Custom Made Crafts » Furnishings

Make Old Shutters Look New

admin — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 20:53:08 +0000

Looking for a way to revamp those window shutters? Here’s a great way to change up those old window treatments and keep them looking great. Painting your window shutters or wood blinds will add a fresh look to the room and will keep your shutters looking brand new.

Start by taking down the panels and putting a number on each panel using a pencil, that way it will be easy to know which panel goes where once they are all painted. Make sure to take off all of the hardware that way no paint gets on it. Taping over the hardware will not ensure that paint will not get on it so it’s better to just take it off.

Make sure to clean the shutters before painting because dirty shutters will lead to uneven painting and drying. Using a liquid sander is also a good idea to ensure that the paint adheres correctly.

Before painting take a spray primer and prime all of the window shutters, this will ensure that the paint sticks and dries correctly and that it will be even. Make sure to use a spray paint when painting the shutters because using a brush will fill gaps and the blinds will no longer work. A spray paint will give an even coverage and will not affect the usage of the shutters.

When painting, the motion should be one fluid stroke, make sure to shake the can and practice first for the best results. The inside slats, the ends of the slats, the slats directly behind the rod and the slats themselves all need to be coated evenly for the paint to look even and professional.

Make sure that the area is well ventilated and that a mask is worn when painting. After all the painting has been finished allow them to dry. After the shutters are dry reinstall the hardware and put the shutters back up for a fresh new room and great looking window treatments.

Make Old Shutters Look New is a post from: The Art of Business

Everyday Uses for Maps

admin — Tue, 03 May 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Road maps are essential for navigating on long car trips and world maps can be used to teach about other countries and to get a sense of the geography of the planet. There are actually other ways to use maps that have little to do with their original purpose. Many involve some crafting skills and all involve using the imagination to unlock new uses for maps.

Home decor is a great place to start. Instead of wallpaper, homeowners can use maps to cover walls, ceilings, and doors. This works best with larger sized maps, to cut down on the time and work involved. Smaller maps can be used to cover objects, such as lampshades , tabletops, even chairs and bookcases. More imaginative uses in this category include covering ceiling fan blades, window shades, and headboards.

Another great use forcity maps is small craft projects for kids. These make great after school activities or fun for a snow day. Kids can use maps as origami paper or to make book or notebook covers. They can make a set of placemats out of old maps or take one map and cut it up into a puzzle for their friends to solve. The best activity may be simply giving kids a bunch of maps and some craft supplies and letting them do whatever they can imagine.

Everyday Uses for Maps is a post from: The Art of Business

Sensory Overload and Kids Furniture

admin — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 00:10:00 +0000

When it comes to buying furniture for kids, there are so many factors involved that make it different than any other kind of purchase. There are the same kinds of decision-making involved, and the mundane details that go with any kind of purchase, but the special things make it a whole lot more fun than other kinds of shopping. No matter what time of day, or how busy the day has been, there is always a sense of promise and hope. It has a kind of lightness that’s inherent in the activity, because it really is about a bright future, and that difference never gets old.

Any kind of shopping can ultimately lead to a sensory overload , where one realizes that they’ve simply seen enough, and been looking for so long that everything starts to looks the same. However, when kids furniture has a sharp sense of design, and fulfills a very useful purpose, the reasons for shopping tend to overcome any sense of shopper’s overload. The choices can actually help to invoke that little spark that comes whenever one is buying a gift for someone else. For the parents, there’s even the extra bonus, because it’s not really for someone else, but one can see an extension of one’s own self into the future.

Sensory Overload and Kids Furniture is a post from: The Art of Business

Setting Up Your Home Office

admin — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 15:42:13 +0000

Whether you work from home, from an office, or not at all, it is important to have a home office. It provides a quiet place where you can pay bills or complete important paperwork and your children can work on homework, away from the television and other distractions, as well as a convenient place to store books and important documents. There are a couple of key elements that should be included to make your home office fully functional and provide the most benefits.

A desk is one of the most basic, yet essential, items to include in your office. It provides a strong surface for writing and for keeping a computer. You can also use it to keep all of your important documents neatly stored inside.

Bookshelves are also an important aspect of your home office. Even if you are not much of reader, it is beneficial to keep reference books such as a dictionary and thesaurus on hand. You can also keep a road map and a world map on your bookshelf for easy use. A world globe is also a good item to include because it serves two purposes; decoration and practicality. It will look nice setting on a table or desk while it is also useful for pointing out specific countries, especially if you have children.

Maintaining a darker décor will help give your office a warm inviting feel. Providing a couple of comfortable chairs will also help encourage reading rather than watching television. One item that is essential is good lighting. Even if there is are a lot of windows, providing a good light source will help prevent eye strain.

Providing a well equipped office in your home will help promote your children’s education as well as supply a quiet room for study, reading, or simply relaxing.

Setting Up Your Home Office is a post from: The Art of Business