Crafts-Hobbies

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7
Jul 11

Creating Your Own Model Railway Trains Scenery

Many people have a memory of building a model railway trains around the Christmas tree every year. The worst part is always at the end of the season when you have to put the train away. The good news is, you do not have to ever put up the train if you create your own scenery in which your model train can travel through. With all the different options available for you to use, your options are only limited by your imagination and creativity.

The first thing you will need when creating permanent scenery for your model railroad train is what is known as a benchwork. This resembles a small table, but not quite as thick as a regular table you would eat from. While you can set up a model railroad on a kitchen table, it is less expensive to buy benchwork. It is also a better idea to buy benchwork because the price is far less than having to buy a new table for your meals. Kits are available for purchase at most retailers who sell model railway trains for hobbyists.

For those looking for ultimate customization, you can build your own benchwork. The process of building your own is a bit more complicated than simply buying a kit. Since most people who get involved in being a model train railroader are very detail oriented, it is no surprise this is a very popular option. By building your own table, you will be able to create the exact shape and size, which will suit the needs of the model railway trains you will be using the scenery for. If you are unsure how to get started on such an endeavor, there are many different blueprints you can look up online. While these may not tell you exactly how to build the scenery you are looking for, they can provide an outline to help you to get started. Take into consideration such things as height and portability when creating your design. If you plan to take your scenery apart for transportation to a show, you will want to be able to separate your scenery into pieces. This is accomplished by building the table as interlocking pieces.

Once you have your base, it is time to create the actual scenery. It is possible to create a topographical landscape by using styrofoam. Hobby shops sell preformed mountain landscapes as well as valleys, lakes and rolling plains. Those looking for absolute control will use new styrofoam and cut it into the shapes they want. This allows you to create the exact scenery you want for your train railroad to travel through. Creating a drawing ahead of time will help you to put every mountain and lake in exactly the right place before you commit anything to a permanent setting. Once you have the form in place, you can cover with moss or paint to accomplish the look and texture you is looking for. Trees and buildings can be purchased or built depending on your skill level in order to add a sense of realism to the landscape you have created. Lakes are accomplished by pouring colored polyurethane into a depression and allowing it to set. Since scenery is such an important part of model railroading, you will end up spending a lot of time creating the one which is just right for you.

Creating realism is in the details. In order to make those looking at your scenery feel as if they are looking upon actual scenery in real life, there are certain tricks you can use. You can use larger materials such as trees and houses in the foreground of the landscape while using smaller material in the back. This creates the feeling as if the mountains in the back of the landscape are much farther away than they actually are. You may also want to use more detail in items up close while details farther away are more obscure. This causes the viewer to believe the back of the landscape is too far away to make out the details.

Above all else, you want to have fun in what you are doing. Showing off your talents and creativity should be something which brings you pleasure. Make sure you invite friends over to see what you have created soon, and have fun!

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7
Jul 11

Collecting Seashells

So let’s start off with where and how you locate seashells. Verify the rules regarding shell collecting in the areas that you are interested in. Some places don’t allow collecting or allow it only during certain times of year. Some require authorization. The local park service is a good place to start looking for information. Beachcombing is the most common method of collecting seashells. The best time to find them is low tide. Look for bubbling holes in the wet sand. This indicates animal burrows, which means there should be abandoned shells nearby. Collect only “dead” shells – those without live creatures using them as homes. Walking along the beach after a storm is a great time to collect seashells. Many have been washed up on shore from the storm.

Mud flats are another great place for collecting seashells. Again this is done at low tide. You may have to dig a bit to find them. This is where a small garden rake comes in handy. Look for tracks in the mud left by crawling or digging mollusks.

If you are into diving and snorkeling, the open waters is a great place for seashell collecting. All you need is a snorkel, mask and flippers.

Dredging is another method used by seashell collectors. When dredging, you use a special net which is pulled by a boat that drags on the sea bottom. This is one of the quicker ways to collect a large amount of seashells.

One important tip when collecting seashells is to find a quiet beach with little people. There are fewer people there so you are more likely to find shells. Try to spot where the highest waves stop when they come upon the beach. This area usually comes up with shells brought about by the waves. Another good spot would be where the smaller waves break before rolling onto the beach. A lot of the best specimens can be found here.

Once you collect your seashells, wash them carefully with soap and water in a bowl and then set them on a towel to dry. You can use silicone grease if they appear dull. This will bring the natural color out. Just apply with your finger and buff with a soft cloth or towel. If for some reason your seashells start to smell after you wash them, this means that there were animal remains in the shell. In this case, soak the shell in water twice a day. After a few days you can shake the shell and the animal rot will come out.

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7
Jul 11

The Birds Are Coming!

Spring is almost upon us, and so are the birds. If your yard is not showing the signs of our fine feathered friends then you had better start working on attracting them to your yard. Providing sources of interest to birds is what gets them to your yard and helps keep them there.

Food, bird feeders and the type of birdhouse selection is a factor. Certain types of seed used will attract or detract certain bird species. The seed you use in the feeders makes a difference too. If you have a yard that can handle natural food sources, then that is a plus.

Certain trees, shrubs and bushes attract birds to your yard. For example, the hummingbird will more likely stay in your yard and use your hummingbird feeder if you also have flowers that attract them. If find it a lot more enjoyable to have them stay around than to have them just fly threw. Berry producing trees and shrubs also attract certain birds. We have cedars that produce a blue colored berry; this attracts waxwings and other types of birds.

Birdhouses also are a factor. If you want blue birds then a blue would be a good idea. Now this does not mean you will definably have them but it sure helps. If there are outdoor, cats around chances are birds will not visit as much. These are things to think about.

Remember spring is almost here; if you want to enjoy Mother Nature’s wild birds then entice them.

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6
Jul 11

Face Painting Ideas-5 Free Face Painting Ideas Online That Could Make You a Face Painting Pro!

Running out of face painting ideas and need to spice things up a little? I know how hard it can be to come up with new face painting ideas when you抳e got 憄ainters block?so hopefully these 5 ideas will help you out at your next face painting gig or party.

1. Glitter: Glitter can add a whole new dimension to your face painting! It can also transform your face paintings for amateur to professional! They can be pretty cheap if you know where to buy them and it抯 very easy to apply! They work especially well with 憄rincess?and 慺antasy?designs and kids love them! As with face paint, you need to remember to only use glitter and stick on jewels that are safe to put on a persons skin (eg. body glitter) Do NOT use aluminum glitter ?polyester only. Aluminum glitter can hurt the eyes and skin.

There are different types of glitter ?Glitter Gel, Glitter (Iridescent) Powders and Glitter Dust. I suggest you try them all out and see which one works best for you.

2. Stick – On – Jewels: Stick on jewels can also add a whole new dimension to your face painting, transforming your face paintings for amateur to pro. And they抮e so easy to use even kids can do it. Simply peel off the back of the jewel and stick the 憇ticky?part of the jewel directly onto the skin or onto the paint that抯 on the skin. That抯 it! Also you can get plastic jewels that need to be stuck on with a little dab of paint.

3. Combining Makeup with Face Painting: Combining cosmetic makeup with face painting is one of the many great face painting ideas if done right and it can save you time! For example Blush can be used to make rosy cheeks on a bunny rabbit instead using pink face paint. Blush is creates a softer color and is quick to apply. Eye Liner Pencil can be used to outline the eyes or any part of a design. For beginners it抯 much quicker and easier than using a brush. Eye Shadow can also be used and perhaps blended with paint on the face.It抯 up to you!

Experiment with these different mediums and find out what抯 right for you, what you like to use and what you think looks most effective!

4. Body Painting to Match the Face Painting: Kids love this idea, trust me ?I抳e tried it many a time, it makes them feel like they have a costume on and really lets them have fun with the character they抳e been painted whether it be a princess or vampire! Although this might sound like it抯 complicated and will take up heaps of time ?it won抰. As long as you keep them simple.

For example if you抮e painted a pretty pink princess face design, why not complement it with a pretty pink bracelet. All you do is take some pink paint, and paint with a brush, a line around the wrist. It抯 that simple, just use your imagination!

5. Costumes and Face Painting: Costumes and face painting, its fun no matter what age you are! And it can be quite easy too, the costumes don抰 have to be over the top. Try a pair of bunny ears to go with a bunny design, or a tiara to go with a princess. How about a black cape to go with a vampire design or a stocking filled with newspaper, pinned on the end of your t-shirt to look like a tale to match a tiger design?

The ideas are endless, just get a little creative, use your imagination and most importantly, have fun with your face painting ideas!

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4
Jul 11

Find Simple Woodworking Projects

If you want to take on a challenging and fun activity this weekend, you may want to look into creating your own simple woodworking project. As a challenging pastime, or as a handy do it yourself skill, woodworking projects are a great way to improve your skills and expertise, test your abilities, and create a unique work of woodworking art!

If you’re new to the wonderful world of woodworking don’t worry. All you need to learn to get started are some basic fundamentals. You don’t even need a workshop full of tools to create beautiful, unique woodworking projects. All that’s needed is a desire and a willingness to learn.

You may want to keep your projects very simple to begin with. Check out your local hobby shop or hardware store to see what types of simple, prefabricated projects are available. Most of these projects require only a limited number of tools that are commonly found in most homes.

If you want to start moving onto more difficult projects, or you want to just jump right into something more challenging, the internet is a great source for finding simple woodworking projects of all sorts. But, if you’re a beginner, remember to keep your first few projects fairly simple. You want something that’s within your ability level, and something you’ll be able to accomplish without getting discouraged.

Once you find the project you will complete, begin by breaking the entire process down into steps. It’s best to start with a project that already provides you with step by step instructions on how to get from beginning to end, but if you can’t find one, you will just need to create it yourself. Take your time creating this process, as it’s very important to the success of your project.

After your step by step process is created, go over it as a whole to see whether or not this project is something that’s achievable for you at this moment in time, given your current skill level. If it’s not something that you feel you can accomplish right now, that’s quite alright. Just keep that project on your ‘to do’ list for the future, when your expertise reaches the level needed to complete it properly.

If it is something that you feel you’ll be able to complete, that’s great! Now it’s time to get to work! Create a list of all of the items you’ll need to gather. You will also want to create a list of all of the pieces of equipment that you will need for this project. If you do not have a certain tool, see if there’s an alternative that you can use to accomplish the same task. If not, you may have to rent a tool to do the job, or you may have to postpone the project entirely. The last thing you would want would be to get half way through a project, only to realize that you don’t have the tools needed to complete it.

Above all else, keep it simple and fun, and get creative wherever possible! And get ready to amaze yourself with what you’re able to accomplish!

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3
Jul 11

Twenty Best Metal Detector Coin Finds

Many times in reading articles about outstanding coin finds with metal detectors, the story does not relate when found and the machine used. In nearly 40 years of building coin collections using metal detectors, I have conscientiously logged the date location and metal detector used. Here is a brief accounting of my 20 favorite/best coin finds.

1. 69 A.D. Israel Half Shekel – Sept. 5th 1978 vacant lot where school built in 1917 was torn down in 1964 (Tarpon Springs, FL). Found with Fisher VLF 552 at 9 inches deep.

2. 1882 S US Silver Dollar (AU) – December 26th, 1995 on vacant lot downtown Tarpon Ave. Found with Fisher 1260 at 10 inches deep.

3. 1861 Indian Head Penny (F) – June 21st, 1988 on Hangman’s Hill, Tarpon Springs (see post on Story A Coin Could Tell). Fisher 1260 at 7 inches deep.

4. 1861 Seated Half Dollar (BU 63) – November 24th, 1998 on vacant lot Lime St. Tarpon Springs. Garrett MH 7 used with Sniper Coil to find this beauty at only 4 inches deep.

5. 1812 Large Cent (AG-4) – Spring Break 1971 at Blue Sink Hole Palm Harbor, FL with MEDEFORD BFO (Jim Ford science teacher Clearwater, FL made this combo 5/12 coil machine). My oldest American coin find and was only 2 inches deep

6. 1909 S VDB Cent (AU with mint luster) – January 2nd, 2000 at a lot where house burned on Pent St., Tarpon Springs. Part of small cache found with Tesoro Silver Sabre 2 at more than a foot deep. Also included a 1885 V Nickel (G).

7. 1904 O Barber Half (XF) – September 2nd, 1978 on vacant lot next to Greek day school on Pinellas Ave., Tarpon Springs. Found with White’s 6DB at less than an inch deep.

8. 1924 Standing Liberty Quarter (BU 62-63 Full Head) – September 21st at vacant lot listed on #1 above. Found with Fisher 552 VLF at 1 inch ( 243 coins predating 1940 found from Sept. – Dec. 1988 on this lot).

9. 1881 Seated Liberty Dime – MS-63 coin found Spring break 1993 on Tarpon Ave. lot where cracker barrell shaped house razed. Used Garrett MH 7 with Sniper Coil and coin was about 2 inches deep.

10. 1877 Indian Head Penny (Fair) – Found with Fisher 1260 on ball field adjacent to Tarpon Elementary at less than 3 inches deep January 3rd, 2001.

11. 1796 Counterfeit Spanish 8 Reale Coin (F) – Fisher 1280 used after a no name storm in March, 1993 brought this one up in the surf. See post – Story A Coin Could Tell.

12. 1950 D Nickel (VG) – Found within 10 inches and at same depth as coin #1 . This completed my collection of Jefferson’s from 1938 – 1964.

13. 1919 S Standing Liberty Quarter (F) – Fisher 1260 with mini coil used on lot owned by church which was built in 1915 on Disston Ave., Tarpon Springs. Coin was 2 inches deep and found December 19th, 1996.

14. 1863 Civil War Merchant Token (XF) – Gustavus Lindenmueller NY merchant token found with Minelab Sovereign at Tapon Library/Park area on February 2nd, 2004 at about 5 inches deep.

15. 1885 V Nickel (G) – See #6 above as coin part of 13 semi key and key coins cache find.

16. 1913 S Buffalo Nickel (G) – This Type 2 Coin (about 3 inches deep) found at vacant school lot Sept. 6th, 1988 using Fisher VLF 552. One of 40 Buffs found there that Fall.

17. 1616 S Mercury Dime (MS-FSB) – Found trying to ground balance my new Heath Kit detector in Tarpon Springs in grass median on Orange St. Beauty only 1/2 inch deep – May 3rd, 1975. Was trying to groud balance machine and coin was beneath area.

18. 1869 Shield Nickel (G) – Found 4 inches deep after sidewalks removed in downtown Tarpon. My oldest nickel find- made with Fisher 1260 using 4 inch coil (1990).

19. 1857 Quarter (G) – Oldest Quarter find made on vacant lot on Levis Ave. (Tarpon Springs) using Fisher 1260 in August, 1992. Coin was 7 inches deep.

20. 1894 Greek 5 Lepta (VF) – Found near railroad tracks on Orange St. Tarpon Springs, using White’s 6DB. Coin found March 30th , 1980 at about 5 inches deep.

Almost all of my favorite/best coin finds came from metal detecting in Tarpon Springs, Florida. My soon to be released ebook deals with the topic of hometown advantage. I have taken over 35,000 keeper coins from the land and water of Tarpon Springs a city of only 30,000 that was founded in 1886 and as late as 1970 only had 7,000 residents. People lose many coins and other treasures and having a treasure finding mindset can make a big difference for you.

http://MetalDetectorForCoinCollecting.com/free-report

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3
Jul 11

Christmas Craft Idea for Children – How to Make a Christmas Calendar

Spending time with family and friends during the holiday season is such a pleasant and rewarding experience. Most people seem to be filled with the Christmas spirit of laughing, and sharing. Spending time with your children during this fun time of year can make the season all that more special for both you and your children. What a better way to enjoy the season with family than to make Christmas crafts together. Especially children, when you see their faces light up because they are so proud of their new Christmas creation.

Below is a Christmas craft idea that you can enjoy making with your children and they will cherish for many years to come.

Christmas Calendar

Materials:

25 child’s size socks

Christmas Wired Edge Ribbon (enough to hang the socks across the ribbon and be sure to have enough to hang the ribbon at the ends)

clothespins (can be painted Christmas colors)

embellishments of your choice (just make sure they’re not too heavy)

notebook paper cut to fit inside each sock

Using a permanent marker, between the top of the sock and the heel, number each sock from one through 25.

Make sure the children realize not to cover the numbers and have them decorate the socks with the embellishments they have chosen. Remember, these can be buttons, construction paper, or even foam cut-outs. The possibilities are endless.

The adult should write small messages to fit inside each sock. For example: The message for December 24 might be “Don’t forget to make milk and cookies!” The child should not be able to read these messages just yet.

Cut enough ribbon so that you will be able to attach each sock to the ribbon using a clothespin, and be sure to have enough at the ends to tie around a nail. The children will enjoy attaching the socks with the clothespin just make sure only the back edge of the sock is pinned so that you can slip your messages into each sock.

Now, each day during December, your child can count down to Christmas and have a fun message to enjoy!

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2
Jul 11

Monroe Presidential Dollar Wrong Planchet Error Produced

The US Mint has reportedly struck between 70,000 and 140,000 Monroe Presidential Dollars on planchets intended for State Quarters. Instead of using the golden color coin blanks associated with the dollar coins, the silver colored blanks used for State Quarters was accidentally used. As a result, the error coins will appear silver in color instead of the intended golden.

A private contractor of the U.S. Mint detected the errors. The private contractor was wrapping the coins prior to distribution to banks. Workers noted the appearance of “irregular coins” within the Monroe Dollars from the Philadelphia Mint. The United States Mint was immediately contracted and all of the irregular coins were supposedly recovered. These will be returned to the Mint to presumably be destroyed.

The US Mint has issued the following statement:

In mid-January, the United States Mint’s coin-wrapping contractor alerted the agency when it found some irregular James Monroe Presidential $1 Coins. The coins in question were immediately returned to the United States Mint. The United States Mint has performed an internal inquiry and presently has no evidence to indicate that any irregular James Monroe Presidential $1 Coins have been sent to the Nation’s banks. The United States Mint expects to make an estimated 103 million James Monroe Presidential $1 Coins.

It is possible that not all of the irregular coins were found by the private contractors or that some were wrapped before the problem was detected. If any of the error coins find their way into private hands it would add to the interesting variety of Presidential Dollar error coins which have already surfaced. Previously coins have been identified with missing edge lettering and double edge lettering.

Presidential Dollars are supposed to have the mottos “In God We Trust” and “E Pluribus Unum” along with the date and mint mark inscribed on the edges of the coin. Missing Edge Lettering Errors occur when the inscriptions are missing from the coins. These coins can also be called Smooth Edge or Plain Edge Errors.

In a few cases, the edge lettering has appeared twice or doubled. Sometimes the doubled lettering is right side up and sometimes it is inverted. These errors are referred to as Double Lettering or Double Inverse Lettering Errors.

On February 14 when Monroe Dollars enter circulation, coin collectors should be on the look out to see if any of these interesting error coins surface.

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2
Jul 11

Golden Age Comic Books – How to Get Started Collecting

These days, it seems that everyone is collecting something. It can be hard to know what will increase in value and what will decrease. This is why the most important thing to consider when starting a collection is whether or not it’s something you really love. If it’s something you truly appreciate, you will still have made a smart investment even if it doesn’t increase in value.

One great collectible item that has provided both a lot of fun and financial profit for some are the Batman comic books. These Batman comic books have shown a definite value increase over time, and are very likely to continue this increase. If they for some reason were to not increase in value, then you would still have a neat collection and some great conversation pieces.

Batman comic books were first written and released during the years in which comic book popularity was exploding, which is why they are often categorized as Golden Age Comic Books. They continue to be written and printed to this day, though the old comic books are the ones worth more money today and more likely to continue to rise in value faster.

You can get good deals on Batman Comic Books in several places. In you search for old comic books the local comic book store is a good place to start. The staff at the store should be able to help you especially is you are just starting your collection. They can teach you how to spot rare finds, grade the condition, and even estimate it’s value.

Certainly you could buy comics online, but you must be aware of pros and cons. On the pro side, you can check instantly on prices for similar issues in similar conditions to know if you are getting a great deal. Find one that you think you like, then search fast to see what the basic value of that issue–and in like condition–is thought to be. Doing this will keep you from missing out on good deals, or else paying too much and then having buyer’s remorse later.

A disadvantage to purchasing books online is that you’re unable to see the book make sure it’s in good condition. Reputable sellers give the condition of the book adhering to specific guidelines outlined by the particular website. It’s always best to check the ratings given by previous buyers to make sure they were satisfied with the book condition. If the seller has not provided detailed and accurate photos of the book then be sure and ask for this. Also don’t forget to ask about their return policy. You will be happy with the service and products of these book sellers if their ratings are good, they provide appropriate photos of their books, have stated an acceptable return policy and are willing and prompt in answering any inquiries.

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2
Jul 11

Buying Cheap Humidors

There are numerous vendors who offer humidors at low prices. Many retail stores have departments that sell humidors of many kinds. Typically though retail stores will offer limited styles of smaller desktop and travel humidors. There are also stores that specialize in humidors and cigars that offer upgraded models of humidors and may even offer specials on cabinet humidors.

However, the prices one may pay at a specialty store will likely be more than what one will find on the Internet for comparable items. The Internet is a great place for researching and purchasing humidors of all styles, brands, and models. There is no limit to what one can find except for where imagination ends.

A quick search of the internet using humidor sale returned hundreds of companies offering low prices on humidors of all kinds from small travel humidors to large cabinet humidors even to humidors designed for jewelry. A search for discount humidors also returned hundreds of companies in the same way that a search for wholesale humidors returned many possibilities.

With access to so many companies selling cheap humidors, the most difficult part to purchasing a humidor today, especially with internet stores, is being able to narrow down one抯 search and to settle on one particular style of humidor with many costing much less than $100.

In an internet search, one can find a very beautiful rosewood cabinet humidor with a Spanish cedar interior that measures 15″” x 9 3/4″” x 6 3/8″” and will hold up to 120 cigars for a mere $79.99, plus shipping and tax costs. This item typically retails for $199.00. Another deal on the internet was for a cabinet humidor that holds up to 3000 cigars and only costs $599.00. And these are only two examples of such great deals one can find for Cheap Humidors on the internet.

The internet now affords the cigar aficionado the opportunity to research and purchase cheap humidors, offered either through a sale, discount or wholesale offering, from the comfort of their home.

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