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Remember how much fun popup books were when you were kids? Why not add some of that same kind of fun to your own scrapbooks? There are several ways you can make the pages of your scrapbook leap out at whoever might be leafing through it, and these great ideas range from simple to complex. No matter which way you choose to make your pages stand out, you’ll be sure to make an impact.

The most obvious way to add dimension to your scrapbook is to purchase three-dimensional embellishments from your local scrapbooking retailer. These embellishments are beautiful and have unique textures and shapes. The problem with purchasing 3D embellishments is that they are often the most expensive embellishments in the store.

Another way to add dimension to your pages is to make a normally flat embellishment stand out from the page. You can purchase affordable 3D foam adhesive squares to accomplish this. Adhere the item to your scrapbook page using the foam squares and it will stand out from the page just enough to give a touch of depth to the entire page.

If you want to create pages that pop without spending all of your money on one or two pieces, consider creating your own. Collect the items that you will need to create your embellishments. You will want to have plenty of scraps of fabric and felt, as well as wire, felt flowers, small wooden rods, fiber, yarn, die cuts, cotton, and anything else you can think of to create with. Start by thinking of the color scheme you wish to use to create your item. Then think about the page it is going to be displayed on, and choose an item to create that is in line with the page theme.

Start with a die cut and build your embellishment around it. If you are using a die cut of an animal or person, consider adding googgly eyes to it to start the process. Use fabric to add texture and bounce to the design. Be as creative as you possibly can! And do not forget about foam squares to add layers to your creation.

One of the easiest ways to create texture and depth in your scrapbook is to add fibers to the pages. Purchase fun and lively fibers for your pages. One cute idea is to use the fibers to create a look where the pictures look like they are actually in frames and hanging from the wall. The fibers create the string that the picture is “hanging from” and the background paper creates the frame. Use a brad as the “nail.”

As you are designing your 3D pages, keep in mind the safety of your pictures. You want to make sure that there is nothing that will poke or fold your photos, and you don’t want photos rubbing too hard against the facing page. Store your scrapbooks upright, as you don’t want to put too much pressure on the contents. After all, you did so much work to create those 3D embellishments that it would be a shame to squash them flat!

Graham Johns runs and writes regularly for Easy Scrapbooking Ideas where you can read many more articles on scrapbooking pictures.

There are a numerous reasons for taking up the beguiling, blue-collar craft of cross stitch, ten of which are shown below. So continue reading then pay a visit to your local craft shop and start your cross stitching career today.

1. Why “blue-collar” you might ask? Well! When compared to most other pastimes, cross stitch is truly inexpensive; there’s no fancy or expensive machinery. When you have bought a kit or the thread and fabric for your own design that’s about it for outlay (well, until you buy the next one anyway). Simple kits start from a couple of dollars and you’re guaranteed something at the end of it to show for your efforts.

2. Whatever you produce, be it a tiny picture of a mere few inches in diameter, or a sampler that stretches the length of your wall, you will always have it to keep. You can even hand it down to your children, thereby creating an heirloom.

3. Even beginners can make cross stitch works that look both beautiful and professional. Starter kits don’t need any previous experience and as you develop your skills you can progress to evermore complex patterns. You will never have to scour the shops for that special gift again.

4. Everything you make will be unique and very personal; the perfect gift for every occasion.

5. Cross stitch is great for stress relief and relaxation. Just sit down with your favorite radio program or CD on and stitch away to your heart’s content.

6. Cross stitch is a truly “portable” hobby. You can stitch while sitting in your armchair watching the TV or alternatively you can take it with you on holiday or on long train journeys. Boredom will surely be a thing of the past.

7. The huge number of cross stitch designs available today means that there will always be something you like, regardless of your ability. Simple designs for beginners incorporate a small number of color threads and very basic stitches so that you don’t need to go and read a manual before you make a start. However, as you progress and learn a few more stitches and techniques you can attempt more complex patterns until you really are the professional cross stitcher.

8. There are literally hundreds of websites that offer free patterns to cross stitch. You will have to buy your own threads and fabric but that is half of the challenge! There is absolutely no way on this earth that you will ever run out of things to cross stitch; it really is a hobby for life.

9. As you become more confident and proficient, you can sell some of your creations so making a bit of pocket money while doing something that you love to do. You can even advertise your talents and design patterns for individual customers. Given a few years you could have a nice little business venture as well as a great hobby.

10. Outdoor hobbies such as hill walking and bird watching aren’t much fun in the rain or in the middle of winter, but cross stitch can be done at any time of the year regardless of the weather. In fact it’s a great feeling to sit in a nice warm, cozy house on a dull winter evening and happily stitch the hours away.

Overall, cross stitch really is a universal hobby anyone can master and if your curiosity does get the better of you, you will undoubtedly become hooked in no time. Historically, cross stitching has a rather vague stigma attached to it as being thought of by many as just a “pensioner” activity. But this couldn’t be further from the truth, people of all ages cross stitch, even teenagers and children… and yes men too! … and hey! If you don’t believe me, have a go yourself, you’ll soon find out why cross stitch really is universally popular.

John Wigham has been a professional author and editor for 20 years and is a co-founder of http://www.patternspatch.com an online cross stitch club dedicated to counted cross stitch. The website has a small team of writers who are devoted to our cross stitch club and enjoy writing about their hobby.

Using embossing powders for your card making ideas is just one of the versatile techniques commonly used by crafters. Embossing powders are a wonderful addition to and card makers or scrap bookers craft box.

Embossing powders come in a huge variety of colours and textures and can easily be used by beginners and professional for card making ideas

Using embossing powders for your projects can create many different effects but you will need to purchase a few basic materials.

The main item you will need to be able to use your embossing powders is a heat gun, these can be found at most craft stores or stamp companies. Some heat guns are better than others, when you are purchasing a heat gun it is worth asking for recommendations from other experts that have used them for their card making ideas.

You will need to have an ink pad, ink pads come in many different colors I find it best to use the same colour ink pad as the embossing powder you are going to use, this will eliminate the ink showing through. You can always use a clear ink pad however if you are a beginner I would start with a color so you can see where you have stamped.

Stamps - a stamp is essential when using embossing powders as this is the foundation of the design, rubber stamps can be found at craft shops and there are simply millions that can be bought over the internet.

Of course you will need embossing powder, again these come in a huge variety of colours, try to math the colour with the theme of the stamp where possible.

To begin embossing it is advisable to wipe the area where you are going to stamp with an anti static bag, I also find a light dusting of bathroom talc works just as well.

Once the area is prepared it is time to ink your stamp. Choose your colour of ink preferably clear but if you are new to card making ideas then a matching color to your embossing powder will be fine. Always take your ink pad to the stamp rather than pressing the stamp into the ink pad, this will give the stamp an even coating.

Once you have inked your stamp you can then press it firmly onto your project, hold your hand flat over the stamp to ensure the entire image is printed, press firmly using the palm of your hand, lift the stamp carefully away from the project and make sure you are happy with the result.

Carefully undo the lid of the embossing powder and generously sprinkle over the stamped image, if you are using a tidy try all the excess embossing powder can be easily tipped back into the pot, I find a folded piece of paper works just as well.

Gently tap the back of the project or card making ideas to allow any excess embossing powder to come off if you can see any odd bits of embossing powder still in places it should not be use a small paint brush to gently remove it.

Use your heat gun to heat the image until it turns shiny, hold your heat gun approximately 6 inches from the paper sweeping backwards and forwards until you see the embossing powder melting. Do not over heat the image as you can cause the paper and embossing powder to burn.

Once you are happy that all the embossing powder had melted you are done. Step back and admire your finished project.

Vicki Churchill writes for a site that specializes in Card Making Ideas providing you with excellent tips and ideas for Embossing Powders and many other tricks and techniques.

Scrapbooking layouts can make or break the look of your pages but it’s often difficult to come up with something unique and creative, so here’s how to get ideas for scrapbooking pages.

1. Scrapbooking Forums - there are many different scrapbooking forums on the net. Join a few, shares some ideas and maybe even meet some new friends.

2. Scrapbooking Articles - take a quick peek around the internet and you’ll quickly discover how many great pieces of advice are out there in the form of articles. Read a few and see if you get some ideas for your scrapbooking pages.

3. Scrapbooking Sellers - Those that sell goodies for scrapbooking are often full of great ideas that they share on their websites. The wonderful thing about scrapbooking is that there are an endless amount of creative ideas and layouts.

4. Use Your Creativity - Don’t forget about your very own creativity. You may be so busy looking for other people’s ideas that you never stop to discover your very own ideas. Be patient. Good ideas come with time and practice. Don’t get frustrated too quickly.

5. Friends - many times one gets hooked on scrapbooking from a friend so why not share ideas with those very same friends and see what ideas they can come up with for your pages.

6. Kits - There are many different page kits on the market. In fact we’re going to have a look at just s few of kit ideas kicking around.

Scrapbooking Kit Pages

1. Graduation - whether graduating from high school, a university, or kindergarten, a graduation theme can be a lot of fun complete with ball and cap.

2. Family Pet - Fido deserves his own time in the spotlight right? After all he’s number one in the house and knows it. You can find kit pages with bones, doggy dishes, doggy paper, and so much more.

3. Christmas - Why not fill your scrapbook with Santa and his elves. A Christmas kit has all kinds of great stuff including lettering, figures, gift tags, and so much more.

4. Birthday - Birthday pages are always a lot of fun, and these kits usually come complete with cake and candles. Whether you are turning one or one hundred a celebration is in order don’t you think?

5. Seasons - You can have a great deal of fun with color when changing seasons. It’s the perfect way to include those photos that don’t really have a specific place.

6. Holiday - There’s nothing quite as much fun as reliving your holiday through your photos and there are some excellent kit pages out there to let you tell the world about your fun.

7. Baby Book - Maybe there’s a new baby in your home or perhaps you just want to do a baby book as a gift. Whatever your reason, you will be glad you captured those magical moments in a priceless book. The baby kit will help you tell the story.

8. Wedding - A wedding is a very special time and it’s also a time where there are usually plenty of photos. Sadly, those photos usually end up stacked in boxes where they can’t be enjoyed. With your wedding book pages you can share the magical moment with everyone.

Not only do you know how to get ideas for scrapbooking pages you’ve also got eight great ideas for scrapbooking kits now. Using this article as your guide, you’re going to have some great looking scrapbooks in no time.

Terry Fitzroy is a professional writer/reviewer specializing in topics such as online scrapbooking and card making. For more information please visit BlackBerryPaper.com. http://www.BlackBerryPaper.com

First to be considered is the place from which the kite is flown. There are certain do’s and don’ts which operate here. For example, avoid a spot where the kite might become entangled with trees or overhead wires, or where it might sail over a busy road. A good site is one where there is room to move about freely without causing annoyance to others. This applies particularly when several kites are being flown. It is exasperating if the lines get mixed up. Kite flyers, like anglers, give one another sufficient room in which to enjoy their pastime.

Next, a word about weather conditions. It is the aim and intent of the enthusiast to fly his kite successfully under varying conditions. He regards them as a challenge to his skill. At the same time he is not so misguided as to see a challenge in a gale. He knows that because a kite is, after all, but a frail craft, there are limits to its capabilities. In this respect, common sense is a good guide.

The following are instances of different flying conditions. On a warm calm day the air seems to be still. But this is only comparatively so. Although there is little movement in a horizontal direction, there is upward activity. This is due to rising currents of air, called thermal currents. They will be found, for example, above ploughed fields, moorland and where buildings are grouped together. The familiar heat shimmer is an indication of this rising air. On the other hand, on such a day, there will be colder descending air where there is water, marsh or meadow.

Then there comes a day when the wind is blowing. There can be variation in its movement. For example, it may be a fitful wind. Again, and to the point here, it may meet an obstacle such as a hill, a cliff, or a building, in which case it is deflected upwards. The strength of the up current will depend upon the force of the wind, and the size of the obstacle it meets. Rising currents are a means whereby birds can soar, that is, fly without flapping their wings. Again, the glider pilot derives benefit from them. It follows, therefore, that, on occasions, they may prove to be helpful to the kite flyer.

We turn now from the weather to the kite. Before flying it, its size must be taken into account. Sometimes the enthusiast is tempted to build an outsize one. Though it may be the object of interest and admiration, the owner might not have realized that in flying large kites both skill and strength are needed. Someone has said that a 6-ft. kite pulls like a cart-horse. It follows then that one half this size, in a fairly strong wind and when a considerable amount of line has been released, can exert a strong pull. For this reason, the size in this book is limited to 3 ft. 6 in. This is a convenient and manageable size range for the beginner. Later on, if desired, the reader may make larger sizes by increasing the measurements given.

The next thing to do is to inspect the kite. First, check the bridle and the line, to see that they are secure and that the line runs freely on the reel. Secondly, test the bracing and bowstrings to make sure that they are taut. The method of tying these, if proper, will ensure that they can be tightened, if necessary. Thirdly, inspect the cover to ascertain whether it is secure and in good condition. This is very important in the case of a paper cover, as it can easily get damaged.

Discover The Secrets To Make A Kite That Will Fly Like An Eagle

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If you’ve already made a basic bath salt, but you want to produce a more professional product, you’ll love these simple techniques. They’ll make your bath salts less “homebrew” and more spa-quality. Once you start using them, you will feel more confident giving your handmade bath salts as gifts or presenting them for sale at a store or craft fair.

All of these techniques are just twists or extensions on what you already know. Doing them takes no more time than putting together basic bath salts.

1) The “secret” ingredient - dendritic salt.

If your bath salts come out damp or oily, they cake up into unsightly chunks, or they lose their scent too fast, you must use dendritic salt. It is basically a fine-grained table salt, but it has twice the power of oil and moisture absorbtion. Just mix your fragrance, moisturizing oils, and liquid color into the dendritic salt first, then mix the dendritic salt into your bulk bath salt.
Usage: Start with 1 part dendritic salt to 5 parts bulk salt. Don’t be afraid to use more if you need it to keep your bath salts dry; it’s just plain old sodium chloride.

2) Powdered, concentrated colorant instead of food coloring.

Most people start coloring their bath salt with consumer-strength FD&C dye, which is food coloring. If you want a wider range of colors, such as a good lavender, and more vivid bath salts that will color the bathwater, you should use powdered colorant instead. Powdered colorant can either be dye, such as FD&C dye, or mica. Use either kind, but make sure that it’s water soluble.
Usage: Disperse 1/4 teaspoon of powdered colorant in 1 ounce of water in a dropper or spray bottle. Blend into dendritic salt first or spray a fine mist directly onto your bath salt mix.

3) Make fizzing bath salts.

Fizzing bath salts are easy to make and add something special to the experience. If you’ve made bath bombs before, the ingredients are the same. Make a “fizz powder” of 2 parts baking soda to 1 part citric acid, and incorporate it into your bath salts. The bath salts will have a powdery feel, but they will flow better and stay dryer as a result.

Usage: I recommend 1/4 cup of “fizz powder” in each serving of bath salts.

4) Use better bulk salt from the Dead Sea.

Dead Sea salt is the best bulk salt, better than Atlantic sea salt or Epsom salt. Why is this? Because Dead Sea salt has an incredible mineral profile, much more than the other two. Dead Sea salt has been the subject of numerous health studies, which have shown it to help with eczema, improve circulation, reduce inflammation, and more. It is more expensive than Atlantic sea salt or Epsom salt, but the therapeutic benefit is worth the cost. Use essential oils in combination with Dead Sea salt for the benefits of aromatherapy as well!
Usage: 1/2 to 2 cups per bath for maximum effect.

5) Get the most out of your mineral bath.

Did you know that if you run the bath water too hot, you won’t get any of the minerals? Though the heat can be soothing, temperatures that are too high will make your pores close, preventing absorption of any minerals. In addition, hot baths will make you sweat, just like a sauna, and you may feel tired or sluggish from dehydration.
Usage: The ideal bath temperature is tepid to warm, not so hot that you feel the urge to jerk your foot out of the water when you test it.

Katherine Durkes is the author of three how-to guides on how to make bath and body, perfume, and home fragrance products. She runs the Excellent Living Guide, a newsletter and website with tips, techniques, and articles on “do it yourself” projects, and a Yahoo Group for aspiring craft business owners. Visit www.excellentlivingguide.com for more creative bath and beauty projects.