Monday, December 27, 2010

Geothermal Heating Systems - Learn About These Solutions



In an time, where lowering carbon impact and eco-friendly power resources will be the news terms, geothermal energy provides a eco friendly choice for a heating energy source at your home. Due to the rising charges of both electrical power and oil, home owners the world over are exploring more recent alternatives for heating their homes.

The idea of geothermal has its origins within the Greek basic words geo together with thermal, that means earth and heat respectively. Essentially it identifies heat extracted with the earth. Geothermal energy employs the all natural heat deep inside the earth by possibly employing a pump which transfers that heat or benefiting from a present geothermal spot by constructing the house over it. In either case, it's easier with this system to remain designed and constructed into houses in the development phase, than include it within an already established home.

Benefits

An environmentally friendly alternative. This power is an abundant nonpolluting reference, as well as its damaging outcomes are thought to be little at greatest.

Reliability in the long run. It's an energy source that won't die out on you anywhere in the near future unlike fossil fuels.

Will save dollars. This power subsidizes heating bills, reducing them by around 70%.

Lightweight heat pump. It indicates the pump could fit any basements, even the ones from more compact houses.

Creates great financial feeling, particularly for huge properties. Bigger houses well over 3,000 sq ft could run up very high power bills during winter. Geothermal power aids decrease power bills with no unusually huge original expenses.

A great choice for the new household. This kind of system is super easy to put in when the home is while in the construction phase and will pay back the first investment a lot more over the years. It's usually an even more hard and costly proposition to set up it into a present residence.

It boosts built-in home price. The function of the built in geothermal heating systems adds value towards the residence and helps it be differ from others.

Negatives

Initial investment is high. This can result in the house owner constructing a property with limited funds may not be ready financially to invest in a geothermal energy system.

The place is all crucial. The property need to have a geothermal spot in the area.

Kind of rock. Not only is area a significant qualification, even so the rocks also have to be of the ideal type to get drilled.

Not necessarily "Old Dedicated". Very often geothermal task will take a rest after getting constant in generating energy for several years.

You can't move this energy over long distances. While we can carry fuels similar to coal, petroleum and natural gas in the resource to the user many kilometers away, this is not an option with geothermal energy.

The danger of geothermal gases. Making use of this energy might cause the making of potentially harmful chemicals as well as gases just like hydrogen sulfide.

Despite a few negatives, geothermal heating systems can save you a large amount with your heating bills - which usually alone is a great enough reason to think about it.



Sunday, December 12, 2010

Great Reasons to Use Solar Patio Lights



The patio is one of the great lifestyle features of any home. This is where the family can relax, where friends can be entertained, just a great place to put your feet up and enjoy a lazy summer’s day. At night, particularly in the warm weather, it's the entertaining area for parties and those fabulous alfresco dinners. Solar patio lights are becoming extremely popular, and for very good reasons.
Patio lighting
Everybody has their own tastes regarding external lighting, and a large area like a patio really does involve making a few decisions about how you want the area to be lit. Most people don't like really garish lights, and let's face it, nobody likes the power bills much, either.
Good lighting also involves design, and as most people know only too well, working with wiring for external areas is very much an acquired taste. Few homeowners are overjoyed with the idea of putting live electrical fittings in areas where they might get wet or need servicing.
There’s a further complication in the fact that external lighting can be quite difficult to install in some places. Installation can involve quite literally taking apart parts of the house, which is both expensive and in some cases more trouble than it's worth. There's only so much the average human being is prepared to do to install a light globe.

Solar patio lights

Solar patio lights have turned out to be the ideal solution to all these issues. They're cheap, efficient and they don't need wiring. A typical solar stake light provides subdued lighting around the external areas of the house, and the more powerful solar mag and spot lights can do the job where stronger lighting is required.
Solar lights are also a lot easier to work with in areas with complex designs. If you have a patio which includes a pergola, you may want a range of lighting effects to highlight the various external features. This is a lifestyle choice, and fortunately for consumers there's a gigantic range of choices available in types and sizes of solar lights.
There's no need to worry about style issues, either. Ever since solar light designers found out that you can put a solar light in practically any form of cover, everything from solar light garden gnomes to solar light fish have been coming on the market regularly.
There's a further advantage in solar lights which rarely gets a mention. Solar lights are very easy to manage, and because they're not actually fittings it’s very easy to get repair work done if necessary. Most of the smaller lights can simply be replaced, without fuss. The bigger lights are all portable and in most cases all that ever needs to happen is to simply change a globe and perhaps the odd wiring replacement once in a blue moon.
Solar patio lights are so popular and so useful that they're actively replacing many of the old external lighting systems. They’re certainly far more cost-effective, and generally pay for themselves in power savings within the first year. If you're looking for great lighting for your patio, start with solar.

Friday, December 10, 2010

How to Generate 3,000 Subscribers in 30 Days...

With Christmas around the corner and the New Year coming right up, I know that many of you wish you had more traffic to your stores. This is the time of the year when most retailers make most of their money and so should you. After all traffic is the main road to your success. As you know I do not usually send out tips on Internet Marketing, but I feel an exception is acceptable in this case. So I decided to give you an early Christmas Present.

I want to tell you a little secret...One of my favorite bloggers online is Kim Roach over at BuzzBlogger.com. I have been following her for some months and some of her tips made a big difference for our blog http://designstyleguide.net/community/ and YouTube Channel http://www.youtube.com/user/DesignStyleGuide bringing us thousands of subscribers and tens of thousands of views.

Kim is one of those rare finds in the IM space that consistently provides tremendous value in everything she does. She's a country gal at heart but don't let that fool you... She's been beating out many of the big-name gurus with her southern belle charm. In fact, many refer to her as the 'Traffic Queen'. Which from what I've seen is certainly a worthy title.

At the ripe 'ol age of 25 she's managed to unlock the secrets to massive traffic...testing and tweaking
new traffic strategies... plus adding her own little twists and tricks.

And unlike most other marketers, she spends most of her time in the trenches, locked up in the marketing laboratory - cookin' up more juicy traffic goodness. But every once in a while she surfaces back up into the
real world to share her latest findings.

If you'd like to see what she's been cookin' up in the lab lately go now to:

http://buzzblogger.com/td/?e=DSG


Kim's has unlocked her very best traffic strategies in her latest product called 'The Traffic Dashboard'. It's a complete training center that contains over 20 of Kim's top traffic getting methods.

These traffic techniques are really quite unique as you can see for yourself by taking a look inside the member's area...





Traffic Dashboard - a sneak peek inside...



Inside 'The Traffic Dashboar' Kim shows you how to go from nothing to over 3,000+ subscribers in just 30 days. (all in step-by-step detail).

You literally point and click your way to increased traffic with Kim's unique dashboard design. (as seen above) You have to actually TRY to mess this one up! Because the point-and-click learning system forces you to take action.

Here's a sneek peak at what you'll find inside...

An underground tool for extracting exactly where your competitor's website traffic is coming from. (If you thought Alexa was cool imagine knowing EXACTLY how much traffic your competitors were getting each day and knowing exactly where that traffic was coming from.)

"James Bond" tactics for spying on your competitors and forcing them to hand over all of their hard-earned, battle-tested,profit-busting strategies.

A super simple method for cramming your opt-in list with 200-400 subscribers in a single day...(and NO this has nothing to do with ad swaps)

A really cool strategy that shows you how to get 10x MORE traffic from EVERY article you write.

As many of you probably already know, traditional article marketing is becoming less and less effective. What worked in 2004 simply doesn't cut it anymore.

So Kim show's you 10 different ways to re purpose your content for additional traffic and exposure. Use just a couple of the strategies in this video and you'll have no excuse for not getting AT LEAST a couple hundred visitors for every article you publish.

... and that's just the tip of the iceberg!

This thing is packed with over 8 hours of juicy  traffic goodness... NO fluff... NO filler.

With over 8 hours of step-by-step video and enough how-to information to DESTROY literally
every question, worry and problem you've ever had in regards to traffic.

A Word of Warning: There's just ONE caveat to this product. In fact, these traffic methods will NOT work in all situations. In order for these traffic strategies to reap  their full power - you MUST be creating HIGH QUALITY CONTENT! (not some auto-generated content that not even your momma would
be proud of...)

If you think you're going to slap together some useless crap, throw up some auto-generated sites and have thousands of visitors pouring in...This course is NOT for you.

This training course was created specifically for people who are looking to build REAL businesses online... People who are dedicated to providing top-notch value for their visitors, subscribers, and customers.

This is something Kim stresses a lot, and I agree. If you're not willing to take the time and effort to put together some really good content and offer real value, then don't bother with 'The Traffic Dashboard'. It will just be a waste of time for you if you don't have good content in place.

But...

If you are dedicated to building a REAL business online and providing your visitors with REAL VALUE then 'The Traffic Dashboard' will help you to grow your business 10x faster.

Plus, at an affordable price to boot!

So, if you're ready to turn on the traffic tap, then click on the link below...
http://buzzblogger.com/td/?e=DSG

There are no “tricks”, or “magic traffic buttons” here, just proven traffic strategies that are designed to generate traffic as quickly as possible.

Plus, for those of you who are more advanced, Kim combines old school tactics with new traffic twists and tips that you won't want to miss...

http://buzzblogger.com/td/?e=DSG

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Christmas Decor Under $50

 




classic pieces and decorative accents that make  your rooms ready for Christmas in minutes. Complete your modern style house with beautiful contemporary accessories and modern furniture at a great price.

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

1 Minute to Inspire - Floral Creations by POMA

Monday, November 29, 2010

Get this Look for Less...Pink and White living room

Get This Look for Less...
Pink and white living room is not very common. It’s just so fresh and fun and at the same time clean and sophisticated. The designer opted for a different shade of pink inside each of the built in shelves, very unexpected. Cherry Blossom Pillow Cover would be a great addition.

See More Details:

Get Inspired:

Brown Beauty - Treasury

A Treasury Created by New Prospect Pottery, LLC. Come and vote before 12/06/2010 here

Monday, November 1, 2010

Make Room for the Holidays

There is nothing better than finding great deals for holiday presents and getting FREE SHIPPING. As our special gift to you, West Elm offers Free Shipping on many of gift items this season.

Here are some of them:

mini-ceramic-bowling-pin

footed-mercury-hurricanes


SIMPLICITY IS THE ESSENCE OF MODERN LIVING
We like clean lines, natural textures, and sensible proportions. Our inspirations include things like nature, color, art and ancient cultures, and we interpret these into classic pieces and decorative accents that make rooms calm, comfortable, and easy to live in. Complete your modern style house with beautiful contemporary accessories and modern furniture at a great price.






Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Outdoor modern accesoories

Summer is almost over, but it is not too late to add some new accessories to your patio for some outdoor fun. One of the reasons I like to buy new accessories at this time of the year is because you can get most of them at a great discount.

Using pillows is one of the fastest way to upgrade the look of your bench or out doorseating.

Look at the

Summer Tile Outdoor Pillow


Colorful geometric shapes catch the eye and brighten the great outdoors. Perfect for pool, patio or porch.


Durable water- and UV-fade-resistant poly.

Complete your modern style patio with beautiful contemporary accessories and modern furniture at a great price.

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Modern Bedroom

One of the easiest ways to create a modern  bedroom is to add modern bedding. Layer your bed with quilts, duvets and sheet sets from luxurious modern bedding collections and you do not need to do much else to achieve the look you want. Bedding accessories should include smart, simple solids, organic cotton bedding, and graphic prints.

Here are some examples of graphic prints bedding:
Complete your modern style bedroom with beautiful modern bedding and modern furniture at a great price.

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Modern Furniture


Modern furniture refers to furniture produced from the late 19th century through the present that is influenced by modernism. It was a tremendous departure from all furniture design that had gone before it. Dark or gilded carved wood and richly patterned fabrics gave way to the glittering simplicity and geometry of polished metal. The forms of furniture evolved from visually heavy to visually light.

The use of new materials, such as steel in its many forms; molded plywood and plastics, were formative in the creation of these new designs. They would have been considered pioneering, even shocking in contrast to what came before.

Complete your design style with fantastic modern furniture at a great price.

Friday, June 4, 2010

Modern Style


Modern Style is often described as Clean-lined, this approach focuses first and foremost on function and avoids the excessive accessories evident in many other styles. Another trend that is very popular is to combine elements of modern style with other decorating styles. For example Asian Modern or Rustic Modern. Some people shy away from the modern design because they think it is too simple, harsh or cold. In contrary, when well planned it can promote a sense of serenity and simplicity to your home. Complete your design style with fantastic modern furniture at a great price.

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Design Style Guide Easter Giveaway is here

It is Super Easy to Enter. We will have 8 winners and our Grand Prize is worth $225.

This Giveaway will end on April 3rd

Friday, March 12, 2010

Check out Turquoise Inspiration


I want you to take a look at: Turquoise Inspiration

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Finding The Table Of your Dreams

Not many people think when they sit in the comforts of their homes, how important a table is in relationship to the rest of the furniture. If you didn't have tables your room wouldn't be complete.

One of the biggest investments you may ever make next to bedroom furniture is designing your dining room. This is an elegant room in any home with the hutches displaying china, butler's tables, linens, and more. The table of course is the main attraction. There are several chic looks that will add luxury to your room. There are tables with leafs, round tables, squares, and more.

When you decide it's time to furnish your room with a table, the style and size will be dependent on the amount of space you have and the furniture you want the table to compliment or the room you want to enhance. There are table that'll fit any style to create any look.

Start with thinking about the size of the dining table. An ideal way would be to think about the size of the room where the table has to be placed. It is proportional to the size of the dining table. A bigger room calls for a bigger table to harmonize the size of the room. A smaller room needs a smaller table.

Although, this is not the only criteria for the size of the snacking table. You would also want to keep in mind that all your family members should be able to sit around the snacking or eating table. Try getting a table that has chairs for all your family members keeping a spare chair or two for an unexpected guest.

Another step is to think about the shape of the table. If you want an intimate setting then the square table is best. This will seat four diners comfortably and it will save a little space in your room.

The table that is a rectangle in shape will not only seat more diners but it will make the smaller room look more spacious. If you want a table that makes conversation easier than a round table is a good choice. With the round shape the diners are not straining to see each other down the length of a long table but the round sized table will consume a lot of space.

Once you determine what size and shape dining tables the room can accommodate look at colors. For colors of the dining table, go for the scheme that goes with the rest of the furniture.

For height of the table, make sure that you don't have to bend to eat or to reach high to the table. It should be in level with elbows and abdomen while in a sitting position. Go for a modern yet subtle look since dining tables have to be kept for longer periods of time than any other piece of furniture.

Another factor is to look at the room to see if you would like to create a formal dining room or an informal dining room. The nearby furniture and décor will help make the best decision.

When choosing a table it is often easiest to select the design, then look for the material that is best suited for the activities that will take place on the table. The tables that are best suited for growing families can be attractive and still be functional for all members of the family.

Finding the table of your dreams is not hard. Before you buy, take the time to shop and compare online. You will get a view of the unique designs and styles that will add beauty to not only your room but your home and meet your needs.

Saturday, March 6, 2010

How to decorate your childs bedroom


Do you want your children to dream fairies and angels when they sleep? Well you need to then assure that you decorate your child's sleeping room not just lavishly but also reasonably so that the colours and the room's environment motivate and promote the kids.
Here are some quick ideas that you could use to creatively decorate your child's room and feel proud when your child loves to stay in that room. Gone are the days when people used to decorate the boy's room in blue and girl's room in pink. Try to use attractive but sober shades so that it gives more of a pleasant environment. The next most important thing is the bedding. Always make sure that this goes along with the colour of the walls. It need not be the same and as that might result in a monotonous look. Ensure that the bed spread on the bed has an image like a Spiderman if it is a boy or a Barbie if it is a girl. You could also use Peppa pig toys.
Use the radium effect on the ceiling with the moon, the stars and the asteroids so that it gives an impression of a sky in the night. This is simple and you could do it yourself as these are just stickers that you need to adhere on the ceiling with a white backdrop. Ensure that there is an attractive rug that is put right beside or before the bed.
Always ensure that the room has a natural ventilation to bring in fresh air and light. Apart from the natural light you could go for lamp shades that give bright light and do not make it dull looking. The curtains and the window shades should be bright coloured but not gaudy. They should be able to prevent light entering the room in the nights so it does not disturb your kid. Always assign a corner for your kid's study place with a table and a chair and also try to put up some art work so that your kid feels proud to show his room to any visitor.

Cleaning Tips for 2010


For you, how important is cleanliness? Do you like living in a house that is full of mess and dirt? I'm sure you don't. Living in a dirty house is not pleasurable, but the thought of maintaining its cleanliness is tedious, too. Make sure this new year you give your house the cleanliness it deserves.
Plan a schedule. I know most of us are busy with our lives, we work more than 8hours a day, take care of the children, cook meals, run errands, etc. We don't have time to commit at least 5 hours a day for cleaning or sometimes we prefer not to. The better way is to manage your hectic schedule and find time where you can have a one on one session with your house.
Motivate yourself. Cleaning is not everyone's favorite activity, and we also don't want to make ourselves miserable by doing it. You have to ask yourself, why are you cleaning? Because you are asked to or because you want to? Look forward for the positive results. Enjoy cleaning. Wear those comfortable clothes, put those upbeat and fun music, and reward yurself after doing it.
Have a plan. No plan of attack results to inefficiency. Before starting, plan on what part of the house you will begin cleaning. Having a sense of direction can touch all the areas of the house that probably you might forget when cleaning.
Mix your own cleaning solutions. Sure you can buy those commercialized cleaning solutions out there. But in the middle of your cleaning session and you find out that you ran out of this and that, it is hassle to dress up again and head to the nearest store. In your own home you can find good alternatives. You can use Ammonia, diluted with 3 parts water in an empty spray bottle can be used to clean windows, appliances and countertops. Full strength it can remove wax build-up from the kitchen floor. 1/2 cup vinegar mixed with 1 tablespoon salt is an excellent way to scrub copper and brass. Using pine oil in full strength is great for deodorizing garbage cans, as well as scrubbing the kitchen and bathroom floor. Instead of scouring powder, you can also use baking soda to remove stains and odors from refrigerators and coffee pots. Sprinkling dry baking soda before vaccuming will freshen up the carpets.
Green cleaning. Cleaning Do not limit cleaning only inside your house and around your front yard and back yard. Environment should also be included. It is not hard or complicated. Begin with your own, simple way. Keep away with toxins and imporve your home which affects the bigger picture. Switch to eco-friendly alternatives and make your own cleaners. Observe proper waste disposal, conserve water and recycle.
Our house should be our protection right? If you do your job well, it can do its job well for you too. Keeping your house clean is your number one job. Time is not a hindrance and a reason why you are not able to maintain the cleanliness. The home is where everything starts, so it is better to keep it safe and clean.

Friday, March 5, 2010

How to make the most of colour and tone in painting


A significant part of any painting, whether a pet portrait or abstract picture, is the relationship in colour and tone. Tone is the level of light and shade in the picture, it exists independently of colour and can be calculated on a scale which goes from white through greys to black. The awareness of colour is created by the eye's response to light in different wavelengths; pure colour exists only as light, and as far as painters are concerned, all colours are also modified by tonal value. Pigments are not pure colours, and their range and behaviour is completely different, so painters can only hope to imitate the true colours of nature, by being adept at using their palette and visual tricks. Paintings are not mirrors, but abbreviations of reality, which make sense if key colours, tones and outlines have an internal logic and consistency.

Controlling light
Since colour and tone are both dependant on light, it is a great help if both the lighting the subject, and the environment in which the painter works, is kept under control. Portrait painters usually prefer to light their subjects from only one direction, enabling them to become familiar and easily predict the way the light falls on a face. Others will choose to paint at a particular time of day when the lighting conditions are an average quality, and shadow lengths are suited the painters style. An additional technique uses diffused light, which softens light and removes harsh shadows. To accomplish this, paper saturated with drying oil and allowed to dry can be used to cover windows, or pasted onto screens to create the desired result. If you use pale coloured paper it also has the benefit of harmonizing the colours in the subject. This is also a useful trick if you are having to paint in a room which is subject to full sun. Alternatively, studios that are too dark should be painted white to reflect as much light as possible back into the room.

Using a Claude glass
A Claude glass is a black-coated mirror used to assess the tonal relationships in a picture. Being black, it nullifies the colours in the subject reducing them to tonal values. This then makes it simple to see the tonal relationships in the picture with any errors quickly being shown. You can make your own Claude glass by painting one side of a piece of glass with black paint or by placing a piece of smoked glass in front of a mirror. For landscape paintings, it often better to use a Claude glass with a curved surface, this enables you to regard the scene in its entirety.

Your palette
Above all, it is important that you know and understand the colours you use on your palette. This will only come with experience, but to be a great colourist an artist has to know how colours relate to each other, how each individual colour reacts when blended and how well it performs as tints. Skillful colourists exploit favored colour effects, tending to use a limited palette of colours but knowing and understanding them perfectly.

Thursday, March 4, 2010

OUR VERY OWN FIRST SWEEPSTAKES


OUR VERY OWN FIRST SWEEPSTAKES IS HERE!

We are excited to announce that from now on we will be running our very own SWEEPSTAKES every month.
The winner will win 1 YEAR 3 STAR MEMBERSHIP PACKAGE – FREE (value of $64)
If you already have listings on our main website http://www.designstyleguide.net, you will be automatically entered, however if you tweet the message it will give you an additional entry .
If you do not have any listings on our main website – enter our sweepstakes today for a chance to win. Only those applicants that have their own online store – selling handmade items related to Home Decor will qualify.
Good Luck!

Renovation Project Using Natural Wood? Don't Forget To Treat It With Hard Wax Oil


Osmo Polyx Oil and Fiddes Hard Wax Oil both provide great protection for any wood surfaces around the house, but is one superior?

As many homeowners look to renovate, not relocate, the popularity of natural wood flooring and kitchen surfaces has increased.Synthetic materials could never create the effect and style of a room like a new hardwood floor or some natural wood kitchen cabinets.

You Need To Protect Your Wood!

Although natural wood surfaces require a bit more attention and special care, it doesn't have to be a chore. It doesn't even require a professional's touch to maintain the beauty of the wood. Several products currently on the market make it easy for the average do-it-yourself enthusiast to keep those natural surfaces looking top-notch.

Of course, a durable, long-lasting and easy-to-maintain product is needed for high-traffic areas.The finish will also need to be non-toxic if small children will be crawling and playing on the floors. Many types of wood oils are available, but general consensus says that a quality hard wax oil is just the ticket.

Why Hard Wax Oil?

Hardwax oil is one of the most versatile and easy-to-use products around. Not only is it suitable for use on most interior wooden surfaces including wooden flooring, kitchen worktops, cupboards, skirting, spindles, doors and furniture, but even unsealed terracotta tiles and quarry tiles will benefit due to their porous, wood-like properties.

Matte, satin and satin gloss finishes are currently available, making it perfect for almost any job.Application is a breeze, too: just use a good quality cloth, floor applicator, or paintbrush...basically, use whatever best-suits the job to be done. There's hardly any smell, and it penetrates the wood to provide a finish that is tough and resistant to wear and liquids.

If Price Is A Factor

The first and most obvious difference is price. On average, the cost-conscious consumer can expect to save around £13-£14 (based on a 2.5 litre container) by opting for the Fiddes hardwax oil. Of course, the savings increase if a larger size is purchased. But saving money is no good if you get inferior results, so how do Fiddes Hard Wax Oil and Osmo Polyx Oil match up performance-wise?

Drying Time

Both Fiddes and Osmo wax oil provide a water-repellent seal and are easy to maintain; however, Osmo's Polyx Oil takes about twice as long to dry at approximately 8 hours per thin coat.Osmo do provide a quick-drying version, but at a higher price.

Colours

Fiddes comes in 9 satin colours including the popular walnut, whiskey, American and white, and the clear version comes in matt, satin and gloss finishes.

Osmo have clear versions on offer, in addition to the four colours in their foundation wood finish range: light oak, mid oak, dark oak and white.

Colours can be intermixed to create new ones, which helps with colour matching, and both Fiddes and Osmo hard wax oil are non-yellowing.

Ingredients

Osmo Polyx Oil contains only natural ingredients.

Fiddes Hard Wax Oil is probably 98% similar to the make-up of Osmo.

Safety

Both products are suitable for applicaton onto children's toys, having been approved by the EN71 Toy Safety compliancy test.

History

Osmo Polyx Oil, the original hard wax oil, was created six years ago by the maker of the same name.

In recent years, Fiddes have developed their own hard wax oil, which has become a popular option for many people.

Check If Samples Are Available

Of course, most retailers will allow you to purchase a sample of any product you're thinking about using. Testing a small, out-of-the-way section of the wood is also a must to ensure you're going to get the finish you desire. In addition, you should keep in mind that using a coloured hard wax oil is going to give you a different look depending on the type of wood on which it's applied - another reason to make sure you test it out before committing a large area to one particular finish.

If you would like to get an idea how a particular type of wood will look once it's been finished with a clear wax oil, simply use a little water to wet a section, wipe off the excess, then let it dry for about 10 seconds. The resulting shade is a close approximation of the finish you'll get.

Summary

For more colours and to save some money, use Fiddes Hard Wax Oil.
For 100% natural ingredients and a slightly more durable finish, use Osmo Polyx Oil.

The flexibility and protective qualities of hard wax oil is apparent, so which brand is chosen is not really so important.When a long-lasting, hard wearing finish is needed for hardwood floors, cabinets, work surfaces or even children's toys, hard wax oil is a must-have.

Unusual gifts for all the family


The common hot water bottle seems to do the opposite to some furry mammals, who at this time of the year are beginning to hibernate. Until it senses the first signs of a chill, it lurks in the corner of some cupboard or box. Then, voila! It sits there at the bottom of the bed
Of course this is nonsense, but I just wanted to highlight that for most of us hot water bottles are. I can't even remember the last time that I actually bought one. it would have probably been a last minute Christmas present for an elderly relative.
We as as nation still appear to be 'tied' totally to them. We were once as a nation ridiculed by a Hungarian born author, George Mikes. He is quoted as saying "Continental people have sex lives, the English have hot water bottles", in his funny book entitled 'How to be an alien'. It is possible that there was an element of truth in the parody, especially in the days when designs were bland and uninteresting. These are adjectives that probably match a typical continental view of Anglo Saxon sex.
But wait a minute! Things have changed. i wouldn't have believed it, but these things are actually now considered to be 'sexy'? I found this site the other day that stocks styles and shapes that are quite different. If I was ever searching for an unusual gift to buy, special objects not normally seen in the shops, this place would be the place begin looking. They have everything here, from a buddha statue to retro phones, and most things in between!
For anyone interested solely in hot water bottles, the ones that appealed to me were the cushioned shaped products. These looked extremely comfortable, and may even offer great therapeutic value - especially to sufferers of aching necks and lower backs. They are made from 100% recyclable materials, and are guaranteed not to fade - perfect for the environmentally conscious.

New Furniture In The Home?


It does seem like a bit of a strange question but the chair is a very important part of the home and each room usually has a different style unless of course you are in your mid 90's and have the same chairs across the house to match both your carpet and your old fashioned wallpaper.

Is there a way you can tell what furniture is right for each room? Well the first thing you may want to think about doing is getting in an interior designer in as the will know the best thing to do with your home. Although many people think that their jobs are very pointless indeed if you hired one just for a couple of days you would really start to see how they could help you out, they can suit to people with low budgets or people that like a very strange style.

Of course you could just take a trip to the furniture online as this way you get to choose everything yourself. However the one disadvantage you have for shopping in store is that you always get that irritating sales guy badgering on about how you should get this and how you should get that.

But it is also true to say that there are disadvantages of shopping online an it would seem that the major one is that you cannot get a good feel for the furniture.

So it is really up to you what kind of furniture you buy whether it is modern furniture or not you will know what kind to get once you really start to inspect the room.
One of the best ideas to take is to take a good look around the house to see the best route to go down first, always try to do one room at a time.

Make Furnishing Your Home Environmentally Friendly


If you are always looking for ways to make your home greener, you've probably seen this post title many times before. Despite the title of this post suggesting it's a standard 'make your home greener' post, it's not.
The majority of the other posts are based on improving your home and how you can save money in the process. They tend to talk about having loft insulation, double glazing, not leaving your TV's on, things like that. This post is all about, what you can do after you've done all that.
Although you may have managed to stop your home from wasting so much energy, there is one aspect that's commonly forgotten. Every so often we decide to redecorate our homes, this often leads to changes in everything from wallpaper tobathroom accessories.This is where you can make some improvements.
When buying new furniture, you rarely think about the environmental consequences. I guess it's a tough enough job to find something that everyone likes, without it being environmentally friendly too. But when you think about it, a lot of energy has gone into making these products. They tend to be constructed in large factories which waste large amounts of energy, they are then shipped back to the UK after being made abroad.
Fortunately, due to everyone becoming more aware of our impact on the environment, many retailers are offering greener, more eco-friendlyhome furnishings.
From everything fromtableware to kitchen accessories, there are lots of products out there that you can buy that are better for the environment. All these little things, and big things, that you need to buy for your home have an impact on the environment. This is something that should be in the minds of everyone when it comes to furnishing your home. Reducing the amount of actual energy your home wastes isn't the only way you can reduce your home's impact on the planet. Although it can't be avoided with some home accessories, you'd be surprised at how many you really can buy that are more environmentally friendly.

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

How To Make Whitewash Furniture


whitewash furniture has peaks and troughs in its popularity. Currently it has found its popularity has reached new heights and pieces have been known to sell for incredible amounts of money. There are places that you can buy high quality white furniture such as beds and bedside tables for good a good price, but if you want to make your own here is how.

1.First you need to sand down whatever pierce of furniture you wish to whitewash. This can be done just by using a piece of sandpaper or an electrical sanding device. If the piece has many layers of paint on it, you might need to use chemical paint stripping.You then need to clean the wood thoroughly to remove all dirt, dust and sawdust. Wait for wood to dry

2.Next find a container and mix two parts white paint (ideally latex paint) with one part water. you need to get hold of a 3" high quality paint brush and make sure you have a moist clean cloth to wipe away any mistakes you make. Using long sweeping strokes, brush over the wood following the grain. because the paint is watery, the wood will soak it up so you need to make sure you go over each patch well.

3.When the piece is completely covered and still damp, wipe over it with a clean cloth until the grain starts to show through again. This is give the wood a light stain look but if you want a deeper more expensive look, just repeat the previous steps as many times as you like, four should do it though.

4.When you achieve a look that you are happy with, give the wood another light sanding down to expose the grain and and then seal the wood using a satin clear polyurethane. let the substance dry before taking an abrasive nylon pad to it and rubbing gently over it. Repeat this as many times as you like until you get a look you like. Use this method to create a great white wardrobes, bedside table or even dresser.

Best Way To Use Glass When Decorating


Interior design has evolved over the decades and indeed centuries. Trends and materials have moved into and out of fashion and availability, and it is possible to identify different periods of history from decor alone. It has often been the case that interior design fashion was influenced by the aristocracy and glassware has always been an important part this. Good pieces of glass have always had some level of expensive attached to them and this has meant they have always been considered something of a luxury. Because glass has always been associated with good form (often over function), it has remained a staple ingredient in many interior design work. But how do you get the most out of it?

Minimising colour scheme. Whilst coloured glasses can look very attractive, it is all too easy to get carried away and mix too many colours of glass-vases or glass bowls together for example. If you don't want to end up with your rooms looking there has been a paintball fight going on in them, you should not go crazy with the colours. It is a much better idea to stick to two or three colours or use different shades of one colour scheme.

Use to improve light
. The ability of glass to refract light entering a room and re-distribute it in multiple directions has made it a very valuable tool or manipulating light. Of course this is most effective when the glass is thinner and has lower levels of pigment, but thicker glass can still work when the light is quite intense. In rooms with low light, you can place some vases or wine glasses near the window and it will help move the light deeper into the room, and avoid it being concentrated in only one area.

Mix with opposites
. It is often the case that opposite work well together in interior design. Glass is well known for having a shiny and polished finish, and with this in mind it often works incredibly well in interior design when placed alongside less reflective and more rough materials. A pair of whisky-glasses and decanter set to a background of concrete or brushed steel works really well for example. Or what about using a glass chandelier against an artex ceiling (not that artex looks good)?

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

2010 SPRING COLOR TRENDS.




Design Style Guide talks about 2010 SPRING COLOR TRENDS.


Designers bring splashes of sunshine  for spring 2010. Vibrant brights add a sense of excitement to the color palette, while practical neutrals provide a safety net for cautious consumers.
Spring hues featuring light colors white or pink are ideal for a girl's bedroom this year. Using a polka dot pillow as inspiration is the main point for a focal wall for this room. The whole effect is even more highlighted by using polka dots in 2 different sizes in the same room. Damask fabric in apple green complements the vivid pink wall, while a white headboard and bedding give the space a crisp, fresh look. Because of the simplicity of this design and clean lines the colors contrast really well with each other. I also like the small details like black outlines on pillows.


Design Style Guide finds some accessories perfect for this room.


Tips for the best way to paint these pretty polka dots on the walls, ceilings or anywhere else you want to put polka dots! The instructions for this polka dot painting technique very is simple.


1. Go to to the kitchen and find one, larger round dish like a plate to use as a template.
2. Simply trace the cirles in the pattern of your choice.
3.  A flat painted surface is preferable to a semi-gloss or eggshell paint. To get good adherence, the shine has to be removed from the original surface for each and every painted circle or polka dot.
4. You might have better control of your painted patterns using sponges although with sponge painting your polka dots will have a slightly differnt and textured look.


If you don't feel confident about painting polka dots on the wall, you may want to give painting polka dots by using stencil patterns a shot or purchase white circle wall decalls that are the same size and simply adhear them to the wall. If you simply do not have time and do not mind the cost than simply find a wall paper with large polka dots and you are set.
Preserved plants and flowers : how to keep them safe

Preserved floral decoration

Floral DIY enthusiasts know since long time how to use silk flowers to create floral arrangements.

Considering the success that preserved flowers are having , and the fact that preserved flowers are conquering a large slice of the market belonging to silk flowers , Il Numero Verde decided to release this small How-to to help our customers ( and potential ones ) to better understand how to use at best their brand new preserved flowers.

This tutorial is organized in small paragraphs to be easy to understand and put in practice .

1- HINTS TO KEEP YOUR PRESERVED FLOWERS

This is a small list of practices to avoid damaging your preserved roses

- keep them beetween 12 and 28 Celsius degrees

- do not water them

- avoid touching petals and parts of the flowers with water

- keep them in dry environments without dust

- do not put them out of the boxes until you have to use them

- do not keep them less than 50 cm to warm electrical lights , because on a long exposition to hot lights preserved flowers will begin to lose colour

2 - BEST USE PRACTICE

To avoid ruining your preserved flowers while you are using them ( for example : by breakingleaves ) follow these giudelines :

- when you fix preserved heads with glue , always wait 10 seconds before putting the flower's head at contact with the hot glue

- if you fix with iron wire , never insert the wire form the bottom of the head but always from one of its side . This will avoid the bud to crush or lose petals

- although the quality of foam is not a must , use professional foams when working with preserved flowers , for example choose the brand Oasis to be sure that your stems won't suffer or dry

- do not use preserved flowers or petals with cold glue or adhesive tape beacuse petals will get damaged

- do not mix in the same floral arrangement preserved flowers and fresh cut flowers , because when people will water the fresh ones , the preserved flowers will get damaged . But you can mix without problems preserved roses and artificial greenery

We hope these small hints will help you enjoying the best results possible with your beautiful preserved flowers. And if you are looking for preserved flowers have a look at our online boutique , proudly specialized in providing to floral professionals the best preserved plants since 1999.

8 day cuckoo clock spices up your home


As we all know by now, it was during the mid 1700s that the world famous cuckoo clock, famed for its beauty and craftsmanship, originated in the deep and cold black forest region of Germany and Bavaria. This writing is a discussion of the high quality 8 day cuckoo clock.

Cuckoo clock lovers choose the 8 day cuckoo clock for its antique value and quality. These clocks are needed to be rewind every 8 days. When the clock strikes a full hour, the uniquely crafted door will open and the cuckoo bird will call out the number of hours.

For example, the cuckoo bird will croon 5 times when it's 5 o' clock. The bird also announces the half hour as the clock strikes.

To distinguish between the 1 day and 8 day cuckoo clock, you can look at the weights. The weights in the 1 day cuckoo clock are usually smaller, lighter than the ones in the 8 day cuckoo clock. These 8 day cuckoo clocks are relatively more expensive than the 1 day cuckoo clocks. An 8 or the letter A is usually written on the 8 day cuckoo clocks to denote their 8 day mechanical movement.

There is also the 8 day musical cuckoo clock. So what are the differences? Again this 8 day cuckoo clock is quite similar to its previous variety I mentioned above. One distinct feature, as its name suggests, is that the 8 day musical cuckoo clock can also play music and sometimes may even have more animations. Wind up every 8 days is still required.

Every hour, a cuckoo bird will come out of its gate and announce the number of hours. This is usually followed by a special melody. As the clock strikes the half hour, the cuckoo bird will call out once by a different melody. A rotating drum is used to alternative different tunes every hour.

In the musical 8 day cuckoo clock, M indicates music, while 8 or A indicates the 8 day mechanical movement. You may also find a T sign that denotes movable objects like animals, water mills, moving dancers or other things that can turn or move.

Monday, March 1, 2010

Don't let muddy colours spoil your paintings


Whether an artist is specialising in pet portraits, landscapes, or traditional portraits, keeping colours as bright as possible is an important part of producing paintings that appear fresh an clean.

The appearance of any colour is dependant on the circumstance in which it is seen. The way a colour is seen is effected by the colours next to it and on which it is placed. For instance, yellow will seem washed out and pale next to white, but strong and bright next to black. Colour also has tone and can be put into groups. Lemon yellows, golden yellows, oranges and yellow earth colours can be subsituted for one another in mixtures or used to shade each other when describing form. Also, many colours will have an undertone, meaning that they have an element of another colour in their make-up. For instance, red may range from having pronounced yellow undertones to blue.

Laying out your palette
Firstly, the artist should always consider the permanence of his or her colours and limit these to as few as possible, try to avoid colours that are very similar. Laying out your palette properly is important, as it'll make the whole painting process easier. Messy palettes, where colours contaminate each other, muddying their appearance and hence, the appearance of the painting. For complicated techniques, that involve several stages, it's best to lay out a selection of palettes representing each stage of the process. The aim is to have colours placed far enough away from each other so that they do not get contaminated plus, the area where you mix these colours, should also be kept away from the original colours so that you keep them as bright as possible. Best practice for colour placement, is to put them in a line in order of importance along the top of the palette, so that the most used colours are within easy reach. White is ordinarily placed nearest the thumb (in the 'top' spot as it were), but some artists like to have the white in the centre of the line. If particular colour mixes or shades are anticipated, these can be laid out in lines under the main colours.

Colour mixing
The permanence of colour is decreased when mixed, a few colours can become very impermanent if diluted too much. Indeed, when mixing colours, you should keep the amount used to just two or three, this will avoid colours getting too muddy. All the same, you need to be aware that many commercial colours are already a mix of different pigments, so will be more likely to produce muddy colours if over mixed. Brighter tones can be achieved without the loss of colour saturation by mixing with sympathetic colours.

Sewing Machines - What Types Are Available?


Choosing the best machine for your needs can be a tedious task because there are so many models on the market. Luckily, they fall within three general types, and knowing which type you require will make your search for the perfect one significantly easier.

1) Mechanical Sewing Machines

These machines are controlled by a rotary wheel. Any adjustment, like the tension or the length, or width of the stitch, is done by simply moving a dial.

These are your no-frills machines that can support your most basic sewing needs. They are also inexpensive, making them ideal for beginners, which is why manufacturers still make them and sell them in large numbers.

If you want an easy-to-use mechanical sewing machine, then consider the Janome Magnolia 7318. It is the perfect machine for simple garmet repairs, crafting and quilting.

2) Electronic Sewing Machines

Many sewing enthusiasts oft for electronic sewing machines as they can create more in terms of stitches and patterns. The most notable thing about an electronic sewing machine is that there are some functions that can be accomplished just by pushing a button.

An electrical impulse shoots the needle up and returns it back to place in a sequence matched by the feeding mechanism which pushes the cloth through the machine. It really makes the whole process much faster.

The Singer sewing machine 7442 model is the most popular electronic sewing machines. This machine comes with hundreds of functions, push-button controls, adjustable stitch length and width and reverse stitching.

3) Computerized Sewing Machines

With the use of technology and modern innovations over the years, sewing machines are now more functional and complex, with the presence of a built in computer now being more than just a novelty.

This can really mean hands off sewing, as you just need to type in instructions, and then press a button or two. A sequence of stitches can be programmed, so you do not have to perform the exact same movements over and over again.

The Brother Quattro 600D is an ideal computerized sewing machine for all sewing enthusiasts. Regardless of whether you are into sewing, embroidery, crafting or quilting, it machine will never fail you.
---
Learn more about Juki Sewing Machines or read all our sewing machine reviews at http://www.BestSewingMachineDeals.com

How to Purchase Essential Home Furniture


1. Before you go furnishings shopping, decide right away the minimum of what you need to purchase for each room in your home and make a list of essential home furniture. Do not forget about sizes and other preferences to the list. If you have a roommate, be sure to consider his or her opinion before purchasing furniture.

2. Stop at nothing to find wholesalers and discounters. Doing this will save you a aggregation of money. While there are sometimes minor issues on these pieces, they are ofttimes issues will not even notice. Do not over analyze a major decision, one ding will happen very easily once in your house anyway.

3. Decide on a budget. Question yourself, are you purchasing for a home apartment furniture or something else? Set a budget and stick to it. It haw mean making more than one trip to look for sales and such, but in the end it will be worth it as you won't have spent more than you can afford to.

4. Shop at stores like the Rescue Mission and Salvation Army. We have personally gotten some very nice pieces of furnishings by shopping at thrift stores. Some hardware places will clear out high quality items from their hardware areas that have been left behind by people who did not keep up their fees, or others decide they have to have new furnishings every couple of years, even though there is scarce any wear and tear on their older furniture. Whatever the reason, you can ofttimes find bargains on nearly new furnishings at second-hand stores.

5. Buy your furnishings from a furnishings warehouse where the sales clerks are paid on commission. Sometimes you can bargain with the clerk and find out that if you purchase more than one example of furnishings you can get a better and bigger discount.

Having clean carpets is essential


It's good to maintain clean carpets. If you live in Sussex, check out Carpet Cleaning Crawley who are specialists when it comes to carpet cleaning. A large quantity of dirt builds up and it is a tough task to get it all out. Because of this it is essential to keep your carpets clean.
It is recommended that you clean your carpets twice a year. In this way you can rest assured that you always have clean carpets. It could prove wise to contact a company which specialises in carpet cleaning. They have the skill to deal with lots of different fabrics. This is vital because an understanding of the chemical formulas is vital. Another good reason is that the chemicals they use are far more powerful than any you could purchase yourself.
Taking the DIY approach will mean that you'll need to obtain the right equipment. If you have many rooms to clean it might be more efficient to do your own carpet cleaning. But if your house is small consider contacting a cleaning company. If you do take the do it yourself approach make sure you know your carpets well. Depending on the type of carpet you have will determine which chemical formula you use.
It's possible to get rid of lots of bad stains by extracting them with a cleaning machine. Stains you can get rid of include food stains, alcohol stains and many other types of stains. The longer you leave a stain the more difficult it will be to remove the stain. Therefore as soon as it happens take action immediately.
At some point in time you will have to buy new carpets. An expert can advise you on whether it is a simple case of cleaning your carpet or whether you will need to purchase a new one. Normally most carpets keep for at least a decade but it depends on the amount of wear and tear.

Making A Bird House As Well As Bird Feeder By Following Simple Blueprints


If you can give birds a safe and secure protection, array of food along with treats, and clean water, you can be positive to invite the most lovely and uncommon birds into your backyard.
Bird houses
Bird houses are basically built in many dimensions as well as with a selection of different lumber varieties. The birds take pleasure in a harmless haven subject to the outside temperatures as well as predators and it allows them to nest. Birds always need somewhere to nest, so why not put up a variety of wooden bird houses in distinct dimensions meant for the birds within your area. A basic wooden bird house will be extremely simple to construct, plus will as well be a fun weekend endeavor. You will be able to find various different bird house plans by means of searching the net.
Here are some important things for you to reflect on when building your own wooden bird house:
Do research the surroundings and the different variety of birds commonly known to migrate within your territory.
Do understand the needs of the bird houses, such as the size, as well as location. Having bird house plans can give you better ideas on how to make an adequate shelter.
Don't paint, stain, varnish, or treat the inside or around the hole entry of the bird house, this is going to keep away the birds. There can be various different woods that you may employ to make your bird house, but the most frequently used is cedar. Cedar lumber is a good material which does not require to be pained, stained, or else treated.
Avoid using a perch on a bird house. By putting a perch on the bird house, the bird may become trapped indoors with panic. A perch will permit a predator bird to linger on the perch until the smaller birds to come outside.
Drill the proper entry opening for the bird you are trying to attract. Again, the importance of size. You will want to study the birds in your area after that know which ones you would be keen to invite to the backyard.
Location
The importance of a great location to correctly mount the bird house is a considerable part of your awaited new guests. When you are finished building the bird house, you will have to find a good site, that is away from any hazard, such as cats, in addition to weather. A fine location would be situated anywhere in your property that doesn't contain to much human activity, however it is capable to permit you to observe the birds with no obstruction. The bird house may be hung on a tree, otherwise mounted to a post or tree limb, and it should be situated at least 3 to 10 ft. high.
Bird feeder
Adding bird feeders to your property is another method to attract birds. As declared above, you ought to research the different variety of birds frequently known to migrate into your territory, that is going to present you certain insight as to which sort of bird feed along with treats to fill the bird feeders. When birds notice the recently built bird feeder and the wonderful treats you are providing them, you can expect to start seeing the birds collect to your backyard.
Building a simple wooden bird feeder is not complicated at all, you will acquire several ideas through searching for bird feeder plans on the net, as well as visiting a bookstore or library.
Water
Birds are also attracted by water. Birds need a water area for drinking plus for bathing. This to is a endeavor that you will be able to create on your own, or else if you do not have time purchase at a store. It is recommended that you look into different bird bath plans and see if this is a project you would enjoy to achieve. You can additionally use any shallow container to hold water. You will be able to set them on the ground or above the ground, close to the feeders would be a fine location. If you are known to contain cats in the site it would be recommended that you make it nearer and accessible to the birds so that they will not become prey to such animals.

Easy to Follow Tips on How to Make Stained Glass Step by Step


How to stained glass step by step is one of the biggest questions we receive through our stained glass making website.
Below is an outline of the steps you'll follow as you create your glass art.
There are many methods and techniques and the steps we list have worked wonders for us. Take baby steps and follow a plan which is what we have provided here.
Here it is - stained glass step by step These steps can vary per project, but this provides a nice outline.
Step 1: Lead or Copper foil? We prefer copper foil when beginning. You are literally limited by your own creativity. Use your creativity.
Step 2: Get your glass and supplies/tools. There are many places to buy the items you'll need. Some are cheap and some not so cheap. Some tools you won't even use so research before you decide. Then set up your workspace. It doesn't have to be big, but does have to provide room for a small mess.
Step 3: Get comfortable with your Glass Cutter. This will be one of your most utilized tools when creating stained glass. Learn the techniques it will take to get your first piece looking beautiful.
Step 4: Do you need a grinder?? Things to consider include safety issues, choosing the right head, using water, following the right procedures, and so forth. These are all important issues when grinding.
Step 5: Working with the copper foil. This also takes some practice but because of today's ease of use, you can catch on pretty quickly.
Step 6: Soldering. There is basic soldering, spot soldering, finishing, tinning, and more soldering applications that you will want to learn on how to make stained glass step by step. Again practice with the tools as there are some that you will use quite a bit.
Step 7: Finally, clean, apply the finish, and plan to display your art. Do this as soon as you're done soldering for a clean and professional look.
There you go. Nothing to it right? This is just a simple outline - the key to any art is to learn, do, learn, do.
This is a very simple outline on how to make stained glass step by step. There are a lot of intricacies that have been left out (due to the sheer amount of info) and it is easier to follow these steps with visual pictures, video, etc. so consider that when trying to learn this art form.
If you are really serious about learning how to make stained glass, then you can save yourselves hundreds of dollars and frustration by visiting CreateStainedGlass.com where you'll find an art site filled with stained glass tips and techniques!

Saturday, February 27, 2010

Preserve your Photographs with a Photo Scanner


We all have good intentions of creating some kind of project with all of those old photos we have stuck in drawers or boxes sitting in the closet. But when do we really get around to it? We don't. They continue to sit and age. Photos become washed out, faded and damaged. We can save our photos and restore them with a photo negative scanner and believe it or not it's easy.

Your photos tell a story of your lifetime. A time capsule if you will of your early childhood continuing on to your most memorable moments like graduation, marriage and first child. We don't want to lose these precious momentos of our past. We want to keep them safe. Digitizing your photos with a photo negative scanner will protect your photos for a lifetime.

Not only will digitizing your photos save them, it will also allow you to organize them for easy access. It's so much easier to work on that special project when all of your photos are organized and easily accessable.

New photo scanners are easy to use with one touch scanning and auto color restoration. Some even remove dust and background scratches on photos. The things you can do with these new scannes is quite impressive. Not only can you scan and save your old photos but you can also save images from 35mm negatives and create .pdf files and other documents.

If you're into crafts you'll love having all of your photos scanned and digitized. You can use them to make scrapbook templates and backgrounds. Transferring photos to T-shirts and canvas bags for personalized gifts is a great idea. How about making a personalized quilt with all the photos of the grandchildren? The possibilites are endless.

Creating great projects from your old photos start with a good scan of your photos. Make sure you follow the directions for your scanner. You'll have better negative scans if you take the time to clean your negatives of smudges and fingerprints with a soft cloth before scanning.

Get out that old box of photos and start scanning. You'll never know what you'll be inpired to create.