Category: DIY/Crafts

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How to Find the Best Theme for your Mom Blog

A mom blog is a perfect place to communicate with mothers from all walks of life. You can provide them with tips, advice, hacks, and techniques to raise children, and how they can manage work and personal life balance.

Mom blogs are also a form of very successful small business that can help work from home mothers to earn money on the side. If you’ve already started a mom blog and have a good reader base, it is essential that you work on the theme of your blog to improve the user experience.

But the real challenge is finding a template for your mom blog that falls under your budget. If you’re having trouble picking a theme because of budget constraints, this guide will help you find free small business budget templates.

Look for Marketplaces on Google

The first thing to do when trying to find a free template for your blog is to search the internet through Google. You’ll be surprised how many marketplaces offer free small business budget templates.

Even though this is a great way to find a low-cost template for your blog, you must still ensure the template is well made. Many free templates have bad coding, SEO problems, and overall design problems. This is why I always recommend downloading free templates from sites that provide unlimited support.

Try the Business Backers for Free Small Business budget templates

When I was starting my mom blog, I had a lot of trouble getting my website working. Back in the day, it was really hard to have a website because there were no tools you could use to design and develop a website yourself.

I had to work with expensive developers and designers to have a template designed for my mom blog. Nowadays, companies like business backers understand small businesses and their budget constraints. This is why they have a large category dedicated to small businesses where people can find free small business budget templates.

The best thing about their templates is that they keep updating their free templates. This is very rare because once a developer creates a free template, they usually don’t provide support or update the theme regularly to meet the increasing demands of modern internet users.

Use tools like Weebly to customize your template

Once you have selected a free theme for your website, it is time to customize the experience according to your liking. It is always a good thing to change the colors and other design elements of a theme to match the personality of your blog.

Tools like Weebly allow you to play around with various options on a website theme until you are happy with the results. Normally many free small business budget templates don’t allow you to customize the experience, but if you’re getting yours from the business backers, you have complete freedom to change the theme however you like.

Once you have a good template running on your website, I guarantee that you’ll see a surplus in readers.

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5 Trade Show Design Ideas For Photographers

Are you an aspiring photographer looking to showcase your stunning artwork at a lavish trade show? You do not have to buy a ton of expensive display accessories or exhibits to wow the world. Just channel your inner Picasso and make your trade show display stand out from the crowd. If you are creative and diligent, it will not be difficult to make your awe-inspiring photography shine at the event and connect with your audience. Here are a few tips to turn your booth into a crowd pleaser.

Go For Simplicity

Do not fret a lot about the aesthetics or visual patterns of your booth. While it may be tempting to spend hours on a great decor, keep it minimalistic and simple. Avoid too many hues and patterns. Instead, let your photography do the talking to introduce you better to the audience. Avoid neo-zappy prefabricated displays and use your booth frame using colored strings or wire to hang your amazing photos for a long-lasting impact. Use glossy draping cases, fire-retardant cloth & wraps to cover your display boxes & containers. Grab a zippy steamer chest to jack up the display on your promotional accessories.

Look For Impact

Whether you have a specific themed booth like a bridal show display or a general photography promotional spree in mind, look for ways that can infuse poignancy. Your booth must be eye-catching and impactful enough to pique your audience’s interest. Consider using 72-inch roll-up banners with your snaps, artwork and business name embossed on them. Accentuate the vibes of your main display by putting up poster-sized prints of your best photographs. Dazzle your audience with large snap prints and keep a stack of smaller prints near for handing over.

Go For Modish Drapes & Fabrics

When it comes to decor, use complementing hues for background fabrics and table drapes. These will blend well with the tones & patterns of your promotional material. Make use of fitted sheets or fire-retardant sprays for your table covers. Buy modular display lighting & rented shelves to allow you to set up accessories easily. These are inexpensive and can be purchased or rented easily from a reputable modular furniture outlet. Not to mention the ease of packing up that these utile shelves entail!

Keep Your Artwork & Handouts Fresh & Lively

To step up the aesthetics of your display material, have your brochures and business cards designed to reflect fresh and vibrant tones. These will please your audience. It is also good to use a nice slew of potted plants, cut flowers, and indoor vegetation to lighten up the brazen palette of your trade show booth. Also, consider keeping exciting takeaways stacked neatly on your foldable tables. These could include customizable photo albums for kids, snacks, and your best artwork.

Post The Event

When planning for your trade show booth, see what sort of connection you want with your audience. How should they remember you? What brand image are you promoting? With your fabulous photography to market your professional flair, it is great to have stuff like business cards and postcards also designed with ingenuity for an indelible impact. Use your best snaps for the postcards. Add some of your creative flair with an eye-catching photo to the business cards. Hand out these to your potential clients later at the show. With everything done, you are all set to rock the big event!

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DIY Beauty & Makeup Recipes with Essential Oils

They say that the best things are for free, and as cliché, as it might sound, it is actually true. Nature has provided so many resources to help us attain comfort, and this applies even in beauty products. It’s the desire of everyone to be beautiful and thanks to essential oils and other natural products, you don’t have to expose yourself to the cacophony of toxic ingredients used in commercial makeups. You can make your beauty products from the comfort of your home and what’s even more riveting is that they are entirely natural, affordable and you get to customize them depending on your skin type. That means you get that beautiful look without exposing you to the harmful chemicals used in conventional makeup. Below are a few easy DIY beauty & makeup recipes with essential oils to get you started.

Facial Toner

Going all natural is the secret to flawless skin, and this water-based facial toner will sure keep your facial skin in tip-top shape

Recipe

  • ¾ filtered water
  • A quarter cup of apple cider vinegar
  • 20-50 drops of peppermint essential oil, depending on how strong you want the aroma to be.
  • Glass spray bottle

This DIY facial toner contains water as a base, as it blends in well with the rest of the ingredients, revitalizes and moisturizes your skin. The same case applies to the apple cider vinegar which is also effective in cleansing, hence preventing breakouts. The peppermint is great for its cooling effects and effective in preventing pore appearance as well as restoring skin elasticity. Also, it adds a blissful scent and is a double win as this aroma has been proven to improve alertness and memory.

Face serum for all skin types

No one likes aging but unfortunately, it is inevitable and with each passing day, we all inch closer to old age. However, age is just a number, and we can defy it by keeping our skin tight and wrinkle-free. One way to do that is by always applying serum as it helps prevent or eliminate wrinkles by boosting the levels of collagen. There are plenty of serum products in the cosmetic realm, but this is not only expensive but also contain toxic chemicals. Fortunately, you don’t have to spend a penny on these, as you can spend your hard earned bucks on natural products to make your own essential oil face serum. Below is a DIY serum recipe for all skin types

Recipe

  • Add two tablespoons of rosehip seed oil in your container of choice (more recommendable, a 2-ounce dropper bottle)
  • A tablespoon of argan oil
  • Two teaspoons of vitamin E oil
  • 20 drops of frankincense oil
  • Ten carrot seed drops
  • 5 of Ylang Ylang

The rosehip seed oil acts as the carrier base. It is the ideal base as it is lightweight, rich in antioxidants and contains anti-inflammatory properties, hence suitable for irritable skin. As mentioned above, this recipe is for all skin types, and argan oil makes it ideal for those with dry skin. Frankincense is added in abundance as it effective in skin elasticity restoration, skin toning, and cell growth plus it has a pleasant smell. Carrot seed oil boasts the same benefits as well. Ylang Ylang is the ideal natural moisturizer. Mix all ingredients in a dropper bottle and apply every night before going to sleep. This will help diminish wrinkles and leave your skin looking younger and radiant.

Blemish Gel

Acne is quite an irritating skin problem. Besides making your skin appear rough, it also tends to leave evidence behind through blemishes when you finally manage to get rid of it. Fortunately, you don’t have to keep up with the black spots left behind or any other blemishes at that, below is a blemish gel recipe to help you get rid of these irritating spots.

Recipe

  • One and a half teaspoons of Calendula Gel.
  • Half a teaspoon of borage oil
  • Ten drops of tea tree essential oil
  • Two lemon essential oil drops
  • A drop of eucalyptus essential oil
  • A drop of fennel essential oil
  • An eight ml dropper or lip gloss container for ease of application.

The calendula gel is effective in treating minor skin irritations, while the borage oil boats anti-inflammatory and moisturizing properties and at the same time, enables other ingredients to blend in well, hence makes the perfect carrier. Tea tree, on the other hand, boasts antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, thus effective in getting rid of scars, acne spots, and other blemishes. The same case applies to the other ingredients. However, note; lemon essential oil in this recipe is highly photosensitive, hence makes your skin prone to sunburns. Therefore, apply this skin blemish when you are indoors, or at night.

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The Different Types Of Carving You Find On Wooden Antiques

Image Source: Pixabay

Wood has been a popular material to carve from for a very long time, and you may be amazed at some of the carvings that people have done over time. With just a quick search online, you can see some excellent examples of some of the different types of wood carving. Many of the shapes and the designs have names, and below you will see a summary of some of the different types of wooden carvings that have been prevalent over the years.

Adding Beautiful Carving To Furniture

For as long as people have been making furniture from wood, we have also added intricacies to the design through the addition of carving. During the 18th century, the practice became more of an art form with elaborate decorations being added to furniture to enhance the pieces. Many items of antique furniture from this period will have beautifully carved decorations such as the animal heads and claws, scallop shells, or ruffle carvings.

Image Source: Pixabay

 

  • Ruffle Carving – This is where the wood is crafted to look like a gathered cloth, or a type of material.
  • Gadrooning – With this type of carving a series of twisted carvings are created around the edge of a piece of furniture. It can also be known as piecrust carving and appears to have scalloped edges going around the edge which is like how a pie looks.
  • Carved Moulding – The furniture maker will add strips of carved wood to an item of furniture which is used as trim to decorate and finish off the piece.
  • Patera – This is either round or oval. This often includes a motif and will sometimes have radiating design from the centre different segments.
  • Lion Mask – A popular design for many centuries is the carved lion head, which can often be seen adorning many different types of furniture. Lions were often carved for nobility when they were commissioning furniture to be created for them.
  • The Rams Head – Another popular animal motif is the rams head, which can also be seen on many different types of furniture in a variety of different designs.
  • Rossette – This is often included in wooden carvings. Rossettes are the shape of rose petals.
  • Knuckle Arm – A popular design for the arms of chairs, the knuckle arm is found at the end of the chair arm and can also be known as Scrolled Knuckle Arms.
  • Linenfold Carving – With this type of carving it looks just as the name suggest, folded linen. Craftsman would incorporate this design into many different types of furniture and is something commonly seen in antiques.
  • Cabochon – This is a carved motif which usually consists of a ball shape and you will usually find that it is also surrounded by leaf ornaments.
  • Cartouche – This is often a phrase that you will hear when talking about ancient Egypt. A cartouche consists of a flat shield-like or oval shape that will have a carved monogram or inscription in its centre.

 

These are just a few of the different wooden carving designs that you can find on lots of different types of wooden furniture. There are many more designs and patterns out there, and if you want to know how to take care of this type of furniture, a quick search online will lead you to articles that can help you.

 

For centuries, carving decorative patterns on wooden antique furniture is something that has been commonly practiced. Antique pieces feature intricate carvings and elaborate detail, you can just imagine the amount of patience and work put into them by an artist from days long gone.

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Tips For Keeping Wheelie Bins Clean

Image by Pawel Czerwinski via unsplash

When a wheelie bin goes smelly in the heat, it can be a big problem. Smelly rubbish in hot weather is the pits. Bacteria multiplies at warp speed and bins take just hours to get smelly.

The smell from durable wheelie bins comes as a result of organic matter like bones, meat, food scraps, juices and fish carcasses breaking down faster in the heat. This attracts flies, the flies lay eggs and in turn, you are left with a bin full of maggots. So, you really do need to pay attention to your bins.

Tips for Keeping Your Wheelie Bins Clean

Firstly, you need to empty the inside bins as frequently as possible. Wash them. You could even add lemon citrus skin to the water or a little vinegar to remove nasty smells.

Don’t forget to wash out your big wheelie bins, too. You can also keep them in tip top condition by lining them with large biodegradable bags.

While this is an obvious tip, many people for get to do it – keep the lids of your bins shut as much as you can to contain smells and keep the flies out.

You should also wrap food waste in serviettes, paper towels or newspaper to contain the items. Along with solid things such as food soiled pizza boxes and tree clippings, you can create gaps so that air can circulate around your rubbish.

It’s also a great way to keep the bin drier and cooler. If you leave grass clippings in the bin for a few days, before sure to poke it with a garden fork to encourage garden flow.

Try to time things like cutting branches and mowing the law around the weather and organic collections. Typically, it is encouraged that you use methods such as worm farms, fermentation and composting to cut down on organic waste.

Obviously, some food waste cannot be avoided. Try putting food waste in the freezer until collection day so that it doesn’t smell bad in the bin.

More Smelly Bin Tips to Live By

  • Keep your wheelie bins closed at all times and never overload your bins.
  • If there are maggots in the bin even after the rubbish has been removed, you can kill them by pouring hot water on them. Then, clean the bin out with bleach so as to kill any eggs.
  • You can also occasionally clean the wheelie bin with bleach to kill off residual bacteria.
  • Rinse out all food packaging before placing it in your bin.
  • Sprinkle a little baking soda over the bottom of your bin. This helps to soak up odours. You can also use slices of lemon or coffee grounds.
  • Try lining the bottom of your wheelie bin with newspaper, just remember to change it regularly.
  • Wrap litter trays, pet waste, fish scraps, meta and disposable nappies before you put them in the bin.

Use these tips to keep your wheelie bins nice and clean all year round.

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How to Turn a Kid’s Bedroom into a Teenager’s Bedroom

If you live in your house long enough, the rooms go through several different transformations. This is especially the case for your kids’ rooms. One day you’re laying them down in their crib, and the next you’re wheeling that crib out and replacing it with their first big-kid bed.

One of the biggest transformations comes when your child decides they no longer want a bedroom that looks like it belongs to a child. They’re a teenager now, and they don’t have time for childish things. So how can you help them transition their bedroom from a kid’s room to one for a teenager? Here are a few suggestions.

Help Pack Away Their Old Things

One of the first things you can do is help them remove some of the stuff from their childhood. You don’t want to throw these things away, but your child just doesn’t have space for them anymore in their room. So, grab some storage containers or some empty boxes, and start packing things up. Put away their old toys, clothes that no longer fit, and maybe even some of the decorations on the walls.

Once you have everything safely packed away, you can store the boxes or containers in your basement, garage, or even rent out a storage unit. And when the time comes when they want to see these things again – and that time will come – they’ll be right there waiting for them.

Let Them Have a Say in the Decorating

When your kid is young, you decide on all the decorations for them. You painted the room and hung up pictures of family around the walls. Now that they’re older, they are going to want a say in the matter. One of the biggest decisions you can allow them to make is the color of the walls. Take them to a local hardware store and grab some paint swatches. You can then decide together which color would look best. From there you can either paint the room on your own or hire some professional painters.

After the walls are done, you can allow them to hang up what they want. Let them get some posters of their favorite bands or celebrities. Help them pick out some frames so they can hang up pictures of their friends. It might hurt to see that nice family photo you had up come down, but you can always find another place for it.

Letting your child decorate their room helps them to feel like it’s really theirs. They’ll likely need some help with things however, so be ready to lend a hand hanging up shelves, installing mirrors, or moving furniture.

New Furniture Pieces

Speaking of furniture, you may want to invest in a new furniture set for your teenager. Teenagers have different needs than kids, and they may have grown out of their current set. For instance, they may need a bigger bed now that they have grown. Or, since they’re getting more schoolwork, you may want to get them a nice desk at which they can do their homework.

We know new furniture can be expensive but think of it as an investment. If you get good pieces, they will last your child for years to come. And, if they stay in good shape, you can sell them once they’re done with them. To save money, consider checking local garage sales or postings online for used furniture, provided it’s in good shape.

Respect Their Privacy

Finally, the last thing you can do is stop treating your child’s room like a kid’s room. When they were younger, you were able to walk in at any time, or demand that they leave the door open. This isn’t going to work with a teenager. You need to give them some privacy and start remembering to knock before you enter. Doing so will show that you trust them and that this space is in fact their own.

Work Together on the Transition

In order for this transition to go well, you need to work with your child. You can’t do it yourself, as you don’t know what your kid may actually want. And they can’t do it by themselves, as they likely don’t have the money or knowledge for this type of job. If done correctly, transitioning your kid’s bedroom into one for a teenager can be a bonding experience, and one that leaves your child feeling more adult. We know it’s a little bittersweet to have to go through this, but your child will appreciate the effort once you’re done.