Arts and Crafts

Arts & Crafts - Encourage Your Children:

The moment you first give a toddler a crayon and a piece of paper, you're giving that child a step up to a world of creativity, learning, entertainment and accomplishment. It's the world of Arts and Crafts. A small phrase for such an important part of a child's development.

Children are interested in Arts & Crafts from an early age. Toddlers love to scribble on pieces of paper with chunky crayons. Later, when they understand not to eat it, play dough is a fascinating medium. They can squish it, use plastic tools on it, blend the colors together, and press out shapes from it. Everything get in a mess - play dough gets mashed into clothes, hair, shoes, the floor...but of course that's part of the fun for pre-schoolers. The messier the better! And what could be messier than paint?

Give a small child a pot of thick paint, scrap paper and a chunky paintbrush, and they're happy. If you can't bear to have paint on everything, take it outdoors. Using playdough and painting materials, kids are learning about form and substance, improving their motor skills and enhancing their imaginations. As they grow, there will be more and more crafts to choose from, and, thanks to the diverse range of crafts for kids, there's something for everyone, whether 2 or 12 years old.

If you join in, you'll be giving your kids happy memories to store away. So, encourage your kids to express themselves with arts and crafts. Never force them - it has to be an enjoyable pursuit. Similarly, don't ever disparage your child's work of art. Don't be discouraged if your child lacks interest - just explore different options. Be imaginative. Do crafts outdoors as well as in. Use different materials or seasonal themes.

In this age of mindless TV watching and video games, the ability to something creative is an amazing skill for a child to have. You'll be so glad you encouraged them.

Options For Perspective Art Students:

Outside of buying a home, the investment in education is one of life’s biggest expenses. Too many students don’t understand what they are buying or what their options really are. Art school is not like other areas of education. A doctor or lawyer needs an education in order to practice their profession. However, an artist does not. Many well-known artists have no formal training at all.

As in any profession, attending a top-ranked school may provide better career opportunities for artists, but it is best to think of art school as a time and place to acquire the skills that you want to grow as an artist. There are ways to enhance your arts education; for fields such as animation, graphic design and web design, practical hands-on experience could be acquired through certifications, internships and freelance projects. If you are focusing on Fine Art, try to participate in as many exhibits and shows as possible. These types of activities will boost your resume and online portfolio.

1. The Top Schools

Every school says that they are the best but in truth only a select few are rated at the top of independent studies. If you want a chance to get into a school like Cal Arts, Chicago Art Institute, RISD, Pratt or School of Visual Design, you will need to prepare while you are in high school. The top art schools require a portfolio, not just the knowledge that you want to be an artist. These schools include some academic courses and the student earns a BFA or MFA.

2. Major Universities

Studying art within the walls of a university has several advantages. Art is a study of life and the world around us. A fine artist may find history, sociology, anthropology, even physics interesting and helpful. Graphic designers can benefit from computer science classes. The mixture of academic and artistic courses is a style of learning that many aspiring artists enjoy. The best part is that many schools have excellent programs. Yale is widely considered one of the very best art schools and some of the large state schools such as Indiana University, UC Berkeley and University of Michigan offer a great arts education at a reduced price for in-state students.

3. Arts Trade Schools

Trade schools do not require the academic rigor of universities or the commitment and portfolio development expected of top tier art schools. They do provide real world training and the technical skills that can be matched to great talent. These schools are located in cities like New York, San Francisco, and Seattle – cities with large established art scenes that can benefit students that are looking to refine art skills.


How To Get A Graphic Design Job After Art School:

After four years of art school and countless portfolio reviews, late nights in the computer lab, and enough espresso to kill an elephant, I made the worst mistake of my life. I graduated. Most art schools make it appear that your degree will immediately lead into a fulfilling career in which you can make your own hours, explore your artistic passions and collect a sizeable paycheck. Art schools perpetuate this myth because it makes them money – your money. The truth is that graphic design is a highly competitive field and only those with both talent and the ability to market their work will have any chance of achieving their dreams.

Many talented graphic designers get discouraged, as they are turned away from jobs that they want. Unfortunately, most design schools do not provide the real world experience.

Graphic designers are hired through online portfolios.

In ten years of graphic and web design I would estimate that I have found 90% of my jobs online. I have often heard young designers complain about the time and energy that goes into building a great web site. You may be reluctant to invest the effort when you could be sending out resumes instead.

Would you hire someone who has never driven a car to fix your car? Why would anyone hire a web designer that doesn’t have a web site? An online portfolio is easy for recruiters to use and they will usually ask to see your work before you can get an interview.

Develop skills that complement graphic design.

Take a look at the graphic design jobs in the paper. You will see words like HTML, Microsoft Office, _Javascript, and copywriting as required skills. It takes time for talented graphic design students to become talented graphic designers. Employers hire to fill needs and solve problems. If you can fill multiple needs and solve multiple problems then the employer will often take a second look. Because design is so competitive, employers are often quick to hire and quicker to fire. Employers rarely fire someone they can’t live without. Make yourself indispensable. If you are the only one in the office that knows how to use a spreadsheet or change the web site then your life span could be a lot longer.

Software skills pay bills

“Photoshop, Flash, Illustrator, Freehand, PC, Mac” – these are the most common terms in graphic design want ads. Software is the lifeblood of any modern design company and companies need people that know how to use multiple software applications. Even if you are not creating comps for the client you will still have a job if you are the only one that knows how to put them into Flash for the presentation. Computer skills are of equal importance to artistic skills.

Do the job even if you can’t get the job

When I started out, the two phrases I heard the most were “under-qualified” and “inexperienced”. So how do you handle this type of rejection? If you really want the job, then ask for three days to work on part of the project. If the employer really needs a great flash presentation for an auto site then bring one that you created with you on your next visit. Even if you don’t give the employer exactly what they want, they will be impressed with your effort. Everyone respects hard work, initiative and dedication.

Look for the back door

Every company has a back door to the design department. It may be an administrative assistant job or stuffing envelopes in a corner office or a file clerk. If you can get near the graphic design department and make friends, then sooner or later you can lend a hand. Volunteer for the job that you really want in your free time and eventually you will have the job that you really want.

Get over yourself

Art school is a very different place from an office building. At art school you can make a statement, become political, and follow your dreams. These same attributes may get you fired in an office building. I’ve interviewed talented designers who told me in interviews that they have some reservations about working in “corporate America” and would prefer a small environmentally conscious company that supports indigenous rights and vegan dietary needs. Maybe somewhere deep in the Amazon there is a group of graphic designers making $50,000 a year with full benefits, but I’ve never met them. If you don’t want the job then don’t apply for it. Most companies are not going to hire someone who lectures them in interviews.


Advantages And Disadvantages Of Purchasing American Indian Art Online:

Today’s society is one in which individuals look for the easiest ways to do things. This is most often seen with online shopping. A large number of individuals do not have time to spend the day shopping at their local mall; therefore, they shop online instead. Online shopping is a great way to obtain certain items, but what about American Indian art?

The presence of American Indian art is felt widely in the United States, but it is also popular in other areas of the world. This is why American Indian art is sold all around the world. There a large number of stores that sells American Indian art on and offline. If given the opportunity, many individuals would prefer to shop for American Indian art at a storefront location, but not all are able to do so.

Online American Indian art stores and gift shops have made it possible for individuals to purchase art online. Many online shoppers shop online to save time, but a large number do so because they do not have local access to an American Indian art store or gift shop. While shopping online for American Indian art can have advantages, it has disadvantages as well.

Perhaps the greatest benefit of shopping online for American Indian art is the selection. Most storefront American Indian art stores and gift shops are limited on the amount of space that they have. This means that when an individuals shop at an American Indian art store or gift shop there are only viewing a small percentage of the artwork available. Online stores do not always have this problem; therefore, they are able to have more art for sale.

Another benefit of shopping for American Indian art online is the money that can be saved. With online shopping, it is easy for an internet user to quickly compare prices. This has led many online stores to offer American Indian art at a lower price. The low price helps an online store stay in competition with other retailers. Individuals shopping for American Indian art online can take advantage of this by purchasing beautiful American Indian art for a discounted price.

While there are advantages of shopping online for American Indian art, there are disadvantages as well. One of the biggest disadvantages is the possibly of damaged items. When an item is ordered from an online store, the item can be damaged during shipping. It is advised that all online shoppers insure their products for shipping. It may also be a good idea to ask an online retailer about their shipping policies and packaging standards. Most online retailers will properly package your order, but why take the change with an expensive piece of American Indian art?

Another problem commonly found with online shopping is the authenticity of an item. The internet is amazing, but it has allowed a large number of individuals to open their own online stores. Just because someone claims an item is authentic American Indian art, does not really mean that it is. Purchasing American Indian art from an online auction website is how many individuals get scammed into purchasing American Indian art that is fake.

It is important to note that just about everything you do or purchase will have advantages and disadvantages. It is advised that you do not let disadvantages persuade you from purchasing American Indian art online. Taking the time to verify an online retailer’s reputation is a surefire way to make online shopping disadvantage-free.


Crafting With Bead Jewelry:

For someone who is into arts and crafts, beads are a great means of fun and an engrossing hobby. It can very soon turn into passion and in turn become a big business avenue. Jewelry, attire designing, shoes decoration are some areas where bead jewelry can be employed.

Beads, small and big, colored, beach theme beads all can be utilized to make jewelry designs. Imagination is the key when using beads to make jewelry. You can use a plethora of items like seashells, buttons and even beads available at the local craft store.

The first thing to start with for your project should always be size and color selection. You might find this online craft site useful http://www.thecraftyfinger.com. Remember that, initially there might appear a range of options to choose from, but a craft store is not equipped to make bead jewelry designs. Hence, you might not be interest in the selection offered to you once you have made a good number of jewelry pieces.

Having said that, there exist a great number of websites offering material for bead jewelry designs, some of them even are specializing in it. One of them might possibly become your only source to buy supplies. Hence it is vital to ensure that the company is the best for you and advisable to build a relationship that in the long run would benefit you.

A number of people buy beads on the Internet. Reviews by these consumers are worth reading to protect your own interests. Abundant information can be gathered from the consumer reviews. This might make you aware of companies you didn’t know. Also, you can also learn from mistakes that others have committed when transacting with websites that disappear overnight. It can be very disheartening not to receive the jewelry designs that you ordered and yet loose money.

After making the designs from the material ordered online you can sell them back on the Internet, if you intend to earn a profit from your passion. If you are not concerned with profit, your bead jewelry designs are a great item to gift to your friends and loved ones on their birthdays and other special occasions.


The History Of Greeting Cards – An Overview:

Greeting cards started out as simple slips of papyrus, that were exchanged by both the Egyptians and Chinese as messages of goodwill. As the concept of greeting cards evolved, Europeans began to send them to one another for holidays such as Valentine's Day – and this occurred as early as the 1400's. Of course, these cards were handmade and expensive so not everyone could afford to send greeting cards for their holiday well-wishes.

Greeting cards really hit the mainstream in the 1850's, when commercial printing as well as the invention of the postage stamp started to allow people all over the world to send greeting cards to their loved ones. Now, greeting cards are a billion dollar business, with people purchasing and sending cards for holidays including religious celebrations, birthdays, and even just as a simple thank you or gesture of love. The two largest greeting card companies, Hallmark and American Greetings, offer cards that are perfect for any occasion, with themes and illustrations that are great for all tastes.

Of course, you don't need to buy your greeting cards in a store. Computers and home printers have made it easy to create and print out your own cards at home. Many people have also taken up paper crafts, and have taken to hand making their own greeting cards out of many different materials, with embellishments ranging from ribbons to beads. Some even go as far as to make their own paper, which is a time consuming process but definitely shows your recipient just how much you care. Hand painting and rubber stamping with ink can complete your homemade creation.

Greeting cards have evolved from an item used only by the rich to an everyday tradition. Whether you want to communicate with far-off relatives, or just let your sweetie know how much you love them – greeting cards make a great (and inexpensive) way to brighten up someone's day!


Remember Paint By Numbers:

Ever thought about the state of paint by numbers? Many of us have warm recollections of paint by numbers. These were those, with lines and numbers all over and each number represented a different color. As a kid we would treat paint by numbers like a game.

These colors came along with the picture put together in a package and the result was supposed to be a picture that corresponded to the picture on the box or on the back of package. You can learn more about crafts at http://www.thecraftyfinger.com. For kids, these packages ultimately reached a point where hardly any actual painting was required and just wetting the paper produced the color. Proper paint by numbers kits are available which result in watercolor pictures of wild animals, or a snowy winter afternoon.

But earlier, in the 1950’s, this was considered to be an art form. You had the option of getting tutored in paint by numbers, and many hobbyists took it up, producing amazing imitations of other’s art and having them framed so as to adorn their homes. So much so that you could make a copy of Rembrandt!

Paint by numbers was a major source of income for many people. What a wonderful way to have fun and at the same time earn! It was a very productive method for people with idle time to invest time to produce a picture even if they were not arty.

Eventually some great artists were born, while others were happy with an artifact that they enjoyed creating to adorn their houses as articles of decoration. This way they could experiment and yet be completely aware of what it would result into. The popularity of paint by numbers was so high that people chose them over works by famous artists for their homes.

Paint by numbers provided people with a channel to invest time into. And it was not a hard and fast rule to adhere to the numbers. Though paint by numbers didn’t possess any unique attribute, many artists had found a way around. They would make minor modifications to the picture, like blurring of lines or leave out a section of picture not of their interest.

Paint by numbers in many ways was a very intriguing fact and its fame mystifies many people even today. Its popularity is credited to the fact that it made a person feel like an artist – a liberated mind. Nevertheless, some rules and safety guidelines exist and they are presented as below.


Bead Design, An Enjoyable Pastime Or Business?

If you are the creative type who loves working with arts and crafts and are interested in making some money while doing something you enjoy, then you should consider taking up bead designing as a career. Not only can beads be used to design jewelry for classy formal parties and beach wear but they can also be used for designs on apparel and shoes. This increases the scope and possibility of developing further.

To start with, you could buy your first set of beads from a craft store round the corner. The good thing is that beads are relatively inexpensive as a raw material. Even though the choice might seem endless to start with, you may soon start to feel the need for more elaborate and up-to-date materials. Since the craft store does not specialize in beads, it has many other items to store in its inventory; there will be a limited amount of bead materials available.

You next stop in the search of more and better bead materials could be the online bead stores. These websites provide a plethora of options for the beads specialist and it will definitely be some time till you need to look for other options.

If you are looking at making bead designs for a considerable amount of time and not planning to give it up as a fad, then you should build and maintain a relationship with the online store since you will need to do a lot of shopping from there. Remember to check the store's reputation before parting with any money; do a quick search online to see how others have been served by them.

Once you have figured the trick of sourcing the beads and your raw material parcel has arrived, you can now let your imagination flow and create designs for various items that can be adorned with beads. Skirt tops, long skirts, jewelry, head gear, handkerchiefs, spectacle chains and the list goes on. Unleash your creativity and discover that you can produce delicate designs to go well with a business dinner or bold designs using large, colorful beads for a beach party. Once you get comfortable with the bead options that are available, you may want to mix and match your designs with other related material like shells, buttons and the like.

The designs done, you can use the wonderful medium called the Internet to sell the designs you have created to other apparel manufacturers and even to end consumers.


American Indian Art: A Gift For Any Occasion:

Many individuals spend days, even weeks, searching for the perfect gift for a close friend or relative. Despite spending a large amount of time searching, there are still many individuals who are unable to find the perfect gift. American Indian art is an amazing gift idea for just about any occasion, but many individuals do not even consider it.

It is hard to determine exactly why American Indian art isn’t given as a gift more often. There are many individuals who aren’t even aware of these beautiful items. This is because not all cities and towns in the Untied States have an Indian art store or gift shop. Online shopping and mail-order catalogs have made it possible for just about every individual to purchase American Indian art.

It is often hard to find a gift that is tailored to a specific person. The good news is that there are a wide variety of different American Indian art items. Many individuals associate art with paintings, but there is more to art then just paintings. American Indian art may include, but is not limited to, paintings, pottery, and sculptures.

Special occasions that a gift may be given on include birthdays, anniversaries, the birth of a baby, a new home, and holidays. Every single one of these occasions is the perfect time to give an American Indian art gift. There are no set rules when it comes to giving American Indian art as gift. This means that a gift giver could select whatever gift they feel their friend, relative, or co-worker would want.

One of the most popular occasions that American Indian art is given as a gift is birthdays. When it comes to birthdays, just about any gift can be given. If an individual having a birthday is interested in Indians or horses, a great gift idea would be an American Indian painting. Of course, other gifts can be given, but a painting is an amazing way to show appreciation to a person that you know or love.

A housewarming gift is another way that American Indian art can be given to an individual. One of the first things that a new homeowner does is decorate their home. Almost all American Indian art pieces can be used as home décor. These home décor items may include paintings, sculptures, pottery, and much more. A new homeowner will be very appreciative of American Indian art.

It has been said in the past that a large number of individuals believe that there is a meaning behind each piece of art. If determined, these meanings could be used to find the perfect American Indian art gift. New parents may want to receive a gift that signifies the importance of having a new child or new homeowners may want a gift that brings peace to their new home. This way, not only will an American Indian art piece be beautiful to look at, but it may also have a special value.

If you are tired of going from store to store looking for the perfect gift for a friend or relative, stop searching. Visiting a local American Indian art shop or shopping online is a great way to find a gift that will not only appeal to the eye, but to the heart as well.


Kids Educational Craft Ideas - Alternatives To Using A Paint Brush:

Painting opens up a world of colour and communication for children and is a wonderful way for them to create. There are many simple and exciting alternatives to using a paint brush.

String painting is easy and is a great way for children to pattern paint. You just wrap some string around a small wooden block (this could be a building block that your children play with). A square or rectangle shape is better, but make sure that it is big enough for the child to hold easily. To aid in your child's learning, it is best to have a variety of different sizes handy. Prepare some paint and pour it into some old polystyrene trays or any tray that you can afford to use for lots of painting activities. Dip the block into the paint and press on the paper and you're done!

Marble painting is another way for children to have fun and also learn hand eye coordination whilst creating different patterns. Prepare some paint and put it in a container that has deep sides, such as an old baking tray or a shallow cardboard box. The top of a shoe box is an excellent example providing that it is still strong and intact. Put some paper in the bottom of the tray with a small amount of paint (you can use two or three different colours at a time). Drop a marble in the tray and let the children move the marble backwards and forwards, sideways etc. to create their own work of art.

Finger painting develops the child's sensory skills as they feel and touch the paint. Put some paint on an old table and let the children put their hands in it and make their own designs. If you do not have an old table that you can use, then you can always put some plastic on the table and this will suffice.

Please bear in mind that most paints are easily washed off surfaces and hands with hot soapy water but please check the instructions to be certain! Once the children have finished their painting, put a piece of paper on top and peel it off. Put it somewhere to dry and then they have a print of their art work to show to family and friends.

Here are some other quick tips and alternatives that your children may enjoy that can also be used for printing...

* Cotton bud painting can encourage children to paint in a different way, which develops fine motor skills.

* Cotton wool has a different feel and texture to it.

* Paint rollers are fun to use on large rectangular areas. So this would be ideal for example, if you are planning on painting a red cardboard bus.

* Cotton reels and corks can be used for pattern painting.

* Sponges cut into different shapes can be a great way to recycle and you can use both their rough and smooth sides in painting. Some examples of shapes you can use are rectangles and circles and a diamond or star. You can also purchase sponge shapes from a good toy shop, or you can order them from educational supply magazines.

* Other ideas include the cardboard rolls inside household foil and plastic wrap, plastic forks or jar lids.

Just remember to let those creative juices flow.


Tips To Successful Amateur Photography:

Whether you just have a simple point-and-shoot camera or the more expensive digital SLRs, you can definitely take quality pictures like the pros do. It’s not the type of camera that takes great shots, it’s the photographer. If you don't know how to correctly take a shot, you can take a really bad picture from an SLR camera.

As long as you know how to correctly take pictures and are willing to make some adjustments, taking great photos will be easy for you. Here are some tips to help you shoot like professionals even with your simple digital camera.

1. Would you like your shots to have a warmer feel? Most shots taken from a digital camera without any adjustments look cool and clammy. This is because the white balance setting is set to “auto” as default which is fine for snapshots.

If you want a warmer effect, though, with sharp colors, you may want to set the white balance to “cloudy” setting instead of auto. This is like adding a mild warming filter to the lens of your camera. Cloudy setting increases the yellow and red colors adding a richer and warmer effect to your shots.

2. Polarizing filters can be one of the most important investments you can add to your digital camera. These filters reduce the glare and unwanted reflections on your shots. This is great when you frequently take landscape and outdoor shots. Pictures taken with a polarizer have richer and more saturated colors.

If your camera won't allow filters, like a simple point-and-shoot camera, don’t fret! You can still have a polarizing effect on your shots by placing a good quality pair of sunglasses in front of the lens. It gives an effect similar to a polarizer. Just make sure that you place it to the lens as close as possible and the rims are not seen.

3. For an outdoor shot with shine, use your camera’s “flash on” or “fill flash” feature. This lets you control when you want the flash to go off, instead of it deciding when it wants to. This mode exposes first the background then adding enough flash to illuminate your subject.

For great results, place your subject where the sun illuminates the hair from the side or back. Alternatively, to let your subject be comfortable and not be annoyed by the sun’s heat, place your model in the shade then use the flash to illuminate the subject.

However, built-in flashes only have a maximum range of 10 feet. Thus, it would be better not to go too far from your subject.

4. Taking detailed shots of objects like flowers or small insects is easy with your digital camera. Most digital cameras have a feature called “close up” or “macro mode” usually indicated by a flower sign. With this mode turned on, you can take shots of objects as close as possible. However, you only get a shallow field-depth when taking close up pictures so it is better to focus on the most important part of the subject then allow the other parts of the image go soft.

5. Leveling the image may be difficult for amateurs as well as some pros. One way to get a level or an even shot, especially of a nature shot, is to look for some horizontal lines as guide. If you have a view of the horizon, where the sky meets the ocean, you can use that as your leveling guide.

If it still is difficult for you, you can try to take several shots at different angles so you’ll know which one would give you the best shot. After some time it will become natural for you to take even shots.

These are just some of the tricks you can do to take wonderful shots on your digital camera, be it a simple point-and shoot kind or the more professional SLR type. Photography is really an enjoyable and fulfilling hobby, especially when a lot of people also appreciate your shots. And it is not that difficult to have shots that most people will like. Just explore, read different books, and take advice from pros and you’ll surely be one of them in a matter of time.


Is There A Difference Between Vintage And Antique?

Antiques, simply put, are old items, things left over from a bygone world, markers of eras past. The Titanic wreck is an antique, although we don’t think of it as such. The only difference between this and what we normally consider antiques is that the Titanic, though having value, can’t be bought or auctioned off.

That’s another distinction regarding antiques: They have a market value. Although in an economic sense this is true, in the true definition of the word and concept of antiques, it’s irrelevant. Antiques are known for their age and, quite often, their rare and/or unusual design. Hey, even the Titanic has a particular design which represents it as an icon of a certain era, with a history all its own.

Of course, when it comes to antiques, it’s important to distinguish between antiques, collectibles, and vintage:

Antiques: Items of the past, usually identifying a particular era, with some value--economic, personal, cultural, artistic, but always intrinsic. Think: 1915 one-piece bathing suit, a “Model A” automobile, an authentic revolutionary tricorn hat, and, of course, the Titanic.

Collectable: Items produced to be collected and can comprise a series, such as baseball cards. Of course some aren’t produced for this reason, such as butterflies or coins, but, like antiques, they can form interesting collections and are each of a particular type which distinguishes them from the rest in the series. Think: a 1912 penny or a 1956 Buffalo nickel. These are distinctively different but are both unique coins, therefore they are collectable. They are also antiques! Collectables usually have some monetary value, but they are always sought for their personal value.

Vintage: This is synonymous with “antique,” but there is a difference. Vintage wine, for example, is that which is made primarily of grapes harvested within a specific year. It’s not too unreasonable to presume, then, that vintage items are not only identifiers of a particular historical era, but also a particular year, such as the 1912 penny, or the 1956 Buffalo nickel—or the Titanic!

Antiques cannot be discussed without mentioning road shows. Begun in England during the 1950s, road shows are collectives of antique enthusiasts (dealers, collectors, specialists) who travel around a particular country (sometimes internationally) appraising the monetary value of old items for those who are interested. Sometimes auctions take place where interested owners can sell their antiques (or collectables) to others who are interested in buying them. Nowadays, both road shows and auctions take place online as well as in some physical place.

Modern antiques, a seeming contradiction, are those items that are either technologically obsolete, such as computer hardware no longer being made, or items that are more recent yet still old enough to be considered antiques. Customs laws and dealers vary on the stipulation of age, but the commonly accepted age range for modern antiques is anything made within the previous 100 years. The 1956 Buffalo nickel, a Beatles album, and, yes, even the Titanic fit into this category.

Historically, however, antiques hold a particular reference. Those relics from Old Greek and Roman civilizations—called the “Age of Antiquity”—are particularly considered antiques, but this is only applied in certain contexts, not in the true sense of definition.

Antiques are all around us! They describe our world and who we are as a people, and measure where we’ve been and where we are now. Antiques are an ongoing commodity of human civilization and will always hold significance to us. Without antiques, we can never know ourselves.


Designing Your Own Greeting Cards:

Designing your own greeting cards is a lot of fun. Here are some tips for making your own greeting cards.

1. There are many different types of greeting cards you can design including: wedding, anniversary, cards for kids, sympathy, holiday and get well cards. Choose one you need and get started.

2. The first thing you will need is good paper. You can purchase pre-folded paper or simply buy some card stock and fold it yourself. Using a bone folder will ensure a nice clean fold. Make sure you have envelopes to fit your choice of card.

3. You will need an image on the front of your card design. Choose a sticker or a rubber stamp. Experiment with different colors and designs until you have the image you are looking for. You can layer the image on other paper, or even a combination of paper such as plain and matching patterned paper, to create an interesting design.

4. Also try using an embellishment for an extra touch and for a unique design instead of a sticker or stamp. These often add a three dimensional effect.

5. Choosing the proper glue is important in making your own cards. You can use a glue gun which works well but can wrinkle many lighter papers. A standard glue stick is probably the best all around option. It dries smooth and clear and can be used with nearly any paper weight.

6. The next step is to design the text. What will your card say? A decision also needs to be made about whether to put the text on the inside or on the cover or both. The text can be applied using rubber stamps, stickers or computer printed letters.

7. Once you have your overall design it is best to lay everything out on the card before you glue it all together.

8. Now that the front is finished it is time to begin on the inside of the card. Try using layering techniques with paper that matches the front of the card.

9. Your card is almost finished. Are you pleased with your design? Are any finishing touches needed such as: colored brads or buttons? If you used a stamp would the design look good colored in?

10. No card is complete without fiber. Take several strands of coordinating ribbon, yarn, or thread and tie into a knot. Then attach the fiber with your glue gun. You can trim the ends so your needs.

11. The Envelope. Now that you have designed this beautiful card there it is not acceptable to put it in a plain or ordinary envelope. Using the same materials you used to design your card, decorate the envelope.

It does not take very much time to design a personalized greeting card that your friends and family will love.


Arts On Line:

The profusion of online Arts websites allows anyone to explore thousands of art galleries, museums and art expositions from around the globe. Search by subject, medium, country of origin and more. Public listings of expositions and online ticket sales make it easy for even the busiest people to enrich their lives through enjoyment of art and artistic performances.

The internet serves not only traditional artists, but also those specializing in computer art. There are many web sites solely dedicated to art created on computer, and even museums of computer art. This is an entirely new venue for the new global media art community, and supports the creation, presentation, discussion and preservation of modern art that uses computer technology in original ways.

Many are free community sites which offer opportunities for the presentation of digital art from multiple digital artists as well as discussion forums for artists and members of the public. These provides a guide for both amateurs and professionals interested in exploring and using digital media and computers for creative purposes. Look for sites offering free downloads of images to enhance your personal or commercial website with photos, clip art and animations.

Read online critical history of computer graphics and animation. The internet is a global communications forum, providing professional advice from worldwide experts on creating digital art and illustrations. This advances the concept of digital fine art while promoting public interest and knowledge about this new medium.

For those more interested in traditional art, many museums now have digital photographs of their collections posted online. Without leaving your home, tour a virtual art gallery with information about the artists at your fingertips. If you are curious about a given work of art, it only takes a mouse click to find a biography of the artist and other information about the art.

Appreciation of art is greatly enhanced by knowing the artist's motive in creating it, as well as an social factors influencing the subject matter. For instance, to understand medieval paintings, it helps to know the preoccupations and perceptions of people living in this era. Many older works of art use symbolism not readily apparent to modern viewers, and an online guide brings to life the meaning behind many seemingly minor items in these paintings.

Don't forget about online ticket sales. It is so much easier to buy tickets online than over the phone. This eliminates waiting in line and guessing whether or not you are going to get a good seat for the performance. You can see a map of the theater so you can pick out exactly where you want to sit.

For those interested in learning new art-related skills, there are numerous online courses in fine arts, interior design, graphic design, art and art history master's courses. With more people engaged in distance learning than ever before, many large universities are now offering their courses online. With so much available, there's absolutely no excuse for not participating.