Creative 360 Degree

Teaching a Bible verse is perhaps one of the most important things a Sunday School teacher can do. After all, the Bible tells us

"..And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus" (2 Timothy 3:15 KJV)

Invent

Whatever methods you choose to use, always leave enough time for your class to repeat the verse 3 to 6 times. Say it in groups. Say it as individuals. Learn it. Explain it. And yes, memorize it. You can make this part more interesting with several strategies listed below. Some are very simple and require no preparation. Others are slightly more involved.

1. Grouping

Simply by getting different 'groups' within the class to repeat the verse with other people in their group, you will be able to do rote repetition more effectively. Group the class by boys, girls, those with blue eyes, brown eyes, older sisters, younger brothers, colored socks, etc. etc. Of course, don't forget to ask for individual volunteers who have already memorized it.

2. Speed or Volume

Some children are actually better at remembering a verse if you get them to repeat it as fast as they can. Give it a try, if only for the sake of variety! Try to repeat the verse in a whisper or in loud voices.

3. Write it

As simple as it sounds, simply have your students write the verse on their own paper. After practicing together a few times, ask the students to write as much as they can from memory without looking at the original. Then reveal the white board to the class again to correct their mistakes. Writing a word uses a new thinking process other than the verbal exercises. Also consider asking one of your students before class to write the verse on the board for you.

4. Sticky Note Scramble

Write each word of the verse an a 3M PostIt note and paste them to the white board in their correct order.

a. Pull the words off the board and have a student re-assemble the words in their correct order.

b. Alternatively, you could randomly hand out the sticky notes, each paper to a random student. Ask "Will the person with the next word in the verse please come to the board and place the word on the board?" Or say "Everyone please place your sticky note on your shirt, come to the front of the class and form a line with the words in correct order."

c. Start (or resume) with the full verse on the board. Eliminate the words, one or two at a time, and recite the verse each time until all the words are gone. Let a student decide which word(s) to eliminate by eliminating a word that contains the first letter of the student's name. e.g. Jenny would eliminate all words that contain the letter "J".

5. "Eye Exam" the verse

Write the memory verse about 6 or 7 times on poster board or large pieces of paper. However, each time you write, gradually make the words smaller. The words on your last card should be as small as you can possibly write them. You can use a computer word processor to write fonts very small - smaller than 8 point font - if you type the number into the font size choice instead of simply select it with the mouse.

Show your first card (Biggest words) to your group, and have them say the verse. Then simply work your way through to the last card - children repeating the words each time. As you get to the smaller words, start to compliment the group on their eyesight. Act amazed when they manage to "read" your last card. Then say "I think you are trying to fool me. I don't believe you can really read this last card. I think you have memorized the verse. I think you can repeat the verse without any card at all" - And they will!

6. Invisible Writing

Write the verse with a white crayon on white cardboard or paper. Get volunteers to gradually paint over the cardboard with red food coloring. The words will then 'magically' appear as the food coloring adheres to the crayon. This is a good way to teach verses concerning the blood of Jesus

7. Wheel of Fortune - Guess the letter.

This is another popular method, but it does take a little longer than most other ways. Write out your verse by putting "blanks" for letters e.g.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Luke 19.10.

The idea is for the children to guess the correct letters that make up this verse. As they do so, fill in the blanks.

There are two ways of using this method.

Competing teams (e.g. boys v. girls). One person from each team guesses a letter in turn. If team 1, for example, guesses 'n', and there are three n's, they get three points. If team 2 guesses 'e', and there are six e's, they get six points etc. The team with the most points when the verse is complete is the winner.

The class competes against 'teacher'. Explain that if they guess a letter and it is not in the verse, you get a tick. If you get four ticks before the verse is completed, you win.

8. Mirror image

Write the verse backwards, so that you could only read it properly by looking at it through a mirror. (Ensure that the individual letters are written 'the wrong way round'). Get the children to try and read the verse. In my experience, most children do not have any trouble doing this.

9. Decipher Codes

Perhaps appropriate more with a small group of students at table instead of a large audience only in chairs, decipher codes can be used for students to "solve" the verse and write it correctly.

a. Extra letters. Write the verse on the whiteboard adding two extra letters between the words. Leave no gaps. Here is an example:

ThegxsonkbofswmanqkcamerptoooseekzjandfrtouwsavexrthegglostaaLukejy19.hh10.

b. Jumbled letters. Jumble up the letters of each word. Example:-

"het sno fo mna acme ot eeks dna ot aves het tlos." Lkeu 19.10.

c. Substitutions - Write the verse with a number of deliberate mistakes. See if the children can spot them all.

e.g. The brother of God arrived to find and shave the poor. Matthew Chapter ninety verse eleven. (Luke 19.10. - Mistakes included).

d. Use Spoonerisms- to add humour to the presentation. (for eg- "the speed of light becomes - the leed of spite" or "go and shake a tower"...go and take a shower.

"The mon of san is some to ceek and to save that lich was whast." Luke 19:10

10. "Drop Out" Game

Arrange the students in a circle or around a table. Randomly choose a student to start the game by saying only the first word of the verse. The student to the left says the second word. The next student says the third word and so on. No hesitating is allowed. If a child cannot say the next word, they "drop out". Once the verse is complete, get them to do it again, only faster! Alternatively, you could make the make the game a team effort by saying the verse perfectly as a group two or three times in order to receive a reward or earn "best time" status (using a stopwatch).

And finally, a bonus method, number eleven.

11. Sing It

Invent a tune to carry the words in the student's mind. Choose a sing-songy tune such as "wheels on the bus" or "Peter peter, pumpkin eater" or better yet invent your own. Remember, the goal is not to become the next Mozart, but to teach the words of the verse. Putting words to a tune is an extremely powerful memorizing technique for children.

Creative Ways to Teach a Bible Verse to Your Sunday School Class - 10 Ideas

Shad Sluiter is a missionary who has lived in Mexico and now resides in the United States. He has produced hundreds of free Sunday school worksheets, classroom activities, games and Power Point projects which are available for download at http://www.gospelhall.org/sundayschool Additionally, you may visit his Online Bible Verse Finder at http://www.gospelhall.org/bible

Your newsletter name has a big effect on your readership, so it's essential you choose a good name right from the start. A good newsletter name will draw people to subscribe to your newsletter and read it, while a poor name will just make them run away.

Here are some ideas to help you come up with creative newsletter names...

Creative

#1. Your Niche

You can include the name of your niche in your newsletter title to explain what the content is about. This is one of the most common naming techniques people use. Here are some sample newsletter names...

* Affiliate Marketing Facts

* Search Engine Optimization Advice

* Email Marketing Insider Tips

* Easy Gardening Guide

* Free Golf Tips

#2. Your Target Market

Your newsletter targets a certain audience, right? How about that you use their name in your newsletter title to attract their attention? This will tell them you offer the information that they want. Here are some good newsletter names...

* Affiliate Marketers Weekly

* Work at Home Moms

* Pet Lovers Tips & Trends

#3. Catchy Newsletter Names

Depending on your target market, this type of name can work for you. The benefit to these kind of names is that they're catchy and easy to remember. They're just creative names out of no where.

However, their weakness is that your audience can't understand what your newsletter is about. So you need to provide them with a short description everywhere you introduce your newsletter. Here are some creative newsletter names...

* The Great Gordino

* Scootey Lindo

* Zapping Tides

* Blue Velvet Times

You can also find a list of catchy newsletter names to get a lot of great name ideas for your own newsletter.

Wish you the best of luck with starting your newsletter!

Newsletter Names - Creative Ideas for Newsletter Titles

Ladan Lashkari is giving away a FREE step-by-step guide to help you choose awesome newsletter names that draw people to subscribe and read your newsletter. Also you can find tons of creative newsletter ideas and helpful resources to make your newsletter even more amazing. So make sure you drop by http://www.FreeNewsletterIdeas.com while they are still available.

Here are 12 ideas to get your creative juices flowing and increase your skills and value as a photographer.

TIP 1 - Time Lapse photos. I showed my niece how to do this with clay figures and stitch the resulting frames together into a video file, and she was busy for days. If you control the exposure consistently to keep the images consistent with one another, you can do some really fun stop-motion animation. Or, you can set up your camera to capture other slow motion effects such as flowers opening and seedlings growing.

Creative

TIP 2 - Night Lights. Things look very different at night. Shooting city scenes with available light creates some interesting images. And shooting outdoor images under moonlight or with "light painting", where you open up the camera shutter for an extended exposure, and "paint" your targets with colored or plain light, can create some truly bizarre images.

TIP 3 - Astrophotography. Hook that SLR up to a telescope, and you are ready to peer into the depths of space and time. You'll need some adapters, and ability to compensate for the earth's rotation for really long shots. Start with the moon and move on from there.

TIP 4 - Macro photography. From flowers to coins to stamps, you can polish your skills at close-up photography and capture some really detailed images. Often a macro lens or close-up attachment will help. See my tips on Flower Photography to get more information.

TIP 5 - Micro photography. If you can interface that camera with a microscope, you can get some really crazy images. Or, stack up a bunch of close-up magnification and try your hand at turning salt crystals into surreal imagery.

TIP 6 - Insurance Photos. OK, maybe a bit boring, but you and your friends and relatives will thank you. Take a couple hours and touch and photograph everything of value, with a full shot or two if each item of value, accompanied by a shot of the identifying marks - manufacturer model or serial number. Then burn a CD or DVD and store it off site. If you have a fire or other loss, this could save the owner thousands of dollars.

TIP 7 - Family Recipe book. Anytime those family favorites are prepared, copy down the recipe and take some photos of the food. You can produce a printed or electronic cookbook of family favorites that everyone will love.

TIP 8 - Stock Photography. This is a very busy market niche, but the cost of entry is low. Specialize in things you love, and you may be able to generate some income from your stock images. Search for stock photography sites, and make sure you understand your rights before you post images.

TIP 9 - Special Effects. Maybe you want to specialize in high-speed images of athletes, or surrealistic collages. Try your hand at using your editing skills to put someone in a soda bottle or floating on a candy lifesaver. Often more artistic than photographic, it will test your composition, lighting and editing skills to come up with believable artificial realities.

TIP 10 - Still Life. Ahh, the bowl of fruit. Sometimes a simple object or collection, properly lit, shot and edited, is a thing of beauty. It's a great way to study light. Start with an egg on a light background, a lamp and a window and see how you can learn about lighting and composition.

TIP 11 - Computer Control. Many cameras have a USB interface and remote control software. You can actually control the camera from the computer. See if you can get it to work to your liking, and maybe even program some time lapse or exposure bracketing experiments.

TIP 12 - Be Like Andy. Take some images of everyday items and try to create those neat colored backgrounds like Andy Warhol used to make. Create a 4-up print of the same image and change the colors of each quadrant to make an interesting square print.

Have fun with these ideas, and let me know when you become famous!

12 Creative Photography Ideas

John Huegel is a photographer in the Erie, Pennsylvania area who specializes in Seniors, Dance Studio, Families and other groups. He is active in many charitable and volunteer activities in the Erie area. His work can be seen at http://jhphotomusic.com

When it comes to painting a baby room, you could pick out a paint color, apply it to the walls and be done. But if you are feeling creative and a little more adventurous than that, there are a lot of great ideas you could implement when it comes to painting your baby's nursery. Here are a few suggestions:

However you decide to go about painting your baby's room, remember to keep in mind the décor that you are going to use for the room. The painting colors and techniques you use should go with everything else that you plan to use in the room. Don't be afraid to be adventurous and try something new. Remember, the best thing about decorating a room is that if you don't like how something turns out, you can always change it!

Creative

Painting Baby's Room - Creative Ideas for Painting a Baby Nursery

© Copyright Rebecca Johnson, All Rights Reserved

Rebecca Johnson owns Decorating-Your-Baby-Nursery.com, a website that provides tips and ideas for decorating a baby nursery. Visit it for more ideas on decorating the nursery walls

Worried you may not be creative or you may not be creative

enough? This quiz will help you find out just how creative

you are.

Take a piece of paper and number it from one to seven. For

each question, write down the corresponding letter of your

answer.

Creative

1. When you come across a rose, you immediately:

A. Smell it.

B. Quote every rose poem you can remember.

C. Write your own poem.

D. Sketch the rose.

E. Step on the rose.

2. One of your dreams in life is to:

A. Write a novel.

B. Become a painter.

C. Travel the world.

D. Climb all the famous mountains.

E. Just once, get everything done on your to-do list.

3. Your desk:

A. You have trouble finding as it's buried under everything

including the kitchen sink.

B. Resembles a natural disaster.

C. Is a bit of a mess, but you know where everything is.

D. Is basically neat -- you use the stacking method.

E. Is in perfect order -- everything in its place.

4. The person you admire most is:

A. Einstein.

B. Walt Disney.

C. Your mother.

D. Jane Austin.

E. Anyone who can get everything crossed off his or her

to-do list.

5. You consider yourself:

A. Extremely creative.

B. Creative.

C. Somewhat creative.

D. A little creative.

E. About as creative as a turnip (come to think about it,

turnips may be more creative then you are).

6. You get new ideas:

A. All the time.

B. Several times a week.

C. Several times a month.

D. Once or twice a month.

E. You dimly recall getting a new idea when Clinton was in

office. Or maybe it was the first Bush.

7. You dream in:

A. Color.

B. Black and white.

C. Both black and white and color.

D. You can't remember now.

E. Nothing. You don't dream.

Scoring:

Throw out all your answers except for number five -- "You

consider yourself:". If you answered:

A. Extremely creative -- Then you're extremely creative.

B. Creative -- Then you're creative.

C. Somewhat creative -- Then you're somewhat creative.

D. A little creative -- Then you're a little creative.

E. About as creative as a turnip -- Then you're about as

creative as a turnip.

Okay, this was a bit of a trick. But it's true. How creative you

think you are corresponds with how creative you really are.

A couple of studies illustrate this. A big company wanted to

increase creativity in its employees. So it hired a group of

consultants to come in. The consultants started by

thoroughly testing all of the employees. They discovered the

only difference between the employees who were creative

and those who weren't was this: Creative people believed

they were creative and less creative people believed they

weren't.

Even more telling was what happened to the group that

wasn't creative. The consultants focused on helping them

nurture their creativity. At the end, those employees were

actually more creative than the ones who had initially

considered themselves creative.

And that means you too can become more creative. In fact,

how creative you become is entirely in your own hands.

Creativity Exercise -- Assumptions

Ready to become more creative? Here's an exercise.

Write down all the reasons why you're not creative. Go on.

Write them all down. Every negative reason you can think of.

Things like:

I've never been creative in my life.

I haven't had a new idea in over a year.

I don't have time to be creative.

Now reverse those negative assumptions and make them

positive. Like so:

I am a creative person.

I have lots of new ideas all of time.

I don't need time to be creative because I already am

creative.

Do this every day and see what happens. This is a great

way to start getting rid of those inner demons that keep all of

us from realizing our true potential.

Quiz -- Are You Creative?

Michele Pariza Wacek owns Creative Concepts and Copywriting, a writing, marketing and creativity agency. She offers two free e-newsletters that help subscribers combine their creativity with hard-hitting marketing and copywriting principles to become more successful at attracting new clients, selling products and services and boosting business. She can be reached at http://www.writingusa.com.

Many of the novels produced today have fight scenes which must be described in detail. If you are writing a suspense or horror story, chances are someone will throw a few punches. Depending on the type of fight you are writing about, you will need to think through each fight scene and decide exactly how you want to tell it.

Fight scenes are much easier to perform on television than to write in a manuscript. On the screen, you can see the fight happening and you aren't worried about what anyone is thinking. You don't have to tell the audience how each move is executed because it is right there in front of your face. In a novel, however, the way you write a fight scene will determine whether or not your reader can follow.

Creative

One of the most difficult aspect of writing fight scenes is the tendency to slip into monotony: He kicked her. She kicked him. He punched her. She bit him. In order to keep your reader interested, you have to find creative ways to tell the reader what is happening.

When writing fight scenes, focus not only on the characters who are engaged in the fight, but also various aspects of the scenery. In most cases, you will be "in the mind" of one specific character, which means that the fight is explained from his or her point of view. Even as your character is kicking ass and taking names, he or she should be cognizant of the world around them.

There is a fine line, however, between creating enough description and creating so much that it takes away from the pace. Fights are fast, furious and often over within minutes; if you drag it out too long, your reader will get bored. Keep the pace flowing by intermixing your description with the mechanics of the fight.

For example:

"Caleb was momentarily distracted by the shouts that emanated from the rapidly growing crowd in the parking lot. Catcalls were followed by cheers of encouragement so loud that his attention was momentarily called away from the fight. Joshua's leg swept out in a wide, graceful art, connecting with Caleb's ankles, throwing him off balance. Without even realizing what exactly was happening, Caleb found himself flat on his back, sucking in deep breaths of air that seemed devoid of oxygen, wincing as tiny pebbles from the asphalt dug painfully into his back. The subsequent tunnel vision that threatened to take away his sight cleared with just enough time to roll away from a kick to the ribs."

The above is an excerpt from a suspense novel I wrote several years ago, and displays an example of complementing action with description. We know what is going on with the fight, but we also understand what has happened to Caleb.

Once you have finished writing a fight scene, read it over aloud. Listen to the words from an objective point of view and determine if you can see the fight happening in your mind. If you don't feel that you can maintain objectivity, read it to a friend or family member.

Creative Writing: How to Write Fight Scenes

About this Author

Laura J. College is a professional ghostwriter with more than ten years' experience writing fiction and non-fiction manuscripts. Her work can be found all over the Internet, and she is currently accepting ghostwriting clients. Check out her website at [http://www.laurajcollege.com]

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Laura_College

Thanksgiving Day comes once a year in the U.S., but every day there are people in our lives who deserve our thanks. Sometimes a simple "Thank you" is appropriate. At other times, it is more thoughtful to be creative in expressing appreciation. It's just good business.

Here are some suggestions for thanking people at work, at home, and in the community.

Creative

1. When you say "Thank you" tell the person specifically what it is you appreciate and why you appreciate it. "Thank you for going to the Post Office for me. It saved me a lot of time."

2. Send an e-mail note. When I sent a thank you note to my staff in the Pentagon, the energy level shot up.

3. Send a hand-written thank you note. These are noteworthy because so few of us take time to write and mail them.

4. Place an unexpected phone call just to say "Thank you." Connecting verbally adds warmth to your appreciation even if you reach voice mail.

5. Present a small certificate. Half-page certificates take up less space if displayed and are as meaningful as full sized certificates. They tend to draw attention because they are different.

6. Give a single flower from your garden, flowerpot, or florist, with a verbal "Thank you" or a note.

7. Put a candy bar or piece of fruit on the desk of the person to be thanked, with or without a note. (Be sure the person is not on vacation!)

8. Bake some cookies. This is especially effective when men bake and present a few cookies in thanksgiving.

9. Say something nice about the recipient of your thanks to someone else when the person you appreciate can overhear you. This is especially powerful in a business setting.

10. For special occasions, present a US flag that has flown over the Capitol. It is a unique, reasonably priced item which few people own. A certificate of authenticity is provided in honor of any special occasion you designate. Call your congressman's office and ask for it. If you don't have a local contact, call 202 224-3121 and ask for your congressman or congresswoman by name. When you reach that person's office, ask to purchase a flag. They'll know what to do!

Creative Ways to Say "Thank You"

Jo Condrill was a civilian leader at Army Headquarters in the Pentagon, and she led 3,000 Toastmasters to rank #1 in the world. She knows the value of gratitude. Author of "Take Charge of Your Life: Dare to Pursue Your Dreams," "101 Ways to Improve Your Communication Skills Instantly," and "From Book Signing to Best Seller." http://www.goalminds.com/takecharge.html

Creative Presentation Ideas - It's Showtime!

Listed below are just 3 of the 100 creative presentation ideas you can use to make your presentation unforgettable. You may use these creative presentation ideas when speaking to potential investors, at management forums, conference lectures or with your colleagues, employees, or any other presentation you have to make.

Creative

Each creative idea is described in the following format:

• Basic description of the creative presentation idea


• What for? major benefits of the idea, or how it may be used


• Variations on the creative idea: how you can adapt the idea to different settings, goals and audiences


• Comments: things you should pay attention to when using the creative idea

Well, here comes the first creative presentation idea:

Creative Presentation Idea #1:

Description: Do not use titles in your slides

What for?

1. Tell the viewers that you left out the presentation titles intentionally in order to see if you could deliver your main points clearly


2. When using the presentation as a learning aid in a workshop, if your audience is required to complete the titles, they will have to think about what you are teaching and actively participate in the discussion

Variations:

1. Leave the titles out for only some of the slides - perhaps the ones that will be used for a review of the presentation so far, or to trigger a discussion on a controversial issue


2. Write only half of the title, and ask your audience to complete it

Comments:

• You can use a printed "complete" version of the presentation for yourself, so you can see the titles you meant to use

The creative ideas I suggest are of different kinds and levels. Some are crazier than others. You should choose the one that best suits your presentation needs. Do you want to make a really bold statement? Here is a more outrageous idea:

Creative Presentation Idea #75:

Description: Present the presentation blindfolded!

What for?

1. You could definitely demonstrate your knowledge of the subject and a good memory skill as well as self-confidence by using this idea


2. Use it to add some humor to your presentation: after you put the blindfold on, intentionally make some funny mistakes when referring to the slides, and only then show them that you know what you're talking about...

Variations:

1. Put the blindfold on for just a short part of the presentation, when you want to make a dramatic effect


2. Provide blindfolds for the participants, so their sense of hearing will be heightened and you could test their memory after a few slides!

Comments:

• Take care not to offend people with disabilities (e.g. blind people, etc.). Use this technique when you are certain you can do so tactfully and with good taste

As you might have noticed by now, these creative presentation ideas do not rely on an incredible knowledge of Power Point, or on unreasonable production expenses. Actually, in some of the ideas you don't even have to use Power Point at all!. Here's one:

Creative Presentation Idea #31:

Description: Have a painter/caricaturist assistant -

drawing images/cartoons on a flip chart as you explain

What for?

1. This would make your presentation "live" on the go. Instead of using slides, the sketches would visually convey the major points you are trying to get through. For example - when you talk about the tough task lying ahead, a simple drawing of mountaineers climbing up a steep mountain would etch that image in the viewers mind.


2. A caricaturist could add a touch of humor to your presentation with funny images and hints

Variations:

1. If you have the talent - you could draw the sketches yourself as you speak.
   
2. If there's an electronic drawing pad - you could use it and show the drawings on a screen as they are drawn.


3. Alternatively - ask some of the participants themselves to help you and draw those images on the flip chart as you speak.


4. You could prepare and give the participants a comic book with the important things you talked about.

Comments:

• Make sure there are enough flip chart pages you could use, and that everyone can see them well.
  
• Rehearse the presentation with the painter and the list the major subjects you are going to talk about so that s/he would have time to think about how to make meaningful and relevant drawings.


• Here are a few pointers on where to find the person to draw for you: look for high school or college art students who wish to practice and demonstrate their talent for a small fee or free of charge; ask around for other employees that have that talent and are willing to give a hand. Of course, if the presentation is worth the investment, you may always hire a professional caricaturist.

100 Creative Presentation Ideas

Get 100 creative presentation ideas - and more!
I hope these three examples of creative presentation ideas gave you a taste of how you can make your presentations into memorable events.
But the 119-pages "100 creative presentation ideas" e-book has more than just ideas. Here is the book's table of contents:

• Introduction – What this book is all about
• Chapter 1: Basic steps for a creative process
  • Step 1: Motivation & Mood
  • Step 2: Focus and Detail
  • Step 3: Manipulation
  • Step 4: Make Real
  • Creative Process Diagram
• Chapter 2: Ideas - Presentation Content
• Chapter 3: Ideas - Presentation Planning and Order
• Chapter 4: Ideas - Presentation Design and Delivery
• Chapter 5: Ideas - Audience Participation
• Chapter 6: Ideas - Atmosphere & Environment
  
  http://www.best100ideas.com/ideas01.shtml - Get the full E-book now!

Shoebox Dioramas are a part of every school year and in just about every grade they serve as a wonderful learning tool. They are used to learn the arts and crafts of making things and they are used to also learn about subjects. This article shows you some creative ideas from both the arts and crafts aspect and the learning aspect.

The Arts and Crafts of Shoebox Dioramas

 

There are a lot of common ways to make a shoebox diorama and they include tape, glue, construction paper and all the regular assortment of arts and crafts stuff but there are a few things you can do to make a diorama just a little bit special. Here is a list of ideas:

Creative

• If you are doing an underwater scene you can cover the front of the box with Saran Wrap or thin plastic. This gives the diorama an underwater feel


• Use string to utilize the full three dimensions inside the box; suspend objects from strings or tie strings from side to side and top to bottom and attach objects to the strings. This works well for flying objects like bird, pterodactyls or even clouds and stars.


• Cut slots in the back and top of the box and use this to insert objects that you can move across the diorama. Make a bird, boat, comet or some other type of moving object then attach a tab to the back of it. Insert this tab in the slot then you can grab the tab from the back and slide the object across the diorama. This adds a nice little interactive element. This works well with all kinds of things from a rising sun, flying bird, erupting volcano or just about anything else that would move.


• Think outside the shoebox! There is no need to run out and buy a new pair of shoes if you don't have a shoebox. A more than adequate box can be made from scraps of cardboard or even a few cereal boxes cut and taped together. And there is no need to make a typical shoebox shape. Be creative in the shape you make. It adds a dimension of interest to the project. Half round, amphitheatre shapes are commonly used for dioramas and look great.


• Achieving Depth - The most common trait of an average shoebox diorama is that it has a decorated background and objects placed on the bottom surface.  You can add an attractive touch by decorating a strip of paper that is about two inches wide with a foliage pattern then attach this to the inside bottom of the diorama about an inch from the back wall - it reaches all the way from the left side to the right side. This adds a lot of depth and makes it look much more interesting.


• Using alternate materials - You don't have to use cardboard or boxes. As an example, if you are doing a polar bear or penguin diorama you could use white packing Styrofoam.  If you are doing a desert scene you can apply glue to the bottom of the diorama and sprinkle real sand on it.

Theme Ideas and Learning Tools

 

The biggest point of a shoebox diorama is to show a natural habitat of something. In the process of drawing and cutting out the various objects a child is learning about the habitat. This is great but you can take it to new levels with a little thought and a little creativity. 

• Freezing a moment in time - A diorama is a moment in time and you can focus on this. Some good examples are you can have a meteor streaking across the sky of a dinosaur diorama; this explains a theory of extinction. Or you can show a large predator fish about to eat a smaller fish as it is eating something even smaller. This dramatic moment in time is a good display of the food chain.


• Interactions in a habitat - The focus of a diorama is often to correctly identify and place the right objects for a natural habitat but you can take this to a new level by focusing on the interactions within the habitat. The upper layer of canopy in a rainforest blocks out sunlight from the lower layers and this is an important aspect of the rainforest. A coral reef provides shelter for many creatures in the sea and a diorama can display this.


• Adding a Fact Sheet - This is a great tool that should be added to every diorama. You should make a fact sheet that can be glued to poster board and stood up near the diorama. The sheet explains the basic facts of what the diorama is about.

Diorama Ideas

 

Here are some ideas you can use as a theme for your diorama:

• The Natural Habitat of just about any creature like fish, polar bears, black bears, penguins, wolves, humans, dinosaurs, camels, lions, tigers, monkeys, elephants, dolphins, and well you get the idea!


• A Desert theme complete with pyramids, mummies and camels is fun


• A Rainforest is a good diorama for teaching about diversity and the interaction of species


• An astronomy diorama complete with sun, planets, comets, and stars in the background


• A medieval Castle scene complete with catapult or dragon


• Underwater scenes are always popular


• Arctic themed dioramas are fun because of the creative options for snow and icebergs

Whatever diorama you choose to make you should take a little time to make it different and unique and there are lots of creative ways to do that. Have fun with your project!

Creative Shoebox Diorama Ideas For the School Season

Visit the author's diorama site where you can find lots of videos, tutorials, and ideas for making dioramas. Diorama Man

School is back in session and you're looking for a creative after school activity for kids. Whether you're a parent or after school care provider, keeping kids busy, happy and safe can be a challenge. Between 3:00 and 6:00 p.m. is when kids need fun activities to keep them from being bored. I have listed ideas for after school clubs that are easy to plan and fun for kids to do.

Organize a cooking club to make a nutritious snack for everyone. Make a healthy trail mix with granola or cereal, peanuts, pretzels, seeds and dry fruit. Mix up fruit smoothies in a blender with low-fat yogurt, fresh fruit, honey and ice. Put together mini-pizzas with small bagels, pizza sauce, and cheese. Review math concepts such as fractions, addition and subtraction with the cooking lesson.

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Physical fitness is an activity to plan each day. Kids need about an hour of physical exercise each day. Have a fitness club to organize a team sport such as dodge ball, softball, and volleyball to play with everyone. The club can also plan relay races and fitness and movement games. If weather is rainy or snowy, play indoor volleyball, basketball or set up an obstacle fitness course.

Putting on a play or puppet show is an activity that can be ongoing for several weeks or more. Have a drama or puppet club, which meets twice per week. The kids will pick a story or play that they like, design costumes or puppets, create props, and practice their parts. Pick a date for the performance and invite other students, friends and family to come see their production.

Eight more great after school club activity ideas:

• Science Club: do experiments and record results


• Chess Club: have tournaments


• Book Club: read a book, discussion, and write book reviews


• Dance Club: learn dance steps from all over the world


• Language Club: learn sign or a foreign language


• Photography Club: take photos of other clubs


• Journalism Club: put together a monthly newsletter


• Art Club: drawing, painting, sculpture, and cartooning

Plan on each club being between one half to one hour in length. Offer sessions so everyone can have an opportunity to participate in many of the activities. A different club or activity can be offered each day. Have kids sign up for a club that they are interested in. Involve the kids in the planning, preparation, and even leading the club. The more the kids are involved in the activity, the more successful the activity will be.

Creative Club Ideas For a Kid After School Activity

As a mother, grandmother, and child development professional, Nancy Johnson, shares over 20 years experience working with children and planning activities on her website, Creative-Child-Activity-Notebook.com. Check it out for more school age child activity ideas including party, outdoor, fall, nature, and child learning activity ideas.

Marriage proposals made over a romantic dinner at an elegant restaurant can be very romantic but they are not necessarily creative. Many women dream about the day that the man of their dreams proposes to them and hope that the day will be absolutely perfect in every way imaginable. In a recent study the majority of married women reported that they believe that their spouse spent a significant amount of money on their wedding proposal but that the lack of originality in the proposal had left the women feeling disappointed.

One creative way to propose for a couple involved in a long distance relationship is to plan a surprise visit and set up a scavenger hunt. You could have a friend pick you up from the airport so that your girlfriend doesn't know that you are coming to visit and have the friend give your girlfriend instructions for the scavenger hunt. You could hide a number of small surprises such as candy, flowers and a CD as the first few stops on the scavenger hunt and then hide at the final location poised to propose when your girlfriend completes the game.

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An outdoor enthusiast might appreciate a creative proposal during a camping trip. It's a good idea to plan a quiet trip for just you and your girlfriend at a picturesque location. You could hide the ring in your sleeping bag to use in a surprise proposal. When it's time to go to sleep after a long day of hiking and fishing, you could complain that there must be a rock or something underneath you and then pull out the ring and make your proposal. This creative proposal also contains the element of surprise as a camping trip is not a usual proposal location.

Another creative proposal idea is to place an ad in a local newspaper. You could place an outrageous ad in a newspaper asking anyone who was willing to get married to give you a call and include a fictitious phone number. Then when you and your girlfriend are reading the paper together, you could point out the ad as a joke and while she is reading the ad, seize the opportunity to pull out the engagement ring and let her know that you would love to marry her.

Proposing at a sporting event is a creative way to propose to a sports fan. For this proposal idea you could either arrange to have your proposal broadcast over the public address system or displayed on the large screen. If you are really adventurous, you could also contact the team's public relations department and try to make arrangements to make your proposal on the field at halftime. They might be willing to help you stage a scenario where you are either chosen to win a prize or participate in a contest and while you are on the field, they would hand over the microphone to allow you to make your proposal.

Another creative marriage proposal idea is to purchase a book of poems and leave the first few pages intact and carve a heart into the remaining pages and sew the engagement ring to the back of the book. You could suggest taking turns reading the poems on each page and plan to have your girlfriend turn the final complete page to reveal the heart and ring that were hidden inside. This proposal idea is not only creative but also incredibly romantic.

Having the DJ of your girlfriend's favorite radio program ask her if she will marry you is another creative proposal idea. You will want to make sure that you are aware of the exact time that the DJ will be sending your message so that you are able to ensure that you and your girlfriend are listening together when he makes the announcement. You could also arrange to have the DJ play a song that has a special meaning for you as a couple so that you can enjoy a dance together after she accepts your creative proposal.

Another creative way to propose is to include all of your family and friends in the event by inviting them all to a surprise party for your girlfriend. To make this proposal work, you would either convince your girlfriend that you want to have a quiet dinner at home or at a restaurant with just the two of you. Once you arrive at the destination all of the guests will reveal themselves and while all eyes are on the two of you, you could take the opportunity to profess your love and propose.

Still another creative way to propose is to hide the ring in an unexpected location. For example you could pretend to have a clogged sink and while you are working to fix the clog, you could reach into the sink and pull out the engagement ring. When your girlfriend is nearby, you could seize the opportunity to pull out the ring you had hidden earlier and say something to the effect of, "No wonder the sink is clogged, I'll have to find another place to store this ring, how about your finger?" This whimsical proposal is both light-hearted and creative.

A variation on the traditional proposal at an elegant restaurant could be to have the waiter bring out the ring with the bill. You could have a little good natured fun with your girlfriend by going out of your way to drop hints that you would be proposing over dinner. If you keep up the act, she will be expecting your proposal with each course. After dessert you could tell her that you have something very important to ask and as she eagerly awaits your proposal, you could ask an inconsequential question about something completely irrelevant to your relationship. She will probably be furious at this point but her anger won't last as the waiter arrives with the bill and the engagement ring and you let her know how much she means to you.

Finally a creative proposal idea is for the woman to ask the man to marry her, instead of waiting for him to propose. Many women anxiously await the day that the man in their life will propose but why not add your own creative twist by proposing to him instead. The woman is free to propose in any way that she finds truly romantic and can ensure that the proposal is both creative and romantic and that it's a moment that they both will remember for the rest of their lives.

A great marriage proposal doesn't have to be expensive or extravagant. Many women are more likely to cherish the memories of a proposal that was inexpensive but truly creative. The creativity is what makes the proposal so memorable and what makes it a great story to tell their friends.

The Best Creative Ways to Propose

Masni Rizal Mansor is the publisher for My Wedding Dresses [http://www.mywedding-dresses.com]. Get the best discount wedding dresses [http://www.mywedding-dresses.com] and cheap wedding invitation card

A shoebox diorama can be much more than just a miniature scene. It can be a creative display that people are really amazed by. Here are some creative tips and hints on how to make your shoebox diorama really special.

Select A Unique Housing for your Diorama

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When making a shoebox diorama the very first thing you should do is think outside the box! I mean this literally in that you really don't have to use a shoebox to make your shoebox diorama. You can use any number of interesting containers to make a really unique diorama housing. But I recommend you take this thinking to a second step and use something that adds a level of meaning to your diorama.

For example, if you are going to make a diorama about coffee plantations you might want to use a big coffee can as the actual diorama housing. This adds a level of uniqueness that also adds meaning to your diorama. It gives people something to talk about. Think about what your diorama is going to be about and then look around for housing ideas. Another good example of this would be an ocean diorama. This is a very popular theme for a diorama and I made a diorama by hollowing out a Styrofoam lobster trap buoy. It looks really nice and gives the whole diorama a very nautical feeling. Of course if you are going to make a diorama of a shoe store or a shoe factory then a shoebox is perfect!

Tell A Story or Capture a Moment in Time

One of the best things about a diorama is that they can not only show a scene but they can tell a story by capturing a single moment in time. A good example of this is if you want to build a medieval diorama with a castle you could put a dragon and a knight in battle. If you are making an ocean diorama you could capture the moment just before a big fish is about to gobble up a little fish. This tells a story. There is an event frozen in time and it gives your audience something to think about and questions to ask. What is happening in this diorama? What is going to happen next?

Explain something with the structure of the diorama

This is a little bit harder to do but can be the most rewarding aspect of diorama making. Think about how the structure or materials of the diorama can be used to explain the story or point you are trying to make. A good example of this would be a rainforest diorama. The rainforest has five layers from the over canopy to the ground layer. You could build your diorama in five different layers. This way the actual structure of the diorama helps to make the point of how the actual rainforest is.

A shoebox diorama can be a beautiful little facsimile of the real world and there are lots of ways to make it creative and special. All you have to do is think outside the shoebox!

How to Make a Really Creative Shoebox Diorama

For More interesting diorama project visit the authors website at: Have Fun Making Creative Dioramas

For other fun, creative and interesting projects including how to make a catapult, a trebuchet, a terrarium and even a video game visit his site at:

StormTheCastle.com – Creativity with an Edge

One of the defining characteristics of creativity is its transformational power, the fact that glorious works of art can be created from the most unpromising and unlikely of materials. Those materials don't get more unlikely than the states of ignorance and disillusionment - two concepts that come ready packaged with strong negative associations. And yet, when treated with positive creativity, these states can both produce extremely powerful creative results. Want to know how to turn them around to your creative advantage?

Let's start with the phrase 'I don't know'. Admitting your ignorance can be such a hard thing to do. It's often easier to you pretend you do actually know, to save face, save extra research, save time, effort, discussion... And yet, when it comes down to it, being prepared to say 'I don't know' empowers you far more than pretending that you do.

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I'm not just talking about those situations where you don't know some piece of factual information, so you make something up and then worry about getting found out. Those situations often crop up when you're keen to impress, or to meet the expectations of others. (The boss at work in my own past experience!)

I'm talking about not knowing as a state of mind - a state of mind that springs from authenticity, honesty and openness. That makes it a powerful state to be in. And, of course, an extremely fertile state to create from.

Anything is possible when you don't know.

Think about it... when you believe you already know everything there is to know about something, what are your chances of learning more about it? Or learning more about yourself in relation to it? Or getting creative with it?

When you are open to not knowing, you are also open to learning and to growth. This is a way of creating space in your life and space for your creativity. It's certainly not always a quick fix... sometimes you have to say 'I don't know' for quite some time before the knowing arrives quietly, often via your gut or your heart, rather than your brain.

The combination of not knowing, plus having to wait 'til you do know, is rarely an easy place to rest. It's outside of your comfort zone.

But if you stop and think about where you were in relation to your comfort zone at some of the most important, creative and wonderful moments of your life, you'll probably find that you were outside of your comfort zone then too.

So I encourage you to think where, in your life, you can bask in not knowing and embrace the potential of that powerful state. Allow yourself a positive dose of ignorance and let the creativity flow.

And what about disillusionment? A word that usually conjures up feelings of disappointment and regret. Yet why would you want to live in a world of illusions? Would you not prefer to see and know things the way they truly are? To give yourself the opportunity to make up your own mind about them and choose your response to them appropriately?

I believe disillusionment is something to be celebrated. Something to value when that moment of truth arrives. Of course, it's not comfortable. Most often the moment of truth takes you into unfamiliar territory - an immediate leap out of your comfort zone. But, as we've already discovered, the really big, creative, exciting stuff always happens in that place outside of your comfort zone.

One of the ways to disillusion yourself, without needing anyone else to 'let you down', is to let go of some of your cherished dreams. I certainly don't mean that you should let go of the dreams and goals that motivate you - the ones that you're actively working towards now. But what about that list of ambitions and aspirations that, frankly, you've outgrown but which still eat at you?

These are frequently to do with personal definitions of success which don't apply any more. Actually they're often not even personal... they're measures of success which society has laid down and somewhere along the way you've accepted them as your own. Sometimes they're childhood dreams that aren't relevant now you're an adult. Perhaps you've simply found a new direction and the old dreams don't fit any more.

Whatever the story, these cherished, but never-to-be-acted-upon, dreams can take up a lot of your energy. How about thanking them and letting them go gently?

Don't go letting go of your imagination along with the illusions though please! Notice the difference between those unreal things that you believe are real (illusions), and the fantastic imaginings that fire your creativity. Get real AND get fabulous!!

Using Unpromising Source Material To Build Powerful Creative Tools

Mary McNeil of Create a Space is a professional, ICF-certified life coach, natural born planner and declutterer extraordinaire! She works with her clients on a variety of decluttering, success and creativity projects. Her 30-day e-course is jam-packed full with the knowledge and experience she's gained over years of one-to-one coaching with her clients on their clutter issues. Click the link now for your chance to Declutter Your Way To Creativity

Do you often feel you're creating alone in a silent abyss?

Do you sometimes wonder if your creative work is like that riddle of the tree in the forest - "If a tree falls in a forest and there's no-one around to hear it, does it still make a sound?

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Applied this to your creative life and you may wonder - if I'm creating beautiful work but no-one's experiencing it and able to appreciate it, have I actually been creating at all??

There's no need to continue to feel this isolated. These days there are many opportunities to become a part of a thriving creative community and end these kind of doubts and fears.

Here are 7 of the top ways a creative community can support and boost your creativity to new levels:

1. You get to collaborate with others. Whatever amazing work you produce alone, there's something special about being part of a group project. Making your unique contribution to larger creative projects is a great way to bond with other creative people AND feel your work is making a difference.

2. You share the struggles of creating. There are times when we all find it hard to create. Knowing that other people are going through similar blocks and struggles, and learning how they get through them, gives a great boost and comfort.

3. You can share resources. Maybe there's a particular book, course or website that's helped you or someone else be more creative, or been the catalyst for a major creative breakthrough. In a creative community you can share these resources for the greater benefit of everyone.

4. You share and celebrate the joys of creating. Finishing a creative project then having no-one to share it with can put a serious dampener on your celebrations. Having a community where everyone can share and praise each other's creative achievements is a major incentive for all to be more creative.

5. You get to support others and make a difference to their creativity. A part of the creative life that's often overlooked is supporting other people in reaching their creative ambitions. Knowing you've made a real difference to someone's creativity is a unique and highly rewarding feeling.

6. You can challenge and motivate each other. Once you've been in a group a little while, people get to know you and what you're capable of. Gentle challenging and encouragement within a supportive environment leads you to raising your creative game to new levels.

7. You become inspired by other people's work. There's an almost infinite number of talented creative people out there. Seeing how others create and what they create day in day out can be tremendously inspiring in increasing your own creativity.

These are 7 of the best reasons why joining a creative group or creative community can enhance your creativity.

Creative Communities - 7 Ways A Creative Community Can Boost Your Creativity Today

I’d like to invite you to CoachCreativeSpace, a thriving interactive creative community space for you to learn how to be as creative as you've always known you can be.

You'll find Creative Forums, Groups, Artwork and Blogs to share in and contribute to, and supportive like minded creative people who are experiencing some of the same challenges and triumphs you are. Check it out now, at:

http://www.CoachCreativeSpace.com

From Creativity Coach Dan Goodwin - http://www.CoachCreative.com

These creative, fun, and practical kids room decorating ideas will help to create the perfect sanctuary for your youngster. When decorating kids bedrooms, you need to keep in mind that although the bedroom should be playful and fun to be in, your kid's bedroom also needs to nurture creativity, safety, self-esteem, and self-expression -- a tall order!

These ideas for decorating kids rooms are all you need to know to empower your child and build his or her self-confidence:

Creative

• Kids (especially introverts) need their own space. By letting children help decorate their own room, you allow them to create a sacred space where they can feel safe to be themselves and explore and develop their own identities. Let your youngster help choose the theme, paint colors, accessories, and artwork for her bedroom.


• Use this opportunity to foster personal expression and creativity. By encouraging your child to create artwork and other meaningful personal objects, you will actually help your child to develop his or her own sense of identity. It can be simple things like making a collage, decorating a lampshade or painting a mural.


• Resist the temptation to use primary colors -- they tend to make children hyperactive. Instead, choose warm pastels and rich colors to create peace and calm.


• Choose a motif that feels tranquil and safe -- that means to limit art and decorative items that portray flying, falling, driving, running, etc.


• Bolster your child's self esteem by hanging his or her artwork and awards. Bulletin boards are a great way to display your child's achievements.


• At nighttime, store "active" games out of sight and keep out comforting toys like stuffed animals.


• Add photos of family to give a sense of love and security.


• If your children share a bedroom, make sure they each have their own space.


• Finally, offer plenty of storage that is easy to access.

If you need some ideas, check out this fantastic collection of pictures of girls' bedrooms and boys' bedrooms.

Kids Room Decorating Ideas - Creative, Fun, and Practical Decorating Ideas for Kids Rooms

Jessica Crawford invites you to view more detailed information at www.free-home-decorating-ideas.com. Here you can see examples and look at pictures.

So you are getting married and have decided to make your ceremony and reception a unique reflection of you and your spouse to be. You've come up with some pretty good ideas for decorations, flowers, music and the wedding cake.

Now let's figure out a creative way to display the wedding cake. One easy way to create a stand yourself is to take an inexpensive round or square base and cover it. You could choose a beautiful satin fabric or use real or imitation flowers and leaves. Browse through you local fabric or arts and crafts store for ideas. You may be pleasantly surprised at all of the different ways there are to change an ordinary cake platform into a special work of art.

Creative

Browsing the internet will also give you many great ideas for wedding cake stands that you don't see every day. If you have some money to spend, there are some pretty specialized and elaborate cake stands out there. You can find stands that revolve slowly or that have an actual water fountain in them. There are now stands that have 10 cascading tiers. Perhaps you could have a different type of cake on each level!

If you would prefer not to spend too much money on the stand for your cake, you still have many options available. Use your imagination to come with ideas that are related to either the theme of your wedding or some of the interests that you and your partner share. One couple that enjoyed surfing displayed their wedding cake on a miniature-sized surfboard. Another couple used a tree trunk for a natural themed stand for their cake.

Some of the simpler types of cake stands lend themselves to further decoration. Purchase a ceramic pedestal stand and find a creative family member to paint the stand for you. The same idea would work well for many of the platform stands that are easily found online. You could also check with the cake designer to see if they will decorate a stand to coordinate with the design of your cake.

This is your special day and you can express yourself in any of the wedding details that you choose to. With a little thought and a look online, you should be able to find or create a beautiful and unique wedding cake stand that will add a special touch to the display of your cake.

Creative Wedding Cake Stands

Check out unique cake stands for more creative ideas or browse through wedding cake stands for advice on finding the perfect stand for your wedding cake.

With Thanksgiving and Halloween on the way, if you are looking for creative wedding ideas for your special day, you can take advantage of the season with pumpkin decorations. Hallowed out pumpkin shells can make a fantastic base for a number of creative decoration ideas, giving your wedding a creative, seasonal atmosphere. You can also use jack-o-lanterns or small pumpkins to make unique wedding decorations.

You can use pumpkins shells for vases in your centerpiece arrangements, adding flowers and greenery for a fall floral arrangement. Deep fall colors in your floral arrangements will bring out and compliment you fall wedding colors. You can surround the base of the pumpkin with greenery for additional accent.

Creative

You can use pumpkin shells as serving dishes on a buffet table or on your guest tables. On a buffet table, pumpkin shells make great serving dishes for sides or salads. On a guest table, a pumpkin shell filled with fresh fruit makes a colorful, tasty centerpiece, giving your tables a uniquely festive feel.

Jack-o-lanterns are always a fun Halloween treat and can be used as centerpieces, especially for night weddings. They can give you candlelight in seasonal style. You can choose to accent the darker side of the holiday with scary jack-o-lanterns for a non-traditional Halloween themed wedding or make happy, celebratory jack-lanterns for a more traditional wedding.

You can use pumpkin shells to hold you wine or champagne selections on your guest tables. If your selections need to be chilled, you can fill the pumpkin shells with ice to keep your wine or champagne cold. If your selections do not need to be chilled, you can fill the bottom of your pumpkin shell with fall-colored potpourri to add fragrance to you decorations.

You can create colorful fake fall leaves or use a silk alternative to decorate the table around your pumpkin centerpiece. If you're very creative, painting leaves on your pumpkins or using fabric paint to paint leaves on your tablecloths can add more color to your table and accent your fall theme.

You can use small pumpkins as seating cards, adding your guests' names to the pumpkins, placing the pumpkins on the tables for guests to find. You can also add table numbers to the pumpkins, placing them on a table outside your reception to notify your guests where they will be seated.

Small pumpkins, which come in a variety of shapes and sizes, can also be a colorful accent for fall floral arrangements. They can also be used to decorate railing or isle, placing them on top of posts or alongside an isle. Depending on the size and shape, you can hang small pumpkins from archways and rails.

Whatever creative pumpkin idea you choose, pumpkins are bright and interesting additions to any fall wedding, providing a variety of do-it-yourself decorating options. Whether you are a more traditional bride or an unconventional bride, one of the many pumpkin possibilities may be just the things to spice up your wedding day.

Creative Wedding Ideas - Pumpkin Decorations

Tanya Garrett of Creative Wedding Ideas [http://www.ecreativeweddingideas.com] grew up surrounded by the bridal business with a grandmother who ran a bridal shop, a mother who was a seamstress, and an aunt who made wedding cakes. As a freelance author, one of her favorite topics is making your wedding day the day of your dreams.

Creative birthday card ideas that you can use to create one of-a-kind birthday cards... Do you remember how many birthday cards you received last year on your Big day? As for me, honestly 2 cards. But both of them were personally made by close family members See I don't have a crafty family, neither do I got a big one, but I'll always treasure those cards because I know the time, thoughts and effort it took to create something personable that was "me"...

Which made me feel loved and appreciated! I'm sure that any recipient of your creative birthday card will also feel the same way I felt when I received my homemade birthday card. Take some time to plan it, if needed...Or if your like me and have so many wonderful ideas running wild in your mind then let it out... be creative! You won't believe the things you could possible create! Don't be surprised if you start having family members, friends and co-workers asking you to create creative birthday cards for them...

Creative

Here are a list of things you'll find helpful When creating a creative birthday card...

* Who are you making it for?

* What are their interests or style?

* What is their favorite color?

* When is their Birthday?

* Do they have a pet?

Above are some of the information you could consider when creating a birthday card for your recipient..

Basic Creative Birthday Card ideas:

* For her: Consider peach, pink and turquoise, Add ribbons or charms to add fashion, Shape cards into a purse, hat or flower. Use beads, fabric and a little glitter, Create cute images of hearts, bears, flowers and animals....

* For him: Add tools for auto lovers, consider black, blue, white and green, create hobby based themes like camping, fishing, paintball, surfing etc...

* For kids: Use images of toys, make a theme of their favorite cartoons or television shows, also consider bright colors, child, hobbies for example flying a kite, playing video games or cute characters like hello kitty and blue bear...

* For Teens: Use spunky paper like polka dots, stripes and patterns, Shape cards like stars, cell phones and iPods, Get images of their hobbies and create a collage, Use reggae based theme or surfing, skateboarding, body boarding, shopping etc...

* For Music lovers: you could create a card using Musical sheets or musical notes, you could create a photo of the instrument he or she plays or why not shape the card of the instrument

* For Outdoor lovers: Use colors and elements that are nature related, Include some elements that are cheerful and uplifting, For example: a flower in a pot for a gardener, a fishing pole for a fisherman

Creative Birthday Card Ideas

Aloha,
For more creative birthday card ideas, please visit: http://www.808-creative-cards.com

Mahalo,
Keshia Fernandez

A good way to make a house feel like a home is to decorate it like it is your own. Integrating color schemes and themes can make you feel more attached to your house than leaving up old fixtures from the previous owner, such as blinds and drapes.

Once you have already purchased your furniture or decided on your color scheme, you can get started on your window coverings. This can usually be the last step because curtains and drapes are easier to find or make to match your furniture than vice versa. Here are a few creative curtain and drape ideas for your home.

Creative

1) Beads are always a creative option for your windows. If you choose a neutral or solid color for the window curtains you can layer it with tied hanging beads to add pizazz. Simply tie them together loosely about mid-way down the window. Now you can open or close the curtains for sunlight exposure, while leaving the beads in place for decoration.

2) If you've already decided on standard blinds, do not be discouraged! Your windows can still look great. This gives you the opportunity to really focus on the hardware of your drapes. There are tons of beautiful platinum and brass finials, holdbacks, and curtain rods. By choosing beautiful hardware fixtures and a simple neutral or gossamer-like fabric, your blinds are no longer bland.

3) Two or four piece translucent blinds can be beneficial for a larger window or many windowpanes along a wall. Using one basic color for the top and sides, and finding elaborate tiebacks can make a large windowed-room beautiful and cozy.

4) One thing that people often overlook is the effect of a full width covering at the top of a window. The side drapes are important, but the top covering really brings your design together, so this can be even more important. Whether you choose a hanging design, or a modern block style of covering, make sure it matches the rest of the room and the side curtains as it is the link that brings the room together.

4 Creative Curtain and Drape Techniques

If you need to purchase decorative hardware supplies or just want to learn more about decorating, please visit http://www.dhshardware.com

When your child has a birthday, it can be loads of fun! The cake, the gifts, the guests...the party! But if you don't plan ahead, the party planning might just overwhelm you. With these helpful children's birthday party ideas, we try to make it a little easier on you. With the right planning, you'll be able to pull off a star quality birthday party for your little celebrity.

One popular children's birthday party idea today is to theme a party around your child's favorite television show. Using Sesame Street or Barney and Friends as a guide, you can plan a party your child will love. With a Teletubbies cake and cardboard cut-outs of the characters, your little one will enjoy turning three. Or get Ninja Turtles plates, pizza and green punch to thrill your older child. You can even hire someone to dress as the characters from the show!

Creative

A great children's birthday party idea is a pirate themed party. Pirates are very popular these days thanks to pirate-themed movies and television shows. A cake made in the shape of a pirate ship will thrill the buccaneers at your party. Swedish fish and fish-shaped sandwiches are just a couple of fun foods you can have to go with the theme. And a delightful treasure hunt ending in chocolate gold coins is a great pirate-themed birthday party activity.

Another fun children's birthday party idea is a party that is themed after a location. A fun island party can be planned using Tiki Torches, glasses of Hawaiian punch with umbrella's, and shell necklaces. Or plan a fun Mexican fiesta with taco's, a piñata, and paper sombrero's. A French or Italian party can be a lot of fun as well. Serve food typical of the region and find music and decorations that represent the culture.

The most important thing when choosing a children's birthday party idea or theme is to consider the child's personality. Try not to get too caught up making it gender-specific or showy. If the child is old enough, consider including them in the planning. As long as your child enjoys the party, then it is a big hit!

Creative Birthday Party Ideas

Pregnancy these days is trendy and fashionable. No more hiding a baby bump, motherhood is redefined! Maternity clothes are evolving too. Rock and roll maternity clothes and punk rock baby clothes and maternity wear are now the norm! Shop for cool pregnancy outfits and funky diaper bags as well as pirate baby clothing and accessories.