Discover the expert in you.
Discover the expert in you.
Making a collage in Photoshop involves using a different layer for each image and adding special effects, such as feathered edges and translucency. Add interest to a basic photo collage with help from an experienced graphic designer and illustrator in this free video on using Photoshop.
Sometimes the smallest canvas inspires the biggest imagination and they don't come much more condensed than everyday shipping tags. Available in a variety of colors and sizes ranging from 2 3/4-by-1 3/8 inches all the way to 8-by-4 inches, there is a tag that will fit the criteria for your collage piece. Since the materials and colors used in your collage are dictated by the theme or purpose of the project, the resources that are available to create your composition are solely at your discretion. Just keep in mind the petite nature of your tag; keep it simple and try…
Making bricks is a way to give a home-improvement project a unique personal touch. Molding bricks is a simple process -- the mold is a simple rectangular box that hinges to open and allow the wet brick to be removed before baking. Molds can be made out of commonly available parts, with little time and effort.
Hot stamps are used to add logos, images or writing to a variety of objects. Gold and silver foil hot stamps are unique in that you can not get metallic printing from a regular ink printer. Hot stamp creations include advertising giveaways on pens, throwing discs or other small items, as well as creating foil lettering on book covers and paper.
A floating sink takes the form of a bowl resting on top of a counter, often in a wash room or a bathroom instead of a kitchen. As long as you know how to make a pot on the potter's wheel, you should be able to make your own sink. This is not a very suitable first-time potter's wheel project, however. If you're new to ceramics, or just learning, start with a simpler project, such as a basic bowl.
A floating fence allows livestock to drink from a lake or pond but blocks the animals from swimming in, crossing over or fouling the water. Many farmers fence their pastures with an electric fence. A floating electric fence built of PVC pipe can surround the livestock drinking area on three sides to keep livestock confined.
Hanging a bed to the wall so that you can fold it out of sight is a practical way to increase the amount of space in your home. The idea of a fold-up bed is nothing new. It has been popularized by various television shows and movies over the years and has been used in venues such as college dorm rooms as a way to provide additional living space in cramped quarters.
A floating hearth is a solution for a fireplace that has no built-in hearth or for homes that have limited wall space beneath the fireplace. This type of hearth typically takes the form of a wall-mounted shelf positioned below the fireplace that can be used for decoration or the storage of fireplace tools. You may adjust the size and shape of the hearth to meet your particular needs and, once installed, you can embellish the hearth to match the existing decor in your room.
Pot trivets allow you to place hot pots and dishes onto table tops or counters without the fear of burning or discoloring the surfaces. One way to make your trivets even more decorative is to cover them with miniature mosaic tiles. Mosaic tile trivets prevent heat transfer from hot pots and dishes and can be constructed to create a colorful pattern or design that matches your kitchen decor.
As one of the Internet's largest marketplaces for handmade goods, Etsy.com claims more than 12 million active users and receives more than 25 million unique daily visitors as of 2012. Although the process of selling on Etsy is straightforward -- you list the item, someone buys and pays for it, and then you ship it -- being successful in this highly competitive marketplace requires ingenuity and perseverance. Just remember: Even the largest sellers started out with just a few handcrafted items.
Make sure the wall hanging is even when tying ribbons and adding photos. Learn how to properly tie knots and put on photos to a Mother's Day wall hanging with tips from a scrapbooking specialist in this free crafts video.
Decide what order your boards will be in before adding ribbon. Learn about adding ribbon to a Mother's Day wall hanging with tips from a scrapbooking specialist in this free crafts video.
Mark chipboard before punching out eyelets. Learn about matching holes to add eyelets for a Mother's Day wall hanging with tips from a scrapbooking specialist in this free crafts video.
Take a brayer and smooth out paper to make sure glue is evenly spread. Learn how to add embellishments to a Mother's Day wall hanging with tips from a scrapbooking specialist in this free crafts video.
Cut three pieces of paper to seven and one half inches by five inches from a scrapping kit. Learn about cutting and shaping paper for a Mother's Day wall hanging with tips from a scrapbooking specialist in this free crafts video.
Unity candles are very unique looking and look great in a wide variety of rooms and settings. Learn how to mod podge a unity candle with help from a craft expert in this free video clip.
Majolica is a ceramic glaze style, which originated in Italy, that gives red or brownish earthenware ceramic pieces a white finish with the look of porcelain. The majolica look is obtained by painting a colored design or pattern on top of the white majolica glaze, and when a piece is fired, the colored design elements are softened as the colored glaze melts into the white glaze. Majolica tiles designed and made at home can be used as decorative items or highlights with other household tile installations.
Build a temporary basement shower for a number of reasons. Adding another shower facility when you have a houseful of company or when major plumbing work is underway in the upstairs bathroom are two possibilities. You can use less expensive materials for temporary showers but more durable materials may as well be used where possible, just in case you use the shower for a longer period of time. Home renovation projects can require much longer than expected and a temporary basement shower may end up being needed longer than anticipated.
When you think of macrame, you probably think of the plant hangers your grandmother had in her home in the seventies. However, this craft has a much older history, dating back to the 13th century when Arabic weavers tied knots in the ends of rug fringe to add decoration and finish the work. Today, macrame is used to create jewelry, purses, belts and even wall hangings. The look of a macrame piece appears to be quite complex, but with a simple pattern you can create a macrame wall hanger, such as an owl, in a weekend.
Tulle pom-pom garlands transform any room into a decorative wonderland, and are often used as accent decorations for weddings and showers. Construct tulle pom-pom garlands into any size, large or small, that you choose to suit your event's location. For example, create miniature pom-pom garlands to hang up around tables or to wrap around doorways. Create very tiny tulle pom-pom garlands to wrap around glasses or stemware that your guests will enjoy using during the event.
Making a swinging door out of a wall hanging shows that you certainly like to fill your home with creative and clever ideas. Instead of making common café doors or louver shuttered doors, a wall hanging will add color and style to entrances in between room. The secret ingredient to pull the project together is to use a swing arm curtain rod. They’re easy to install and sturdy enough to even hold a heavy tapestry piece.
Square molding gets its name from the shape of the profile as viewed from the end like any other molding. It is a common trim molding that is used throughout the home and is ideal for stairs. You can make your own square molding for stairs as a do-it-yourself project. Making your own molding will allow you to make it out of the same variety of wood as your existing woodwork. Making your own is an affordable alternative.
Drywall workers prefer installing ceilings before walls, for two reasons. First, the top edges of the walls help support the ceiling boards, strengthening the installation and decreasing movement along the seams where the walls and ceiling meet. Second, installing the ceilings first allows room for error when measuring and cutting. The thickness of the wall boards will cover jagged edges along the borders of the ceiling boards. Installing the ceiling after the walls won’t cause any serious problems, but you likely will create wide gaps, which you must fill before the drywall finishers can begin.
Drywall, plaster and other thin materials that compose walls are often not strong enough to support hanging objects. Often, the object will put pressure on the nail or screw, which will eventually begin to tear at the wall material. Ideally, objects should be hung using the studs behind the wall as an anchor. When the stud is not available, you can secure the object to hollow portions of the wall, as long as you employ a support anchor.
Wall slats are mere pieces of fabric hung on a wall. Many slats produced by a manufacturer come with a panel used to secure it to the wall. If the wall slat doesn't have a panel, you can create one with material. When creating a panel, you want to use material that will not be obtrusive or cause the slat to buckle up. Wall slats should hang as flat against a wall as possible.
CAD, CAM and CNC are terms associated with aluminum molding at the professional and amateur levels. Computer Aided Design (CAD) utilizes computer hardware and graphics software to produce highly accurate design drawings of products that will be manufactured in aluminum molds. Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) software incorporates the design drawings. Based on these drawings, the CAM system creates product fabrication instructions. The system transmits these instructions to computer-controlled production machines that manufacture the product based on its physical shape. Basically, Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) technology directs the course of a spindle with the ability to move in three directions simultaneously,…
Walls constructed of concrete masonry units, such as block, are sturdy. Hanging a cabinet on a CMU wall may seem a daunting task, but it needn't be. You can hang a cabinet on a CMU wall with a little help and a few common tools. You do not need the help of a professional mason or carpenter to get the job done.
Installing metal cabinets on a concrete wall may seem like a difficult task to some homeowners, but it is not an overly complicated task. A concrete wall provides a stable surface to anchor the proper hardware. You can hang a metal cabinet to a concrete wall yourself, so you don't have to hire a contractor. You only need a few ordinary tools to complete the task.
Pebble tiles provide a natural looking option for outdoor walkways, patios and flower beds, as well as interior floors, walls and countertops. Manufactured tiles are readily available, but you are limited in design and color. Making your own pebble mosaic tiles saves you money and gives you complete control over the finished appearance of the tiles.
Whether you have limited wall space in your home or are simply looking to decorate it in a new way, a vertical collage is a fun and creative way to express yourself. Any thing can be used to create an interesting collage. For instance, you can use pieces of jewelry, glass beads and charms to create a three-dimensional one. But more commonly, collages are composed of various photos of family and friends.
Custom symmetrical tiles can look both beautiful and decorative, but can cost a lot of money if you buy them from a professional artist. One option is to make the symmetrical tiles yourself using a few basic and inexpensive materials purchased from any arts and crafts supply store. Making your own tiles will also allow you to customize the appearance of the tiles by using ceramics glazes to match the rest of your home décor.
Decoupage is a type of all-in-one glue, sealant and finish used to attach paper and fabric to surfaces. It is a favorite among crafters due to its versatility and flexibility. And since it's a water-based, nontoxic glue, it is suitable for children to use. Though decoupage is fairly simple to remove while still wet, it becomes more challenging to remove once dry. You can dissolve hardened decoupage by using a product formulated to melt away the glue.
The SQLite database works with Java to display dynamic pages in a Java Web app. To connect to the database you must create a Java connection function. The connection function defines the drivers, the SQLite file and the user name and password needed to access the file. SQLite is for small websites that do not get a lot of traffic, because using it is slower than using a regular hosted database.
Dress up plain light switch covers by decoupaging decorative paper over them. Mod Podge, a variety of glue, works especially well for decoupage because it creates a moisture-resistant seal over the paper. It comes in either matte or gloss, so you can give the cover a shiny or a flat surface as desired. Decorate the cover to match the room's decor or wall covering, or create multiple covers to switch out seasonally or for the holidays.
Fiberglass is a great medium to use to create a casting mold, but before you can make a mold you must have an object that you want to replicate. You can use an already existing object or create a new piece of artwork. Creating a new piece allows you to have complete creative control over your project. One of the best choices for making this initial piece is foam. Foam is easy to work with, light enough to use even for large-scale pieces and, most attractive of all, it's cheap.
Although many people identify Delft blue ceramics with the Netherlands, they were actually a Chinese concept, adopted by Dutch potters in the city of Delft in the 17th century. Delft blue themes include windmills, tulips and other flowers and various portrayals of Dutch scenery. Delft blue is easily identified by its creamy white background and cobalt blue patterns. Delft tiles, originally used as flooring in the 1600s, add a charming accent to a Dutch-themed kitchen.
Bullnose, or nosing, tiles are the finished pieces that are used to complete a wall or counter tile installation. While many ceramic tiles and wall tiles have bullnose pieces available, many stone and porcelain tiles do not. These tiles, which have color going straight through the tile, with no glaze on the top, can be shaped or formed into a bullnose on a tile wet saw, provided that a special bullnosing blade has been attached.
A canopy above a bed allows you to sleep among handing fabric. Some beds come with a built-in canopy atop of the four posters and stores carry mass-manufactured fabrics to hang from the ceiling. These range in cost from. Making your own canopy gives you the opportunity for a solid construction without costing you a fortune. Adding molding to the outside of a canopy bed gives it a polished, finished look.
One way to maximize your interior living space is with multipurpose areas. Create a combination guest room and storage room, or a living room and dining room, or a den and office; then create separation between the two zones by making a temporary wall. You can do this using one of several creative techniques that look good, are simple to do, and are removed when you no longer need the space to serve dual purposes.
Molding planes are simple woodworking tools dating back to the 18th century that generally are superior to modern router bits. Molding planes assist carpenters and woodworkers to make furniture such as cabinets and chairs. They act as a wedge to hold an iron blade that you press against the wood you are working on to slowly shave the wood into the desired shape. They are basically a square block with a blade sticking out the top at an angle. Molding planes offer a manual alternative to using electric tools. Today, they are almost exclusively made from beech, but you also…
Extreme changes in outside temperatures have a tendency to cause the brickwork on a chimney to crack. If left unchecked, the stack will certainly crumble. One way a concerned homeowner can combat this is by installing a chimney float, sometimes called a “crown,” a cement cap that surrounds the flue and serves as a hedge against damage to the stack.
A wall hung vanity is exactly as the name implies: a vanity that hangs from the wall. A traditional bathroom vanity consists of a cabinet base with a vanity countertop and sink. The piece sits directly on the ground and against one wall. A wall hung vanity sits slightly above the floor with a small amount of space underneath.
If you thought you looked good in a sari, imagine your room wearing one. These lengths of fabric are all you need to add elegance to your home decor. Use it to hide wall imperfections, dress up a window or add a splash of color to any bland corner. With the right curtain-hanging hardware, turn your sari into a work of art.
Mosaic tiles are colorful finishing materials arranged in patterns over a countertop or wall to create a decorative surface. Applying mosaic tiles over an uneven surface can cause the mosaics to buckle, chip and fall apart. Before you cover a countertop in mosaic tiles, make the surface smooth and flat. Although you can hire a professional tiler to make mosaic countertops level, hiring a professional can be expensive. Save money by making the countertop level and installing mosaics yourself using some basic hardware and home improvement supplies and tools.
Relief tiles, sculptural tiles with a raised design, add a strikingly textural element to a wall and can be used for backsplashes in kitchens and bathrooms. It is not difficult to create your own handmade relief tiles, which rely on a hand-cast mold process that produces a series of identical ceramic tiles that are combined to fill a wall area. Relief tiles are also used with great success in decorating fireplaces and window cornice boards.
Bromeliads hung from a garden wall create a lush tropical environment that looks like you spend hours on the upkeep. These hardy plants, however, are deceptively easy to maintain and tolerate a range of temperatures. Whether you wish to create a living wall in your garden or add foliage as the backdrop to a seating area, bromeliads bring color and style to your yard.
Whether your aesthetic leans toward the vibrant colors and complex designs of the 1960s, the monochromatic formality of Victorian photographs or anything in between, retro collage tags can display your taste and style. You can make them as flat, two-dimensional disks or add raised decorations and textures to add dimension. Use them as key chains, necklace pendants, scrapbook adornments, Christmas tree ornaments or gift tags. Or give them as personalized gifts to your vintage-chic friends. You can also attach magnets to the backs of the tags and use them to decorate your refrigerator.
Hanging large, flower-like pom-poms from the ceiling to decorate a party is a quick and cost-effective way to set a celebratory scene. Paper-based pom-poms are ubiquitous party decorations, but foil incarnations are less common. Aluminum foil is ideal for the task, though. As you spread sections of the gathered foil to create the decoration’s spherical shape, the semi-rigidity of the foil needs little coaxing to stay in place. Use craft paint to create polka dots, stripes or paint splatters on the foil before you fold it, to heighten the pom-poms' visual appeal.
Collages are a creative way to combine paint, photos, drawings and other media. An acrylic medium can be used in a variety of ways. An acrylic medium can add texture to paint, adhere photos or paper to the canvas and act as a protective coating. Acrylic mediums come in matte, gloss and super gloss finishes and can be a gel or liquid consistency. Use an acrylic medium in your next collage project for a smooth, professional look.
Smila is the brand name of a line of whimsical children's lamps sold by IKEA, an international home furnishings retailer. Most items purchased from IKEA require full or partial assembly and instructions are included in the package. Smila wall lamps include assembly instructions that depict images instead of text. These instructions should be followed in the exact order as they appear.
