Where to Find Inexpensive Art and Craft Supplies

You are a Hobbyist and find crafts very fulfilling. However, engaging in arts is also expensive. What to do then? Where to go for cheap art and craft supplies? May be somewhere mentioned in the following list!

Local Library: For old, colorful magazines and books that can be used in collage, mixed media and altered art.

Recycle Groups: Join the groups in your area on some recycle websites. You might get a bag of fabric scraps or some old leather item for your next project.

Online Communities for Classifieds: Check the network of online communities, featuring free online classified advertisements. You might get something at lower prices.

Thrift and Resell Stores: Most of them have a section of art and craft supplies. Otherwise too, you might find other items that you can turn into craft supplies especially when you need fabric or books.

Family, Friends, and Neighbors: Check with them. Exchange items among yourselves. What is a waste for them, might be useful for you and vice versa.

Local Shops and Decorators: Upholstery, furniture shops and decorators might be willing to sell their scrap to you at very low prices. Don't hesitate to ask them though politely. Grocery shops can also give you wooden crates etc.

Local Dollar Store: Not all will be quality material but it's a good location to look at and stock up on some basics like paint brushes and storage containers.

Children's Discarded Stationary: Look into the discarded stationary items, pencil boxes, bags etc. of you own or relatives, friend's children. You might find craft paper, crayons, paints etc. from there.

Discount Websites: There are many discount websites. Check them, see what online bargains can you get. You might find promotional codes and free shipping offers, saving yourself a lots of money.

Pyrography (Fire Art On Wood) How To Find Inspirational Ideas - Part 2

Taking a trip out to a gallery or craft center is always a very worthwhile and enjoyable thing to do as an aid to soaking up ideas that you can interpret in your own way and go on to create your own unique Pyrography.

Let me point out straight away that you should not be thinking to copy another persons work but to look at alternative crafts to Pyrography. Observe design, color and presentation of each individual craft.

In any form of education the pupil will always be shown examples of work. Sometimes it is beneficial to show good and bad examples so that a pupil can determine what will be successful and what will not.

Having the opportunity to view work from accomplished individuals means that the student not only has a bench mark of quality work to aim for but also a wide range of workable ideas to draw from to stimulate their imagination to create quality Pyrography.

Making the most of a day out at an Arts and Crafts Exhibition.

If you get the chance to visit one of the larger Arts and Crafts Exhibitions that feature both craftsmen and suppliers of crafts materials, then jump at the chance to attend. You will be greeted by a feast of artists supplies and equipment, displays of work and demonstrations. You should be able to see the masters of their various crafts working and you may get the chance to try out a new craft yourself. There will be opportunities to ask questions and get professional advice.

Make good use of the resources because they will be in abundance. Don't wander aimlessly around the exhibition. Before your visit, make a few notes on what you would like to get out of the day. Write down on a notepad each of the important things that you want to find out about for your Pyrography, use bullet points and then when you walk around the exhibition with these points to jog your memory. It is easy to get side tracked when you are faced with such a diversity of things to see.

To have this hands on type of experience all in one place is very convenient. How many times a year do you have the opportunity to experience such a large collection of enthusiasts and an exciting extravaganza of all things arts and crafts? Take your time to pore over the vast array of colourful materials and equipment that suppliers have on display and you are bound to find new and innovative ideas to help you with your Pyrography. You may begin to see how to present your work in a brand new and ingenious way.

When walking around the exhibition is there anything that you find really stimulating as a piece of work?

If so what is it that attracts you to this piece?

Is it the design - colors - materials used or final presentation of the whole piece?

Once you have narrowed down what you like about the art/craft work, you could jot down a few words that represent the qualities that excite your imagination. Take into consideration the possibility of adapting your Pyrography in order to add some of the same qualities that inspire you.

As the craft suppliers are in competition with one another, there will probably be the chance to pick up artists materials/equipment at cut prices and also collect their catalogs and web site addresses for future use. Take advantage of free samples to help you remember their displays and utilize these as memory triggers.

Use the day to help you loosen up your thoughts and allow your mind to look at your craft of Pyrography from different angles. This leisurely and entertaining experience can be employed as an educational tool that at the end of the day may open up new and exciting opportunities for you!

The Benefits of a Craft Activity Kit

Whether you make your own or you buy one, it's always a good idea to have as many of your arts and craft materials in one place. The Chadwick Ultimate Activity Kit gives you a great start. It comes in an A3 plastic case for easy transporting. Because it is A3 size you can also use it to keep your art work safe. If you make your own craft activity kit it's always best to start with an A3 size carrying case as A4 size probably would not be big enough.

The most important item in the kit is something to create upon - either paper or card - or better still a combination of both paper and card. As well as plain white it's always a good idea to have a mixture of colours as these will add contrast to your children's craft ideas.

Colouring pens are probably the next most important thing so that your children can draw out what they want. Stencils are also useful, especially if your child isn't that artistic. With a bit of practice and patience, stencils allow any child to create beautiful shapes.

Plastic scissors are also useful for your child to cut the coloured paper and card up, but even better would be pre-cut gummed shapes and stickers. You can get animal shapes or simple geometric shapes. Your children can add a third dimension to their art works by building up the shapes on top of each other.

Of course glue is vital for the things most children like best - buttons, stars and sequins. Along with pipe cleaners these can make a good art work great. Bits of tissue paper or crepe paper can really look good as well. Working with small fiddly objects can really improve your child's concentration.

Once you have the basics, you can go even further by adding things like pom poms, holographic paper and fluorescent shapes. Foil stickers and metallic card can also work wonders. Foam shapes are also great for three dimensional works of art.

As well as normal art works for display, your children could create their own cards. It's easy to find blank cards and envelopes. Just one reminder - make sure you have bigger envelopes if your child is making a 3D card. You also need to watch out for postage in the UK as prices have gone up for anything that's thicker than 5mm.

Once you have a craft activity kit, you can use it at home to store all your art and craft materials in one place. If your children know where they should store something they are more likely to tidy up after themselves. It's always useful to keep packets, especially for the small items, such as sequins and stars as they will get lost easily.

The activity kit can also be used on journeys and away from home. Because it's lightweight it's easy to carry about. On a journey, it will make time fly by. If you're in an unfamiliar place, it's always useful to rely on a craft activity kit to entertain your children, especially if the weather turns against you. Even at home, your children will have hours of fun if it's raining outside and it's much easier to have everything in one place.

Here is a list of some of the best items to have in a Craft Activity Kit:
A3 Plastic Carrying case
Coloured Paper
Coloured Card
White Paper
White Card
Colouring Pens
Stickers and Pre-Gummed Shapes
Stencils
Plastic Scissors
Glue
Pipe Cleaners
Buttons
Sequins
Stars
Pom Poms
Felt Shapes
Tissue Paper
Crepe Paper

Paper Crafts - The Ideas Are Boundless

Paper crafts can be as varied as you want them to be. From complex to simple, opulent to frugal. The choice is yours. The beauty of paper crafts lies with the possibilities. It's an art medium with which you can truly let your creativity and imagination go.

Paper Realm:

The realm of paper crafts is a large one, ranging from rubberstamping to scrapbooking to origami and ancient paper-cutting. Tools and techniques dating back centuries are still used today and even still, there's room for us as individual artists to come up with our own style and method.

As for how to get started in paper crafts, you'll want to ask a few questions before diving in. Crafts supplies stores offer all the basic tools you'll need, but for the newbie, the choices can be overwhelming. However, ask a few questions first. The answers should guide you step by step:

What kind of paper craft are you most interested in?
What will your first project be?
Do you wish to save this project for posterity or is it just a trial?

The last question will affect the kind of paper you get. As the name suggests, the main component of paper crafts is: paper. As an artist, you'll have a choice of either archival or non-archival papers. The former is for long-lasting projects and the latter, for projects you won't mind discarding in time.

What you need to remember is that, the type of paper chosen will invariably dictate the other supplies you use. You wouldn't want to use a non-archival ink with your specially-chosen archival paper. The project should be consistent throughout.

The Project:

As for the types of projects you can try - where to begin? If you wish to start with a very basic project (yet with the potential to be pro-like), try rubberstamping. This paper craft essentially finds you adding pattern and dimension to paper using stamps. The creativity comes from the patterns, use of space, and color combinations you'll need to balance. It's also fairly simple to learn and is open to experimentation. Unlike scrapbooking, which can seem overwhelming for some, rubberstamping presents less pressure for a beginner's project.

Feeling more ambitious? Paper crafts also include paper folding, better known as "origami," collages, custom cards, and even, paper-cutting - an art form first practiced in Ancient China some 1,400 years ago. Paper cutouts are also interesting as they can easily be applied to other projects, such as scrapbooking, collages, or shadow boxes. All are a great way to create contrast.

Wrap-up:

Beyond the above ideas though, there are dozens more, not to mention hundreds of variations. Indeed, even today, paper crafts continue to evolve. Artists are finding new ways to stretch the medium, expanding it to make use of modern technology and tools, while still holding onto the craft's defining principles.

And so, whether you're interested in starting a hobby or studying to become a professional, the chances are that in time you'll find your own "stamp" when it comes to paper crafts. A signature tool, technique, or shortcut that identifies your craft as your own. The ideas are boundless.

Something About Arts and Crafts

It`s not that what you consider rubbish has to be completely useless. These days rubbish is converted to useful as well as beautiful items using art and crafts. Such is the magic of art and crafts that the junk does not remain junk anymore. It is not that the things should end up how every body says. Sometimes there could be a better way out. This is what the arts and crafts teach. When a bunch of idiots say that a particular shoe box is meant to be thrown into a dust bin you don`t have to believe them.

Instead you could use your creativity and imagination to create a beautiful doll house or a box guitar out of it. It is a better idea to make a few artistic items like kaleidoscope, a clay model or an airplane from the junk other than wasting the time playing some stupid computer games that produces aggression in the child`s young mind. The time spent in making handicrafts will further improve the creativity and bring innovative ideas in the child.

This one promotes team spirit and a sense of sharing in children of different age groups. While involved in arts and crafts one evolves the habit of expressing himself frankly. Not all the children are brilliant at studies; the arts and crafts give the average students to gain self confidence among them. Creativity is something that comes out even after so much oppression. It can`t be hidden anywhere. The arts and crafts help in bringing the hidden talent among young minds.

Home Decor Halloween Arts and Crafts That Are Fun to Make

Wouldn't it be awesome to do some Halloween arts and crafts to transform your home into one of the scariest haunted houses in town? Your kids will absolutely love this idea. All you need is a theme, some accessories, appropriate lighting and sound effects.

Cemetery Halloween Arts and Crafts Theme
Coffins, bones, stone hedges, and dead bodies are appropriate for a cemetery theme.

You can use a cardboard box in making a scary coffin. Also get a large-size cardboard piece and cut out the shape of a coffin for the opening/cover. Paint a red or white cross over the top of the coffin.

You can imitate the sound of stepping over a mass of bones by drying bread in the oven and placing them under an area rug.

Cut out stone hedges out of Styrofoam, paint them gray, and write R.I.P. over them with a marker. You can also write your names or guest's names for that spooky feeling.

Make body parts by stuffing rubber/latex gloves with cotton and painting the opening red for that bloody effect.

For a realistic touch to your home decor, you can fill goblets with blood and display them in hallways and your dining area! This will enhance that vampire-in-coffin feel. You can purchase clear plastic goblets and have fun mixing red food coloring. Make the blood thicker by adding cornstarch to the mixture.

A Pumpkin Yard Halloween Arts And Crafts Theme
You don't always have to use real pumpkins in a Halloween arts and crafts pumpkin them. You can use other items such as green bell peppers and mandarins and place tea candles in them to create scary faces.

For an old, creepy, deserted look you can spread dried leaves along the hallway and on tables. Hang sticks in your porch. Place plastic spiders, rats and eyeballs within the mass of dead leaves and sticks.

A scary scarecrow would be another Halloween arts and crafts idea you can add to your pumpkin yard. Hang an old, dusty shirt over a clothes hanger. Staple the bottom part of the shirt and stuff it with hay or dead grass. Use dead branches for the arms. Then, use a witch's hat for the covered scarecrow head. Punch a hole in the hat where the hook of the hanger can go through. Hang the body over windows, doors or cabinet handles.

For cobwebs, you can use cottons which you can spread all over the place. Cotton cobwebs is great for any theme you may have in mind. You can also use washable paint on your windows-you can either use spooking green all over or apply splashes of red for "blood".

Replace your white bulbs with black, orange or red ones bulbs for an eerie lighting effect. You can also cover lamps with colored cloth or netting for eerie shadows.

Scary sounds can be easily downloaded online. Choose sounds of creaking doors, howling wolves, screaming, and ghosts.

Decorating your home with Halloween arts and crafts is as easy as choosing a theme, adding basic Halloween props, altering your lighting and downloading music over the Internet. Just try to be creative and have fun while decorating!

Phulkari Art of Punjab - A Novel Indian Craft

Punjab is a happening place in India. Various craft forms often synchronize with the popular folk music and produce an enchanting effect. People of Punjab are said to be very hard working and diligent at their vocation. Phulakri is predominantly a handiwork of the female folks of Punjab. The literal meaning of phulkari is flowering. This craft involves the embroidery of the flowering patterns on dupattas, shawls and other garments.

Evolution of the Craft:
Phulkari is done with huge interest and enthusiasm by the women. They started doing it in the backdrop of remaining free at home while their husbands were working away in the fields. It started off in the sixteenth century as amateurish disposition and evolved to a developed craft in 19th century.

How Phulkari is Done:
This craft is done as making artistic small darn stitch over the cloth. These stitches are done in innumerable designs making the cloth immensely beautiful. When the stitches are made all over the body of the cloth, the prepared piece is called "Bagh". The base cloth used for this purpose is home-spun, locally-woven and dyed khadi. The thread used is silk yarn also called Pat, that is imported from the various corners of Kashmir, Bengal, China and Afghanistan.

Colors and Designs:
The popular colors used in making phulkari are golden, yellow, crimson, orange, green, blue and pink. You may get to see plenty of designs in geometrical as well as natural patterns. Among figures, prominently of flowers, leaves, birds, animals and of human are popular. The figures of vegetables, pots, buildings, rivers, sun and moon are also displayed quite often. The baghs carrying dhoop-chhaon (sun-shade) patterns are very popular all over Punjab. Similarly, Dhaniya bagh (coriander), Motia Bagh (jasmine), Satranga Bagh (rainbow), Leheria Bagh (wavy) etc. are also very famous. Most sought after phulkaris are said to be Sainehi Phulkaris that carry the scenes of rural Punjab.

Significance of Phulkaris:
Phulkari craft has played a significant role in defining the popular mood of Punjab. The phulkari designing and the scenes displayed on the clothes has been inspiration for various folk songs and other cultural activities. They show the feelings and emotions of the people. Phulkari done garments are exchanged in the familial ties essentially. It is said that bride when leaves for the house of groom, she is given many sets of Baghs to be worn in the in-law's home. They have some religious significance too. They are used as the canopy over the holy scripture of Sikhs, the Guru Granth Sahib.

African Arts and Crafts For Kids

Creating African arts and crafts for kids is a fun way to get them engaged in cultural history at a young age. Through simple and creative activities, your child will learn about different types of African animals, games, cultural symbols, and holidays. Here are a few examples of different inexpensive and educational crafts that you can make with your child:

Mancala is a traditional African game that promotes critical thinking and improves mathematical skills. The game board and playing pieces can be easily created with these tools:
Egg carton
Scissors
Paint
Small beads - all the same size

Simply cut off the lid of the egg carton, flip it upside down and glue it to the other half. This creates a base and a playing board. Next have your child decorate the carton with brightly colored (think red, orange and yellow) paints. For added decoration, have ready-made shapes cut out of construction paper for your child to glue onto the sides. Finally, have your child choose their beads, place four in each cup and you are ready for an enjoyable game of Mancala!

One of the exciting aspects of Africa that especially interests children is the idea of a safari. Cater to your child's seemingly infinite imagination and help them create Safari Puppets. You will need:
African animal stickers
Blank note cards
Hot glue gun
Scissors
Popsicle or craft stick

Have your child place the stickers on the blank note cards. Then, have them use the scissors to cut around the perimeter. Take the cut out animal shapes and use the glue gun to fix it to the craft stick.

Music is an integral aspect to traditional African life. Drums represent the heart beat of life and are used in many African dances and festivals. Create African arts and crafts for kids that will not only be fun to create, but can be enjoyed for years to come. To help your child create an African-style drum, you will need:
Red, black and yellow construction paper
Glue
African animal stickers
Coffee can

First cut the red and black construction paper into strips that will fit vertically onto the coffee can. Have your child glue the strips to the can. Cut a thicker strip our of the yellow construction paper that will fit around the width of the can. Glue it to the can. Your child can now decorate the can with the African animal stickers to their liking. Finally place the lid on the can and start tapping away!

There are many more African arts and crafts for kids that are low in cost and fun to make. Get creative! Make masks out of paper-mache or design your own coloring books filled with African scenery and animals. Whatever you choose, you should feel good that you are helping your kid expand their world view and keeping their imaginations alive and active.

Tips for Selling Crafts

There are plenty of good methods for selling crafts. Here are a few tried and true methods and some things to consider about each method.

Selling Crafts Online
If you plan to take your craft business online, you may do so either through a third party site (that is, a site that is not your own, like Etsy or eBay) or through your own site. Some of the benefits of using a third party site are that it's usually easy to set up your own store; you won't need to learn about designing your own site. Also, popular third party sites like eBay or Etsy already have traffic coming to the site, so there are potential customers already on the site.

Keep in mind though, if you sell your crafts online at a third party site, there will be plenty of competition on the site. You will need to work to direct customers to your store; therefore, selling crafts online on a third party site does not eliminate the need to work at bringing traffic to your online craft store. Also, when you sell your crafts on a third party site, you are subject to rules of that site. If rules change, it could have a massive impact on your business.

If you decide to sell your crafts on your own website, you'll need to learn how to set up and market your own site. There are plenty of great tools out there to help you do that; it's just a matter of sorting through the hype to find the excellent service providers. When you own your own site, you own your own traffic and you control your business. You won't be dependent on a third party or subject to their rules. Once people get to your site, you won't be competing with others who are selling similar products. You'll have full control over what customers see when they visit your site.

Selling Crafts on Consignment
Selling crafts on consignment is usually a matter of being brave, professional and assertive and networking with store owners who have a customer base that is a good fit with your products. When you arrange a consignment agreement, keep in mind, this person will be responsible for promoting and taking care of your items, so you probably won't want to enter into a consignment agreement with just anyone. Be sure to build a good relationship with the store owner, and clearly define the terms of the consignment arrangement at the beginning of your relationship.

Selling Crafts at Art and Craft Shows
There's a huge range of venues that would fall under the classification of art or craft show. Everything from small shows at your local high school to massive, big venue shows.

Small community shows can be a good way to get some experience selling at shows without risking a lot in terms of booth fees. You can develop your displays, network with other crafters and discover how your target audience reacts to your products. Often crowds are limited at these shows, and people are frequently looking for bargain items, so you may find it challenging to sell higher end items at small shows.

Larger juried shows are harder to get into. It will be important to create an excellent application package including unique products, a great craft display booth, and great photos that show your products and your booth in their best light. These shows typically draw bigger crowds and it is generally easier to sell higher end items at the better juried shows.

Selling Crafts at Home Parties
Home parties can be a low cost, high reward way to start selling crafts. Aside from your hostess incentive, you won't have selling fees to deal with, and there will be no competition from other crafters. You may choose to offer a traditional sales party in which you demonstrate and sell your products. You may also consider, depending on the type of craft you make, offering teaching parties where you teach techniques used to make your crafts, charge guests to attend the party, and also sell your items and perhaps supplies to make the craft you taught. Both approaches to craft home parties can be fun and profitable.

There are plenty of ways to turn your hobby into a profitable craft business. As you try different methods for selling crafts, you'll quickly discover what works best for you, your work preferences and your products. Not all venues are right for all craft businesses, so it's wise to try a few approaches. With experience you'll discover exactly who your target market is and how to reach them.

Online Tips For Kids Craft Ideas

You might know this already, kids love craft projects! And lucky for you, finding them isn't hard to do. Yup, that's right! Thanks to the internet, with few clicks in your mouse, you'll ideas, patterns and instructions. But the tricky part is you just have to know where to look!

Here are few tips to get you started.
1. Thank God, we have Google! Use a search engine, Google, Bing, or Yahoo to find ideas and patterns. Type in few keywords to initiate the search, such as "kids crafts","craft patterns" or "craft ideas". You should find a few of the online sites based from those keywords.
2. Hey, those are lots of sites, you know? Right! And you can always further narrow your search by adding age-specific words like "kindergarten, children or teenagers". You see, there are tons of sites categorize their collection of craft patterns, how-to articles and ideas by age and gender.
3. You find the site? Well, okay, once you have located an online site that offers craft ideas, first you have get this site to bookmark! Then you should spend time to browse through all content inside of it.
4. You find those ideas? Yup, when you get the ones which are right for the age group or activity you're searching for, then save them! Yeah, save a copy to a folder on your computer for future use.

Have a wonderful time? While you're online, you might think to check out At Kinder Art, Craft 4 Kids, Amazing Moms, or Exciting Scout Crafts. You'll find these websites are great recourses teachers, home schools or anyone who wants to teach their children about art.

You'll find huge collection of kids crafts, art lessons, cross curricular art, seasonal kids' arts and more. They got pictures, a list of necessary items and detailed instructions. And the contents are for various age and talent levels. Yup, you'll find many kids crafts to choose from!

American Indians Arts and Crafts, Are They the Best Kids Crafting Ideas?

Often in traveling to California I'd take Route 66 which is my favorite way to go because of the scenic roads. I often find myself stopping at an outpost along the highway, and admiring the American Indians arts and crafts. In my mind I'm brought back to a time, when as a young child I was taught to create arts and crafts of this nature.

In my opinion one of the best crafts you can teach your children is to make Indian crafts. Indians arts and crafts range from the complex to the very simple. I believe this is because of the vast amount of American Indian tribes that have contributed to Indian arts and crafts. This is also a good way to teach your kids about American history, and the tradition, and spirituality of a beautiful people.

One of my favorite projects of arts and crafts to work on as a kid, was to hand make moccasins. I thought it was very neat to actually make something like a shoe. Even though I never got my pair of moccasins to stay together no longer than a week or two, and I never was able to get my pottery shaped the right way. I still was able to enjoy doing American Indians arts and crafts.

The main detail that came to my mind while searching through the outpost was how easily my scoutmaster was able to show me a good time, and instill in me the ability to learn about other cultures and have an open mind.

So, if you're thinking about starting on arts and crafts project with your kid. One of the best things I would suggest is to look into Native American Indians arts and crafts. It should turn into a great learning experience for you and your child, and should be something that they will never forget. Remember, that one of the key things to do is to also teach them a little history on the actual crafting that is being done.

Some Facts About Indian Arts And Crafts

Every country has its own culture and tradition. It has some history and some story of its origin. It is this history, tradition and cultural values of people that give them a distinct identity. The cultural and traditional value of people along with the history of the place not only gives identity to its people but also decides the art forms of the place. Every country has different forms of arts and culture. Therefore, if you will have an understanding of the place, it will be easier for you to get a better idea about its art as well as craft forms.

You might have checked several specimen of art and craft works of different places. Like any other layman, you have been able to decipher the meaning of some of the specimen but you have failed to decipher the meaning of the rest. Indian art form, which has a rich history, must have amazed you several times and you have tried to get the in depth meaning of the art form. If you are impressed with the Indian art forms and craft works, you need to note some facts about the origin and development of this art form.

Like the arts or crafts work of any other place, Indian art also has a deep connection with its history, tradition and culture. India is a land of people with different cultural background, religion as well as ethnicity. As there is a vast diversity of the culture and tradition of this place, it is quite obvious that the art and craft works of this place will also have a vast diversity. Therefore, to understand art or painting works of India, it is quite obvious that you will need some understanding of the history and culture of the place.

Apart from understanding the intricate details related to the origin of the arts or crafts works in India, you need to know some more facts. If you have the interest of learning about the Indian art forms and craft works, you need to have a complete knowledge of the different types of art forms that are practiced here. Not only that but also you should check out the details of the handmade art and craft works of India. Someone who does have the complete understanding of all these factors will never be able to get the complete idea of the Indian art and crafts.

Indian art pieces have always been a great subject to study. But you should not restrict these marvelous pieces as a mere subject of study. You can use the craft works for decorating your house. The Indian art form has an elegance of its own. Therefore, if you decorate your house with the handmade craft works, it will be easier for you to increase the aesthetic appeal of the house. You can purchase Indian art pieces as well as handmade crafts from any online store selling these products. Therefore, you will not have to face any kind of hassle for decorating your house with beautiful art and craft pieces designed by Indian craftsmen.

Learn About Indian Art And Craft Online

India is a land of culture. It is also a land of multi ethnicity. As people of different religions, castes and communities, India has a wide variation in its culture. Not only the Indian culture but also the art works and the craft forms of India show its diversity. The art forms and the craft works of India have received immense popularity among people. For a time immemorial the Indian art forms have attracted the attention of people from all across the globe and they are interested to know more on this subject.

In the recent years, many students have selected Indian art and craft as a subject of their study. They have travelled all the way to India to get a better idea of the art and craft works. Indian art forms as well as the craft works have a uniqueness of their own. If you are interested to get a better idea of this art form, you will have to check out for the history of this art work. When you are considering about the art forms of India, you should note that it has a rich history and it will not be possible for you to understand the subject if you do not check its history.

If you can travel all the way to India for conducting research work on the subject, it is quite obvious that you will have better chances of presenting an excellent research work. However, if you are interested to know about the Indian arts and crafts work just for your knowledge, traveling all the way to India is not a necessity. You can collect the basic information about Indian crafts and art works from your own place. Several books are available on this subject. You can purchase any of those books and read them thoroughly for understanding the depth of the subject.

You can also check out different e-books that are available online. If you search the internet thoroughly, it will not be a big deal for you to find different books written by experienced authors. When you are looking out for different books written by the experts, it will always be better for you to trust the authentic ones. All the information provided on the internet might not be useful for serving your purpose. So, you should check the authenticity of the source before trusting it. By checking the authentic sources, you may also be able to get relevant information on art and craft ideas.

Many online libraries provide complete details of the Indian art works, craft works and painting. In the online libraries, you will not only be able to find several books but also you will be able to get hold of several old manuscripts. If you check out these manuscripts, you will be able to form a better idea of the beginning and development of Indian art works and craft works. To get the relevant information online, you might have to spend a few dollars but do not make compromises with the authenticity of information for money. Compromising the information for money will only be a waste of your time and effort that you have invested for the work.

Arts and Crafts Lamps and The History of Art Nouveau

The Arts and Crafts era began in England during the late 1800's. Simple clean designs and individual craftsmanship that employed aspects of nature were the main characteristics of this design period. This new movement was in direct contrast to the mass production of products that was made possible by the industrial revolution. This new art, (Art Nouveau in French) was also many ways a relief from the lavishly ornate designs of the Victorian era which preceded.

The industrial revolution had dehumanized the process of manufacturing especially as it relates to home decor products. It broke down the work process into various components by processes called the "division of labor". Workers were able to work on only a portion of a complete product. The Arts and Crafts movement was a rebuttal of this dehumanizing process as it was concerned specifically with the human element of a person creating an entire product from start to finish.

The architect Augustus Pugin (1812-1852) was one of the first outspoken leaders in speaking against the dehumanizing aspect of the industrial revolution. He was followed by other proponents of these ideas: John Ruskin (1819-1900), William Morris (1834-1896) and Phillip Webb. Morris was the most popular name associated with this movement.

This new style of art spread throughout Europe and was named Art Nouveau (new art) by the French. Each country and region had its own styles and variations of this new art movement.

During the late 1800's, America was basically importing its artistic and home furnishings designs from England and Europe. Colonial and Shaker designs were the only truly American styles at that time. Gustav Stickley's simple and clean furniture designs exemplified the Arts and Crafts style in America.

There were a number of remarkable lamp companies of that period. Their products are very collectible and highly sought after today. Many of these collectible Arts and Crafts Lamps or Art Nouveau Lamps that sold for $ 15 - $ 25 in the 1920's may now sell for many $ 1,000's and much more.

Some of the lamp companies which are representative of the Arts and Crafts or Art Nouveau era are:
Tiffany
Handel
Pairpoint
Duffner & Kimberly
Edward Miller
Bradley and Hubbard
Pittsburg
Moe Bridges
Chicago Mosaic
Cincinnati Iron Works
Classique
Consolidated
DIrk Van Erp
Aladdin
Daum Nancy
Jefferson
Rockwood Pottery
Roycroft
Wilkinson
Lightolier
Jeanette
Phoenix

Selling Crafts - Production Crafts Vs One of a Kind Crafts

When you are selling crafts, at some point you will likely make a choice between creating production work and creating one of a kind pieces. If you choose to become a production craft artist, you will develop a line of items that you make over and over, if you create one of a kind pieces, you will rarely repeat the same design twice.

Following are some considerations to help determine whether production crafts or one of a kind items are a good fit for goals for your craft business.

Creating and selling crafts on a production basis:
You'll need to ensure your product is marketable and influenced by current trends and customer preferences. That means you may make design decisions because a particular style sells well. Because you'll be making the same items many times, you'll give up a certain amount of artistic expression that you would have if you made one of a kind items. You must be happy doing repetitive work and enjoy the production process. You'll spend a lot of time creating the same design. If you don't like the production process, rather than rejoicing in a big new order, you'll dread the though of a huge order coming in. You will most likely sell your crafts primarily at retail and wholesale craft shows, and perhaps online. Once you create some effective routines, you'll be able to create a predictable work schedule for your time in the studio and your time spent marketing and selling crafts at art shows.

Creating and selling one of a kind crafts:
There will be plenty of room for creative expression, and you will be engaged in less repetitive work in the studio. You won't repeat your designs, so you'll need to have no shortage of great ideas if you go this route with your craft business. You'll need to be comfortable with exploring new ideas and techniques for creating your work. You may have a fairly erratic work schedule in which you work long hours to complete a specific project, and then have slower periods. You will most likely need to network and build business relationships with galleries to have success in this venue. You income may be less predictable and you may need another source of income to supplement your earnings.

Your choice to create production crafts or one of a kind crafts will impact most of your other decisions related to selling crafts. Take some time to determine which approach best fits your needs and work preferences so you will create a craft business that truly meets your expectations.

Children's Crafts - Their Importance & Value For Healthy Development

Children love crafts. They seem to become fixated when they are drawing, painting, cutting, pasting and working through kids crafts and activities. Kids love working with their hands. The sense of joy that children experience during the participation of arts and crafts is an unmistakable give away that something greater is going on with their learning. Why is this?

There is something in the sense of achievement children get when they are working on crafts or craft activities that involves their creativity and stimulates their imagination.

But there is so much more to this picture than a sense of achievement.

The amazing developmental benefits that children can obtain through creative craft ideas make childrens crafts such a crucial part of a child's healthy development.

Below are some of the developmental skills that a child can learn through simple craft activities.

Social Skills: Children receive feedback through observation and the modeling of their parent/ teacher. In addition, interacting with other children also teaches acceptable social skills. Simple crafts for kids can be an amazing way to engage a child through appropriate play and talk.

Fine Motor Skills Development: Crafts assist children with the development of their fine motor skills. Children's crafts and kids activities teach simple skills such as holding pencils and scissors correctly, cutting, pasting and coloring techniques.

Creative and Visual Spatial Development: Creative development is one of the key benefits that crafts and art activities offer. Through the use of creative craft ideas for kids, the choice of materials and simple task related instructions, their imagination and ability to make creative choices can develop. Children create an image of what they want to create in their task. They can transfer this image through the use of their hands and the materials into their craft work. When developed appropriately, this important skill can assist children with skills such as visualizing details, the recall of information through mental imagery, creation of living pictures and visualizing of goals. Good kids craft and activities resources with easy to implement craft ideas are an important aspect for this learning.

Linguistic Development: Another benefit crafts for kids offer is the development of a wider range of vocabulary. Through discussing the creation and work required to complete crafts, the parent can create dialogue which both increases vocabulary and creates meaning and understanding. When completing any craft activitiy, children are given further learning opportunities through observing their parent/ teacher's expressions of verbal problem solving and positive reinforcement. When choosing craft ideas for kids, childrens crafts and activities, ensure that you have quality resources which enable discussion.

In addition to the above developmental benefits, easy craft ideas for kids can also assist with the development of:

Concentration and the completion of tasks: Children's crafts assist with the development of the ability to concentrate and avoid distractions. Through the focus that is required to work through craft activities, children learn to focus on one task at a time. They learn that through focus they are able to successfully complete a task.

Skills in planning: Arts and crafts for kids assist with the development of both visual and verbal planning skills. Visual spatial skill development assists children to create plans in their mind's eye of what they want to achieve through their craft project.

Persistence and Seeing Tasks Through to Completion: Children learn the skill of persistence when completing any activity or craft project. Choosing from one of many craft ideas and seeing the task through to completion regardless of set backs is an important skill for children to learn. If developed early in life, this can assist a child with school work, project development and goal setting.

Success and Self Worth: The participation and completion crafts assist with one of the most important aspects of healthy growth and development: the experience of self worth through success. Through skills discussed earlier such as concentration, persistence, planning, creative development and visual spatial development, children learn what is required to complete a task and to create their vision through the use of their hands. Praise and feedback are important factors here when they are attempting activity or kids craft project. Assisting children if they are struggling with an aspect or completion of a task can be important. Giving praise throughout the process and at the completion of the task helps the child to learn a sense of accomplishment associated with the development and completion of projects.

Creative craft ideas for kids are so valuable for healthy development. The best part of all is that assisting children with arts and craft activities can be so simple. With creative and easy craft ideas for kids, simple materials and a sense of fun, you too can have a great time! Whether you are a parent, teacher, grandparent or nanny, kids crafts and children's activities are a fantastic way to connect with children and watch them grow and develop.

Masters of Their Craft - The Art of the Barista

Mastering the processes of coffee and espresso in particular, is actually considered a genuine art form. And those artisans who've perfected their skills to expert level hold the distinguished title of 'barista' for they are certainly masters of their craft.

Barista Trivia
The word barista is in fact, an American English term derived from the Italian word for bartender (baristi, male; bariste, female), in as much as coffee servers typically brew and serve from behind a café counter, or 'bar'. But don't get the wrong impression from that definition. Baristas are truly so much more than glorified coffee servers. These men and women have perfected the art of brewing and are highly knowledgeable in everything having to do with their profession including roasting, grinding, tamping, brewing, pouring and more. They are also designers in their own right, as they create innovative variations based from more traditional recipes and also illustrate amazing images in the foam-topped cups by utilizing special techniques obtained from hours of practice.

The Cream of the Coffee Crop
Another interesting factoid about baristas is that there are competitions held all over the globe wherein these aficionados showcase their skills for all to see, taste and smell. Can you imagine the wonderfully aroma-filled air you would experience walking into one of these judging arenas? And every year, one auspicious artisan is chosen as the 'best of the best' at an internationally renowned contest known as the World Barista Championship or WBC, for short. Originating in Norway, the WBC is quite a spectacular event and one that provides a great place of coveted honor - not just for the champion, but to all those who partake in the event as well.

To Be a Barista
Achieving barista status takes time - and a respectable sum of it, there is no doubt. A barista possesses a passion for the coffee products he uses and produces, and views it as much more than a 'job'. It is a true profession and one that is admirable as well. If you aspire to become a barista, either at-home or world-renowned, strive to achieve as much insight, knowledge and skill of all things coffee as it will greatly assist your artisan endeavor.

Sustaining Local Arts and Crafts - Whangarei Art Museum

Whangarei Art Museum in New Zealand is a historically acclaimed arts and crafts centre which is also the sole public gallery found in Northland. It is a one stop shop for those who wish to explore the city's ancient and contemporary work of art.

Whangarei Art Museum also known as WAM opened its doors to the public in June 1996. Housed in a striking building, the museum occupies a superb location in charming Cafler Park and lies next to the conservatory and Fernery. It is also positioned adjoining the cultural amenities of Forum North Theatre. The museum serves as the place that hosts internally curated and national touring exhibitions which are created to display the diversity and dexterity of local creative art.

Dedicated to enhance the attention towards visual arts among both locals and international visitors, WAM has been the venue for some great exhibitions. For instance, the Heta Power and Fragility exhibition held in 2004 showcased the skills of artist Mark Cross who exhibited the devastation caused by a cyclone in the island of Niue. There was also the exhibition titled 'Selected works by Four Northland Artists'. The latter include work executed by artists Quinton Carrington, Vaughan Gunson, Andrea Hopkins and Wilson O'Halloran.

Noteworthy past exhibitions at Whangarei Art Museum also include 'Ghandi' that featured portraits and images of Mahatma Gandhi, Shade House Installation, photographs from the Seresin Family collection, Tears for Tane's Children, Celebrating Matariki and much more.

The award winning Northland resident Len Castle's Mountain to the Sea is the latest exhibition that is being displayed at WAM. Plumb Lines, which is defined as a 'Survey of the Visual Landscape through the Surveyor's Lens' is an exhibition that can be looked forward to at the Whangarei Art Museum.

Silly Crafts - Craft Making is a Special Bonding Experience For Families

Making silly crafts is a fun way for families to spend time together. Craft time is always a special bonding time for families, and making things silly livens this time up even more!

Wiggle Sunglasses
You'll need a cheap pair of sunglasses (plastic and colorful are best, try the local dollar store), wiggly eyes (of assorted sizes, they come in different colors also), and glue. Simply glue the wiggly eyes on the frame of the glasses. Let dry. All eyes will definitely be on you when you wear these glasses!

Slime
For this project you'll need water, food coloring and cornstarch. Mix 1 cup of the cornstarch with 1 cup of the water. Kneed with your hands until smooth. Make it a little less slimy by adding a second cup of cornstarch. Either break down the batch to smaller batches and create a whole rainbow of slime, or use the one batch for one color using the food coloring. This, the stickiest and slimiest of all silly crafts, will have your kids using their best (read: grossest) creativity imaginable!

Putty
Who doesn't love silly putty? A mainstay of every child's toy box, silly putty can be made at home and also stored in a colorful egg. You'll need 2 cups of glue, 1 cup starch, optional food coloring (you don't have to color your silly putty), and colorful plastic eggs. Pour the glue and add food coloring (if desired), mix the starch in with your hands slowly. Using your hands, continue mixing for 15 minutes. Store in an airtight container, or a plastic egg!

Hats
You can pretty much make hats out of anything - a perfect base for a silly crafts project. Gather all of the objects you can think of that might make a silly hat like paper plates, construction paper, aluminum foil, baskets, fabric with buttons, bowls and let the kids have at it! For the objects they can decorate, offer markers, crayon and even paint.

Silly Pens
The items you'll need for this project are a ballpoint pen, chenille (wire-free), tacky glue, 10mm wiggle eyes, and turkey feathers. Drop a thin line of glue near the pen's tip, then attach the chenille, wrap the glue around the pen and spiral the chenille up around over it, all the way to the top of the pen. Snip off excess at the top, then secure the remainder to the top of the pen with glue. Glue the wiggle eyes to one side of the pen, then the turkey feathers to the other. This is one of the silly crafts projects that is perfect for kids or teens!

Reindeer Head
This project is perfect for babies and preschoolers. Any time children get to take off their shoes they are in heaven! Items needed are red and brown construction paper, scissors, a pencil, glue, and either crayons or makers. Trace the child's hands and one foot over the brown construction paper, then cut out. Glue to another sheet of paper by placing the foot cutout as the head of the reindeer, and the hand cutouts as the antlers. Let the child decorate with crayons and markers!

Bamboo Crafts - Best Art and Craft Gift Items

Handicraft is an art form which is acquainted for the livelihood and support for human beings. Bamboo crafts has always been played a vital role in Indian culture. At present scenario, handicraft products are highly acclaimed for the decorative purposes which is quite popular amongst the generation of present scenario. Bamboo crafts manufacturers render a huge variety of furniture and other decorative items which are made out of bamboo sticks. As per the ever-changing market trends, various B2B portal have been included a huge variety of bamboo made products. You will find an immense variety of different kind of bamboo made products in numerous styles and design patterns in the form of furniture, decorative items, mats, basket, lamp shades, table top item and many more. Bamboo crafting is the oldest traditional art work which is mostly practiced by the rural people. In ancient time, It has been used for multiple domestic utility purposes for keeping goods.

There is a broad marketplace of handicraft products in the global marketplace. Bamboo crafts manufacturers introduce you an enticing range of Eco-friendly products which are extremely used for its unique yet stylish appearance. These are usually known as a clean and pure product so that highly used for religious purposes mostly at holy places. It has its own significance which is available in the market at most affordable prices. Bamboo crafts manufacturers are offering a huge variety of versatile handcrafted products that exhibit the true craftsmanship of artisans.

Market leading manufacturers have been found the marketplace for displaying their products, at B2B portal where they cannot just display their products but also introduce the special features of their products. The visitors can also get the informative knowledge of all listed products which has been displayed on any portal. The organizations also get the business profit through these B2B marketplace. Visitors can also get the complete detailed information of any company and their products along with the contact number so that one can directly deals with them. These products are extensively used for various purposes and also appreciated for its unique yet aesthetic look as well as light weight.

Dokra Craft - Dokra Art Travels to London, Paris and Milan Fashion Stores!

Since time immemorial, Indians have associated particular tribal districts of Bengal, Jharkhand, Orissa, Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh with the folk art of Dokra or Dhokra. Dokra craft is a type of metal craft falling under the genre of brassware handicrafts. And this humble Indian handicraft is now making its way to foreign shores and earning fame for itself on its own terms in the fashion stores of Paris, Milan and London.

Why has Dokra craft suddenly become so highly coveted?
The reasons for this are plenty. Dokra craft, just like any other type of Indian handicrafts, was dying a slow death. Even a few years back, it was difficult to find quality or even accomplished Dokra craftsmen and metal smiths.

The dearth or paucity of skilled labor resulted in dwindling supplies and the prices of the end products sky rocketed upwards. Naturally, the demand also went down because of the escalating prices. Even the designs and patterns on Dokra items had become outdated.

But there has been a turnaround for this industry, which was nothing short of a wonder. And this wonder has been brought about by latest and advanced technology, adoption of latest product designs and patterns and newness/innovation of motifs. The line of products has undergone sea change and there has been a sudden burst in manufacture of beautiful napkin rings, serving sets, good quality vases etc.

The proliferation of new design developments along with the latest technologies have enabled the Dokra craftsmen to bring out lines of Dokra products that are usable and which can be put to good use by clients in the contemporary world markets.

A new design artist called Mukul Goyal is helping out the Dokra craftsmen in their endeavor to develop altered and contemporary ranges of Dhokra art and Dokra craft. The Dokra craftsmen are also being helped by Mr. Goyal in the marketing of Dokra items in foreign markets. These people have together developed and brought out 10 new ranges or product lines.

Some of those items in the product lines are door handles, flower vases, napkin rings, lamps, food grade etc. There are however limitations to the art, as practiced by these Dokra craftsmen. All the Dokra art pieces are hand crafted, and so the finishing isn't of excellent quality. So, those Dokra products which have to be exported have to undergo detailing and final finishing by machines in some other place.

Dokra Craft - Dhokra Art of Bengal Unveiled For You

Dokra craft is tribal in origin - this is perhaps something that we are already extremely familiar with. Dokra craft is supposed to be cast in metal using the lost wax technique or cire perdue as it is popularly known in France. However there is something individualistic about Dokra craft.

Although Dokra figures and figurines are cast on metals like brass, bell metal etc, there is a hidden layer of clay core concealed within the mold. The most unique characteristic of Dokra craft is that you will never find two similar pieces of Dhokra art for each and every single piece is unique.

You will find Dokra/Dhokra castings in religious figures, tribal folklore symbols, religious figures and figurines, chains, lamps, lamp holders, religious animals etc.

Dhokra metal craft which basically has a tribal origin is abundantly found in the tribal pockets of Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Chhattisgarh, Vindhya hills and in Bengal. In Bengal, you will find the Dokra kamars or metal smiths settled in the tribal belts of Midnapore, Bankura, Birbhum, Purulia and Burdwan.

In Chhattisgarh, the Dokra artisans are settled in the districts of Bastar and Raigarh. The Dokra artists of Bastar can be distinguished by their use of coiled thread technique, not seen in any other Dokra settlement or Dokra figurines. The two places famed for being Dokra manufacturing units are Ushegaon and Chittalbori in Adilabad district of Andhra Pradesh. The Dokra figurines of this region are characterized by uniqueness and individuality.

This individualistic touch is due to the hand crafted dexterity and skill that these Dokra artifacts boast of. However, although metal casting is used in Dokra craft, they are different from other types of metal craft. Although it is mostly brass scrap and bell metal that are used to manufacture Dokra craft, there remains a hollow core inside the metal casting consisting of a clay core.

It is a matter of grave concern that in spite of being an art form that involves high skill labor and out of the world creativity and in spite of its huge demand in international markets and among discerning art lovers across the globe, the government in India isn't doing much to encourage or patronize this slowly dying Dokra craft. But a strong demand in foreign shores has resulted in a new found resurgence and resurrection of Dokra craft in Bengal.

Printable Crafts - Creative Arts and Crafts to Do at Home

Printable crafts are a great idea for a rainy day at home with the kids. Let's face it though, you don't have to be a kid to enjoy doing crafts. The list of possible crafts is endless. Below there are a few favorites that you might be interested in.

Origami is a traditional Japanese form of art, a technique of folding paper into different shapes or ornaments representing forms such as those of flowers or animals. The online printable will have an image with lines of where the item should be folded. There are printables available online for all different skill levels. Most offer simple directions.

A mobile is a hanging sculpture created from ornaments, string and sticks. Mobiles can be made of many things. Printables will often be ornamental shapes or pictures. The printable crafts available online will sometimes require you to add your own string or sticks.

Paper Dolls are paper representations of characters or humans. These dolls are usually cut out and put in a stand. The printables for paper dolls work better if printed on a heavy paper or card stock. The paper dolls usually will include changes of clothes or accessories to make play time more imaginative and exciting

Coloring Pages are available in abundance. These pages can be fun but can also be educational. There are many pages that are "workbook" pages that will require a child to complete a lesson or skill. Some coloring pages are offered as complete coloring books. This option is great for keeping children busy during long car trips. Themed and level appropriate activity books are also available. These usually include coloring, reading, math, science and some kind of social studies skills.

All crafts come in a variety of seasonal choices like pumpkins, christmas ornaments and turkeys. Some crafts are colored some require coloring. Other crafts may require additional supplies such as glue, string and scissors. If your child is in love with a particular character that they have seen on television or in books. These character sites often offer crafts specifically themed to that television show or character. This offers an additional bonus of saving money by not having to purchase the "specialty" craft and coloring books from the store.

When searching the internet for printable crafts, be sure to use only reputable sites. You should not allow your children to search for the crafts by themselves because there are many sites that offer adult themed crafts that are not for children's eyes. There are sites that are specifically geared toward printables for teachers. These sites offer a great selection and can usually be trusted.

There are many other printable crafts available on the internet. When searching the internet, phrase your search query to include specific theme key words. There are many that will suit your particular situation.

Paper Craft - The Art Of Making Paper For Gifts

We often consider making paper to be a very complicated, skilled process and of course, that can be true. But it's not hard to craft paper yourself at home with very little equipment. The only special item you'll need is a mould. This is a wooden frame with a mesh stretched across it to act as a filter or sieve. It's very simple to make your own mould - just fasten four pieces of wood together in a rectangular shape to make the frame. Use 3/4" x 2" wood (20 x 50 mm) and make the inner dimensions of the frame the size of the paper you want to make. The frame needs to be about 2" (200 mm) in depth. Then cover the frame with tightly stretched mesh - mosquito net or just a piece of net curtain is fine. Make sure it's securely fastened to the edge of the frame. You'll also need a large container to hold water, about the size of a baby bath.

Now you're ready - let's get started! To make the pulp collect together a variety of unwanted paper (this craft is great for recycling). avoid newspaper (not pretty) and glossy magazines (the gloss makes them unsuitable) but you can use tissues, art paper, envelopes, discarded letter paper or copier paper - these are all suitable. Then tear the paper into about 1" (25 mm) square pieces and soak it in water. The soaking time depends on the paper you're using. Tissues will take under an hour, while high quality paper may take up to 3 days. Using hot water will speed up the process.

The next step is to macerate the paper in a blender or food processor. Add a couple of cups of water to each small handful of the paper. (225 ml). You only want to blend until the fibres separate, so be cautious and use short bursts. If you blend for too long your paper will be very smooth and you won't have that rustic, handmade quality which is so attractive. Put the blended pulp into another container. A blenderful will make about 1 letter-sized sheet, so continue until you've blended as much as you think you'll need.

Now comes the even more fun part - making the paper! You can add all sorts of small things to give your paper an individual feel. For a country theme add some tiny feathers or pressed leaves and flowers. For Christmas or a child's party you can add sparkles, or tiny foil shapes. If you'd like to colour the paper, you can use natural dyes like blueberry or beetroot juice, onion skins, turmeric or coffee grounds, or you can purchase commercial dyes from craft stores. Just stir your dye into the pulp, adding a little at a time until you have the colour you want. Remember though, the colour will lighten as the pulp dries.

Stir the pulp well and dip your frame vertically into the far side of your container then, in one smooth movement, tip it towards you so it's lying horizontally beneath the pulp and lift it out, holding it level. Then, quickly, before the water's drained away, give it a little shake to even it out. Don't wait too long before doing this or the paper will become too dry and tear when you shake it. If this happens, just scrape it back into the container and try again.

Leave your frame to drain, then place in a warm place to dry out. This will take anything from 2 - 24 hours. Then peel it from the frame using a palette knife. That's it - you're done! Crafting your own homemade paper is a great family activity - why not get the kids involved too?

Don't forget to wrap up in aprons to keep them clean and dry, do take a look at these great designs for kids. You can use your paper as a whole sheet, or fold it to make cards and matching envelopes. Crafting home made paper is a wonderful way to recycle - and if you enjoy recycling and vintage products, check out our vintage linen aprons, all made from genuine antique European linen.

How You Can Create a Unique Gift With a Baby Footprint Stamp Kit

There are many interesting and unique projects you can do with your baby's footprint.  Quite a few of them come in a baby footprint stamp kit.  When you purchase a footprint stamp kit you will receive all the materials it will take to complete that craft.  It will include paper, frames, ink, instructions, everything you need to make the craft beautifully.  Let's take a look at the different footprint kits you can get.

Baby Footprint Stamp Journal:
If you like to journal, this will be a great project for you.  This kit would work well for a baby journal of the first years.  You are provided with a journal.  The cover includes two framed areas, one for a picture of your baby, and the other for a baby footprint stamp.  It's a beautiful journal and one any mother would look forward to writing in.

Baby footprint stamp Ornament:
What a great way to adorn baby's first Christmas tree and all the trees to come, with a footprint ornament.  With the new ornament kits it is much easier and a lot less messy to make these holiday ornaments. They come with a shaping ring, and use air drying impression material, instead of plaster like when I was a kid.  These are no fuss no muss ornaments.  These ornaments are great for every member of the family.  In fact, these might be fun to do for the first few years to see the growth of your little one.

Baby Footprint Wall Frame:
The Baby footprint wall frame is a picture frame with two openings.  The first of which holds a picture of your child, the second houses a footprint or handprint in a moldable material.

Create a lifetime memory and unique gift by making a baby handprint or footprint wall frame for your child.  Years from now you and your children will be stunned by how small they really were at that age of their life.

A baby footprint wall frame is an elegant keepsake and makes a great baby shower, holiday gift or any special occasion gift. It is also great for a grandparent's first mother's or father's day.  Your friends and family will be impressed at how much time and thought you put into getting them such a unique gift.

Grandma Loves Me Frame:
This baby footprint frame kit offers two sides again, one for a great picture of grandma and baby and the other for the baby footprint stamp.  You can get these kits with writing around the footprint area or plain.  These are a great gift, I can't imagine any grandma who wouldn't love one.  Everything you need to complete this craft is included, the ink, the frame and mats, all you need to add is the picture and the footprint. 

As you can see there are many different types of baby footprint stamp kits.  What's nice about getting a kit is it is all in one place and easy to do.  There's no stopping you from taking any of these ideas and doing them on your own without a kit. I'm sure you can find everything you need at a local craft store.

Gift Baskets: The Perfect Gift for Every Occasion

If you are looking for that perfect gift for that special someone, look no further than the nearest gift basket distributor. Why fret over buying the perfect gift when you can really find the ideal gift selection with one single, simple purchase? Gift baskets are uniquely designed to suit a variety of tastes and you can easily purchase one that the special someone in your life will truly love.

Gift baskets are not only perfect for Christmas, but they are equally excellent for all holidays and special occasions. Mother's Day, Father's Day, Valentines Day, Easter, birthday's, anniversaries, baby arrivals, and moments where you simply want to express your sentiments are easily addressed with your choice of gift baskets. Let's take a look at various offerings and see how they prove to be the ideal gift.

Gift baskets can be purchased that range in price from 50 to over 100 dollars. Plus, you can find the ones that are theme oriented for specific individuals. For instance, if you are interested in purchasing a gift basket for the man in your life, no matter what the occasion, you are bound to find a suitable one. You can purchase a chef's gift basket if he likes to cook, a golf gift basket, a gourmet gift basket or a deluxe snack one he is absolutely sure to love.

Likewise, a variety of gift baskets are available for women. Looking to introduce a little romance into your relationship? You can purchase a gift basket that consists of candles and aromatherapy products or one that contains chocolates and other delicacies. Such gift baskets prove delightful for Valentine's Day. Perhaps you are searching for a birthday gift or a Mother's Day gift. Again, you can find a basket to suit the occasion. Gift baskets containing teas, coffees, ciders, cheeses, cookies, pasta, and fruits are just a few of the delightful selections you can choose from.

Are you in need of a gift that is perfect for the arrival of a new baby? Again, gift baskets can fulfil the demand. You can order gift baskets filled with baby bath items, layette collections, baby's first Christmas baskets, a new baby's welcome gift basket, a baby's diaper bag gift basket, a baby care gift basket filled with baby care essentials, and you can even get gift baskets in the shape of wicker baby carriages. Finally, older kids can't be left out of the mix. In fact, there are baskets for children that prove ideal as gifts. Many provide toys, arts and crafts, and snacks that kids are sure to love.

In the end, gift baskets make your gift shopping easy. With a single and easy purchase, you can buy your special loved ones a beautiful gift that they will truly enjoy. Plus, you can shop on the Internet and increase the diversity level of your shopping. So, get out there and start buying your gift baskets today.

Memories and Teachable Moments

As parents we are always looking for ways to teach our children about the important things in life, like how to treat others with compassion or how to show mercy and grace.

Touch economic times often have the trickle down effect to the needy and less fortunate as caring citizen have less to contribute to their favorite charities. This year is a good example in many communities.

Despite this truth, parents across our nation can still take this opportunity to show our children how to care. Join us this year by becoming a Secret Santa for a needy child or family. Here is a great way to get started.

Call a family meeting to discuss the project, kids always respond better if they are included in the decision making process. After all, you are asking them to have fewer presents so someone else can have a present. You may be surprised at their enthusiasm and they may even have an idea about how to choose a family.

Local churches or the Salvation Army often have 'giving trees' or a program for needy families. The local mall is also a great place to check for these.

These resources will have the first name and age of each individual, which helps with gift choices. This also simplifies the process since they have done the work of finding those in need and they deliver for you... important since you are trying to be a 'Secret Santa'.

Once you know who you are buying for, the fun begins. Sit down with the kids and talk about what kinds of presents would be appropriate for these special people.

Perhaps you will decide to buy each of them a gift and fill their Christmas stockings, or maybe just fill the stockings and get the fixings for a Christmas dinner. Even a single gift for a child that might not get one otherwise, will teach compassion.

For a single mother or father that is just getting back on their feet, a small tree and the trimmings can be a wonderful gift that will make it feel like Christmas.

The shopping and gift wrapping should be a group event and can include a special lunch or dinner. Make a big deal out of the day so they remember it next year. How wonderful to have your child asking you about it next year, "let's be a Secret Santa again."

It doesn't have to be expensive for your family when you decide to be a Secret Santa. The important part is the opportunity to talk to your kids, about all that we are blessed with and those that are less fortunate.

Consider this, memories of childhood holidays often dictate how we feel about these events as adults. As parents we long to pass those feelings along to our children, to give them the gift of holiday memories that make the season special for the years to come.
The sights, sounds and smells of the holidays are everywhere this time of year. Now is the time to jump into spirit of the season and build some lasting memories with your loved ones!

Do you need some new ideas? Here are some suggestions to use or pass on.

o Have a separate Christmas tree for the kids. All of the decorations should be home made, they can be saved from year to year so the collection grows. This allows mom or dad to have the color coordinated, perfectly symmetrical tree without interfering with the decorating fun for the kids. Try to find something age appropriate and different to make each year. The local craft store will have kits or you can use your imagination. Try one of these this year.

1. Painted wooden ornaments, don't forget to have the kids put their name and the year on the back of their masterpieces. These are fairly small and have preprinted lines so even the young child can participate.
2. Felt ornaments, cut from sturdy felt and hand stitched together. Beginners can learn the sewing basics on these simple projects but will need some guidance. Permanent makers are best for adding the name and year to the back of these ornaments and they are available in many colors including silver and gold.
3. Shrinking art, they are painted with special paints and then you shrink them in the oven. These are available as larger plastic pieces in a kit or you can buy the plain plastic sheets so you can make your own designs. Either way they end up looking like small stained glassed ornaments, don't forget to cut out a hole for the hook or ribbon needed to hang your treasure on the tree... once you shrink them it is too late!

o Find a local church or organization that puts on an annual Christmas play or pageant. This is a great opportunity to dress up and go out as a family. Afterwards, go out for pie or hot chocolate and talk about the event. What was everyone's favorite part or actor? How was it different from last year? Kids love to give their opinion and this will help them to develop an appreciation for the arts.

o Make a birthday cake for Jesus and talk about the reason for the season. Maybe sing happy birthday and then set of the family nativity set or visit a community nativity set.

There are so many activities to chose from, just find something that your family will enjoy and together you will build memories for a lifetime... don't miss out on those teachable moments in your child's life!

New Ideas to Help You Celebrate and Document your Holidays

Sometimes people get a little too overwhelmed with trying to make every holiday "picture perfect" and they forget to have fun. One way to help ease that stress is to create some fun and easy holiday traditions that are relatively stress-free and easy to do. The possibilities available with "You Custom Trading Card Maker" (www.customtradingcardmaker.com) can make a great tradition for any holiday and can document your holiday celebrations at the same time. The best part about the program is that it is easy to use and it takes only about five minutes to make each card.

Here are some examples:

New Year's Day Take a picture of you, your family, or your friends as they bring in the new year. Use the back of the card to list their New Year's Resolutions

Valentine's Day Instead of store bought valentine cards, make up your own with family pictures, pictures of the recipients' favorite things or creative holiday themed shots such as a pile of conversation hearts.

Document Valentine's Day with your significant other by taking a picture each year and highlighting how you celebrated.

Easter Use custom trading cards to create a scavenger hunt for your family to find their Easter baskets. Provide a pictorial hint on the front such as a picture of the room they need to go to or an extreme close-up of the hiding spot. On the back, give a few hints to lead them in the right direction.

Instead of filling the Easter basket with candy, add in some custom trading cards in the form of coupons such as a special movie night at home, playing a board game or doing a craft.

Mother's Day/Father's Day Take a picture of the kids and have them each write their favorite things about mom or dad on the back.

Fourth of July Teach your kids about Independence Day. Have them document what their favorite freedoms are and include an appropriate picture on the front.

Halloween Get a great shot of the costume and write about its special features and why it was chosen on the back.

Thanksgiving Have each family member create a card that highlights what they are most thankful for. Set them out for everyone to browse during the day.

Christmas Create memorable ornaments for each member of the family. Put a recent photo on the front and fill the back with fun facts from the previous year. Punch a hole and tie a loop to hang from the tree.

General Create invitations with appropriate photos and the details on the back.

Forget about elaborate, expensive party favors for your kids' birthday parties. During the party, get a shot of the birthday kid and each guest. Make up a trading card with the picture and a list of all the fun things they did at the party.

Use a trading card as a thank you. Take pictures from your celebration and turn them into funny or sentimental cards and send them out with messages on the back.

Raise Funds With These School Fundraiser Ideas

Raising funds is one of the tasks that schools need to do so that they can run the programs of their school. In addition, school fundraiser ideas also aid schools in gathering funds needed to buy new classroom equipment so that they can provide their students with the tools that they need to learn well. If your school is currently running short of unique fundraising ideas that will help you raise money, then take a good look at the ones that I will be mentioning in here and grab the ones that you think will best suit your school's financial needs.

First off, let's discuss the craft trade. This is a really fabulous event that will surely give you the profits that you need to raise. A craft trade will work best during special holidays such as Father's Day, Mother's Day, Valentine's Day, and Christmas. This is basically a trade fair that is often advised for senior students. This will require a good amount of preparation and planning so be sure to set your targets locked by conducting meetings with your volunteers so that all of you can work on cue towards one goal. Moreover, gathering your members for a meeting will also allow you to orient them well of the different tasks that they need to do to make this event work out really well. Once your plans are laid down, you can now move on to setting up the venue of your event by putting up stalls where different crafts can be created such as soft toys, bonsai Christmas trees, origami flowers, paper crafts, handmade cards, and spray paintings. Set the prices for each of the crafts that you will be putting on display during your craft trade. You can also take orders and offer delivery services.

Another fun and interesting event that you and your members can carry out would be an eat and play event. In here, you will be setting up different booths where you can sell out a variety of food products such as cookies, muffins, pies, and other tasty treats that kids will surely enjoy. If you have the skills of an expert cook, then you can try to cook the foods yourself. On the other hand, you can also try contacting local bakeshops near you that will be willing to provide you the food supplies that you need for your event. Once you have the eatables in place, you can now move on to deciding what games you will be offering during the event. Simple but fun games will be a good choice as they will allow everybody to join in. Lastly, set a registration or entrance fee fro your guests as well as the prices of each of the products that you will be selling out during the event. Once everything is in place, you now move to spreading the word about this so that you can gather as much people as possible.

Recycle Your Holiday Photo Cards

The Holidays are over and many of us have received adorable and unique holiday photo cards from friends and family. They looked great sitting on our mantle, hanging on the wall and displayed on our tables and refrigerators. But now what do you do with them? Here are a few creative ideas to help you recycle your photo cards and save them as keepsakes for years to come.

Create a Photo Album: Buy an inexpensive photo or scrapbook album or even a binder with sheet protectors and place the photo cards inside. Categorize them by year or by family. Categorizing them by family is great because you can look back and see how much the family has grown and changed over the years. You can also write notes or memories next to each photo. Get your kids involved and have them help you create the album.

Christmas Tree Ornaments: Purchase some large round ornaments in any color and size during the after Christmas sales. You can usually get them for half off. You can also recycle old ornaments that you might have otherwise thrown away. Cut out the photos from the cards you received and use a decoupage type glue that you can find at any craft store to apply the photos. Let them dry and store them away to decorate your tree for next year.

You can also cut out fun designs like trees, snowflakes and snowmen on construction paper and glue the photos on. Cut a hole in the top and use recycled ribbon from all of your holiday packages to create a hanging ornament. These are both great projects for kids.

Framed Photo Collage: Create a photo collage with your photo cards. You can cut the photos or leave them as is and arrange them in a collage design on a piece of construction paper or cardstock. Purchase an inexpensive frame or use one that you already have to display the photo collage. You can put it out next year at Christmas or keep it up year round.

Gifts: You can use the photo cards that you received from friends and family this year to make a gift for that friend or family member next Christmas or even for mother's day, father's day, Easter or Valentine's Day. Great gift ideas are coasters, placemats and framed photo cards.

Reframing With NLP For Enhanced Happiness

I used to work for the Independent National Newspaper in Canary Wharf, London. I can remember in the build up to Christmas, my department was having a large & expensive new computer system installed because the newspaper was being relaunched, it was when Andrew Marr and Rosie Boycott were becoming joint editors, I digress.... The system was being put in just before Christmas, but it was a massive task, with numerous issues & overruns. As Christmas approached, there were still a number of teething problems, which led to stretched relations between the system supplier & the newspaper staff.

At one meeting about the integration of the system, my director had been trying to get more time investment from the installation company, only to be told that their people weren't going to be available on Christmas day. My director was frustrated and furious, asking "What are you doing that's more important than sorting out our system!?" Without hesitating, the guy from the installation company said "Delivering Christmas hampers to the elderly." The impact was immediate; everyone in the room started laughing & my director joined them, realising that he'd perhaps been a bit unreasonable. Everyone knew that the story about the elderly wasn't true, but that didn't matter - the statement had changed his perception of the situation, instantly, & he started behaving more reasonably.

Changing the contextual frame:
There was an advertisement for the Guardian newspaper, which showed a set of still photographs arranged in a particular action sequence. The photographs showed a large framed man with very little hair on his head, wearing jeans and boots, running along a pathway with a real purpose.

In the first frame he is running towards an elderly lady; in the second frame, you see him knock her violently into the street; in the third frame you see him make his escape, obviously and seemingly this is another thug terrorising the elderly.

Then, when you turn the page, you are presented with some wider angle shots. In the wide-angle shots, you see the elderly lady casually walking beside a building that has building works being carried out upon it and where a cement mixer is about to topple from a scaffold. An alert pedestrian notices the situation and heroically runs towards the lady, pushing her clear of the building area. A moment later, the cement mixer falls to the ground in the spot where the lady was standing. The initially perceived 'thug' has in fact saved her life.

By changing the frame, the creators of the advertisement had changed the context of the man's actions. Suddenly, what was perceived as typically criminal then became valiant and altruistic. His actions were transformed in a moment as they were reframed. I am sure you know of many other examples of this.

One of the presuppositions of NLP and something that fascinates and tests me, is that every behaviour is useful or valuable in some context. Upon learning and reading about this in the embryonic days of my learning, I did do my best to do the opposite! I wracked my brains for things that I just could not reframe. Of course, I could not do so for long. It's just a matter of stretching your brain and finding a context that makes it useful; I have not always found this easy. This process is referred to as context reframing.

Every behaviour is useful in the right context:
Now here is a challenge for you. For any behaviour, no matter how frustrating or apparently without use or value, see if you can find a context where it's useful. Once you find such a context, a subsequent act of presenting the behaviour in the new context is reframing it. If it was originally a behaviour that was treated very seriously or was problematic, you may then also want to think about adding humour or a playfulness in the way it is re-presented;

Firstly, identify a complaint, either about yourself or someone else, a simple structured to begin with, for example; "I'm too [x]." or "She's too [y]." (Eg. "I'm too impatient", "He's too selfish.", "She's too messy.")

Next up, ask yourself "In what contexts would the characteristic being complained about have value and/or usefulness?"

Thirdly, create several answers to this question, and then craft it into a 'reframe'.

For example:

"I'm too impatient"

Example answer: "I bet you're quick-thinking in an emergency."

"She's too messy"

Example answer "She'd be good to have around if we were trying to make our home look like it had been burgled." (I don't like to be too serious!)

"He's too selfish"

Example answer: "We've had so many problems with people not taking care of themselves, it's often good to make sure you look after yourself to be in a better position to help others ."

Now, I know these are a bit lame with some of my own tongue in cheek-iness added, but they don't have to be that useful at this stage; it's more important that you give yourself the freedom to be creative so your brain gets the pattern of what you're doing. What's more, when you have to do that and develop better reframes for yourself, your learning is far more comprehensive than if I were to spoon feed you responses to regurgitate.

The next step is to come up with reframes for any complaints that you (or others) have about yourself. This can be a lot of fun if you do it with someone else. (ie. you say "I'm too [x]" then they generate reframes.)

By the way, the example of "I'm too sexy" as in the 90s Pop Band "Right Said Fred" chart topping hit is not really appropriate ;-)

When reframing something someone says, rapport is important (otherwise reframing can seem like a very focused & deliberate attempt to annoy someone.) If you present someone with a reframe, ensure that you have a good level of rapport with them, best start with friends and/or family (assuming that you have rapport with them!)

Fifth, once you get the hang of it, start looking for opportunities to use context reframing each day, starting with the less challenging ones.

In a business context for example, one of the most powerful ways to use reframing is when people have objections (whether you're selling a product, a service, an idea, or yourself.) reframing is a gentle method of working with someone as opposed to having to sell which many people are uncomfortable with. When you reframe someone's objection, you can remove or alter its power. I once read the objection "I'm worried - What if I train my staff and then they leave." The response: "Even worse, what if you don't train your people and they stay."

When you discover and create a way to change the context of someone's objection, it alters the way they perceive it. This has been know to be an extremely effective way to overcome objections entirely.

Finally, for these initial steps of reframing, write a list the objections you get most frequently in business or complaints made in your life and generate a number of context reframes for each one. Then, look forward with a sense of anticipation to the next time someone offers that objection. Please bear in mind that you are opening up options here, not covering things up, if a particular problematic issue is occurring, sometimes it may not be appropriate to just reframe.

Both my Grandparents on my fathers side were 80 two years ago and we had celebratory family gatherings. As I walked into one of the celebrations I asked the standard question "So, what's it like waking up on your 80th birthday, Grandad?" To which he replied "Better than not waking up on your 80'th birthday".

Now, I'd like to start playing with 'content reframing.' If a footballer kicks the ball into his team's net, it's called an "own goal", but if a soldier accidentally shoots one of his fellow soldiers, it's called "friendly fire" (Sounds kind of cuddly, doesn't it? But you would not want any coming your way.) George Orwell's 1984 had plenty of examples of content reframing (eg. the ministries of peace & truth) that live on today in many forms (a peacekeeper missile, anyone?)

So, content reframing involves changing the meaning of something.

Right, to develop this further, follow this procedure; identify a complaint a complaint or issue with the structure "I feel [X] when [Y] happens." (Eg. "I feel angry when he does not help" or "I feel frustrated when I make mistakes")

Next, ask yourself "What else could this (Y) mean?", "What else could this (X) mean?" or "What else could this situation mean?", or ask "How can this (X) or (Y) be interpreted?

Then, you can come up with several answers to these, and then create a 'reframe'.

For example:
"I feel upset when I see the mess these kids have made"

Example answer: "It's good that they can be 'in the moment' without worrying about a few things being out of place."
Alternate example answer: "A little untidiness is a small price to pay for happy children."
Another example answer: "The fact that it's messy means they're expressing their creativity."

Obviously, if you were to offer these reframes to someone who is annoyed or frustrated, I would suggest that it would be a good idea to get in rapport with them first and of course to select your words carefully.

As with my previous examples, these aren't the most amazing reframes in the world, but they don't have to be that useful at this stage; it's more important that you give yourself the freedom to be creative so your brain gets the pattern of what you're doing.

Now, you can come up with reframes for any complaints or issues that you can identify for yourself or others. This can be a lot of fun (honestly!) if you take turns doing it with someone else. (ie. you say "I feel [X] when [Y] happens" then they generate reframes.)

Then, once you get the hang of it, start looking for opportunities to use content reframing each day. For spreading good feelings around and helping people to lessen the easy natural way that they can sometimes get "bogged down" in the trivial. Depends on what you consider trivial though, be careful and thoughtful.

Once again, in a business sense, content reframing is also very powerful for dealing with objections of all sorts. For example, a reframe I sometimes use when someone objects to the price of consulting with me (I am sooooo expensive!) is to respond with something along the lines of:

"If you are after a cheap consultant or therapist, then you are right, I am not for you. If however, you want to invest in your future then maybe I am. If your child needed a serious operation, would you look for the cheapest surgeon? Then why look for the cheapest way to make changes in your life that are important enough to seek help with?"

Again, I do have my tongue planted in my cheek as I write that riposte, however, I am sure you see where I am coming from here.

Then finally, list the objections you get most frequently & generate a number of content reframes for each one. Then, look forward with a sense of anticipation to the next time someone offers that objection. Remember to keep rapport with people when doing this! Or in jargon-free speak, relate, empathise, connect, get on with.

Good luck with your reframing and creating more harmony.

Copyright Adam Eason 2005. All rights reserved.

Santa is Always the News

We all know Santa's story by now. He was originally a bishop back in the day, and after he died he became known as Saint Nicholas, or Saint Nick for short. And even way back then, before Christmas became a major holiday, the anniversary of his death was a day to celebrate by giving out gifts. But most of us don't know that Saint Nick actually had a bad rap for a while, and that is actually how he got all of the other names we know him by today.

During the time of great change in the Christian Church known as the Protestant Reformation, which occurred in the 1500s, the famous Martin Luther declared that all good Christians should stop celebrating saints. For the devout followers of Luther, that meant also stopping the celebration of Saint Nick, no matter how fun the gift giving had become.

But of course, not all Christians stopped celebrating Saint Nick, not even all of the Protestants. Instead of stopping the celebration, they crafted a plan to enjoy the Saint Nick holiday in secret. This is when Saint Nick became known in England as "Father Christmas". In Germany, people referred to Santa as "Christmas Man", and the Dutch created the name "Sinterklass."

About this time, a large majority of Dutch settlers moved to New Amsterdam in America--what would later become New York--and brought their celebration of Sinterklass with him. Americans caught on to the idea, and tried to pronounce his name right. But instead, what came out was "Santa Claus."

However, Santa Claus did not hit the big time until the author of "Sleepy Hollow," Washington Irving, got wind of Santa Claus and promoted him the American press. This happened in the early 1800s, when Washington Irving wrote a story called the "A History of New York," in which he went into great detail about a man called "Sinterklass." This Saint Nick was fat and short, wore a funny costume, and would travel around on the Eve of Saint Nicolas on a horse.

The idea of jolly gift-giving man caught on in the American press. Another writer, the poet Clement Clark Moore, wrote a poem called "A Visit from St. Nicolas," which is better known as, "The Night Before Christmas." It was Moore who made Saint Nick a jolly old elf who flies around the night in a magical sleigh powered by eight flying reindeer. We all know the names of those reindeer, right? Well, Moore also included them in his poem.

Americans would get their best images of Santa Claus in the magazines of the late 1800s, when the cartoonist Thomas Nast put out his own visions of Saint Nick in Harper's Weekly. For Nast, Santa was a bigger man with a big fat belly, who wore a red suit lined with fur and a big leather belt. Nast also started drawing images of Santa's workshop in the North Pole, and Santa using a list to keep track of his kids who were naughty and nice.

Of course, these are all the images of Santa that we use today in the newspapers, in cartoons, and on TV. Or should we say, perhaps, images of Sinterklass?