Posts tagged ‘Stencil’

August 21st, 2010

How to add curb appeal to your home

Banksy stencil

Curb appeal is the first impression a potential buyer has of your property when they step out of their car and approach from the street. Getting good curb appeal isn’t difficult, but it can be a little time consuming. The objective is to make your property look better than it might actually be.

Because the view will go from the street to the house, we will start at the very bottom, the curb itself.

Clean out your curb. Many curbs are treated like dumps and contain litter, debris, and yard waste. Sweep your curb, as clean as you can and then hose it off. Your property will already look the tiniest bit more cared for and better treated than others on the same street.

Paint your address number on the curb, if possible at the end of the walk. Having your number plainly visible from the street lets people know exactly where they are and it makes them feel more assured. Buy number stencils, masking tape, a small can of white paint, a paint brush, and a can of black spray paint from your local hardware store. Make a rectangle of masking tape large enough that all the number stencils for your address will fit into it. Paint a thin coat of white inside the rectangle and then, before it dries, place each stencil over this, in order, and give it a solid blast from the spray paint can. Remove the masking tape when you’re done.

Rake you lawn, and then mow it at a diagonal. start at the corner and move across and up the yard to the next corner and mow in lines parallel to that. This will simply make your yard eye catching. After you mow, rake once more.

If you have trees, prune any dead branches and paint over the stumps. Painting over the stump acts as a bandage and can prevent the spread of whatever had killed the initial dead branches.

A garden at the end of your lawn can make your property beautiful. Go to your local garden center and buy three different colors of flowers, what they are doesn’t matter, and a creeping green plant, any creeping green plant. Get enough to fill an area as wide as the house and at least as deep as the front porch.

Wash your house. Find a power wash company in your local yellow pages or newspaper. They will come by and use high pressure hoses to remove any seasonal debris, like rain-splashed mud splotches, from the outside of your home.

You are now ready to invite guests to a garden party, or potential buyers to look at your home.

August 20th, 2010

Where To Find Adobe Photoshop Tutorials

When it comes to image editing, Photoshop is the reigning market leader. Once you’ve tried how it works or seen what it does, you’ll understand why. Originally intended for editing paper-based print images, it has become the standard with which web-based images are created and is also the most popular program used by professionals to edit their digital photos.

If you’ve always wanted to learn about Photoshop, here are some websites that offer web tutorials. Whether you’re a beginner or an expert-to-be, you’ll find some valuable tools to enhance your skills and use your Photoshop program to the fullest.

Psworkshop.net

This is one of the best Photoshop tutorial search engines on the web. Whatever Photoshop technique, trick or special effects you’re looking for, you’ll find this site will be a huge help. Just click on the ‘how-to’ tutorials on the navigation bar to find the specific trick you’re looking for.

You can search for the tutorial of your choice by clicking on the categories: Basic, Color, Photos/Scanning, Text Effects, etc. You can also access their ‘Top Ten’ list of the most popular Photoshop tutorials which lists the most recent and most in-demand tricks you’ll want to learn.

PhotoshopRoadMap.com

This site features more than 1,000 Photoshop tutorials online. For text effects, enhancements and displacements maps, you’ll learn everything you need to know. Learn more than 100 tricks in tweaking textures and backgrounds and using special effects to enhance or alter photos and images. If you prefer tutorials through videos, the site also features Photoshop training DVDs and CDs.

80Four.com

80Four features free Photoshop tutorials categorized by subject. Each tutorial also includes a step-by-step guide to make performing the tutorial easier and effective. Some nifty tricks to learn: classic text effects like eroded, ice and stencil texts. Create more special effects with many layering, texture and light effects.

EyesOnDesign.com

Another site that features free online tutorials. If you’ve always wanted to create your own text effects like the ones that appeared in the Matrix movie, this site will teach you how. Learn to use patterns, curves, gradients and texture to change your own images and photos or download Photoshop files from the site to work on. You can even join the site’s design forum and exchange info and tips with fellow Photoshop users.

MyJanee.com

This site lists some of the most complete Photoshop tutorials on the internet. It features original Photoshop lessons, an art challenge and a very good collection of edited images in their gallery. You’ll find the tutorials on this site user-friendly and lessons are straightforward, thanks to its site owner, who has co-written 4 books on Photoshop and writes for the columns of two Photoshop publications.

PhotoshopLab.com

This is a newcomer in the Photoshop tutorial universe, but there are lots to learn to kick your Photoshop skills one notch. Tutorials include: using smart objects, half-sketch effect, half-tones, using tools and layers, adding masks and filters and other classics such as photo aging, adding facial hair and using brushes for stencil effects. If you’ve always wondered how those nifty Nip/Tuck tricks were done, this site will teach how to be your very own virtual cosmetic surgeon.

PhotoshopTutorial.net

The site has more than 600 tutorials online. For beginners to more experienced graphic designers, this site has some very helpful basic and advanced techniques. The categories are easy to navigate and you’ll find the tips easy to find. Categories include tutorials in basics, texts, digital arts, special effects, layouts and web graphics.

August 14th, 2010

Journal ideas for scrapbookers

Hall wall and ceiling stencil

For many years people have taken pictures, had them developed, and then pack them away in boxes. Then, as family members begin to pass away, generations search through the belongings to find those hidden treasure troves, and they try to depict the particulars of the pictures. “Wasn’t this little Johnny?”, one might ask; or “look at that painting on the wall. Grandma had that same painting on her wall too.”

Well, now is the time for positive change. Scrapbooking is none other than glorified journaling in a picture album. It does not require a degree or certain know-how. Journaling only requires the uniqueness and creativity of the writer. Journaling can be plain and simple, and it does not require anything extravagant.

Journaling tools:

Pens- various colors

Markers- fine tip or bold tip; pigment ink

Journaling stencil- provides straight lines for an organized and creative look

First, you should have your pictures laid out in your scrapbook. Allot space for journaling.

Second, decide on your writing color according to your layout scheme.

Journal ideas to write about or to include:

Birthdays- Date, year, years old, location of the picture, & who is in the picture. Include any festivities that took place, the reaction of the birthday recipient, and any special gifts.

Anniversaries- Date, year, number of years, and location of the picture. Include a special memory about this day. Did you walk the beach? Did you dance by starlight?

Holidays- Date, year, which holiday, where you were, and who is in the picture. Include the names of special people that accompanied you and any special or funny memories of that holiday. Did Grandpa throw leaves with you? Did little Johnny soak you with the hose?

Sporting events- Date, year, name of the event, where was the event located, and who is included in the picture. Include any special memories from this event. Was there a touchdown or home run? Do you get an autograph?

Friends- Date, year, name of those included in the picture, and where was the picture taken. Include any special memories from this date or person. What is the friends favorite animal or song at that time?

Family- Date, year, name of those pictured, and location of the picture. Was this a hilarious moment? Did your brother’s puppy just jump up and kiss you in the mouth? Was this a calm moment? Write about the story behind the picture.

Pets- date, year, and name of pet pictured. Write about the antics that your pet does and what you’d like to remember.

Landscape- Date, year, and location of picture. Include what made this picture unique and stand out in your mind. Why do you like this picture? Is it your first picture of a rainbow or a field of sunflowers?

Inanimate objects- Date, year, and location of picture. Include what made this picture unique. Why did you choose this object? What is the significance of this object and how does it relate to you?

Third, if you would like to use a journaling stencil then begin tracing the stencil. Then begin journaling. Write legibly and leave ample space for the entire wording, embellishments, stickers, and miscellaneous decorations.

Once you have accomplished journaling the important information regarding your photo, you are on your way to becoming a scrapbook journaling pro! Enjoy!

July 30th, 2010

Carving Tips for Halloween Pumpkin

Torino stencil graffiti

When it comes to Halloween party, it is all fun. One of the most well liked events of Halloween is carving pumpkin. Before you buy or pick your Halloween pumpkin from the local pumpkin shop, you first need to plan the pumpkin design. You can as well take the easy way out and but readily available pumpkin patterns, or you could further design your own.

Buying good pumpkin

The pumpkins shape and size would decide what type of patterns and drawings you could use to it. If you are using pumpkin carving design then it is necessary to buy a pumpkin, which matches the stencils size and requirements. If you dont plan on using a stencil then makes certain that your Halloween pumpkin is tall and huge enough for the sketchy design that you are carrying in your mind.

Look for a pumpkin thats not excessively ripen. It needs to be in the right color orange and not have any squashy spots or bruises. Look for a strong stem and you should never, ever lift the pumpkin by the stem. Sturdy or not, its a small trip from nice Halloween pumpkin to splat.

Hold the pumpkin nicely and then smell it around the stem and top. If in case it smells very strong and pumpkiny then there is a possibility that its too ripe, pass it up and hunt for another. Thump the pumpkin and pay attention for a solid thunk. A void sound could be of bad news. Carry your Halloween pumpkin cautiously and move it home safely. A black-and-blue pumpkin rots very fast and may not make it during the Halloween season.

Preparing process

1. Cut a circle properly around the top of the pumpkin with no damage on the stem.

2. Remove the top stem and put aside.

3. Remove and throw away the pulp and seeds unless you would like to make Vampire Fingernail snacks for your Halloween party.

4. With a soft knife or same scraper, quietly scrape down the inside of the pumpkin to take away any moist flesh adhering to the sides. Be careful not to harm the wall of the pumpkin.

Next step is pumpkin stencil

1. Wipe the outside of the Halloween pumpkin so that it is empty of dust and any other foreign material. If you require wiping it down with a wet rag, permitting it to become methodically dry before moving on to the next step.

2. Tie the stencil to the side of the Halloween pumpkin, which you have selected to be the face. Tie the top left area first, then the top right, bottom left and only then bottom right. Bring the stencil out as you are tying the same.

3. Using an ice pick or a locate punch tool, slowly poke holes through the stencil and then into the pumpkin. Follow all the lines of the stencil cautiously. It is simply like playing connect-the-dots games.

4. Check cautiously to make certain that you have moved the whole pattern and then take away the stencil. Keep the stencil practical to refer to in case you get puzzled while cutting.

July 24th, 2010

Interior decorating tips for the home

Allover Wall stencil Scroll. Beautiful wall stencils by Cutting Edge Stencils.

Today I discovered that decorating one’s home can follow principles similar to those on the cooking show “Semi Homemade.”

My husband and I had discussed the bare appearance of the walls in our hall bathroom. In less than one hour I came up with a satisfactory solution.

Browsing in a craft store, I found the inexpensive matted prints offered in nearly any store dcor, discount, craft, pharmacy, even grocery. There’s a huge selection of these items, and they usually are deliberately laid out in the store with a specific room in mind. I quickly found two prints that had a “bathroom” theme.

I then visited three more aisles in the same store, where I picked up a set of markers, a stencil, and some picture-hanging hardware. I went home, unwrapped the prints, markers and stencil, and chose a few appropriate designs on the stencil, and markers in colors that complemented those of the prints. With a steady hand, I colored in the stencils around the edges of the white mat. That took about 10 minutes total.

Then I chose the locations where I wanted to hang the prints. My picture-hanging hardware included sturdy wire. The prints were not heavy, since they had no frames. I simply cut wire to fit the width, attached it to the back of the prints with packing tape, hammered nails into the walls, and the prints were hung.

In total, this project took less than one hour and cost less than $20.00. I also need to add here that I am not “the artistic type.” However, my hall bathroom looks much better than it did yesterday. These are simple home decorating ideas that are available to anyone.

June 28th, 2010

Installing Headlight Covers

Stencil a mural using one stencil!

Headlight covers are one of the accessories that are most often used by car owners and enthusiasts who have vehicles and cars that they show off at car and auto shows. However, practicality wise, headlight covers are not usually used by ordinary motorists on their vehicles. These accessories are usually just to add a more stylish appeal and design to car show entrants. They are also often added to give the vehicle a more aesthetic appeal.

To have headlight covers for your auto show entrant, you can simply purchase headlight cover kits from your trusted auto parts dealer. There are two kits that you actually have to purchase. One kit would be that that consists of a cover and the molded clips. The other kit would be the one that holds decal patterns, plus stickers, and labels.

Each of these kits contains instructions on how to use them as well as how to install them. Go through each one and be familiar with the pieces of information provided. These would assist you when you would be doing the actual installation. When you are about to start the process, gather the following tools and materials: a lens cleaner, a squeegee, masking tape, soap solution, and vinyl decals. You would be using these as you go along.

First clean the surface of each headlight lens. Then, put on the cover on the car. Put up the decals on the lens on the locations where you choose them to be. Mark off these locations. Use tape on the outside of the headlight cover to show you the locations. Remove the cover then and spray the lens with soap solution. By doing such, the stencil will be held in place.

Next, apply the stencils on the lens. Place then on the location and areas where you actually want the light to shine through when the cover is already installed. Keep in mind that once you put on the cover, the rest of the areas would be covered in paint. Once you accomplished the location of your stencils, run the squeegee over the stencils. Work outward from the center and this action removes any air pockets.

The face of the lens should be masked off. By doing such, you are preventing any kind of overspray from getting on you vehicles shield. Next, clean the lens with glass cleaner and then allow it to dry. Once dry, apply the paint. When the paint is dry, use a razor blade or a sharp knife to lift off the decals and the stencils. Make sure that you do this carefully. Then, place the lens on the vehicle and clean it with plastic or Plexiglas cleaner.

For the most trusted and most reliable source of superb and quality accessories, there is no other car parts and accessories supplier than Auto Accessories Giant. It has a well-stocked collection of GMC Truck accessories and accessories for other brands.

June 28th, 2010

Tshirt Printing – Why Direct to Garment Printing is Superior to Screen Printing

freezer paper stencil

Printing tshirts using Direct To Garment (DTG) printing, the process of printing to cotton based fabrics (i.e. tshirts) using a large format inkjet printer, is far superior to screen printing, the process of pressing inks into fabric through a stencil. It is more environmentally friendly, less time consuming and more cost effective for smaller runs.

DTG tshirt printing is more environmentally than screen printing. DTG uses water-based inks to printing directly onto clothing, this means that there are no excess inks used in the actual printing and the only waste that does occur is from the occasional print head cleaning it should also be noted that head cleaning does not involve any external materials only ink. Of course, major head cleaning can be avoided by regular maintenance of the printer, and thus one head clean a day a matter of millilitres is usually sufficient. Then as long as waste ink is disposed of correctly, printing tshirts using the DTG method should have almost no environmental impact. Screen printing however has excess inks from parts of the stencil not printed to the tshirt and when screens are cleaned these excess inks are then washed down the drain.

The process of screen printing involves creating a stencil and then pressing inks through said stencil onto fabric. The stencil can be created by hand or photo emulsion, and for each colour of a design a new screen is needed. DTG uses only software and a computer to send a design directly to a printer and this can take a matter of seconds with all colours being printed at once. (On darker fabrics there is a white layer printed first and then the remaining colours). DTG is far less time consuming with regard to setup, and this is particularly useful when printing small runs of tshirts.

Smaller (less than 50) runs of tshirts are far more cost effective with DTG printing than screen printing. Minimal setup with DTG printing means that tshirt runs as low as 1 can be produced for a matter of $5 – $10 in materials (including tshirt) and for a print on white can take as little as 2minutes to produce. Screen printers may claim that on larger runs they can produce a much more economical print however with multiple colours, and then drying time this seems unlikely.

Printing tshirts using Direct To Garment printing is far superior to screen printing. Whilst both methods produce an excellent quality, DTG is far more environmentally friendly, is less time consuming, and more cost effective for smaller runs. Whilst screen printing is a tried and tested method of printing onto tshirts it seems that DTG printing is the way of the future.

June 28th, 2010

Fun Valentines Day ideas for kids

Om2n Stencil

Valentines Day is arriving shortly and is a great excuse to spend some fun, quality time with your entire family. The following is a list of some activities that you can enjoy with your kids to celebrate this day of love. Help them learn how to appreciate their loved ones and the holiday in general with the following arts and crafts ideas:

Cookies: This may seem like an obvious valentines day project for you and your kids but it absolutely could not be left out as it is a holiday tradition for many families. Whether you prefer simple sugar cookies to chocolate chip, peanut butter to oatmeal, no Valentine’s Day cookie is the same without your classic heart shaped cookie cutter tool. Around this time of year you should probably be able to find one of these, or better, a set of them, at Publix, Shaw’s, Walmart or whichever grocery store chain is most convenient for you. CVS or Brooks may even carry them right now, as they have a good array of household and kitchen items in stock. But if you find yourself in an unusual panic to find a heart shaped cookie cutter, for some reason, you’ll probably be certain to find one of great quality at your favorite local craft retailer.

Once you have your heart cookie cutter, there’s a few things you can do with it. One, is the obvious: Use it to cut out hearts in your favorite flavored cookie. But here’s another fun idea your children might enjoy. Try using your heart cutout as a stencil of sorts on top of your cookies. For example, once you have a regular cookie shape, wait until the cookies are on the rack cooling down. While they are still impressionable yet not too soft that they will fall apart, place the heart stencil-cutter lightly on top of the moist dough. Then, while you hold the cookie cutter still, you can have your child pour something in the middle of it, thus filling up the heart shape. Look in your grocery’s baking section near the frosting and you should be able to find something like sprinkles or little candy stars. When you remove the stencil, you will have a cookie (sugar works best in this case) with a solid heart in the middle of it made with another edible goodie. You can also, while you are still holding the heart still on top of the sugar cookie, take a thin frosting applicator pen and trace the inside of the heart to add a shapely design outlined when the stencil is again removed. There are plenty of ideas. Be creative! And note you can also use these techniques on the top of cupcakes.

Finally,

June 28th, 2010

Materials for scrapbooking templates

Big stencil...

There are many scrapbooking websites on the internet that offer free templates for your scrapbook pages; however, you may be surprised what you can make on your own, with supplies you may already have.

First, think of a scrapbook template as a large stencil, and go from there. If you’ve ever purchased a stack of scrapbook paper, no matter the size, you will know that there is always a supporting piece of cardboard at the bottom (and sometimes top) of the stack. You can start with that. All you have to do is trace whatever shapes/design you want, and cut out the shapes with a craft knife. If you cannot decide on a pattern, just fill the page with assorted sizes of one basic shape, (i.e., a square), then cut out the shapesand make sure you save the shapes you cut out. Since your cardboard is the same size as your paper, you now have a template to use over the paper and you can trace the pattern onto your scrapbook paper. For matching, symmetrical pages simply flip the template over for the coordinating page (it is sometimes easier to work on two pages at a time when you realize that when you open your scrapbook you are almost always looking at two pages together). The pieces of cardboard that were cut out of the center of the template’ can be used when cutting your pictures down to size; just place them over the center of your picture and trace around with a photo-safe pen.

Another easy way to make a template is by putting together designs and shapes on your computer, and then printing them out on transparencies. Cut the design out with your craft knife and you have a handy template as well, and this type of template is see-through, helping you center your photos exactly before cutting them.

Templates can be any size: you can make border templates the size of a ruler, use small punches (which you can also use to cut out photos) and lay them in any direction across your page; a template made from 8 x 11 paper can be used to lay out half of a 12 x 12 page, and sections of that same template can be used on smaller pages.

Plastic coffee can lids also make great templates and stencils. Now that scrapbooking is no longer just done in books, the coffee can lids make great templates for CD-sized scrapbooks.

Another fun and easy way to make a template is from coloring books. There are many coloring books that are just geometrical shapes and designs that you just have to copy and cut out the sections you want to use. Keep in mind that some coloring books are copyrighted and you can only use these designs for personal use. The Dover Pictorial Archives series of books offer many design books and coloring books that have plenty of copyright-free material, if you plan on scrapbooking for profit.

In a nutshell, look at a template as just a large stencil, with the negative space being the area for your pictures or journaling. Once you’ve created your stencil on sturdy materials (plastic or cardboard), they can be used many times over.

Happy Crafting!

June 28th, 2010

Spring crafts for kids and families

HappyArmChap stencil

What’s a better way to bond with your child then getting together and crafting something simple and beautiful. Your child will always cherish the day you both made this piece of work which is called wearable art. Teach your child how to paint on t-shirts, sweatshirts, tote bags, hats and canvas shoes. There are a lot of ways to do this, you can tranfer a design to the t-shirt or you can use animal or alphbet sponges, you can rubber stamp a design. Children can learn to paint with brushes on clothing, if they want. They can also learn to use beads when designing their apparel. There are so many things available on the market for your child to be creative. There’s a product on the market today that is one of the easiest way to apply a transfer of any kind to a garment. These are called fabric crayolas. There is only eight colors, and they are sold as a set. Directions on how to apply are on the package. Today you will learn one of these methods. With this method you will learn to paint by applying pressure to the bottle with your hand. Have fun doing this project with your child.

First you need to pre-wash your t-shirt and iron it.

Let your child pick out the colors she would like to paint with.

Let your child pick the theme and stencils to put on the t-shirt.

Place cardboard between t-shirt, so paint won’t bleed to the back of t-shirt.

Help your child lay-out the stencils and tape.

Tape is good so the stenciles won’t move.

Lightly outline the stencil with a dressmaking pencil or fabric marker.

Remove stencils and now you can paint.

Practice with your child painting on art paper with fabric paints, before getting started.

You can also practice applying pressure on a fabric swatch.

Shake paint bottle (No paint brushes used).

With heavy pressure you will get thick lines.

With light pressure you will get thin lines.

Now start painting. When finish let T-Shirt thoroughly dry.

Heat set by tumbling in the dryer for 20 minutes.

Beads can be sewn-on or glued.

Make matching tote bag and cap.

Hint: If you don’t want to use stencils, just let your child paint freehand on the t-shirt.

A new fashion trend is using beads on everything from clothing to hats and shoes.

Things you will need:

T-shirt (Polycotton)

eachCardboard

Fabric Paint (Any brand)

Tote Bag (Small for Child)

Stencils or Freehand

Beads (Sew or Glue)

Masking Tape

Dressmaking pencil or Fabric marker