- 1
Turn your scrub shirt inside out and put it on. Stand in front of a mirror with your pins and pen or chalk pencil within easy reach. Many scrubs are too long in the shoulder area. Hold the top shoulder seam on one side of you scrub top until it is raised to a point where the top comfortably fits. The arm holes should be comfortable and not too tight. Adjust the shoulder seam until it feels and looks the way you want it to. Starting at the shoulder seam end closest to your neck, pin through both layers of excess fabric. Continue pinning toward the armhole side of the seam. Repeat on the opposite shoulder so both sides are even.
- 2
Adjust the size of the arm if it is too big. Starting where you left off pinning your shoulder seams, pull the excess arm fabric up and away from your arm. Pin through both layers of your arm hole fabric, creating a seam that is close enough to the arm to be flattering but loose enough to be comfortable. Repeat on the opposite arm.
- 3
Pull the excess fabric out from one side of your upper waist area, starting immediately under the armhole. Work on both sides at the same time, pinning in the same area on both the left and right sides to keep the scrub top centered and even. Be sure to leave at least an inch of extra room on each side, which allows for seam allowance and room to bend and move comfortably. Work down the length of the shirt, pinning on both sides as you go.
- 4
Carefully remove your scrub top and measure the excess on both shoulders, both arms and both sides to make sure the right and left sides are even. Use your fabric marker or chalk pencil and make a straight line along the area you pinned on both shoulders and arms. Make new lines along the pins on your waist area; this will most likely be a concave curved line. These will be your new seam lines when you are ready to sew.
- 5
Sew along both shoulder seams and continue down to your arms seams, directly on the line you marked with your fabric marker using a straight seam. Backstitch at the beginning and ending of your seams. Repeat with your marked waist seams. Try your scrub top on, inside out, to make sure it fits properly. If it doesn't, re-pin and re-sew until it does. Cut off the excess fabric with your scissors, leaving a 1/4-inch outside of the seams.
- 6
Try your scrub top on inside out again and look at the hemline. If it is too long, fold it up until the bottom folded edge hits the exact length you want it to be. Use about 4 pins and pin a small area of the hemline in place. Take the shirt off and continue pinning the hemline, making sure it is even all the way around. Sew the hemline in place 1/4-inch away from the bottom edge of the hemline, using a straight stitch and backstitching at the beginning and end of your seams. Cut off any fabric in excess of 1/4 inch from the edge of the seam you just sewed. Iron all of your seams flat with a hot iron. Turn right side out and press carefully with your iron.
5/19/11
How to Tailor a Scrub Top
How to Use Hair Gel for Dyeing Resistant Fabric
- 1
Put on rubber gloves. If this dye gets on your hands, it will not come off for several days.
- 2
Pour 1/4 cup of alcohol into a cup. This makes the base for the dye.
- 3
Remove the cap from the permanent marker, and place it in the cup with the marker tip in the alcohol. Leave the marker in the alcohol for about 2 hours. The ink goes into the alcohol. If the color is too light, leave it in the alcohol until it is the desired color.
- 4
Pour the alcohol ink into a plastic bottle, and put on the lid. This is the dye color. Throw away the cup. Make a whole set of dye colors, and mix your own colors.
- 5
Squirt about 1/2 cup of hair gel into a cup. Pour two teaspoons of dye into the gel, and stir it. Use the plastic spoon for measuring and mixing the dye. The dye stains anything including metal, so it ruins the spoon. If you are mixing yellow, add four teaspoons of dye because the color is light.
- 6
Dip the paintbrush into the gel dye, and paint it on the test fabric. Let it sit on the fabric for one hour.
- 7
Rinse the fabric in the sink. Make sure all of the gel is rinsed out. If the color looks right, use it. If it looks too light, add two more spoonfuls of the dye color to the gel dye, and retest the mixture on the fabric. If it looks too dark, add two spoonfuls of gel, and retest the mixture on the fabric.
- 8
Mix new colors using the dye colors you make. If you get a basic set of permanent markers, it contains red, blue, yellow and black. These colors make all of your basic colors. Add a teaspoon full of yellow and blue dye colors, and make green. Add a teaspoon full of yellow and red dye colors, and make orange. Add a teaspoon full of red and blue dye colors, and make purple. Play with mixing the colors if you want other special colors.
Chinese Paper Cutting Tools
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Chinese paper cut designs as decorative art on wine glasses Henry Gan/Photodisc/Getty Images The art of Chinese paper cutting originated centuries ago in Northern China. Ancient paper cuttings often were symbols used during ceremonies to honor the dead. It is a technically challenging art form. To correctly practice this art, it is required that only one cut is made for the whole design. Because of this, the tools are very basic.
Cutting Board
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While practicing Chinese paper cuts, especially if you are working with a knife, you will need a cutting board. These boards are available at craft specialty shops and have a clay texture that is soft enough to not damage the knives used. Another method is to cover a wooden cutting board with beeswax.
Knives
-
Chinese paper cuts can be created using simple razor blade style knives, but in China, the artist creates his own knife using bamboo and pieces of metal. It is important that sharp blades are used to produce the best quality cut.
Scissors
-
Scissors are another paper cut tool, and is the method the most skilled artisans prefer. You can use small or large scissors, but smaller scissors allow for smaller cuts. Make sure the scissors are sharp. If you are creating only one or two paper cuts, this is the best tool to use.
Paper
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Of course, there can be no Chinese paper cut art without paper. Xuan paper is said to be the best for paper cutting, and is often mistaken for rice paper. Xuan paper is made from pine trees and not rice fibers, and the best hails from its namesake, Xuan City. It is available in a variety of colors.
How to Clean a Rubber Stamp Pad
- 1
Press the paper towel onto the surface of the ink pad. This will absorb any mistakes you may have made by pressing a stamp with the wrong color onto the pad.
- 2
Push lightly onto the paper towel then remove and discard. Repeat if there is still ink on the surface.
- 3
Trim any frayed edges of the stamp pad fabric. Over time, your pad may unravel somewhat, so keep the edges sharp by trimming regularly.
- 4
Spritz a fine mist of stamp cleaning spray onto a clean paper towel.
- 5
Wipe the edges, sides, top and bottom of your stamp pad to remove stray ink.
- 6
Buff the surface clean using a dry paper towel.
Popcorn Projects
- Popcorn is not only a tasty treat but a fun addition to craft projects. Jeffrey Coolidge/Stockbyte/Getty Images
Popcorn isn't just for movie night. Create interesting craft projects using popcorn. Get your kids in on the action and they'll love using one of their favorite foods to make something; there are projects for most holidays and for every day. Pick your favorite and use it as a party craft. Kids can take home what they make as a party favor.
Witch's Hand
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To serve popcorn or decorate the table for Halloween, make a witch's hand out of popcorn. You need clear plastic gloves for the hand. Stick one piece of candy corn in each finger to look like a spooky witch's nail, then fill the entire glove with popped popcorn. Tie it closed with an orange ribbon for a spooky treat. Adorn the hand with jewelry or other decorations.
Party Shakers
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Make noisy party shakers with kids using plastic cups, craft tape and popcorn kernels. Fill a plastic cup about 2/3 full of kernels and place another cup over it, so the open parts are facing each other. Tape them together with colored craft tape, then let kids decorate the cups with paint or stickers.
Popcorn Necklace
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Use popped popcorn to make a fashion statement by creating a popcorn necklace. Help kids use a needle and thread to string popcorn. Add other things to the necklace to make it funky such as noodles, dried fruit, cereal or any type of candy with a hole in it such as Life Savers.
Bean Bags
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Bean bags are easy to make. Use scraps of fabric and popcorn kernels to make little bean bags. Cut two pieces of fabric into 5-inch squares and sew them together using 1/4-inch stitches. Leave a little opening to add the popcorn. Turn the bean bag inside out so the seams are on the inside, and fill it with kernels until it is almost completely full. Sew the opening together. These are great for bean bag toss games.
Crafters Trade Shows in Maine
- Craft shows in Maine exude a traditional flair. Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
Whether you are looking to sell your crafts or are searching for the perfect gift, Maine is the site of numerous craft shows throughout the year. Many of the crafts sold here depict the traditional New England lifestyle and feature quilting, as well as a nautical theme, with sailing vessels, pelicans and seagulls prominently displayed. Depending on your interests, there is a show for everyone.
Annual Christmas Craft Show
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The Annual Christmas Craft Show and Food Fair takes place at three locations throughout the Christmas season in Augusta, Portland and Westford, Maine.Held during weekends in October, November and December, the annual craft show offers many unique holiday wares. Shows are open to all artists, craftsmen and sculptors from across the country. There is a cost to display the goods for sale and the price varies by location.
Winthrop Indoor Flea Market and Craft Show
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Located in Winthrop, Maine, this craft show is open year round on the weekends, with hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays, as of October 2010. The show features a wide variety of merchants, from emerging artists to vintage collectors and handmade crafts. To showcase your wares, contact the Winthrop Craft and Flea Market.
Bar Harbor Summer Craft Festival
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Held on the College of the Atlantic, the Bar Harbor Summer Arts and Crafts Festival is typically scheduled over the last weekend in July. Over 100 juried craftsmen display and sell their works, which include jewelry, stained glass, quilts and candles. The festival includes specialty food tastings, craft demonstrations and live music. Admission is free for this indoor and outdoor event.
5/18/11
How to Make a Spinning Lamp Shade Design
Create the Lampshade
- 1
Remove the plastic sheet with the existing lampshade design from the lampshade. Pay close attention to how the cylindrical template is joined together at the edges. Detach the edges and flatten the template onto a piece of craft paper.
- 2
Trace the template onto the craft paper, being sure to detail any notches or slits that were used in joining the template into its cylindrical shape.
- 3
Cut out the tracing with a craft knife on a cutting mat so that the result is a stencil the exact size of the lampshade insert.
- 4
Place the stencil over various pieces of arwork or photographs until you have found a pleasing combination.
- 5
Take your chosen design pieces to a professional copy store and have them copied in full color onto a transparency.
- 6
Using the stencil, cut the transparency to the correct size and shape of the lampshade insert. Recreate the notches and slits needed to attach the edges of the insert together. Attach the edges to form the cylinder shape, and place the new lampshade insert inside the lampshade.
How to Make a Biodegradable Styrofoam From Cassava Starch
- 1
Mix equal amounts of the cassava starch and dolomite lime.
- 2
Add, in a separate container, about 100 ml of water for each gram of the powder created in Step 1.
- 3
Mix sawdust into the water, and let it soak for five minutes. Use about 1 gram of sawdust for every 20 grams of the mixed starch/lime powder. This measurement might require experimentation, because the source plant effects the ideal percentage. Pine, aspen and eucalyptus fibers have been used successfully but with varying ideal measurements.
- 4
Add the starch/lime powder to the water.
- 5
Add a small amount of guar gum and magnesium stearate, and stir the mix thoroughly. Use between one to two parts per 100 grams for each. The guar gum will prevent the solids from separating, and the magnesium stearate will facilitate separating the foam from the mold.
- 6
Pour the mixture into the Teflon mold and insert it into the thermo-pressing system.
- 7
Heat the mold at about 400 degrees F under 0.36 MPa of pressure for about three minutes. These figures might require some experimentation depending on the shape of your mold and desired thickness of the foam. While under pressure, the steam created from the heat will cause the material to develop a porous structure.
- 8
Remove the foam from the mold once it has cooled.
- 9
Soak the foam in saline solution for several days in a stable, room-temperature environment to condition the surface and prevent the release of chemicals from the foam.
How to Identify a Bakelite Button
- 1
Sift through your buttons to find possible Bakelite buttons. Any buttons made of wood or metal are not Bakelite. Plastic buttons with unique patterns (such as flower designs) should be pulled out as potential Bakelites. Buttons in the shape of a flower or with a marbleized center are also candidates.
- 2
Rub a button between your fingers or clasp it until it feels warm. You can also drop several buttons in a cup of hot (hand hot, not boiling) water to warm them. Once warm, smell the button. Bakelite was made with a formaldehyde resin and will give off a formaldehyde smell when warm. Formaldehyde is used in science classes to preserve specimens, so try to remember what your high school biology class smelled like.
- 3
Dampen one end of a cotton swab with the liquid household cleaner. Touch the damp swab to the back of the button (be sure it is touching a plastic part if the button has other decorations on it). Look at the end of the swab. If it turned yellow, the button is made of Bakelite. If not, the button is another type of plastic.
- 4
Tap two buttons together that you think are Bakelite. Unlike other plastics that make a "tink" sound, the Bakelite pieces will make a "clunk" sound.
Bottle Cap Jewelry Tools
- Your imagine is the only limit when it comes to bottle cap jewelry. Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
Making bottle cap jewelry is a way to recycle used bottle caps into decorative accessories. Metal bottle caps can be the main building blocks in a necklace or bracelet strand or in a belt. The tools necessary to make bottle cap jewelry include common household tools along with instruments designed specifically for jewelry artists.
Rotary Tool and Bit
-
In order to connect bottle caps together to make jewelry, you'll need to drill small holes on the sides or at the top of the metal cap. A handheld, high speed rotary tool with a small metal drill bit works best to create the holes in the bottle caps. To make a bottle cap jewelry strand, drill holes on each side of the bottle cap so you can link them together. To make a bottle cap pendant or charm, drill one hole at the top for the connector.
Hammer
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If you are using used metal bottle caps to make jewelry, the caps may be bent in the center. A ball peen hammer is one tool you can use to flatten the center of the bottle cap.
Round Nose Pliers
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One way to connect bottle caps together to make a strand or to a link chain or beading cord is to use split jump rings. You'll need round nose pliers to open the split jump rings so you can make the connection. To open split jump rings, grip the ring with the pliers on one side of the split. Hold the ring with your hands or another set of pliers on the opposite side of the split. Push or pull the pliers back or forward to separate the jump ring. If you separate the ring by pulling the two sides away from the split, you will compromise the integrity of the metal.
Wire Cutters, File and Crimping Pliers
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If you plan to string the bottle cap jewelry on wire, you'll need flush jewelry wire cutters to nip the wire to length. A file to smooth the cut ends will also come in handy, as will crimping pliers. Crimping pliers are especially designed to crush and shape a crimp bead onto wire strands. After stringing the bottle caps on the jewelry wire, fold the wire ends around a section of clasp or a jump ring. Slide a crimp bead over the doubled wire adjacent to the fold and crimp it with the crimping pliers to hold it in place.
Wire Gauge Differences in Jewelry
- Understanding differences in wire gauge allows the jewelry-making process to run smoothly. Stockbyte/Stockbyte/Getty Images
From beginning hobbyists to expert professionals, jewelry makers of all skill levels need some understanding of wire gauging in order to get the most out of their creative endeavors. Some wire gauges have more uses than others, but some crafting functions can be fulfilled with multiple gauges. Lower gauged wire has a larger diameter, while the smallest diameters have higher gauges.
14-Gauge
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Wire with a 14 gauge has a diameter of 1.65 millimeters. Jewelry makers typically use this wire to make clasps, thick jump rings, eye pins for beads with relatively large holes, bangle bracelets, solid cuff bracelets, chain mail jewelry and links.
16-Gauge
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Wire with a 16 gauge has a diameter of 1.3 millimeters. This gauge wire has uses similar to 14-gauge wire, including clasps, thick jump rings, eye pins for beads with slightly smaller holes, wrapped bangle bracelets and chain mail jewelry.
18-Gauge
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Wire with an 18 gauge has a diameter of 1.02 millimeters. Jewelry makers usually use this wire for delicate clasps, links, eye pins, wire for beads, jump rings and wire wrapping. Some occasionally use this gauge for ear wire, as well.
20-Gauge
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Wire with a 20 gauge has a diameter of 0.813 millimeters. Jewelry makers use this wire for jump rings, eye pins, head pins, ear wires, wire for beads, split rings and delicate links.
21-Gauge
-
Wire with a 21 gauge has a diameter of 0.724 millimeters. This wire, considered relatively odd or rare, has fewer uses than most others. Most jewelry makers use this gauge for the sole purpose of making ear wire.
22-Gauge
-
Wire with a 22 gauge has a diameter of 0.643 millimeters. Jewelry makers typically use this gauge for wire wrapping, wire for beads, wire-wrapped eye pins and wire-wrapped head pins.
24-Gauge
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Wire with a 24 gauge has a diameter of 0.511 millimeters. This gauge stands as the standard size for wire-wrapped bead links and head pins. This wire also fits through most bead holes, excluding some semi-precious gemstone beads and pearls with smaller holes.
26-Gauge
-
Wire with a 26 gauge has a diameter of 0.404 millimeters. This wire fits through nearly all bead sizes. Jewelry makers also use this wire for wire wrapping and wire crochet.
28-Gauge
-
Wire with a 28 gauge has a diameter of 0.32 millimeters. This gauge bends and forms nearly as easily as thread, and most jewelry makers use this type of wire for wire wrapping, wire crochet and wire weaving.
Basic Facts of the Chess Pieces
King
-
The king moves one square and captures other pieces in any direction on each turn. It begins the game in the first row of squares on the board.
Queen
-
The queen begins the game next to the king, in the center of the first row. The queen moves and captures other pieces on any straight line, moving any number of squares.
Rooks
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To start, put the rooks in the corners of the board. They move any number of squares, either horizontally or vertically.
Knights
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Knights stand next to the rooks at the beginning of the game. They move and capture in an L shape: two squares in one direction, either vertical or horizontal, and one square in the other. Knights are the only pieces that can jump over other pieces.
Bishops
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To start, put the bishops next to the knights. They move and capture any number of squares diagonally.
Pawns
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Pawns line the second row of squares at the beginning of a game. They move one square forward, except that a pawn can move one or two squares the first time it moves. Unlike the other pieces, pawns can't move forward if another piece stands in the way. They capture other pieces diagonally. If a pawn crosses the board to the other player's first row, the owner can turn it into any other piece except a king.
How to Make Plain White Shoes
Bleaching
- 1
Put water into a pot with some bleach poured in to create the white effect. The water will dilute the bleach somewhat, making it less effective. The more water that is added means that the shoes will need to be dipped in the mix longer. Use a pair of metal tongs to grip the shoes and to fish them out of the pot after the bleaching is completed.
- 2
If the shoes come out of the pot without turning completely white, dip them again and add more bleach to the water. This should complete the job, making the shoes a brighter shade of white. If the shoes are any kind other than sneakers, they will require direct application of the bleach using a sponge, as dipping them can ruin them. Keep applying the bleach with the sponge until the desired shade is achieved.
- 3
Allow the shoes to dry and look them over carefully to ensure that there are no unevenly bleached spots. If a spot is found, drip a little bleach water on it, using an eye dropper or use a bleach pen directly. Allow the shoes to dry completely, and they will be ready for wearing.
Dyeing
- 1
Clean the shoes thoroughly to ensure that white dye sticks properly and evenly. If the shoes have dirt on them, the dye job will appear uneven or spotty in places. Scrubbing with a stiff brush can help remove the ground-in dirt.
- 2
Boil water in a pot with a pinch of salt and apply enough white dye to get the desired shade. Leave the shoes in the mixture until they are fully dyed and then allow them to dry completely before wearing. If the shoes are not meant to be washed, they will require sponge dyeing, which entails mixing the dye in a small tub, dipping a sponge into it and applying the dye to the shoes with the sponge.
- 3
Dip the shoes several times if the original color of the shoes was dark, as white is often a translucent color, especially if too much water is used. If necessary, thicken the dye by adding more color to the water. Check the evenness of the color after the dye has dried and if needed, apply thicker dye directly to the uneven spots using a sponge applicator.
Different Styles of Pleats
- Pleats can be decorative or functional. Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
Pleats are folds in fabric designed to remove fullness without removing fabric. Pleats can be functional or decorative, and are most commonly used on garments and upholstery projects like drapery.
Inverted Pleats
-
Inverted pleats are pleats made from two folds of fabric whose edges meet on a center line on the right side of the fabric. The folds of fabric invert the pleat from the right side of the fabric to the wrong side, and give the pleat an inverted appearance. To make an inverted pleat, mark three evenly spaced lines on the right side of your fabric. Fold the outer two lines toward the center line and pin in place. Iron so the pleat lies flat, and secure the pleat by hand sewing or machine sewing across the top.
Box Pleats
-
A box pleat is similar in construction to an inverted pleat in that it is constructed from two folds of fabric that meet on a center line. Box pleats, however, are worked on the wrong side of the fabric rather than the right side, and are visible from the right side of the fabric. To make a box pleat, mark three evenly spaced lines on the wrong side of your fabric. Fold the outer two lines toward the center line and pin in place. Iron so the pleat lies flat, and secure the pleat by hand sewing or machine sewing across the top.
Kick Pleats
-
A kick pleat is a type of pleat that tapers from the bottom of a garment to the top. They are generally found on skirts, and allow for ease of walking.
Accordion Pleats
-
Accordion pleats, also called fan pleats or sunburst pleats, are made from two or more box pleats stacked on top of each other. Because they can be bulky, they are usually only used for lightweight fabrics. To make an accordion pleat, work the fabric as for a box pleat, stacking two or more pleats on top of each other (in other words, two sets of pleats that meet at the center line). Hand sew the top of the pleats and fan out the bottom. Iron to hold the pleats in place, and then hand sew or machine sew to secure.
Knife Pleats
-
Knife pleats are pleats folded across a piece of fabric, where all the folds are in the same direction. To make knife pleats, mark a series of evenly spaced lines on the right side of the fabric. Fold the second line over so it touches the first line, and pin to hold into place. Repeat this, stacking the pleats one on top of another until you have folded them all. Iron to hold the pleats in place, then hand sew or machine sew to secure.
Crafty Window Treatments
- Making your own window treatments is a quick and simple project Dougal Waters/Digital Vision/Getty Images
Window treatments don't have to be boring or expensive. In the space of one afternoon, you can update the look of your windows with little to no sewing experience, and you can usually do it with items you already have in your home. Handmade window treatments are an economical, creative way to add some color to your home.
Napkin Valance
-
Napkin valances are easy to make and take only a couple of hours. You can use matching napkins or, for a vintage, eclectic look, you can use a variety of napkins that complement your decor. To make a napkin valance, measure the width of your window. Collect enough napkins so that, when they are side by side, they equal the width of your window. Turn your napkins diagonally so that the points are at the top, bottom and sides. Cut each napkin in half along the horizontal center. Arrange each napkin side by side so the points overlap by 2 inches. Pin along the upper edge. Sew along the raw upper edge with a straight stitch and a 1/4-inch seam allowance, being sure to backstitch at the beginning and end of your seam. Remove the pins and fold down the sewn raw edge 1/4 inch toward the back and iron in place. Fold over another 2 inches and iron in place. Pin in place and edge and sew along the bottom pinned edge with a straight seam and a 1/4-inch seam allowance. Install your valance on a cafe-style curtain rod.
Simple Tailored Valance
-
This valance is a low-effort, high results project that usually takes less than an hour to complete. To make this valance, measure the width of your window. Cut two pieces of fabric, a lining and a main fabric, 12 inches by 1 1/4 times the width of your window. Place both pieces' right sides together and pin. Sew around all four edges with a 3/8-inch seam allowance and a straight stitch, being sure to leave a 3-inch opening for turning. Turn the valance right side out and push the turning opening edges into the body so that the side of the valance are even. Iron carefully on both sides. Pin the opening shut and topstitch (see References 2) around all four sides using a 1/4-inch seam allowance. Place two cup hooks into the sides of your window frame, about 4 inches from the top on each side. Place another two to four cup hooks, depending on the length of your window, along the upper edge of your window frame. Drape the valance over the cup hooks so that it creates drapes and gathers.
No-Sew Festive Window Treatments
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For those that don't sew, this is a quick project that works well around the holidays. To make this window treatment, measure the width of your window. Purchase sheer fabric, such as chiffon or gauze, amounting to three times the width of your window. Also purchase enough small Christmas lights so that the width is at least twice the width of your window. Lay your fabric and lights on the floor and tie them together at their centers with a piece of fishing wire. Wrap the fabric and lights around the center of your curtain rod at least once. Starting at the center, wrap the fabric around the curtain rod to the right of the center and then to the left, arranging it so that it has plenty of volume. An even amount of fabric should hang down each side; rearrange if necessary. Wrap the lights around the fabric starting at the center and working on once side at a time, making sure not to disrupt the volume of the fabric. Secure any loose light wires in the folds of the fabric and plug in the lights.
How to Make Flat Lanyards
- 1
Determine how long you want your lanyard to be. You'll be using four pieces total. Two pieces will be for the base and should be a little longer than you want your finished product to be. The other two need to be five to six times longer since they are the ones that you'll be tying knots in.
- 2
Place your strings with the shorter two in the middle, and the longer two on either side. Make them even with each other at the top.
- 3
Lay the right-hand string over your two shorter center strings, but underneath the string at the far left, forming a loop.
- 4
Fold the left-hand string behind the two center strands and bring it up through the loop you formed with the far-right strand.
- 5
Tighten the knot you just tied. Repeat this knot starting with the left-hand string. Alternate your starting side after each knot until your lanyard is the length you desire. By alternating sides, you will form a flat lanyard. If you were to continue doing one-sided knots, you would form the spiral weave.
- 6
Finish off the end of your lanyard by tying a knot in it or wrapping the remaining lengths of cord together with fishing line and securing with super glue.
How do I Set Invisible Diamonds?
- 1
Purchase princess cut diamonds, specially made for an invisible setting. Traditional princess cut diamonds will not fit the metal matrix.
- 2
Pick up a diamond gently with your tweezers. Do not squeeze too tightly, otherwise you may cause the diamond to pop out of the tweezers.
- 3
Push the diamond gently into the invisible metal matrix on the jewelry piece. Use gentle but medium pressure, until the diamond snaps into place. Repeat these steps for the remaining diamonds.
Activities for Daycare Children
- Give the children in your daycare center some entertainment with activities. Stockbroker/Valueline/Getty Images
Providing daycare for children is an essential service that your clients appreciate. Sometimes, however, children can have a difficult time adapting to a new daycare. When you have the kids under your wing, take the opportunity to engage them in fun activities that help them learn how to cooperate and interact with their young peers.
Colors of the World
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Gather the children in a sitting circle to try this activity. Start by picking a basic color, like blue. Select one child to come up with something made up of that color--for example, if you use blue, the child can say "sky" or "water." After the first kid states something, the player to his right has to come up with another item of the same color. Continue until everyone in the circle has a turn. Then pick another color, and work around the circle. End the game whenever you run out of familiar colors.
Freeze Dance
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If the little ones have too much energy for you to contain, try this activity to keep them somewhat orderly. Gather them in an open space. Turn on some music, and let them dance around however they like. When you turn the music off, however, all of the children have to instantly freeze in place. That means if their hands were up in the air when you turned the music off, they must keep their hands up in the air. Survey the room of still children for about 30 seconds as you try to catch the players moving from their positions. If a child does move, he gets eliminated from the game. Turn the music back on, and continue the game with several rounds. The last player remaining wins the game.
Do As I Say Not As I Do
-
A classic game for young children, start by selecting one of the players to become the leader. Tell her that she should tell the children what to do while standing at the front of the room. However, she has to try to trick them by doing something other than what she tells her followers to do. Gather the kids in an open space, and let the leader begin. She can, for instance, tell the group to jump on one leg while she herself remains stationary as she rubs her stomach. The leader comes up with a new instruction every 10 seconds or so. The leader also surveys the group to see if any of the followers make the movements she's making and not the movements she told them to make. Children caught doing so get disqualified from the game. The last remaining child in the followers group becomes the new leader. Continue playing the game for as long as you like.
How to Run a Lister Engine on Vegetable Oil
- 1
Store your WVO in an undisturbed 55-gallon drum for at least two weeks to allow water and particulate matter to settle. Draw the oil from near the top when you are ready to use it.
- 2
Filter the WVO through a screen and two layers of cotton cloth. Pour the oil into the WVO tank on the engine.
- 3
Fill the nonheated starting fuel tank with regular diesel fuel or processed biodiesel. Turn the fuel selector valve to the starting fuel tank.
- 4
Start the engine and allow it to reach full operating temperature. Turn the WVO pre-heater on, and wait for the fuel temperature gauge to reach 180 degrees Fahrenheit.
- 5
Switch the selector valve to the WVO tank, according to the directions included with the kit. Ten minutes before the end of the run, switch back to the starting tank to flush the WVO from the fuel lines.
How to Make Personalized Purses
- 1
Cut off the legs from your pair of jeans.
- 2
Cut straight across the crotch for an even edge.
- 3
Turn the jeans inside out and evenly glue together the opening in the crotch.
- 4
Wait for the glue to dry or sew the section closed.
- 5
Turn the jeans right side out and make sure the bottom is evenly glued or sewed. Make corrections if needed.
- 6
Cut out the inside seams from the pant legs to use as handles. The length of the handles is based on preference.
- 7
Glue the handles or sew them from one side of the waist of the jeans to the other.
- 8
Glue or sew in a bandanna for a lining.
- 9
Attach Velcro or a magnetic closure to the top of the purse.
- 10
Personalize the outside of the purse with jewels and other embellishments.