Hobbies & Crafting

US postage stamps

Ebay stamps have made stamp collecting an affordable hobby. Often times, one can find great deals at a fraction of the cost — with some stamps costing as little as one cent! Additionally, stamps can be traded or sold on the site as well, giving stamp collectors the ultimate target market to maximize profits.

If there’s that one rare stamp you need for your collection, then you just may find it at Ebay stamps (Http://www.Stamps.Ebay.com). Type terminology into the Ebay.com search engine and see what turns up! For instance, if you’re looking for US postage stamps, then you can choose categories like 19th Century used or unused, 1901-1940 unused, 1941-present used or unused, confederate states, errors and oddities, collections, sheets, covers, plate number coils, etc. Of course, the stamp collections featured on Ebay cover worldwide postage and therefore, you can also find kangaroo stamps from Australia, King George V stamps from England or a South American collection.

Curious people, who may not necessarily have the desire to buy at this time, can still obtain information on stamps by following one of several links the Ebay stamps page provides: the American Philatelic Society, the PSE authentication center, the American Stamp Dealers Association or industry publications. The education and popular stamp terms pages host a wealth of information for beginners. For the committed hobbyist, a whole community is created to share one’s passion — with stamps chat rooms, stamps seller alerts or newsletters, as well as collectibles forums.

For sellers, Ebay stamps attract the perfect target market and allows online bidding (much like an auction) so sellers may actually make more money than their asking prices! The process is relatively simple too. First, the seller will have to look around and decide what to sell. After registering, prospective sellers just upload photos and descriptions of their items, turn on email notifications and wait for the bidding to start. Sellers can get paid immediately by PayPal, track all listings through the “My Ebay” section and even print labels and postage from their personal computers. Bulk listing and management tools make it easy to track one’s offers. Some people may choose to open an Ebay store, which gives them email marketing, free reporting and lower fees. Ebay also offers free business consulting to help new members get started. Whether collecting or selling, Ebay is a great starting point!

Ebay is the perfect way to add to your collection. However, be aware that Ebay may not be for everyone. You will have to enter some sensitive information into Ebay’s secured site, with which not everyone is comfortable. Since sellers are from all over, buyer beware! Check out the seller’s credentials and ratings before buying. There are certain protections on Ebay, but it’s not infallible. You may also have to wait a long time for your investment to arrive in the mail. Ebay stamps can increase the size and quality of your collection ten-fold — of course, in some ways, it’s not as easy as just buying at an actual auction or store.

icelinejaycee Hobbies Crafts Ebay stamps, on stamps, postal stationery, rare stamp, US postage stamps

gifts crafts

Making homemade gifts is a great way to show you care, and a great way to be more economical all year round. People will appreciate your thoughtfulness and admire the handiwork of your art and craft projects. In this article, we have some simple and elegant ideas for gifts crafts that will be perfect for any occasion.

More and more people are getting into aromatherapy, and everyone wants their home to smell clean and sweet. You can make beautiful potpourri holders without spending a lot of money. Save your empty jars or look for decorative bowls in discount stores. Many dollar stores now sell bowls made of frosted or cut glass that look quite beautiful. If you’re making the potpourri holder for a special occasion like Christmas, then you can get bowls that are already festively decorated.

Simply fill the jar with sweet potpourri, cover the top with a lace doily and secure the doily with a pretty ribbon or an attractive elastic hair band. Don’t use a floral potpourri like eucalyptus, as some people find the scent too strong. Go for something sweet like vanilla or cinnamon. If you use a cream or ivory colored doily, these crafty gifts will have an antique feel and will look attractive in any room.

Mulled wine is a delicious and easy to make beverage that people can enjoy when the weather gets cold. It also makes your home smell absolutely scrumptious. You can whip up a batch and pour it into wine bottles for unique, crafty gifts for the grown ups on your gift giving list. You’ll need 1, 750 milliliter bottle of full-bodied red wine, such as Cabernet Sauvignon or Shiraz (something fruity works best), 1 cup of clear apple cider or cranberry juice, 4 tablespoons of honey, 2 sprigs of fresh rosemary, 3 cinnamon sticks, 3 pieces of whole star anise, 3 whole cloves, 3 peppercorns, and a large sliced orange.

The star anise will add the flavor of licorice, the peppercorns will add a bit of spice and the rosemary will give the drink a familiar holiday taste. Slowly bring all the ingredients to just below a simmer and leave it at that heat for about 20 minutes. Some of the alcohol will cook away, so don’t worry about it being too strong. Remove the cloves, star anise, rosemary, cloves and oranges. Once the mulled wine has cooled, pour it into sanitized wine bottles and decorate it with a homemade label that advises the receiver to heat and add a shot of brandy before serving!

No one can have enough candle holders in their home. Even if you don’t light the candles, the holders will add a decorative flair to the decor. These gifts are not only beautiful and festive, but they’re also environmentally friendly. Save your Christmas and birthday cards, and some small bottles. You can also purchase cheap candle votive jars. Go through the cards and cut out pretty scenes, flowers or shapes like stars and squiggles, and glue them to a jar. You can even collect letters to spell out names for really personalized gifts crafts. Gold, silver and sparkly or glittery objects look especially beautiful when the candlelight shines through the jar.

It really is the thought that counts, so tap into your inner artist and make special, personalized presents for your loved ones. Scope out the discount stores, look for end of season sales on items to use as materials and get creative with them. You’ll be amazed at what you can make with very little time and money. Most importantly, your friends and family will appreciate the thoughtfulness of your gift.

icelinejaycee Hobbies Crafts art and craft projects, artist, crafter, gifts crafts, special projects

crafts dolls

Crafts dolls are always popular at art and craft shows. Whether they are fun dolls or classic collectibles, there is something enchanting about these homemade dolls that people really enjoy. However, these dolls can be quite pricey, yet with a little time and imagination, you can make some at home at a fraction of the cost. In this article, we’ll show you how to make dolls that are so easy that a child could make them!

Apple dolls are great crafts for kids. You’ll need a vegetable peeler, paring knife, colored markers or paint, wool yarn, scissors, a 16-ounce plastic bottle, a bottle cork, fabric scraps and a rubber band. Pick the biggest apple that you can find for the head because it will shrink significantly as it dries. Peel and core the apple and carve a face on one side. Use the tip of a potato peeler to hollow out deep-set eyes and a paring knife to make a slit for a smile. If you’re a good carver, you can add ears and eyebrows.

Store the carved apple in a dry spot until it shrinks. Once the head is dry, use colored markers or water-based paints to enhance the eyes, lips and rosy cheeks. To make the body, cut the base off the plastic bottle and plug the top with a cork to serve as the doll’s neck. Wrap the fabric around the body so that it extends beyond the top and the bottom of the bottle. Secure the fabric around the bottleneck with a rubber band and then fold the cloth down. Now top off the doll by gently pushing the cored apple down onto the cork. You’ll end up with a really fun and unique looking doll.

Dolls are popular all over the world. One holiday that Japanese girls look forward to is Hina Matsuri, a day dedicated entirely to dolls. To make your own Japanese paper craft dolls, you’ll need poster board, construction paper, colored markers and tape. From a piece of poster board, cut out a simple doll’s body that measures about 7 inches tall. For the kimono, cut out a 6-inch square from colored construction paper and from a sheet of black paper, cut out a 6 by 3/8-inch sash and a wig. In the center of the wig, cut a horizontal opening that’s wide enough to accommodate the doll’s head. With colored markers or pencils, draw on a face.

Next, fold down the top of the kimono 3/8 inch from the edge to form a collar and color it with a marker. Lay the kimono flat so that the folded collar is facedown. Fit the wig onto the doll’s head and then center the body on top of the kimono. Fold a top corner of the kimono down over the doll’s shoulder. Working on the same side of the kimono, fold the paper vertically to cover the doll’s body. Use the same method to fold the opposite side of the kimono. Finally, wrap the sash around the doll from front to back and tape the ends together. These make beautiful decorations in a young girl’s room.

Raggedy Ann is perhaps the most famous doll of all. If you love the fun and floppy look of rag dolls, you can make them yourself without craft kits. Get a sturdy piece of paper and fold it in half, length-wise. Draw half a body along the fold, so that when the paper is opened the two halves will be symmetrical. Don’t worry about being fancy; just think of the shape of a gingerbread man. Draw a second outline about an inch and a half outside the first. This will be the guideline for your seam. Cut out the half-body outline on the outer line. Lay the pattern on the cloth that will make the rag doll’s body and cut out two shapes. On one shape, design what will be the front of the doll. To get a traditional look, use markers to make a red bow mouth and sew on buttons as eyes. Now sew the front and back together but leave a gap so you can stuff the doll. After you have stuffed the doll, simply sew up the gap.

You don’t have to be an experienced crafter to make great dolls. If you’re looking for crafts for kids, doll making is a great place to start. Crafts dolls are easy to make and it’s also a functional item for your child. As a bonus, the doll will be a treasured childhood keepsake for years to come.

icelinejaycee Hobbies Crafts art and craft, craft fairs, crafts dolls, crafts for kids, paper craft

crafts

Do you love doing crafts but you’re on a shoestring budget? Why not turn the shoestring into a neat project? In a day and age when we’re being encouraged to reduce, reuse and recycle, finding new uses for old items is important. Instead of buying things at expensive hobby shops, look for ordinary items around your home that can be turned into crafts for kids or projects for yourself. In this article, we’ve got some tips for turning ordinary household items into cool items that everyone will admire.

Tin cans can be used for a number of craft projects after their contents have been emptied. Turning tuna or cat food cans into candy containers is a practical craft project that is so simple that anyone can do it. After you’ve washed the can thoroughly, paint the outside white. Punch two holes near the top edge on opposite sides and use light weight craft wire or a pipe cleaner to make a handle. Now the can looks like a little basket. To cover the wire, you can use felt or pretty ribbon. To decorate the outside of the can, you can use stamps, stickers, glitter or more craft paint. Line the inside with plastic wrap, paper doilies, or colored cellophane. The candy container will look really pretty and artistic once you put the candy inside.

Napkin rings are an attractive addition to any table even when you’re having a casual family dinner. Save your silver napkin rings for formal occasions and make paper towel tube rings for every day. This is so easy, and is one of safest crafts for young kids to do. You’ll need an assortment of dried beans. If you want a flashier look, you can use plastic gem stones. You’ll also need an empty paper towel tube, glue and scissors. Cut empty paper towel tubes into 1-1/4″ rings. Use the glue to attach the beans or gems to the entire surface area. If you want to make a simpler looking napkin ring, cover the paper towel roll with shelving paper in a pretty pattern before cutting the roll into pieces.

CDs and DVDs often end up in landfill sites where it will take hundreds of years for them to decompose. Because they are shiny and reflective, they are in fact perfect for crafts. Here’s how to turn old or unwanted discs into a high tech letter holder. You’ll need some foam, three or four discs, fabric of your choice, gems or flowers to decorate, a serrated knife, a candle stub or paraffin, a ruler, a wide flat paintbrush, paper towels, scissors, a glue gun and glue sticks, and white craft glue. Cut three or four 5-1/2″ squares from the fabric. For each CD, spread a thin layer of white glue over the label side and smooth a fabric square over glue. Let dry and trim the excess fabric. Cut two 1-1/2″ x 12″ strips from the fabric. Glue the strips around the edge of a foam heart, overlapping as needed. Clip corners and fold excess fabric to bottom and glue to secure. To make inserting the discs easier, first cut 3/8″ deep, equally-spaced parallel grooves into the top of the foam heart. Apply a thin line of white glue along each CD slit and press discs 1/2″ to 3/4″ deep into slit. Glue your choice of decorations to each side of discs and you’re done!

Kids learn better when they’re having fun, so use special projects to educate them about the importance of being earth friendly. Look at everything as possible materials for craft projects and you’ll have a plethora of things to work with without spending a cent. Use acrylic paint to turn an old plant pot into a funky umbrella holder or cut up an old garden hose and use it as trim on sharp shelf edges. Crafts are limited only to your imagination so be green and have fun.

icelinejaycee Hobbies Crafts artistic, craft projects, craft projects for, Crafts, crafts for

When buying a leather handbag, it’s generally acknowledged that the Italians design and make some of the best.  The difficulty is that the cost is usually top of the range too.  If you want to own a patent leather handbag without the hefty price tag, then why not do it yourself?  Not only does this help your bank balance, but you can design the handbag so that it’s just right for you.

The first step is to sit down and think hard about what you want.  Do you want a little handbag or a large one?  Lots of pockets or mainly open space?  What strap lenght?  What colour?  Any embellishments or decorations?  An excellent place to start is to spend some time browsing a range of Italian leather handbags.  This should get your creative design juices flowing. 

Once you’ve decided on the required design of your patent leather handbag, you need to start organising all the necessary materials.  Make sure you allow extra leather for cutting and stitching, as well as sufficient for the straps.

Now, cut the leather into two sections - one for the front, the other for the back and flap of your handbag.  Also cut out the straps.  Place the front and back pieces together, one on top of the other, making sure the right faces of the leather are on the inside.  Sew a hem around the pieces, around 1/4 inch should be fine, so that they’re firmly joined together.  You should now have the pouch section of your handbag.

Next add the straps, then add a snap on the front of the handbag, so that the flap can be closed.  The basic design of your leather handbag is complete.  The last step is to add any embellishments you would like, including extra pockets on the inside, and you’re finished.  Your very own Italian leather handbag design at a fraction of the price you’d need to pay for the real thing!

To learn more aboutItalian leather handbags check out my site http://www.infoabouthandbags.com

icelinejaycee Hobbies Crafts diy handbag, italian leather handbag, make your own handbag, patent leather handbag

Beads are small objects of decoration that are usually used in jewelry. In order to be used beads must usually first be pierced so that thread can be passed through them so that they can be joined together on a string. However beads can also be used to decorate the surfaces of items such as sculptures and wall hangings in which case there would be no need to pierce them. Beads can also be found decorating personal items such as purses and handbags. They can also be found in household items such as cushions and table cloths. Beads vary greatly in size from the tiniest beads that are less than a millimeter in diameter to the largest beads which will be a centimeter in diameter or more.

Please don’t get confused by the term “seed bead”. It doesn’t actually mean that the beads are necessarily made from seeds, although some beads are. “Seed bead” is a generic term that is often applied to any small bead.

Beads can be made from all kinds of different material, but glass, plastic and stone tend to be the most common. However beads are also made from many other materials including bone, horn, shell, ivory, coral, pearl, metal, gemstones, polymer clay, metal clay, resin, wood, ceramic, fiber, paper, seeds and synthetic materials. As you can see you are spoilt for choice when it comes to deciding what materials you would like to work with.

Beads have been around a very along time since the first known civilizations. The oldest known examples of jewelry are an approximately 100,000 year old pair of beads made from sea snail shells. Apart from being used in jewelry and personal adornment beads are also used for religious purposes, good luck talismans and curative agents.

The craft of making things out of beads is called beadwork. There are many different beadwork techniques and they can be broadly categorized as stringing, embroidery, crochet, knitting, loom weaving and off-loom weaving.

Beadworking is a craft that can be practiced by hobbyists of all abilities. Novices beaders can put together very simple items of jewelry in one short session. It may takes weeks of meticulous work for experienced beadworkers to create some of their beading projects and they will often need to use special tools and equipment.

For more information about beads please visit http://www.beadyeyez.com

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Woodworking can become a pleasant hobby if you do this in a proper way. If you really want to enjoy this kind of hobby, you need to have a big patience in woodworking area. Just do this in a simple way and start with a simple project.

In addition, it is important to make sure that you have the correct tools for woodworking. Finding other woodworkers in your area and see what they are using is the best way to start.  They can also assist you locate places to get quality wood and stains to ensure that the furniture you build will last for a long time.

Woodworking Safety

Safety is the significant thing to take into a consideration. You can easily get injured in doing woodworking since you will be in contact with power tools, saws, etc. It’s important to make certain that your woodworking area is free of debris and clean.

You need to clean your area from hanging power cords, loose tools, or scrap woods in order to prevent any danger. Just take the tools that you really need for the present phase of your working project. 

When you are ready to begin working, make sure you have thought and planned out every cut you are going to make. Do not do things haphazardly as this can be very unsafe. Furthermore, woodworking is a time consuming process.

Make sure that you have allocated lots of time to complete your projects and never rush to get things done. As soon as you start working faster than you’re comfortable, you put yourself in danger. Never force anything. The tool should be doing the work for you and once you start forcing it you are doing something wrong.   

Furthermore, ensure that you are dressed properly before you start woodworking. Stay away from loose clothing and ensure that you have enough on to protect yourself from woodchips and other debris that may be kicked up by your tools.  

Along this same line, make certain that your work area is properly ventilated so that airborne dust and fumes can dissipate. Letting these dangers increase can present a serious health risk or even worse that can create a possible explosion. Make sure that you have a steady and fresh flow of air to ensure you safe and health. 

It is important to follow these instructions if you are willing to have a safe and pleasing spot to finish your work. If you don’t go after these guidelines, you won’t only be creating a hazardous situation but also will not find woodworking nearly as pleasurable.

Are you still at sea of knowing more about woodworking? Just look around and click the links your best answer herein!

icelinejaycee Hobbies Crafts hobby, tools, wood, wood_project, wood_working

framed art

Is it possible to turn a pile of old Christmas cards into cash? You bet it is. Craft fairs are a great place to make extra money and you don’t have to invest a lot of time into making ornate items. All you need is some basic art and craft supplies and some imagination and you can turn almost anything into a marketable craft project. In this article, we’ll show you how to make simple but beautiful items that you can sell at craft shows for extra cash.

Simple bookmarks can now cost as much as $10 at a bookstore! You can make them yourself by recycling greeting cards you have received. All you need is old cards, some poster board or cardboard, some felt tip markers, and glue. Cut a strip from the poster board or thin cardboard about 8″ x 2″. Cut strips from the greeting card with the same dimensions and glue them to the cardboard on both sides. If the bookmark is a gift, you can write a message on it. To make the bookmark more durable, cover it with clear contact paper or laminate it. For added decoration, use a hole puncher to make a hole at the top of the bookmark and thread a piece of bright yarn or ribbon through it. You can use the same process to make beautiful gift tags. Just make the strips shorter!

Your old artificial Christmas tree can be turned into fantastic, special projects that will add beauty to your home. We usually associate wreaths with the holidays but by adding some beautiful dried flowers and colorful ribbon, you can recycle your old tree into a decorative piece of art that you can display in your home all year. Using tin snips, remove the branches from the center pole. Take a wire coat hanger and bend it into a circular shape but leave the hook intact. The branches will wrap around the coat hanger easily and you can make it as thick as you want.

To cover the wire hook, just wrap it with cloth ribbon and tuck the end into the boughs or tie them in a neat bow. Once you have secured the branches, you can decorate it any way you wish. You can use hot glue to attach tiny stuffed animals to the boughs for a fun wreath for a child’s room. Or, you can weave silk flowers or artificial berries through the branches for a beautiful hanging in your kitchen or bathroom.

Old clothes can provide a lot of inspiration if you’re looking for a craft project for your kids. As a bonus, you don’t have to spend a lot of money on expensive craft supplies. For fun and eco-friendly crafts for kids, try making bean bag buddies. Start by raiding your sock drawer for singletons and old timers! Fill one up to the heel with dried beans or split peas and tie it with yarn or ribbon. Using a permanent marker, get your kids to draw on happy faces. For older children who are especially artistic, use a needle and yarn to stitch a face on, and voila! You will have a fun and ecologically sound toy that your kids can enjoy. If everyone makes one, you can have a whole family of bean bag buddies!

Thinking up fun and interesting ways to recycle a household item into a craft project is a great way to get your creative juices flowing. Check out craft fairs, craft books and the internet for ideas on making eco-friendly projects. You’ll be amazed at all the wonderful things you can do with items that you thought were ready for the garbage.

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crafts for kids

After the holidays are over is a great time to get art and craft projects going. You can use old tinsel, wrapping paper, ribbons and even parts of your tree to make wonderful pieces. As a bonus - it’s a great way to recycle. In this article, we’ve got some craft ideas for everyone.

Christmas cards don’t have to be just for Christmas. They are so beautiful that they can be used for a variety of art and craft pieces. Collect cards that have beautiful winter scenes on them and turn them into scented sachets that are decorative enough for any room. To make the sachets, simply glue the bottom and side edges of the card together and then slip a small amount of potpourri or cotton balls dampened with your favorite scent into the space. Use a hole punch to make two holes on the top edge, through which you can thread a pretty ribbon before tying a bow. Leftover or recycled ribbon from Christmas is ideal. If you leave a loop in the ribbon, the sachets can be hung on door handles, coat hooks or hangers.

Old greeting cards, ornaments and even buttons can really come in handy. Collect small glass jars or buy some cheap candle votive jars. Cut out pretty scenes, flowers, or shapes like stars and squiggles, and glue them to the jar. You can even collect letters to spell out your name. Gold, silver and sparkly/glittery objects look especially beautiful when the candlelight shines through the jar. Simply glue the cutouts to the jars and you’ll have beautiful, personalized candle holders for your home.

To brighten up your home during the dreary winter months, add some bright window decorations. Glass paint motifs are popular in stores, but these craft ideas are easily done at home and they look a lot like stained glass windows. You’ll need glass paints in your choice of colors, a glass paint outliner in black, a stable acetate sheet and a pattern. You can make this yourself using cardboard. Bells, trees and birds are always a good choice. Start by laying the acetate foil over the pattern. Trace the design onto the foil using the outliner paint. Once the paint is dry, you can paint inside the lines. When the paint is dry, cut the motif out and adhere it with the painted side to the window with invisible tape.

If you’re looking for simple craft ideas, then hop onto the internet or look for some craft books. You’ll be able to find ideas and patterns for ornaments, greeting cards and other decorations. Before you drop a fortune at expensive hobby shops, look around for inexpensive materials at dollar stores and sewing shops. Even old Christmas cards and decorations can be recycled into new arts and crafts. Most importantly, get creative and enjoy the time with your family.

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Just because you like the fresh smells of aromatherapy candles doesn’t mean you will actually burn them. A surprising number of people use their aromatherapy candles for decoration and for the scent they give off but never actually light them.

You can rely on the fact that most people would be happy to get aromatherapy candles as a gift if you are unsure what else to buy. They do make a great gift when you just can’t decide on the right thing for those. If you have any friends you can be sure one of them will be hard to find gifts for.

A small business selling aromatherapy candles could be a great success. Providing there are not other aromatherapy candlemakers in your area. If you purchase wholesale candles you can sell at a profit or you could make them yourself.

A good wholesale candle supplier should be able to supply what you need at wholesale prices. When you are first getting your business running you may not want to commit to the latrge orders a manufacturer might expect.

A large order could be placed with a local candle supplier if there is one in your neighborhood. The suppliers of wholesale candles often offer their goods in online stores. With a little scratching around you should find what you need.

It could be you would enjoy making aromatherapy candles yourself and the equipment you need should be easily available. You can choose which scents and fragrances you would like to use and all the ingredients should be easily available.

Some people will need a large number of aromatherapy candles for a wedding or party favors. If you have access to a large number of candles by manufacturing them or buying wholesale there are profits to be made.

Aromatherapy candles are a good seller for fundraising for schools and community projects. If you keep a close eye on your costs you should be able to supply them with penty of candles at a very keen price. They need to have a successful aromatherapy candle fundraising and you need to make a small profit too. To make a little extra profit you could offer a giftwrapping service which allows you to charge a little more.

Only make sufficient candles to sell over the following few weeks as the scent can lose it’s strength over time. Develop your business steadily and store your candles properly ready to sell and you could have a very popular local business supplying everyone around your neighborhood.

icelinejaycee Hobbies Crafts aromatherapy candles