the shoes you will be wearing as a part of your costume.

2. Place a piece of paper over the shoe. Wrap it tightly on top of the fabric upper and affix in place with tape.

3. Cut away excess paper from the shoe. Make sure how you cut the paper is how you want the boot cover to look. So if you want a knee-high boot cover, wrap the paper around your leg as well.

4. Once the paper looks like a sloppy version of the boot cover you want to make, carefully unstick the tape from the shoe and lay flat. This will now be your stencil.

5. Place the paper stencil on top of the carpet-backing material. Use a craft knife to cut out the shape in the material.

6. Wrap the cutout around the shoe and your leg to make sure it is a proper fit.

7. Take your needle and thread and begin to sew up the back of the material; this should fall in line with your heel and Achilles' tendon. Continue sewing up the back of the boot cover, being careful to move your stitches closer to the edge of the material to allow room for your calve once the shoe is worn.

8. Use a high-quality glue to affix the boot cover to the shoe's sole, like Shoe Goo. You can omit this step if you don't want the shoe to be forever dedicated to your cosplay costume. Instead, sew a piece of elastic into the top of the boot cover so that it will stay up and around your leg. Then you can position it to look as if it's a part of your shoe.

9. Repeat Steps 1 to 8 with second shoe.

Make Copper & Brass Art Flowers

Make Copper & Brass Art Flowers

Ornamental pieces made from metal can be quite beautiful and eye-catching. They can be small pieces or large pieces, but either way, they always seem to be a conversation starter and can enhance any room. Flowers are a great design to make and when made out of metal such as brass and copper; their color will stand out, and they don't have to be replaced frequently like real flowers.

Instructions

1. Draw out the design for the flowers. Make note of which pieces will be in copper or brass. To darken any of the colors, a tarnishing polish can be applied at the end to make a dark green-black color.

2. Take a flat piece of either copper or brass and cut out the shape wanted for the flower with the metal-cutting hand saw. Do not cut any close curves, or the blade may break.

3. Place your cutout piece and trace it onto another piece of metal plate. Then cut it out with the hand saw. Repeat this for all the flowers. The shapes can vary slightly if you want.

4. Cut a smaller shape similar to the first out of the metal plate with the hand saw. These pieces can be layered on top of the first piece for the flower.

5. Cut a circle piece out of the plate metal for the middle bud piece of the flower. Cut one circle for each flower.

6. Take all the cutout pieces over to your hammering area. Use a metal hammer to shape the piece against a steel iron or shaper. The hammer can create a textured design as well as make the petals curve. Shape each piece for the flower petals, trying different hitting techniques for a variety of textures and shapes.

7. Place the circle cutouts onto a dapping block. Start with the larger circle imprints. Hit the steel dapping piece with the hammer to make the impression onto the metal to turn it into a semicircle shape. Repeat this for each circle.

8. Make the circles smaller by placing them in smaller circle imprints and continuing to mold them with the dapping tool and hammer until the desired semicircle shape is attained. If there are any extra metal pieces, cut them off with the hand saw.

9. Use the metal files to file all the edges smooth on all the cutout pieces. Textures can also be created with the file across the surface of the metal.

10. Place the polishing tool head into the Dremel and tighten it with the wrench tool it comes with. Secure your metal pieces with either a clamp or steadily in your hand. Using pressure, place the Dremel tool against the metal pieces and rotate over the entire piece to give a smooth surface and shine.

11. Place the petals together to line them up. Do the same with the middle circles. Keep each set of petals together, and take them into your fireproof surface area. Set up your torch, clamps and solder pieces.

12. Brush flux onto the pieces where they will be soldered. Start with the hard solder for the first connection. Heat up the two pieces that are going to be soldered together until they are both heated evenly and have an almost orange glow.

13. Place the small pieces of the solder around the joint that will be soldered using a tweezer tool or metal pinpoint tool. Continue to heat the two pieces evenly until the solder melts and connects the two pieces together. Make sure the solder fills all lines and gaps between the two pieces.

14. Place the piece into the pickling solution in your slow cooker. This will get all the extra flux and debris off from the torch. Inspect the piece to see if any extra solder is still on it or if the area needs to be cleaned up by filing it. Once it is clean, take it back to the torch area to add the second piece.

15. Use the medium solder for the second piece so it does not undo the solder for the first connection. Repeat the same way as before for placing the solder and having it flow into the seams to connect the two pieces. Place in the pickling solution and clean any residue left.

16. Cut the copper or brass tubing to size for the stem. Match it up to the flower pieces to determine how it will be connected. If a slant or angle is wanted at connection, cut and then file the tubing until it matches up to the petals.

17.Take the pieces into the fireproof area with the torch and use the soft solder this time to connect the stem to the petals. Once finished, place in the pickling solution, and then clean off any excess residue.

18. Take all the final pieces back to the Dremel and repolish their surfaces until the desired shine and texture is achieved. Place the pieces into a vase, on the wall or on shelving for display.

Make Copper Wire Art

Copper wire art projects can add whimsy, color and dimension to your garden landscape or home interior. Creating art projects from copper wire is not difficult; you only need an outline of the object and a jig to shape the wire. Copper wire comes in a variety of colors and thicknesses, so you can create any type of wire art that suits your decor. Make beaded wire insects to decorate your potted plants or hang wire art as sun catchers in your windows.

Instructions

1. Select a butterfly wing template for the outline of your wire art. Look for butterfly shapes that you like in the stencil aisle of a craft store, in coloring books or online. Cut out the shape of the butterfly's wing. You only need one wing.

2. Trace the butterfly wing outline onto a wood board. Hammer finishing nails along the outline of the butterfly to create a jig. You only need to insert the nails 1/4 inch or so into the wood; just make sure that they are secure. Place the nails every 1 to 2 inches around the perimeter of your butterfly wing's outline, paying special attention to any dips or curves in the outline. You will be wrapping the wire around the nails to make the wire wing, so your nail outline should be indicative of the true shape of your butterfly wing template.

3. Measure the outside perimeter of your nail jig with a measuring tape. Cut a section of 18-gauge craft wire to fit around the nail jig, plus 2 inches. You can use thinner craft wire, such as 20-gauge or 24-gauge if you like, but your butterfly will be more flimsy.

4. Bend one tip of the wire into a hook, just large enough to hook onto a finishing nail. Hook the wire onto the nail closest to the center where the butterfly wing will connect to the body. Wrap the wire around the outside of the nail jig to form the butterfly wing. Wrap the ends together when they meet and remove from the jig.

5. Repeat Steps 3 and 4 to make another wing. If you flip the second wing over after you create it, you will have a symmetrical copy to complete your wire butterfly.

6. Measure the width across the butterfly wing. Cut a section of copper wire four times as long as the width to create a vein. Insert a glass bead to the center of the wire. Spiral the wire on either side of the bead to hold it in place. You can spiral the wire by wrapping it around the long end of your needle nose pliers or a pencil. Leave 1/4-inch of wire at the tip of each end straight so you can attach the vein to the wing. Make as many beaded veins as you like, but keep the wings symmetrical.

7. Attach the copper wire veins to the butterfly wings by wrapping the tip ends around the wire wings. Use your round nose pliers to press the wire in place.

8. Cut a 2-foot section of 18-gauge copper wire. Spiral wrap the wire around a dowel to make the body of your butterfly. Adjust the length of the wire to make a smaller or larger spiral body.

9. Attach the wings to the body, one on each side, with a small section of 24-gauge copper wire.

Make Copper Embossed Art

Making embossed art with copper is a relatively simple process. The embossing process can be done at home, using a few materials. Even if you have minimal artistic skills, you can turn copper foil sheets into images worthy of framing and hanging around your home. Embossed copper art can be given as gifts or even sold at craft fairs and flea markets as a sideline business, making it an ideal hobby for someone who is looking for a creative way to express themselves.

Instructions

1. Cut a piece of copper foil to fit the size of the artwork you want to create. Place the picture frame you plan to use in front of you and lay the copper foil on it. Cut the copper foil with a utility knife to fit the frame.

2. Place your copper foil on a work surface. A sturdy foam surface or rubber mat are ideal. Create your artistic design on the side of the copper foil facing up. Draw an image by hand or use a stencil. Press firmly down on the stylus to cause the copper foil to indent. This will create a raised image on the opposite side of the copper foil.

3. Turn your finished piece over and brush it with a light brownstain, letting the brush slide over the raised and indented elements of the art. Don't over do it. One or two light swipes is enough to give you an adequate wash and will add some tonal variation to your copper piece.

4. Place the finished piece in your picture frame after allowing the stain to dry according to the directions on the can.

Make Copper Artwork

Copper art can take the form of sculpture or formed panels.

Copper artwork is something the beginner to metalworking can try, as the metal is easier to work with than others. Three-dimensional copper wall hangings made from copper sheets or sculpted wire tubing for garden art are common projects and not terribly difficult to attempt. Whatever the type of copper art you choose, the results will be a personally created piece of art with a not-too-difficult process to create it.

Instructions

Copper Sheet Art

1. Choose a design for your artwork. You can make a three-dimensional wall hanging from a copper sheet by forming a design into the metal in three dimensional cuts and grooves. Draw your design or choose a premade template from one you've seen that you want to re-create.

2. Put on heavy gloves. Cut the sheet of copper with the metal snipping shears. Cut the sheet to the outer shape of your design. Make any other cuts necessary such as cut out areas or shaped edges.

3. Work the metal sheet by tapping a chisel, wood dowel, wood blocks or other blunt and pointed tools into the metal to form three-dimensional shapes. Tap lightly at first to adjust to the pressure needed to form the copper; it is a soft metal and bends relatively easy.

4. Attach the three-dimensional copper art to a wood frame or wood panel as a backing with copper nails and a hammer.

Copper Tubing Sculpture

5. Select a sculpture design for the copper tubing. An animal formed from shaped tubing, a pyramid from straight pipe or a variety of other variations are available choices. Draw a sketch or select a design and calculate the dimensions needed for the pieces.

6. Measure the dimensions of the tubing and mark the lengths on the pipe. Cut the tubing to your measurements with the tubing cutter.

7. Bend the copper tubing using a pipe bender, or simply by hand. Do not crimp or crease the tubing unless that is part of the design.

8. Heat the ends of the tubing where you want fittings attached with the propane torch. Touch the solder to the pipe, then attach the fittings while still hot. Fit all the pieces together to complete the sculpture. Attach a piece of tubing as a pick to stand the sculpture in the garden if necessary.

Make Copper Art

Copper is one of the best metals for beginning artists to work with. In sheets, copper is easy to cut and shape into figures or three-dimensional wall art hangings. Making copper art can be a satisfying, relaxing hobby or even a profitable business at craft fairs and flea markets. When you're ready to tackle something more complex, copper can be used to make advanced sculptures as well. Learning to work with copper artistically can be fulfilling if you have the patience and desire to experiment.

Instructions

1. Place a piece of copper on a flat surface. Use a size appropriate to the size of wall hanging you want to make. Consider starting with a smaller piece first, such as a 5"x6". Use a pencil to draw a design on your copper. If you aren't good at drawing, you can purchase a stencil to use for your design.

2. Use metal sheers to cut one side of the outline of your design so the picture you've drawn can be folded out for a three-dimensional appearance. The three-dimensional cut-outs can be trees, people or flowers. Avoid too many details when you're working with copper art. Simple designs work best.

3. Use a flat chisel or metal point chisel to add texture to the background left behind when you pulled your cut-outs away. This background copper will become part of the art. Be careful not to punch too hard when you're applying your textures because copper can easily be punched through.

4. Place your 3D copper picture onto a wood background. Hammer it in place with four nails. Use the smallest nails you can find to keep them as invisible as possible. If you want to add a little acrylic paint to your copper 3D picture to finish it, feel free to do so. Acrylic goes onto copper well. Use the paint selectively so you don't detract from the copper aspect of the design.

Make Concert Posters

The right promotional materials can make your concert a success.

Proper promotion will create excitement for your upcoming concert. You'll want to design a stylish poster to announce the details. Your concert poster should communicate the excitement and the personality of the band. Using your desktop publishing program, you can create a poster that will rival those created by professionals. Ideally, you'll include a photo of the band members, and perhaps a few shots from a recent engagement. Be prepared -- you'll want to include all the information people will want about the various ticket prices and the location, so solidify those details before you begin your work.

Instructions

1. Collect all the important information about the concert: when it is scheduled, where it will be held, the cost of the various tickets and a phone number for ordering.

2. Open a desktop publishing or page layout program such as Microsoft's Publisher or Apple's Pages. You can also use a word processor such as Microsoft's Word or Open Office's Writer.

3. Create a shape using the shape tools to add a background color to your poster, if you would like a colored background.

4. Insert the band's logo if one exists. If not, create a text box and enter the name of the band. Format the name in a large, clear font.

5. Insert a photo of the band members if one exists, or a photo of a previous concert. You can go online to search for pictures of instruments, the concert hall, or people enjoying a concert. If you include any pictures you find online, make sure you have the proper licensing to use them.

6. Create a text box and enter the information about the date and time. This is very important, so format the text clearly. Then, create a text box and enter information about the various ticket prices. List each ticket price on its own line.

7. Create a text box and enter the number to call for more information or to order tickets. This is the most important information aside from the band's name, so put this in a prominent place and format the text so that this information is quickly legible.

8. Create a text box and enter the information about the location. If the location is somewhat obscure, give simple information to help concertgoers find the venue.

9. Print one copy of your poster to determine if you have captured your vision. If not, make changes as needed. Print as many copies as you intend to distribute.

Make Comic Books On A Computer

Impressive comic book art can be done entirely on computers to speed the process.

Comic books have a long history dating back to the 19th century, when publishers began compiling newspaper funnies into omnibuses. Most of the time, the art in every comic had to be penciled by hand and then carefully retraced in India ink. But thanks to computers, comic book artists no longer need to tediously trace models and athletes over a light box to meet deadlines. Image editing programs allow every step of the art to be done digitally if the artist chooses.

Instructions

1. Create a dedicated file folder for your comic book. Create subfolders for reusable art resources and archived issues of your book (if it is a series). Place a shortcut to the main folder on your desktop.

2. Create a new image file in your editing program that is set to your preferred page size. Set the dots-per-inch quality value to 360 (any higher won't noticeably improve quality). Draw panels if you plan to have them set a certain way on most pages; otherwise, leave it blank. Save the image as a template for all future pages.

3. Scan in hand-drawn art or draw directly into the program with a digital drawing tablet. Use thin sketch lines first, including for panels---better to erase basic shapes than any substantial art. Opt for overlap in the art and erase as needed. Allow room in the art for speech bubbles. Drop speech bubbles into the space.

4. Insert the dialogue into the speech bubbles. Re-size the bubbles as needed.

5. Colorize the art using the color fill tool in the program. Add effects like shadow or light gradients to bring depth to the color.

6. Save finished pages to the appropriate issue folder as separate JPEG files. Name them by book title, issue and page number.

7. Publish the comic book to electronic or print format. Convert the issue folders to a ZIP archive and rename the extension to CBR (Comic Book Reader format) to make the issue viewable in a sequential image reading program. Convert each JPEG page into a PDF file and send to a mass printing company to turn the issue into a physical book.

Make Text And Image Collages

Thanks to Photoshop, reality is fluid and easily hacked. But before every desktop had the tools to digitally manipulate images, collage artists armed themselves with scissors and glue. Sure, that kind of paste-up is old school, yet it remains deeply satisfying to hack reality with carefully controlled scissors and your own sticky newsprint hands.

Instructions

1. Browse the newspapers, magazines, catalogs and junk mail flowing through your life. Collect elements that appeal to your sense of art, amusement or outrage.

2. Categorize these elements into themes. Photos of shelving plus long text blocks of random words? Catalog models and public figures all making the same hand gesture? Headlines and photos chronicling the scandal, disaster or pet peeve of your choice? Once you start looking for themes, you'll see them everywhere.

3. Spread your materials on a level surface in a well-lit, draft-free room. The area should be free of dust and pet hair and available for a day or two if necessary.

4. Forget any design plan. Lay elements on your backing, move them around, and see what pleases your sense of art or order.

5. To put a finer point on your message, tinker with your layout to enhance the theme you envisioned in Step 2.

6. Once your design is complete, trim individual pieces to make them fit better. Cut backgrounds out of photos and margins out of text blocks. Remove parts of images that are in the way. Snip excess words from headlines. As you reduce your details to their essence, keep an eye on how they fit into the whole.

7. Make light pencil marks on the backing to show where the first pieces will be glued. If you're overlaying one piece on another, mark the bottom piece to help you place the top one.

8. Start gluing things into place. Unless you have a photographic memory, preserve your layout by moving as few pieces as possible.

9. Prevent your collage from curling as it dries by putting it under something heavy. It won't stick if you were neat with your glue.

10. After your collage is dry, spray it lightly with a fixative or mount it under glass. Although glue has a surprisingly long life, these strategies will help your collage last many years longer.

Make College Graduation Invitations

College graduation is a time of new beginnings. Help your graduate announce it to the world with custom-made invitations.

Graduation represents a stepping stone when the graduate moves from the school life she knew to new and different horizons. While many different graduation announcement designs exist on the market, you can help your graduate make this memorable occasion even more memorable by encouraging her to creating handmade invitations. This allows her to express her creativity and individuality. These one-of-a-kind creations become a work of art that the recipients can keep in their scrapbooks long after the event comes to an end.

Instructions

1. Write down the graduation elements you will feature in your invitations. These include the parent's announcement, the name of graduate, the time, place, and date, and the degree that your child will receive. Additionally, write down if she's graduating with honors and announce any other kudos she'll receive or has accrued like National Honor Society, Study Abroad Cords or Golden Key.

2. Gather together the extra items that usually accompany a graduation announcement--graduation photos, the graduate's nameplate and instructions for getting to the after-graduation party, along with a map.

3. Open Microsoft Publisher.

4. Go to the "Greeting Card" option on the left-hand side of the menu that appears when you first open Publisher.

5. Select a design. Since you will change the textual information, it doesn't matter what the text says.

6. Double-click on the design you want.

7. Change the textual information that came with the Publisher template and replace it with the information you've written down. To do this, click on the text box until the text in the box becomes highlighted. Type your text in the box. Do this only on the inside boxes.

8. Complete all the inside boxes until you complete the information.

9. Save your work.

10. Print your invitations off on decorative card stock. Many different types of stock papers exist including ones that have colored flecks or faint designs. If you pick one of these papers, you've completed part of your design work already. The stock will enhance your design. Only print the inside of the invitation.

11. Glue your invitations onto the vellum paper with rubber cement. Let them dry according to the instructions on the rubber cement bottle.

12. Add eight photo corners to the inside of the invitation on place where you have no text. Stick the photo inside one set if four of them and the graduation name plate in the other set of four.

13. Fold the invitations once they've dried. Fold the party instructions inside the invitations.

14. Tie them closed with thin metallic ribbons. The ribbon should lie flat.

15. Insert the invitation in a fancy #10 envelope and address it.

Make Your Own Name Sign For A Cottage

Exterior signs serve as decorations that can display the name (usually surname) of the residents of the home upon which they hang. These are often found on cottages, which can become even cozier and quainter when bearing a name sign. If you would like to have your own name sign for a cottage, you can make one with a few rudimentary tools.

Instructions

1. Select a shape, size and type of wood. Consider selecting a style of wood that will complement your cottage.

2. Draw the design for your name sign on a sheet of paper. You can form the letters of your name and add a family emblem or symbol as well.

3. Place a sheet of tracing paper on top of the wood, and place the paper with your design on it over the tracing paper. Transfer your name design onto the wood by tracing the lines of your design with a pen.

4. Place a bit onto the router; a plunge bit works nicely for creating letters. Turn the router on, allow it time to heat and begin tracing your name design slowly and steadily, burning it into the wood.

5. Cut a length of rope with which to hang your name sign. Staple each end of the rope to the back of the sign. Hang your sign on your cottage and enjoy.

Do Business Research For Designing Greeting Cards

A custom designed greeting card.

Starting a business designing your own line of greeting cards can be a fun, creative way to make money, but this is an industry that requires research in order to succeed. With so many greeting card brands and designers on the market, you need to introduce designs that are different, but that are also marketable.

Instructions

1. Visit greeting card stores and Web sites to see the top-selling designs. Take note of the style of design, the phrases used within, prices and the size of the cards.

2. Determine what niche of greeting cards you'd like to design. Choose a niche that is currently unfulfilled or underserved, such as divorce cards, cards for Latinos or cards to celebrate same-sex marriages.

3. Ask friends and family questions about greeting card preferences, such as whether they prefer colored envelopes, funny or somber messages and what they're willing to pay for greeting cards.

4. Launch a blog or Web site. Create polls for visitors with the same questions you asked your family and friends. As an incentive to fill out your polls and surveys, offer participants a chance to win a free greeting card once your start producing your designs.

5. Make sample greeting card designs. Ask friends, family and Web site visitors which styles they prefer. Be sure to offer samples that are noticeably different, not in similar styles.

6. Develop your greeting card line based on the results of your research. Price them in a range that is affordable, but provides a good profit.

Make Clay Animation Characters

Make Clay Animation Characters

Clay animation characters have an endearing homemade quality to them that seems to make people smile. Clay animation has been used for decades to create lovable animated characters on the big screen as well as television. Characters such as Wallace and Gromit and the California Raisins have been remembered for years. Creating these characters can be done very simply with a limited amount of clay, and you are free to add as many extra details as you see fit.

Instructions

1. Roll out two balls of clay for your simple clay animation character. Make a small ball about a fourth of the size of your palm for the head. Roll out another ball about half the size of your palm for the body. Knead the clay thoroughly to make sure that it is pliable and easy to shape.

2. Roll the head section of the clay into a tight, smooth ball. Do this by placing the ball in the palm of your hand and use a circular motion to create the smoothest ball you can.

3. Place the body section in between your palms and move your hands back and forth to create a cylinderlike shape. Make the top of the cylinder thinner than the base by applying more pressure to the top.

4. Place the round head of the character on top of the body that you have created. Pinch off three small pieces of clay and roll these in your hands like you did with the head. These will create the eyes and nose. Push the two eyes into the front of the head near the top. Push the nose into the face just below and between the eyes. Using a toothpick, create the pupils on the clay character's eyes by making a small dot in the center of the eye.

5. Create the nostrils on the nose by pressing the toothpick up into the bottom of the nose and rolling the toothpick around. Cut a smile into the character using an Xacto knife. Run a curved line across the face just under the nose with the knife to create the smile. Add dimples with toothpick pokes at the left and right sides of the smile with your toothpick.

6. Roll out two small cone shapes and place these on the left and right sides of the body to create arms. Roll out two small flat squares about half the size of the eyeballs to create eyelids. Lay these over the top of each eye.

7. Pose your character in a well lighted area and place a digital camera in front of the character. You can create animation with the character by moving the character slightly, snapping a picture and then moving the character a little more. These photos can be imported into a program like iMovie or Movie Magic and animated by rapidly displaying one image after another.

Make A Network Diagram

Network diagrams give you a bird's eye view of complicated relationships.

A network diagram illustrates the relationships between different objects. In personal finance or business, for example, a network diagram can give you a bird's eye view of income sources and expenditures. Network diagrams can be drawn on paper with a pencil, or with project management software like Microsoft Visio. Microsoft Excel also has the tools you need to make a professional-looking network diagram.

Instructions

Preparation

1. Make a list of all of the components in your network. For example, a network diagram of your personal finances would include your checking account and savings account, all revenue sources and all expenditures. In a network diagram of a sales process, components could be the sale itself, as well as everything before and after the sale, ranging from advertising and prospecting to product delivery and repair services.

2. Identify the focus of your diagram. If it's a diagram of your personal finances, this could be one of your bank accounts. In a sales diagram, it could be the sale itself.

3. Identify all of the components leading to the focus of your diagram and then all of the components leading from it. This helps you determine where you will be placing the components in the diagram. You can now draw the network on paper or use a program like Microsoft Excel.

Drawing a Network Diagram in Excel

4. Launch Microsoft Excel and open a blank workbook. Select "Shapes" in the Illustrations group of the Insert tab. Select a shape, such as a rectangle.

5. Select a place to put the focus component of the diagram. While the focus is often placed in the middle of the diagram, if you have 12 components leading to it and only two leading out from it, it's better to put the focus on the right or bottom of the worksheet.

6. Drag the mouse over the workbook where you want the focus component of the diagram to be. Make the shape large enough so you can later add a text box over it.

7. Add the additional components to the diagram using the Shape tool. Consider using similar shapes for similar components. Expenditures, for example, could be squares and revenue could be circles.

8. Connect components to those that come before or after it using connector lines. Select "Shapes" from the Insert tab and right-click a connector. Select "Lock Drawing Mode." When you click two shapes, the line automatically connects them.

9. Insert a text box to describe each component. In Excel, select "Text Box" in the Text group of the Insert tab. Drag the mouse over the shape in your diagram to create the text box. You can edit the font size, color and style in the Font group of the Home tab.

Do A Political Cartoon For Kids

Politics can often be a difficult subject for kids to grasp. This is why it is important to present political events and figures to them in a manner that they understand. Kids learn well through visual mediums, so transforming the lesson into cartoon form is something that will capture their attention and stay with them. A political cartoon for kids can be created in just a few steps.

Instructions

1. Determine the political situation you want to depict. This may be something that is currently making headlines, or even an event that took place long ago that has affected today's society.

2. Simplify the situation into five to 10 scenes. Take a piece of paper and write the numbers 1 through 10 in the columns. Then write short sentences describing individual aspects of the event beside each number. Don't include anything overly complicated. Instead, make each scene relevant to the child or group's language and experience level, while adding humor whenever possible.

3. Use a ruler to create square boxes, side by side, for each scene on a blank sheet of paper.

4. Draw the cartoon, placing each scene from your list into a new box. You can do this using ink to create the initial outlines, and then color the figures in with colored pencils, crayons or paints.

5. Write the captions from your initial list underneath the image boxes. You may also choose not to include captions, allowing the images to speak for themselves if they are simple and clear enough.

Make Christmas Mobiles

With some effort and planning, you can make a Christmas mobile.

Mobiles are hanging, movable sculptures of either figures, objects or designs. Mobiles tend to be a series of tiered wires, strings and sculptures that uses chimes, ornaments, cutouts or anything a person wishes to hang. Mobiles are hung where they can move and turn, often where they catch a breeze or light. While mobiles can be complex, you can use the idea to make a beautiful, yet simple mobile with your family to be enjoyed during the Christmas season.

Instructions

1. Choose a plain wire hanger. Make sure the hanger wire is a heavyweight gauge wire that doesn't twist or bend easily. Choose a hanger that will not twist out of shape once you hang your designs on the wire.

2. Purchase red and green ribbon. Twist the red and green ribbon together. With tape, secure the ribbon at the end of the hanger hook. Start twisting the combined ribbon around the hook and down to where the neck divides. Twist the ribbon around the body of the hanger. You'll end back at the base of the neck of the hanger. Twist it around the neck a couple of times, secure it, and cut off the rest of the ribbon. You now have a hanger covered in Christmas red and green ribbon.

3. Plan what figures or designs will hang from your mobile. Make sure you have supplies on hand to make the designs. This may include paper, card stock, glue and/or tape, crayons, markers or paint, scissors, and a place to work. You will also need thin, flexible wire such as fishing line, thick string or yarn to hang the designs you create.

4. Find Christmas illustrations for whatever theme you choose. You and your family can also draw and color your own Christmas designs. If you create your own, do so on card stock and use both sides. Size them for your mobile. Print out two copies of each design you use from other sources. Cut out your designs. Paste your figures or designs on card stock with one copy on each side. Cut away what you do not wish as part of the design.

5. Create a Nativity mobile. Find graphics or illustrations of the manger, Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus and shepherds. You may wish to add an illustration of a sheep, a cow and a star as well. Decide how large you wish each figure to be. Attach on each side of the hanger a star on the top of the hanger with the manger sized to cover the body of the hanger. Since you'll be attaching these to the ribbon, use fabric glue or instant glue. Do not attach the manger to the bottom of the hanger, since each Nativity figure hangs from the bottom hanger wire. Decide how many figures you can hang without the mobile looking crowded. You can vary the length of the wire so the main figures hang close to the hanger, while other figures such as shepherds hang farther down on longer cords.

6. Hang your designs. Punch holes toward the top of your designs or figures. Fasten the cord, string, yarn or wire to both the designs and to the place on the hanger where you wish them to hang. As an example, on a Nativity mobile, baby Jesus should hang in the middle, close to the hanger, with Mary and Joseph on each side. Once you've attached all your figures or designs, find a place to hang your Christmas hanger mobile where it will catch a breeze and turn gently. You can even hang the whole hanger from a wire so the whole hanger turns.

Do An Envelope Prank

Do an envelope prank to startle your friends or coworkers. Watch them jump when they open the envelope and it vibrates. It’s a fun prank for kids to play on each other because it’s easy to do--the things you need should be right at home. Follow these steps to do an envelope prank.

Instructions

1. Label the front of an envelope with the name of the person you want to prank or a clever phrase like “Rattlesnake Eggs.” The object is to pique someone’s interest enough that they want to open the envelope.

2. Unbend the large paper clip or piece of thick wire. Bend it into any shape that will hold the rubber band taut when you string it between the two ends of the wire. You can have the middle side of the wire or unbent paper clip straight with the two ends pointed in the same direction or the whole wire bent into a crescent shape.

3. String the rubber band across the two ends of the wire. If the rubber band isn’t taut enough, get a smaller rubber band or adjust the wire so the two ends are farther apart, pulling the rubber band tighter.

4. Slide the small paper clip over both sides of the rubber band. The rubber band should be going through the middle part of the small paper clip.

5. Spin the paper clip around as many times as you can without making the wire collapse. The rubber band should look twisted.

6. Hold the paper clip in place and set the contraption inside of an envelope. The sides of the envelope should be strong enough to hold the paper clip in place after you close the envelope. If the aren’t, you need to find a stronger envelope.

7. Close the flap on the envelope, but don’t seal it. Set it with the label facing up in an area where your target person will be likely to pick it up.

8. See the shocked look on your target’s face when he opens the envelope. The paper clip spins at a high rate of speed making the envelope vibrate and creating a fluttering sound.

Make Your Own Anime Icons

Anime image in Paraben's Icon Builder

The term "anime" describes the style of animation that comes out of Japan. Among the style's many features are a depth of characterization and realism that you usually find only in real-life films and TV series. Anime has produced many characters from cute to horrific that are perfect for use as computer icons.

Instructions

Preparing the Image

1. Search the Internet for the image of an anime character you would like to use. Look for a picture that is bold and simple, with an uncluttered background and not too much detail. Find a smaller graphic since it must look good shrunk down to the size of a desktop icon. Download this picture and set it aside.

2. Open the picture in Photoshop. Create a square selection around that part of the image that you want to use as an icon. (In many art programs, you can constrain a selection tool into a square by pressing the Shift key as you select.) Crop the image to the size of the selection.

3. Adjust the image as needed by deleting a distracting background or removing unimportant details. Increase the contrast slightly so the colors will become bolder and brighter. Save the new picture.

Making the Icon

4. Download an icon-making program such as Paraben's Icon Builder, which is available from the link under "Resources." Install and run the software to display the main window.

5. Open the new picture by choosing the "Open" option from the "File" menu. The image appears on the drawing canvas.

6. Use the drawing tools to adjust the picture as needed.

7. Resize the canvas by choosing the Icon option from the "Size Menu" and then specifying the dimensions like "32 x 32." The canvas resizes and pixelates the image as needed.

8. Reduce the colors by clicking the "Colors" menu and then choosing "Reduce Colors" to display the "Color Reduction" dialogue. Move the "Colors" slider to the far right until the value says 256. Then click the "Reduce the Colors Now" button. The dialogue shows previews of the final icon using several dithering options.

9. Select a preview and then click the "OK" button to return to the main window.

10. Choose "Save As" from the "File" menu to display the "Save" dialogue. Make sure the file type is "Icon (*.ico)." Enter a title and click the "Save" button to save your creation.

Applying the icon

11. Apply the anime icon by right-clicking on the icon you want to change and then choosing "Properties" to display the "Properties" dialogue.

12. Click the "Change Icon" button and then browse to the anime icon. (If the "Properties" dialogue does not show a "Change Icon" button, convert the icon to be changed into a shortcut first.)

13. Double-click your created icon to apply it.

Make Cartoon Books

Animate cartoons with the flip of a page.

Making cartoon books is a fun and easy way to explore your artistic side by creating small moving scenes using "flip" or "flick" animation. No special equipment is required. A series of drawings, each one slightly different than the next, are made on the pages of a store-bought or homemade pad of paper. When the pages are turned rapidly, the drawings look like one moving picture. Cartoon book projects can provide hours of enjoyment for the entire family.

Instructions

1. Decide what you want to draw. Choose anything you like. Keep your cartoon fairly simple.

2. Go to the last page in the notepad. Sketch your first image on the bottom half of the front of the page.

3. Turn the page before and lay it atop your sketch. Trace the parts of your first sketch that don't move onto the front of the new page. Sketch all other lines in your drawing moved over slightly in the direction that you wish to go.

4. Repeat Steps 2 and 3 until you reach the end of your sketched cartoon. Flip through the book (from back to front) to see that the animation moves the way you like. Make any adjustments desired.

5. Clean up your sketches and darken the lines. Work from the first drawing in your cartoon to the last. Use pencil or pen.

6. Flip through your finished cartoon book.

Make Nachos From Polymer Clay

Make nachos from polymer clay.

Polymer clay is a maleable clay used by artists to create sculptures. It is available in a wide variety of colors, which, like paint, can be blended together to make new ones. The clay hardens at low temperatures so it can be used at home for craft projects. You can simply pop the polymer clay in the oven. Making nachos is a fun project to practice using this plastic clay. All you need is red, green and yellow clay and a craft knife.

Instructions

1. Roll out the yellow polymer clay using the rolling pin. Roll it until it is approximately one-fifth-inch thick; you can increase or decrease this depending on how thick you want you the nachos to be.

2. Cut out triangular shapes for the nachos. You can do this freehand to give each nachos a slightly different shape and size. Nachos are not uniform in real life. So long as you have a steady hand, cut out the triangles yourself. The nachos should measure about 1 1/2 inches along each side. You can also make mini-nachos; simply cut out smaller shapes.

3. Layer the nachos on top of one another on the surface you want to display them on --- for example, a plate. Layer them in a disorderly fashion, just as if the nachos have been poured from the packet onto a plate.

4. Use the rolling pin to roll out the red, green and brown polymer clay. Cut up small squares of each of these colors and sprinkle them on top of the nachos to represent tomato, avocado and olives, respectively.

5. Fire the polymer clay nachos. Heat up your oven to 210 degrees Fahrenheit, and place the plate of nachos in the heat. Leave the clay in the oven for up to 20 minutes, or until the clay has hardened. This timing is based on nachos with a quarter-inch thickness.

Make Candle Boil Bags

You can melt candle wax more efficiently by using a boil bag.

If you regularly burn candles, then you know how often you have remnants of old candles that are no longer big enough to be burned. Instead of tossing these candle pieces away, you can recycle the wax pieces by melting them down to make new candles. One way to do this is to use a boil bag, which sits in boiling water that will melt the wax chunks inside the bag.

Instructions

1. Cut up used candles into 1-inch chunks. Discard any used wicks.

2. Place the wax chunks into a heavy duty plastic freezer bag. Tie the top of the bag loosely with a rubber band.

3. Fill a pot with water, and place the bag inside the water.

4. Boil the bag over medium heat until the wax completely melts.

5. Place weighted wicks inside the candle molds you are going to use.

6. Tape the rubber band off of the plastic bag, and pour the melted wax into the candle molds until they are nearly full.

7. Allow the wax to cool completely before using the candles.

Draw A Carved Pumpkin

Carved pumpkin faces can be silly or dramatic.

Carved pumpkins are just as fun to draw as they are to carve. The bulbous contours of the pumpkin combined with the endless variety of expressions to bestow upon it make for an exciting drawing experience. You can learn to draw carved pumpkins by following this step-by-step method.

Instructions

1. Sketch a large outline of the pumpkin. The outline of the pumpkin should be wider than it is tall, so the top and bottom have flat surfaces. Use only a pencil for Steps 1 through 4.

2. Outline the stem centered on top. Make its shape slightly arced toward one side. The stem thins as it get further from the pumpkin.

3. Draw the face on the pumpkin. Start by drawing the eyes. They can be simple and round or complex with articulate contours. Each eye can be different. For example, one can be closed or larger than the other. Next draw the mouth. It can be a wide smile with two simple curved lines. You can also add teeth that are square like incisors or pointed and fierce like those of a shark. Draw the nose. It can be a simple triangle or it can be complex with holes for each nostril. You can make it straight, curved or sideways. Be playful and draw lightly so you can erase and experiment with all of these shapes.

4. Draw the contours of the pumpkin. Pumpkins have repeating indentions around the outside. Draw these curves around the pumpkin's surface, leaving gaps where the shapes of its face are carved out. Each curve arcs from the top center of the pumpkin outward and down, and then back toward the center of the bottom.

5. Draw shadows and color. If your pumpkin is illuminated from the inside like a jack o'lantern, the whole outside may be in darkness. Use the black charcoal crayon to shade large areas of black. If there is light outside the pumpkin, draw some subtle shades of black in each rim around the surface. If the pumpkin is not illuminated from the inside, shade in the carved shapes in black. Use the orange pastel or colored pencil to color the remaining outer surface of the pumpkin. Use your finger to smudge gray lines on the stem to indicate its texture.