Christmas Decorating Ideas for Inside and Outside Your Home

!±8± Christmas Decorating Ideas for Inside and Outside Your Home

There is a chill in the air and it is time for you to light the fireplace, drink a cup of hot chocolate and come up with some great Christmas decorating ideas. So play some happy holiday music from your favourite Christmas albums and let's begin. So where should you start?

As people see the exterior of your house first, you may want to start there and continue into your home or alternatively you could work from the inside out - no matter which direction you choose, just getting the job done is the most important thing.

On the outside of your home, if you are mounting rooftop decorations such as Santa in his sleigh, a waving Santa or maybe an illuminated, animated reindeer, get started there first. It is best to have these in place before stringing your Christmas lights.

And don't forget that if you plan on putting up a very large number of decorations, you do not need to get all of it completed in one day. Do not wear yourself out. The next thing to do is hang your lights; icicle lights are very popular and would look wonderful on your home. When you have the lights in position, remember to cover the ends with tape to prevent any moisture from getting in.

As soon as the Christmas lights are in place, you will be ready to start on the trees or shrubs in your front garden. Net lights make decorating small to medium sized bushes a piece of cake plus the cool to the touch LED lighting is good in trees.

If you have got taller evergreens, they can be decorated just like you would an indoor tree, including illuminated gift boxes underneath the tree. Once the trees and shrubs are done, set up each display in a section of your garden. As you proceed, frequently check for any bulbs that do not light up. You do not really want to have everything installed and then need to start the search for a broken or burned out bulb.

Line your pathway with lollipop decorations or candy canes (particularly if you are wanting a gingerbread house theme). Place poinsettias by your front door and do not overlook decorating the mailbox with a Christmas covering.

Indoors, you can decorate your mantle with a garland of fresh or artificial boughs, after which, if you are wanting a traditional look and feel, you could weave miniature lights throughout the garland. On the other hand, if you prefer a Victorian Christmas or a country Christmas, strings of cranberry beads can be looped to show small loops hanging down from the top of the mantle.

Next, set up your Christmas villages; if you do not already own a collection of them, this is the time to get started on building one. They provide a unique nostalgia and are also a great deal of fun to set up. The illuminated models are great with any type of theme.

If you would like a total holiday decor on the inside of your home, remember to substitute your area rugs with ones in holiday shades or perhaps with ones that have got Christmas decorations on them. Although, there are a great many Christmas decorating ideas to pick from, the real key to success is in spending some time to plan it out properly.

Christmas Decorating Ideas for Inside and Outside Your Home

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Porcelain Figurines - How Are These Beautiful Pieces Made?

!±8± Porcelain Figurines - How Are These Beautiful Pieces Made?

I love porcelain figurines! These graceful and precious hand-painted statuettes from modern manufacturers like Lladro, Goebel Hummel and Dresden, as well as the thousands of antique specimens still in circulation through many retail antique dealers and auction houses, are as popular today as they were decades and centuries ago. Indeed, there seems to be quite a resurgence of interest and fascination with porcelain figurines, as seen in the last decade, when they racked up over a billion dollars in sales. That's an amazing figure, when considered against our copious purchases of all the modern technological devices we thrive on. Perhaps it's the contrast of being able to settle our eyes on something beautiful, older, and more handcrafted than just the sleek black and silver boxes and modern kitchen appliances, as we look around our house.

Whatever it is, I thoroughly enjoy these grown up "dolls," and have many of them dotting different corners of my home.

There are porcelain figurines of gracefully posed ballerinas, dancing lovers, Victorian parlor scenes, and Japanese geisha girls. There are many of doe-eyed children on swing sets or holding umbrellas, many of animals, and many combining animals and children. Looking at any one of these porcelain works of art, with their amazing detail and delicacy, perfect in scale and representation of the human body, right down to the tiny fingers and toes, it's natural to wonder, "How do they make these things?" And whether it is a one-off statuette done by hand, or a production figurine repeated 40 or 50 times in one of the larger manufacturer's factories, the process is quite protracted and exacting.

First, a concept for a specific posed figure is drawn out in precise detail by an expert draftsman. Once the artists agree on all the details of the new shape, the drawn artwork is transformed into a masterful sculpture in clay, with beautiful precision in every detail. This sculpture will be used to form the mold from which numerous figurine castings can be produced. Every detail must be perfect, so it is not uncommon for several iterations of the core sculpture to be discarded before the final one is chosen.

It should be noted that, due to the delicacy of fine appendages - hands and fingers, feet and toes, ears, etc. that could be harder to cast and more easily broken during the molding process, the mold is often separated into several pieces, producing a torso and separate arms and legs that will be reassembled later.

The molds are made in two box halves of extra fine plaster, clasped around the sculpture, and let to dry over two or three days. Then the halves are separated, the sculpture is removed, and the empty mold is rejoined.

Now the actual liquified porcelain clay "slip can be poured into the mold, filling every nook, cranny and detail. The plaster will quickly absorb a thin layer of this slip, and within in as little as a half-hour, this thin layer will be staring to dry, allowing us to pour off the excess inner liquid. When the remaining thin layer is fully dry, after another long wait, the mold's two halves can be separated, and the "greenware" figurine gently tapped out. It is at this point, while still in green stage, that any other pieces of the figure can be carefully assembled.

Then it's time for first firing in the kiln, masterful painting with a variety of colored glazes, and more firing to produce the lustrous, hardened finished product.

Porcelain Figurines - How Are These Beautiful Pieces Made?

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How To Curb Your Curb Appeal

!±8± How To Curb Your Curb Appeal

Whether you are trying to sell your home or just make it more appealing, the exterior is the first thing buyers or guests will see. It is important to make sure that from the curb your home is aesthetically pleasing. It does not really matter what the inside looks like if the outside is an instant eye sore or turn off. Adding charm to the exterior also adds value and overall attractiveness to the entire property. Make sure you are not overdoing it or going about it the wrong way. Overkill is not necessary and unfortunately it is prevalent. Learn to let go and curb your curb appeal.

As a Realtor, I can not tell you how many times I have walked onto a property with someone, and the first words were "Uh oh, I hope the inside looks better." Or "Wow, so far, so good." Let us focus on the dos and don'ts of proper curb appeal. There are limitations to color, landscaping and accessories.

· Siding should be well kept and painted if needed. Carefully choose a proper color to accentuate the style or features of your home and neighborhood. Bold colors are chancy and have to be selected with caution. Victorian or traditional homes are best suited for bold colors. If your home is modern, earth tones may clash. Cold colors such as blues and purples typically do not work well with brick homes while pale or neutral colors may drown out a home's architecture depending on the surroundings and other homes on the street. Pressure-wash any dingy siding, decking, awnings and porches and replace siding sections that may have dents or flaws. Any mold or moss growth should be removed (Bleach and pressure-wash). Old television antenna or satellite dishes should be taken down and chimney caps in place along with proper flashing.

· Windows and screens should all be in tact and cleaned regularly. A stiff bristle hair brush works well for screen build up. New storm doors are a great way to add appeal for a decent price. If your current doors/screens are in need of paint or replacement, it may be something to consider. Windows in today's market are looked at seriously and replacement windows are almost expected. New windows can add a wow factor instantly. If you can't quite swing it, at least make sure your existing windows are sparkling, free of cracks, functional, and there are no missing storms or screens. Paint the window trim if needed. No paint should be chipping or pealing including on the home, porch, awnings, or windows.

· The yard should always be looking its best. Bushes and landscaping should be neat and trimmed so that the beauty of your home is seen. The lawn should be edged and flower beds maintained if present. Patches on the lawn should be filled in and weeds removed on a regular basis. Proper watering is necessary to maintain the work and money you've put in. Wild flowers purchased in quarter packets should never be planted if they are going to become overgrown and not kept up. If you have had mulch in the past but have not freshened up the beds with new mulch recently, replace or remove. Ferns on the porch or planted flowers in pots that are now wilting or dead should be removed instantly and flower color choices should not clash with the home's color scheme. Too many different style bushes, trees or flowers bunched together can clutter and overcrowd the beauty of each group individually. Complement the landscaping and space accordingly. Large porches should have large planted pots. One small hanging basket on a wrap around country porch is best put away. A happy medium of colors/sizes of flowers and plants is key. Large trees that are or are starting to hang onto the home or garage should be watched and trimmed often. Not only can it cause harm to your roof but it scares potential buyers away and looks neglectful. Gutters should not have plants growing inside of them. I'm serious. I have seen gutters that have not been cleaned in so long that there is build up and growth.

· Make sure all outdoor items that are not being used are put away neatly, including lawnmowers, toys, hoses, garbage cans, and couches and refrigerators on porches. If it does not belong outside, it should not be there. Address numbers should be the proper size and color for your home or location it is placed. Adding new address numbers or a new mailbox is a cheap and effective way to spruce up the home. Lighting is also a crucial part of exterior appeal. Solar or ground insert lighting along flowerbeds or walkways should all have bulbs. If one is blown out, the entire effect is ruined. Keep with the same lighting choice. If you're working with amber lights, stick with amber. Place accent lights near doors and make sure the home looks welcoming after dark.

· A home buyer looks at the exterior first. If the items mentioned above are not addressed properly they view it as neglect. If you are neglecting the outside, what should they expect on the inside? Don't let them raise eyebrows before even stepping foot on the inside. Guests, visitors and neighbors will appreciate your efforts and notice your attention to detail and maintenance. Most importantly, you won't be coming house, you'll be coming home. You will reap the benefits and be pleased with your work and homes curb appeal.

How To Curb Your Curb Appeal

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Build a Home Where Your Child Will Play For Hours!

!±8± Build a Home Where Your Child Will Play For Hours!

Your child would love nothing more than to have a little home of her own where she can enjoy hours of pretend time in the outdoors. There is nothing a child enjoys more than a private place to entertain her friends or to mimic the adults in her life! Although you can find many models of homes available on the market from the simplest cabin to the elaborate two-story mansion, there are also blueprints available so you can create a home that she will love.

Want to make something completely unique? Go online and you will find the diagrams and step-by-step instructions that are available for free. Many of these are made for you to follow in order to create a simple building without a lot of accessories but if you are looking for a multi-functional design that also has an attached play area with a slide, swings, or other activities, you may be able to find what you are looking for.

The advantages to the free instructions that are listed online are obvious but unless you have a high skill level, you could have some problems following them. Not all of them provide you with the finite details and it will be up to you to fill in the blanks. Read over the entire list to see if you can understand what they say and that you have the skill needed to follow them.

The simpler the design of the building, the more likely you are to benefit from free plans. If you want something that is more elaborate or is more than one story, it is probably worth the charge for the professional blueprints and directions. They aren't very expensive in comparison to the cost of having to buy replacement materials for a project gone wrong.

It is possible to get simple instructions to build a simple little building that has all the features you need and then add enough accents to make it into a unique design that is personalized for your child. Just let her pick the color she wants it painted and then stencil on designs around the windows and doors and you can paint her name on the front to show just whose home it is! Add a front porch with a welcome mat and place a weatherproof chair outside.

The furniture that you put inside the home will be a large part of the appeal of the building as well. You can choose to put bean bag chairs or a child size table and chairs inside for less expensive furnishings or go all out with authentic looking Victorian style.

Some easy additions to the outside of her home include window boxes full of beautiful flowers, her own mailbox, and railings that look like the real thing. Even the simplest building can be customized to be exactly what she wants. This may be the easiest alternative for you to create a one-of-a-kind home that she will adore!

Build a Home Where Your Child Will Play For Hours!

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Postcard Marketing Model Number 2 - Generate Immediate Cash Flow With Special Offers

!±8± Postcard Marketing Model Number 2 - Generate Immediate Cash Flow With Special Offers

You're having a slow week or a slow month. Or you see a week or month looming that's been slow in the past. Or you're not sure why, but no one seems to buy on Tuesdays. Or you have a whatever that no one wants to buy at full price.

Postcards to the rescue.

Postcards today are fun, colorful, eye-catching, cheap, quick to send and effective. And when you send established customers cards bearing a special offer, they bring in fast cash.

Design your special offer to be at least very appealing and even better, irresistible. According to advertising experts, a discount of 30 percent gets almost everyone's attention.

But your special offer doesn't have to be money off. You can run a two-for-one special, promise a free whatever with any purchase over $XX or specify that no payment is due for 60 days. You can even tie the offer to a charity or cause: Bring in canned goods for the poor or a used winter jacket in good condition and we'll do such and such for you. Or you can say you haven't taken new clients for a particular service in several years and you have two openings now - first come, first served.

If you have a retail location, tell postcard recipients to bring in the card when they come in, to get the discount. If customers typically buy online or by phone, provide a coupon code they can read off or type in to get the discount.

Either way, be sure you clearly state a deadline for the offer - including the year. Not only does this prevent misunderstandings about the offer, the deadline motivates people to act rather than putting the card aside for later. Usually, later means the card never gets looked at again. The deadline should be no more than two weeks from when you expect the cards to land in people's mailboxes.

Don't think that if one offer is tempting, two offers would be even better. More than one offer sparks indecision rather than desire. So present only one offer per postcard.

Since you never know which side of the card recipients see first, design your postcard so the reader sees your offer at a glance, whichever side happens to be facing them when they go through the mail. Colorful design and images help grab attention, but make sure the graphics support your concisely worded message rather than overpower it.

The quickest way to get postcards to your list is to use an online vendor that enables you to design the card online and then upload a data file containing your customer list. Postcard Builder, Amazing Mail and several other companies offer this convenient service. This is totally hands off in the sense that you never touch the postcards and do not need specialized knowledge of postal procedures and regulations.

Put your own address on the list, and you'll know exactly when the cards arrive in the homes or offices you were sending to. Then wait for the sweet sound of ka-ching! ka-ching! as orders stream in.

Postcard Marketing Model Number 2 - Generate Immediate Cash Flow With Special Offers

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