Over the last 60 years since it was invented, there has almost been a cult around the use of this product. Would you believe that it was created for the military during World War II?  Originally called “duck tape”, this tape was used to keep moisture out of ammunition boxes. It gained it’s name after the aquatic bird for obvious reasons. It was nearly waterproof and it resembles ‘duck canvas’. Soldiers started using it for a variety of purposes other than for ammo boxes. As we all know, there are a thousand things you can fix with duct tape. It is sturdy, strong and lasts a long time.

The name duct tape came to use after the war, when its color was also changed from army green to silver and was used to help attach and seal metal ducting in construction. Now of course, you can find it in a variety of colors since it is no longer used only for ducting.

Here is the official record of how duct tape is made. Duct tape is a strong tape that is composed of three layers. The top layer is a resilient plastic (Polyethylene). The bottom layer is a rubber based adhesive. The middle layer is a fabric mesh. Duct tape is manufactured by pressing these three layers together. I learn something new every day.

What product other than duct tape can claim fame to have being used for repairing flat tires to making women’s dresses? Police even occasionally use duct tape to restrain unruly prisoners. It would take a 100 pages to describe all the things you can do with this product. Moreover, what other product has a fan club?

Duct tape is one of those things that you learn to use at a very early age. There is nothing better for an older sister to use to perhaps control an unruly younger brother, but don’t tell her that! Kids have found it the perfect answer to broken notebooks and binders. Artists use it to make Christmas decorations and other holiday displays. Fashion is not only dresses with this tape. There are also pants, shoes and hats all made with the same material. And how about the woman that put it around her waist so that she would look better in her wedding dress?  There are festivals and contests, so if you have your own special duct tape story, you might be admitted in the Hall Of Fame.

Remember when computer graphics and photo images were just for the professionals?  Certainly not anymore.  Everyone now days that can punch the buttons on a keyboard can be very creative.  One special way of adding creativity to your projects is using images.  To make it very special, photo images give the best enhancement.  The problem is, where can you get the variety of photographs you need to give release to your creativity?

Over the years, computer databases have made available stock images to everyone.  It used to be that large data services would keep millions of stock images on file for use in newspapers and magazines.  Say a magazine wanted to do a story on whales.  Instead of sending a photographer to take pictures, they would buy stock images from a supplier.  The stock images would enhance the written word.  The same thing applies to your own creations.

You are doing a party invitation for your child.  Now through the use of stock images, you can include a picture of their favorite cartoon character or whatever comes to mind.  There are many, many companies that specialize in stock images of all imaginable kinds.  These stock image services even specialize in particular types of images.  Many of the stock images are not simply photographs say of famous landmarks, but very artistic works.

The best thing about using these stock images is that many of these services are free.  Others charge only a very small amount for the use of their stock images.  Once you begin surfing through their websites looking at these stock images, your creative juices will really begin to flow.  You will get so many new ideas because most people have not been exposed to what is available from these stock images companies.

Maybe your daughter or son is a horse fanatic and you want include such a picture for their computer generated birthday invitation.  Can you imagine choosing from literally thousands of examples?  That is exactly what you will find through searching through the stock images available.  Your child is working on a school project about a historical figure.  Now they can cut and paste several stock images of that person for their report.

The quality of the new computer printers for photographs too is greatly improved.  You can download these stock images and reproduce the picture of your choice to hang on the wall or put on your desk.  You see, the possibilities are almost unlimited in using stock images and it is all at your fingertips through your computer.

Back in the 1980s, I was just a little kid, the oldest of three girls. We always had a lot of toys, many of which my grandmother would pick up second hand at yard sales in the city. I remember a couple of toys that we didn’t get though - toys that occupied my mind and fantasy world, and that I would have given my right arm to possess. The most coveted toys of all, for just about any kid at that time, would have to be the Cabbage Patch Kids.

How these toys managed to capture the attention of millions of children the world over, I’ll never know. They weren’t even particularly cute, with their molded plastic heads, unmoving eyes and hair of yarn. And yet, somehow these dolls held the key to the hearts of kids around the globe.  I think part of the appeal of Cabbage Patch Kids had to be the adoption papers. Getting a doll that had already been pre-named was a pretty novel approach. It must have been more than mere dolly names that caused the hysteria surrounding Cabbage Patch Kids, especially at Christmastime. The crowds of shoppers went absolutely wild! There were even news reports of masses of people stampeding, trampling other shoppers, in the frenzy to get one of these dolls for an eager boy or girl waiting at home.

The marketing behind Cabbage Patch Kids was sheer genius. The world was held captive, enthralled, becoming willing pawns of marketing like never before. To this very day, I even remember the price of one of these dolls, an elusive $34.95, just out-of-grasp for our family to enjoy, as it would have been over $100 to send the three of us to cloud nine, out of sheer joy. This was simply money our family didn’t have.

I think our other grandmother took pity on us. She wanted to buy us the dolls, but between us and countless cousins, she would have ended up spending thousands of dollars buying Cabbage Patch Dolls. So instead, she invested hours on end, painstakingly making dolls for us by hand. These dolls had hand painted faces, were anatomically correct, thanks to a few drinks we suspected.  Each clothed in beautiful handmade clothing.  Sadly, we were all pretty disappointed with this make due attempt by our grandmother. Although we smiled bravely and put on a happy face, we were dying inside. These were not Cabbage Patch Kids at all! The other kids would laugh and know we were poor. This simply wouldn’t do!

In the end though, we came to love our dolls. As we grew older and reflected on our childhoods, we came to understand the real love that our grandmother put in to all of those dolls. Real thought and an exorbitant investment of time and effort. Many of my toys are long gone, but to this day my special doll sits on a shelf in my bedroom, as a testament to our grandmother’s love and a memory of the hysteria of the Cabbage Patch Kids era.

If you go to any department store today, you may well find Cabbage Patch Kids stocking the shelves. This comeback attempt has not even scraped the surface of the success of the original batch of Kids. I don’t know if the marketing is no longer as effective, or maybe the magic has simply been lost, but the Cabbage Patch Kids will always stir up fond memories in my family.

My neighbor and I were looking for projects that we could do that would occupy the long winter months as well as provide a service to the community. We both enjoy sewing and beading so we were hoping that we could find projects that would incorporate one or both of these activities. We contacted the local nursing home and asked if they were in need of anything that we could make. We were told that many of the residents have poor circulation so they are often cold. This is especially true for the residents that are confined to wheelchairs. Many of them are covered with lap blankets throughout the day. The staff suggested that we could make lap quilts for the residents. The staff gave us the size for the lap quilts so that they would not get caught in the wheels of the chairs.

The lap quilts were a perfect project. They were small enough that they could be completed rather quickly and were also portable so we could get together at each other homes and bring our lap quilts along. I had several pieces of fabric from past quilting projects, so I decided to make a crazy quilt pattern for the tops of the first two lap quilts. I pieced together the fabric pieces in random patterns. I then bought a complementary fabric for the back of the quilt and a soft batting to place in the middle. After I had the top completed I pieced the top, batting and bottom together and traced a simple quilting design on the top of the quilt. I then used an embroidery hoop to keep the fabrics together and began hand quilting along the traced design. The lap quilts are a great size to work with because they are compact to have on your lap as you are sewing.

When I had my lap quilts together I called my neighbor to see how she was doing with her project. She said that she did not have supplies at home and that she would be going to the fabric store the next day to make her purchases. When we woke up the next morning there was a foot of snow on the ground and the wind was causing white out conditions. There was a no travel advisory out for the area. During a lull in the storm our door bell rang. The neighbors had walked over to get some fresh air. I had been hand sewing one of the lap quilts and had the other basted and ready to go. My neighbor asked if she could start working on this quilt to have something to do on the long winter afternoon. It was a great way to spend a snowy day. My husband built a fire in the fireplace and the guys played cribbage as we worked on the lap quilts. Once the hand sewing is completed I will place a solid color binding along the edge to complete the projects for the nursing home.

Creating handmade items is something most of us long to do. If you’re not crafty or if your sewing machine or knitting skills aren’t up to par, it can seem impossible.  Now with the new no sew fleece blankets becoming more and more popular, virtually everyone can make a blanket by hand in no time at all. These items are perfect for both personal use or to give as gifts.

The idea of making a blanket by hand conjures up images of women sitting in a circle quilting. Although this is indeed one of the most loved crafts around.  For someone without the hand coordination, time or patience to do that, there is a new, very fun alternative. Making a no sew fleece blanket is easy and the results are really beautiful. Another great thing about a no sew blanket is that you can make them any size you please, whether it’s a small version for a new infant or one that is queen size to fit your own bed.

Another appealing aspect of taking on this type of craft project is how inexpensive it is. There are only a few supplies needed when you are making a no sew fleece blanket. First is the material. Most people prefer using two separate designs of fleece for a no sew fleece blanket. One can be a printed pattern, while the other should be a solid. This not only looks nicer it also allows for reversal of the blanket.  The only other things needed when you are ready to begin are scissors, a ruler and tape. Many people who are experienced with putting together a no sew fleece blanket can do so within the course of an afternoon. Once you have the two pieces of fabric cut to the desired size, it’s simply a matter of measuring, taping and knotting.

To begin with, after cutting the material, you should place the wrong sides together. After that, the next step is cutting a square from each corner of both pieces of fleece. With the ruler, you measure down a few inches from the border, where you’ll apply the tape. Next you cut a fringe around the entire fabric. The last step is easy, this is when you begin attaching both pieces of the no sew fleece blanket together. Once it’s been knotted together, remove the tape and you’ve just created a beautiful, warm blanket.  The same principle and technique can be used to create things like pillows. Imagine how nice it would be to make a matching no sew fleece pillow and blanket for a child’s bed. They’ll love the comfort and warmth it provides and you’ll be so proud you did it all yourself.

Halloween is a holiday for kids of all ages. Most people don’t celebrate the dark meaning of the holiday, they simply enjoy dressing up and hanging out with friends. Halloween has always been something that has been enjoyed in my family, if for nothing more than an excuse to try to scare each other. It’s almost become a tradition to see who can scare whom more. My brother once dressed up as Mike Meyers from the Halloween movies and hid in the bushes, scaring the wits out of each person who was unlucky enough to walk by.

When it comes to adult costumes for Halloween you have two options. You can buy something, or you can make something. I don’t believe I have ever bought adult costumes, as I find it much more fun to make something. When you make adult costumes on your own, you can make anything you heart desires, and you can be sure no one else will be wearing the exact same thing. No matter how crafty you are, or if you feel you are all thumbs, you can find ideas for adult costumes that you can make at home.

Many adult costumes you find in stores are older versions of what the children are wearing, with a few exceptions. There are some costumes that are decidedly adult only and those are usually for women. If you want something unique, don’t go to the store and buy one. Although, if you look online for adult costumes, you may find something that no one else in your area has and you may be OK. If anything, you can find an outrageous wig or a wild prop to make your costume unique.

For the truly memorable adult costumes, you must make one yourself. If you have something in mind, you can search through thrift stores to find the pieces you need and go to craft stores for most of the special effects you may be looking for. If you don’t like to sew and glue, go to a store that carries nothing but adult costumes, and mix and match a few different items. If you are fresh out of ideas, look online for something you love and give it a personal twist. You can also look through your closet for a lost piece of clothing you no longer wear, and think of many different adult costumes you could construct from it. This may be the best way to come up with a unique costume when you’ve run out of ideas.

Stained glass gifts make excellent presents for all occasions. One of the greatest things about stained glass gifts is that each one is a unique work of art. Although some are cast and others are handmade, the dying is a deeply individual project undergone by a specific artist to make a unique creation for you to give to a friend or lover. Stained glass jewelry, in my opinion, is especially elegant. It has an exquisite delicateness to it, the tiny bits of stained glass glowing in luminous designs which are fascinating to inspect.

Another of my favorites, and probably the most classic of all stained glass gifts, is the sun catcher. This is a pane of colored glass designed to be hung in a window. When the sun shines through it, it creates different colors corresponding to whatever image it depicts, and shines a beautiful projection of it into the room. What makes sun catchers such great stained glass gifts is that they become part of your daily life. Any time the sun is out and shining, you can see its rays reflected in the luminous, multicolored hues of the sun catcher, adding a touch of brilliance to the whole room.

If sun catchers are a type of stained glass gifts which you really appreciate, you might consider purchasing a kit instead of a finished one. Although sun catchers make great stained glass gifts, kits also do for their own reasons. First of all, a great thing about a kit is that you get to customize it making the decisions about exactly what colors it has. Besides, you have the satisfaction of knowing that you made it, even if not completely. Finally, many people really just like to have a project to do with their hands, and sun catcher kits are a stained glass gift which allow them to do just that.

If you like stained glass gifts, you might also like blown glass. Unlike stained glass, blown glass comes in a variety of different organic forms, such as vases, lamps and many other things. And there are as many varieties of blown glass as there are stained glass gifts. Perhaps more. Blown glass has even more uniqueness than stained glass, because very often there is not one central design to it, but on the contrary, each piece is the individual vision of the artist who made it. There is only one in the world.

If you are looking for a great craft to do at home, you might want to make handmade soaps. I don’t know what it is about soaps and candles that people make in their home but I love them. If I see someone selling them, I almost always have to stop and get some to take home. There seems to be more love put into them and they are often just as good as the stuff I would buy in the store. Not only are soaps a great hobby, they can be sold to the public if you need a little extra cash.

Handmade soaps have been around for a long time. Even when soap was starting to be manufactured in large quantities, many people stuck to making their own. You can’t always get what you want in a bar of soap that you buy in the store, but if you make your own handmade soaps, you can make it any way you wish. You may not save a lot of money this way, but you will get a lot more out of it. Soap making can be relaxing and that alone might be worth the cost of the supplies you will need to buy.

You may have to experiment when you first start making handmade soaps. You can find great recipes for them online, but you should experiment until you find your very own unique recipe that is like no other. When you give them for gifts or sell them at craft fairs, you will be surprised at how much the people will like your soaps.  Some buy handmade soaps to use while other buy them just for the way they look. Make sure your soaps are functional and pretty, and you will get both kinds of sale.

If you get really good at making handmade soaps and find that they sell well locally, you might want to try to sell them online. You might start with eBay and then perhaps set up your own website. Make sure you have a writer write a few good articles about handmade soaps so that the search engines can find your site. Once people start coming you may find that you can’t make enough. Not only do people like to have them for themselves, they also like to give them for gifts. You should do well around the holidays if people can find you online.