Would you believe that collecting coins, aside from being a great hobby, can be a nifty one, too, just as long as you know what you’re doing? Of course, who wouldn’t want to collect lots of money? Money can make the world go round. But that’s different. This one’s about collecting vintage coins, coins from around the world and coins from outer space, if you can find one. You might even discover a coin as big as a car which was used by early humans to barter or trade and with this kind of collection, you might even make your friends go envy. You can even sell your own collection for money. The fact of the matter is, there are lots of coin collecting guides that can help you how to do coin collection professionally (nice…).

Yes, there are actually several guides like this that thrive all over Cyberspace. What these guides can do is to help you better understand that collecting coins is actually a professional hobby and they even have a name for it: Numismatics. According to book guides and you can find this information in a coin collecting for kids guide, Numismatics is the systematic collection and study of coins. It’s even regarded by people of yore as the “hobby of kings”. If you’re serious about coin collecting, you should have specific guide with you. It will help you how to detect fake or genuine ancient coins. Nobody wants to waste precious time searching for numerous kinds of coins only to discover that they are fake, agree?

So, where can you find a specific coin collecting guide that can teach you how to collect coins in a serious but fun and professional manner? To help you out and prevent you from doing the traditional leg and drive approach, you just have to click any of the links above and follow it to get your guide and what’s more, it even has a free sample email message that will tell you more in a brief manner about numismatics or the systematic hobby of collecting coins.

If someone you know is retiring and you are considering a homemade retirement gift instead of buying a gift, then you may want to contemplate a funny gift you could give. Most retirements try to go for humor rather than getting too serious.  However, you want the gift to also be special for your friend. By going homemade you may also be considering the gift to be unique, but cost effective as well since you will be creating it yourself.

By making a gift, you will be able to make your gift more personal and also make it so others will know you spent time and thought on your retirement gift.One way to come up with ideas for your gift would be to brainstorm the retirees interests, likes, and hobbies. Brainstorm a list and after creating the list you will need to begin marrowing the list down.  If you want a bit of humor in the gift then choose the ideas that are easier to put a humorous spin on.  After all if the retiree is going to do something very serious after retirement like work with his church, that won’t provide you with a funny idea.Although, if the retiree is a golf addict and plans to live on the golf course, then you can think of a way to incorporate humor into the gift.

You of course don’t want your gift to be the same as everyone elses, you want your gift to be unique.  That will be much easier when you are making a homemade retirement gift. For example if you like embroidery you could purchase a white shirt and add a saying on it like “golf nut” providing your friend likes golf. If you are learning to crochet you might want to think of a crocheted golf club cover.To introduce humor in that case you could create a cover with something that is personal to the retiree or consider a cartoon head.

The ideas for gifts are unlimited when you contemplate a homemade retirement gift and provided you enjoy crafting creating your homemade gift will be easy for you.  If you are not a real crafty type person you may want to take a different route for your gift.  Most people enjoy chocolate so think about making homemade fudge for your gift.This might not be a funny idea, however you can add humor to the idea by creating a funny box to hold the homemade gift. 

The ideas are endless, but when you make a homemade gift, you have the advantage of creating a personal, unique, and thoughtful gift rather then just purchasing a gift. Get your creative juices flowing and enjoy your retirement party!

Young children love magic.  There is something about magic tricks that children can’t get enough of.  Many are inspired to learn how to perform magic tricks after seeing a magic show.  This review of the  ”Melissa and Doug Deluxe Magic Set” will consider how good this set is for youngsters.

What is the Melissa and Doug Deluxe Magic Set?

Product description for this set says that this amazing multi-piece set features fascinating illusions and slick slight-of-hand tricks for the small sorcerer to rehearse and perform. These easy-to-learn tricks are the same ones done by master magicians.  Tricks taught include disappearing objects; multiplying coins; magic boxes; foretelling tricks; a secret change bag, and more. And the wooden storage chest as if by magic transforms into a performance table with a secret compartment!

This item offers hours of fun and professional tricks for the beginner. The set is made of solid wood, and the tricks are easy to do. Included in this set are the following tricks: Disappearing Ball, Vanishing Coin, Magic Coin Box, Cylinder Squeeze, Secret Silks, Vanishing Zone, Egyptian Prediction, Magic Number Prediction, Money Maker and the Great Escape.

Who is the Melissa and Doug Deluxe Magic Set for?

This magic set is intended for children aged 8 – 10 years old.

What do users think of Melissa and Doug Deluxe Magic Set?

As of this review, 79% of users at Amazon gave this magic set 5 stars (out of a possible 5). The remaining 11% of users gave this 4 stars. That’s excellent!

Here are some of the reasons people like this set::

• Exceptional value for the cost
• A lot of illusions included
• Tricks well made, able to take the abuse kids will put them through
• Transcends expectations of buyers

Where can you get the Melissa and Doug Deluxe Magic Set?

There are many locations where you can purchase this magic tricks set. If you are lucky, you may be able to go to a location near you to acquire it. However, the reality is that you will need to shop for it online.

Fortunately, there are numerous websites where you can go to purchase the Melissa and Doug Deluxe Magic Set. You can securely buy this magic set online from places such as Amazon (as well as read all reviews for this item) or eBay.

Although woodworking is an occupation, it’s also a hobby for lots of people. Most woodworkers are at their best when they’re using their tools. There are numerous kinds of tools you might need in your craft, depending upon your specific requirements.

Some woodworking tools are best for projects of a general nature, and others are required for specialized jobs. They are usually compact and facilitate the process of woodworking. And electric tools make the job easier than ever.

Woodworking tools are generally categorized into cutting and shaping, assembly and finishing. Before cutting and shaping your project, you need the right marking and measuring tools. This is because they show you where to cut.

Rulers are used in woodworking for the purpose of measuring. The common types of rulers are the wooden folding, the metal tape measure, and the wooden zigzag ruler. Tape measures are most useful in the process of measuring long pieces of wood.

When purchasing a ruler, look for a durable, well made product with standard markings. It requires a locking mechanism to keep it in place. Take care of the ruler and wipe it after every use. This is particularly important if it’s a metal product, which is prone to becoming rusted.

Squares are used in woodworking to make angles. Similar to rulers, there are many kinds of this product. These also have markings and are utilized in measuring square and true joints. Miter squares are best for a 45 degree angle. The L-shaped try squares are utilized for 90 degree angles. And a combination square is used for both 45 and 90 degree angles.

Wood squares are less expensive than metal and slightly less accurate but are sufficient for most DIY woodworking. Check them for rust or rot and wipe them after every use to keep them in good condition.

A sharp pencil is most offten used for marking projects in woodworking. Some woodworkers prefer the marking knife owing to its higher degree of accuracy. Some other measuring tools are gauges, dividers and compasses. Make sure your tools are accurate, and keep them in good shape with regular cleaning.

It’s to your benefit to take good care of your woodworking tools. Clean them after each use and check them for rust or rot. Your performance depends upon them.

Gel candles are simple to make and wonderful to give as gifts. The beauty in them is that you can make them to suite any occasion or taste. By using various glass containers, trinkets added to the candle for décor and varying the scent each candle can be individualized to the recipient. Recipes for making gel candles are simple to arrive at. A wedding gel candle recipe is listed here to get you started, once you see how easy personalizing them can be you’ll be creating your own recipes in no time at all.

Basics

The basis for all of the gel candles includes the following items:

• Candle gel
• Wicks – preferably coated as they are easier to work with
• Scissors for trimming the wick
• Accessories as listed in the recipes

Bride and Groom Candles

Give the bride and groom a set of matching candles made using champagne flutes. Add a light scent and color that corresponds to the wedding color to make them even more special. If you prefer to have the candle colored more like champagne, use a pale yellow color. Items Needed:

• Champagne flutes – plain or inscribed with “Bride” and “Groom”
• If desired, small bride and groom figurine, small ceramic wedding bells, or other wedding celebration accessories you would like to add. Make sure any items you choose are ceramic.
• Fragrant oil for scenting the candle, if desired.
• Lace or ribbon for decoration

Instructions

• Secure the wick to the bottom of the champagne flute using hot glue.
• If using coloring or scented oil place in gel as it melts.
• Fill the flute partially with gel.
• Place the bride figurine in one flute, the groom in the other flute – if using inscribed flutes, make sure the bride is in the bride flute and the groom is in the groom flute.
• Continue filling with gel until approximately ¼ inch from rim.
• When gel sets, trim wick to approximately ¼”.
• Tie a pretty ribbon or lace bow around the base of the flute.

Variations

• Instead of using a bride and groom, add plastic wedding bells as you fill the flute. Alternate layers of wedding bells and gel until you reach the top; or,
• Use artificial flower petals that represent the bouquet carried by the bride.

These flutes make great keepsakes to remind your favorite couple of their special day.

Simplicity

This gel candle recipe is just the beginning of the ideas you can come up with. From fish aquarium candles to fruit jars, your only limit is your imagination. Once you know how to make a basic gel candle the fun has just begun.

Gel candles aren’t new to the world of candle making; however, their popularity has erupted into a massive market. Everyone from stay-at-home mom looking to supplement the family income to big corporations wanting to expand their product are cashing in on the gel candle phenomena.

The popularity of these wonderful candles lies in a range of attributes. They are simple to make, more economical, unique in design and more.

Uniqueness

From apple pies that look good enough and real enough to eat to mugs filled with an ice cream float that smells like the real thing, gel candles are vastly different and unique. They come in some of the most amazing shapes, colors and fragrances imaginable.

Gel candles can be formed to look like anything you can imagine. You can find them in the shape of food, animals, and household objects. You can also find them with intricate scenes seemingly suspended in air. Everything from aquarium scenes to winter wonderlands can be found in gel candles.

Crafts

As many artisans can attest, candle making has long been a popular item at craft fairs and holiday shows. Making gel candles is a relatively simple process that produces very unique and individual products. The potential to have an income generated by making gel candles is very high.

Good, quality, work along with unique ideas for the gel candles can result in a home-based business. Stay-at-home moms can help supplement the family income and possibly create a full-time business for themselves.

Friends and family will be delighted with their candles made specifically for them based. This also saves time and money when gift shopping.

Economical

Gel candles last longer than standard was candles. Gel candles, depending on size, will burn upwards of 200 hours.

In terms of making your own gel candles the value is amazing. The gel wax is the most expensive item on the list. Containers for the candles can be found everywhere from thrift stores to your own cupboards. All that is necessary is that the glass be thick enough not to crack from the heat of the candle.

The return on gel candles is amazing. It is not unusual to see profits that are upwards of 200%. It takes very little time to make a great many candles making the return skyrocket.

Decoration

Gel candles can be used in a variety of decorating schemes. Wedding planners and brides can have them made in flutes to use as centerpieces on the tables of the reception. Baby showers could have take away gifts for the guest using votive size candles with diaper pins embedded and scented with a baby powder fragrance.

Home décor ideas are limitless. Having a wine dinner? Make wine glass gel candles and arrange them around the table and seating area or use a small wine bottle as your container and have a wine bottle as the centerpiece. Make enough wine glass candles to send home with your guests.

Here to Stay

Gel candles are not a fad that is going to disappear overnight. Their unique designs make them more than a passing fancy. Couple that with the simplicity of making them and you have a recipe for a successful product for many years to come.

Gel candles are easy to make and beautiful to give. Their popularity couple with the ease of making them has made the hobby a second income for many stay at home moms and even crafters looking for that a unique product .

Before you start making your gel candles, do your research and find a reputable supplier of gel wax.  It is the most important ingredient in your candles and should be your highest priority. Local craft stores may not carry a high quality gel so check before you spend money on an inferior product that ruins your candle making effort.

A word about embeds before starting. Embeds are part of what makes gel candles unique. From fish aquarium scenes to seashells suspended in air, embeds are the icing on the cake. You can’t use just any object in your candle due to it melting. Ceramic, glass, wax molded figures, pewter, and glitter. The basic rule of thumb is anything that is non-flammable can be used as an embed.

How to Make Gel Candles

Assemble Your Ingredients and Tools

Gather all your tools in one central location to make it easier for you to work. Preferably you will want to be near your heat source. This could be your kitchen or a room with a hotplate. Do not use the microwave for melting your gel. It can catch fire if it reaches its flashpoint and it needs to be a precise temperature for making candles.

You will need:

* Large glass measuring container – this is used to pour your melted wax into your containers;
* Heat Source or Electric Presto Kettle: Use to melt your gel;
* Thermometer: Your gel has to be melted to 225°F, candy thermometers work great;
* Metal Utensil: Do not stir your gel with wooden utensils, this causes bubbles;
* Skewers: Metal, for positioning and moving your embedded objects;
* Glass Containers: These are your candle containers; they can be mugs, champagne flutes, votive cups, and more. The only requirement is that it not be made of a burnable or meltable material;
* Gel: candle gel wax in the density required for your project, the higher density gels are used for candles that will contain embeds. Lower density gels are great for plain, scented candles.
* Fragrance Oils: These must be made for gel candles and have a flashpoint of 170°F.
* Liquid or color block dye: Again, make sure it is appropriate for gel candles. Do not use cloth dye, crayons or food coloring.
* Embeds: Use your imagination
* Candle Wicks – you should use pre-tabbed pre-waxed wicks for the best outcome.

Let’s Get Started

Now that you’ve got all your supplies gathered, let’s have some fun. Remember that you are only limited by your imagination. Each candle is a work of art that is unique to you the maker or the person you are making it for. Follow these simple steps to make your masterpieces.

1. Melt Gel: Use your candy thermometer to maintain and reach the desired temperature of 225°F. If you are using a glass cup for melting, put it in your oven to melt it. The Presto Pot is great but don’t rely on the gauge, use a thermometer. The gel will take a little while to melt. While it is doing so, you can move on to other steps.
2. Wash your container and dry them thoroughly. There should not be any residue or oils to cloud your candle gel wax.
3. Assemble your embeddable objects and your wicks and have them near your containers.
4. After your wax is melted: If you are going to color your wax, use a toothpick to add a small amount of color. Stir well and drip a small amount on a piece of white paper to see the result. If you are adding fragrance add it now as well.
5. Secure your wick to the bottom of your container with a small dab of hot glue. Try not to use too much hot glue as it can make your candle murky.
6. Fill your containers partially with hot wax.
7. Add your embeds as desired, using your metal skewers to position them where you want them.
8. Top off the container with wax.
9. Allow to gel.
10. Trim wick to 1/4” from top.

Bubble Tips

To avoid bubbles, stir gel slowly and pour gel slowly. This will take practice. If you see a lot of bubbles after pouring you can use a heat gun to remove them. If they appear after the candle has settled you can put the candle in a warm oven to remove them.  Bubbles can be decorative if you are making a champagne or aquarium candle.

Gel candles are a simple, inexpensive means of letting your creative juices flow. Sharing your talent with friends and family makes gift giving that much more meaningful, and who knows your idea for a candle might just be the next product that takes the world by storm.

Gel candle making is a great hobby and can be a way to make extra money. Making gel candles is a relatively simple process once you have some basic instructions and gel candle supplies. Finding supplies shouldn’t be hard; you can either order them from the Internet or visit your local craft store. Some supplies can even be found in thrift stores, once you know what it is you need.

Basic Supplies

Candle Gel

Candle gel is the basis for your candles and comes in three types CLP, CMP, and CHP.

CLP is a low density gel that work well for light to medium scented candles. It is useful for making plain candles that are not going to have embellishments added to the gel and only a light scent.

CMP is a medium density gel that is slightly thicker which gives it the ability to hold more fragrant oil for a stronger scent.

CHP is the heaviest of the gels therefore it will hold the most scent and should be used if your plan on adding embellishments to your candles. It also takes the longest to melt.

Candle gel is more expensive than standard paraffin wax for making wax candles. If you are planning to make a lot of candles it is best to purchase the gel in bulk.

Equipment

The equipment needed for candle making is essentially the container for melting the wax. You can use a specialty cook pot like the Presto Kitchen Kettle or a metal pan used for camping, it all depends on how much money you want to spend.

No matter what pot you use you should also get a thermometer. You should get one that clips to the side of the pot without touching the bottom (like a candy thermometer). Digital Alarm thermometers are great because they will alert you when the set temperature is reached; this allows you to be working on other aspects of your candle making.

Glass, heat resistant measuring cup (such as Pyrex) for scooping out and pouring the gel into your containers.

Metal stirrers, you can use a long metal spoon, or very hard plastic spoon, even knitting needle work well. Do not use wooden utensils as they cause bubbles to get in the gel.

Dyes

The beauty in gel candles is their translucency so any dye used should maintain that effect. Liquid dyes work best and it only takes a very small amount. The dye should be made for candles as other dyes will not burn properly. Do not use crayons, cloth dye, food coloring or soap dyes. You will ruin your candles.

Dye also comes in chips, buds, flakes, and solids. Be careful using these as it is easy to overpower your candle.

Fragrance

Choosing your fragrance is extremely important, this cannot be emphasized enough. Fragrant oils must be non-polar and have a flash point over 170.  To insure that you are using the proper fragrant oil, purchase it from a gel candle supplier or craft store. If it does not say “gel safe”, ask for the MSDS sheet and look for the flash point.

Wicking

Choosing your wick is important in order to maintain a small, steady flame. Zinc core wicks work well with gel candles, as do Gelwick™, a wick designed for use with Penreco’s gel. Most people also tend to go one size larger in diameter with gel candles because the gel burns slower.

Wax coated wicks should be avoided. When the gel and the wick come in contact the gel becomes contaminated and cloudy.  If you use wax wicks they should say impregnated not coated. This lessens the chance of clouding the gel.

Embeds

Embeds or decorative items put in gel candles must be non-flammable. The perfect embeds are seashells, glass items, marbles, stones, ceramic materials, and wax items. You should not put resin or plastic s, potpourri or dried fruit as they are not safe. Sand can be used on the bottom but do not let the wick burn all the way to the sand.

If you have an embed that you truly must use but it is on the unsafe list, you can use the double glass method. Put the item in a glass bowl and then put a smaller glass dish inside the larger one. Fill the outer bowl that contains the embed with unscented gel and the inner bowl with the wick and your scented gel. This keeps the flame from ever touching the embed.

Gathering supplies for your candle making should not take long. There are many websites devoted to gel candle making and many craft stores have areas devoted to the process. Of course, you can always buy a kit that has everything you need all in one place.
 

Are you looking for a new hobby? If scrap booking isn’t it, then maybe something a little more classic will be your style. Consider learning how to crochet. Crocheting has been around for a long time and is often passed on through families. It is a relaxing past time that also allows you to be crafty. Several things can be made once you master this skill, such as blankets, clothing and Christmas ornaments. This article will show you how to begin your adventure.

Before you begin to crochet, you’ll need supplies. The supplies needed are simple and relatively inexpensive. Look up yarns in the yellow pages and you will find chain stores and independent stores that sell the materials. First you’ll need to get crochet hooks. When starting out it is best to start with an “H” or “I” hook. These are medium sized and will keep your stitches simple. As for yarn, you will want to stick to one theme; simple! Purchase cotton yarn and wool yarn that is free of any fringe or fuzz. The fancier yarns are for the advanced crafters.

Once you have your supplies it will be time to learn! There are two ways to go about learning. You can choose to teach yourself how to crochet through books. It takes a great deal of repetition and determination. There are many books out there that can teach you this skill. Find a book of basics and it should guide you through the simple knots and chains. If teaching yourself isn’t your thing, then find a class. Find a yarn shop and chances are they will offer a knitting circle or a crocheting class. Quite often, these classes are free as long as you purchase your supplies at their store.

Once you learn how to crochet you will be able to create many items and your choice of supplies will be incredible! When you advance, you will be able to buy specialty yarns with a little more flair. If you find a yarn shop that sells these, then you’ll be in luck. They are more expensive but worth it for the originality they will bring to your project. Look at books that contain crochet patterns. If you can perform the basics, then the patterns should be fairly easy to follow. Soon, you will be making Christmas wreaths and sweaters with sparkling yarns and artistic panache.

Gel candle making has enjoyed a surge in popularity in the past few years. It is easier than traditional candle making, requiring few ingredients and some simple instructions. The hardest decisions are ones based on personal taste: what kind of container do you want to use, do you want to add color to your gel and what scent do you want to use.

Gel wax has greatly changed the world of candle making. With its transparency the possibilities are limited only by your imagination and the speed with which it sets makes producing large numbers of candles less time consuming than with traditional candles.

Making gel candles uniquely individual is one of the most appealing aspects of the process. The only thing that has to be taken into consideration is that containers must be used, unless of course the time is taken to make unique molds as well.

Gel candles can be made using seashells from vacations, coins from travels around the world, even beer cap collections can be used to make personalized candles.  They can be tinted using dyes and scented using fragrant oils.

Materials

Before you begin making the candles you need to assemble your materials. The most expensive part of the process is the gel wax itself. You will need:

•  
• Gel wax
•  
• Glass containers – use your imagination, shot glasses, martini glasses, fish bowls;
•  
• Fragrant oils – if you want to add scent;
•  
• Dye – if you want your candles colored;
•  
• Wick – the length of which is determined by the height of your container; use wax coated wicks for gel candles, not paper wicks.
•  
• Décor for putting in the candle if desired.

You should also have a pot or kettle to melt and pour the gel from. Camping equipment is an excellent place to find a sturdy kettle to use. It will stand up to the repeated heating.

Making Your Candles

First you need to make sure that your containers are very clean and dry. Any residue or foreign materials that remain inside the container can cause your gel wax not to set properly.

You will need to melt you gel; however, you must keep an eye on the gel as it is melting as it can reach its flash point very quickly and be on fire before you know it. Using a thermometer is the best way to insure that you don’t exceed the recommended temperature. Also, do not under any circumstances whatsoever melt the gel in the microwave, it is very dangerous.

If you are going to color your gel you can do this after the gel has melted. Test the color by pouring a small spoon of it on a sheet of white paper, if the color is darker than you want it, add more gel, if it is lighter than you want it, add more dye.

This is also the time to add fragrant oil if you want to make scented candles. Again, add more if you aren’t satisfied with the odor and if it has too much smell add more gel to the mix.

You are now ready to position your wick. The method you use will depend on how precise you want your candles to be. If you are giving them for gifts and don’t want bubbles, you will want to use the pencil method. If you are making them for yourself and don’t mind some bubbles use the easier, hot glue method.

The hot glue method entails using hot glue to secure the wick to the bottom center of the container. As the wax is poured in, it will react with the glue and cause some bubbles.

The pencil method requires filling the container with wax, dipping the wick in the wax, removing the excess wax from the wick and rolling it around a pencil. Position the pencil over the container with the wick in the center and dropping it down into the gel. When the gel cools cut the wick no longer than ¼ inch.

If you are adding embellishments to your gel candle you should dip them in wax and arrange them in the container before you pour the wax in the container. You should also arrange them closer to the outer edge to make them visible.

Enjoy

Once your candles set you are now ready to enjoy your candles. Gel candle making is not a difficult process and can make beautiful gifts to share with your friends and family, during holidays or just because you want to share your newfound talent.