Mount Posters On Canvas

Artwork is always a great way to add spice to your home. It is also makes a fabulous gift for others. Usually very costly, you can now spend little money and time creating an even more personal and meaningful work of art. Using posters to create a lavish piece of art is an easy and budget-friendly way of going about it. Follow these steps to make your own signature piece.

Instructions

1. Choose a poster that will best fit the decor of the room you will be displaying your new work of art. After selecting a poster, you need to choose a canvas. It is best to use a canvas of similar size to the poster, so that the whole image may be displayed.

2. Cut the poster into shape. It is best that the poster fits perfectly onto the front of the canvas without folding over to the sides or leaving any canvas on the front still revealed. The easiest way of going about cutting the poster is tracing. Face the poster down on top of the canvas, and very lightly with a pencil, trace the edges of the canvas onto the back of the poster, resulting in clean cut lines.

3. Adhere the poster on to the canvas. With a large paint brush, cover the entire canvas with a clear gloss paint. It is important to use long strokes while doing this, as well as using a thin layer of paint. This coat is basically used as glue. When the paint is almost dry, yet still feels sticky, you then place the poster onto the front of the canvas. It is easiest to start with one corner and slowly smooth the poster across the canvas. When the poster is settled in and dry enough so that it won't easily slide around the surface you then need to check the edges. Make sure all of the edges are smooth. If there are any rough edges left over, carefully cut or peel them off.

4. Once the front of the canvas is completely dry, paint the remaining sides of the canvas with colored paint. Choose a color that best matches the dominant color of the poster. Paint all four sides of the canvas with the color you have chosen, while making sure not to paint over onto the poster. Wait for the paint to completely dry before moving on to the next and final step.

5. Add the final touch. Very softly, as to not rip the poster, cover the entire canvas once again with a clear gloss paint--including the sides. This brings everything together, adding a lavish touch, as well as a dust- and water-resistant cover for your art.

Mount A Lithograph

The art of mounting a lithograph is generally performed by professional custom framers. It is done to conserve the artwork and its value and to prepare the artwork for framing. Mounting a lithograph will keep the art flat and hold it in place during the framing process, and it will remove wrinkles or creases prior to framing.

Instructions

1. Switch on the heat press and the tacking iron. The lights on the press will turn on, letting you know the press is now heating up. Depending on the type of artwork you are mounting, you will need to know the desired temperature to heat press the art. Consult the instructions on the packaging for the adhesive paper for the correct temperature, then set the dial appropriately.

2. Cut the foam board so that it is larger than the artwork, then place adhesive paper directly on the foam board (mounting surface). With your tacking iron, tack the adhesive paper at the top corners where it is placed on the foam board. That will prevent the paper from slipping beneath the artwork during the mounting process. Place your artwork, right side up, over the adhesive paper so that the entire surface underneath the artwork is evenly placed with the adhesive paper, which will ensure evenly mounted artwork. With your release paper placed over the artwork, use the tacking iron to gently tack the lower corners of the artwork to the adhesive paper. Keep the release paper over the artwork.

3. Cut a piece of kraft paper so that when it is folded over, it will hold the assembled pieces without anything sticking out at corners or sides. Once your artwork is enfolded in the kraft paper, place the entire piece in the heat press.

4. Close the heat press and apply appropriate time and pressure. Consult the instructions of the adhesive packaging for correct time and pressure. The time involved is called dwell time and it is generally 30 to 45 seconds. Once the time is up, open the press and remove the art from the kraft paper and release paper. Let the artwork cool for a minute or two. Done properly, your artwork will mount flawlessly, with no air pockets.

Make Your Own Wooden Kaleidoscope

A child cannot resist the mystery of the kaleidoscope.

When you were a child, the mystery and fascination of the changing colors in the kaleidoscope captured your imagination for hours. Imagine making a wooden kaleidoscope to pass on to the youngsters in your life today. It would even be fun to include the children in the building process after you have the wood cut to size.

This is a project that can be made with minimal material expense, but you will need a table saw with an adjustable blade angle.

Instructions

1. Cut a piece of wood long enough to get three equal lengths to make the kaleidoscope. Add one inch to allow for the thickness of the cuts.

2. Tilt the table saw blade 30 degrees away from the fence. Set the fence distance so that the top edge of the board just touches the blade. Make a 30-degree cut the length of the board. Turn the board around so the same surface is against the bed of the table saw. Cut a 30-degree angle along the length of the second side.

3. Cut three equal lengths from the board. Temporarily put them together to form a triangular tube using rubber bands.

4. Measure one side of the tube. Use that measurement to make a flat equilateral triangle for the eye piece. Use the fine-toothed handsaw to cut the 60-degree angles needed for the triangle.Test the fit to be sure that it covers the end so you have a surface for the wood adhesive. Drill a 1/4-inch hole in the center and set it aside.

5. Take the rubber bands off the tube and measure the inside width of one of the sides. Cut three strips of reflective contact paper to size and adhere them to the inside of each board. Remove the protective covering from the reflective side of the contact paper.

6. Put wood adhesive on the angles and join the pieces to form a triangle. Wrap the tube tightly with blue masking tape to secure it while the glue dries. Glue the eye piece on one end, and allow everything to dry overnight.

7. Pour sequins and small beads onto a frosted plastic lid that is slightly larger than the end of the tube. Use only enough to form a single layer loosely covering about 3/4 of the surface.

8. Cut a circle from a clear-plastic lid the size of the inner diameter of the frosted lid. Place it in over the beads lightly so they can move under the lid. Apply rubber cement around the inner edge of the frosted lid to adhere the clear plastic in place. Allow to dry.

9. Put rubber cement on the open end of the triangular tube. Press the lid container onto the glued area with the clear side against the tube. Allow to dry completely.

10. Rotate the tube as you look through it and watch the movement of the beads and sequins forming images on the reflective inner surface.

Mold Plexiglass

Plexiglass is used to replace broken windshields or windows.

The chemical name of plexiglass is polymethyl methacrylate, also known as methacrylic acid. In 1931, the United States began manufacturing acrylic resin to coat industrial machines and glass binders. Five years later, this resin was formed into a transparent sheet, and the acrylic era began. These acrylic sheets served as a useful bullet-resistant glazing on fighter planes during World War II, as it was light, strong and easily molded onto the skin of the aircraft. Plexiglass is unrivaled in its ability to withstand the weather and is unmatched by any other plastic glazing. In modern times, plexiglass is used for skylights, replacement windshields, protective blast shielding and bulletproof windows.

Instructions

Cold Forming

1. Force the plexiglass into the desired shape. Note that the minimum radius of the bend you create is 180 times the thickness of the plexiglass sheet. For instance, the smallest complete circle you could form with a sheet of plexiglass 1/32 inch thick would have a radius of 5.6 inches. Attempting to create a smaller radius would snap the sheet.

2. Secure the plexiglass in place with round head wood screws.

3. Try heat forming for a more permanent and flexible method of plexiglass molding.

Heat Forming

4. Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F.

5. Place a plexiglass sheet on large pan and place on the middle oven rack. The large pan prevents the plexiglass from coming into contact with the hot rack, which can distort the plexiglass due to uneven heating.

6. Heat for approximately five minutes.

7. Pull the pan out of the oven with the cotton gloves. The heated plexiglass is now ready for molding.

8. Mold the plexiglass into the desired shape. Work quickly as the plexiglass will become less malleable as it cools.

9. Place your plexiglass in the refrigerator to set the shape. You can repeat this process as many times as needed.

Mold Fiberglass

Vacuum Resin Transfer Molding (VRTM)

The article will explain mold fiberglass for personal projects.

Instructions

1. First, gather all your materials. Fiberglass cloth and resin can be purchased locally from most marine supply shops. Material can also be purchased on the internet from fiberglass supply companies.

2. Decide on what weight fiberglass and resin you want to use. If you are molding a structural component, then heavier fiberglass cloth should be used. Talk to your material supplier for advice, they are usually very helpful.

3. There are many methods of molding fiberglass. Shown above is vacuum molding which is more advanced. For beginners, use the method called "hand lamination."

4. Hand lamination is conducted by first draping the fiberglass around what you are wanting to mold.

5. Next, mix up resin and apply it by using a paint brush and use a plastic squeegee (much like a credit card) to remove excess resin.

6. Finally, let the resin fully set for 24hrs, then finish sand using a high grit sandpaper.

Mix Acrylic Paints For An Airbrush

Airbrushing with acrylic paint is extremely versatile as acrylics are available in both opaque and transparent forms. Acrylic paint is very safe to use. It is water-based and does not have fumes or an odor making it safe to use indoors with little ventilation. Using acrylics the artist can render a variety of textures and layering, giving their work depth and clarity. Mixing acrylics for airbrushing will be easy if you follow a few simple steps.

Instructions

Preparing to Airbrush Using Acrylic Paint

1. Purchasing acrylic paint specifically made for airbrushing is the easiest, most concise method of acrylic airbrushing. Usually, these types of acrylics have acrylic airbrush thinner included with them, or readily available where airbrush acrylic is sold. Simply mix according to the brand's instructions, which are included in the package, to achieve the look you want.

2. Thin acrylic paint with water, using a 50-50 mixture of water to acrylic paint. Be sure to mix well. To achieve this, shake well by placing the mixture in a tightly lidded container and shaking briskly for a few minutes, or place mixture in a large measuring cup and whip with a mini whisk (available in the house-wares section of department stores).

3. Use rubbing alcohol or Windex to thin acrylic craft paint (available at hobby stores, WalMart, and craft shops) are inexpensive (as little as 77 cents per bottle) and can also be used effectively for airbrushing. Simply thin with a 50-50 mixture of rubbing alcohol or Windex (reported to make the paint stick better), and spray through the airbrush.

Melt Plexiglass

Clear and durable Plexiglas can be formed with heat.

Plexiglas (very commonly misspelled "Plexiglass") is a clear polymer often used to make windows and skylights. It is a thermoplastic, meaning that it softens when exposed to heat. Plexiglas objects are made when sheets of it are heated until soft enough to form shapes using compressed air, vacuum pumps or manual force. The method of melting you choose largely depends on the type of shape that you wish to form the Plexiglas into. Simple bends and curves don't require the whole sheet to be heated, but do require the same high temperatures.

Instructions

1. Place a piece of Plexiglas in an oven and heat it to its forming temperature. That temperature differs depending on whether you are using Plexiglas G or MC (the two basic types of Plexiglas) and on what type of forming you need to do. You can form Plexiglas G two-dimensionally at between 290 and 310 degrees, while Plexiglas MC needs only 275 to 290 degrees for the same process. Three-dimensional forming needs a temperature of of 350 degrees for Plexiglas G and 325 for Plexiglas MC. Heating beyond these temperatures will fully melt the Plexiglas, but will prevent it from re-forming with its full strength and clarity.

2. Melt a small area of Plexiglas over a strip heater. This is a single long heating element used to heat a line along a piece of Plexiglas. The piece can then be bent along the softened line before being left to cool. This technique is only really useful for bends shorter than 24 inches; beyond that there will be a tendency for the bends to take on a bowed shape. The temperatures required are the same as when the Plexiglas is melted in an oven.

3. Form the melted Plexiglas quickly into the shape you want. The forming needs to be completed before it cools down below 275 degrees; the time taken for this cooling depends on the thickness of the material, but is generally less than two minutes.

4. Allow the Plexiglas to cool slowly. If you are melting the Plexiglas in or over a form, don't try and remove it until it cools to a temperature of between 150 and 170 degrees. It should, however, be removed from any form or support before it cools entirely; not doing so risks cracking the Plexiglas as it contracts.

Melt Color Crayons To Make Candles

Melt Color Crayons to Make Candles

Crayons are a great source of wax for homemade candles and other crafts. They are available in an array of colors and can be used alone or together with uncolored paraffin as a tinting agent. Nearly everyone with a crayon collection has some old, broken pieces that are no longer suitable for children's use. Melting the crayons to make or color homemade candles is a great way to recycle.

Instructions

Preparing the Crayons

1. Collect a large number of crayon pieces and bits. Use the stubby ends that are no longer suitable for coloring projects.

2. Sort the crayon pieces into separate colors. These can be based on broad categories, such as red, blue and green, or finer distinctions, such as dark and light versions of each color.

3. Remove the paper wrappers. If these do not peel off easily, then slit them with a knife or sharp blade.

Melt the Crayons

4. Prepare in advance wicks or other candle-making supplies. Cut strings to the desired wick length.

5. Set up a heat source, such as a stove, camp stove or campfire. According to the Crayola Company, a leading manufacturer of crayons, its product melts between 128 and 147 degrees F, so the temperature of your heat source should be around 150 degrees F.

6. Put the crayons in a metal container. Be sure to sort the crayons into color groups, because melting the colors collectively will yield a brownish color.

7. Heat the crayons in the metal container on a stove, camp stove or campfire. Stir carefully as the wax melts. Remove from the heat when all pieces are melted.

Make Candles

8. Tie a weight to one end of the wick string. Tie the pencil to the other end of the wick string.

9. Hold the pencil and dip the weighted string into the hot wax. Dip slowly and repeatedly. The wax will stick to the string, gradually forming a layer.

10. Allow the wax to congeal slightly, then resume dipping to add a new layer. Use different colors as desired.

11. Cut the weight from the bottom and press the finished candle onto a hard, smooth surface while the wax is soft to form a flat base. Do any other desired shaping at this time.

12. Allow the candle to harden completely (preferably overnight or longer) before moving it. The wax should be cool and firm to the touch before moving the candle.

Meet Someone Online

Find your special someone somewhere you never imagined possible!

Are you tired of the dating scene? Are you ready to find serious guys to seriously consider dating? Have you considered looking online? While it can be a scary task talking to strangers online, here are some tips in helping you meet someone online.

Instructions

Meet Someone Online

1. Browse your options. You first want to filter through all the dating sites until you find one you like and that has good reviews and ratings. See what other people say about it, but don't base your decision solely on that.

2. Set up an account. There are plenty of free dating sites that let you set up an account for free. You have the option of having a private profile or public profile. You might consider starting public at first until you meet a few potential people.

3. See who's out there. After you set up your account, browse all the profiles. You can usually choose many different search options; age, sex, race, etc. This helps narrow down who you are looking for.

4. Be open. Try not to go for who you think is 'your type.' Sometimes it's the ones you never imagined talking to or enjoying their company, that make the best impression on you.

5. Be safe. Never give out your real full name or address or any personal information. While you may think it could never happen to you, there are definitely people to be weary of all over the world, especially online.

6. Be yourself. Just because they cannot see you in person or talk to you in person, does not mean you should pretend to be someone you are not. Remember you're trying to find someone you fit with. You want them to enjoy the real you and appreciate who you really are.

7. Talk for awhile before meeting in person. When you decide to meet in person, make it a public place and bring along a friend if that makes you more comfortable. Never meet someone for the first time alone in a private place. Take precautions because it's your life we're talking about!

Measure The Height For Embossing On Paper

Wedding invitations are commonly embossed.

Embossing refers to the art of raising parts of paper so that it looks and feels three-dimensional. Invitations, napkins and greeting cards are examples of items that are sometimes embossed. Embossing is done with a die, which is similar to a stamp, and allows you to get an evenly embossed pattern. This is important for items that need to look the same, such as wedding invitations. An item's embossing height varies depending on the type and thickness of the paper and refers to how far the pattern is raised from the paper. Choosing the right height is important because it prevents the embossed area from being too deep or too shallow, which alters the look of the design.

Instructions

1. Find out the weight of the paper you want to emboss. This information is typically located on the package. A light weight paper, under .010 inches, will require a more shallow die than heavy card stock type paper, which needs a deeper die to press the pattern to a height that can be seen and felt on the paper. Heavier paper is between .020 and .030 inches.

2. Feel the paper to determine if it is coated. An example of coated papers is glossy photo paper. Embossing on coated paper requires a shallow die because a deep one could cause the pattern to crack. Plain paper is safe to emboss with a deeper die because it is not as prone to damage as paper that is coated. The paper package will likely contain this information if you are unable to determine it by feel.

3. Decide how thick your embossed pattern will be. Thin patterns may not appear properly if you use a deep die. Words are often embossed using thin lines. Thicker patterns, such as a Christmas tree on a holiday greeting card, require a deeper die to ensure that the entire pattern is embossed evenly. For invitations and greeting cards, several dies may be needed for the different parts of the pattern.

Mc A Date Auction

The MC will hype the crowd up and get them motivated to bid.

Open the date auction event with a bang by telling a humorous joke or offering a witty comment to the audience as you introduce yourself as the Master of Ceremonies. According to the United Square Dancers of America, the MC sets the stage and pace of the program. The MC works on behalf of both the bidders and the organization by describing the attributes of each bachelor and bachelorette while encouraging bidders to go higher and higher in price to obtain the largest bid. In addition to playing matchmaker, the MC should be entertaining and amusing to keep the audience's attention.

Instructions

1. Fill out a short paragraph biography of each participant. The MC will want to let the crowd know who the person up for auction is, what they do, where they are from, their hobbies and interests and their idea of a perfect date. When the participant walks on stage, the MC will read the short biography to the crowd to entice bidding.

2. Set up a podium at the front of the room or on the stage. The podium should not be in the way of the bachelors and bachelorettes, but the MC will need to see each person during the auction. The MC will call the bachelor and bachelorettes on stage and read their biographies to the crowd.

3. Talk to the crowd before the first bachelor or bachelorette comes on stage. The MC will let the crowd know how they should bid, such as raising their hand, and what to do once they win the auction. Send people to their seats at five minutes before start time, in case there are any latecomers.

4. Announce the first bachelor or bachelorette and describe that person in detail. The MC should always be positive and upbeat to encourage bidders to increase their bids. Tell the crowd how wonderful the bachelor or bachelorette is and why they would want to go on a date with him or her. The MC is the person in charge of making the bachelor or bachelorette look like a dream date while raising money.

5. Close each auction with the highest bidder and announce the winner. Instruct the winning bidder where to go to pay his fees and to meet his date. Typically, there is a booth or separate room set up for bidders and dates to meet and exchange information. Talk with the coordinator of the auction prior to the beginning of the program to find out the location of where to send the winners.

6. Repeat the process of announcing the bachelors and bachelorettes until they all have dates set up.

Make Animated Icons On Gimp

Icons can also be animated.

If you are building a business site or a site that earns revenue from page hits, you want to ensure that you get as many repeat visits as possible. One way to make the site appealing is to use animated icons for navigation buttons. You might have thought that you would need to hire an expert using a complex and expensive graphics program to do this for you. But by using the freeware graphics program Gimp, you can quickly create you own professional-looking icon animation.

Instructions

1. Decide what type of animated icon you want. For example, you might want to have a "Home" button for your page that moves back and forth to catch the eye (although the principles shown here can be used for any animated icon). Storyboard out how you want the animation to look before you start working in Gimp.

2. Open Gimp. Select "File" and click "New." In the dialog that pops up, make the pixel width and height what you want for your icon. Click on the "Advanced Options" and make the "Fill With" "Transparent." Click "OK."

3. Select the "Text" tool and choose the font style, size and color your want for your button. Then type in your text.

4. Click on the "Duplicate" icon under the "Layers" panel to make as many layers as you want frames in the animation. Then select the "Move" tool to move the word in each layer to form a line that runs from one side to the other side and then back again.

5. Select "File" and click "Save." In the dialog that pops up, name the file, choose GIF as the file type, and click "Save." In the dialog that follows, choose "Save as Animation" and click "Export." Choose the duration for the frames and set the "Disposal" to "Replace." Click "Save."

Make A Comic Book Hero

How do they come up with those wonderful boys?

Comic book heroes are more than a bunch of neat super-powers held together by a human body. The best ones are fully-fleshed characters with goals and motivations, often moved by a bad guy's actions but always with internal conflicts and real-world problems as well. By creating your comic book hero properly, you can ensure your comic, story or game involving the character gets off to a great start.

Excelsior!

Instructions

1. Define your comic genre: spoof, comedic, traditional heroic, X-man style angst, horror or some other genre you have created yourself. You don't have to stick with this genre forever, but remember it is awkward to transition a character from one to another, as when Batman went from angst-driven super hero to Adam West camp.

2. Determine your character's theme. Superman, for instance, was literally more-than-man. Batman was a normal man whose obsession with destroying evil led him to remake himself physically and mentally into crime's nemesis. Spider-man was bitten by a spider and thus became spider-like. Your character's theme does not have to come out in every aspect of characterization, but he should at least have an appearance, origin and powers that are influenced by that theme.

3. Create an origin story. Read through a few comic books to get ideas, but don't copy anyone's idea too closely--in other words, a clever, wisecracking photographer being bitten by a radioactive cricket and becoming Cricket-man would only work in a spoof comic, and even there the idea would probably feel corny.

Use the origin story to define your character's powers or range of powers, as well as her appearance and super hero name. You can expand on powers later on as you develop the character through stories, but new powers should always be based on that origin and not chosen arbitrarily.

4. Develop your character's personality. Even the most blockheaded characters like The Hulk (green version) have personalities. Use your character's backstory, not origin, to develop most of the personality. The origin can be used to tweak the personality later.

In some cases, as in Wonder Woman, the origin and backstory are the same. That's fine. Just remember that in other cases, like The Hulk or Spider-Man, they are different, and when different, you must develop the personality using the backstory first and the origin second.

5. Draw an outline of your character's appearance, with notes to the side. You don't have to be a phenomenal artist to do this, though artistic ability helps; you just have to be careful and detailed. If he has a utility belt, say so and define what's in the belt. Define and describe capes, shoes, tights and other traditional super hero accoutrements.

6. Create your character visually. You are creating a comic book hero, not just any character. You will need a drawing to complete your creation.

If you don't draw well, find an artist who can draw your character for you. Comic artists are easy to turn up with a quick online search, and they hang out in droves at comic, gaming or science fiction conventions. Choose the right artist by asking to see a portfolio first; if you like her previous work, you'll probably like her conception of your character. Unless you are requesting work from an artist who works for one of the big companies like Marvel or Dark Horse Comics, you shouldn't have to pay more than $50 for a single character drawing in black and white. Color drawings will cost a bit more.

Make Zombie Makeup Without Latex

Aspiring zombies do not need to put heavy amounts of paint over their entire face.

The aesthetic transformation into another creature is one of the thrilling parts of Halloween. Revelers can apply elaborate makeup, including prosthetic pieces, to complete their transformation. However, they can achieve a similar effect through deft paint application and forgo the costly and tricky application of latex pieces altogether. Zombies are the undead. Therefore, the paint colors needed to recreate the look of a zombie are the colors of decomposing flesh --- green, gray, black, white and red.

Instructions

1. Wash your face or wipe it clean with a warm, damp washcloth. Makeup will adhere better if you apply it to clean, oil-free skin.

2. Lightly paint your face, including your lips, a shade of light gray or green as a base for the rest of the decoration. Apply the paint by dabbing, not wiping, the sponge or brush on your skin. This will make the paint look more realistic and uniform.

3. Paint bags under your eyes in dark gray or black. Apply the paint gradually at first. It is always easy to add more, but difficult to take any off and start again. Continue shading the area until you reach the desired intensity.

4. Add the same paint-shadowing anywhere else you want your face to appear hollow or saggy --- around your mouth, on your forehead or under your cheekbones.

5. Select a spot to create a gash. Paint a dark red line in that spot. Shadow around the dark red with lighter red (add a little pink or white paint to your original red face paint to make a lighter red) or pink, then white face paint. Alternatively, you may apply fake blood and let it run naturally down the face, or you can layer the two effects.

6. Add more gashes or cuts elsewhere on your face, according to how gruesome you want the final look to be.

Make A Collage With Text

Put that old stack of magazines to good use.

Eliminate the idea that only young children can create art projects, such as crafts or collages. People of all ages use these outlets to display their own personal styles, channel their creative energies and express their views about certain subjects. Use your collage as an opportunity for others to get to know more about you and your interests. No two collages are alike, so don't feel obligated to copy or imitate another person's style or ideas. If you're ready to make a collage, grab your materials and get started today.

Instructions

1. Create a list of themes and ideas to help you organize the collage. Choose a theme-based design or experiment with a freestyle approach. For example, if your focus is world peace, you could choose specific words or phrases, such as "love" or "hate-free" and add pictures that symbolize these words.

2. Pick the color and shade for the base of your collage. Choose strong, sturdy materials such as poster board or heavy card stock. Although you can select from a variety of background colors, when using text, often light colors and shades work best.

3. Cut out words or full or partial sentences from old books and magazines using scissors. Locate specific text in all shades, sizes and colors that relate to your theme. Leave the illusion of perfection at the door, as you don't need to cut the words out perfectly when creating a collage. Use the piece to express your personality and personal style.

4. Arrange the words in different positions around the paper. Experiment with different text placement. Make rows or shapes or arrange the text to form a larger word on the poster board. Use markers or colored pencils to draw pictures and add additional text. You can also use letter stencils to trace words and phrases.

5. Glue the text to the poster board using liquid glue or a glue stick. Items glued with a glue stick usually dry faster than liquid glue. Use sparingly to avoid glue smearing or running down the board.

6. Place the collage on a flat surface to air-dry. Allow it to dry for at least two to three hours or overnight, depending on the glue type.

Make A Drawing For An Avatar

An avatar is an illustration or a photograph that represents a person.

An avatar is a specialized image used online, most commonly in forums and chat rooms, and on websites where users are encouraged to leave feedback. An avatar is essentially a really small image that is created by a person to represent themselves. An avatar is similar to a logo in that it is meant to be an instantly recognizable symbol of that person, usually chosen because it in some way illustrates the character of the person it is meant to represent. Although some people draw their avatars, either on paper or in a computer drawing program, many people choose to use photographs and pre-existing images.

Instructions

On Paper

1. Draw a square on a sheet of paper. The square should be about one or two inches. Although you will be scanning this image and shrinking it down to the appropriate pixel size, you don't want to draw anything more complicated than could easily fit into a small box. This drawing cannot be particularly detailed because when the avatar is resized, the details will jumble the image without adding to it, so it's best to start with a realistically small sized drawing to begin with. At this time, you must also choose what your avatar will be. The avatar should represent you and the environment where it will be used. For example, if you're building an online portfolio for a home improvement forum, it would make sense to make your avatar into your favorite tool or into a house that looks like your own.

2. Draw the outline of the avatar with a pencil. Draw it lightly so you can erase it if you need to. Use smooth, graphic lines.

3. Draw any details in the avatar but keep the details to a minimum. If your drawing must include very small details to be successful, most likely you have chosen a subject too complex for an avatar.

4. Re-outline the avatar, this time with a graphic pen or permanent marker, to make a bold, dark line. Color in the outlines with smooth, bold colors. Use a colored pencil, ink, or permanent markers.

5. Scan the image when you've decided it is finished. You'll need to resize the image. Different websites allow different sized avatars, so you'll need to find out what the largest size your avatar could be. If you have Photoshop, click on "Image" then click on "Image Size". Type in the appropriate dimensions, and then click "ok".

Make Your Phone Call You Back As A Prank

Mobile phones have rapidly evolved, to do much more than just make calls.

A number of features and applications are available on mobile phones to aid their users. Some phones offer the fake call feature. This can be used either as a prank or to get you out of that unwanted conversation or meeting. As well as making the phone ring, you can even make it appear like you are taking the call by recording a voice playback to be played when you answer the fake call.

Instructions

1. Record a voice message to be played as the prank call. From the main menu enter the "Settings" menu. Click on "Application Settings." Click on "Call" and the "Fake Call" option. Select "Fake Call Voice." Under "Fake Call Voice" move the selection to "On." Select "Voice Recording" and press the record button to start recording. To finish recording, press the record button again and save the file.

2. Press and hold the volume down button on the side of the phone. There will be a short time delay so as not to arouse suspiciousness and then the phone will begin to ring.

3. Answer the phone. The prank voice message will begin to play. You can then make your excuses and step outside to take the call.

Make Your Own Word Art

Word art is a word processing tool that can be used in many projects. It is a beautiful way to pull together a scrapbooking page for digital scrapbooking, or to create an invitation or card on paper. While much of it is trial and error, there are several steps to get started.

Instructions

Making Word Art

1. The first step to making word art is to have a software program that has several different fonts and designs. While Microsoft Word will work, there are also many free software choices you can find for making word art.

2. Once you have your program open, you will need to choose the Word Art format. In Word software, to get to its WordArt option, go to the "Insert" menu, then choose "Picture," then "WordArt." Once you have chosen the WordArt tool, choose the design you want. Then the screen will show a text box. Choose the font and type size you want from the pulldown menu. In this example, type in the letter "L" and choose any font in a point size larger than 24. That letter will appear in the style you chose.

3. Now you will need to go back and choose "WordArt" again. A new text box will appear. Type in "ove" and pick a font and a size smaller than 16-point. These letters will appear in the style and size you chose.

4. Double clicking on the "ove" box will allow you to move it with your mouse. Move it towards the "L" in a position that you like. You have just created word art for "Love." You can now use the same steps to add a poem or create a sentence. You can play with font colors, shading, or other tools that your software provides to create your own word art embellishments.

5. Finally, save your creation to your computer so that you can use it when you are ready. You will be able to open it into your scrapbooking page or print it out as needed.

Make A Clay & Metal Sculpture

Any art that combines two or more materials that ordinarily are not combined is called a "mixed media" piece. Mixed media sculpture that involves clay must be carefully planned in advance. The clay portion of the piece must be prepared before the sculpture is created, because the clay needs to be fired in a kiln. If metal is fired in a kiln with the clay, the metal will be destroyed.

Instructions

1. Plan your sculpture by making sketches of your final product. Determine what parts of the sculpture will be metal and what parts will be clay.

2. Form the clay parts of the sculpture, remembering that you cannot put metal into a kiln. Any clay parts of the sculpture that you form around a metal piece must be detached from the metal for the firing process.

3. Allow the clay to dry, then fire the clay in the kiln.

4. Glaze or paint the clay. Fire it again as needed.

5. Attach the fired clay to the metal parts and assemble the sculpture. If you have used an adhesive to join the clay and metal parts, allow the glue to dry.

6. Paint or decorate the rest of the sculpture. Before you declare your sculpture to be complete, examine the elements of color, form and balance in your sculpture. Make changes or alterations as necessary.

Emboss Metal Stamps

Stamp your design.

Embossing involves raising the surface of a thin sheet of paper, plastic or metal. Stamps make embossing easier to accomplish. If you have a stamp design you wish to replicate, you can emboss a blank stamp with the stamp design. When you emboss a thin metal sheet, it raises the surface of the metal. This new surface can act as a stamp by absorbing a small amount of ink. This stamp will not create as clear a design or last as long as a traditional stamp, but it will still produce an image.

Instructions

1. Lay a large sheet of cardboard on your table.

2. Trace a simple image that you wish to turn into a stamp, onto tracing paper, then tape that image onto your blank piece of metal.

3. Place a dull pencil on the edge of the stamp design. Trace over the image, pressing hard enough to transfer the image onto the metal.

4. Trace along the design a second time. This will raise the metal further. Flip the metal over, and---using the dull end of a spoon---go over the inside of the image, being careful not to press on the lines that you just traced. This forces the metal image to pop out from the metal, and helps create the three-dimensional effect, when stamping.

5. Pull the embossing metal off the cardboard. Turn it over and affix the metal onto the blank stamp aperture via double-sided tape or glue. Dip the stamp in ink, and press it onto a piece of paper.

Make Your Own Raised Letterhead Paper

Ordinary paper is made stylish with embossed letterheads.

Raised letterheads are referred to as embossed letterheads. Once a thing of luxury for businesses and connoisseurs of fine stationary, embossed letterheads are now a paper embellishment requiring only a squeeze of the hand. Hand-held embossing tools are available with your name and address pre-set on a die within the tool; or purchase an embosser tool that allows you to switch embossing dies such as monograms or seasonal images. Hand-held tools that create raised letterheads are available at stationary, office supply, scrapbook and craft stores.

Instructions

1. Choose paper appropriate to the intended use. Heavier weight papers in half sheet sizes are for personal correspondence and are accentuated by the beauty of a raised letterhead. Likewise, standard computer printer paper takes on a polished, formal air when embossed with a letterhead.

2. Slide the paper between the two sections of the embossing tool. A hand-held embosser consist of two halves. One half contains a die, usually made of varying types of metal, and the other half of the tool contains a receiving platform, usually coated or covered with a rubber, gel or other type of material. Most raised letterheads are centered about one inch down from the top edge of the paper.

3. Squeeze the handle or push on the handle like a stapler, depending on the style and design of the embosser you are using. Hold the paper steady, and then carefully release the tool.

4. Slide the paper from the tool. Your paper now has a raised letterhead.

Make Your Own Pool Signs

Rules and information keep people safe in the water.

Swimming pools offer backyard fun and relaxation throughout the summer months. However, that fun can turn to tragedy in an instant when safety isn't taken seriously. According to the Consumer Products Safety Commission, about 300 children 5 years old or younger drown in swimming pool accidents each year. Making your pool safe begins with education. Learn safe pool behaviors, and then institute rules for your own pool area. Communicate these rules and safety guidelines with prominent signage that everyone can read.

Instructions

1. Write your pool rules on the sandwich boards. These rules should include prohibitions against running, diving and horseplay. Write in large capital letters that are easily legible from a distance.

2. Punch a couple of holes in the top of each sandwich board with a drill. Make the holes large enough that a shower curtain ring will slide through the hole with no resistance.

3. Lay two boards back to back and join them together with the shower curtain rings. Make enough of these double-sided rules signs that people see them immediately upon entering the pool grounds.

4. Install the safety signs at each pool entrance. Prop them up like a wet floor sign on level ground. Don't obstruct exits or walking paths.

5. Stencil the water depth along the sides of the pool in a contrasting paint color. Space the markings at equal distances and be sure that you clearly indicate the shallow and deep areas.

Make Metal Art Silhouettes

Art silhouettes have hung on family walls for hundreds of years. Silhouettes are usually small, blackened profiles of family members at various ages framed in gilded oval frames. Today's art silhouettes are bolder and more complicated than a simple paper cut-out. However, regardless of the material they're made of, art silhouettes are all basically made the same way. Metal art silhouettes are often made from thick metal that requires special tools to cut, such as a torch cutter or arch welder. An easier and safer way to make silhouettes of metal is to use an unrolled tin can and simple, hand-held metal sheers you may already have in your tool box.

Instructions

1. Choose a picture of a single person or object to use as a pattern for the metal art silhouette. Look for an interesting or distinctive shape, as the outline is all you'll have of the picture.

2. Cut the picture out. Enlarge or reduce the picture on a copier if necessary until it is the right size to fit within the dimensions of an unrolled tin can, which is approximately six inches by eight inches. If reducing or enlarging is necessary, cut the final size of the picture/pattern out.

3. Cut the round top and bottom out of an empty tin can with metal sheers, then cut the remaining cylinder from top to bottom and unroll the metal into a single, flat sheet. Wash the metal carefully to remove all residue of its former contents.

4. Trace the outline of the pattern onto the blank side of the metal with a black marker and cut the outline out with the metal sheers.

5. Paint the cut out shape, or silhouette, with black spray paint specially made for metal.

6. Mount the metal art silhouette to a board with black tacks and a hammer. Touch up the paint if necessary.

Make Your Own Notebook Pages

Make your own custom notebook pages.

If you want to customize your school notebooks and control the look of your pages, you can do so in your own home, without spending much money. If you have a few basic tools, you can make your own notebook pages with the colors, designs and sizes that you like. You don't need to buy notebook paper again if you use this process to make your own, and you can even add your own personal touch to your notes.

Instructions

Notebook Paper Generator

1. Log on to an online notebook paper generator (see Resources). Scroll down the page and click on the "Writing and Note-taking" category. Wait for the next page to load.

2. Click on the "Notebook Paper" or "Lined Paper" sections. Choose the notebook paper if you want your paper to be traditional legal or college ruled pages (best for school), or just lined paper if you are making a journal-type notebook. Wait for the generator page to load.

3. Choose the size for your notebook pages from the options provided, or type in your own custom size. For notebook pages that fit inside a 3-ring binder, choose the "Other..." option and type in 8 by 10.5 inches in the boxes provided.

4. Change the line-spacing to your liking (wide, college, legal etc.) and choose a custom color for the lines. Choose from the options already suggested on the generator or click "Custom." A color picker will appear where you can slide the arrow up and down and move the circle to choose the exact color that you want.

5. Click on "Download PDF" at the bottom of the generator when you are done customizing the look of the notebook pages. Open the PDF file on your computer once it is downloaded and go to "File" and then "Print." Print as many copies as you want to put into your notebook.

Graphic Editor

6. Open a simple graphic editing program like Microsoft Paint or Apple Paintbrush. You can use a more advanced one, but you most likely already have one of these on your computer. Go to "Image" and then "Attributes" in the top menu. Enter the size you want in the width and height boxes and choose the unit of measure (inches or centimeters). Type in 8 by 10.5 inches for standard notebook pages.

7. Click on the "Line" tool in the toolbox and choose the second line thickness from the top in the box that appears below the toolbox. Pick a color from the color palette. Click on the top edge of the canvas, about 1/8 of the way across and drag your mouse to make a vertical line. Make sure it is straight and release the mouse. This is the left margin line of your notebook paper.

8. Choose the thinnest line thickness and pick a new color from the color palette. Make a straight horizontal line about 1/8 of the way from the top of the paper, from left to right horizontally. Draw another horizontal line below the first one.

9. Click on "View" and then "Zoom" in the menu and select 200 percent. Click on the selection tool (the dotted line rectangle) and click and drag around the two horizontal lines to select them. Make sure you only have the two horizontal lines selected with the space between them selected and right-click with your mouse.

10. Select "Copy", right click-again and select "Paste". Position the lines below the first two, with the same space between. Repeat this step until you have the whole paper filled with horizontal lines like a notebook. Paste small clip art images in the corner to decorate your paper (see Resources). Go to "File" and then "Print" to print out as many copies as you need.

Make Collage Jewelry

Use collage to create unique jewelry.

Jewelry comes in many styles, designs and media. It can be made from metal, cloth, paper, wire, stones or even old computer pieces. You can make a pair of earrings, a pendant or bracelet by using simple collage techniques. Layering paper, cloth, wire and other items can create unique, beautiful jewelry pieces that are fun to wear and easy to sell. Creating your own collage earrings can be done using almost any materials that you have available.

Instructions

1. Cut a template for the shape of your earring from a piece of paper. Trace one earring using the template, turn the template upside-down and trace the shape a second time. This will give you a pair of earrings shapes.

2. Smooth the edges using an emery board. It may take a while to remove any rough or messy edges. Take some extra time doing this step because it will make the finished piece look better.

3. Place a piece of parchment paper on a flat surface.

4. Paint the mat board on the front, back and edges. Place the mat board on the parchment paper. Allow the paint to dry thoroughly.

5. Cut paper materials that you want on the earrings. Arrange the cut pieces on both earrings to create a pleasing design.

6. Glue the paper materials in place with the school glue. Place the earrings back on the parchment paper. The earrings will not stick to the parchment paper. Allow the glue to dry completely.

7. Arrange any beads, scrapbook items, stones, or other jewelry making items on the earrings to decide on their placement. Remove the items, and set them aside.

8. Mix a small amount of epoxy glue, and spread a thin coat on the top of one of the earrings. Place the items you removed in the last step onto the glue. Gently, press them into place. Mix just enough glue to do one earring. Repeat this procedure with the second earring. Allow the earrings to set for 30 minutes.

9. Turn the earrings over. Mix a small amount of epoxy glue, and spread it over the back and edges of the earrings. Place the earring back into the top of the back of the earring. Allow them to dry overnight before wearing the earrings. The glue needs to coat the whole earring to seal the earring. It will give the earrings a glossy coat that makes the earrings look prettier.

Make Your Own Mugshot Sign

Write a sign to go with your mug shot.

Modern "mug shots" no longer include the arrested person holding up a sign including their important booking details, as all that information is now stored digitally. However, the traditional mug shot sign has become enshrined in popular culture. To emulate famous mug shots of well-known historical criminals or movie scenes it is simple to make your own mug shot sign. Pose with it for funny photos for your social network pages or to create a humorous greeting card to send to your friends.

Instructions

1. Lay the card on a flat surface with its longest sides to the top and bottom and write your name in large letters along the top using the white paint marker. Use basic hand writing and do not make it too neat.

2. Write a date under your name with the white paint marker. Use the date you plan to take the photograph, a special date such as a birthday or anniversary, or a historic date if you plan to pose as a famous gangster.

3. Create a fictional "arrest number" and write this along the bottom of the card with the paint marker. Check historical gangster photos if you wish to use an original, or authentic-seeming number.

4. Write the name and location of a police station at the bottom of the card. Use your local station or a fictional one from a cop show or movie.

Make Your Own Moving Avatar Online

World of Warcraft is a popular avatar game.

Avatars are graphic images that can represent you on the Internet highway. You can use them to accompany your email messages, or for forum postings. In this case, a static image of yourself, or a favorite object or cartoon artwork works as an avatar. However, if you want your creation to grab attention, or to use it to interact with others in online virtual worlds, it must incorporate movement. You have several online options for creating moving avatars.

Instructions

1. Browse Meez, through which you can create cartoon-like avatars with movement and backgrounds. You start with one of a dozen avatars (six per gender) before needing to register to continue. You then buy avatar options through the use of Coinz, which is the game money that you earn by completing certain tasks or winning games, or through buying with real American dollars. You interactively make such selections as hairstyles, costumes or body type on the right side of the site window, and then see your choices instantly reflected on the avatar image on the left side. You can then export your avatar as an animated picture that you can include in your emails, or as a direct upload to Facebook or Twitter. You can also fully control your avatar's movements when chatting in the virtual Meez world.

2. Join a virtual world like Second Life, if you want more realistic creations. You can control each aspect of your avatar's appearance, such as arm length, or eye slant. However, your avatar can only exist in this world. You import animation and picture files from outside the game, or use ones that other players have created. The world has its own programming and shape-building tools. You can thus design things like pets, furniture, vehicles and robots, and have them move and interact with the world. As with other virtual worlds, you can buy and sell your creations to other players. However, unlike other games, you can actually convert your earnings into real American money, thus allowing you to profit from your efforts. The world is free, though you'll need to pay for a subscription if you want to own land. This land affords you a permanent presence on which you can build a home or operate a store.

3. Enjoy a multi-player game such as World of Warcraft, if Second Life is too open-ended, and you want a goal for your avatar to exist. Your creation journeys through a virtual fantasy world where you can join guilds, fight monsters and battle against other avatars. Your choices are limited to predefined races, appearances, classes (such as wizards, rogues or warriors) and professions (such as engineer or jeweler). However, your animations achieve goals such as slaying monsters or opening doors. The game requires a monthly subscription, plus a one-time fee on the game program itself. A free trial is available from the website.

Hold An International Festival At Your School

One of the greatest things you can do for a child is offer him an appreciation of other cultures and societies. Because many children may never travel outside of their country of birth, a good way to expose them to other nationalities is to hold an international festival. This is a lot of fun, the kids get to learn a lot, and parents can participate. By assigning each class a country of their own, every child will get an opportunity to do something new.

Instructions

1. Give each class a country. Depending on how many classes you have, it may be more feasible to assign two classes per country. You can let classes pick which country they want, but make sure everyone offers a second or even third choice, in case their top pick is taken by someone else. Another option would be to let the teacher randomly draw the name of a country.

2. Ask each class to study their country. They should take the time to learn about the country's history, culture and government. Have them make posters, reports or dioramas that show the different aspects of the country. Put these on display all around the room. Have music on hand as well. Each class can play music from their country in their classroom during the festival. Ask students to make signs as well, saying "Welcome to (country)!" in both English and in the country's native language.

3. Have each class prepare a food from their country. For example, a class studying China could make egg rolls, or a group of children learning about Greece could prepare pita bread and hummus. Ask parents to get involved here. You'll need at least one parent for every five to eight students in the class.

4. On the day of the festival, give each child a passport. This can be a simple piece of paper folded into quarters with a grid on it. Each time a child visits a classroom and its country, they get a stamp or sticker in a box on the grid. Each class should have its own stamp or sticker representing their country to place on students' passports.

5. Let each child visit each country. Parent volunteers should staff the classrooms, so students can get as much time as they need to learn. The easiest way to do this is have classes travel together as a group, going from one room to another for a designated amount of time. As they visit each country, they can listen to music, try a snack from the other nation, and learn from the dioramas and posters. By the end of the day, your students will be world travelers!

Make Your Own Mc Lyric

Write lyrics that show who you are.

Being an MC requires a combination of swagger, style, finesse and good beats, but most of all, it requires the right lyrics. A rap should be clever, entertaining, catchy and from the heart. Not all MC lyrics have something deep and profound to say, but all of them should show the personality of the MC writing them.

Instructions

1. Come up with a structure for your rap. Raps usually follow a 4/4 beat and use around 13 or 14 syllables in every line.

2. Brainstorm what you want to write. You can write your MC lyrics about your own skills, where you're from, a friend or relative, a feud or anything else you're interested in.

3. Start writing your lyrics using end rhymes. Ideally, each line should end with a rhyme, and the lyrics should tell a story.

4. Add in some multis to make your rap more sophisticated. In multis, two or more words at the end of a line rhyme with the same number at the end of the next line. For example, if one line ends with the words "bake a cake," the next might end with "break a rake."

5. Add in-rhymes into your rap. In-rhymes are rhymes or near rhymes between words in the middle of a line instead of at the end. For example, in the lines "I'm LIKING grandma's ICING when she bakes a cake/but she's HATING and BERATING when I break a rake," the bold words LIKING and ICING form an in-rhyme, as do HATING and BERATING.

6. Let the rap sit for a week when you finish it, then come back and read it out loud. Write down any changes that occur to you and rewrite your rhymes.

Get My Dog'S Photo On Greeting Cards & Post Cards

Pets are part of our families. If you are a pet owner or know a pet owner, then you already know the big part that the family dog or cat plays in the family unit. There are special holidays when people send greeting cards or postcards and would like to include a photo of their dog but unable to take the dog with them for the formal holiday family portrait sitting. Luckily, using your own printer and software, you can get your dog's photo on a greeting or post card.

Instructions From File. This will give you a search option. Find where you saved the picture and double click it or click on it once and click "Insert." This will place the picture on the front of the greeting card. Resize it to fit as you wish.

5. Right click the photo and click "Format Picture" from the menu that pops up. Next, click "Size." This pulls up a tool that will allow you to adjust the width and height in inches or by percentage. Resize the picture in any fashion you wish as long as it suits your needs. Next, you will right click and hold the button down as you drag your mouse to place the picture where you would like on the card. When you are at the location where you want the photo, release the right button. After you are done, you can add text and personalize the card even further. If you would like to add the picture to a postcard, follow the step, but in Step 2, choose "Postcard" instead of "Greeting Card" under Publication Types.

6. Insert your card stock paper into your printer and print your cards.

Find Items To Sell On Ebay

Find Items to Sell on Ebay

The website eBay has become one of the top ways of making money by simply selling items that you no longer want or no longer need. Once you have emptied your home of everything except those belongings you wish to keep, however, you may want to identify a few sources of inventory so that you may keep your business going. You may purchase such items from a wide range of resources.

Instructions

1. Go to garage sales, at which people sell items for low prices to anyone looking to purchase them. They often are looking to get rid of items quickly.

2. Explore Craigslist.org, a website on which you may find all sorts of unique items for sale.

3. Visit Liquidation.com, which often auctions items in lots of 10 or more.

4. Purchase items from the website Dollar Days, from which you may purchase a wide variety of items. including candles, fragrances, fleece blankets and housewares.

5. Buy shoes from wholesalesituation.com in lots of 10 or more pairs.

6. Look on eBay. Acquire items marked low in bulk and sell them back on the same site

Make A Kaleidoscope

"Kaleidoscope" is derived from Greek words meaning "an instrument with which we can see things of beautiful form." The kaleidoscope was rediscovered in 1817 by Sir David Brewster, who published a treatise on it two years later. These instructions are for its simplest form, which consists of three mirrors taped together to form a hollow triangle. Placing these mirrors inside a hollow tube and rotating lets you see changing patterns.

Instructions

The Viewing Tube

1. Cut tubing to desired length and smooth any rough edges.

2. Trim the mirrors so that their length is the same as that of the tubing and their width is less than its diameter. Make a cardboard model of the mirror before cutting the mirror itself to be sure your mirrors will fit in the tube.

3. Arrange the mirrors, reflective sides in, to form an equilateral triangle and wrap duct tape around the outside to hold them together.

4. Insert the mirrors into the tubing. Pack them in place with foam rubber or foam peanuts, if necessary.

5. Make a cardboard disk the same diameter as the tubing and poke a hole in its center. Glue this to one end of the tubing.

The Object Chamber

6. Cut two lenses of clear plastic the same diameter as the tubing.

7. Make a one-inch wide strip of cardboard slightly longer than the circumference of the tubing. Glue the ends together.

8. Glue the cardboard ring to one of the lenses.

9. Place the objects to be viewed on the lens with the ring attached, enough to cover the bottom, but not enough to prevent them from tumbling around after the other lens is glued to the ring.

10. Affix the other lens to the cardboard ring.

Final Assembly and Use

11. Attach the object chamber to the open end of the tubing.

12. Hold the assembled kaleidoscope to the light to view the patterns created by the mirrors.

13. Rotate the kaleidoscope to see the patterns change.

Make Your Own Manga Avatar

Manga Avatar

Avatars are a great way to express one's character and personality online without displaying an identifiable, facial image. An avatar is an image that stands in for the computer user in the form of an image of an object or cartoon character that's representative of the user's tastes and interests. Make a manga avatar using one of the many online manga avatar generators to represent the user in this style of cartooning characterized by large eyes, wild colored hair and exaggerated expressions. Originally Japanese, the manga style is recognized internationally and all over the Internet, and is a fun and different way to present one's self.

Instructions

1. Browse the different art styles available with the different avatar generators and choose which generator to work with. Then log on to the avatar generator site.

2. Choose a body style, skin color and head shape for the avatar.

3. Add facial features by placing eyes and a nose and mouth on the head, choosing hair color and style and eye brow thickness and placement.

4. Choose eye color and mouth color.

5. Dress the avatar by paging through the outfit options for tops and bottoms, then select the final outfit for the avatar. Finish by adding shoes, accessories such as hats and scarves, and props such as balls, skate boards and pets.

6. Save the avatar according to the site instructions.

Make Your Own Kinetic Sand Art Picture

On your next trip to the beach, grab a handful of sand for a kinetic picture.

Kinetic sand art pictures can take from seconds to minutes to settle into a new sand scene. By shifting the angle of the sand art frame, gravitation pulls the sands downward into an ever-changing design. Because disparate sands vary not only in colors, but frequently in weight, they move at different speeds. These minute dissimilarities in sand grains guarantee that, like snowflakes, no two sand art pictures will ever be the same. With a steady hand and a little patience, you can construct a kinetic sand art picture at home.

Instructions

1. Open up the two picture frames, separating the cardboard spacer sheets from the back side and the glass panels. Clean one side of each glass panel with glass cleaner and a clean, dry rag. Place the cleaned side up on a flat work space.

2. Glue toothpicks along the edges at each corner on one glass panel with the hot glue gun. Turn the other glass panel over onto the toothpicks, lining up the sides with the bottom glass panel. Glue in place by applying small amounts of hot glue to the top side of the toothpicks.

3. Measure the interior trim edge of the picture frame for glass seam width (usually 1/4-inch to 1/2-inch wide.) Trim duct tape width with scissors to slightly more than double the seam width. For instance, if the trim edge is 1/4-inch wide, trim the duct tape width to 5/8 inch. Tape around three sides of the double glass panel, overlapping each edge of glass by the same amount of duct tape.

4. Place each type of sand in a separate envelope. Seal the envelope, and with the scissors, cut a tiny angle out of one corner of the envelope. Slip the cut corner into the glass panel open side and pour in the sand. Repeat this step until all of the sands (and glitter, as desired), are within the double glass panel. Seal the remaining open glass panel side with the custom-trimmed duct tape.

5. Measure the finished depth of the double glass panel. Measure the interior trim edge recess. Double the trim edge recess measurement. Fill in any difference between the double trim edge recess and the double glass panel by cutting narrow lengths of the cardboard backing material and hot gluing it along the trim edges. For instance, if the double glass panel measures 3/8 inch and the double trim edge recess measures 5/8 inch, glue 1/8 inch of backing material to the interior trim edges on both picture frames.

6. Glue one picture frame along the interior trim edge to the perimeters of one side of the double glass panel. Turn over and glue the remaining picture frame in the same manner to the other side of the glass panel. Glue the outside picture frame edges together with hot glue.

7. Clean the outside glass on each side of the finished kinetic sand art picture.

Do A Workshop

Some helpful tips and instructions on what exactly is needed to design and lead a workshop.

Instructions

1. Sit down and figure out what the topic of your workshop is.

This could range from:

- Time Management

- Recruitment

- Teamwork

- Public Speaking

- Organization

etc.

2. After you pick your topic begin brainstorming an outline for your workshop. Keep in mind that you may or may not have a time limit that you have to stick to.

3. Outlines typically contain these elements:

1. Ice Breaker

(Get to know you games to make everyone comfortable)

2. Introduction of Topic

(Tell everyone what you're going to go over)

3. Brief Discussion on Topic

(Get your audience involved and see what their thoughts are)

4. Activity

(This should directly correlate with your topic)

5. Follow-up

(Revisit the purpose of your workshop)

4. At the end, leave the group with something to think about or something memorable they can pass on.

(The ending can be done during the activity, if that helps to leave the lasting impression. Or, the group can be brought back together after the activity to reflect.)

Make Your Own Holiday Light Show

A government building lit up for Christmas.

Holiday light shows are notoriously part of the Christmas tradition, but can also be enjoyed during other holiday seasons. While it's fun to visit public light shows, it can be a fun, family project to design your own holiday light show. The shows can be indoors for your own enjoyment or outdoors for both yourself and others to enjoy. Creating your own holiday light show takes some thought and preparation.

Instructions

1. Sketch out a design beforehand if your light show will be complex. This can be helpful in ensuring you have enough extension cords to reach your power source, particularly when creating an outside display. Take into account the feasibility of the design as well. If you can't do it yourself you can enlist the help of others.

2. Purchase your lights and display items. There are a large variety of lights and display items for every holiday season, including inflatable indoor and outdoor displays. Pay attention to your design, when selecting the colors and sizes of bulbs. All white lights for a Christmas display can be very classy; large old-fashioned bulbs in a mixture of colors really show off an outdoor tree; hanging icicle lights can simulate a white Christmas in a warm climate. Adding plastic or inflatable display items like Santa, his reindeer or pumpkins can add to the effect.

3. Hang the lights following your design, using tree branches, fences, stair railings or mantels. Remember to use small tacks or nails if planning to immediately remove the display after the holiday. Screw in hooks can be helpful on rooflines for lights that you'll reuse year after year. When finished, add the additional design elements, like plastic or inflatable displays.

4. Add media to your light show, by playing a spooky soundtrack or jingle bells. Don't stop at lights on your outdoor trees. Add ornaments and tinsel or spray them with fake snow flocking. Hang a wreath from your door, or put pumpkins on the doorstep. Use your imagination and enlist the help of children if you find yourself stumped. Have fun with it!

Make Your Own Graffiti Words On A Hoody

Add graffiti-style graphics to hoody sweatshirts with stencils.

Hoody sweatshirts are relatively inexpensive and available in a wide variety of colors, sizes, and styles, such as with zippers or pockets. Personalizing a hoody sweatshirt with graffiti-style font is a simple process that requires few supplies and not a lot of time. Before painting the hoody, Michael's Arts and Crafts suggests laundering without fabric softener.

Instructions

1. Graphics can be placed almost anywhere on the sweatshirt.

Download the desired graffiti-styled font to your computer and decide upon the desired word or phrase you wish to add to the hoody. Print out the phrase onto thick card stock paper.

2. Utility knives cut crisper lines than scissors.

Create a stencil by using a utility knife to cut out the printed portion from the paper.

3. Before painting the fabric, place some newspaper or a piece of cardboard in between the layers of the sweatshirt.

4. Secure the stencil to the sweatshirt with tape or pins.

5. Apply paint to the fabric with a sponge or a stippling paint brush. Keep the stencil on the fabric until the paint has fully dried.

6. Launder the hoody according to instructions on the fabric paint package.

Make Your Own Gift Basket Using Practical Items

Fill your recycled gift basket with practical items.

If you are looking for a creative gift to give someone special but you don't have a large budget, then consider making your own gift basket. Use an old basket that you have around the house. If you don't have one that you can recycle, buy one from your local thrift store for a few dollars. Just make sure the basket that you use does not have any broken weaving.

Instructions

Basket Basics

1. Select a basket. Your basket can be any size -- just remember that you must fill the space.

2. Fill the basket with a layer of confetti, cloth or tissue paper. This provides a base on which to arrange your practical gift items.

3. Arrange practical items in the basket that are related to the gift recipient's tastes.

4. Cut about a 6-inch decorative ribbon, and tie it on top of the basket handle.

Kitchen Gift Basket

5. Place a cloth napkin or two across the bottom and up the sides of the basket. Cloth napkins, which you can buy from a retail store or an antique store, add charm and elegance to a gift basket.

6. Arrange a set of measuring cups, several bottles of spices, a vegetable peeler and a lemon-scented drain cover for the gift recipient's sink.

7. Tuck a set of blank recipe cards into the basket. Fill out the top card with your favorite recipe.

Leisure Gift Basket

8. Fill the bottom of the basket with shredded newspaper strips.

9. Tuck sharpened pencils, pencil sharpeners, erasers, crossword puzzle books, a best-selling book and several bookmarks into the newspaper confetti.

10. Purchase an electronic book reader instead of a hard-cover book, if your budget allows, and tuck it into the basket.

Beauty Gift Basket

11. Cut open a resealable, plastic, gallon-size bag with a pair of scissors, and spread it out in the bottom of the basket.

12. Pour bath crystals on top of the liner so they fill the basket at least halfway.

13. Stick a miniature candy scoop into the crystals. Place bottles of nail polish, nail files and makeup brushes in the crystals.

Make Action Figure Clothing

Create clothing for solid-color action figures.

Many action figures wear plastic clothing molded or partially molded to their bodies, although fabric clothing is also used. While some action figures seem covered in endless layers of armor and clothing that are hard to reproduce, it is still possible to create action figure clothing using basic cut-and-sew methods. Make small tunics for desert scenes with action figures as well as capes for outfitting both hero and villain action figures.

Instructions

Tunic

1. Measure your action figure's dimensions to avoid making clothes that are too big or too small. But it is still a good idea to create clothes that are at least 1/8-1/4 inch bigger all the way around to avoid skintight clothing.

2. Trace a tunic shape on paper based on the measurements you took. Tunics generally look like sleeveless V-neck shirts that form a bell shape toward the bottom of the fabric. Cut the tracing out and use a pencil to trace it onto thin, tan-colored fabric. Make two tracings out of the material, for the front and back. Cut the fabric out of the tracings.

3. Lay the pieces of fabric on top of one another with the outside of both fabrics facing in. Sew around the perimeter of the fabrics using whatever technique works best for you. Turn the fabric back out to complete the tunic.

Cape

4. Measure the dimensions of your action figure. Use those measurements to draw a paper outline of a cape. Think of drawing a cape outline as if you are drawing a rounded-edge triangle with a flat rather than pointed head. Cut the outline out of the paper.

5. Trace the outline onto a piece of black velvet or other fabric with a pencil. Cut the fabric out of the tracing with your scissors.

6. Sew a piece of gold or silver craft ribbon to the top of the cape. Use a piece of ribbon that is about 1/8 inch in diameter, although adjustments can be made based on the size of the figure you are outfitting.

7. Use the cape on any "villain" or action figure it fits.

Make A Tattoo Stencil Guide

You can make a tattoo stencil guide with some basic tracing paper.

It is necessary to have a tattoo stencil before beginning the tattoo process. This stencil will be placed onto the area where you would like a tattoo, and both the artist and the recipient will have a good idea what the tattoo will look like when it's done. The artist will also use this stencil as a guide while he's creating the tattoo. Whether you want a small butterfly on your wrist, or a huge landscape on your back, you will need a tattoo stencil to guide the process. Creating the tattoo stencil is one of the first steps to getting a tattoo.

Instructions

1. Place your tracing paper over the image you would like to turn into a tattoo stencil and trace the image. You should use either a pencil or a ball point pen. Quill, chisel, or other sharp pen points could rip your tracing paper.

2. Remove the filler paper from the stencil transfer paper pack. This pack will have four sheets of paper: sketch sheet, protective sheet, carbon paper, and a yellow piece of paper. Remove the protective filler sheet.

3. Tape your traced stencil to the sketch sheet on the stencil transfer paper pack with scotch tape.

4. Go over your image with a ball point pen. Press down firmly on the pen to ensure the sketch gets transfered to all sheets.

5. Cut your image out with scissors. The image that was left on the sketch paper is your tattoo stencil. You can now bring this to your local tattoo parlor and get inked.

Make Your Own Flower Impressions On Clay

Flower impressions on clay can make beautiful artwork.

Flower impressions on clay can be a beautiful touch of artwork. The clay can be used for pragmatic purposes in the kitchen and around the house, as artwork or even to create a flower vase. The impressions can also be used to create a lasting memory of your flowers. The clay impressions are made with a few simple steps.

Instructions

1. Obtain a large amount of wet clay, perhaps two to three times the area that you think will be needed for your project. Choose a bright or cheerful color that you feel represents the flowers that you are imprinting.

2. Lay the clay onto an art board and begin to stretch it out. Make a large, flat, square shape across as much of the board as possible. Use a rolling pin if possible to straighten out the clay across the length of the board. Use the ruler and your finger to imprint an outline of the clay artwork that you will make.

3. Spray the flowers with vegetable spray; it will make them easier to remove later on. Place the flowers on the exact spot where you wish to imprint them within the clay art that you have outlined.

4. Roll the rolling pin over the flowers to leave a deep impression into the clay. Roll several times over each part of the art.

5. Remove the flowers and leave the clay to dry. The detailed impression will now be left permanently into the clay.

Make A Balanced Mobile

A mobile is a kind of sculpture that you hang from a wall or ceiling. You can make mobiles by hanging different shapes and materials from dowel rods and kite string. However, if you do not balance your mobile, it won't look right. Here's how you can balance a simple mobile.

Instructions

1. Make sure the strings you tie to your top most rod are the same distance from the middle. Making the strings the same distance apart will make is easy to balance your mobile sculpture.

2. Weigh all of the shapes on the right side of the rod. Then weigh all of the shapes on the left side of the rod. If the two weights are equal the sides of your sculpture will balance.

3. Move on to the next level of your mobile, if there is a split. A split in a mobile is another rod that is placed below the top most rod.

4. Balance your split. When you work with a split, only take the shapes on the same side of your top most rod into account. For example, if the split occurs on the right side of your top most rod, only compare it to other shapes on the same side.

5. Make sure the rod and shapes attached to the rod weigh the same as any other shapes on the same side of the top most rod.

6. Use your ruler and make sure that the string on the right of your split rod is the same distance as the string on the left of your split rod.

7. Weigh all of the shapes on one side of your split rod. Make sure they weigh the same as the shapes on the other side.

8. Continue working down your mobile until you have compared the weight of all of the shapes on each level.

Make Your Own Avatar Online

Make Your Own Avatar Online

Did you ever want to make your own avatar? How cool would that be to have an avatar online of yourself? There are avatar websites that allow you to create animated characters, or virtual avatars of yourself. You can make an avatar of yourself, or make one of a friend of yours. They're fun and easy to make. They don't require much effort, or graphic art skill involved to create an avatar. You typically just need a picture, and then you can pick out the design of your clothes, and accessories of your avatar. This article will show you make your own avatar online.

Instructions

1. Go to a digmi.com. A free site that allows you to create your own avatar online. Sign up using your email, a username, and a password. It's free to use. After you sign up you'll need a good picture to use of you, or someone else. The picture should be a good shot of the face. Not too bright, or not too dark. Black and white pictures won't work. You need your eyes, nose, and mouth visible... Add a picture picture from your files folder.

2. Click on create head. Once your photo is uploaded, then click on create head. Then click on genre to choose from. Then a screen should pop up for hair, accessories, morph, clothing, expressions, face, presets, and transformations.

3. Pick out what you want to be. For males, they offer being a cowboy, a pirate, or a ghost even. You don't have to be something specifically. They offer different ones for females. If you want to be funny, you can dress yourself, or someone else as a girl or guy for kicks.

4. Choose a hair design you want to use. Choose a hair design that fits your avatar. They don't seem to have a lot to choose from for men. Women have a few more options to choose from.

5. Dress up your avatar anyway you like. If you want to paint your face, you can do that. You can change eye color if you like as well. You can change your face structure to a chimp, panther, or demon even if you'd like.

6. Save avatar and download it for use. When you're done fooling around with the different gadgets, then you want to save your avatar. You can use it to put on your facebook, your messenger profile, or use it for an avatar of websites like message boards. You can email it to your buddies. If you have photoshop, you can use that to re-touch up blemishes on your avata

Make Your Own Custom Caricature

Make Your Own Custom Caricature

Caricatures are drawings of a subject that emphasize physical and personality traits in either a satirical or a humorous fashion. Drawing caricatures can be a good way for an artist to earn extra money. Many artists do caricatures at fairs and amusement parks. You might also want to make custom caricatures for family and friends. Whether you want to draw caricatures for profit or fun, you can learn to find features in your subjects and enhance them to create your own custom caricatures.

Instructions

1. Choose a photograph to work from. It can be a photograph of a family member or friend, a celebrity, or even a photograph of yourself. If you want to create an original caricature, consider basing it on a photograph but changing certain features to fit the caricature you want to create.

2. Examine the photograph and determine which features are most naturally prominent. If the subject's forehead seems a little high or his chin is a little long, those are the features you want to enhance. Do a rough sketch of the subject without emphasizing any features first. This will ensure that you have an accurate representation of the original look.

3. Erase the sections of your sketch that you intend to modify. This allows you to keep all of the other features. As you emphasize features (make the ears bigger, widen the forehead, fatten the lips) of your subject, you will retain all of her other features. The key is to make the subject recognizable even with modified features.

4. Draw the body on your caricature. Consider keeping the body small in relation to the head. Caricatures often have a bobblehead appearance. If your caricature is based on someone who has a specific style of dress, be sure to include that element in your drawing.

Make Your Own Comic Cover

To a certain extent, comic books are defined by their covers: exciting, eye-catching pieces of art designed to stand out on the news rack and entice eager fans to buy. You may wish to design a comic book cover of your own, either as the capper to a larger book you have designed or as a standalone piece of art.

Instructions

1. Measure the size required for your comic book cover. Classic comics used dimensions of 6.625 inches by 10.25 inches, although you can use any size you want (provided it matches the size of the comic interior, if applicable).

2. Include space at the top of your cover for a title, and any attendant sales text. If your cover is based on an existing comic book, emulate the title design as closely as possible. Otherwise, you can design your own title and logo as you wish. The title needs to fit over the artwork without obscuring anything important, as does the sales text, which usually appears in a dynamic bubble in one of the lower corners.

3. Sketch out your comic book cover using pencils, so you can adjust and erase it as needed. If you want to make your cover on a computer, you can use programs such as Adobe Photoshop.

4. Ink the lines of your drawing once it is complete, including the title and ad copy. Once you ink the cover, it is more or less set so make sure the image is exactly how you want it before beginning this step.

5. Color and shade your inked drawing to complete the look. Comic book covers are usually bright and colorful to better pop off the newsstand.

6. Place a small white rectangle in the bottom lefthand corner of your comic book. This is where the bar code traditionally goes, and while it's not necessary, it does give your comic an air of authenticity.

7. Print your cover out if you're using a computer or run off a photocopy shrunk to the appropriate size.

Make A Black Book

A black book holds private and personal material.

When most people hear the term "black book" they think of a book that is kept private from others. Whether you use your black book as a diary of private memories, store private information about past love escapades, draw graffiti or write poetry, it is usually not shared with others. Creating your own black book allows you to have a personal touch on your secret book.

Instructions

1. Gather a stack of paper. Depending on how many pages you would like your book to have, select the appropriate amount of paper. If you plan to use the book to write in, lined paper may be best; for drawing, it may be best for blank paper. In addition, the paper can be any size you prefer.

2. Place one sheet of black paper on top of the paper and one sheet of black paper under the paper. If you do not have black paper, you may use a black paint or black marker to color two pieces of paper black. If you would like a more durable book, select a black poster board and cut it down to the size of your paper.

3. Neaten your stack of paper so all of the pages are even in length and width.

4. Staple at least three to five staples along one side of the stack. You may staple the book vertically or horizontally, whichever way you prefer.

5. Decorate the book with colored paints if you prefer.

Make A Toilet Paper Roll Kaleidoscope

Use an empty toilet paper roll to make a kaleidoscope craft.

Making toys and crafts out of recycled materials is a good way to give children a fun inside activity, while teaching the importance of reusing items instead of throwing them away. One such craft idea is a kaleidoscope made out of an empty toilet paper roll. A kaleidoscope can help teach younger children about colors and light, while demonstrating to older children the principles behind mirrors and optics.

Instructions

Make Mirrors

1. Cut three pieces of cardboard, each the length of the toilet paper roll and 1.5 inches wide.

2. Cut three pieces of aluminum foil that are one inch larger in each dimension than the cardboard pieces.

3. Cover one side of each piece of cardboard in aluminum foil with the shiny side facing out, taking care not to wrinkle the foil. Fold the remainder of the foil over to the back of the piece of cardboard and use tape to secure it.

4. Assemble the three foil-covered rectangles into a triangular prism, with the mirrored sides on the inside. Use tape to hold them together.

Assemble Kaleidoscope

5. Insert the triangle of mirrors into the toilet paper roll.

6. Cut a circle out of black construction paper. It should be slightly larger than the opening at the end of the toilet paper roll. Carefully cut a small hole 1/3 cm in diameter out of the center of the circle.

7. Tape the black circle over one end of the toilet paper roll.

8. Cut two circles out of the clear plastic wrap, both about four inches in diameter.

9. Put one circle of plastic wrap on the open end of the toilet paper roll and gently press it into the center of the triangle of "mirrors" to make a small pouch. Then fold the perimeter of the circle down onto the toilet paper roll and use tape to secure it.

10. Place a few small colorful objects in the plastic wrap pouch you made in the center of the triangle. They should have enough space to move around a little bit.

11. Cover this end of the toilet paper roll with the other piece of clear plastic wrap, pulling it tight and securing it to the sides of the toilet paper roll with tape.

12. Look through the end of the kaleidoscope with the black paper, pointing the end with the beads toward a source of light. The colors and patterns will change as you turn the kaleidoscope to move the colored objects around.

Find Art Festivals

Some fairs and festivals attract thousands of visitors each year. They are the ideal places to sell art, connect with like minded people, and to buy really great stuff.

In her book, "Get Started Selling Your Art," author and artist Carole Katchen calls fairs and festivals among the best places to begin an art career. However, these days, fairs and festivals aren't just for visual artists. They run the gamut from Renaissance fairs to music festivals. Today with the Internet, it's easier than ever to find a fair or festival for just about any need.

Instructions

Finding the Right Fair or Festival

1. Compile your list of websites. Many fairs and festivals exist throughout the United States. Here are some of the bigger ones that can be found on the Internet.

National

http://www.fairsandfestivals.net/

http://festivalnet.com/

http://www.festivals.com/

Regional

http://www.southfest.com/

http://www.laffnet.org/

http://www.smartfrogs.com/

http://www.indianafairsandfestivals.org/

http://www.castleberryfairs.com/index.php

Other fairs and festivals can be found on the Internet with a simple Google search. Use the key words "fairs and festivals."

2. Determine what your goals are when looking for the fair or festival that's right for you. If you're looking to sell artwork, for example, ask yourself what you hope to accomplish. If your goal is to sell a lot of art, a fair created specifically as an art festival will attract people looking to buy art. However, if it is more important to you to gather business cards and develop your mailing list, a different kind of festival or fair might do. Do you only want to attend fairs or festivals within a radius from your home? Having these questions in mind will help you sort through hundreds of listings.

3. Start your search. Plan on taking your time to read each entry. Write down each one that looks promising, including contact information, dates, costs and what kind of booth space it offers. Create a page for each entry, so you can add notes about the fair or festival as you learn more.

Create color coding for each festival. That way you'll be able to see at a glance what you need for a particular fair or festival. This will be particularly helpful once you transfer the dates for each event onto your calendar.

Consider looking for festivals at least once a month. Websites constantly add information as festivals and fairs are uploaded to their databases. You'll want to update your calendar accordingly. When the year is over, you will then be able to use your old calendar as a reference tool when creating your new calendar.