How To

How to Make Decorative Taper Candles

by Domestic Technicians on December 1, 2009

in Crafts,Decorating,Domestic Technicians,How To

Taper candles add elegance to your dinner table. They are perfect for romantic evenings at home. You can make your own taper candles without much experience in candle making. The process of making taper candles involves and dipping rather than using molds or jars. Hand dipping takes some practice to get the hang of, but you will be a pro in no time. While you are practicing, you can melt that wax down again and again until you known the right way to form your taper candles. During practice, don’t add any color either to keep the costs low.

You will need to purchase a dipping can from a craft store or online to make taper candles correctly. A double boiler is to narrow to make this long candles. In addition, you will need a thermometer, wax, wick, dye for color, and fragrances to add scent if you desire. It is important you buy wick specially designed for taper candles. If you use pillar wick, your taper candles won’t burn properly. To make the best quality taper candles you will want to use paraffin wax. Beeswax can bend easier, especially on warm days.

To melt the wax properly, use a large pot with a few inches of water for the dipping can to sit in. Never place the dipping can directly on the stove top as this is a safety issue. You may also expose your home to toxic fumes. While your wax is melting, work on your wicks. It is important you buy wick specially designed for taper candles. If you use pillar wick, your taper candles won’t burn properly. Cut the wick at least four inches longer than you want your candles to be. If you are making sets of taper candles, make sure each wick is cut the same exact length. This is easy to do by cutting one, then folding other pieces over and making a few more cuts.

Once you wax has melted and at a temperature of between 150 and 165 degrees, you can start the dipping process. If you are going to add color or scent you will want to do it now. Move the dipping can to a flat, dry surface. If you are using a counter top, place a towel or cookie sheet under the dipping can. Take a wick and dip it into the hot wax. You will only be getting the wick covered the first few dips.

The process of dipping taper candles is easy, yet time consuming. You will get the best looking candles if you don’t try to rush the process. Each dip should be a quick in and out process. Don’t allow the candle to linger in the wax hoping it will absorb more. Instead, it will cause your taper candles to have a chunky texture rather than a smooth finish. As the wax starts to cool off take the time to stop dipping and heat it again. Some candle makers dip while they have another dipping can of wax melting on the stove. This way, once the wax they are working with cools they can switch. This keeps the process going if you are able to take advantage of it.

The number of times you will dip each candle depends on the width you want them. If you are making pairs, keep track of how many times you dip each one so they will match. As the wax begins to cool after each dip, you can dip it again. As the candle gets wider you will need to allow it to cool longer after each dip. You can also try dipping two at the same time – allowing one to cool while you dip the other of the set. Once the candle is the desired size and cools completely, cut the wick to 1/4 inch of the top of the candle.

Making hand dipped taper candles is a great project. The process is not difficult once you get the process of the dipping down. These candles are great center pieces and often used at weddings. You can make them any color you like for the occasion. There are many gorgeous taper candle holders on the market to add even more appeal to the lovely candles you created.

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How to Match Colors Easily When Decorating

by Domestic Technicians on December 1, 2009

in Decorating,Domestic Technicians,How To

Solving the Color Matching Dilemma

It’s happened to the best of us. We go shopping, searching for those delightful goodies to add new life to rooms. Of course, everything has to match. We find absolutely perfect items, and are sure the colors are perfect. We are confident in our selections, ready to add that special touch to every room in the house. Then the unthinkable happens. You arrive home, unload your treasures, only to discover the newly bought items don’t match your colors in the home.

How could this have been prevented? There’s a rather simple solution to be positive that will not occur again. You need a Fabric And Paint Chip Notebook.

A Fabric And Paint Chip Notebook is easy and fairly quick to make, then keep updated. It holds samples of the colors throughout your home, such as walls and ceilings, curtains and drapes, linens, etc.

There’s more than one way to make one of these, and it doesn’t have to be in a notebook. You can change it to fit your particular likes and needs.

What To Do:
First, you will need a small purse or pocket size spiral notebook, small blank 3 x 5 index cards cut in half or heavier stock paper, cut in small squares, a small paint brush, and something such as newspaper to paint on.

When you paint a room, before beginning the room, take a half of the 3 x 5 index card or square of stock paper, and paint one side of it with the paint you are about to use for the room. Make sure your surface is covered with the newspaper to prevent an accident. Allow this to dry. The reason I like to paint the sample first is that if I wait til after painting the room, I might run out of paint, or forget to make the sample.

Do this for each room or part of a room that you paint, each time, unless it is the exact same color. Once the sample is dry, tape or glue it into the notebook, and on the same page, write the paint color name, type of paint, such as latex or oil based, and the room or room area it was used on.

Fabrics can be done in the same manner. When you buy new drapes, for example, it’s often hard to match colors. It doesn’t have to be difficult. Curtains and drapes usually have huge hems. You can carefully use sharp scissors, turn the curtain over to expose the hem area, and cut a small spot to place in your notebook. It is important not to cut through, of course. This also works well for some bed linens, but not always. If there is not enough of a hem to take a sample without it being obvious, I opt for no sample rather than ruining the piece.

While this might bother some, cutting a small area from their drapes and linens, it’s a nice idea when it comes to shopping for those matching colors, plus it saves many repeated and unnecessary trips back to the store for returns.

Wall paper samples are the easiest and most convenient to place in the Notebook. Simply cut a small sample of the wall paper, place it in the Notebook, and make a note of the name of it, perhaps even the place of purchase, and the room or room areas it’s located in.

Perhaps you’d like to buy color coordinated items to match wall decor. Some items, such as a painting, cannot have a sample taken from it to place in your Fabric And Paint Chip Notebook. One idea is to take a photo of the object with a digital camera, in good lighting, so that the finished photo’s colors match that of the actual object. You might print this off on good photo paper and add to your Notebook, or keep with it.

Decorating the home can cause frustration to take the place of what should be a fun and exciting time. Don’t let mismatched colors bring you to the point of glume and despair. Try making your own Fabric and Paint Chip Notebook.

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Credit Cards and Debt Control

by Domestic Technicians on December 1, 2009

in Domestic Technicians,How To,Save Money

How to Control Your Credit Card Spending so You Don’t go into Debt

Credit cards are everywhere. Turn on the TV and you will find advertising for the most popular credit cards. Sign onto the internet and you will find ads wanting you to apply online for a credit card. The temptation to apply for and acquire as many credit cards as possible can be great. After all, we can charge just about anything and pay for it later. And since the web has become the most popular way to shop, the use of credit cards has multiplied greatly.

As convenient as it is to just pull out a card and charge a purchase, it’s also one of the fastest way to get deep into debt. Learning to resist the urge to use a credit card often and controlling credit card spending is a must if we are to remain out of major debt.

The holiday season is peak season for credit card companies. They want us to use our credit cards and use them often. After all, just think of the amount of interest just one person is paying for just one card. Now multiply that by the millions of cards that are used on a daily basis, especially during the Christmas shopping season. They are raking in the dough at our expense! And let’s face it, most of us are paying the charges on these bills for years.

The easiest way to avoid going deep into debt from these charges is to avoid making the charges to begin with. While it’s a good idea to have at least one major charge card for emergencies, having a pocketful of them is just asking for a debt consolidation solution. To save yourself from having to worry about seeking help to consolidate debt, resist the urge to charge items, especially during the holiday shopping season.

One of the best alternatives to using credit cards is to use a debit card. One of the most popular debit cards is through PayPal.com, who offers a debit card that works just like a credit card. There are many benefits of using a debit card instead of charging your purchases. By using a debit card, the convenience of using a credit is still available, but there are no finance charges, and no bills to pay. Using a debit card in place of a regular charge card can save thousands of dollars in finance charges alone, depending on the amount of debt owed.

Resisting the urge to pull out the credit card and charging purchases isn’t always easy. Solve this problem by simply leaving the cards at home and taking the checkbook, debit card, or cash when shopping. If it’s not with you, you can’t use it, so just leave it at home.

Not using the card for online purchases isn’t as easy to control. Having the cards within immediate reach offers the opportunity to shop and charge with entirely too much ease. While this is great for convenience, it’s not great for the pocketbook when you overcharge and overspend.

How can we stop ourselves from going over the deep end with web purchases? A lot of it has to do with simple willpower. If we allow ourselves to spend without reserve, we will end up with a mounting debt that with no end to it in sight. The trick is to use a debit card such as PayPal.com’s. If a regular charge card must be used, use one only and set a limit on the amount that will be charged before using it. If the same item about to be charged can be purchased at a local store, go to the store and buy it rather than charging it. Make a list of what is to be charged and stick to the list.

Taking control of credit card use and spending can save a lot of money. It’s worth the extra effort to avoid charging and using other methods to make purchases. The extra effort can pay off in a nice nest egg with all the money you will save by not giving it to the credit card companies.

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Hardwood Floor Care

by Domestic Technicians on December 1, 2009

in Floors,How To

In order to enjoy the full benefits of a hardwood floor, you have to apply the right maintenance techniques. Since hard wood, no matter how sturdy, is organic, it can be susceptible to wear and decay if you do not take care of it. Thus, if you want it to last for a long time, you must be diligent enough to maintain it with proper cleaning and waxing.

Hardwood floors are somewhat expensive. And because they are an investment, it is but prudent to make sure that you get the maximum value for your money as the years progress. Thus, we face the question. How do we take care of our hardwood floors? Consider the tips below.

Avoid too much sun exposure
If the room where your hardwood floor is has a large window, protect it from the sun using sheer curtains or blinds. Ultra violet rays are said to have ill effects on hardwood floors.

Don’t drag your furniture around
This pertains particularly to the large furniture. If you want to move your oak sofa to another location, use a dolly or have people lift it. Never drag it across the floor as it may scar the finish or dig deep into the wood itself. Also, use felt contacts under the furnitures’ legs to prevent their weight from creating scratches and dents on the flooring.

Clean up spills and stain immediately
If your hardwood floor has a good and intact finish, then you have nothing to worry about. But if it has already been there for a while, the finishing might already be stripped off and allow the water to seep into the wood. When this happens, sanding and refinishing the part of the floor that got wet is a good idea. If this technique fails, you might have to replace that particular plank with a new one.

Sweep your hardwood floor regularly
Use a broom with fine exploded bristles as they are most effective in trapping grit and dust from the creases and corners of your flooring. Broom bristles that are too soft might only drag the dust further into your flooring and fill the cracks.

In conclusion, the way you care for your hardwood floor should mirror how you care for things you value. Your hardwood floor not only provides physical beauty to your home but also ushers in a sense of homey comfort that will forever be absent with a concrete floor.

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How to Choose the Right Batting

by Domestic Technicians on December 1, 2009

in Crafts,Domestic Technicians,How To,Sewing

Many crafters do not take the time to learn about the correct batting for their quilting projects, but it can make the difference between a successful quilting project and an unsuccessful one. The right batting can have an enormous effect on the finished appearance of your quilting project. It can also make the difference between enjoying the process of quilting or hating it. You spend hours planning the design and look of the outer layers of your quilting project, why not take the time to learn a bit about the batting that goes inside?

Batting is the insulating fabric, which is the part of the quilt that creates warmth. Batting is layered between the quilt top and the backing. This quilting sandwich of three layers of fabric is then pinned at the edges in order to temporarily secure it. Most commonly it is then sewn together, either by hand or machine, but sometimes crafters tie the layers of batting and fabric together. Usually yarn is used to tie a quilting project together, but sometimes several strands of thread are used also. Be certain to tie a tight square knot if you choose this method of securing the batting to the fabric. You want to be sure the quilt will stand up to years of use.

Batting comes in several different fibers, most often polyester, cotton, and wool. Polyester batting has a high loft which will remain through repeated washings. It is generally hypo-allergenic and usable for either hand or machine quilting projects. Cotton batting is a quilter’s dream. It has a much lower loft than the polyester batting, and is often used when quilters want to achieve an antique look. Because cotton is a natural fiber, it “breathes,” meaning it will help you to remain cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Cotton batting is not as suitable for tying, as it has a tendency to clump. Like cotton, wool batting breathes. It is easy to quilt, and thus a much beloved batting of many quilters. There are two different ways batting is manufactured–needlepunched or bonded. Needlepunched batting is a good utilitarian choice for a quilting project that needs to stand up to hard use. It is made by thousands of needles piercing the batting, interlocking the fibers. The needlepunched batting is firmer and heavier than bonded batting, which is manufactured by using a bonding agent to adhere the layers of the batting together.

Many battings, whatever form you choose, are available either pre-cut or rolled on a tube so that you can cut your own to size. If your quilting project is a standard quilt size (such as twin, full, queen, or king) you will probably be able to find a pre-cut batting quite easily. For other sizes you may need to buy batting on the roll.

Taking the time to learn about your choices in batting can change your quilting for the better, making it easier to complete projects, and increase your chances of being satisfied with the finished project.

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How to Keep Your Home Cooler in the Hot Summer Months

by Domestic Technicians on December 1, 2009

in Domestic Technicians,Energy Savings,How To

Keeping Your Home Cooler Saves Money on Power Bills

The heat of the summer can cause your power bill to skyrocket. Trying to keep your home cool while trying to keep your power bill down isn’t always easy, but it can be done. Using these tips can help you to keep your home cooler and keep your power bill down at the same time.
Avoid using appliances during the hottest part of the day that heat the home, such as the stove, oven, and dryer. The air units have to run even more to try and cool down areas those appliances are heating up. Use heat generating appliances when it’s cooler like early in the morning or later in the evening.

When baking, refrain from opening the oven door repeatedly while you are cooking. It lets the heat out, thereby making the air unit run harder to cool off the heat from the oven. Set a timer for how long the oven needs to bake what you are cooking and then check on it. Keep the heat in the oven and out of the kitchen.

Invest in a slowcooker or crockpot. These put off a lot less heat than the stove and oven, and can be set on low to cook even while you sleep or shop. They don’t heat the kitchen up and using them gives you time to do something else while the food cooks.

Use fans to help circulate the air. Ceiling fans and regular fans on a stand help to move the air. If you have window units, using fans will move the air from room to room more efficiently. If you have window units but not in every room, placing a fan in the door of the room without the air units will help keep the room cooler.

Computers heat up rooms. Fans are especially helpful in the room where you keep your computer. Using a fan to keep the air circulating will help keep the room cooler and keep your computer from getting too warm in the hottest part of the summer.

Close off rooms that are not in use or used often. Don’t try to cool rooms that you don’t use. This is most helpful if you have window air units. Keeping doors closed to rooms not in use leaves less area to be cooled, so it will be easier to cool it and keep it at a decent temperature.

Keep kids from going in and out repeatedly during the heat of the day. Each time the door opens, it lets the heat in and the cool out. Have them be either in or out, but not back and forth.

Clean the filter or change the filter on your air unit every two months. Dust from the air collects on the filter and it needs to be cleaned or changed on a regular basis. Clean filters help the air unit to cool the home more efficiently.

Place weather stripping on doors and windows that have cracks. Weather stripping keeps the cool air in and the heat out. It comes with a stick on side and can easily be applied to entrance doors and windows, and won’t harm the facing or woodwork. Weather stripping is available at hardware stores and discount stores such as Wal-Mart.

Keep curtains and blinds closed during the hottest part of the day. Opening curtains and letting the hot summer sun in during the hottest time of the year only heats up your home and causes your air unit to work harder to cool. Turn on the light and keep the curtains closed during the day. Using the light will burn less electricity than the air unit trying to cool what the sun is heating up.

Invest in insulating drapes for your windows. Insulated drapes have a rubber like backing that insulates, keeping the heat out and the cool in. These work opposite in the winter, keeping the heat in and the cold out. Using these with blinds gives a nice decorative look while helping to save money on power costs.

There are more ways to save money on the costs of cooling your home. These are just a few tips that can help keep your home cooler and your savings happier.

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