It’s a wrap: Tips for making gifts look great all year long

Posted on Oct 30, 2013

A beautifully wrapped gift truly enhances the gift giving experience. If you’re wrapping that birthday or anniversary gift in drab paper or (worse yet) the Sunday comics, it’s time to rethink your wrapping techniques. With a few simple tips, it’s easy to create great-looking, personal gift wrapping that is as much fun to open as it is to receive.

Add flair with unexpected wrapping materials

Ribbons don’t actually have to be made of ribbon. Go above and beyond traditional wrapping paper and bows by using non-traditional materials to wrap your gift. Delight the fashionistas in your life by using fun, colorful belts to keep boxes secure (and sneak them an extra accessory too). When giving cookware, wrap the package in new kitchen towels. For a going away party, wrap the gift in maps or images of the recipient’s destination. Attending a high school graduation party? Stick the gift box shut with a fun bumper sticker from the grad’s soon-to-be college or university. Make bows out of raffia, use leftover wallpaper instead of wrapping paper, or tie a scarf around the handles of a gift bag to add something extra special to your present.

Choose an alternative to clear tape

Amp up the style of your gift with printed packaging tape. A fun substitute for traditional clear tape, EZ Start Packaging Tape from Duck brand is available in nine decorative, trendy patterns – everything from funky Black Olives in lime green and pink to Midnight Paisley in sophisticated black and white – that are perfect for keeping wrapping paper in place while also adding an unexpected touch to gifts. Add the Pink Zebra print over solid wrapping paper to delight any birthday girl, or gear your gift for guys with the Graffiti Skulls pattern.

Create a one-of-a-kind container

Forego wrapping paper entirely and decorate the box itself. Create a unique design using stickers, stencil a monogram or pattern on the top, or decoupage it with images that remind you of the recipient. EZ Start Packaging Tape can also help makeover your gift package – completely cover the box in the tape, or use it to create stripes, chevron, checks or other patterns. To make the gift extra special, choose an unexpected item or shape to hold your present. Buckets, hat boxes, or (new) take-out containers can make for interesting packages. And, once it’s been personalized, the container itself serves as an added element of the gift.

Look to the occasion for inspiration

Theme your gift wrapping around the special occasion or holiday that you’re celebrating. Bridal shower? Use wedding traditions to inspire your wrapping – make sure it includes something borrowed (perhaps a beautiful pin to tie the ribbon), something blue (tissue paper), something old (include a photo of you and the bride on the box) and something new (the gift). On birthdays, be inspired by the recipient’s age – on a twelfth birthday, divide the gift into twelve small items, or wrap the present in an item that represents that number, like pages from a calendar. At graduations, wrap the package in the colors of the grad’s new college or university.

Make shipped items special

Even when loved ones are far away, it’s simple to make the outside of their package special and personal. Besides helping to glamorize gift wrapping or boxes, EZ Start Packaging Tape is also perfect for its original use: shipping items to loved ones away from home. Use the Camo pattern to send a gift to a friend or family member away in the military, or inspire some relaxation in stressed-out college students with a care package wrapped with the Tie-Dye or Green Peace tape patterns. It will make the package stand out and keep items safely secured.

Whether you’re a gift-wrapping pro or just learning to tie a ribbon, these easy tips will help you to give stylishly wrapped gifts for all of your special occasions. Pick up a few materials and let your imagination go – the present and the wrapping are sure to doubly delight your next gift recipient.

Courtesy of BPT

How to decorate a small space

Posted on Oct 30, 2013

Living in a small space can be quite a challenge! If you’re an artist like me who is constantly creating something, the stuff that has accumulated can make you feel quite claustrophobic. Over the course of a year I’ve finally learned how to manage my space and all my stuff!

The first thing to do is to let go of unnecessary items. If there is something in storage that you haven’t used in six months to a year, you probably won’t use it again. Also, a good place to check is your closet. Go through each piece of clothing and if you haven’t worn it in the past year, it’s time to get rid of it. The best thing to do is to donate the goods to your local charity. There are plenty of unfortunate people out there who would treasure what you consider trash!

Now it’s time to tackle the stuff that you do have. When living in a small space, it’s all about storage. Consider multi-function furniture such as chests and ottomans that are useful for storage of blankets and clothes and can be used as tables or seats. A futon can serve as a couch during the day and a bed at night. With the things that you do have, it’s best to try and store as much as possible as to make the room appear uncluttered. Less is definitely more in the case of small space living.

On the same note, bigger is also better. Small furniture does not make the room appear bigger. Rather, larger, bolder pieces of furniture draw the eye to them creating the illusion of a bigger room.

Create a wall of shelving to put books, magazines, and knick knacks. Grouping most of your belongings in one place rather than scattered all around the room frees up space to move around. Place baskets on the shelves for stray items and papers. Baskets can also be used to hold magazines and placed next to the couch or a chair.

Light is important in a small room. Try hanging a big mirror opposite the window(s) to reflect light into the room. Also, try to keep the fabrics used in the room a light color. In my studio I use a beige colored slipcover over my futon which I then cover with different colored pillows. Remember that dark colors absorb light and light colors reflect light.

You can divide space in a room by using screens or bookcases. Screens or bookshelves can be inexpensively made by purchasing wood at your local hardware or home store. They can be covered with fabric or painted to add a personal touch. Area rugs are also a good way to create division in a room.

With a little creativity you can make living in a small space as comfortable as living in a castle!

by: Maria Palma

http://www.articlecity.com/articles/home_improvement/article_3790.shtml

Spend more time entertaining and less time cleaning

Posted on Oct 23, 2013

The arrival of fall is a busy time for the whole family. From hectic back-to-school routines to the advent of holiday entertaining, your home is bound to become a hub of activity. To prep for a season of social events and family occasions, it’s time to give your kitchen a cleaning and de-cluttering makeover.

Cut Through The Clutter

Whether its school lunches or a Thanksgiving feast, your fridge can quickly become a haven of leftovers and expired condiments. Toss out products that are past their expiry date, and store leftovers in clear plastic containers for easy identification. Remove fruits and vegetables and use a multi-surface cleaner to wipe out drawers and other internal surfaces.

Eliminate The Evidence

Stainless steel appliances are a beautiful accent to any kitchen, but after frequent use fingerprints and smudges can dull their shine. To keep your stainless appliances sparkling, use a product specifically designed for these delicate surfaces. The popular stainless steel wipes by affresh™ are an easy to use solution for a streak-free shine. Simply wipe to eliminate residue.

Double Duty

When entertaining family or guests, serving platters provide a handy solution for sharing large quantities of food. Storing these plates can be a different story. To eliminate the hassle of finding space for large trays or bowls, we recommend re-purposing them as a decorative accent when not in use. The addition of flowers, potpourri or even seashells and candles can create a unique centerpiece or arrangement.

Tackle The Tough Stuff

Dry water residue around stove elements or baked-on grease is not a pretty sight when guests are coming for a special occasion. To quickly and effectively cut through residue, use a cook-top cleaner such as affresh™, that comes with a cleaning pad and is safe for use on glass, ceramic and porcelain. Maintain your cook-top once a week to avoid build-up and to keep tough stuff at bay.

Courtesy of Newscanada

Delaying treatment for minor health issues could cost more in the long run

Posted on Oct 16, 2013

Many families go through a check and balance process when it comes to their health. They try to determine if avoiding the cost of medical bills as well as time off from work is worth the risk of delaying medical treatment for a problem – especially when they question how serious the problem is for their long term health.

Many health experts agree that delaying needed and recommended treatments will end up costing individuals and the country far more in the long run. Some relatively minor problems, including high blood pressure, hearing loss, joint pain and carpal tunnel syndrome tend to escalate if left untreated, putting a patient at risk for more serious (and expensive) health consequences.

 

Courtesy of BPT

Replace or repair? That’s the home improvement question

Posted on Oct 16, 2013

 Maintenance and improvement are both essential realities of home ownership. From windows and skylights to gas ranges and front doors, everything in your home will eventually need some work. But how do you know when something simply needs repair, or merits being replaced?

Of course, each situation will be as unique as the home in which it occurs – and as individual as the homeowners themselves. A few good rules of thumb, however, do apply in most cases. When you’re considering repair or replacement, ask yourself these questions:

* How old is the malfunctioning item?

* How extensive/pervasive is the problem?

* Will the cost of repair approach the cost of replacement?

* Which course – repair or replace – will yield the maximum energy efficiency?

* How does the cost of repair measure up to the value it will provide? How does replacement stack up using the same measure?

To help you get an idea of how these rules apply, here’s what some experts have to say about home elements that frequently raise the repair/replace question:

Skylights

While many modern skylights are energy-efficient, qualify to use the Energy Star mark and are leak-free, if you have an older, plastic model it’s probably a good idea to replace it. Not only are these older plastic bubble-type skylights often faded and unsightly, reducing visibility, they are not UV resistant, are not energy efficient, and are much more likely to leak.

“There are millions of those unattractive, cracked and yellowed plastic skylights still out there,” says Ross Vandermark, national product manager of VELUX America, which markets the warranted “No-Leak Skylight.” “Replacing them with new energy-efficient, double-pane (insulating) glass models is quick and easy. They don’t leak, they look better, they reduce UV rays and provide substantial energy savings.”

In fact, based on an estimate of 15 cents per kwh/hr, replacing an old plastic skylight with an Energy Star-qualified VELUX skylight can save a 2,000-square-foot home about $194 a year on cooling costs, a company study shows. Add skylight blinds – which are available in a variety of styles that can be remote-controlled, including blackout to block light, light filtering to diffuse light, or Venetian to adjust light – and the energy savings can be enhanced even more. And blinds in colors and patterns can add a fresh look to your room decor.  What’s more, depending on the age and condition of even older glass skylights, it’s not a bad idea to consider a modern, more energy efficient model. To learn more about replacement skylights, visit www.veluxusa.com.

Windows

Recent research shows that skylights and vertical windows can work well together to effectively daylight a home while contributing to heating and cooling energy savings.

Like skylights, windows have vastly improved in energy efficiency over the past few decades. Leaky, inefficient windows can be a major source of heat loss in a home, boosting energy bills and decreasing the comfort level indoors. Window manufacturer Pella points to these signs that old windows need to be replaced:

* They’re difficult to open or close.

* You can feel air leaking in or out around them.

* Condensation or fogging occurs on or between glass panes.

* You can see chipping, deterioration or water stains on the window or the wall around it.

* Cleaning is a major chore and you avoid it because of the difficulty.

* It’s difficult or impossible to find replacement parts for the old windows.

The Efficient Windows Collaborative (www.efficientwindows.org) site also provides extensive information on selecting both windows and skylights, including fact sheets and computer simulations for typical houses using a variety of windows in a number of U.S. cities.

Heating, ventilation and air cooling

Furnaces and air conditioning units are among the most important parts of your home’s infrastructure; they’re directly responsible for the comfort level and air quality inside your home. They’re also among the more costly items to repair or replace.

So how do you know when it’s time to replace part of your heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system? EnergyStar.gov  offers these guidelines:

* If your heat pump or air conditioner is older than 10 years.

* Your furnace or boiler is more than 15 years old.

* Your energy bills are spiking.

* Equipment needs frequent repair.

* Some rooms are too hot while others are too cold.

* The HVAC system is very noisy.

* Your home is very dusty.

Replacing older HVAC systems with newer, Energy Star-qualified ones can significantly impact your heating and cooling costs, according to EnergyStar.gov. An Energy Star-qualified heat pump or AC unit can save up to 20 percent on heating and cooling costs, the website says. You can learn more at www.energystar.gov.

Courtesy of BPT