Archive for December, 2009
Model trains are typically set up indoors in various settings. The most popular, it seems, is under a Christmas tree, winding around the gifts that have been wrapped and placed there. While there are many people who prefer to set up their own unique display for year-round viewing inside their homes, it is rare to find model train layouts on display outdoors. This is mainly because of the fear of damaging the train system. However, there are a number of model trains and model train systems designed just for the outdoors.
It is important to know how to properly set up a good outdoor model railway display, so it is important to learn all you can before starting this venture. Outdoor model trains should always be placed in a secure area and should be as level as possible. An outdoor train system added to a garden or a garden designed around a model train makes a beautiful, yet fun, display. With some planning and creative thinking, you can create a toy train wonderland right in your own backyard!
Once you feel ready to set up your model train set, start by looking around your house to determine the best place for your layout. As tempting as it may be, it is best not to place it on the floor. Toy trains that are set up on the floor are easy to step on or kick. Also, train sets placed on the floor are subject to dirt and carpet fuzz, which gum up the mechanisms, and the uneven surface of a carpet often interferes with the train running properly. A better idea is to find a large table or piece of plywood that you can arrange your railroad display on.
Another idea that I feel may work is a sheet of styrofoam. I haven’t tried it, but I don’t know why it wouldn’t be ideal. I bought a 4 ft. x 8 ft. sheet which was at least 2 inches thick to use for my Christmas house display. It is very sturdy but lightweight. You might want to check that out.
You will probably want to begin with a simple layout. Large layouts can be complicated and intimidating. You can add to it later a little at a time. That is the great thing about model train sets; they are designed to be expanded. The main thing is to have fun and enjoy your project.
Perhaps you and your family have been trying to come up with a hobby that all of you can participate in and enjoy. After careful consideration of several ideas, all of you agree that setting up an electric toy train would be the perfect choice!
Now that that has been decided, a myriad of other questions come to mind. Trains come in a variety of sizes and gauges. Which one fits your needs and requirements? How much track do you want and how will you arrange it? Accessories? You may want a few at first and add more later over time.
One big question is where to put your train. Do you have a table or large piece of plywood and space to display it?
A few years ago our son built a shelf or ledge along the four walls of a room in his home. It was several inches down from the ceiling. (I’m sure you have seen such an arrangement.) While it was fun to watch, that was not the ideal setup in my opinion. I like to see a train, or even 2 or 3 trains, set up with crossings, tunnels, buildings, people – all things that mimic real life situations. How you set yours up is just a matter of choice, and no matter how you do it, it will be great fun!
People have been scrapbooking for years, but in recent times the hobby has really become popular. With all the supplies and embellishments available, it so much more fun to create and look at a well-designed scrapbook than to just view photos in an album.
For those who may have trouble coming up with scrapbooking page layouts, there are numerous websites just full of scrapbook ideas and suggestions. A large variety of templates can be viewed and downloaded. Scrapbook paper is available in a vast array of colors, designs, shapes, texture, and themes.
One of the main things to remember when designing your layout is that you are telling a story of an event to someone who probably was not present. Your pages should bring the occasion to life and make the viewer feel a part of it.
Not my photo, but similar.
You may think this topic does not fit in with the arts, crafts, and hobbies category. On the other hand, if you love to bake and cook, I am sure you consider cooking and baking to be your hobbies. Regardless of how you feel, I feel sure you’ll love these cookies. ( I was reminded of them when my son called and asked if I would bring him some on Christmas as they have always been his favorite. ) This recipe was given to me just as oatmeal cookies, and I have always added the chocolate chips so you can suit yourself on whether or not to add them. Anyway, here is the recipe:
Cream together: 1 cup shortening
2 cups brown sugar (packed)
Add: 2 eggs, which have been beaten
1 tsp. vanilla
Sift together: 1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. soda
Add the flour mixture to the creamed mixture alternately with
3 cups rolled oats
Add: 6 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips
Chill dough. Form into balls and flatten. Add powdered sugar to the top side. (The original recipe said to form the dough into balls and roll in powdered sugar. I found that if I covered the whole ball with the sugar, the sugar that touched the baking sheet would burn. Therefore I flatten the dough and lay it in a small bowl of the sugar so that it gets only on one side. I hope that explains it!)
Bake (powdered sugar side up) on greased cookie sheet at 375 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes.
(I really think that the powdered sugar is the finishing touch that makes these cookies extra tasty.)
If you have questions, email me at Lindawalterfl@gmail.com or LindaWalterfl@aol.com.
If you have a passion for working with wood, you realize, among other things, that having and using the proper woodworking tools can save you valuable time when creating your projects. The tools you choose to use can often affect the quality of your work.
Woodworking is a method of creating true art. As with other crafts that we get involved in, there are tools available to make our job easier and to give a more professional look to our finished items. With these tools and the proper use of them, we learn to create masterpieces from what was once a simple tree.
Christmas is just around the corner, and while it may be a little late to start our Christmas crafts, I just have to share this one with you. Considering that it is a simple project, hopefully you will find the time to fit it into your schedule. It is so much fun. And this might just be a great project for your kids.
I saw this recipe in our local newspaper yesterday. Now it may not be new to you, but it is to me. At least, if I’ve run across it before, I have forgotten it. (Maybe you don’t have that problem.) Anyway, the column was written by Carol Cloud Bailey, known in our paper as “Yard Doc.” The recipe is for dough ornaments which will have your house smelling great for a long time. The ingredients that you will need are:
1 1/2 cups cinnamon
1 cup applesauce
1/4 cup white school glue
If you prefer a different aroma, Carol suggests that you add 1 tsp. to 1 tbsp. each of ground nutmeg, ginger, cloves, and allspice.
You also will need the following supplies: a bowl, plastic wrap, a drinking straw, and a cookie sheet.
Use a spatula to mix all the ingredients, adding the cinnamon slowly. The dough should be thick like a stiff cookie dough, but not sticky. Knead the dough slightly until smooth and cover with plastic wrap. Then let it sit for at least an hour. Flatten and roll the dough until about 1/4 inch thick. (Thinner dough tends to crack and curl; thicker dough doesn’t dry well in climates such as ours here in Florida.)
Cut into desired shapes using a template and knife or cookie cutters. Use the drinking straw to punch a hole for the ribbon or yarn to hang it.
The ornaments may be placed on a rack to dry, turning every so often; this will take three to five days, or longer if the air is damp. She prefers to put them on cookie sheets in a warm oven, about 170-200 degrees, for about two hours, flipping them several times. When cool, you may decorate them with beads, ribbons, paint, or glitter. Do not cover the entire surface to allow the fragrance to fill your house.
Carol suggests storing them in sealed containers with silicone packets to absorb moisture.
Choosing The Right Paper For Your Project
There is a variety of scrapbook paper available from scrapbooking supplies stores. Some of the most common varieties of papers for scrapbooking are:
~Cardstock, which is a heavy weight paper, is used primarily for the “backbone” of your page layout. It is also used for photo mats; paper piercing and die cut images too.
~B&T (Background and Texture) paper is used for a decorative background on your scrapbook pages. It can be used for a photo mat backgrounds or to accent your stamps, die cuts, stickers, etc.
~Gingham (patterned paper) paper is a common “checker board” patterned paper that can be used for background accents on your scrapbook pages, greeting cards or other craft projects. It is pleasing to the eye and a popular, versatile pattern.
~Mulberry paper is used for adding a bit of “flair” to your pages. This thick paper can be torn while wet and used for making “tear bears” or other characters. Just tear the paper and the result is chic, fiber-rich edges.
~Vellum is a translucent paper that looks very elegant and it can be used for masking an image, embossing and is great for journaling. It is typically placed over a colored paper and it is used to “dress up” your pages and give them a distinctive appearance.
The most important thing to remember when you are choosing scrapbooking paper to go in your memory books is to choose a paper that is memory-safe, meaning it is acid-free. You want something that is going to preserve your photographs not ruin them.
If you are wanting to learn to be a decorative painter, you may want to try acrylic painting with Donna Dewberry. Her ‘One Stroke’ method of painting has changed many, many non-painters into artists, and in many cases it happened very quickly.
Donna came up with the One Stroke method while teaching herself to paint late at night while her family slept. Her persistence to learn has made her very popular in the decorative painting world. It is her claim that anyone who can draw a stick figure can learn to paint using her One Stroke technique.
Acrylic paints are the preferred medium of many artists. There are a variety of reasons for this. One of the advantages is the ease of clean-up. Being water-based, these paints and the brushes used with them can be cleaned with soap and water. (No smelly nor costly paint thinners needed!)
Acrylic paints have no odor, which is a great benefit to people who may be sensitive to strong odors. They come in a myriad of colors and shades, but if you cannot find exactly the right color, you can mix them as desired.
There are acrylic paints for nearly any and every surface. If you want to paint on fabric, you can get special paints for fabrics. If your surface is metal, there is a special paint for it. Do you paint on glass? Now you can buy an acrylic paint that lasts through several washings in the dishwasher. Whatever your project, more than likely you can find just the right acrylic paint for it.