Make Your Own Greeting Cards - Instructions By Lisa A Mason

Put a touch of personality in your card the next time you need to send a greeting card by making it yourself. Handcrafting your own unique cards is easy and fun. The only limit is your imagination.

Before you make the card, think about who will be receiving it. Develop a theme. Do they like flowers? Or, are beaches more their taste? What is their favorite color? What is important to them? Are they sophisticated or more on the rugged side? Take the personality of the recipient into consideration when designing your card. This will give the card that personal touch that will make it a cherished keepsake.

Making your own card does not require a lot of expensive supplies. For a basic homemade card, all you need is paper, cutter, glue and some colored pencils. For more elaborate cards, you may want to buy more detailed materials. Scrapbooking supplies work great for greeting cards.

Once you have what you will need to make the card, the creativity begins. A simple picture drawn with colored pencils can add a personal touch. Or, for a more elaborate graphic, use a rubber stamp with an appropriate picture. Color the stamped picture in with metallic paint pencils. Other options are shapes cut out of paper or fabric. Add embellishments, such as stickers, buttons, sequins, ribbons, lace or other fun textures. This will give it that truly "one of a kind" look."

Experiment with a few different styles and techniques to see what works best for you before investing too much money in more supplies. Find a friend who makes their own cards or scrapbooks and ask to borrow some of their supplies to try them out. This will give you a good idea of what you want to purchase in the future. A custom made stamp with the words "Made especially for you by..." will add your own unique branding the card.

Not only do you get joy out of making these unique cards, your recipients will love getting them, too. Knowing that someone took the time and effort to make them a card with their unique tastes in mid will be very special. Chances are a handmade card won't go in the trash after a couple days. Instead, it may be put in a keepsake box to enjoy for years to come.

A few kinds of easy to make cards you might consider are:

Collage Card: These can be made with anything that is meaningful to the recipient, such as movie stubs, photos, or travel brochures.

Vintage Photo Card: Print a favorite picture in black and white. Add a caption or small embellishment for a classic-looking card

Window Card: Make a two layered card and cut a shape out of the top layer. Add a photo, embellishment or text greeting to the bottom layer for a personal touch.

Don't wait for a special occasion to send these distinctive cards. Surprise someone you care about by sending them a card "Just Because."

So, the next time you are faced with sending a greeting card to someone, stop yourself before you head to the nearest store. Instead, make the card yourself. Create a card that is as unique as the recipient. And when they ask you, "Did you make this yourself?" You can smile with pride and "Yes, I did!"

Lisa Mason is a freelance writer with a specialty in Internet content and SEO articles. She has written thousands of articles, hundreds of ebooks and thousands of website pages and related content. She has also authored her own books and works as a consultant to other writers, Internet marketers and Internet businesses.

Lisa Mason, Professional wordsmith for hire: gamer, wife, mother, entrepreneur, published poet, co-owner of game guides company, public speaker and Internet business consultant. You can learn more or follow Lisa's blog from her website: http://www.freelancewriter4hire.com

Commemorative Silver Dollar Proof By Rachel Barr

Throughout history there have been occasions that were marked by a silver dollar proof. In 2009 it is the Abraham Lincoln commemorative proof to celebrate the year of his birth. There are 500,000 coins available for the occasion and they currently range in the $60 range for those who are interested. Of course the price will vary depending on where you purchase the coins. The available information did not state if they would be available for circulation but as a proof it is not likely.

This is certainly not the first silver dollar proof to become available but it is the newest to date. There are many previous occasions when the issuance of a proof was used. The Eisenhower proof is currently selling for $14, so if you are looking for an inexpensive silver dollar proof you may want to start with some of the older ones. On the other hand the 2005 Marine Corps Commemorative proof sells for about $80. The price you pay for the proofs depends on the occasion, the number of available proofs and the popularity of each one. Like any other coin, collectors will control the price you can expect to pay.

In order to find out the value and availability of any silver dollar proof you can conduct online research. If you are looking for a particular proof you may need to look a little longer unless it is a very popular issue. In addition you want to remember that each dealer sets its own prices, so if you are on a budget you can do a price comparison and find something that meets your budget requirements. You have to remember that the more important the occasion the more you are going to have to pay for the commemorative proof that it represents.

For the true collector there are many different possibilities in which you might want to invest. In some years you may only find one or two commemorative proofs while other years you may see three or more. Choosing the best one for a collection is a decision the serious collector has to make, especially if he or she only has a specific amount of money to spend at that time. There are many of the silver dollar proofs from which you can choose so even if your funds are limited you will be able to choose something new for your collection.

A good way to choose your proofs is to write down those occasions that are of interest to you and begin looking for the coins that commemorate those occasions. You will usually find an advertisement online or locally that will provide the newest information-write it down even if you don't plan to purchase any proofs at that time. You will have the information handy for later and will be able to make your selections from your "wish list." It is also something you can provide your family for birthday, Christmas or graduation gifts. Coin proofs are never out of season and are something you can even start for your child.

Are You Wanting to Create Your Own Home Fragrance Oil? By Lacy Newton

Nobody wants an odorous environment. It is not appealing to anyone. A home that is fragrant is what we are looking for. There are many home fragrance oil types available to combat this dilemma. There are commercialized products in the market that are said to provide marvelous scents although they are a bit expensive. However, you are not really sure of what their effects are to you and to the environment.

Making your own fragrance oil will be a wiser idea. Aside from it is affordable; you are sure that they are environment-friendly because the ingredients that you will put are all natural. You don't need to be an expert if you want to make your own home fragrance oil. There is no need for complicated ingredients that seem not to be found elsewhere. You don't also need big and expensive machine to do it. The most important idea here is you know the right ingredients and you know the proper steps on how to make it. Of course, you don't have to forget the most important recipe which is your great and wide imagination. The ingredients that you will need might be found in your own kitchen. If not, try to go to the nearest supermarket near you or try to research online.

There are a lot of advantages and benefits if you will make your own fragrance oil. It can be a good hobby. You can give it as a present to the people who are close to your heart, your family, friends, and even your office mates during special occasions like birthdays and Christmas. Aside from being a great hobby, you can also start a small business with it. A lot of people are looking for a much natural and environment-friendly home fragrance oils nowadays since we are currently experiencing environmental problems. Since it is in demand these days, you can be sure that it will be a sure hit.

Essential oil and fragrance oil are the two major types of home fragrance oil. Essential oils are derived from real plants and offers therapeutic benefits. Since it has therapeutic properties, you can get a lot of health benefits from it. While, fragrance oil is much affordable if you compare it to essential oil. It has a longer effect but it contains synthetic compounds.

Is the idea of making your own home fragrance oil caught you? Here are simple steps on how to make your own home fragrance oil:

Select base oil. Jojoba oil is great for the skin so it is better if you choose it as base oil. Other oils that you can choose from are grape seed oil, amica oil, or the cheapest which is the vegetable oil.

Buy scented oil. Go to the nearest supermarket or health food store and look for concentrated scented oil. Opt for a scent that will suit you or a scent that is appealing for everyone.

Look for an attractive bottle. A nice, colorful, and decorative bottle will surely add an appearance to your home fragrance oil. The bottle should have a tight cap.

Funnel your base oil into the bottle.

Dropping of scented oil into the base oil should be done carefully. Calculate the scent by trying to rub it on your skin.

Make sure to tighten the cap and store it on a dark place. After several days, your home fragrance oil can already be used.

Lacy Newton is a Spa Product Making enthusiast. She owns and maintains Easy Soap Recipes, a resource for home fragrance oil recipes and ideas for Spa Product Creating enthusiasts.