Fondant Art

The incredible edible results of this art always astonish me and often leave me in awe by the beauty of the creations which are made from fondant.

This sugary substance can be formed and molded in pretty much anything you have in mind; from the most delicate flower to a simple, smooth sheet of cake covering, and anything else in between.

The only requirement is that you eat it within two to three months, because that is how long you can actually keep fondant 'fresh' so to speak, but it would probably be a good idea to take some photos of your creations as soon as you are done, because the likelihood of it being consumed before that is great.

I came across some magnificent cakes which portrayed an entire scene and had the most intricate and detailed figurines on it.

You don't have to go out of your ways though to come up with something elaborate that catches the eye; a cute, little project like this will already yield the same results.

It is also a safe and enjoyable craft for the kids, as long as you keep in mind that you may have to contend with and suffer through their sugar buzz afterwards!

See also:
Fondant Art Part 2
Fondant Art - Materials and Equipment

Sarah Knows

This guest post from Lenny Mcknight

My friend Sarah told me about http://www.satellitestarinternet.com/hughes-net/ because she had recently gotten Internet at home and had become completely addicted to Etsy. I had never even heard of the site but when I got on and saw all the home made crafts and related objects for sale I knew I was in trouble. I've actually been making quilts in my home for the last 10 years and it's been really fun for me finding a way to monetize my hobby. The kids are almost old enough to go off to college so I need something to keep me busy anyway and I've actually had between five and 10 orders a month for my quilts which is keeping me more than busy! Sarah is such a great resource for all things trendy and I never would've heard of Etsy if it hadn't been for her. She's more of a buyer or the seller on the site and I found out last month she was actually one of the first orders I had placed. What a great friend!

Twist Tie Art - Materials and Equipment

Twist ties consist of a small metal wire surrounded by a thin strip of paper, metallic paper, or plastic, and they come in different colors, sizes and strengths.

Where the last is concerned it usually depends on how large, small, or heavy the item is which the tie has to hold together.

You will often find them in 'gangs' when you buy trash bags. A gang is a perforated sheet of twist ties which are already pre-cut in length, but you can also buy twist ties on large spools, or bundles of ties in different lengths.

They can be found in nurseries, hardware stores and online and they are relatively cheap. The last will give you many more options when it comes to color and size, but you can also save up the twist ties from the packaged food products you use on a daily basis.

Besides being cheap, you are already in the possession of all the equipment needed for creating art with twist ties: your hands.

Imagination and/or the know-how may be a little harder to come by, but there are plenty of ideas, examples, workshops, and instruction books available, of which a lot can be found on the Internet as well.

A good idea would also be to check out your local library for books on arts and crafts and don't forget to look in the children's section as well.

Yes, it is a good hobby for the kids as well and gives them the opportunity to twist something else around their little finger than you! Grin.

A Great Solution

Our second youngest daughter may soon be using one of those handy Infant Slings, since she got her first baby yesterday morning. Yes, we are the proud grandparents of another grandson!

His name is Levi and he weighs 7 lbs and 4.0 ounces and both mother and son are doing well. He had a little trouble keeping his temperature, but that should not take long and was easily overcome by putting a hot water bottle in his crib.

I really wouldn't be surprised if she would use a Baby Wrap, since I carried her around in it when she was little. She was warm, close to me, and it left my hands free to do whatever I needed to do.

It is a great solution when you have to get groceries. It is practically impossible to push both a stroller and a shopping cart and placing an infant car seat in the cart takes up way too much space, especially when you are faced with an extensive grocery list.

When you have one of the Best Baby Slings, you don't have to worry about whether the little one is comfortable, or not; that is a given. The baby sling can be used for a long time and both mom and child don't have to miss out on anything!

Twist Tie Art Part 2

You probably come across twist ties several times a day, because they can be found wrapped around many packaged food products, like bread, buns, bagels, vegetables, etc, or to close the garbage bag before you take out the trash.

The opinions are divided concerning the name of the actual person who invented the twist tie, but it is accredited to the company T and T Industries, Inc. which patented, manufactured and marketed it under the name Twist-Ems® in 1939.

I was aware of the fact that twist ties came in different colors, but I had no clue that those colors were an indication of freshness where bread was concerned.

The color of the twist tie around the plastic bag of bread in the U.S. tells you when what day of the week the bread was baked: for Mondays blue twist ties are used, for Tuesdays green, Thursdays are red, Fridays are white, and Saturdays are yellow. That makes it easier for both retailers and consumers to determine which loaf is freshly baked.

We may not give it another thought when we untwist the knot of the tie and probably throw it away along with the empty package, but since these twist ties are reusable they are great for arts and crafts. So, don't dispose of them; save them and use them for creative projects.

It is not difficult to understand where the name twist tie came from; you wrap it around something and twist the ends together to fasten it.

In case you were still in the dark about that you just got closure!

Applications For Tiles

Some people are extremely arty when it comes to redecorating and all kinds of different DIY projects. Their ability to come up with creative ideas and how best to utilize left over materials are often quite stunning and it isn't surprising that their finished projects find many followers.

My suspicion is that most people, including myself, were under the impression that the usage of glass mosaic tile is limited to either the kitchen, or the bathroom. The truth is that those tiles lend themselves very well for all kinds of other artistic projects.

I would never have thought of using some left over mosaic tile as an inlay for a coffee table for instance. If we would redo our back splash in the kitchen, the left over tiles would probably end up in our storage building and never see the light of day again.

Another great idea is decorating the frame of a picture or a mirror with glass tiles. That is a simple and easy project, but would result in a one of a kind item which would draw everything together in complete harmony.

I am sure there are many more applications for a glass tile. We just have to think outside the box!

Twist Tie Art

In case you got involved in a garbage/trash bag craft, you may find yourself stuck with a lot of unused twist ties which come with these bags.

I know that the temptation to throw them away is great, but I would advice you not to; those twist ties are excellent and very cheap material for creating more art.

Twist tie art is a fun way to express your creativity, since they are highly and easily bendable and can be twisted in pretty much any way, shape, or form.

Figurines are one of the many projects which can be made out of twist ties and they don't have to be small either. By twisting several twist ties together, you can create them as large as you like.

Twisting them together also opens up the possibility for knitting or crocheting. I came across this pot cover which is knitted entirely from twist ties. It may not be an easy task to do, but the results are quite stunning.

Other works of art I came across were cars, dragons and several other, different animals, but I have a hunch there are many more projects for which twist ties can be used.

Take some time to think about it and it will come to you, but there is no need to get all tied up in knots over it!

See also:
Twist Tie Art Part 2
Twist Tie Art - Materials and Equipment

A Change For The Best

Practice makes perfect as you may already have found out. When you take a look at the first results of your craft or hobby, and compare it to the present, you will see the progress you have made and how you excelled.

Everything is also subject to change and that pertains to almost everything in life. Some are easy to adapt to and/or accept, while others may take some effort in order to make it work and find the best solutions to fill your needs.

A good example of an almost constant change is healthcare insurance and it has almost become an art, determining which plan provides the coverage you require for you and your family, without breaking the bank.

It would be wise to check into different health insurance providers from time to time and compare the medical benefits, available plans and quotes. It may well turn out that you come across a healthcare plan with the same coverage, but lower health premiums.

Even when you are in need of health insurance, it does not require a lot of effort and time on your part; finding good, affordable medical coverage with the best health insurance quotes takes only a few keystrokes and can save you a bundle.

Wouldn't that be a change for the best?!

Garbage/Trash Bag Art - Materials and Equipment

I had no clue there were all these different colors which trash bags came in. I was under the impression they only came in black, white, green and blue, but I know better now.

I don't think all these colors are readily available in stores, but they can easily be found and ordered online without putting a huge dent in your budget; I came across 450 garbage bags in five gorgeous shades for as little as $56. That will definitely keep you busy for a while.

Most likely a pair of scissors and glue will go a long ways and so might knitting and crochet needles, and/or needle and thread.

Even though I didn't come across very many different crafts where garbage bags are concerned, I am quite sure they are suitable for many more projects.

I can picture twisted trash bags glued onto a photo frame, a beautiful collage made out of them, some cute puppets, or a colorful garland, to name a few.

There sure are plenty of options to take this craft from trash to treasure!

Garbage/Trash Bag Art Part 2

I titled the posts on this art as garbage/trash bag art, since both refer to the same product, but these bags for disposing trash also go by the name of bin bag, bin or can liner, swag, refuse, and black sack.

When you think about it, it is quite odd that they would be referred to as black sack and not green sack, because the first plastic garbage bags, which were invented in 1950 by Harry Wasylyk and Larry Hansen, were green.

These Canadian inventors came up with a disposable green garbage bag made from polyethylene. In those days, garbage bags were initially intended for commercial use and were first sold to a hospital in Winnipeg, Canada.

Garbage bags were introduced to the public by Union Carbide in the late 1960s and came on the market under the name Glad Garbage bags. This company had bought the invention from Harry Wasylyk and Larry Hansen. The latter was an employee of the Union Carbide Company in Ontario.

It would still take about 25 years before trash bags with drawstrings were introduced. Glad was the first to offer them in 1984, followed by Hefty in 2001 with a garbage bag that had a drawstring flexible enough to stretch around the garbage can's rim and hold it in place.

The latest invention came in July of 2004 by Glad with the ForceFlex trash bag; a flexible plastic garbage bag. The competitor followed quickly in September of that same year with the Ultra Flex bag.

These tidbits of information are interesting, but you don't have to remember them. You can dump them in the recycle bin of your mind. Just don't forget to line it with a garbage/trash bag!

To The Letter

While I was digging up and sifting through all kinds of information and examples concerning garbage bag art, I came across a site that piqued my interest. I would have loved to read what it said, but the site was in Chinese and even though I can speak and understand several different languages, this one is not part of my vocabulary.

I could have used a translator, but experience has taught me that it is not very reliable; it either doesn't get the point across, or the translation is so poor that it doesn't make much sense. I honestly am glad I don't have to do business in China, because that would require hiring an excellent business translator.

I wouldn't be surprised if many entrepreneurs, who have dealings, connections, and/or offices abroad, often wished they had a business translation service at hand. Misinterpretation of a single word can make a huge difference and could eventually turn out to be rather costly as well.

There is no doubt in my mind that if I had to do business anywhere in the world with people who wouldn't speak my native language, I would heavily rely on a good business translation agency to ensure everything was crystal clear, without mistakes, and leaving no questions.

It certainly would be nice knowing everything is translated to the letter!

Garbage/Trash Bag Art

You may have used garbage bags for creating Halloween decorations and they surely lend themselves very well for all kinds of these projects.

This spider is a good example of that, but trash bags can also be used for fabricating simple ghosts, costumes, and even creepy curtains for your windows.

There are several more projects made from trash bags and even though you wouldn't have thought so, those include dresses and other garments, wreaths, flowers, and all kinds of animals.

Trash bags are even used in several knitting and crochet ideas and I have seen some artistic purses come from those busy hands, using strips of rolled up garbage bags.

Even famous designers such as Louis Vuitton discovered that trash bags can be used for more then just holding common garbage and being disposed of.

They took 'trash' and transformed it into 'treasure' by designed a gorgeous, fashionable handbag out of it.

These simple, cheap garbage bags have many more applications and it may be a good idea to consider that, the next you take out the trash!

See also:
Garbage/Trash Bag Art Part 2
Garbage/Trash Bag Art - Materials and Equipment

Art On Prescriptions

This post brought to you by Walgreens. All opinions are 100% mine.

Suppose you have a great, artistic solution to help millions of people save money on prescriptions and someone is hindering you in continuing to provide those savings.

That is exactly what is happening to the Walgreens pharmacies and is affecting U.S. military personnel, families, retirees and others, because Express Scripts, Inc., the pharmacy benefit manager for Tricare and middleman between other pharmacies providing health care services and employers and health plans who pay for the medication, has refused to accept any proposals from Walgreens to remain part of Tricare's in-network insurance coverage for prescriptions.

You can imagine that customers, who received savings on their prescriptions through Tricare as a beneficiary of Walgreens and Express Scripts collaboration, are pretty upset. They no longer can take advantage of it as of January 1, 2012 and have to go somewhere else to reap the benefits.

This is not just inconvenient and costly for the customers, but it also means that Walgreens is prohibited from helping, supporting, and serving the troops, because Tricare is the health and prescription drug program for U.S. military service personnel.

If you too are outraged about Express Scripts' decision not to renew the contract with Walgreens, then voice it by contacting your local media and/or sign the petitions demanding access to the Walgreens pharmacies under Tricare.

All this hasn't diminished and prevented Walgreens from lending a helping hand and they are presently offering special discounts on an annual membership for the Prescription Savings Club at Walgreens.

You can support and stay updated by following Walgreens on Twitter and 'liking' Walgreens on Facebook.

This is a very creative solution and a noble gesture which deserves a thumb up!

Paint Stick Art - Materials and Equipment

It is not difficult to lay your hands on a lot of these wooden paint stir sticks, because they are sold online for already as low as 12 cents a piece.

You even have the choice between 10 inch and 14 inch paint sticks and if you like to purchase a small amount, or in bulk.

There are several craft projects, ideas, and instructions which also can be found on the Internet and are not very hard to create.

As far as equipment goes, you definitely need to keep craft glue or a glue gun handy and a saw would probably be a wise choice as well. Some screws, a screw driver, nails and a hammer may be in order, depending on the project.

You have the option to either leave the wooden paint stir sticks natural, paint, stain, or varnish them, in which case you can use some of the left-overs you have saved.

Just keep in mind not to use all the paint sticks; you will have to use one stirring up the colors you have chosen for your project!

A Wonderful Hobby With Stunning Results

This post brought to you by Bulbs. Dig, Drop, Done.. All opinions are 100% mine.

If you have tried applying your artistic abilities to your yard, but haven't been successful so far then you need to visit www.digdropdone.com to learn more on how best to achieve your goal.

The many hints, tips, and ideas you will find here, will quickly teach you how simple bulbs are to grow and can transform both your yard and your interior in a colorful work of art.

I found some very helpful tips pertaining to keeping squirrels from eating the flower bulbs I would plant, given by Evelyn who is an empty nester just like me and finally has enough time on her hands to dedicate to her yard.

After a couple of attempts, I gave up, but since bulbs are very easy to grow, both in and outside and lend themselves very well for all kinds of arty gifts and unique decorations which can be created by the entire family, I am excited to give it another try.

There is an excellent planting guide which can be found at Curbside Chaos and this Garden Guru Tool will tell you in no time what bulbs thrive well in your area, when to plant them and how.

You should go there and also enter the contest from “Bulbs. Dig, Drop, Done.” which will end at 11:59 p.m. EST on April 15, 2012, in order to win a $5,000 yard makeover and a visit from Taniya Nayak (@TaniyaNayak on Twitter) who will give you tips on the best way to spruce up yard by incorporating flower bulbs into your landscape.

All it takes is uploading a photo of your yard CurbsideChaos.com and don't forget to share "Bulbs. Dig, Drop, Done." on Twitter; each tweet will result in a $1.00 donation to Rebuilding Together which is the nation’s leading nonprofit, working to preserve affordable home-ownership and revitalize communities.

Anyone can create art with flower bulbs; it is a simple and wonderful hobby with stunning results!

Paint Stick Art Part 2

Pigments have been used for ages to paint or draw. Most cave paintings were done by using a red or yellow pigment or charcoal, but the earlier forms of paint as we know it were made by mixing pigments with either rubber like the Egyptians did, or egg yolks as used by the Romans.

To apply the pigments equally and ensure all the components were mixed properly and evenly, it had to be stirred. There is no mention made anywhere, what our ancestors used to stir the paint, but my guess is that sticks were already used early on.

Nowadays, there are even more components added to paint and some of the heavier ones tend to sink to the bottom of the can during storing. In order to get the desired effect we expect from the paint, it needs to be stirred well before use and since not everyone possesses machines for shaking it up, paint sticks are the best solution and readily provided when buying paint.

The tendency to throw away these sticks after use is great, because we often see them as a means to an end and therefore overlook all the creative possibilities they could be used for.

This snowman is just one example of creativity, but for the same token several of these paint sticks glued together can easily be turned into an Easter bunny, another animal or figurine, or function as the background for a more detailed painting.

You really don't need many sticks to create art; even one paint stick can already be used for unique projects and cutting them in half gives you even more material to work with.

Since the paint sticks are made from untreated wood, the field of options like painting, waxing, staining, and/or gluing on other materials, are wide open and offer a variety of applications.

All it takes is a little imagination!

Taking The First Step

This post brought to you by Cafe Well. All opinions are 100% mine.

Just like anything else, a new hobby begins with the first step and it requires putting your best foot forward to master it.

The same goes concerning our health, but we often tend to overlook that and either refuse to put one foot in front of the other, or are struggling with a condition which hinders or limits us from doing so.

Maybe you need some support, answers to health related questions, advice, hints and/or tips? If so, then why not become a member of Cafe Well and get all the information you need and want on any health topic at this social network?

Cafe Well also hosts the Race to the Moon which is sponsored by HealthAmerica and is a fun and rewarding way to get active. Anyone can join for free and you could even get a free wireless pedometer which keeps track of every step you take and rewards you for each milestone you reach.

There are some beautiful prizes up for winning and you also would become eligible for one of those by participating in this health program.

A good challenge would be to get out more and walk around in museums and art galleries; it benefits your health and gives you food for new projects.

Yes, it does require you taking that first step!

Paint Stick Art

Each time I would hold one of those common paint sticks in my hand, ready to stir the paint I wondered what else they could come in handy at. Well, I decided to do a search and found some great hobbies and art project made from and with these simple wooden sticks.

It hadn't occurred to me yet that when painted in a wide array of colors and framed, they could make incredible wall art.

It is easy enough adjusting the colors to complement your interior and in the mean time getting rid of left over paints which are hardly ever use again.

Another great idea I came across was covering the surface of an old and/or beat up table with paint sticks. Glued close together, they can either be stained, or painted in any color or finish; the end result is truly amazing.

A custom-made paint stick lamp shade is quickly made and would draw the entire interior together.

Even though these wooden sticks cost next to nothing, projects like these sure do not come across as being on a 'design on a dime' budget.

It would seem like you had a top of the notch interior designer come in, which you did; you!

See also:
Paint Stick Art Part 2
Paint Stick Art - Materials and Equipment

A State Of The Art Workspace

This post brought to you by Contest Factory. All opinions are 100% mine.

Most of the times, we have a designated workspace where we do our arts and crafts and we make it as comfortable as we can and utilize the space the best way possible. All of that is in our own hands, but that is not the case where it concerns our job; we have to content with what we are given.

If your cube/office/workspace is a terrible space to work then you should upload a video from either your phone, or your webcam to the Pimp My Cube site and enter the Pimp My Cube Contest. Show and tell why and what all is wrong with it and why it needs a make-over from Contest Factory; the video can anything you want, but the funnier and compelling the better.

After entering your video, invite your friends, family and coworkers to vote for it and enter as well, because you get sweepstakes entry points for registering, voting, commenting and inviting others who register for the contest.

The Contest Factory judges will award the grand prize, which has a $1200 value and consists of a new high end computer system, a new desk, chair, decorations, and a new entertainment package with high end stereo, espresso machine etc., based on various criteria such as who has the most votes, best or really worst video and/or most compelling story.

Random drawing among the other registered users will determine the second prize winner of a $200 gift card at the end of the contest. The contest runs from December 5th, 2011, through January 31st, 2012, until midnight. The chances of winning are excellent, since no one has entered the sweepstakes yet.

So, what are you waiting for? Visit, register and upload your video at the Pimp My Cube site to enter the contest and once it is approved, tell your family and friends to vote for it and/or upload their own.

It is a great opportunity to win a state of the art workspace!