If you've decided to undertake the impressive task of building your very own homemade submarine, then the first thing you need to do is develop detailed plans. But how do you pick your plans? The first thing you need to do is figure out exactly what type of plans are best suited for your needs.

The Different Submarine Types

The following are the different type of submarines that you can consider building. Each has its own merits and drawbacks, so don't rule any of them out until you've analyzed each type of homemade submarine.

The Wet Submarine - the wet sub is a great submarine for beginners, and for divers who just want a free ticket down to the bottom. Individuals inside a wet submarine still have to wear scuba gear in order to breathe. However, once the submarine is down at the bottom, the individuals can park it and leave the vessel to explore with their own scuba devices.

Semi-Dry Submarine - This sub is just like the name implies - part wet and part dry. Water fills the submarine up to a certain point, usually about at chest level, but a pocket of air is trapped in the top of submarine as it dives. This allows the occupants to talk and breathe. Of course, fresh air must be pumped into the submarine and carbon dioxide scrubbed from the air.

Dry Ambient Submarine - The dry ambient submarine is the next step up from the semi-dry sub. The dry ambient sub is essentially a working submarine just like a full scale model, except the individuals feel the same atmospheric pressure of the surround water, the same way a scuba diver would. The hole that drains the water is moved from chest level down below the feet so that the occupant can stay dry, and more weight is added to help it sink.

One Atmospheric Sub - the one atmospheric submarine, or 1 ATM sub, is the most complex and most commonly undertaken homemade submarine. The one atmospheric sub maintains a constant air pressure as it dives, allowing the submarine to dive to much greater depths than other homemade submarines. Complex 1 ATM subs can reach depths of 350 feet.

These are some common types of homemade submarines. In each case, you will have the option of creating your own plans, gleaning from plans posted on the Internet, or purchasing professionally engineered plans that have been tested. But before you do that, you need to choose the submarine that's right for you. Good luck.

There are many easy ways to stiffen crochet. The method I use depends on what I am going to do with my crochet.

I've provided a list of products to stiffen crochet from commercial brands to homemade solutions. The first doilies I every stiffened was with my Grandma's recipe. She always used the sugar method. I have used this method for many years and have had no trouble with my projects.

The following methods work very well.

Hairspray - Lightly spray your item with hair spray and shape on your prepared work surface. Pin in place but make sure you use rust proof pins, and let dry. This results in a non-permanent semi hard finish that works great for Christmas snowflakes.

Spray starch - is very easy to use. All you need to do is wash your doily and towel dry. Lay out your item on your prepared surface. Use a cardboard box, or anything with a flat surface that you can pin on. Styrofoam works great for most of these methods. Pin your crochet down with rust proof pins and then spray with the spray starch.You can drape your doily over a glass bowl or pie pan for a curved look. I like to use little candleholders or small glasses to form the doily.

Glue & water. - Mix equal portions of glue and water together. Dip your crochet piece in the solution and gently squeeze out excess being careful not to twist or wring the item. Shape however you want the piece to be. This method works great for Christmas ornaments. It leaves a permanent finish.

Liquid starch - is another easy way to stiffen crochet. You can either dilute the starch with water or use it straight. The more water you used, the softer your doily will be. Dip the crochet piece in starch and gently squeeze out excess being careful not to twist or wring the crochet.Now shape in one or two ways.

1. Roll the doily in a towel until almost dried. Cover with a handkerchief or very thin towel and press on the wrong side using a cool iron setting until completely dry. 2. Stretch out on your prepared work surface and pin in place using your rust proof pins. For doilies with ruffles, place forms at even intervals around the doily, gently stretching the ruffle up and around the form. Let dry. You can use anything for forms such as film cartridge containers, spice bottles or anything that is round. It just depends on how much your want the ruffles to curve. This method makes a non-permanent finish. Very stiff or soft depending on the amount of water used to dilute the starch. Perfect for ruffled doilies.
Sugar and Water - Bring equal portions of sugar and water to a rapid boil. Remove from heat and let cool slightly. Dip your crochet piece in the solution then gently squeeze out the excess. Be careful not to wring or twist the crochet. Now shape your piece to desired design. This method produces a non-permanent hard finish, which allows the natural feel of the crochet to come through.

Which ever way you choose to stiffen crochet, I know you will have no problems. Just experiment a little bit and you will find which way you like best

Are you a beginner in the art of embroidery trying to figure out what kind of design to work on? Or are you an experienced embroiderer who is running out of design ideas? Perhaps you might be an embroidery fanatic who loves to make designs come alive on fabric but do not have the artistic skills to conjure up your own designs.

It is really fulfilling to be able to finish an embroidery project and see a pattern translated onto fabric. But it could also be challenging to create your own designs. Fortunately, there are several free machine embroidery patterns available for you to use these days. You just have to select your favorite among a wide variety of embroidery patterns and you can start stitching right away.

Choosing machine can be a very enjoyable experience because of the large number of choices available. No matter what your personal preference is, you are sure to find free patterns that will fit your specifications.

For instance, if you are looking for dainty free embroidery patterns to decorate your little girl's room, there are several designs that include bouquets of dainty flowers or pink ribbons and laces. If it is your baby boy's room that you want to decorate, you can go for the free embroidery patterns that have sports patterns on them like baseball bats or soccer balls.

Free machine patterns will also give you several choices if you want to create a gift for a loved one. Out of the almost unlimited number of free patterns out there, you can select the ones that would most reflect the personality of the person to whom you are giving the embroidered item.

Once you have chosen the patterns you like, all you have to do is download it to your computer or to your digital embroidery machine. You can then modify the design and customize it to your own style. Once you are sure the design is what you really like, you can then start sewing on the fabric.

If you are artistically inclined and have a talent for creating your own designs for embroidery, then you probably do not have much need for free machine embroidery patterns However, it is undeniable that free embroidery samples have some benefits if you want to finish your needlework faster and with less effort.

With free machine patterns, you just need to transfer the design onto the fabric or into your digital sewing machine. There is no need to spend a lot of time trying to refine the design you created to make sure it looks good on the final product.

There are several different soap coloring options that are available to soap makers and crafters. The first types of dyes that you can use to color your soap are natural soap colorants. These soap colorants use natural ingredients to tint your soap. For example Turmeric can be used to give your soap a golden glow, Moroccan Red Clay can be used to give your soap a brick red color, and alfalfa can be used to give your soap a green color.

Coloring options also include micas. Micas can be classified as both a natural colorant as well as a manufactured colorant. This is because the basic mica is mined form natural sources, however, it is then coated with laboratory created coloring agents on one side to create a shimmering effect. Micas are best suited for coloring clear soaps.

In addition to these two soap coloring options you can also use FD&C colorants. These colorants are made in a laboratory and they do not come from natural sources. Because these colorants can be mass produced they are generally inexpensive and widely available.

When selecting a soap pigment you will want to take into consideration several factors. First you will want to choose a soap coloring option that is right for the type of soap you plan on making. Secondly you want to a coloring agent that is right for the product image that you are creating. And finally you want to select a coloring agent that will produce the type of color and the shade that you are interesting in.

Joy Toys began production in the 1920s. The early teddies were fully jointed, made of mohair and with woodwool stuffing and glass eyes.

By the 1930s, the neck joints were no longer movable. It was also then that the 'Joy Toys nose' was first used, wherein an outer stitch on each side was made longer than the rest of the nose stitches. Kapok was used as the stuffing. Dolls were also produced, often made with cloth-mask faces and felt bodies.

The happy Joy Toys smile first appeared on the teddies from the 1950s. Still jointed, the arms and legs were stumpier, with synthetic mohair blends or synthetic plush being popular fabrics. Animals, with the same sweet expression, were also manufactured, in a great range of shapes.

During the 1960s, the machine-washable teddy was developed. Completely unjointed, of synthetic fur, they originally had glass eyes, but soon after were made with click-lock plastic safety eyes.

When tariffs were removed on imported toys by the Australian government, JT was unable to compete with the influx of cheap Asian toys, and closed its doors in 1976.

Labels:

The labels used by Joy Toys varied, according to the date the toy was produced.
-1920s-40s-green embroidered.
-1950s-60s-green printed.
-1960s-70s-red or purple printed.

Values:

The earliest teddies are now valued between 0 - 00. Those from the 1970s, though, can be bought for between - 0. Mohair dogs from the 1940s or 50s are valued from - 0 whereas newer versions in synthetic fabrics are purchasable for under !

Working crochet left-handed is just as easy as working it right-handed. The methods for forming the stitches and holding the hook and yarn remain the same; you simply use your left instead of right hand. Patterns and instructions are generally written for right-handed people.

Therefore, remember to substitute left for right and vice versa. This is the only adjustment you will need to make. The easiest way to learn crochet if you're left-handed is to sit opposite another crocheter and mirror their movements.

If you're using a book for instruction, you can take the illustrations to a copiers and ask them to make transfer image copies. This flips the images over. If looking at diagrams on the Internet, keep a mirror next to your monitor. Position it so that you can view your monitor through it. The mirror will flip the images to make them left hand interpreted. Alternately, use the right click function on your mouse over the image.

Any image-editing program, like Windows Paint, will allow you to reverse diagrams before printing out by doing a "horizontal flip". Usually though, it can be easier to change the settings on your printer so that it reverse or mirror image prints.

Sometimes, you may have to take a few minutes to prepare if you're a left hander, but the amount of effort is minimal and will save you hours that could be lost trying to figure out how to reverse instructions.

Copyright, [http://www.officialguidetocrochet.com]

Chalkware is a type of decorative accessory including wall plaques, lamps, figurines, statues, piggy banks and more that has enjoyed popularity for many years. Although the name "chalkware" implies that these pieces are made of chalk, they are actually made from plaster. To create chalkware pieces, the plaster is first poured into molds, then after it hardens is painted with watercolors or oil paints. Usually found in vibrant colors and unique designs, these collectible pieces have an interesting history that adds to their charm.

Late in the 18th century chalkware appeared in America as a less expensive alternatively to the popular Staffordshire ceramic figurines of the day. Plaster copies were created based on the designs of the more expensive ceramic figurines in order to make them more affordable to the average person.

Probably the most well known and most often collected style of chalkware is carnival chalkware. It's name comes from the fact that these pieces were given out as carnival prizes during the early to mid 1900's. Although these pieces come in many different styles, some of the most popular and most collectible pieces were based on pop culture icons and characters of the time period.

Plaster is quite fragile and many chalkware pieces have been broken or discarded over the years. With a little bit of searching, though, it is possible to find unique vintage chalkware pieces in good condition. These items are gaining popularity with collectors and can make for an interesting display when grouped together. Whether hung on the wall or displayed on a shelf, chalkware is a great way to add a retro feeling to your decor.

What will it be fresh flowers, dry, or artificial ones? Now here is a dilemma many people have when it comes to choosing the best flower arrangement for a special occasion or just for a home decoration. The decision is easier to make if you consider a few factors such as budgeting or personal taste. But from past experience, you should definitely go with fresh flower arrangements especially if you want to use them as a symbol of your personality and style.

1. Artificial flower arrangements

The majority of people who choose artificial flowers do it because they require no maintenance. All you have to do is put the floral arrangement it in a corner, forget about it and go about your business, because you won't have to worry about any water spills or having to change the soil or even prune the leaves. So you can simply consider it a part of the static decor of your office or home. Artificial flowers might require a little cleaning every once in a while, but don't worry too much about it: all you have to do is wipe them with a damp cloth.

Another advantage of purchasing artificial flowers would be the price. Most of the times the cost of artificial flowers is lower than the price of natural flowers, however, remember that the quality often matches the price of the artificial flower product.

Now if you are thinking about giving a gift of artificial flowers to someone dear, think twice before you go shopping. Sure, artificial flowers might last longer, but fresh flower arrangements are truly an expression of love and respect. Would you really want to give a plastic flower arrangement to your wife, mother, or sweetheart? It might last for years, but the memory of that wonderful, fresh flower arrangement will last forever, just as love stays in a person's soul rather than in objects.

Why would people want to use artificial flower arrangements instead of using natural, fresh, flowers? Well, I can tell you a couple of good reasons. By all means, buy artificial flowers if you are allergic to real ones or if the person to whom you want to give a gift of flowers to is.

Another good reason to choose artificial flowers instead of fresh ones would be location. Yes, the location because if, let's say, you want fresh roses as an example for your wedding and you live in a remote area, it could be pretty expensive to import them for the ceremony. Just stick with some quality silk roses instead and use the budget for something else. On the other side, think about a wedding on a hot summer day; fresh flowers may wilt because of the summer heat, but artificial ones won't, but if you are planning everything carefully, you can easily adapt in order to find the best natural flowers for your ceremony. (Find local types of flowers in remote areas and make sure you have refrigeration for the flowers in summer.) It's up to you to decide whether you want artificial flowers or fresh ones for any occasion.

2. Dried flower arrangements

If you are looking for durability when purchasing a floral arrangement, dried flowers are the closest choice to the natural flowers. This is because dried flowers are still the real thing preserved in a manner that partially maintains the qualities of natural flowers. A variety of natural flowers are dried through several methods, such as: freeze-drying, air-drying, using the microwave or by placing them in silica gel. What's great about dried flowers is that you can make them yourself, rather that purchasing them.

In most cases, people decide on the type of flowers they want by considering the preservation factor. Want to keep them forever? You have two options:

Buy artificial flowers, as their look will never change; Depending on the type of fresh flowers you choose, you can dry them or preserve them either way,they might not look the same in few years.

From my point of view, trying to preserve flowers forever is like trying to stay young forever. They are wonderful and unique while they are fresh, but no matter how much we try to keep them alive, there comes a time when we have to let them go and accept that flowers were meant to bring us beauty and wonderful memories, even if for a short period of time. Why should we go for the artificial flowers when we can enjoy the true thing of beauty, with living colors, stunning fragrances and the miracle of nature?

3. The best choice - fresh flower arrangements

Choosing fresh flowers for your home or for special occasions is always a choice of style and personality. Nature has provided us with so many wonderful flowers, and fortunately, finding the flowers that highlight your personality and taste has become an easy task. Whether you decide to shop for them from the local florist, order them online, or grow your own, you will find that fresh flowers are always the best choice.

Natural flowers have so many things to share, from smells, shapes and colors, they all have something to say - 'This is a special occasion'. If you love fresh flowers but you don't want to spend a fortune on them, just buy flowers that are in season locally. This way, you will be able to enjoy the freshness and the wonderful smells anytime you want.

The bottom line when it comes to flower arrangements is that you need to choose what makes you happy. What is the impression you want to create when giving a gift of flowers? What do you want to remember twenty years from now about your wedding? Do you want a house full of life and nature or do you like a more static decor? A fresh arrangement of flowers can make the difference between a dull room and a fresh, stylish room. Think about your preferences when it comes to color, flower smells and types. Check out a few magazines or even talk with your local florist for suggestions, then you will be ready to turn your visions into reality.

Dried flowers have so many uses especially in all occasions where flower arrangement is needed. The most common use of dried flowers are so numerous, like; decorating in wreaths, gift packages, masks, hats, candles, stationery or in creating unique pictures or picture frames.

Things you can do with dried flowers

The uses of flowers are seemingly endless. They can be used to decorate in all aspects of beautification such as; home, school, wedding, programs, floral arrangements, and lots more.
Detailed uses of dried flowers

Stationery. You've to use a quality paper. Apply a thin layer of glue to the paper and attach the dried flowers based on your design and arrangement especially for cards, envelopes, and other stationery you desired.

Picture frames. With the use of a brush dipped in glue, attach flowers to an unusual paper until they're dried. When totally dried up, you can now form the picture frame in any design you want.

Paper weight. Using two pieces of glass, stones, woods, or plastics, cut them to your desired size and position the flowers on the bottom and secure them with the glue. Once the glue is dry, place the pieces of glass, stones, woods, or plastics in position.

Lampshade. To decorate your lampshade, attach the flowers with the use of a glue. Before the glue dries up, place a semi-transparent rice paper over the lampshade and pat a layer of diluted glue over the paper.

Flower arrangement. With the use of a rubber band, fasten them and wrap with a brown craft paper and secured with a twine. Your finished flower arrangement can used as your centerpiece or simply hang them from your door.

Candle decoration. Using a glue, apply them at the back side of each flower, press them gently onto the candle. To firmly lay them on the candle, wrap them with a waxed paper and hold fix with a tape to hold them in place.

Making a corsage. With the use of a glue, attach to a small piece of cardboard and simple jewelry pin backing.

Window decor. Decorate your curtains with dried flowers on the corners of the curtain rods. Choose the ones that go with the style and match the color of your interior design.

Finding a knitting job that you can do in order to earn a profit may seem like a daunting task at first but the biggest key to your knitting for profit success is going to be networking. Networking is not by any means a new concept and it can be done very cheaply or even free. If you think outside of the box a little bit, you probably already go to a lot of places where you can find paying clients to help you get even more knitting jobs to earn cash with.

If you are serious about your knitting, you probably already know a lot of other people who also enjoy knitting as much or more than you do. Do not discount them even if they are already finding their own knitting jobs to earn money. Chances are very good that if they are making money with knitting work, they will know how you can earn some too. In some instances, partnerships can be formed in this way and more than one knitting company has come about from similar circumstances.

Craft shows, fairs and even flea markets are another alternative market for finding opportunities for knitting for profit. Craft shows are actually much more common than many people believe even in the larger cities. Craft shows and craft fairs have always been an excellent venue for displaying handcrafted goods, selling your existing knitted garments and even for finding more knitting jobs. Make certain that any time you attend any of these events you have business cards with you and hand them out to people who do express an interest in having someone who can handle a custom knitting job.

Additionally, make a poster of some sort (you can even knit it if you feel creative and have some leftover knitting yarn you want to get rid of) that tells everyone who passes by that you do custom knitting jobs. While it is not likely that you will get a new, paid knitting job every time you post your sign, you will more than likely to find enough knitting work to justify the cost of the poster or advertisement. You are paying for a space to sell your knitting work but that does not mean that you cannot use that same space to advertise and look for another knitting job in the process.

Almost everybody has to go shopping right? But when was the last time you stopped and looked at that board outside the grocery store? Did you look at all of the jobs that people are offering and wanting done? Whether you pay attention to these poster boards or not, the reason that they have been a common feature at grocery stores for over twenty years is because they do work. If you are looking for custom knitting jobs, try posting a note at the store. You may have to add a new one every time that you go shopping but again, the returns should far surpass the expense of a single printed sheet of paper.

No matter what type of knitting job you may be looking for, no matter how much or how little profit you are satisfied with, you can find knitting jobs... the only secret is letting every one of the people you meet know that you are looking for a knitting job, you can create custom gifts, patterns or whatever your particular skills are and keep telling people. Knitting for profit may soon not only be a supplement to your regular income but actually replace it altogether if that is what you want.

The capacity of man to invent and create even in times of distress is truly amazing, in fact, this is how the antique hooked rug was born; from the hands of women who wanted to discover beauty and made extraordinary carpets out of ordinary rags. In those times they were used primarily to decorate humble homes of numerous families with hard-working parents and lots of children. Today they can be found even in the most select houses, as they represent the imagination, skill and craftsmanship of the grassroots American people.

The story of the antique hooked rug starts somewhere at the beginning of the 1800's, in North America, some say that it was in Maine, out of the desire of women to save money as times were rough, but at the same time to spend their little spare time doing something useful and beautiful. They started to collect strips of disused rags, sturdy yarns or whatever textile material seemed suitable for creating a carpet which could warm the winter freezing floors. The timing couldn't be better as in the middle of the century, some trade restrictions were abolished so there was a myriad of burlap sacks used to transport all kinds of merchandise like tea, corn, wheat or coffee. This burlap cloth could be easily torn into thin strips that could later be pulled through the back of a large piece of burlap, in order to make tiny loops.

In the beginning there were no patterns or specific designs so women hooked what they saw; animals, flowers, geometric shapes, sometimes even patriotic themes, nonetheless, the result was amazing. These improvisations quickly developed into a form of art, where the only materials needed for the hooked rug were a frame made of four boards and a hook which could be a bent nail or a wooden crochet, sometimes even whale bones which could penetrate the cloth and pull or push the strings.

By the end of the century this newborn art seemed to have had a very short life as factory-made carpets became ever more popular, however the 20's and 30's saw a revival of this folk way of expression. The majority of the so very fashionable clothes in pale tones which were all the rage at the turn of the century ended up a few decades later in exquisitely designed folk hooked rugs. Again, the timing couldn't be better as the Depression era started to leave marks on the financial possibilities of middle-class families and these cheap but gorgeous hooked rugs were the perfect compromise.

The antique hooked rug is now revered as a slice of American history and because of it's charm and vintage aspect, is worth much more than their creators could ever dream of. These pieces of art which were derived from poverty and necessity are sold along with other antiquities at high prices. Time has proved that they are also durable and sturdy, however, there are few chances that you will ever find an antique hooked rug laid on the floor in the 21st century as their value demands that you will most certainly find them hanging on the wall.

I remembered seeing a great garden craft project a few years ago - a painted gazing ball.

Gazing balls, also called lawn balls or garden globes or even mirror globes, are the reflective balls that are often perched on stands in backyards or gardens. Since they have a reflective surface, they reflect the grounds around them, but by painting them, you truly make the gazing ball the center of attention.

As with any painted glass project, you want to clean the ball with rubbing alcohol to prep the surface for painting. Then, just paint your design on the gazing ball using acrylic or enamel paints suited for glass surfaces. Whether you paint it with whimsical flowers as in the Colorful Flower Bowl or more traditional as in this trifle bowl painted in Donna Dewberry's One Stroke technique, whether you choose a fresh repeating motif like the cherries in the Cherry Painted Glass Jar or something more geometric like the Funky Pitcher and Glasses, you'll enjoy creating your own yard art.

And if glass gazing balls aren't your thing, I've read of some people taking old bowling balls and decorating them. Some people use silicone (typically used for caulking) to attach small flat glass marbles. tumbled sea glass, or pennies to the bowling ball. Much less fragile than a glass gazing ball, to be sure. Wouldn't it be beautiful if you did a mosaic of little glass tiles? I can just imagine it. We recently posted an ivy mosaic pot on our site so mosaics have been on my mind lately and this seems like another great garden craft idea.

So get crafting for your garden. Even if you have a black thumb, you can craft a beautiful garden.

Oil candle making is much different from most other types of candles. In most other candles it is the over intensity of oil that can cause problems. Whereas on the other hand, when you are making or using oil candles your candles need a specific type and amount of candle oil, whether you are oil candle making or burning an oil candle.

One type of oil candle is those that are made of a refillable glass container filled with liquid paraffin oil. The wick design for refillable oil candles is made of fiberglass and cotton. Most often, these are useful for religious practices and in churches. However, liquid oil candles are popular today with many individuals who wish to enhance their living space with the romantic glow of a burning flame.

Oil candle making supplies for refillable oil candles may include:
- Candle Oil - Unscented or Scented - Liquid Oil Candle Racks - Refillable Liquid Candles - Refillable Liquid Candle Wicks Oil candles are actually one of the most ancient types of candle that you can make and use today. These types of candles are safer to use that wax candles. They are also clearer burning and sometimes longer lasting than wax candles. You never have to concern yourself over candle dripping from the candle since they are contained.

Refillable oil candles are cheaper to make and use efficiently. These types of oil candles provide a constant flame, which will not lose its height by burning, since the wick is inside a tube soaking up the candle oil to burn.

They are easy to make when you want to make your own candles at home. Simply fill the glass container with liquid paraffin oil. You can choose to use unscented oil or you may wish to try out various types of scented oils for your refillable oil candles. Then you will place the wick into the glass tube, leaving about 1/8 of an inch at the top for the flame. You can fill any clear glass container with decorative items such as colorful marbles, bead, flowers, herbs, and other items to compliment your decor.

Oil candles also include various other types of candle waxes. For instance, you are working with oil candles when you are making candles using paraffin candle wax, soy candle wax, palm oil candle wax, tallow candle wax, even gels and beeswax candles include some type of candle oil to fuel the flame.

You are also working with candle oils when you make use of scented fragrances in the candles that you make. Good quality fragrant essential oils are available in various scents. You can use these essential oils to scent when you make your own candles at home. Whether you are making them for your own personal use, as gifts for those on your gift giving lists as well as if you want to sell them to others either locally or with an online candle business.

Oil candle making is a popular pastime hobby and one that can help you create a profit while working from home if you so choose. The soft glowing romance of a burning candle can be useful in various ways. For instance, they are very popular for celebrations such as weddings, birthdays and holidays. When you learn how to make candles and enjoy oil candle making you are only limited by your imagination and the quality of supplies you use to create your candles.

There are several paper craft ideas. In this article we will take a closer look at 5 paper flower craft ideas you can easily make to decorate your home. Paper flowers and home decor seem to go together very well. Let us face it fresh flowers can be expensive especially if you enjoy having a beautiful bouquet or even two in the house at all times.

Flowers can liven up any room and put a smile on almost everyone's face. Most people think of a vase full of flowers sitting on the dining room table or the coffee table but there is so much more you can do with flowers. So let us look at 5 paper flower craft ideas.

· The basic centerpiece, this is the centerpiece you are probably most familiar with, the one described above. When you create paper flowers you are not limited to a "traditional" centerpiece of roses, tulips or even an assortment of two or three flowers. The season does not matter either nor does the color of the flowers. When you make your own paper flower centerpiece you can have any flower in any color you want. For example if your two favorite flowers are roses and carnations you can make your centerpiece using both of those flowers in any color you like.

· You can also create flower arrangements that are free flowing and do not go in a vase. You can create strands of flowers to hang around your doorways or simply arrange them in the center of the coffee table with a candle in the middle. With free flowing arrangements you just need to make sure when you attach them to the floral wire or string that all the flowers are facing the same way and right side up! That one upside down flower can throw your whole arrangement off.

· Windowsill boxes full of colorful paper flowers are another great way to decorate your home. You can place the windowsill boxes in any window. The boxes are not just for the sunny kitchen windows when you are working with paper flowers. You can set a box next to the door in the foyer if you like, as well as on your front porch or on your back patio.

· Hanging baskets filled with paper flowers that have a stand or two of flowers are also very attractive. Just be sure the flowing flowers are facing outward not towards the wall. You can make one or two strands or as many as you like.

· If you spend a lot of time in one area of the house such as a home office an arrangement or two can really liven up the room. Consider a strand of flowers above your desk area or on top of your bookcase or filing cabinet. We all get stressed sometime while working and flowers have a nice way of reminding us of the beauty outside our four walls.

These 5 paper flower craft ideas are only a few of the ways you can brighten up your home. With a little imagination you can create an entire garden inside your home if you wanted too.

Quilters who are not already a machine embroidery enthusiast just may find themselves engrossed in the craft once they realize they could incorporate machine embroidery into their quilting.

Embroidery is a traditional way to add special decorative touches to quilts. Whether by hand or machine, a quilter may accent his or her creation with embroidered flowers or other accents. But today's machine embroidery - for those willing to try it - can make quilting quite different.

For instance, a quilter may use a simple embroidery design to let the machine "quilt" the project. Simple one color designs work best, especially for the beginner.

If you want to give this a try, look for an embroidery design that's simple - one that you can visualize stitched into a quilt. Some redwork inspired designs work well. Other simple designs like flowers, circles, sun/moon, houses, hearts - there are all sorts of designs to choose from - can work well as quilting stitches.

Be sure to keep your quilt top's theme in mind. We all know and love the traditional beauty of the double wedding ring quilt. While the quilt top is beautiful with its color variety, the quilt back is just as pretty with its simple stitching that follows the design on the top.

What if you used an embroidery machine to quilt hearts into the quilt design? That one unexpected touch would truly make your quilt unique.

Have you ever needed to throw together a quick quilt? Many quilting pros laugh at the notion, but sometimes we need a quick gift to give and want to make it personal. Lap quilts and baby quilts are very easy to create on an embroidery machine.

Simply hoop your top fabric, batting and backing fabric into an embroidery hoop. Pick a design and get to work! Even if you are quilting solid color fabrics, you can complete a quick, beautiful quilt with the embroidery machine in no time!

Some ideas for a baby blanket for a boy would be to use outlines of footballs, airplanes, trucks, trains, etc., for your quilting pattern. The hardest part of your job will be re-hooping fabric and pushing the "start" button!

Ideas for a baby blanket for a girl include outlines of flowers, baskets, dolls, kittens, etc.

The method above uses machine embroidery on relatively small quilts. Larger quilts can be done the same way or may be quilted with machine embroidery by individual quilt blocks. Experiment to decide which method is easiest for you and remember that the machine embroidery quilting method may change with each unique project.

If you can't find a pattern you like already on embroidery file, ask a digitizer to help you create one. A digitizer takes art images like drawings, clip art images and fonts and alters them via computer to become a stitch pattern. So if you'd like for your family tree wall hanging to be quilted with a tree pattern, a digitizer can create one for you.

Tell your digitizer you want to use the image for quilting. The digitizer will need to plan stitches accordingly.

Quilting is rich in tradition and therefore many true-blue quilters do not like the idea of using machine embroidery to quilt their projects. Isn't it great to try new ideas and techniques? Remember, not to long ago quilters refused to consider machine quilting at all! Embroidery machines will never take the place of quilters, but it can be a fun and rewarding sewing technique to try from time to time.

The mythical allure of black flowers has fascinated our attention for centuries. Black tulips and black roses appear to originate from a make believe fairytale world. A pure black flower is the Holy Grail of plant breeders worldwide. Their unnatural color inspires a powerful feeling of mystical expectation. If you were to receive a black rose bouquet, it could mean a variety of things. Possibly you had become a widower recently and you received the flowers as a token of bereavement, or perhaps it was a tell tale sign that you had offended someone and the dark bouquet was sent as a sign of revenge of retaliation.

In the time of the Edwardians at the cutting edge of fashion in the 19th century used to collect them, going to exceptional extent to track down these exotic species of flowers. Will this mysterious flower once more, at the dawn of a new century and a new millennium, become a source of artistic and philosophical inspiration? The black rose bouquet is also the beloved flower of Art Nouveau designers at the previous turn of the century.

The reality of the black rose is that it does not really, naturally exist. The so-called black tulip is actually very dark purple and the black rose is, in fact, very dark red. These flowers are quite popularly used in "Gothic type" environments or as a black rose bouquet in a wedding where the color palette is of a darker form. There are other less common cut flowers which occasionally occur in "black" forms - they all ooze decadence, mystery, fascination.

With their very unusual velvety soft petals, looking at a black rose bouquet will make you think of the comfy soft cushions of a luxurious and exquisitely decorated winter room. The scent of this mysterious black rose makes you float away to your favorite imaginary exotic place that is filled with the lovely aroma of these gorgeous black beauties. You can imagine, laying on a bed of black rose petals being fed by a gorgeous harem of worshippers fanning you with a big feather plume.

Creating a black rose bouquet is not simple, nor is it impossible either. To keep up with the dark, mystical feeling of the black, one of the greatest groupings is black roses mixed with ivy berries. They are available at the florists throughout the winter. The red-black color of the rose, with the blue-green black of the very creates a perfect harmony. Ask your florist of the darkest roses they have. See if they have "Black Magic", "Barkarole", "Black Beauty" or "Baccara" black roses. A completely black bouquet is very dark but impressive. It does, however, set off an air of somberness. Adding in glowers or greens with a red or brown tint can enrich the black color and give the bouquet a little more pizzazz and depth. You can also add some hypernicum or chili pods to give the bouquet a firey red tone. If it is around the holidays try putting a little sparkle into your bouquet by adding silver spray painted leaves. It will really jazz up your dark black rose arrangement.