You know that every occasion is a right occasion to take a picture right? You have holidays, reunions, sporting events etc. But what should you do with your pictures?

You have the option to do it the easy way (by internet) or yourself (the hard way) because you start with nothing at the beginning. Its more work but more personal.

What do you use while doing your album? Anything you want!!! Paper, pictures, leaves; whatever you feel like it there are absolutely no rules since its your album and your treasure. If you want your picture to look go for ages here are a few tips:

1. If you are thinking about putting your original pictures in your album, then you want to look for paper that says it is acid free. Paper without that designation will turn yellow and brittle and in a few years not be attractive any longer. All your hard work will be down the tubes as this yellowing is a direct cause of the acid.

2. How artistic are you. Do you want to make borders yourself? A quick short cut is to use a color printer and in Word you can print page borders. Just be aware that there are certain types of ink that can discolor your pictures down the road.

3. So we have mentioned already that there are really no limits or rules when you scrap book as it is your imagination that guides you. You are free to use any materials you want even if they might pose problems down the road. It is nice to know that you dont need to despair over this. You can use a called the Archival Spray. Using this spray on your souvenirs will create the barrier you need against acid.

All those materials can be found in crafts stores around the world or on line, but you need to remember that you can do it all yourself and do your own journaling with special none acid and lignin free pens and markers.

The State of Washington is a favorite place to go to for craftsmaking. There are a number of craft shows that occur annually. In this year alone, there will be close to seven hundred events; that’s almost two events per day! Any enterprising craftsperson can surely see the opportunities presented by this.

You of course have to carefully craft a business plan first, of course. Think of it in the same way that you carefully make the crafts that you want to sell. My advice is to think of location, location, and location. It may be simple, if not repetitive, on paper, but I assure you that it’s difficult in practice. Let me enumerate the finer aspects of it.

The first thing that you have to do is to choose the craft show that you are going to. Seven hundred fairs a year means that there are a lot of options to choose from. As someone who’s just starting, a good bet would be to start off with events that are close to where you live. In this way, you get to save up on gas money and time.

The choice of location is also going to depend on the success of the event in question in the years that have gone. Look up the events themselves - look for craft shows in Washington through the Web, find out how to get hold of the organizers, and then contact them. Other than knowing if the fair does have potential for you, you will also establish the start of a decent business relationship.

As a final note to choice of location, make sure that you pick the placing of your booth really well. This is very important; even if you could just let the organizers pick for you, you may end up with a stall right beside the trash heap or worse. Look at the maps of the event, determine the best location for you, and strive to get that stall.

Don’t we just love it when we receive cards, no matter what the occasion might be! There are so many different reasons for using cards. With this in mind, I decided to go ahead and write this article about making cards, often using items we already have.

To give you an example, fancy paper, tissue, string, ribbons, stones, sequins, scraps of materials, why not incorporate them.

This menu card would be suitable for a silver wedding, big party, wedding guests or other special celebrations. The first thing you will need, is some card which is not too thick and about 24 x 21 cm in actual size. This needs to have a nice texture. Once you have this, fold it in half.

Make a line for the fold with probably a craft knife. Now you could do with a line at the top and the bottom of your card. This could be made with a couple of strips of ribbon, braid or coloured paper, about 12 x 2cm ,which can be glued to the card. Of course, you will need the correct glue for this.

You could, if you wanted too, then add a thin line of gold or silver paint along the outside edge, below your line. Your top and bottom line do not neccessarily have to be the same colours, they can be toning or at least one of them could have a small pattern on it.

Supposing this is for a silver wedding, I would most likely use a picture of the couple involved. Add it to the centre and then highlight this by adding a silver circle around it. Underneath my bottom trip I would put an item which, in fact, denotes each five years up to their silver wedding.

Any wording you wanted to add could be above the top strip. This method would be just as good for a young persons wedding. Below the bottom line, you could space out tiny little hearts with plastic jewels or even sequins. In the centre, you could place a photo of the happy couple, but I would try and make it into the actual shape of a heart and then add a red border round this. A few bits of confetti on the card would not go amiss to finish it off.

What you need now, is your menu. You could, I suppose, write on the inside of the card, but it is probably better to insert and attach a piece of paper with this, hand written or typed.

However, it might be you just want to make place cards, and really, the cost of these soon adds up if you buy these in the shops. I would attempt this in the same way. Using roughly 8cm of card, score it lightly down the centre and then fold it.

Use ribbon to go across your card, about 1 cm from the top. A narrow ribbon will do, but let this go well over the sides. Once it has been glued, simply cut the exta ribbon off.

Your ribbon needs a bit of decoration now, so what I suggest you do, is to go and buy some little rosebud heads from a haberdashers and apply these to the centre. If you cannot get these, they could be made from tissue and a bead added to the centre, or a small sequin. All that is needed to finalise this, is the guests name written on it.

Walls are textured to give a beautiful appearance and are painted with neutral sand paint. The burnished Venetian plaster paint provides a lot of texture to the wall and they include plaster moldings and columns wherever necessary. The white color mixed to all colors would provide a toned effect on walls. When the bright color paints are used in full strength in certain walls they give boldness to the creation. Earthy Orange, Creamy Yellow and Sea green are some good choices, which give a tremendous effect to the walls.

The brilliant mosaic tile design around the doorframe and across the kitchen and bathroom would provide a dramatic effect. The tiles with rich orange or red terra cotta color should be used in place of base mold to give the perfect match to the wall color.

The furniture you choose must be crafted with hardwood or with simple rustic design of country wood. Many of the regular design furniture are available in the market carrying a Mediterranean tag but do not have the authentic scale and quality. These types of furniture’s are found in the local market that manufactures such furniture in large scale. There are specialty stores that provide the quality and design that would add value to the hall.

Glass, terra cotta and iron have been dominating the decoration of the Mediterranean for centuries. The appeal of these commodities is fantastic and one needs quite a bit of knowledge on these materials and also know the production techniques and time taken to create such artistic effects. If the right method and knowledge is acquired one can really capture and it would give great value.

Wall mounted tapestry and wrought iron grills create the illusion of a window and would add interest of the old world charm. Pottery plays an important role in decorating the rooms are made of natural terra cotta in different shapes and color. The iron and wood wine racks in the dining room with iron candleholder in the dining table is perfect for romantic dinners. The brass urns, water fountain and the plastered fireplace hearth are very essential and would make it more decorative.

Finally to accomplish a point of interest and to impress a particular decorating theme one needs to work out a plan in a winery near the Mediterranean coast. Sitting inside a enclosed courtyard and by catching the glimpses of the setting around one should plan a romantic finish to their home.

Read full articles about Mediterranean style and Mediterranean decor at this web.

If you need to brighten up your walls, this may be the perfect answer. These are basically not very expensive to construct, as you do not require much to make them. However, you will find, that the finished effect will create interest and is pretty attractive. You can also make them as gifts.

This does require a bit of forethought however, as to what type of frame you should use. As there are so many different ones available in the stores now. It rather depends on the space you want to fill, as there are single, doubles, maybe hinged together and now frames will sometimes hold up to around five pictures.

You will require a very clear base to work from, this being a really clear outline from a photograph. So you will need your subject person or animal to face sideways for this to get a good shot.

What will I actually need then? Firstly, some tracing paper, masking tape, some fairly small sharp scissors, a pencil, a spray glue, several photos of your subject, some soft black paper, a soft black pencil, or pen even, some white paper with a texture to it and, of course, your frame.

Let us begin! Sort out which photo or photos you want to use. You then need to place your tracing paper over this, preferably on a board. Tape the four sides down with the masking tape. Now the fun starts. Make sure that your pencil is sharp, then trace round the outline of your photo.

To make this appear like a silhouette in a cameo, for example, finish, say a persons head and neckline, with a curve shape. This done, you can remove the masking tape and free the tracing paper. Remember, you can always change the size of your silhouette to fit into your desired frame.

I have suggested burgundy paper, but you can choose any colour. Well, you need this paper now to put your freshly traced paper on, with the pencilled side facing the paper. Then, masking tape it down. Now press really hard and go round your image with a pencil to transfer the shape to your paper.

Now we have reached a delicate operation which needs some patience! Take your craft knife and you now need to cut your shape, keeping to your outline. Not easy, I might add!

What you need next, is some white textured paper, about 1cm over the edges of your frame size. Now your silhouette needs to be spray glued on the back, then pressed down hard in the centre of your white paper.

To give a nice finish, you could add a border to go round your shape. Another little trick you could always try, is to add some fine, wispy bits, of hair or eyelashes from little cuttings of your black paper.

Now this is completed, put your picture in the frame. This is an ideal project for using pictures of your family, friends or even your four legged friends!

Every individual needs something to keep him busy, like a hobby. It is vital that at the end of a hard day’s work, you have something to look forward to that’s fun and relaxing. For some people, this could be a sport, while others may find things like cooking to be more to their tastes. Then there are those who find their passion in making crafts.

Whatever your choice of hobby turns out to be, it is important to have something physical to remind yourself of your hobby. Memories are fun, but as you get older, they may not be as reliable. Those into sports thus strive to get that trophy, or those with a penchant in the kitchen may want to take photographs of their most memorable dishes. In this way, they will always know the happy moments that their hobbies have given to them.

Artisans have got it good because of this. Our hobbies deal with making physical items, as it is; therefore our very interest in the crafts will result in producing objects that can last a lifetime. All we have to do to is look over our collections, and we’ll know that our time has been used productively making these items.

Something else that makes these crafts special: every piece effectively pinpoints the place in time when it was made. Have a look over your works and you’ll definitely see distinct improvements with every one you’ve made. It’s as if a specific part of your life has been imbued into the crafts you have made.

If you enjoy the art of making crafts like me, you’ll know what I’m talking about as you peruse your collection of handcrafted items. Why not take it a step further and showcase your works at one of the many craft shows held in West Virginia on a yearly basis.

Wisconsin is very well-known for their cheeses, that’s why their known as America’s Dairyland. Really, Wisconsin has the definite know-how on making cheese much better than any other state. Our products can even reach the caliber of global products. But, we’re going a bit too far; let’s keep the discussion closer to home.

We have found the perfect way to celebrate Wisconsin’s skill with cheese. Cheese Days is a celebration that occurs biannually, and here we celebrate this dairy product of different varieties. Besides the obvious presence of cheese, you will also enjoy the traditional things that you will see in a fair; there are rides that your kids will enjoy, club stands, and of course, the craft shows.

The craft show is where I usually lounge, myself. I have a certain appreciation for the physical forms of art, you see; whether it’s for carving pieces out of wood or a skill with embroidery. It’s just so fun to simply look around and enjoy the talent surrounding you. As an added bonus, I get to nibble on some brie or limburger cheese. Not everyone can make crafts, but everyone can appreciate the level of skill involved in making one.

If you are a Wisconsin native, and you are one interested in crafts, why not show it off at Cheese Days? Undoubtedly, you’ll receive some attention; I, myself, like to go to booths to chat and make small talk with the craftspeople and hear about their inspiration for the works.

Unfortunately, Cheese Days only occurs on the even-numbered years. But this is little reason for despair; there are still a lot of craft shows that will occur in Wisconsin annually. Look for lists of these events online; these days, the Internet is the bulletin that they use to post their fliers. Practice on those, and see you at Cheese Days!

Seattle is a place associated with coffee; there are quite a number of coffee shops that dot the place here and there, and of course, that one particular coffee company that grew from its humble origins right here in pike Place Market. The irony here is even though Washington is an agricultural state, it does not grow coffee at all. Washington does not have the climate that is conducive to coffee trees.

At any rate, it is true that to this very day, there are a lot of people that go to Seattle if only to partake in the many coffee shops that line the streets. So, it follows that the crafts made here draw their inspiration from coffee. It has been said, after all, that coffee is the wine of Apollo, stimulating thought and creativity. Thus, many masterfully made crafts were inspired over a cup of coffee.

I have seen some people push the idea even further, though. Coffee in itself can be a form of art if used properly; that even the roasting of fresh green coffee beans turns out to be a favorite subject of photography. In other words, coffee is a wonderful sort of subject for many artists; it is the paint that breathes life into a canvas; both figuratively and literally.

I’ve seen one such crafted piece wherein miniature sculptures were accentuated with roasted coffee beans. It gave the piece an extra bit of texture, and even though the seductive smell of the bean would eventually fade away, the piece itself would still be there. Crafts of this kind are the perfect accent to a coffee enthusiast’s living room.

As I’ve said above, I’ve seen works wherein the coffee is actually used as the paint for an artwork. Different shades of brown dominate the piece, giving an otherwise new piece that definite classical look. Truly, coffee continues to inspire you as you contemplate the piece over your morning cup. I for one will continue to drink as I do my craftswork.

How much simpler could it possibly be? This really is an easy method to make pictures to adorn your walls. They are generally interesting to the observer and attractive at the same time. They also make good presents for people and are remarkably cheap to make.

You perhaps should give thought to how you would like to do it though. There are so many varieties of frames available, you can have single frames, double frames, sometimes hinged together or in some cases the space to have, up to about 5 pictures.

You will require a very clear base to work from, this being a really clear outline from a photograph. So you will need your subject person or animal to face sideways for this to get a good shot.

Now then, what will I be needing to make this? Very little, is the simple answer! Some masking tape, a craft knife, spray glue, tracing paper, a pencil, white textured paper, some purple paper which is soft, plus a gel pen or fine crayon the same colour, your frame and your photos.

Where do I begin? Establish which photo, or photos, you are going to use, then place the chosen one on something flat. Now cover this with the tracing paper and use the masking tape to tape it down. Sharpen your pencil and carefully trace round your silhouette on the photo.

If, for example, you are doing the silhouette of a person, you need to put a curve at the neck where it finishes, so it will appear to liken cameos that you see on brooches. Once you have done this, take off the tape and remove your tracing paper. Then make sure that it is a suitable size for your frame. A trip to a copy shop will put this right!

Now tape the tracing on to your black paper, with your pencil marks flat to the black paper. You now need to draw strongly over your pencil lines to transfer them to the black paper. Bear in mind, I chose black, but you can choose your own colour.

Now we have reached a delicate operation which needs some patience! Take your craft knife and you now need to cut your shape, keeping to your outline. Not easy, I might add!

Whatever your frame size may be, you now need your textured white paper to cover it and, in fact, be about 1cm over all the edges really. Use your spray glue to cover the back of your silhouette and then this needs positioning in the centre of your white paper. Make sure that this has adhered well.

You might like to add a border or fancy edge around it. This you could do with your coloured crayon or a pen. If you want to be a bit more adventurous, you could have a go at making some eyelashes, hair etc. little details to add to it from your coloured paper.

So, now let’s frame it. Everyone can then see what you have been spending your time on! What is more, they can all enjoy it!

You may ask, ‘What is an Ultimate Shop Hop?”. I say it is an exciting concept that came about in 2008. In May of 2008 WRBQ, Inc. - “We’d Rather Be Quilting” announced the introduction of The Ultimate Shop Hop - a coast-to-coast, build-your-own, one-of-a-kind shop hop experience with 4,500 shops to choose from!

Exclusively featured in WRBQ Inc.’s Regional Directories and National Directory beginning with the 11th Edition, The Ultimate Shop Hop gives quilters the tools to get out in the quilting community to become better acquainted. As the quilters visit any shop listed in the directory they may request a stamp on their passport - two stamps if the shop they visit advertises with WRBQ, Inc. With so many quilt shops to choose from it makes this shop hop truly nationwide, one in which anyone and everyone can participate. Passports can be found along with the complete directions in the current Quilt Shop Directories that may be purchased at many of the quilt shops and of course on the company’s website www.wrbqinc.com. For about the price of a magazine you can obtain a great quilter’s resource.

Two great quilting buddies were visiting one day about the annual shop hop that they do in their local area. They were laughing and talking and decided that someday theyd like to visit all of the shops across the country, each and every one! Thus the idea for The Ultimate Shop Hop was born.

WRBQ, Inc. has an official motto of, ‘Quilters Helping Quilters’. Keeping that in mind, we can see how the shop hop perfectly fits into that concept. When quilters participate in The Ultimate Shop Hop, small businesses are supported, as well as fellow quilters across the nation. On their journeys, in their own states or across the country, quilters can meet and connect with other quilters while participating in The Ultimate Shop Hop. So too can the many quilt shop owners connect in new ways with the quilters from various parts of the country. The Ultimate Shop Hop designed by WRBQ, Inc. has created the perfect opportunity.

Quilters may also be inspired by something new they see or hear about as they travel from quilt shop to quilt shop participating in The Ultimate Shop Hop. Where with your average quilting shop hop you have anywhere from 3-5 days to complete the required number of visits to participating quilt shops, there is an advantage with The Ultimate Shop Hop in that you have 6 months to make the rounds.

As you arrive at each chosen quilt shop you have the passport stamped or signed to indicate you have been at that particular quilt shop. The quilt shops have all been provided with the information about The Ultimate Shop Hop. There is more information for both the quilters and shop owners on the WRBQ’s website. Once you have filled the passport with stamps from quilt shops the passport is then returned to WRBQ, Inc. to qualify for the prizes. There are 4 major category prizes and then each participant receives a thank you gift from the quilt shop directory WRBQ, Inc. The winner’s names are listed on the WRBQ, Inc. website. What more could a quilter, new or old ask for?