The Life Everlasting Flower From Tea to Wreaths

The Life is a member of the mint family and derives its name from the powerful and lingering scent of curry when the leaves or stems are crushed. It is indigenous to North America, especially around North and South Carolina, and has long been used for countless healing and therapeutic purposes.

Known variously by the Latin name Helicrysium stoechas and by the local name of cudweed, Life Everlasting Flowers appear on downy stalks in numerous crowds of white flowers. They carry a supportive and comforting aroma and are known to induce sleep.

The Life Flowers are commonly recommended in herbal meditation blends for encouraging spirituality and personal growth. The aroma is believed by some to open the right side of the brain, improving creativity and dream activity. The flowers are also valued particularly for their decorative beauty in dried floral arrangements and wreaths that last for years. Dried herbs of the plant make a relaxing tea infusion or bath.

The Life Flower herb is a perennial root that creeps and propagates easily almost like a troublesome weed. But its medicinal and therapeutic applications are extensive. Some people have chewed the leaves and flowers as a remedy for mouth and throat ulcerations and they are used regularly as a natural astringent. The Life Everlasting herb was even a substitute for smoking tobacco with New England fisherman. Smoking the herb in a different way by inhaling the smoke of the burning herb was at one time considered good for coughs of the lungs and headache. Fresh juice from the Life Everlasting Flower has been said to be an aphrodisiac. The flowers are attributed with a small litany of properties: expectorant, diaphoretic, anodyne, astringent, ectoral, and expectorant, to name a few. The Life Everlasting Flowers are applied for problems with pulmonary. diarrhea, dysentary, coughs, colds, pains in the breast. Powders and warm infusions of the Life Everlasting herb have been used in leucorrhea, diseases of the bowels, and for hemorrhages. The herb is used in poultices for sprains, painful swellings, bruises, boils, bug bites-even tumors and contusions.

The Life Everlast-Flower is steeped in American Indian history. Different tribes used decoctions to treat a myriad of neurological and skin disorders. They made tea infusions with the flowers for asthma, bronchitis, and colds. Currently, the Life Everlasting Flower has been increasingly used in blends for skin and bad bruises for how it seems to reabsorb blood into tissue and remove pain and discoloration from nerve damage.

The therapeutic and medicinal versatility of the prolific life everlasting flower is as prodigious as its name. Its gentle but powerful healing has lasting effects, from teas and baths to old fashioned wreaths.

Calla Lilies - Perfect For Decorating and As Gifts

Calla Lilies are beautiful flowers that are always in demand. For centuries, these flowers have been truly enjoyed and cherished. Created from the rhizome bulb, they consist of eye-catching leaves. The leaves are green in color, and are covered with light spots. The blossoms from a pretty thick stem. Several enthusiasts compare the shape of the flower to a trumpet. The texture is wet, and its fleshy feel is similar to autumn leaves. These miracles of nature are perfect for any garden of bouquet. They also work great as a houseplant, and are amazingly easy to grow. There are about 28 different species of this plant, all emanating from the southern region of Africa. The plants are accustomed to a warm or tropical climate. Many homes in the American South also consist of this fascinating flower. They are highly used at weddings, and even at some funerals. Their popularity ranges from North America to Western Europe. With its vibrant colors and unique patters, calla lilies are exciting to look at and care for.

Calla Lilies are very strong and durable. They can be planted, or even replanted, in several soils. They simply need a warm and moist climate to survive in. Like many plants, cold temperatures of frost can really damage their bulbs. Even though it is a tough plant, temperature changes can truly affect is longevity. This beautiful plant, unfortunately, can sometimes me mistaken as a weed. Landscapers, to make way for other agriculture consistently remove them. This might be a mistake, since the plant tends to have a strong foundation. As long as there is warm weather, growers can dig up the bulbs and replant them. This might take a little effort, but will achieve your desired results. Taking care of this plant is pretty easy. Since this flower can practically grow on any soil, all it needs to do is remain damp. Water is essential, however, too much water can kill the roots and ruin its beauty. You should take proper care when assisting this lovely plant.

Calla Lilies are used to liven up any bouquet or floral arrangement. With their lovely scent and dazzling color, the bride can also wear them as a corsage. They are part of many weddings, and truly capture the allure and essence of the ceremony. From entrance wreaths to table flowers, these flowers are in-season throughout the spring and summer. They are available in a number of colors; however, white and red seem to be the favorites. Many couples save money on these plants, since most weddings take place in nicer and warmer climates. Calla Lilies can also be grown indoors. They will require abundant water, since the plant needs to remain damp. A good amount of sunshine is also needed for plant growth. They work well in greenhouses, since there are good levels of humidity within them. Whether you grow them in the garden or inside, these flowers are sure to be an attractive addition. They are widely recognized and always available year round.

Artificial Wreaths - Not Just For Christmas

Artificial Wreaths can be used for Christmas or any other season. There are a lot of people who put up an Artificial Wreath for Christmas but why not put other wreaths in that place year round.

Artificial Wreaths are not just the traditional pine wreaths with red bows. Now there are many choices in wreaths to dress up a wall or entryway. While the pine wreath is a seasonal favorite, floral and foliage wreaths are finding a place in home decor as well. These fake wreaths are taking the place of more traditional wall hangings like pictures because they are more dimensional.

The great thing about these wreaths is that they are available in countless colors, styles and sizes. Regardless of the size wall you have, you are sure to find the perfect wreath to fit the wall.

Wreaths generally come in 5 styles. The traditional pine wreath is available in both lit and unlit. These are the Christmas Wreath favorite. Floral wreaths typically use a combination of flowers and foliage to create a lovely wreath. Some silk floral wreaths use only flower buds. Foliage leaves are available with fall colors or with greenery. Berry wreaths mix foliage or evergreen branches together to create a stunning combination. Lastly there are decorator wreaths that use feathers, glittered greenery and other unique features to make a wreath to fit a special look.

Artificial Wreaths are popular for entryways but also work well in other areas like on a dining wall. Because of the variety these can work with both traditional and contemporary decorative schemes. They can also be used for Christmas.

Is the Term Dried Poppy Pods Really Such a Dirty Phrase?

Most people think of only one thing when they hear the word "poppy", but people who enjoy crafts and have a vivid imagination are able to turn dried poppy pods into amazing works of art. It turns out that there are any number of attractive flower arrangements, wreaths and ornamental swags that can be created to bring striking beauty to your personal space or that can be created for sale at neighborhood bazaars or seasonal craft shows.

They come in various sizes and are normally offered in small, medium, large and mammoth or jumbo sizes. The largest pods can be as much as 10" in diameter, with the smallest pods being as small as 2". They are sold on the stem, which can either be straight or twisted, depending upon the drying method, and which can be cut as short or as long as desired. The most common way to dry them is to hang them upside down in bundles, which results in the straight stems that are most often used for more formal arrangements. An alternative way to dry the pods is to stand them up in a container, which results in the stems twisting as they dry and lending architectural appeal and interest to more informal arrangements.

Often the twisted stems are woven with raffia, ribbon, or the stems of other flowers in dried floral arrangements and wreaths. Poppy pods are most commonly used for seasonal fall arrangements, but a bit of air-brushed color or stain can adapt your artistic masterpiece to just about any season. They make a great ornamental accent to poinsettias when spray painted silver, gold, or other metallic colors, even green or white. Or picture them painted in vivid pastels as Easter Eggs in a vase with lilies, some lively greenery and pretty ribbons. Stencils can be used to add stylish butterflies, ladybugs, dragonflies, any type of sentiment or even fanciful scrolls around the pod. This floral medium can be used in countless ways. Combine colorful dried flowers and fragrant herbs with dried field poppy pods for an eye-catching wreath. Salvia borminum, marigolds, marjoram and pink pepper berries are just some of the dried flowers that combine well with poppy pods. Add a little rosemary or sage, or even eucalyptus to add scent to your arrangement. In order to make a more delicate wreath or arrangement, combine miniature dried poppy pods with baby's breath, lavender or lacier varieties of dried plants and dainty ribbons.

Explore the effect of combining the twisty stems with bulky dried blossoms and oriental paper bush for a more dramatic arrangement. Even old, tired arrangements can be given new life by just adding a few colored or decorated dried poppy pods.

Crafters can locate poppy pods in their local craft supply stores, but the largest varieties are offered found at online retailers. If you are a commercial enterprise then you could find that these same sources will allow you to order in bulk resulting in higher discounts. Sometimes whole neighborhoods or clubs will go in together in order to be able to reap the savings of bulk pricing along with free shipping in some cases. Simply search the web using keywords such as dried poppy pods, dried poppy pods for sale and you will find numerous online retailers who can fill your requirements. When selecting an online retailer make sure to find out how the poppy pods are packed and shipped so you can be sure they will arrive undamaged.

Explore the many possibilities of using dried poppy pods and just let your imagination flow! The possibilities are virtually endless-the only limit of what you can do really is your own imagination.

How to Choose Inflatable Christmas Decorations

Have you seen all of the decorations that people put out around Christmas every year? Inflatable Christmas decorations are one of the most popular good looking ways that you can decorate your lawn to show your Christmas spirit. There are a lot of different options available that may make it a bit of a challenge to figure out which ones to choose for your lawn this Christmas season. If you want for the outside of your home to look good then there are a few different considerations that you will want to make before you decide which decorations will look the best.

One thing that you will want to consider is where you are going to place the decorations that you are going to purchase. If you are going to place them on the lawn then you will want to make sure that you have enough space available to put everything that you want to decorate with. If you are going to put them on the roof then you will want to figure out how much work will be involved with getting them up there and making them stay in place. It will be helpful for you to measure the space that you have available to place the decorations so that you can compare your measurements with the ones that you find.

Next, you will want to decide what you want the decorations to present that you are going to be placing around the outside of your home. You may want to choose between a religious display and a Santa Clause display which are two of the most popular types of decorations you will find. You can also find things such as inflatable snowmen and wreaths that will look good placed in different places in your yard.

Finally, you will want to make sure that you locate a good place to buy the decorations that you have decided on. You will be able to find inflatable Christmas decorations available in a department store, but you may find the best deals available by shopping online. You will be able to find several different websites that you can make your purchase from and save a lot of money. These are also good places to get some additional information and reviews of the inflatable decorations that you want to buy. If you follow these steps you will be able to create a magnificent display around the outside of your home this Christmas season.

Wreaths All Year Long

The tradition of putting wreaths on doors and walls started in the 7th century B.C. when tree branches were used to crown the winners of the Olympic games. When exactly the wreath moved from the head to the door is unknown but the athletes probably hung their crowns on their wall and it took off from there.

One of the most popular holiday decorations is the Christmas wreath. Christmas wreaths are hung on doors, windows, fences, gates, from the stairway with garland or over the fireplace and used as centerpieces or advent wreaths on the table. Homes or offices don't seem festive during the holiday season without this favorite decoration. Many people with second homes they don't use during the holiday season still make sure there's a wreath on the door to share the spirit of the season with their neighbors.

Many people make their own Christmas wreaths using decorations of meaning to them. A bird lover might decorate their wreath with small birds and different types of berries birds love like holly berries. A gardener may decorate their wreath with dried flowers like hydrangeas, fruits like apples or cranberries and blueberry or grape vines and twigs, all harvested from their own gardens. A lover of the sea might add seashells, clamshells, sea urchin shells and starfish to their wreath. These decorations are placed in the balsam fir and pine boughs they have cut, sometimes from their own property. These wreaths make great meaningful gifts to give to friends and family.

Fall wreaths are very popular. Autumn leaves can be used as a base. Twigs, vines and branches are used. Bright, burgundy burning bush branches are beautiful. Add decorations throughout the fall like small pumpkins and ghosts for Halloween and turkeys and small cornucopia type dried fruits for Thanksgiving.

A spring wreath can add to Easter or Mother's day celebrations. Freeze-dried flowers are typically used on spring wreaths. Pink roses, daffodils, pansies, miniature carnations, seeded eucalytptus, white larkspur and artemisia are popular choices.

Herb wreaths are wonderful additions to any kitchen or dining room. They are made with bouquets of different herbs. Herbs like Mexican or Greek oregano, sage, marjoram, bay laurel, lavender, red hot chilies, basil, bay leaves and thyme are used. There are numerous combinations of colors and textures that can be used and individual tastes dictate which herb wreath is chosen.

The many different types of wreaths are beautiful decorations for walls or doors, inside or outside your home or office. Hanging a different wreath for every season keeps both you and your guests aware that a new season has arrived.

Homemade Christmas Gifts For Mom

What does love mom the most? Her children, you may answer. What does she love to get from her children? She loves getting homemade gifts, even homemade Christmas gifts. You may think just because you are an adult you can't or shouldn't make her Christmas gifts? Why in the world would you ever think that?

Don't you realize that mom loves everything homemade? Mom also loves everything and anything her children make. Don't worry about not having any creativity skills. There are plenty of homemade gift ideas that take little to no creativity skills to make, besides once you get started you may be surprised to find out just how much talent you actually have.

Here are a few suggestions to get you started on making mom a homemade gift or two:

Write mom a poem. You could write a fun poem, a sentimental poem or even a poem about winter and past Christmas seasons. Then place the poem in a nice photo frame or make a greeting type card from it using your computer and printer.

Make mom a special beaded ornament:

You will need some pipe cleaners and beads in Christmas colors

Bend the pipe cleaner to form a shape such as a star, run the pip cleaner through each bead one at a time, twist together at the end.

You can even add bells or holly berries to the ornament.

Does your mom have style, especially holiday style? In you answered yes, you may want to make her some festive napkins.

You will need:

Pieces of felt
Scissors
Glue
Fabric
Plain napkins (hopefully in Christmas colors such as red or green)
Mini pom poms

Cut out decorative shapes such as a Christmas tree or wreath out of the felt.
Glue a shape onto the corner of a napkin. You can use the pom poms to make the napkin a bit more festive and the fabric to help decorate it some.

If those ideas aren't your style here are a few more suggestions:

Christmas cookies or cakes
A Christmas meal
A gift basket containing some of her favorite things
A photo album
Using your computer you could take special old photographs, copy them and even edit them some
Like taking old family pictures and putting them together in a collage
Starting with Grandma and working your way down to the youngest.

What would mom love more than Homemade Christmas Gifts? Can you really think of anything?

The Perfect Holiday Cards

It is indeed a task to find the exact card which the recipient will enjoy and cherish. We have to select the appropriate holiday card which would take care of the recipients' happiness and sentiments.

There are varieties of different colors, designs and symbols that make a card look traditional. With respect to colors a sender can look at ones with clarity on what would compliment a traditional themed card. For example, a Christmas theme one would use the color scheme of red and green, a Thanksgiving theme could use the color of autumn, that is orange and similarly an Easter card could be depicted by brighter hues. Therefore each occasion could be celebrated with a specific color.

Also it is best to use a lot of symbols which are in sync with the occasion. Like for example, wreaths are used for both fall and winter related events. Similarly people who do not have a religious bend of mind could use the symbols of hollies, bells or just trees.

Pictures like the family having dinner together, or the dining table decorated with different types of food conjure up the images of Thanksgiving. Just like the images these also carry religious verses or phrases or the theme of the picture is religious. Such fancy kinds and contemporary models are very easily available in stores and online.

A person desiring to get cards with classical themes is relatively easier to find rather than those without religious themes during this part of the year. You would also see a lot of images of local customs and folklores. I advise, that to be on a safer side, it is always better to send cards with classical themes.

Empire Style Furniture - Antique Furniture

Napoleon Bonaparte revolutionized war and French empire style furniture. Every modern military unit in the world uses his tactics and formations. Luckily the same can't be said for his empire style furniture. It was in 1804 that Napoleon had himself crowned Emperor of France. Apart from numerous self-glorifying portraits empire style furniture was to become the icon of that era.

Empire style furniture reflects the Bonaparte majesty, grandeur, and Napoleon felt it fitting to honor his glory. The empire style furniture is the last of the great French styles that spread its look throughout the world. Napoleon was overwhelmingly proud of his military successes in Italy and Egypt.

He brought to France archaeological images of ancient Egypt. Empire furniture of this period imitated the design features of these other great empires. Napoleon commissioned the designers and artists of Europe to create buildings and decor that would invoke the grandeur of Greece, the glory of Rome and the excesses of the Pharaohs.

Empire style furniture is BIG. It reflects Napoleon's testosterone fueled ego. It has a severe, heavy, masculine look. It is devoid of wood carving which was the hallmark of the styles of Louis XIV, Louis XV and Louis XVI. Delicate carving is replaced by veneers polished to a high sheen. To compensate for the blankness of wood veneer, metal gilts adorn empire style furniture.

Empire style furniture is instantly distinguished by the vulgar use of ormolu mounts. Ormolus are gilt-metal decorations usually in decorative but always jingoistic motifs. The motifs are from Egyptian artifacts such as falcons, sphinxes, cobras, obelisks, winged lions and so on. Napoleon promoted both the French language and Egyptology.

As well as Egypt there are decorative touches derived from ancient Greek and Roman designs. Vases, lamps, torches, heads of Greek gods, ram's head and cornucopias are all to be seen on Empire style of furniture. French jingoism ran rampant during the Napoleonic era and it was evident in the many furniture features. Picture laurel wreaths, eagles, swords, lances, rifles, drums and bugles. Animals or mythical creatures such as sphinxes replace the curved traditional legs on empire furniture.

In summary then, the common characteristics that make empire furniture distinguishable are:

o A Hefty masculine look.

o Wood veneers polished to high sheen.

o The excessive use of large, often badly cast ormolu motifs.

o Wood back chairs with upholstered seats.

o Greco-Roman classical decals.

o Mirror-back console tables. Ladies skirts were shorter now and this was a device for everyone to check out the ankle displays

o Nationalistic and military motifs and the use of letter "N".

There is no mistaking the empire style of furniture of the 1800s.

Top 20 Fundraising Ideas For Booster Clubs and School

I often get asked for fundraising ideas for booster clubs, athletic clubs, schools, and sports teams. Of course, the answer is different for each team, but one of the key factors is that whatever type of spirit item you choose to sell, it needs to be fun for the recipient and useful for them (at least useful for that given period of time). I have compiled a list of 20 inexpensive fundraising ideas for your school sports team or booster club that have great profit margins to raise money for your club or team. These spirit items are fun, inexpensive, and generate school spirit. Remember that by getting a business to sponsor the spirit items, they pay for them, and your club can sell them at 100% profit. That is the key to a successful fundraising campaign.

1. Pom Poms - These can be imprinted with your school or team name and can be obtained for well under $1.00 each. Custom imprinted pom poms are crowd favorites and look great in the stands. Fans feel more comfortable cheering on their team when they have some kind of spirit item such as pom poms. Pom poms have been around for years and will be around for years to come as spirit items.

2. Mini Basketballs - Obviously, these work great for basketball teams. You can choose to get either the vinyl mini basketballs or all the way up to tournament quality balls. The vinyl mini basketballs are about the size of a grapefruit and cost around $1.40 or less depending on quantity and are meant as more of a novelty toy for kids. If you feel your fan base will buy full sized basketballs, you can get customized basketballs with your choice of basketball panel colors and multi-colored logos imprinted on the balls.

3. Mini Volleyballs- Volleyball teams can choose from either vinyl mini volleyballs or tournament quality volleyballs. It is important to know your crowd and have an idea of how much money they are willing to spend. There is always the option to take pre-orders for higher ticket items such as tournament quality volleyballs.

4. Mini Footballs - Promotional mini footballs are commonly thrown at football games by the cheerleaders. These mini footballs can be used in 2 different ways for fundraising: a) You can have a business sponsor and put their name on logo on one side of the ball and your school and team name on the other sides of the footballs. With this option, the business actually pays for the footballs and lets the cheerleaders throw the footballs at the games. This helps the team by generating revenue and team spirit from the crowd as well as helping the business who sponsored with cheap advertising. b) You can simply print your school and team name on the footballs and sell them through your booster club to fans. Typically, the business sponsor is much easier and takes less effort. For a typical football game, you want to plan on throwing a minimum of 100 mini footballs, and more for big games such as playoffs and championship games to help keep the crowd going.

5. Mini Soccer Balls- These mini soccer balls can be sold as novelty items to home crowds. The vinyl mini soccer balls are less profitable than selling the tournament quality soccer balls. With full size soccer balls, you can print on every panel for a really dramatic effect. Take pre-orders to avoid being stuck with a large quantity of soccer balls.

6. Thundersticks - Crowds never get tired of thundersticks (or sometimes called thunderstix or bam bams). These thunder sticks can be personalized with a large imprint area. They are easy to sell for $3-$4 per pair, and you can get them for around $1.40 or less per pair. You can print on the both sides of the thunder sticks, so you can get a business sponsor to pay for the thundersticks and sell them to make 100% profit. Thunder sticks have become a standard in any active stadium. These stadium noisemakers bring the stadium to life and helps to encourage the players.

7. Discount Cards - Discount cards are credit card sized plastic cards that have multiple discount offers from local restaurants and retailers. The buyer can usually recoup his/her money after using the discount card only twice. The discount cards are typically printed with about 15 business are 1 side and the school and team name on the other side. Some schools choose to print discount offers on both sides of the cards allowing for more business sponsors. You can charge each business a nominal fee of $50-$100 to advertise their offer. Then you sell the cards for $10 each and make a huge profit. These discount cards are easy sell; they virtually sell themselves if you get some great offers from local businesses. The hardest part is lining up your 10-15 businesses to advertise. This is not difficult though, because most business know that offering discounts brings in business.

8. Stadium Seat Cushions - Stadium seat cushions are another great and traditional fundraising item for stadium sports such as football and basketball. Sponsors can offset the cost of the stadium cushions by ads on the back of the cushion. The booster club can then sell the cushions for $5-$10 to make 100% profit and generate thousands of dollars at a single game. You can sell up to 20 business ads on each side of the stadium cushions. Imagine the amount of money your booster club can earn with the combination of the sponsorship money collected plus the money collected from sales of the stadium cushions!

9. Hand Fans - Sports shaped hand fans are great for games in the South during the beginning of football season. Choose from Football helmet or football shaped hand fans. These fans can be printed with the team schedule, and even a business sponsor name to help offset the cost. Any type of spirit item the fans can hold, such as hand fans, helps make them more comfortable, thus cheering more and louder.

10. Schedule Magnets- All fans need a game schedule and a schedule on a magnet is even better because they won't lose it. Most people will put a magnet on a refrigerator, and think how many times the average person goes to the refrigerator. Fans will buy a schedule magnet, and the profit margins are easily 400%-500%. This will help boost your attendance at games because your fans will always know your game times.

11. Car Magnets - Car magnets with your mascot and team name help to promote team spirit within your community. These are popular with fans because they are easy to remove and cause no damage to their cars. Not only do you make money selling these car magnets, but think how many people will see your team name and mascot on a daily basis. The more people that see you car magnet, the more community support you cultivate.

12. Megaphones - Cheerleaders have used megaphones for years and the the mini plastic megaphones are great for fans to use for cheering for their team. Personalized megaphones are a great way to get your fans loud.

13. Spirit Noodles - Spirit noodles are made of foam and are great to wave around while cheering. These are a great option when noise makers aren't allowed in your stadium. They come in varios shapes and sizes to tailor to your team or school.

14. Foam Fingers - Foam fingers and foam hands come in many different varieties and shapes. There are foam paws, foam talons, foam mascots, and many different foam hand shapes that are great for cheering for your team. These are also great for stadiums that don't allow noisemakers.

15. Sport Horns - Sports horns are unique noise makers that are really loud but come in a small package. These stadium horns take minimal effort to blow and will rock the house and a make a bold statement for your team.

16. Spirit Towels - Spirit towels are classic stadium items to show team spirit. They have a large imprint area and are great to wave around while cheering.

17. Sports Bottles - Personalized sports bottles are great items to fill with drinks at concession stands. The custom printed sport bottles give fans a souvenir to take home after buying a drink. This will encourage fans to buy a drink because they get an item they can keep that is useful after the game. Many concession stands charge an upcharge to get a souvenir mug. If you don't want to use sports bottles, consider stadium cups. Stadium cups are cheap and a great option to use to serve beverages at the stadium.

18. Stadium Blankets - During cold games, stadium blankets are much needed items that are often forgotten by fans. You'll be surprised how many fans will buy a stadium blanket because they forgot to bring their own blanket. Stadium blankets have the ability to generate large profits per sale.

19. Yard Signs - Don't forget about spirit items to promote your team outside from games. The custom yard signs can be sold to fans to proudly display in their yard. These also can have very high profits per sale, and are an easy way to generate large amounts of money in a small amount of time.

20. Hand Clappers - Hand clappers are one of those spirit items that never get old. They make a lot of noise and are fun to use when rooting for your team.

Whatever type of spirit items that you use, make sure they are allowed in your stadium. Most importantly, make sure you do have spirit items available for your fans. Spirit items are the easiest ways to generate team spirit, because fans feel more comfortable cheering when they have a spirit item to use. One important rule to remember is that you don't want to overprice your spirit items. You have to consider the area you live in when determining a reasonable price that the fans will not think is too expensive. School spirit items are easy to sell; therefore, generating lots of money for your school booster club or organization is very easy.

The Perfect Wedding Flower Decoration

Orange blossoms, sunflowers, roses and dahlias; violets and lilies; orchids and tulips: all flowers are beautiful. They are also a symbol of love. And an inevitable part of all wedding ceremonies. So inevitable, that many couples go crazy when having to choose the flower decoration for their wedding party. Wedding flower decoration is vital for this red-letter day in everyone's life. Flower designs can be different and can translate various meanings to the guests of the wedding party. Many things can be concluded about the bride and bridegroom's future marriage, depending on the choice of their wedding flower decorations. If your wedding ceremony is getting closer, perhaps it is time to choose your flower decoration that will make the celebration unforgettable.

Wedding flower decoration can be of various kinds. You can choose a large arch of flowers or a centre-piece, or both- everything is suitable depending on your taste. Use your own creative imagination and choose the best flower decoration for the great event. It is important that you decide on flower arrangement that suits your wedding settings. Choose a color combination that appeals to you and is in harmony with the entire setting. The flower decoration can consist of seasonal and local flowers. You should as specifically as possible decide on the size, shape and color for the different flower arrangements. You may easily get some piece of advice from a magazine: there are large varieties of all kinds of flowers. Silk flowers and dried flowers can be an opportunity, too. Remember: your wedding flower decoration is meant to express you and your personal style, but comply also with your loved one's taste. Additional factors should influence your choice: the season, the time of day for the party, the location atmosphere and so on. These weather conditions make a difference and you should have them in mind before deciding strongly on something. A cunning way to make wedding flower decoration suitable is color blocking. Color blocking is called the procedure of choosing a specific color or combination of several colors and using it as the leading nuance when you create all your wedding settings. For example, you may choose the classical white, and put white orchids on the white tablecloths, and prepare your wedding bouquet with white being the predominant color.

There are several types of flower arrangements that are used during the ceremony.

BOUQUETS. They are flower decorations for the bride. A wedding bouquet must be carefully chosen depending on the personal characteristics of the woman. Its color must stress on her individuality, and its shape must emphasize on her body silhouette, giving her the best possible looks. There are many different wedding bouquets, and their design depends on the bride's skin tone, body proportion, facial appearance and attire.

BOUTONNIERES. These flower decorations are worn by the groom and his attendance, also by the ushers, and the bride's and groom's fathers. They are made of small flower buds attached on the left lapel of the jacket.

CORSAGES. They can be worn in pin-on, wrists and hand-held styles. As a flower decoration they combine a small bloom or several blooms tied together.

WREATHS. This is a splendid flower decoration that has a round shape. The rings of flowers are used as centerpieces, headpieces or door hangers.

CANDELABRA. They are made of flowing greens in the shape of ribbons. They are put at the base, neck or top of multi-armed candelabra.

Earth Day Crafts From Stuff You Throw Away

Circle April 22, 2010 on your calenders. Earth Day! Does anybody out there have a hooray for our home planet? We should really take better care of this place. It's the only one we've got! Although one day is dedicated to this idea it should be foremost on our minds all the time. Our children should be taught from infancy to do this.

As a craft-er I love to reuse and recycle (and teaching others how). I've done literally thousands of crafts using items I've seen others throw away. When thinking of all of them it's really quite hard to narrow it down so I can give you and your kids a basic how-to for one so I've written the how-to's for a few. It's something everyone can and should do. I'm not saying it'll save the planet but it sure could help---and you CAN BE A PART OF THAT!

Toothbrush Bracelets

You'll need:

* Old toothbrush
* Pliers
* Pot
* Tongs
* Large mug
* Glass jar or bottle, optional

Remove all the bristles from the toothbrush with pliers. Meanwhile,boil water in the pot. While the water is boiling, put the toothbrush in the water for approximately 5 minutes. Remove with tongs. Bend to desired shape. (Tip: Using the glass jar or bottle as a rolling pin you can flatten slightly.) If the toothbrush isn't soft and flexible enough stick it back into the boiling water. Place in bottom of mug to hold it's shape. Add cold water in mug and allow your bracelet to cool.

Be sure to use a simple plastic toothbrush for this, it seems the fancier the toothbrush the more difficult to bend.

Sun Print

You'll need:

*Dark colored craft paper
*Different items like leaves, flowers, yarns, faux fruits,or anything you wish

Take the dark colored craft paper and arrange different items on the paper. Place in direct sun for about 1 hour. Remove items and remove from sun. This leaves a silhouette of the item on the paper. (Tip: Frame them with frames from a thrift shop or yard sale, hang a bunch of them together for instant decor!)

Feathers flower

You'll need:

* Feathers, as many as you like
* Floral wire
* Green florist tape
* Tiny beads,any color for the center of the flower
* Glue

Gather your feathers into a bunch. Wrap wire around the ends to secure. Wrap florist tape around wire to give it a finished look. Add a little glue to center of "flower" and sprinkle on the beads. Let dry.

Coffee Filter Flower

You'll need:

* 2 basket style drip coffee filters
* Food coloring (2 colors), your choice
* Wooden skewer
* Green florist tape
* Clear tape

Add 3-4 drops of food coloring to one dish and 3-4 drops of food coloring of the other color to a second dish. Add a small amount of water to each. Ball up the coffee filters up and place one in each dish so they are covered with the water.(Tip: You can remove the filters right away for a light color or leave them in for a while for a darker color.) Remove the coffee filters. Squeeze the excess coloring out.

Lay the filters flat to dry on a paper towel. When the filters are dry, take the one you choose as the center of your flower and fold it in half to make a half circle. Fold again to make a quarter pie shape. Fold twice more. Cut a curve around the wedge approximately 1/2 inch from the end.

Repeat with the outer color except cut the curve right at the wide edge. Centering the smaller flower shape over the larger flower shape, insert the wooden skewer, leaving approximately 1/2 inch of wooden skewer in the flower shapes. Twist the bottom 1/2 inch of the flower around the skewer and tape with clear tape to hold tight. Wrap wooden skewer with florist tape, hiding the clear tape. Open "petals", adjusting until you are happy with the look.

My kids used to wash out old, used coffee filters then dip the ends in food coloring to make "flowers". and,finally

White Trash Bag Wreath

You'll need:

* White Trash bags about 4-6 ( white kitchen trash bags will work or you can use the larger Green trash bags for the holidays)
* 1 wire coat hanger
* Wired Ribbon tied into a bow, any color you wish (pastel for Spring, Red or silver for holidays, etc.)

Cut trash bags into strips about 6 inches long and 1 1/2 to 2 inches wide. (Longer and wider strips can be cut for a larger wreath). Shape the wire coat hanger into a circle, bending the hook toward the back to use as a hanger for your wreath. Tie the plastic trash bag strips into knots around the coat hanger ( The more strips you use the fuller the wreath). Add the bow at the top and add flowers,or seasonal decorations or, even leave plain.

These are only a few ideas listed here. You can craft so many things, using things people normally throw away and have your children help at the same time. As an added benefit you'll know you are helping the environment, being kind to our planet and Going Green!

Celebrate Earth Day!
Give a hooray to planet Earth---and have fun crafting!
See you next time.

Wreath Storage Solution For Modern Homes

A wreath storage solution is important after every Christmas holiday. As it is, every Christmas decoration, such as a wreath, is supposed to have a storage place assigned to it so it can be re-used for the next holiday season. A Christmas tree usually has its own box that homeowners can use for storage, but wreaths do not usually have one. To make storing and using Christmas decor trouble-free, people must ready storage solutions at hand.

The wreath is rather common these days, as opposed to the view of most people that it is almost extinct now that it is in competition with other Christmas decor, such as dancing lights and other movable and automatic decorations popular these days. Most people today do not know the history of the common wreath, but for people who are well-versed in the history of the Romans or the Greeks, a wreath holds a message that resounds in history. They are an important icon of history; a wreath is a symbol of victory. That is why during the early Olympics, the wreath was placed atop the head of the victor.

That is why knowledgeable people will proudly decorate their houses with a wreath because of their meaning in history. These people use a wreath storage solution to protect the wreath from accumulating dust or mites through the months of storage. The proper storage solution for wreaths is non-restrictive because the leaves of a wreath may broke or sag from the pressing material of the storage bag.

The wreaths of today are sturdier because they are commonly made-up of plastic leaves. Rotting or pests are now out of the question. Still, homeowners must be careful not to press the leaves too hard because Wreaths can easily be disfigured from pressure. Dust accumulation is also very hard to clean-up because of the deep recesses in the wreath. Because of this, the wreath storage solution must be of the sealed-type.

Dried Flower Arrangements and Decorations

Dried flowers can be used as a typical and unique style of decoration. One can get the dried flowers from a florist or can dry the flowers oneself. There are many flowers which dry quickly and easily. Few of them are violets, roses, .daisies, zenias etc. The basic rule for drying is that the moisture in the flower should be removed without rotting it. There are various methods of drying which are as follows:

Hanging: in this method one needs to hang flowers in a well ventilated, dark spot, for about a week, by tying the flowers in a bundle and hanging them upside down.

Sand Drying: in this method one needs to fill the flower with sand by placing it in a box of sand, stem upside down for a week. The most important thing to be remembered is that the sand should not have any moisture. The advantage of this method is you can retain the cup shape of the flower.

Air tight containers: this method is very useful for bulky headed flowers. Just place the flowers in the container, close it and keep it for a week to ten days.

A desiccant: a substance such as calcium oxide or silica gel, which has a high affinity for water and is used as a drying agent can also be used to dry flowers.

There are various things that can be done to decorate with the help of dried flowers:-

You can decorate a photograph, invitation, child's artwork or selected piece of literature in a shadow box, a wedding invitation, highlight a poem, photos or pieces of literature.

A wreath fashioned from dried flowers is an attractive and durable decoration for a front door or mantel. It's a simple project too, requiring only a frame, dried flowers, and a hot glue gun. To begin making a wreath, attach a picture frame hanger to the reverse of your stretcher frames (preferably use, two 8-inch and two 9-inch frames for the purpose). Paint the frames, if you want to. Prepare the flowers by removing their stems. Starting from one corner and working your way around, lay down a strip of glue. Place the flowers on the hot glue and push down carefully. Continue placing flowers along the top side and finish by gluing flowers along the edge.

Apart from this there are some general rules which should be used for Dried Flower decoration which are as follows:

If flowers feel soft like a sponge, do not use them for drying. This indicates that they are old or have been frozen. Flowers used for drying should be firm.
Make a stem for the dried flowers with a wire and secure flowers with floral tape.
Once all the flowers have been mounted on stems, start making arrangements. Check garage sales, etc. for unique vases and bowls in which to display the arrangements.
Find inspiration for arrangements by touring flower gardens or by looking through gardening magazines.

Experiment, create and never be afraid. The end results can give your home the warmth of your gardens.

Redecorating For Spring

It's about time to open up the beach house or second home in the hills. This can be a daunting task or it can be fun, which way you go is up to you. Generally, if you have to do it, you may as well be happy about it. This article will help you add fun to the task of updating your cabin in the woods or your cozy home at the beach. Even though financial times are tough right now, you can still toss some Springtime into these places without breaking the bank. These same ideas can be used in your full time home as well.

If you're not sure how to make your home suit your style, stop now and gather your thoughts. Peruse online stores for furnishings and accessories that you like. There are even free quizzes online to help you discover your own style. As you look at things or furnishings for your home, copy and paste pictures of the things you like the most to your word processing program and save them. Create an online booklet for yourself that helps to define your style. To keep your selections within your budget, see how many things you already have that can easily take on a new look with a little effort. You may be surprised at how easy these kinds of transformations can be.

Let's use a country or rustic theme as an example. Maybe now you have an eclectic or mis-matched grouping now, and you want to carry a rustic sort of theme. Using the furniture you already have, can you add country accessories to achieve your look? Maybe you will need to sand down a piece of furniture and re-stain it, or apply a coat of paint to achieve your look. Change the least expensive items first such as the throw pillows, pictures on the walls and area rugs. You could perhaps add a hand-made afghan throw to the back of your sofa.

New curtains can really change the appearance of a room too. Moving from heavy drapery to a light airy options will give the entire room a totally different feel. Try to stick with light colors and fabrics that have a print that follows your theme. If you really want to keep heavier drapes at your windows to reflect sun and preserve air conditioned air, simply add tie backs with artificial flowers that compliment your theme. A touch of perfume made from a flowery scent will add to the ambiance you're trying to create.

If you have a lakehouse or cottage at the beach, you may want to redecorate with a nautical theme. It's easy to go nautical on a tight budget! A quick trip to your local dollar store will produce a bounty of goods to either use as they are or to create specialty items you've made for yourself. As you peruse the shelves, look at things for what they are, then do a double take to look at things for what they could be. This may take some practice, but you'll catch on quickly. For instance, you could make a wreath from a wreath form, some artificial water lilies, a frog from the children's toy section, and perhaps a lighthouse magnet or two. You now have all the pieces and parts to create a beautiful nautical themed wreath to welcome your guests.

The same idea applies well to the little bags of colored sand at the dollar store. Grab two or three bags of assorted colors of sand, one picture frame, and one piece of poster board. You can draw a very simple beach scene. Add glue to one section at a time and sprinkle the sand on top; allow that to dry. Repeat each step, moving from bottom to top or top to bottom as you go. When all sections are completed and dry, hold it up outside to allow the excess sand to fall off. Place your picture in your frame and hang it proudly! You just created your very piece of artwork to display for your guests, even if you have no artistic ability!

Quick Front Porch Decorating Guide - The Key to Easy Decorating Ideas!

We get asked often the question "What can I do to decorate my porch without a lot of effort?" Or, "I'm not a great decorator, what easy decorating ideas do you have that looks great?" Front porch decorating is much like decorating any room of your home. Think four things: color, theme, focal point and purpose.
 
Color -  Choose Your Decorating Color Scheme

You can do an amazing decorating job just by using color. Don't be afraid to use color. Not good with decorating color schemes? Neither am I; however I can pick out at least one color I like. So how do you choose a color? Browse through decorating books, visit a department store home furnishings department or go to your paint store and pick out some paint strips that you like. Paint strips give you great ideas of complementary colors, too!

So once you've chosen a color you like, what do you do with it? Try  painting the front door. The front door can serve as a focal point or it can be used to telegraph your decorating color scheme for the rest of the porch. So your first step is to go out on your porch or yard and determine a great color for your front door. Depending on the overall statement you want, that is, bold, trendy, subtle, or somewhere in between, choose a color that will complement that look. Then you might choose another complementary or contrasting color to go with that.

Theme

Most of us have at least some type of look or style we'd like for our front porch: country, Victorian, Southern, contemporary, southwestern, Tuscan, eclectic or even a sports theme.  Or perhaps you want a seasonal look depending on the time of year - spring or fall decorating, for example. Some prefer, especially those along the coast, a nautical look. Others, like in the southwest, might prefer a western theme. This will help determine the items you want to display on your porch. Look at garage sales, flea markets, your dollar store, or a thrift shop to find items like pictures for your wall, furniture, tables or other charming knick knacks to carry out your theme. Chances are you have some items in your home already that you can re-purpose for your porch.

Focal point

A focal point can be anything from the front door itself, a beautiful wreath on your front door or perhaps a wicker table, chairs, and colorful table cloth. Or, it could be beautiful hanging baskets, a work of art (painting or sculpture), or perhaps a favorite rocker or swing. Above all, make sure your "focal point" is obvious and it should be a great conversation starter.

Purpose

How will you use your porch the most? Will it be a gathering place for relaxing in the evening? Perhaps you want a place to listen to music or share an intimate glass of wine? Will you be entertaining on your porch? Do you want to create a private nook for reading or writing? Knowing how you will use your porch will help you select the right furniture and accessories.

From country decorating ideas to contemporary decorating, just follow these four concepts and you will be surprised at what you can do. Decorating on a dime is still possible today if you use your creativity and are resourceful in finding charming pieces for your porch at garage sales, flea markets or even your dollar store. Take your spouse, child or a friend and make it fun! See what you can create!

Greapvine Wreaths

Grapevine crafts are easy to do and are an inexpensive accent to your home décor. Natural grapevine wreaths are a great addition to any home. It is easy to make the wreath yourself but if you can't get the vines then you can purchase the wreaths at any craft store.

I've been doing this for a long time and it's easy and fun. Grapevine wreaths aren't that expensive and they make a beautiful door ornament, or wall hanging.The first step in the production of any product from the vines is the collection of the vines. Most crafters harvest the vines from nearby forests of roadsides where vines are often abundant.

Making your own grapevines wreaths can be both fun and rewarding. Several benefits to making your own are of course cost, plus making the size, fullness and shape you desire. You can make just about any shape you want. I have some articles below that will show you how to make different shapes.

Now you will need to choose the materials you want to apply to your grapevine wreath. To determine the overall look you are trying to achieve you need to take into consideration the place you will be hanging your wreath.You can decorate your wreath with just about anything. Try dried flowers, silk flowers, paper ribbon as well as regular ribbon or real leaves that are treated and preserved. They remain flexible and are available in many colors and varieties, and will keep for many years.Flower picks are available from craft stores. They are inexpensive, but you can make your own picks from clusters of wheat, pinecones, dried flowers, and other materials, wired together into a small bunch.

Using a hot glue gun to attach most of your decorations to grapevine wreaths can save you a lot of time. It also makes it easy to add something to balance out your wreath. Eucalyptus, lavender or moss will give you a cottage garden look. Dried Hydrangea's will make a elegant formal decoration.

Choose colors of flowers for each season, If the wreath is for inside, just match your room colors. You can make grapevine wreaths for any season or holiday. I have seen Easter wreaths that are made with eggs and they look really nice.Grapevine wreaths are also really good for craft fairs, especially around the holidays. They will sell like crazy because people buy them for their homes and also as gifts.