In any sticky situation, the key to success is to choose the right adhesive for the job in hand.
CLEAR HOUSEHOLD
Also known as general-purpose adhesive, it has a transparent appearance when dry. Suitable for situation where A particularly strong bond is not required.
Where to use: On soft flexible plastics canvas, some metals,card,cork, leather,hardboard,fabric and cloth.
How to Apply: Where surfaces are absorbent spread the glue onto one surface and press both surfaces together firmly. Otherwise spread a think film on both surfaces leave for a brief moment and then press the two items together for several minutes.
How to Remove: While still wet use a damp cloth to remove access then use acetone or nail polish remover to rub away at the adhesive.
The Good and The Bad: Can not be used on polythene, polypropylene or polystyrene as it eats into the surface, it is not suitable for repairing pottery and similar heavy items as the glue is not strong enough. be careful around varnished surfaces as this glue can lift the varnish off a surface and damage it.
LATEX
A rubber-based adhesive in white and clear formulations. It produces a flexible bond.
Where to use: Ideal for repairs on fabric, upholstery, rubber, paper wood and toys.
How to Apply : If the materials are lightweight or delicate avoid adhesive penetration by applying a thin coat to each surface letting it sit till the glue becomes semi-transparent and then pushing the two surfaces together. For other materials apply a light coat to one surface and push together and secure for several minutes.
How to Remove: Comes off easily with a damp cloth when the glue is still wet, when dry pick off the access glue and scrape with a sharp knife for fabrics you will need a solvent cleaner.
The Good and The Bad: A useful adhesive to have on hand for small touch ups, this latex glue also comes in a non toxic variety for childrens use.
EPOXY RESIN
A two-part, quick-setting epoxy resin base plus hardener, that needs to be mixed before use. It dries clear and is heat-proof.
Where to use : On china, pottery, glass and jewelry repairs it is also suitable for wood, metal and leather it has a very strong durable bond once set.
How to apply: Following the directions on your epoxy resin mix the epoxy and hardener together ensuring that your surface is clean. Apply a thin layer onto one surface and squeeze the two surfaces together. secure until it sets.
How to Remove: If you get it on your skin then use a industrial hand cleaner, remove excess glue from surfaces with a cloth dampened with white spirit. Once set you will need to chip away at the glue as it is solid once dry.
The Good and The Bad: Once the adhesive is mixed you only have a few minutes to work with it and if you are fixing pottery that you intend to use, after a long period of time the resin will eventually break down.
CONTACT
A petroleum-based adhesive, which is extremely inflammable. Applied to both surfaces, it bonds on contact.
Where to use: On a variety of surfaces such as laminate, wood, rubber, stone, leather, it is heat and water proof.
How to Apply: Coat both surfaces with the adhesive and allow to become tacky then press the two surfaces together.
How to remove: It is difficult to remove once it is dry so wipe off any excess as you go with a damp cloth, you can use a acetone to wipe the residue down and large amounts would need to be chipped away first.
The Good and the Bad: You need to work quickly and it is not suitable for plastic pr polythene items as it can wrinkle the surface.
PVA (polyvinyl acetate)
A white creamy adhesive that is water soluble and provides a permanent bond which can be stronger than material itself.
Where to use : Use for general indoor woodwork repairs, plus hardboard, polyurethane, foam, paper,fabric,leather and carpets, Can also be watered down to make papermache glue or used as a protective coat on indoor artwork.
How to Apply: Squeeze a thin layer onto one surface and press together straight away. Clamp or secure for at least one hour to allow setting.
How to Remove: While it is still wet remove with a damp cloth, once set use mentholated spirits.
The Good and The Bad: Not suitable for water contact, you will need a waterproof PVA for those jobs.
SUPERGLUE
Originally used by the air force industry these adhesive needs only a tiny spot to produce extremely strong bond onto almost any surface including your skin.
Where to use: For use where you need a Instant bond, metals, plastics,glass,ceramics, rubber.
How to Apply: One tiny drop onto one surface and push both surfaces together straight away. Always where rubber gloves
How to Remove: If you get skin contact immediately soak in warm soapy water, if available use a solvent cleaner and try to separate skin gently.
The Good and The Bad: Though it is an effective adhesive it can be quite expensive for large projects, it is highly dangerous and should be kept safe at all times. As this is a thin liquid it is not useful in filling Gaps which may be required to fill broken pottery etc to even out the edges.
ACID FREE GLUE
This is an archive glue that can either go on white or clear. This glue contains no harmful acid it is suitable for paper, card and some plastics.
Where to use: Use for archival documents, Scrapbooking and photos.
How to Apply: Apply a thin layer of glue to one surface and press the surfaces together, you can also apply small dots into the corners of a photo for easy application. It comes in many different forms, such as squeezey bottles, roll ons and droplet.
How to Remove: When wet use a damp cloth to wipe away excess, once dried gently separate the items being careful not to tear the papers.
The Good and The bad: This glue is easy to apply and purpose built for Scrapbooking, there is no substitute when it comes to archiving your memories.
About The Author
This Article was written by Shellie Wilson the Co/Founder of "The Place Creative People Visit" - 100's of free craft projects, step by step directions, competitions, and free craft advice.
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Friday, August 04, 2006
Decorating Kid Rooms
Decorating a Child's Room - 8 Simple Strategies to Make You Both Happy!
When it comes to decorating a child's room, your approach should be different from decorating an adult bedroom. That's because a child's bedroom should reflect his or her personality and not yours.
For kids, their bedroom is where they play games, read, listen to music, wrestle, display or hide prized possessions, day-dream, or just go to be alone sometimes. So try these six strategies to help create a space that will make you both happy:
1. Talk to your child. Find out what activities and fantasies he or she enjoys; what their favorite color is; and what's unique about their personality that a theme could be built around. Then work their interests into a design that will make them feel comfortable, happy, and safe.
2. Allow your child to help. Let them have a say about colors, fabrics, and how they want to display their collectibles. The design should be flexible enough to accommodate their changing tastes, needs, and interests.
3. Make the room multi-functional. Since children use their room for many activities besides sleeping, it should have several different zones. These could include a play area; a reading area; a space to play with friends that's equipped with a radio, CD player, and a TV/VCR; a display area with a wall or corkboard for favorite photos and artwork; and finally, a place for shelving to display collectibles, trophies, and other personal items.
4. Make storage a priority. Containing clutter will be one of your greatest challenges. Try shelving, large decorative wicker baskets, plastic see-through containers, and closets that contain plenty of shelving and racks.
5. Keep window treatments simple. Avoid long draperies. Shades, blinds, and shorter curtains are safer choices. The fabric should be versatile, and patterns should be repeated in other items in the room, such as in pillows, quilts, lampshades, bed ruffles, etc.
6. Choose the right lighting. A child's room should include both task lighting for homework and reading, and soothing light for quieter times. A nightlight is also important if your child is not comfortable in the dark, and for safety reasons, so they can find their way to the bathroom at night.
7. Use wallpaper or paint to add color and texture. You can apply whimsical borders along the top edges of the walls, and clouds or stars on the ceiling. It might be wise to make sure the walls of childrens rooms are washable, so if you are using paint, choose a semi-gloss or gloss finish. Kids love bright colors, but you should limit any strong color to only one wall. For example, paint one wall fire-engine red, and the others a soft peach or pink.
8. Allow your child to select the design theme. The choices are endless. Here are just a few: firehouse fun room, starry night, angels, rainbows, unicorns, baseball, a bedroom for a princess, underwater scenery, outer space, race cars, airplanes, trains, jungle motifs, wizards and dragons, and dinosaurs. You can visit our new Web site for a lot more ideas!
Decorating with your child offers a great opportunity to display your playful side, while doing some memorable family bonding. So have fun with it and remember that even if your child's choice in themes seems bizarre, there's probably a way to work out a compromise.
Michael Holland is the creator of the Web site http://www.kids-rooms-and-crafts.com. His web site offers lots of FREE decorating tips and ideas for decorating children's rooms. You'll also find step-by-step projects for creating decorative crafts for your child's bedroom.
When it comes to decorating a child's room, your approach should be different from decorating an adult bedroom. That's because a child's bedroom should reflect his or her personality and not yours.
For kids, their bedroom is where they play games, read, listen to music, wrestle, display or hide prized possessions, day-dream, or just go to be alone sometimes. So try these six strategies to help create a space that will make you both happy:
1. Talk to your child. Find out what activities and fantasies he or she enjoys; what their favorite color is; and what's unique about their personality that a theme could be built around. Then work their interests into a design that will make them feel comfortable, happy, and safe.
2. Allow your child to help. Let them have a say about colors, fabrics, and how they want to display their collectibles. The design should be flexible enough to accommodate their changing tastes, needs, and interests.
3. Make the room multi-functional. Since children use their room for many activities besides sleeping, it should have several different zones. These could include a play area; a reading area; a space to play with friends that's equipped with a radio, CD player, and a TV/VCR; a display area with a wall or corkboard for favorite photos and artwork; and finally, a place for shelving to display collectibles, trophies, and other personal items.
4. Make storage a priority. Containing clutter will be one of your greatest challenges. Try shelving, large decorative wicker baskets, plastic see-through containers, and closets that contain plenty of shelving and racks.
5. Keep window treatments simple. Avoid long draperies. Shades, blinds, and shorter curtains are safer choices. The fabric should be versatile, and patterns should be repeated in other items in the room, such as in pillows, quilts, lampshades, bed ruffles, etc.
6. Choose the right lighting. A child's room should include both task lighting for homework and reading, and soothing light for quieter times. A nightlight is also important if your child is not comfortable in the dark, and for safety reasons, so they can find their way to the bathroom at night.
7. Use wallpaper or paint to add color and texture. You can apply whimsical borders along the top edges of the walls, and clouds or stars on the ceiling. It might be wise to make sure the walls of childrens rooms are washable, so if you are using paint, choose a semi-gloss or gloss finish. Kids love bright colors, but you should limit any strong color to only one wall. For example, paint one wall fire-engine red, and the others a soft peach or pink.
8. Allow your child to select the design theme. The choices are endless. Here are just a few: firehouse fun room, starry night, angels, rainbows, unicorns, baseball, a bedroom for a princess, underwater scenery, outer space, race cars, airplanes, trains, jungle motifs, wizards and dragons, and dinosaurs. You can visit our new Web site for a lot more ideas!
Decorating with your child offers a great opportunity to display your playful side, while doing some memorable family bonding. So have fun with it and remember that even if your child's choice in themes seems bizarre, there's probably a way to work out a compromise.
Michael Holland is the creator of the Web site http://www.kids-rooms-and-crafts.com. His web site offers lots of FREE decorating tips and ideas for decorating children's rooms. You'll also find step-by-step projects for creating decorative crafts for your child's bedroom.
Monday, July 24, 2006
Garland and Ribbons
Garland and Ribbons
Author: Arleen M. Kaptur
Garlands are definitely a part of the Holidays. However, people live in different parts of the country and using what nature provides is always the best solution.
Evergreen garlands can be natural or store-bought. With your special touch, you can create a garland that fits wherever it is you live. With floral wire, fasten silver and gold jingle bells. Hang on a door to make "your own music" whenever someone comes and goes. Take seashells you saved from the beach and spray pain the small ones with festive colors. Then dry, and hot glue them to your garland. Apply the glue to the flattest surface of the shell to attach securely to the garland.
You can also make garlands form other material besides evergreen. Cut fabric strips into 2" x 7" lengths. Spread out a length of cotton cord and knot at both ends. Working from the center out, wrap and tie strips around the cord. Place small ornaments in between if you like. In a child's room, use alternating red and white fabric scraps and you have a candy cane effect.
Ribbons add so much creativity to your holiday decorating - and the one most requested "craft" idea is how to tie the perfect Christmas bow: To make a large bow, start with 4-5 yards of 2-1/2" to 3" wide ribbon. Measure 15" from one end and lay the ribbon by the ruler, with that point at the 6" mark. Twist and pinch ribbon to secure. Make a 6" loop, bring it back to the center, and twist and pinch the ribbon again. Make another 6" loop on the opposite side and bring it to the center, twisting and pinching again. Make eight or ten loops, alternating sides. Secure the bow loops by twisting a pipe cleaner around the center of the bow. Tie an extra length of ribbon around the center of the bow and trim the ribbon ends. Attach desired trims using wire or hot glue. The ultimate in Christmas bows.You now have a beautiful ribbon but what do you hang from this masterpiece of ribbon? Hang a single chandelier prism from a wire ornament hanger. Let the tails of the ribbon trail down the sides of the prism. Hang where the sunlight can gently play with the sparkle and truly show the prisms of color. Or hang small toys, framed photos, purchased or homemade snowflakes, large jingle bells, sprigs of fresh holly, or ribbon candy.
A few additional ribbon ideas: Hang holiday ornaments in the windows or from doorknobs with varying lengths of ribbon; Wind lengths of holiday ribbon through greenery to adorn a fireplace or tabletop; Replace curtain pulls with ribbon ties; Adorn outdoor lights and the mailbox with bows made from wide holiday ribbons; Make pillows merry by wrapping with ribbon as you would a gift package and place on beds, window seats, and chairs.
Garlands and ribbons - two fantastic accents for your holiday home. ENJOY!
©Arleen M. Kaptur 2002 December Wishing you and all your loved ones a truly Memorable, Enchanting, and totally wonderful Holiday Season.
Please subscribe to our free Holiday newsletters: visit: http://www.arleenssite.com
http://www.Arleens-RusticLiving.com http://www.topica.com/lists/simpleliving
Author: Arleen M. Kaptur
Garlands are definitely a part of the Holidays. However, people live in different parts of the country and using what nature provides is always the best solution.
Evergreen garlands can be natural or store-bought. With your special touch, you can create a garland that fits wherever it is you live. With floral wire, fasten silver and gold jingle bells. Hang on a door to make "your own music" whenever someone comes and goes. Take seashells you saved from the beach and spray pain the small ones with festive colors. Then dry, and hot glue them to your garland. Apply the glue to the flattest surface of the shell to attach securely to the garland.
You can also make garlands form other material besides evergreen. Cut fabric strips into 2" x 7" lengths. Spread out a length of cotton cord and knot at both ends. Working from the center out, wrap and tie strips around the cord. Place small ornaments in between if you like. In a child's room, use alternating red and white fabric scraps and you have a candy cane effect.
Ribbons add so much creativity to your holiday decorating - and the one most requested "craft" idea is how to tie the perfect Christmas bow: To make a large bow, start with 4-5 yards of 2-1/2" to 3" wide ribbon. Measure 15" from one end and lay the ribbon by the ruler, with that point at the 6" mark. Twist and pinch ribbon to secure. Make a 6" loop, bring it back to the center, and twist and pinch the ribbon again. Make another 6" loop on the opposite side and bring it to the center, twisting and pinching again. Make eight or ten loops, alternating sides. Secure the bow loops by twisting a pipe cleaner around the center of the bow. Tie an extra length of ribbon around the center of the bow and trim the ribbon ends. Attach desired trims using wire or hot glue. The ultimate in Christmas bows.You now have a beautiful ribbon but what do you hang from this masterpiece of ribbon? Hang a single chandelier prism from a wire ornament hanger. Let the tails of the ribbon trail down the sides of the prism. Hang where the sunlight can gently play with the sparkle and truly show the prisms of color. Or hang small toys, framed photos, purchased or homemade snowflakes, large jingle bells, sprigs of fresh holly, or ribbon candy.
A few additional ribbon ideas: Hang holiday ornaments in the windows or from doorknobs with varying lengths of ribbon; Wind lengths of holiday ribbon through greenery to adorn a fireplace or tabletop; Replace curtain pulls with ribbon ties; Adorn outdoor lights and the mailbox with bows made from wide holiday ribbons; Make pillows merry by wrapping with ribbon as you would a gift package and place on beds, window seats, and chairs.
Garlands and ribbons - two fantastic accents for your holiday home. ENJOY!
©Arleen M. Kaptur 2002 December Wishing you and all your loved ones a truly Memorable, Enchanting, and totally wonderful Holiday Season.
Please subscribe to our free Holiday newsletters: visit: http://www.arleenssite.com
http://www.Arleens-RusticLiving.com http://www.topica.com/lists/simpleliving
Monday, June 26, 2006
Craft Projects - Muffin Candles
Making Muffin Candles With candle making, there are hardly any limits. You can replicate lots of things with your creativity. Here are some delicious 'Muffins' that look very, very inviting. I cannot recall the number of times I have used them to play pranks on 'unsuspecting targets'...lol.Complete with chopped crayon bits for nuts and decorations, many people will mistake them for edible, freshly-baked, icing-topped muffins coming from your kitchen!
Materials Needed:
Candle Making Supplies (Wax, Dyes, Boiler, Wicks etc.) Paper Muffin Cups (2-3 for one candle) Whisk Old Crayons (chopped into small pieces)
Directions:
1.Place 2-3 paper cups into each other for strength. Now, place them into individual muffin molds or a muffin tray for a string base. Grease them lightly if you wish, but it is not necessary.
2. Melt Wax, mix a dark or earthy colored dye for the muffin base. I used brown, but you can experiment. They are not real muffins after all!
3. Pour melted wax into the prepared 'molds'. Allow to cool and set. You can use a wick at this point. I have not used one because I made these 'muffins' just as a show-piece.
4. Meanwhile, prepare the 'frosting'. Melt wax and dye it a soft, creamy color. I used a pale, earthy brown again, but pinks, creams, blues, greens, yellows, peaches etc. look great for the icing. Be creative with your color combinations.
5. Cool the melted wax till you see a thin skin forming on it. Whip it with a whisk till it gets frothy. Quickly, spoon the froth over the muffin. If the wax solidifies before you are able to spoon enough froth, repeat the melting, cooling and whipping process.
6. While the frosting is still warm, sprinkle pieces of old crayons.
About the Author:
Lata Tokhi is the Founder and Editor of Dot Com Women, a premier women's website and fast-growing online community, and Celebrating Christmas, a resource for celebrating Christmas in style. Visit her websites for lots of homemaking and business ideas, free downloads, free Ezines and message boards for women to network and share.
Friday, June 09, 2006
Craft Projects
You will find many different craft projects, craft articles and craft ideas at Turnba.com. Information to help you complete your craft projects and much more.
Craft projects to keep the kids amused and projects that kids can create easily. Gifts that can be made by children and more.
Craft projects and tips for Halloween, Easter, Thanksgiving and Xmas crafts and more.
General craft tips and tricks for your next craft project.
We also have many handmade craft items for sale. Gel candles, jar candles, gel candle kits for making your own gel candles, swags and dried flowers. More to come too.
We hope you find this craft projects blog helpful and informative and visit our site often.
Roger Bussey
Turnba.com
Craft projects to keep the kids amused and projects that kids can create easily. Gifts that can be made by children and more.
Craft projects and tips for Halloween, Easter, Thanksgiving and Xmas crafts and more.
General craft tips and tricks for your next craft project.
We also have many handmade craft items for sale. Gel candles, jar candles, gel candle kits for making your own gel candles, swags and dried flowers. More to come too.
We hope you find this craft projects blog helpful and informative and visit our site often.
Roger Bussey
Turnba.com
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