by DIANE PALMER
With everyone thinking "green" these days, the tote bag has become popular once again. In our Grandmother's day, they would always carry their own shopping or tote bags, but then came the quick and easy throw away plastic bag.
Now we are turning the tables again, and the tote bag is here to stay. Even the grocery stores are offering them for sale. This is a great place to start for a craft business.
If your passion, is painting, sewing, quilting, appliqué, embroidery, or even stamping, then you can create the most gorgeous tote bags, for yourself, for unique one of a kind gifts, or to sell at craft shows or online. They are lightweight, and strong, and they really are an open canvas.
With all the latest and greatest craft supplies out there now, you can get printable fabric that you can put in your computer printer. You can print a photograph from your computer, right onto this fabric, which you could then appliqué to the tote, it is washable. This could be a great craft business idea. This works well with pet photos. Everyone loves their pets, and would love to show off their pets picture done up nice on a tote bag.
Make one for yourself and make sure to use it everyday, and you will get people asking about your tote. This is great free advertising.
Stamping also works well on blank totes. The ideas are endless, but make sure and take a picture of your original totes and keep in an album for potential customers to see. Tote bags are a great form of usable art, and pretty soon you will see your artwork on display everyday as tote bags. What a great feeling that would be.
If you love this idea, then why not get your tote bags in bulk?.. Some craft store sell, them, but I find them to be most affordable online. You can purchase all different styles depending on what artwork you will put on it. Go ahead, and make some useable art and help keep the planet green. Shop baggu reusable tote bag at amazon.com
blank tote bags online lots of great styles, to make unique and beautiful one of a kind tote bags for gifts or for a business. Article and website by Diane Palmer. Source: www.amazines.com
3/10/2008
Pearl Care
By: Fashion Jewelry
To keep your pearls in perfect condition and maintain their luster and brilliance, you have to keep several things in mind. First of all, you must understand that pearls are organic substances and therefore need special care. They will easily get damaged by any harsh material that comes in contact with them.
To keep pearls looking their very best you need just a little knowledge on how to care for them correctly.
All pearls, including freshwater pearls are delicate organic gems that are made of the natural product called calcium carbonate. This product is drawn from the lake or river by the mussel that the pearl lives in. Pearls were once living and growing so you will have to take special care to keep them from harm. Ironically, the products that harm pearls most are the very things that the woman uses always uses. These are perfumes, hair sprays and cosmetics and face creams she will definitely use. These grooming products and other household chemicals if sprayed near pearls can build up on the pearl and damage the luster. The nacre can become marked, dull and pitted. They will tend to loose the exquisite luminous luster that defines a pearl.
Rules of Pearl CareThe most important point to remember to prevent damage to your pearls is by following the golden rule of putting your pearls on as the last thing you do when finishing your grooming. Put the pearls on after you have applied make up, perfume and hair sprays, never before. Never spray perfume on the neck area where the pearls will actually rest. Also avoid touching your pearls when you have just applied hand cream. If you need to reapply hair spray at some time, slip the pearls off for a moment and put them well out of range. Likewise make pearls the first thing you remove after a night out. Only after this you may remove your makeup, wipe your face and neck with cleansers or facial wipes, or night creams. Soon as you remove your pearls wipe them with a soft damp cloth. Buff them occasionally with a silk cloth to enhance their shine and luster. Be careful not fling them in a jumble on the dressing table; instead ensure that you put them back in their original container.
StorageMostly pearls are sold with a silk jewellery pouch and this is the best way to store your pearls. Velvet lined boxes with separate compartments are also safe to use as are chamois leather pouches. When pearls are transported, they may be wrapped in bubble wrap for protection, but you should never store the pearls in this plastic long term.
If you throw pearls into a jewel box full of other tangled jewellery your pearls will soon lose their lustrous sparkle, the surface will become scratched, wires will become bent and clasps scratched.
Please visit author's websites at Costume Fashion Jewelry, Wedding Jewelry, Pearl Jewelry and Jewelry Articles. Article Source: http://www.ApprovedArticles.com
To keep your pearls in perfect condition and maintain their luster and brilliance, you have to keep several things in mind. First of all, you must understand that pearls are organic substances and therefore need special care. They will easily get damaged by any harsh material that comes in contact with them.
To keep pearls looking their very best you need just a little knowledge on how to care for them correctly.
All pearls, including freshwater pearls are delicate organic gems that are made of the natural product called calcium carbonate. This product is drawn from the lake or river by the mussel that the pearl lives in. Pearls were once living and growing so you will have to take special care to keep them from harm. Ironically, the products that harm pearls most are the very things that the woman uses always uses. These are perfumes, hair sprays and cosmetics and face creams she will definitely use. These grooming products and other household chemicals if sprayed near pearls can build up on the pearl and damage the luster. The nacre can become marked, dull and pitted. They will tend to loose the exquisite luminous luster that defines a pearl.
Rules of Pearl CareThe most important point to remember to prevent damage to your pearls is by following the golden rule of putting your pearls on as the last thing you do when finishing your grooming. Put the pearls on after you have applied make up, perfume and hair sprays, never before. Never spray perfume on the neck area where the pearls will actually rest. Also avoid touching your pearls when you have just applied hand cream. If you need to reapply hair spray at some time, slip the pearls off for a moment and put them well out of range. Likewise make pearls the first thing you remove after a night out. Only after this you may remove your makeup, wipe your face and neck with cleansers or facial wipes, or night creams. Soon as you remove your pearls wipe them with a soft damp cloth. Buff them occasionally with a silk cloth to enhance their shine and luster. Be careful not fling them in a jumble on the dressing table; instead ensure that you put them back in their original container.
StorageMostly pearls are sold with a silk jewellery pouch and this is the best way to store your pearls. Velvet lined boxes with separate compartments are also safe to use as are chamois leather pouches. When pearls are transported, they may be wrapped in bubble wrap for protection, but you should never store the pearls in this plastic long term.
If you throw pearls into a jewel box full of other tangled jewellery your pearls will soon lose their lustrous sparkle, the surface will become scratched, wires will become bent and clasps scratched.
Please visit author's websites at Costume Fashion Jewelry, Wedding Jewelry, Pearl Jewelry and Jewelry Articles. Article Source: http://www.ApprovedArticles.com
3/06/2008
Choosing Gifts For Kids
By: Ron King
Getting gifts for kids can be a lot of fun, whether it's for Christmas, a birthday, or graduation. However, picking gifts for kids gets more difficult every year as the options multiply. So, before you start shopping, do a little investigation about what's offered on the market.
Here are a few suggestions of some of the higher-end toys that are on many kids' wish lists today:
Robosapien 2.0
When it was originally introduced, Robosapien 2.0 Robot made a hit as the first fully functional radio controlled robot. It dances, it walks, and it performs a variety of small movements on command. It even talks using prerecorded speech patterns that are started by specific spoken commands. A new modern version is being released this year, and it promises even greater capabilities.
(RC)Radio Controlled Cars
RC radio controlled automobiles are enjoying a renaissance lately with the introduction of world-renowned brands like Nikko, and line expansions from leading toy manufacturers like Mattel and Hasbro. For the more discerning child, Dub City also has some high-end radio controlled vehicles to pick from.
Console Unit
Some people pause at pause money in a gaming console for fear it might be obsolete a year from now. On the other hand, current gaming units are expected to decline in price, and there are still some good new games coming out for them, not to mention all the games in their game selections. It's a safe bet your youngster would have many hours of fun with one of these entertainment consoles.
The Sony Playstation 2 with its large collection of games is the leading manufacturer in this industry at this time. The Xbox 360 has just been launched and is expected to top the charts for at least 6 more years, making this a winner for any child.
Game Software
Does your child already have a video console? Then a great gift would be some new games for it. There is a wide variety of games to choose from. One important question is how kid-friendly the game is. Software usually come with ESRB rankings. If the rankings state that the game is suitable for kids, then you can rest assured that it is free from excessive amount of violence and sex. You can also review magazines and pertinent websites for reviews of particular software. In addition, reviews can tell you if the game has good play mechanics and presentation ability.
Action Figure Dolls
A little more less costly, action figures have achieved extra sophistication in recent years, and are no longer the simple dolls of 20 years ago. Today, they have a detailed similarity to the characters they portray.DC Direct and Toybiz are the leading producers of this type of toy, portraying cartoon characters including Teenaged Mutant Ninja Turtles, Yugi-Oh, Teen Titans, and Justice League Unlimited. These toys are mass-produced lines from Mattel and Hasbro, and, as such, they cost less than their older cousins.
Handheld Electronic Games
This category covers a wide variety of games, from the traditional Gameboy Advance, to the more more sophisticated products of Nintendo DS and the Sony PSP. Some are learning toys that foster verbal and memory skills. There are also virtual animals, and instant plug-in play video games. This category covers a wide variety and gives you a number of items to pick from, and the capability of some items that would actually add to your child's development.
For more holliday shopping advice, visit Gifts For Kids. Also check out Kids Gifts. Source: http://www.articleclick.com/
Getting gifts for kids can be a lot of fun, whether it's for Christmas, a birthday, or graduation. However, picking gifts for kids gets more difficult every year as the options multiply. So, before you start shopping, do a little investigation about what's offered on the market.
Here are a few suggestions of some of the higher-end toys that are on many kids' wish lists today:
Robosapien 2.0
When it was originally introduced, Robosapien 2.0 Robot made a hit as the first fully functional radio controlled robot. It dances, it walks, and it performs a variety of small movements on command. It even talks using prerecorded speech patterns that are started by specific spoken commands. A new modern version is being released this year, and it promises even greater capabilities.
(RC)Radio Controlled Cars
RC radio controlled automobiles are enjoying a renaissance lately with the introduction of world-renowned brands like Nikko, and line expansions from leading toy manufacturers like Mattel and Hasbro. For the more discerning child, Dub City also has some high-end radio controlled vehicles to pick from.
Console Unit
Some people pause at pause money in a gaming console for fear it might be obsolete a year from now. On the other hand, current gaming units are expected to decline in price, and there are still some good new games coming out for them, not to mention all the games in their game selections. It's a safe bet your youngster would have many hours of fun with one of these entertainment consoles.
The Sony Playstation 2 with its large collection of games is the leading manufacturer in this industry at this time. The Xbox 360 has just been launched and is expected to top the charts for at least 6 more years, making this a winner for any child.
Game Software
Does your child already have a video console? Then a great gift would be some new games for it. There is a wide variety of games to choose from. One important question is how kid-friendly the game is. Software usually come with ESRB rankings. If the rankings state that the game is suitable for kids, then you can rest assured that it is free from excessive amount of violence and sex. You can also review magazines and pertinent websites for reviews of particular software. In addition, reviews can tell you if the game has good play mechanics and presentation ability.
Action Figure Dolls
A little more less costly, action figures have achieved extra sophistication in recent years, and are no longer the simple dolls of 20 years ago. Today, they have a detailed similarity to the characters they portray.DC Direct and Toybiz are the leading producers of this type of toy, portraying cartoon characters including Teenaged Mutant Ninja Turtles, Yugi-Oh, Teen Titans, and Justice League Unlimited. These toys are mass-produced lines from Mattel and Hasbro, and, as such, they cost less than their older cousins.
Handheld Electronic Games
This category covers a wide variety of games, from the traditional Gameboy Advance, to the more more sophisticated products of Nintendo DS and the Sony PSP. Some are learning toys that foster verbal and memory skills. There are also virtual animals, and instant plug-in play video games. This category covers a wide variety and gives you a number of items to pick from, and the capability of some items that would actually add to your child's development.
For more holliday shopping advice, visit Gifts For Kids. Also check out Kids Gifts. Source: http://www.articleclick.com/
If you are looking for good toys at affordable prices to be gift for your kids, please visit here robotic puppy or barbie dolls
How To Make Sure The Toys You Buy Are Safe
By: Susan Banks Sr
Despite very strict toy safety regulations in the United States and the United Kingdom, some unsafe toys still do slip through the net. It is essential that all consumers are familiar with regulations and remain vigilant when buying toys for kids.
For the most part, toy safety regulations have been very successful. Very few household accidents involve toys, and when accidents do involve toys it is very rare that the accident is caused by a defect in the toy itself. Accidents involving toys usually involve people tripping over them or using them inappropriately. In addition, where defective or dangerous toys have made it onto the market they have been recalled quickly and publicly. However, this is no reason for parents to leave their guard down when buying toys.
Safety labels: First of all you need to check that the toy you are buying bears the appropriate safety labels. In the United States the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) mark and in Europe the CE marking signifies that the toy meets the minimum required safety standards.After these markings, probably the next most important labels for toy shoppers to watch out for are age labels. These are an essential part of toy safety and you should always follow their guidance.
The vast majority of toys bear age labels whether they are legally required or not. All toys that are not suitable for children under 36 months must bear a prominent label stating so.However, in general toys give guidance as to what age group they are intended for. These serve as a guide as to what age group will benefit from the toy the most, in terms of fun and development. Here is a brief guide of what kinds of toys suit different age groups:
Under three years - The biggest threat that toys pose to children of this age is choking hazard. Babies and toddlers tend to put almost everything they lay their hands on in their mouths. Because of this, very small toys or toys with small parts are particularly unsuitable. In addition, keep marbles and small balls out of their reach; be careful with inflatable toys and balloons; and avoid toys with sharp or pointy edges.
Three to five years - Children really come into their own at this age and are able for much more sophisticated toys. However, you should remain vigilant as certain toys could pose a risk to them. Avoid toys with thin plastic that might break and cause injury.
Ages six to twelve - By this age children will be able to safely play with almost any toy you give them. However, always read the instruction leaflets for maintenance guides and hazard warnings. For example, if you buy a skateboard or a bike for your child, you should also buy protective equipment. If you buy a trampoline, you will need to carry out maintenance on it regularly.
If you have children of different ages things can become a little complicated. When you have lots of different toys that are suitable for different ages you have to be super-vigilant. For a start, you should teach older children to keep their toys out of the reach of younger children.Also, do not simply put all of the toys into one box. Have a separate toy box for each child and make sure they do not swap toys. Age labels on toys will help you to keep organized in this way.
In general, it is a good idea to be neat and tidy with toys. Having toys laying around the house is a common cause of accidents. Also, remember that children are intended to play with toys. All maintenance such as the changing of batteries should be carried out by an adult.
While toy safety labels offer a very important safeguard against dangerous toys reaching our children, it is also very important to use your own common sense. Before you buy a toy examine it yourself to make sure that it is sturdy and well constructed. Also check to see if it has any sharp edges or pointy corners. Be extra careful when buying toys for very young children. For example, if you are buying a cuddly toy make sure that all the stitching is secure and that small items such as eyes or the nose are not loose.
If your child has an accident with a toy or you suspect that a toy is dangerous, you should take immediate action. The first step is to take the toy out of the reach of all children. You should then report the toy to the relevant authorities. You will need to keep the toy for examination and you should also try to provide details of when and where you bought the toy.The regulations go along way towards ensuring the toys in or shops are safe. However, consumer vigilance is also a vital part of the battle against dangerous toys.
Susan is a contributing writer to Fuzing.com. This article is proudly brought to you in conjunction with trade leads from the Puzzles Sellers area of our website. Source: http://www.articleclick.com/
Visit robotic puppy and barbie dolls to shop toys for your kids at cheap prices.
Despite very strict toy safety regulations in the United States and the United Kingdom, some unsafe toys still do slip through the net. It is essential that all consumers are familiar with regulations and remain vigilant when buying toys for kids.
For the most part, toy safety regulations have been very successful. Very few household accidents involve toys, and when accidents do involve toys it is very rare that the accident is caused by a defect in the toy itself. Accidents involving toys usually involve people tripping over them or using them inappropriately. In addition, where defective or dangerous toys have made it onto the market they have been recalled quickly and publicly. However, this is no reason for parents to leave their guard down when buying toys.
Safety labels: First of all you need to check that the toy you are buying bears the appropriate safety labels. In the United States the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) mark and in Europe the CE marking signifies that the toy meets the minimum required safety standards.After these markings, probably the next most important labels for toy shoppers to watch out for are age labels. These are an essential part of toy safety and you should always follow their guidance.
The vast majority of toys bear age labels whether they are legally required or not. All toys that are not suitable for children under 36 months must bear a prominent label stating so.However, in general toys give guidance as to what age group they are intended for. These serve as a guide as to what age group will benefit from the toy the most, in terms of fun and development. Here is a brief guide of what kinds of toys suit different age groups:
Under three years - The biggest threat that toys pose to children of this age is choking hazard. Babies and toddlers tend to put almost everything they lay their hands on in their mouths. Because of this, very small toys or toys with small parts are particularly unsuitable. In addition, keep marbles and small balls out of their reach; be careful with inflatable toys and balloons; and avoid toys with sharp or pointy edges.
Three to five years - Children really come into their own at this age and are able for much more sophisticated toys. However, you should remain vigilant as certain toys could pose a risk to them. Avoid toys with thin plastic that might break and cause injury.
Ages six to twelve - By this age children will be able to safely play with almost any toy you give them. However, always read the instruction leaflets for maintenance guides and hazard warnings. For example, if you buy a skateboard or a bike for your child, you should also buy protective equipment. If you buy a trampoline, you will need to carry out maintenance on it regularly.
If you have children of different ages things can become a little complicated. When you have lots of different toys that are suitable for different ages you have to be super-vigilant. For a start, you should teach older children to keep their toys out of the reach of younger children.Also, do not simply put all of the toys into one box. Have a separate toy box for each child and make sure they do not swap toys. Age labels on toys will help you to keep organized in this way.
In general, it is a good idea to be neat and tidy with toys. Having toys laying around the house is a common cause of accidents. Also, remember that children are intended to play with toys. All maintenance such as the changing of batteries should be carried out by an adult.
While toy safety labels offer a very important safeguard against dangerous toys reaching our children, it is also very important to use your own common sense. Before you buy a toy examine it yourself to make sure that it is sturdy and well constructed. Also check to see if it has any sharp edges or pointy corners. Be extra careful when buying toys for very young children. For example, if you are buying a cuddly toy make sure that all the stitching is secure and that small items such as eyes or the nose are not loose.
If your child has an accident with a toy or you suspect that a toy is dangerous, you should take immediate action. The first step is to take the toy out of the reach of all children. You should then report the toy to the relevant authorities. You will need to keep the toy for examination and you should also try to provide details of when and where you bought the toy.The regulations go along way towards ensuring the toys in or shops are safe. However, consumer vigilance is also a vital part of the battle against dangerous toys.
Susan is a contributing writer to Fuzing.com. This article is proudly brought to you in conjunction with trade leads from the Puzzles Sellers area of our website. Source: http://www.articleclick.com/
Visit robotic puppy and barbie dolls to shop toys for your kids at cheap prices.
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