The success of any business or companydependson the efforts put into marketing its products or services.A namecard can be one of your greatest assets in making it big inyourfield. The name cards come with much more than just thecompanyname. They are practical enough to share the most importantfactsabout the business with prospective clients. They come inhandy inletting interested individuals know what your currentoffers areand even the location. The name cards serve as a reminderof whatyou are about and offer an easy way of passing allimportantdetails without the risk of forgetting.With a name card you will be in a position to make alastingimpression on your clients and potential customers. Byglancing atthe company card, they get impressed and could end upgoing forwhat you have to offer. This is especially so consideringthat youcan have any design and style you want when creating thecards tomake them as eye catching as possible. People have atendency ofgetting moved by what they see and when you get it rightwith thedesign, colors and the content on the cards, you will makeapositive impression every time.The cards offer you endless opportunities to make them as uniqueasyou wish for them to be so they achieve what you have in mind.Youcan actually include photos on the cards to personalize them.Namecards which include a specific person have a way ofdisplayingprofessionalism and they can boost the popularity of theindividualamongst the clients. You can make changes to the namecardsaccording to the current needs of the business. Consideringthatthey are not as costly, you can have dozens printed at a pricethatis reasonable for you. They will offer you an easymarketingplatform without asking for too much of yourfinances.With the inexpensive nature of name cards and their versatility,youget the chance to print different cards and dishing them out toyourclients to maximize on all marketing and advertising chancesopenfor you. When you give out several, you increase the chancesofclients sharing the cards with other people out there who mightbelooking for the services or the products you are dealing with.Theyoffer more value over word of mouth since they come withreliablereference, making it hard to forget the mostimportantdetails.1. Include all your business's vital contact information.Alwaysinclude information such as your name, company name, cellandbusiness phone numbers, fax number, physical address,e-mailaddress and Web site. In doing this, you make it easier forclientsand customers to easily contact you.2. Use full-color printing to make your business card standout.Black-and-white printing is outdated and visually boring,butfull-color printing allows you to design a custom card thatisunlike any other business card out there. Whether you decide tousewhite card stock with a full-color design and text, or if wanttobleed the color off your card, your customers willdefinitelyappreciate the aesthetics of your full-colorinformationcard.3. Make your card legible and easy to read. Using fonts andcolorsthat are hard to read do not make for a good business card.If yourcard is hard to read or the font is too small, most peoplewill notgive it a second look. Use clean fonts that are simple andeasy toread with contrasting colors for optimum legibility.4. Use double-sided printing to get the most out of yourbusinesscard. Most printing companies do not charge extra fordouble-sidedprinting, so there is no reason to not take fulladvantage of allthe print space available. Double-sided printingallow you toprovide your customers and clients with as muchinformation as youcan. Use one side of your business card to writein appointmentdates and times, or include a calendar of specialdates.

Paper quilling is a form of art or craftbornout of creating decorative designs using thin strips ofcurledpaper. This age-old quilling craft has emerged sincetheRenaissance time, and dated back to about 3 centuries old. Itwasduring the time when all the nuns used small edges trimmed fromtheBible pages. From there, those pieces were used to createsimplebut beautiful form of artistry. This craft was known as"Quilling"due to how the scrapped of paper were wrapped aroundgoose quillsto create "coiled shapes".Getting into paper quilling craft was not expensive as most ofthetime you will only need few inexpensive basic materials, whichyoucan buy at most art and craft stores.Because of this, paper quilling has created much interest infamilyand friends especially home makers into creatingendlessopportunities around this paper craft. They are someenthusiastswho are totally involved in the craft, making their ownsets ofdesigns and ornaments, and even making it big by havinginventorieslarge enough to enter into local arts and craftsshow.With hard work and perseverance, anyone can be assured thattheopportunities opened up by this unusual and highly flexiblemediumare endless. Christmas ornaments made through paper quillingarequite common and in-demand. According to a paper quiller, LanaJBates had earned $900 in a farmers' market Christmas craftsshow.That's quite a good to gain.Moreover, the tools used in paper quilling are rather simpleandstraightforward. Some of the common tools used in the processareslotted quilling tool, needle, glue, tweezers and pins. Justbyusing these simple tools, long strips of paper are woundtightlyand released, and hereby forming complicated and complexshapers.To get higher precision of quilling accuracy, these toolsshould bemade with better metal quality and made to lastlonger.Here are some of the basic uses of such toolsSlotted Quilling tool - the slot that is attached along its shaftisused to hold the paper securely as you turn the tool in yourhand.Generally, the knurl on the handle ensures a firm grip ofyour handthat will be helpful in the rolling of a neater and eventightroll.Needle tool - Basically the needle used to used to enable afinercenter hole after rolling. This will generally produce amuchtighter roll with a smaller hole in the center.Glue - One of the most important tools in paper quilling. Theglueis widely used in joining the shaped quills. In order toproducebetter and tighter quills, a basic mastery of glue handlingisnecessary ie the quantity and how you apply them ontoyourpaper.Tweezers - Tweezers are excellent tool to put together smallbitsand pieces of your paper quilling in right place. They can beusedto hold the coils that have been shaped, while you put a fewdropsof glue on the edges you are glueing together withoutdamagingit.Pins - While the tweezers will help you to put together allthesmall bits and pieces when you are sticking them, pins areusedwhen you are drying up the glue. The pins will allow you to puttheproject aside and finish it later, while waiting for the gluetodry up.Before we start with the quilling instructions you will need tohavethe following items:-1. A Paper Quilling Tool. In years gone by the ladies of thedaywould use a feather quill to roll the coils, today a slottedneedleis the easiest tool to begin with.2. Strips of Colored Paper, available in various widths andamultitude of colors.3. Craft Glue. You will no doubt find your own preference butthemost important thing to remember when starting out is thatyoupurchase tacky glue which is clear when dry.Now that you have these bits and bobs it is time beginpracticinggetting the basic coil right.

Do you love to entertain, but think yourbudgetdoesn't allow for it? Think again. Party decorations andfavorsdon't have to break the bank. You can try creatingDo-It-Yourselfparty favors and decorations for extra savings. Theyoffer anexcellent way to create everything you need while savingmoney. Notonly do DIY favors save money, but creating your ownfavors willallow you creative freedom and add a unique personaltouch.All it takes to decorate a party while on a budget issomecreativity, free time and determination. Here are a few greatideasto get you started:InvitationsDIY invitations are an easy way to cut down on party costs. Theyareperfect for adding your own personal touch and unique style.Makingthe party invitations yourself allow you full creativefreedom. Itwill be really easy to tie your party theme into theinvitations orsend a personalized message to each guest.The possibilities are endless when you are creating yourowninvitations. There are many ways you can decorate invitations,sochoose a technique or a variety of techniques and startcrafting.One of the most important aspects of an invitation is thepaper.There are countless styles, colors, textures and patterns ofpaperavailable. Choose one that will compliment your party theme orwillwork well with the decorating technique you use.Using pen and ink is a fantastic way to decorate invitationswhileon a budget. If you are gifted with drawing you can doodle ordrawimagery or embellishments on invitations to add a personaltouch.Calligraphy is an elegant way to decorate andpersonalizeinvitations. Stamping and scrapbooking can add awhimsical feel andreally turn your invitations intokeepsakes.Table DecorationsCreating table centerpieces is an easy way to set the mood foraparty. The first thing you need to figure out is what themeyourparty is going to have. Is the party geared towards childrenoradults? Is it relaxed, formal, fun or elegant? Once you are setona theme or look all you need is creativity to achieve it.One inexpensive way to make a centerpiece for a variety of eventsisto utilize containers. These can be anything from vases and teapotsto fish bowls and old lunch boxes. Once you have yourcontainerspicked out, you can fill them with a variety of items,such as,marbles, pebbles, flowers, mini balloons, stuffed animals,candy orglass ornaments. Let your imagination run wild. Candlesare anotherspectacular centerpiece idea. They are perfect forgiving the lookof elegance and they create a warm glow for thetable. A spread ofcolorful fruit and vegetables is a fantasticidea for fall parties,family gatherings and formal events. Simplychoose an array ofproduce and arrange it in an eye-catching wayand you'll have acenterpiece that people will love and you caneven eat it whenyou're done.Party FavorsIf you want to leave your guests with a special treat at the endofa successful party do-it-yourself party favors are the way togo.You don't have to spend a bundle to give out fun andmemorableparty favors. Edible favors are an excellent idea becausepeoplelove to eat and you can do it yourself. Baked good makeperfectfavors for any event. You can make a favorite treat and wrapit upbeautifully. Little bundles of individually wrapped candyisanother delectable idea. Personalized coasters and coaster setsarea long-lasting favor that is perfect for more formal parties.Evensimple keepsakes such as origami swans and flowers can be areallyunique way to say thank you to guest for attending.As you can see, it doesn't take a huge budget to make yourpartyfeel like a million dollars. With a little creativity youcancreate beautiful invitations, elegant table centerpieces andsendyour guests home with personalized party favors. Startplanningyour next party today and apply some of these handytips.

Fun DIY crafts for the kidsAs Easter approaches you may be on a budget, which means thatyou'renot going to be able to go out and spend a fortune on thecraftsthat you might want to do on Easter. In this article I amgoing tocover some easy Easter crafts that you can do alone orwith yourkids.One of the first and most known crafts is decorating eggs,howeveryou don't always have the time to go out and buy thenecessary dyesin order to do this. When you want to dye eggs butdon't have dye,you can always go and grab your kitchen's supply offood coloringand mix it with just enough water to dip the egg in.When you dothis and dip your egg in the colored water it will comeout thecolor of the food coloring, which allows you the same effectasexpensive dyes.Some more easy craft ideasNext on my list of things you can do for Easter without breakingthebank is a foam Easter rabbit plant stake. That maysoundcomplicated, but in all reality all you need is a jumbocraftstick, some craft foam, paper, scissors glue, a marker, and ifyouwant some paint. Now here's how to make the bunny:1. First you paint the craft stick itself and let it dry.2. Next draw a picture of a bunny on a piece of the foampaper.You're going to want to use the picture as a pattern to cuttheshapes out of it from the craft foam.3. Next glue the pieces together.4. After that cut a piece of the foam 4x1 ½ for the sign thatthebunny will be holding.5. Next glue the feet to the bottom of the sign and craft stick,andvoila you now have a little bunny that you can put into apottedplant.Fun crafts for the childrenThis is sure to be a hit with the children. Next on our listaresome of the games and activities you can do with Eastereggprintables. One of these such activities is the match game. Toplaythis game you print out two copies on to card stocks. Then youplaymemory with them, a card game in which you try to match onecardwith its equal by remembering where each card is located.An all time favorite is the traditional Easter egg hunt. Thismaynot have the same allure as an Easter egg hunt with realEastereggs, but it's much less expensive and the printables don'tgiveoff the same smell that a real egg would if it isn't found.Theseare only a few of the many activities you can do if you're onabudget this Easter season, but given these tools and ideas I'msureyou can come up with a few of your own creative easy Eastercraftsto do with your children, or the children in your life.Rememberyou don't have to have a big budget to do these easyEastercrafts.Edible Easter crafts are a fun activity for kids of all ages.TheseEaster recipes are a great way to spend some quality familytimetogether and satisfy everyone's sweet tooth. So get out theEastercandies, get ready to bake and let's make some edibleEastertreats.Easter Craft Idea #1Edible Easter crafts are always a favorite in our house. Not onlydowe have a blast making these items but eating them is just asmuchfun. One of our favorites is an edible bird's nest. This is afingerlicking good craft project for kids of all ages.How to Make an Edible Birds NestSuppliesChocolate Cake MixPaper cup cake holdersCup Cake PanCrumbly Chocolate Bars (like Butterfingers)Easter Candy EggsMarshmallow PeepsFrostingBake the cupcakes as directed and let cool. Give each childacupcake, candy bars, Easter candy eggs, frosting and peeps.Havethe kids frost their cupcake and then add the crumbly chocolatebar(breaking into stick like pieces) around the outer edge to formthenest. Then add Easter egg candies and the marshmallow peeps.Thesecute nests are totally edible and will look great at yourEasterdinner table.

A lot of people think that reclaimed woodisjust rubbish wood, full of nails and only good for the skip.Howmistaken they are. Reclaimed timber is now extremely popularformany reasons: The wood's unique appearance, its contributiontogreen building, the history of the woods origins and itsphysicalcharacteristics, such as appearance, strength, stabilityanddurability. Reclaimed seasoned wood has also already beenexposedto changes in humidity and is therefore more stable,allowing it tobe used with central heating systems, for examplewithout having towait for it to acclimatise.But not all reclaimed wood is old! Huge amounts of wood areusedthen just thrown away - despite the fact that it is stillperfectlyre-useable. This 'new' wood is mainly reclaimed fromtheconstruction industry and would otherwise have gone tolandfill,thus contributing to green house gas production.Britain's waste wood amounts to approximately 2% of the totalwasteand the United Kingdom currently consumes about 3% of theworld'swood production - quite a bit considering our island's tinysize!You may not believe this but there is over 2.5 million tonsoftimber that is taken out of hospitals, libraries, churches,homesand pubs every year in the United Kingdom. More than half ofit isburnt or discarded. Approximately 10% of this is tropicalhardwood.Much of this old reclaimed wood is of very high qualitysotherefore it is a total waste of our precious resource.Reclaimed wood is often in excellent condition and can be re-usedinmany different areas such as making things for the garden,i.e.trellis, plant boxes, fencing, bird boxes, sheds. For theinsidethe home, you can fix flooring, make wall paneling,ceilings,kitchen back splashes, architectural features, trim,wainscoting,counter tops, partitions, shelving, storage boxes...The list isendless.With reclaimed material being so popular, it is becomingmoredifficult to source. With such a high demand, some sellers trytopass newer wood off as antique so be careful. Reclaimed woodisalso an environmentally-friendly option that keeps quality woodoutof the wood chipper and brings depth and character from thewood'sprevious life.Don't forget it is also a fraction of the cost that youwouldnormally pay in DIY stores. The cost of new wood is soexpensivewhich unfortunately, this puts off many DIY woodenthusiasts whichis a great shame because we all like put our handsto something sowhy not switch to reclaimed wood and save afortune!Wood is most often used for patios and pergolas because ithas"character", is pleasing to look at and adds warmth to a gardenoroutdoor setting. Wooden materials also complement most homedesignsand look great with colorful climbing plants aroundthem.Some of the advantages of reclaimed wood include is because It isastronger product. Virgin lumber is not always as hard or asdurableas reclaimed wood is.It also gives the old wood a new life.If thewood is not used again, it will end up in the landfills andwilleventually turn to dust. By using it in a renovation project,it isinjected with a new life that can last generations.Themostimportant,It is environmentally friendly. Reusing and recyclingisimportant to the environment. Turning to reclaimed wood is aneasyand simple way for people to help the planet.Kids can begin with wood projects need to have somethingverysimple, possibly beneath their normal skill level, tobuildconfidence. While an 8 year old is capable of far more thansimplygluing a few pieces of wood together to produce the napkinholdershown, it might make a good beginning anyway. Quick and easy,thechildren learn a few basics and that they can make woodprojectsDIY.

Do you want to design your owndo-it-yourselfgarden? Although it looks simple to plant a garden,there are someways of making the job more efficient and more likelyto succeed.Here are some tips to help you design a DIYlandscape.InstructionsAlways start on paper. If you want to avoid expensive changesafterinstalling your landscape, the most logical thing to do issketchit out on paper first. You will see how things flow together,whatlooks best and what won't work. Then you can change things withthestroke of the pencil. Things can be varied when you build yourDIYlandscape -- a plan should be flexible -- but with adrawn-outguide, you can avoid the really expensive andlabor-consumingmistakes. You can draw out your own plans or have aprofessional doit for you. Or you can do your own and just havethem checked overby a garden designer or coach.Make a list of what you want in your garden and how you will useit.This way you won't forget anything. Include flower beds,cutting orvegetable gardens, shade trees, patios, sports courts,paths orwalkways, swimming pools, sheds, water features, walls,fences,arbors and more. Don't worry about deciding on individualplantsyet.Sketch out all the areas you want and link them together withlawns,paths, walkways and other routes of access. Remember, allareas needto be easily accessible or you won't want to use them.Make theaccesses attractive, like artistically curving paths, tomake yourdesign more picturesque.Plan on hardscape features first. Hardscapes are permanentfeaturesand include buildings, patios, pergolas and even permanentdecorlike bridges and ponds. Also don't forget to draw indrainage,utility areas, power supplies, irrigation and any othercriticalsystem that needs the foundation of your design.Then follow up with trees and the largest planted areas likelawnsand flower planter areas. Just rough them out. Keep in mindtheangle of the sun for both shadows and shade. Continue on downtothe smallest items like garden decor. You can even speck outwhichplants go where, or you can do that on a separate plandepending onhow detailed the design layout becomes.There are lots ideas you can find in books, magazines and ontheinternet for building your own garden. But you are safest todesignit out on paper first. For more information on garden designsandhow to design a DYI landscape plan, please check out thelinksunder Resources listed below.A rock garden structures space and adds a pleasing,low-maintenanceyard feature. A simple rock garden design can echonature,providing an area of tranquility. A rock garden withoutplants, orincorporating drought-resistant plants, saves water andlabor.Rocks offer a range of colors and texture, allowing you toevoke acreek bed, a desert, an alpine trail, a zen garden, a beachoralmost any natural or designed setting you prefer. The spaceyouhave available and the rocks you choose can guideyourdesign.Basic Rock GardenArrange the rocks in a pleasing design. For instance, place agroupof five large rocks in the back corner of the yard and setupgroups of three medium rocks in a random pattern aroundthem.Fill in the area with smaller rocks, gravel or coarse sand.Rakingthe sand in patterns gives a zen garden effect; gravel actsas aweed barrier.Add height to your simple rock garden by creating a mound ofearthfor a hill, or use a hillside on your property to embed rocksin.Dig a hole a third of the height of the rock and make sure toseatthe rock firmly so that it will remain in place. This givesanatural look to larger rocks in a rock garden. A rise ofrocksworks well for an herb or succulent garden or forsmallflowers.Adding PlantsPour soil between rocks to create natural clefts for growingplants.Make a small hole in the soil with your fingers. Plant asmall plantor moss in the soil.

Seashell Crafts That Bring The Beach IntoYourHomeUnless they have some special, personal meaning whichsuggestssomething else, seashells are always associated with thebeach,beautiful summer days and the refreshing breeze. It's why anyofthese lovely seashell crafts could make your home smell likesummerand make you dream about all the romantic walks on the beachandthe fun moments spent with your loved ones.shells-wreath-diyWreaths aren't just for Thanksgiving, Christmas and othersuchevents. They're beautiful all year long and can be made usingallsorts of seasonal items. For example, you can make a summerwreathdecorated with seashells, seaglass and other similarthings.If you want to make your wreath look like it's entirely madeofseashells, then forget about the usual grapevine wreath and useafoam one instead. Glue the seashells one by one trying to covertheentire form and then add others in between to cover up theemptyspots.And speaking of wreaths, they don't all have to be round.Everconsidered making a square wreath? It all starts the same way.Youtie twine to the wreath so you can hang it later and then youstartto glue on the shells. Add some small pieces of driftwood andmakesome twine circles as well.Combine your most beautiful seashells with a piece of driftwoodandmake a beautiful decoration for the wall in your living roomorbedroom. It's an extremely simple project and you can customizeithowever you want. If you're doing this for your beach house,thisdriftwood sign would look lovely.windchimes-seashore-diyYou can also use all your favorite seashells and other smallitemsyou brought with you from the beach and make a windchime. Youcanalso use pebbles, colored beads and even buttons. Make thestrandsas long as you want and hang them from a branch or a pieceofdriftwood.diy-floor-mirror-nautical-designIf you have an old mirror with an ugly frame, perhaps amakeoverwould help it revive its beauty. You can glue seashellsonto theframe until it's completely covered in them. Mix and matchcolorsand shapes and turn this forgotten accessory into afocalpoint.diy-seashell-mirrorIf you don't want the ugly mirror frame to show at all, youcanfirst paint it. White is a good color. It provides a nicebackdropfor all the seashells which you'll be gluing on one by one.Anotheroption is to pick a contrasting color if you preferthatlook.Getting ready for a summer party? We have a lovely suggestion.Userope and seashells to decorate the bottles or the jars/ glasses.Itwill make them look like they're all dressed up for theoccasion.This idea could also work for other events such as a beachweddingfor example.nautical-fish-net-decorYou can also use shells to decorate a planter or a vase. Startbytying twine in a nautical fish net around the container. Oncethispart is done, you can start to embellish it with beads andshells.This is the most fun part and the one where you get to useyourcreativity.Looking for a way to personalize your home décor? How aboutaseashell monogram? Start with a wooden monogram and first gluethelarger shells on it. The fill the voids with smaller shellsuntilyou cover the whole thing. It's like solving a puzzle.There are also other a bit more unusual ways to use seashells.Forexample, put them in a jar and make a lamp. Here's what youneed: aMason jar, a drill with a large drill bit and a lamp kit.Start bydrilling a hole in the lid, large enough for the lightsocket toget through. Add the jar ring and the decorative base overthe endof the socket, then add the lid and the washer and nut.Attach thelid to the jar. The seashells go in the jar and they'repurelydecorative.

Denim fabric is one of the few things inlifethat actually looks and feels better as it ages. And, unlikeothertextiles, denim never falls out of fashion. As a result ofitstimeless style, used denim, in the form of old jeans, isaninexpensive and easily available craft supply for justabouteveryone. (See also: Practically Free UpcycledCraftProjects)If you don't already have an old pair of jeans languishing intheback of your closet, collect a few pairs from your friendsandfamily for free, or buy a stack of them at a charity shop orgaragesale for less than $10. With a little planning andcreativity, onepair of jeans can be cannibalized into more than oneproject. Eventhe grungiest jeans can be turned into somethinglovely, as spotsand holes can be cut out.Whether you are a novice crafter or a advanced sewist, old jeansarea great starting point for a huge number of DIY projects, thatrangefrom charmingly primitive to sophisticated. (See also: GreatUsesfor Old Ties)QuiltsThere are tons of great examples of denim quilts (withfreepatterns) available on the Internet.Rugs and Floor MatsBy the way, denim quilts are very heavy and can also be easilyusedas area rugs.In addition to quilted floor mats (AKA the quilt you put onthefloor), denim can also be used to create woven rugs, rag rugs,orbraided rugs.Place Mats and Table RunnersSmaller strips of fabric left over from other project can be usedtomake mini quilts as place mats or table runners.PillowsAlthough denim patchwork has long been a staple of country style,itcan look surprisingly modern. I like the idea of makingdenimpillows appliqued with punctuation marks rather than atraditionalmonogram.Jeans have long been associated with the American West. However,aUnion Jack pillow, made from vintage denim can inject alittleEnglish Punk Rock into any decor. (See also: Home DecoratingIdeasfor Under $5)Floor Cushions, Poufs, and Pet BedsBecause denim is so tough, it's also a good fabric choice forfloorcushions, poufs, and pet beds.CoastersYou really don't even have to know how to sew to makedenimcoasters. Use fabric glue or hot glue to makespiral-shapedcoasters from the seams of old jeans. Pro tip: put athick rubberband around the outer edge of the coaster while theglue cures. Itwill keep the spiral tightly rolled, and preserve theroundedge.Outdoor FurnitureThe woven denim straps on this charpai (Indian string cot) gave meagreat idea for refurbishing old-school, fold-up lawn chairsthathave lost their uncomfortable nylon webbing. (See also:SimpleTricks to Make Old Furniture Shine)Director Chair CoversInstead of buying new canvas, create padded seats and backsfromsalvaged fabric.HandbagsThe Internet is full of patterns for denim handbags that rangefromchic to hideous. Use good judgment.Firewood TotesThis firewood tote would also make a great picnic basket. (Yes,theyre-use and recycle in Russia, too.)Storage BinsAlthough craft maven Betz White originally designed theupcycledDo-It-All bins to hold craft supplies, they would also begreat forstoring toys. Make these as gift baskets for food gifts.They wouldalso be the perfect wine or water tote.Sewing Machine Pad/OrganizerKeep all your tools handy for your next crafting binge.Baby BibsBecause used denim is soft and washable, it's a perfect materialformaking baby bibs. (See also: Tips for Having a Baby WithoutGoingBroke)ApronsAdult bibs, AKA aprons are a good way to use up random pockets.Thisapron tutorial is in Korean, but the photos show thestep-by-stepprocess of turning denim fabric and a washcloth into acutewrap-around apron.House SlippersThere are a number of free patterns for house slippersfloatingaround on the Internet, but I thought these were thecutest. Protip: To make your own pattern, trace around the soles ofa pair offlip-flop sandals for a more custom fit.