Thanksgiving Craft: DIY Leaf Napkin Rings

These classy looking autumn inspired napkin rings will add the perfect touch to any Thanksgiving feast. As an added bonus they are very easy to make and cost next to nothing.

To see the image of the completed project, visit http://www.dotcomwomen.com/crafts/thanksgiving/leaf-napkin-rings.shtml

What You Will Need

1. Salt

2. Flour

3. Water

4. Rolling pin

5. Cutting board

6. Cookie sheet covered with aluminum foil

7. Golden yellow paint or some other autumn color.

8. Fine tipped paintbrush

9. Ribbon in a dark autumn color such as maroon.

10. Leaf button or small leaf stamp

11. Sharp kitchen knife

12. Fake autumn leaves (these can often be found in the craft section of most stores)

13. Hot glue gun

Directions:

1. First you will need to make the salt dough.

2. In a medium bowl mix: 1 Cup salt, 1 Cup flour and Cup water.

3. Knead the dough until it reaches a clay-like consistency. If it is too sticky add more flour. If it is too dry add more water.

4. Put a small amount of flour on the area where you will be rolling out the dough and spread it evenly so that the dough will not stick.

5. Roll out the dough with the rolling pin until it is about a of an inch thick.

6. Use the button or stamp to make an impression in the dough.

7. Use the knife to cut a rectangle or square around the impression.

8. Place the pieces on the cookie sheet. Make sure you place them on the sheet with the indent facing up.

9. When you have made as many as you need. Turn the oven to warm and put the pan in the oven.

10. The amount of time it will take to dry the pieces depends on the oven. So check them constantly. It will most likely take about 2-3 hours for them to dry completely. When they are done they will be hard, light and make a hollow sound when tapped on.

11. When they are done, paint the indent with your chosen color.

12. Allow the paint to dry.

13. Plug in the hot glue gun.

14. Cut the ribbon into four inch long pieces.

15. Choose leaves for the napkin rings and remove stems if necessary.

16. With the hot glue gun, put glue on the back of a salt dough piece and attach it to the front of a leaf, so that the piece is slightly slanted.

17. When the glue has dried turn the leaf over and put a small line of glue towards the base of the leaf.

18. Attach the ribbon so that it forms a ring.

19. Use as you would any other napkin ring.

Article Dot Com Women. For more Thanksgiving craft and decorating projects, visit http://www.dotcomwomen.com/crafts/thanksgiving.shtml

Small Bathroom Ideas - Making Small Bathrooms Feel Spacious

Most of the time a tiny bathroom is not your main bathroom, and least you hope not, b1C3But an extra bathroom that is located elsewhere in the home. Many times this bathroom is located in the interior of the home, which makes it not only cramped, but dark as well. Even in these situations there are small bathroom ideas that you can use to make the most out of the room.

If you are considering completely rearranging everything even the larger fixtures in the room, you probably will want to consult an architect or a designer to help you since it will involve moving electrical wiring and plumbing connections. Together, you can sit down and go over the options that are available to you in order to see if there is a way that you can update the room to include a larger bathtub or a stand-alone deluxe shower stall. Sometimes it is feasible that a wall can be knocked out or moved in order to add needed space.

If major renovation is not possible, there are still many tips and ideas that you may be able to utilize in order to give the appearance of a bigger room. First, consider the bathroom door. Can it be changed to swing in the other direction? That alone may lessen the feeling of claustrophobia. Or you may wish to consider changing it to a sliding door or even bifold closet doors in order to save some space. In most bathrooms the vanity cupboard and sink take up a lot of space. You may wish to replace this with a stand-alone pedestal sink, which will increase the look and feel of the room and make it seem less cluttered. If you are worried that you will be losing storage space, consider hanging wall units, shelving or hanging baskets to hold supplies. The more floor space that you can see will make the room seem bigger.

When incorporating small bathroom ideas it is very important to decorate with lighter colors that makes the room feel brighter and even bigger than it really is. Always be liberal in your use of mirrors, as they tend to increase the look and achieve the illusion of a bigger room. The type of lighting that you choose will also make the difference between a dark and dreary room and a light and cheery one. If there is no way to add a window or even a skylight to the room, consider your choice of illumination. Incandescent or fluorescent lighting will achieve completely different looks.

Having a small bathroom is not necessarily a bad thing. It is a smaller space to renovate and decorating it can be a breeze. Use these small bathroom ideas to create a room that feels less like a closet and more like an enjoyable getaway location.

For additional inspiration and ideas for remodeling your bathroom try visiting http://remodelingabathroomguide.com, a popular bathroom remodeling website that includes information on how remodeling planner software can catch problems before the remodeling job begins.

Environmentally Friendly Plans

The eB5Anvironment has become a concern in all areas of life including our choice of home design. Taking this into account with your next home is fairly simple and can actually save you money.

The Green Movement is the term given to a greater awareness of the environmental impact of many different areas in daily life. Our choice of dwelling is one of the important things that can have a great impact on the environment. This has often been overlooked in the past as we have looked for environmental culprits further from home. Eco Friendly Home Plans are design concepts for homes that recognize how much the individual home can help or harm the environment.

Energy consumption is one of the major issues of the Green movement. The ever increasing demand for energy has created environmental problems associated with the burning of coal and oil and the transport and storage of these fossil fuels. The eco friendly home will be designed as energy efficient as possible. The use of alternative cooling and heating methods such as solar panels will most certainly be a part of the design. Energy efficient windows and doors and insulation will be used.

The emphasis on energy efficiency in the eco friendly home plan is a win/win kind of a deal for the homeowner. The home that is energy efficient is contributing to the environmental well being of the planet, but it is also keeping money in your pocket through savings in energy costs.

Energy considerations are not the only ones in an eco friendly home plan. The choices of building materials and the landscaping of the area around the home are other considerations that can be done more or less environmentally sound. True eco friendly home plans would pay close attention to the source and content of all building materials from the actual building materials to the paint used to cover them.

In many areas, some of the ideas that have began as eco friendly plans have been moving closer to actual codes and laws. There have also been substantial tax credits offered for following Green guidelines in design and building. It makes a lot of sense, for a number of reasons, to make sure that your new home plan is an eco friendly home plan. It is one of those decisions that helps us now and does a little bit for the future as well.

Aazdak Alisimo writes home articles for http://www.HomePlansPlanet.com

Small Bathroom Design Simplified

You will find that majority of the modern homes have a limited bathroom space. Homeowners in such a scenB68ario usually accommodate within that limited space, as they do not have any other option. Thus, it is a fact that the small bathroom designs, which make the best use of the space that is available, are now most in demand by the homeowners.

The following guidelines on small bathroom designs are conveniently applicable in case you are designing a bathroom for your new apartment or renovating your old bathroom.

- The small bathrooms look best with the small and deep bathtubs.

- The wall-mounted or pedestal sinks, basins and the small sized baths are simply made for each other, as they hardly occupy much floor space.

- In case, you prefer a shower stall, it is best to use clear shower screens for the enclosure. The best part of this is you will be able to save enough space and make way for enough light, which is unlike the framed opaque shower walls.

- You can have recessed and floating cabinets in your bathroom; this should make ample space.

- The small bathroom designs usually come with enough storage space for you to be able to stash away lots of clutter. Therefore, ensure that your bathroom has enough storage shelves and cabinets.

- Place the windows near the ceiling; this way, there will be enough wall space for you to include some storage cabinets beneath it.

- You would be clever enough to position the toilet in an alcove, by making use of the wall-space above for fix opening the shelves.

- When it comes to doors, most of the people are going for the sliding doors, which can be easily slid into the in-wall cavities. If you are opting for the hinged door, you can get the towel-rack installed on the door itself.

The homeowners need to abide by certain design - as well as dimension-parameters when planning the small bathroom designs, which depend on the area/zone. You can also try out a few optical illusion tricks for creating a space illusion.

Making use of light and mirrors

When you want the space inside your bathroom to look large, you can take the help of lights and mirrors. Try to make use of natural lights, which would surely make your bathroom look more bright and large, generating a sense of comfy. You can also try adding skylights and windows. This is indeed a great idea. However, when thinking to make use of electric lighting, you can arrange for the source of the light just below where the shelves have been installed.

When you place a mirror inside the bathroom, it helps in proper distribution of light and this seems to extend the overall dimension of the space. Such a strategy makes your small bathroom look effectively illuminated and it gives way to visual expansiveness.

Make use of tricky designs

Introduce vertical lines on the upper edges of the walls of your bathroom. This helps in creating height7B2 illusion. You can also have tiles installed on the walls of your bathroom and edge the top lining with designed border tiles to make things look more magical and impressive.

This is the way you should make use of the floor area of your bathroom and the type of tiles you choose to use for your bathroom should well compliment all sorts of small bathroom designs. No matter what you are going for - floor tiles or wall tiles they should be having identical shapes and light colored shades.

Making use of color to create illusions

Color is the best way of creating space illusions. Choose softer, lighter tones like pastel shades, neutrals or whites - these colors are sure to make your bathroom look as if having enough space and dimension.  Such colors also help in proper light distribution. Again, if you are planning to cover the walls of your bathroom with wallpapers then make sure to select plain and simple designs.

Read our Home Improvement newsletter with new fresh articles every week, Kitchen, Basement, Bathroom improvements and many other subjects at Do It Yourself Tips

Building a Future - Bachelor of Science in Construction Management

As the single-largest industry in the U.S., theres no doubt that construction plays a pivotal role in the nation's economy. After all, without heavy equipment, construction equipment operators, and building inspectors, we wouldn't have any skyscrapers, freeways, apartment buildings, or bridges. So, when it comes to getting in on some of the hottest careers around, this industry will always provide more than its share of employment opportunities. In fact, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) forecasts that employment opportunities for construction managers will exceed the number of qualified candidates from now through 2014.

That said a construction management degree may be the best way to break into this lucrative field.

Construction Management Degrees: Paving the Way to Success
Many colleges, universities and technical schools are now offering a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management. This type of construction management degree is designed to provide a Foundation in construction management, techniques, and legal issues relating to the field. Areas of study can include building codes, site construction and measurement, project management, construction safety management, and more. Instruction on mechanical systems and materials are also typically included in these programs.

Here is a closer look at some of the jobs you can land with a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management:

Building Inspectors. In this position, your priority will be keeping buildings safe and up to code. Youll double-check repairs, alterations, and construction of buildings and other structures to make sure they are in compliance with local, state, and federal ordinances and zoning laws.

Construction Manager. If you enjoy planning and coordinating, this is the job for you. From construction superintendent to project engineer to general construction manager youll be the glue that holds an entire project together. You may plan and direct a single project, or manage pieces of a larger project. Basically, youll oversee construction supervisors and workers.

Heavy Equipment Operators. Construction equipment operators use machinery to move heavy materials such as earth and construction equipment. Typical responsibilities include operating equipment such as bulldozers, as well as using road graders and tamping equipment to build roads and other large structures. With relatively high hourly pay and a good job outlook, this could be a great career option if youre interested in earning a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management.

Show Me the Money
So you may be wondering, How much do these jobs actually pay? Well, that depends on a lot of factors. Pay for these positions will vary based on the size and nature of the construction project, its geographic location, and economic conditions. But according to the BLS, median annual earnings of construction managers as of May 2004 were $69,870. The middle 50 percent earned between $53,430 and $92,350. The lowest-paid 10 percent earned less than $42,120. And according to a July 2005 salary survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, candidates with a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management received job offers averaging $42,923 a year right out of school.

Some of the courses you can expect to take while getting your construction management degree include:
Project Management
Statics and Strength of Materials
Building Codes
Project Scheduling
Cost Estimating and Analysis
Legal Issues in Construction

If this sounds good to you, its time to start finding a place to get your degree. If youd like to get a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management but just dont have the time or freedom for traditional classes, keep in mind that many schools now let you get your entire construction management degree online. If this is the way you want to go, be sure and check out the programs at each of the colleges youre interested in.

Sandra Callahan is an educational consultant specializing in technology-based education. In addition, Callahan counsels students pursuing various technology-related degrees and writes online articles devoted to the topics she knows best. Callahan still indulges her lifelong love of learning by taking online classes as well as yoga and cooking classes which she takes in person near her home.

Save Money, Buy Energy Saving Light Bulbs

Everyone likes to save money when they can - and there are hundreds of ways you can save money. In this article, I want to talk to you about saving money by buying energy saving light bulbs. I'll give you a few tips on why these light bulbs are better than the traditional bulbs currently in use and why you should consider switching.

The technology for the traditional light bulb has not changed much in the past 200 years since Edison invented the incandescent bulb. The technology for compact fluorescent light bulbs, on the other hand, has changed dramatically over the past few years.

These new bulbs are designed to be environmentally friendly, use less energy, and last several times longer than traditional bulbs.

Energy saving or energy efficient light bulbs such as the compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL) use up to 75% less electricity than your standard light bulbs while at the same time producing about the same amount of light. Using less electricity to light up your home can save you hundreds on your electricity bills over the life of the new bulbs.

Another benefit of the energy efficient light bulb is that it will last about ten times longer, so you'll only have to change it once every few years compared to changing a traditional bulb every couple months. And if you have high ceilings and have to use a ladder just to change the bulb, this can save you several hours over the course of a year.

One main concern about using these new light bulbs is the cost. Technological improvements and increases in demand have brought down the costs of these efficient bulbs down to a no-brainer decision.

You get the convenience of not having to change a light bulb for a few years, the lower electricity bill - you could potentially save up to 10% each month on your bill, and you get to reduce pollution and help prevent climate change all at the same time just by using a CFL bulb.

The one environmental concern about these new bulbs is that they do contain a trace amount of mercury and need to be disposed of properly or recycled. You can usually return them to the store you bought them from or you can find a recycling location in your area by going to http://www.lamprecycle.org/

There are several benefits to buying energy saving light bulbs as I've outlined in this article. You do not have to be an environmentalist to want to switch to these bulbs. You can do it just to save money on your electricity bills.

Adam Hofstetler does buy energy saving light bulbs to save money and offers tips to help you choose the right bulbs for your home at his site http://www.buyenergysavinglightbulbs.com/

4 Carpet Cleaning Tips In Hiring Professionals

There are two ways to clean carpets. You can hire professional cleaners from cleaning companies then there is the DIY (do it yourself) method.

In many cases, people prefer to hire carpet cleaning services. Still, there are guidelines to follow. Here are some carpet cleaning tips in hiring professionals:

1. Number of carpets to be cleaned.

Take for instance; your carpet never ever really underwent deep cleansing since the time you have bought it, and you are living in a 2-storey house wherein all the rooms contain carpets. Moreover, your kids have inevitably left marks besides its general wearing and tearing.

In this case, hiring a professional carpet cleaner is advised. If only small carpet areas need cleaning, then you can do it yourself. There are lots of cleaning products that are doing well even with tough stains.

2. Consider your budget.

Keep in mind that you need to pay a considerable amount of money when you hire someone to do the carpet cleaning for you.

3. Know the advantages of hiring a professional carpet cleaner.

They have the expertise in cleaning even the worst carpet stains. Their equipments have more extraction powers compared to the units that you have. Their knowledge about cleaning agents is incomparable to you, besides they also know the distinctions between carpet fibers and construction.

4. Ask recommendations from friends.4D8

Usually, they are good sources of information about reputable companies offering carpet cleaning services. You can observe their cleaning jobs when visiting some friends who also prefer carpet cleaning services.

Other sources of information are the internet and local business directories. Numerous reputable companies are advertising their services online. They really offer the best deals on carpet cleaning jobs.

To learn more house cleaning tips, visit my home cleaning site.