Host A Poetry Slam Event

A poetry slam is a competition between poets to win a cash prize. If you are interested in hosting such an event, there is an easy process to follow to make your slam a success.

Instructions

1. Find a venue. Speak to the owners or managers of local coffee houses, theaters, auditoriums and cafes. Many businesses are willing to let you use their space to host if it means it will generate more business. Have information about dates, times and the expected number of attendees and competitors before you make your proposal. Poetry slams are usually not free events. These competitions depend upon of drawing in a crowd of people who pay to watch the competition.

2. Generate interest in your event. Make sure you include information about where the event will be and what the competition requirements are. Post your information in places where it will generate the most interest, including places where local artists and poets might frequent. Try posting flyers at bookstores, coffee shops or at other weekly venues that host weekly open mic nights. Visit local night clubs where local artists and writers frequent, and hand out flyers by hand. Many cities also have local spoken word artists who are well known within their "poet" community.

You may draw a bigger crowd by extending a special invitation to well-known artists, especially if he or she is going to compete.

Most poetry slams require competitors to prepare a selection of poems. You also need to include information about how much the event is going to cost to attend and enter. Many times the poetry slam's cash prize is obtained from the money made at the door. If you plan to give a cash prize of $100 you will want to make sure your door entry fee accommodates that.

3. Find qualified competition judges. The best judges for a poetry slam are artists and poets. Components like word play, delivery, flow, creativity, originality and stage presence make all the difference in a competition. A fellow artist will understand how the blending of these components can make or break a performance.

It is also a good idea to have a diverse selection of judges. Poetry comes in all forms. Some spoken-word artists have a style that is very theatrical and animated. Others can be rather soft spoken. Others have a very abstract style. It's best to get a variety of judges to represent all different styles.

Judges should also be aware that they should not hold any biases for the competitors to ensure a fair competition.

4. Set up the venue the way you want it to be. Make sure to have plenty of seats for your guests, and include a row of chairs on the "stage" for the competitors.

Rules for slams vary depending on the event, but most slams ask competitors to choose another competitor to battle. This means each person will recite a poem. The judges will decide who gave the best delivery and select a winner. This process continues until their is one poet remaining. That poet receives the grand prize.

Host A Poetry Reading In Your Classroom

Host a Poetry Reading in Your Classroom

Using poetry in the classroom is a great way to teach reading comprehension and creative writing. Reading poetry aloud teaches children read with expression, which in turn increases comprehension, and read smoothly, which in turn helps them improve the speed of their reading. Culminate a poetry unit in your classroom by hosting a poetry reading!

Instructions

Host a Poetry Reading in Your Classroom

1. Get the students hooked on poetry. Read different kinds of poems to them. Jack Prelutsky is one children's poetry author whose books are filled with funny poems that children can relate to. Try reading sad, funny, and angry poems, then ask the students to try to identify with the feelings in the poems. Soon they will be begging you for more poetry.

2. Get the students writing poems. Once they have gotten used to hearing different types and genres of poetry, teach them write their own. Start with simple haiku and go from there. Remind them that poems do not have to rhyme. Consider having the students keep a "poetry journal."

3. Set the stage. First, ask your administrator for permission to host a poetry reading in your classroom. Be sure to invite him or her to come. Send home a letter to the parents inviting them to come as well. If you have the space, you might even consider inviting students from other classes to join you.

4. Make it special. Create a special chair for the poet to sit on or a podium to stand behind. If you have access to a microphone, you could try using that as well. Consider playing soft music in the background as each child reads his or her poem aloud, or provide refreshments to the parents as they listen.

5. Reward the students' hard work. Consider creating a "Perfect Poet" certificate for each child, or ask a parent to type up the poems into a book that you can give to each student. Hopefully, your budding poets will continue to write even after the reading is over.

Host A Poetry Reading

Host a Poetry Reading

Hosting a poetry reading or series can be lots of fun and puts you in contact with many interesting and creative people. Even if you have a good knowledge of poetry and local and national spoken word poets, it still takes hard work and perseverance to host a poetry reading and keep it lively and entertaining.

Instructions

1. Check your local market. You'll need to find a venue and a projected audience for the type of poetry you want to feature. Find a bar or venue close to colleges or frequented by students and creative types and tailor your program to their interests.

2. Determine your booking policy. You may want to invite only readers you know personally or place ads to solicit poets. Either way, state payment and booking policies clearly in any emails you send, as well as performance, date, length and any other rules.

3. Equip your reading stage or setting with a microphone, sound system and lighting. The requirements vary according to the number of poetry readers and the size of the venue. Also consider the number of chairs, tables or sofas patrons will need. If you want to serve refreshments, contact a local restaurant or go pot luck depending on your venue to save money.

4. Publicize your poetry reading at least a month before the event. Use websites, blogs, fliers and the local college or alt weekly to announce the featured poets and other highlights of the show.

5. Let problem readers know who's the boss as the host. Be friendly but firm with readers going over their allotted time or getting too big for their britches. Keep the readings flowing smoothly. Remember, you're the host, and you direct the tone of the reading.

6. Think about having an open mike night. If you're truly adventurous, forgo the booking policy and host an open mike series. This free-for-all type of event brings out some interesting readers, and usually proves to be an eclectic, fun evening. And you won't have to worry about tending to the egos of featured poets or paying honorariums.

Host A Karaoke Party

Singing karaoke in front of a crowd can be a nerve-wracking experience.

The biggest challenge of hosting a karaoke party is getting guests to sing. While many people enjoy singing along to the radio, crooning in front of a crowd without the benefit of a professional vocal track can be nerve-wracking. Eliminate the potential for stage fright by shifting the focus of the karaoke party from vocal ability to performance panache. Encourage guests to be big and bold when their turn at the microphone comes for a shot to win prizes in a range of outrageous categories.

Instructions

1. Send out invitations detailing the playful tone of the karaoke party. Include a list of award categories, such as best bad duet, worst impromptu performance and best drag queen impersonation while singing a song by Cher or Barbara Streisand. Add a paragraph to the invitations encouraging guests to bring costumes to change into for their performances, as well as a sentence asking guests to send special performance song requests via e-mail prior to the party.

2. Create a short list of favorite karaoke songs that groups enjoy singing together, such as "We Are Family" by Sister Sledge and "Y.M.C.A." by the Village People. Make sure that each song title is available in the selection of karaoke CDs and is listed in the song title catalogs. Also include each song's identifying catalog number next to the song title. Attach copies of the list to both sides of the table tent menus. Set the table tent menus around the event space as enticers to encourage guests to perform.

3. Design a sign-up sheet with four columns. Label the first column as 'name,' the second column as 'song title,' the third column as 'title ID number' and the fourth as prize contender category. Include instructions at the top informing guests to cross out the fourth column space if they do not intend their performance to be judged for a prize. Print out several copies to ensure the sign-up sheet does not run out of room during the event.

4. Select comical prizes that match the outrageous categories, such as a Cher doll or a feather boa for the drag queen category.

5. Devise a tentative set list of special performances that guests have committed to performing via e-mail. Give the set list to the Karaoke DJ/MC to aid them in locating the appropriate karaoke CDs and prepping the karaoke system prior to the event. Ask the DJ/MC to announce each performer by their name, the song title and which category, if any, they'll be competing in.

6. Enlist several friends to serve as judges for the performances. Give them each their own judge's evaluation sheet which lists the performance categories. Ask them to write down the performers in each category and rate them with either a five-point scale or a simple, 'yes, no or maybe' scale.

7. Set up the karaoke system following the included instructions. Make sure to set up in a prominent location in the event space, such as on a raised platform or stage. Display the prizes on a table near the performance area, labeling each prize with the appropriate outrageous award category.

8. Mingle with the crowd as the party begins, encouraging them to check out the prizes, look through the song title catalogs and sign up to sing their first songs. Break the ice by performing a number as the event host, either alone or with a group of friends. Trust the DJ/MC to keep the music going and the judges to pick the winners. Hand out the prizes when the party reaches its pinnacle.

Hook Up A Gravity Feed Spray Gun

A gravity feed spray gun evenly distributes the material to give your project a smooth and uniform finish.

A gravity feed spray gun is a tool used to paint large surfaces like vehicles and homes. The feed cup is located above and on the back of the sprayer. The feed cup is tilted at a 45-degree angle to pour the material into the sprayer, rather than sucking the paint out like a vacuum. This construction eliminates over spray, which can damage your project by applying material too fast or unevenly applying the material.

Instructions

1. Hook up the air supply hose from the air compressor outlet to the gravity feed spray gun air inlet. Tighten the bolt that secures the air supply hose to the gravity feed spray gun air inlet using an adjustable wrench.

2. Connect the feed cup to the gravity feed spray gun. Insert the bottom of the feed cup into the inlet of the gravity feed spray gun. Securely tighten the bolt between the spray gun and the feed cup using an adjustable wrench.

3. Remove the cap from the feed cup by unscrewing the cap counterclockwise with your hand.

4. Pour the material into the feed cup. Fill the cup only halfway to ensure the material doesn't overflow when the spraying process begins.

5. Return the cap to the feed cup by screwing the cap on clockwise, securing the lid.

Get Children In Catalogs

Capture that precious face along with your child's personailty in great portfolio shots.

There is no doubt that you have the cutest kid around, however, getting your child noticed and hired to model clothing in a catalogue requires more effort than just looking adorable. If you think that your child is model material and has the ability to follow directions, sit still and pose for photo shoots, then you can consider taking the steps to finding your child modeling jobs.

Instructions

1. Find a child modeling agency with a good reputation. Good agencies never charge a fee upfront; they take a percentage from each job your child completes. Do your research. Be sure that the agency you choose books jobs for catalogues. Some agencies only do commercials and runway jobs.

2. Have some photos taken of your child to show the agency. A simple snapshot showing how clothes hang on your child and a clear headshot will do the trick. You can go to your local shopping mall; mall photographers often know what type of photos to take if you tell them what you need the pictures for.

3. Send in some photographs of your child to an agency you would like to work with. Send in a head shot and a full body shot.

4. Call to set up an interview for your child at the agency. Be prepared to ask any questions you may have.

5. Ask the agency about the services it provides. Find out if it builds a portfolio for your child or if you must create your own.

6. Create a portfolio if your agent doesn't provide that service for you. Include head shots, formal wear shots and casual clothes shots. Present the photos, blown up, and inserted in clear page protectors.

7. If your child has been accepted by the agency, you can begin attending appointments that your agent tells you about. These appointments are what will land your child a paying assignment. Think of it like a casting call for models.

Hook A Guitar To A Car Radio

Auxiliary cords allow you share you music in more locations.

Using your car radio as a speaker for your guitar is possible as long as your guitar has electric capabilities. Electric guitars will certainly be compatible with usable car radios, but you may also be able to hook up your acoustic guitar if it can be plugged into an amplifier. VW even created a marketing campaign in 2006 where they offered a free electric guitar with the purchase of a vehicle. In their advertisements, VW boasted about how crisp the sound of the guitar would be when hooked to a car's speakers. Begin playing your music through your car radio using these steps.

Instructions

1. Check to see if your car has an auxiliary plug in. The plug would be a small, round hole or port labeled "AUX." If not, make sure your car has a tape deck. If you do have an auxiliary plug or a tape deck, your guitar cannot be plugged into your car's sound system.

2. Purchase a basic auxiliary cord if your car has an auxiliary plug. If you have a tape deck instead, purchase the auxiliary cord with the tape deck adapter.

3. Attach the auxiliary cord to both the car and the guitar. Turn down the volume, bass and treble features of your radio significantly before playing a single note on your guitar. This will prevent damage to your car's speakers.

Mix Acrylic Paints

Acrylic paint colors can be made lighter or darker, muted or brighter, simply by following the color wheel and knowing which colors are opposites of each other and which colors can blend to make a new color and which cannot. For example, red and blue make purple, white and black make gray. However, try to combine orange and red together and you get a redder orange shade.

Instructions

1. Buy a wooden palette with a thumb hole in it to provide a better grip, or a small plastic one with several mixing cups in it. You will need one of these to have something to mix the paint on. Apply one color to the palette and then a second color next to it. Using your paint brush, mix them together to your liking. If you need to make the color darker, add a small amount of black. If lighter, add a small amount of white. If you need to mute the brightness of the color, add whatever color is directly opposite it on the color wheel.

2. Mix paint directly on the canvas by applying a base color and before it has a chance to dry completely, apply the second color directly on top of it. Blend them together using the brush and a very light touch. This kind of blending is very useful for providing background texture to your painting. It is also less time consuming than using the palette to mix your colors.

3. Load your brush with two colors at the same time, one color on one side of the brush and the other on the opposite side. Apply them to the canvas at the same time. This sort of painting is also useful for applying color texture to the painting, but it is very hard on the brush and can compress the bristles.

4. Mix craft paints with craft paints and professional quality paint with professional quality paint because if the two varieties are mixed together it will result in a weakening of the pigments in the professional grade paint. This can also have a detrimental effect on the amount of fade resistance the paint offers.

5. Mix colors only until you have an interestingly textured appearance on the canvas rather than a complete combining of the two or more colors that you are mixing. This adds interest to the painting and keeps the colors from becoming flat or drab. Dabbing a little unmixed paint onto the mixed paint also helps to create the appearance of texture in a painting.

Make A Street Drum Set

A street drum set is a collection of percussion instruments made from found objects, given its name because it is often used by busking (street-performing) musicians. Street drum sets can be a fun and inexpensive way to make music for both professional and amateur musicians, but a compelling performance requires a good choice of instruments. Here are some tips for putting together a good-sounding set.

Instructions

1. Buy a pair of professional snare drum sticks. While found objects can make good drums, there's really no substitute for real sticks, and you can get a pair for under $10. Getting your sticks before you assemble the rest of your drum set will also be the best way to test objects for their sound and durability.

2. Start searching for objects. Look through your home and garage, then try places like dumps, junk yards and hardware stores. Look for objects that are big and hollow, like overturned plastic buckets or bins, and items of metal or glass that have a good ring when hit.

3. Test objects and consider sound. Any item that's going to become a part of your kit should produce a fairly loud, resonant sound when hit. You want instruments that produce pitch, rather than a dull "thud" or "thwack," and to make a sound that fades away slowly after being struck.

4. Consider strength. All the items in your drum set should be able to take a beating without showing any damage. Your instruments may be hit many hundreds of times during each performance, and they'll need to be tough enough to stand up to this sort of punishment.

5. Look for a variety of timbres in your instruments. While it's fairly common for street drummers to use just a couple drums with identical sounds, it's difficult to make compelling music with this setup. Having a wide variety of sound colors will not only attract listeners, it will make playing and creating music more fun for you.

6. Shakers make a great addition to a found-object percussion act and can be made by adding pebbles, dried beans or beads to a metal can or small, hard plastic container.

Install A Recording Studio For A Rap Artist

Install your own recording studio

Recording your own music is very fulfilling but it can be very expensive to do at a professional recording studio. Many musicians are now going with the cheaper option of building a home studio. A home recording setup will cost you between $1,000 to $10,000 or more.Rap artists need specialized equipment such as beat machines and samplers. You will need to take acoustics into consideration also. If the room is not properly insulated there will be too much echo and reverberation in your recordings.

Instructions

1. Visit a music website such as americanmusical.com or musiciansfriend.com to price and research recording equipment for the studio you plan to build. Invest in good equipment if you plan to do some serious recording.

2. Purchase a desk made for holding studio equipment and monitors.

3. Choose the room you want to use for your recording studio.

4. Line the walls and ceiling in the room with acoustic foam insulation. Follow the instructions included with the type of acoustic foam/insulation you use.

5. Assemble your recording desk. Place it where you plan to work.

6. Place your recording equipment and monitors on the desk. If the desk is made for recording it will have designated stands for your monitors.

7. Connect your monitors to your recording equipment.

8. Connect all stationary equipment, such as the beat machine, sampler, keyboard, to your recording equipment with cables following the manufacturer's instructions.

9. Connect microphones with pop shields as needed.

10. Connect all your other equipment and use surge protectors at all power supply junctures.

Hold An Art Auction

Art auctions can be beneficial to artist and non-profit organizations when held for fundraising or charity. If you're an artist an art auction fundraiser is beneficial for exhibiting your art work to the public. However, if you don't have the help of an organization to holding an auction for your work can be difficult. You must consider your audience and whether your art work is fairly well-known for participants to be greatly interested and make well-priced bids.

Instructions

1. Make sure you have enough art for an auction and that you have made a name for yourself in the local area you live in. People may not be interested in an action for an artists they've never heard of. Make sure you're professional and that you have a portfolio of your best work ready. It's also beneficial to have some awards or credentials, possibly from winning an exhibition contest.

2. Spread your name and artwork more before officially setting up your auction. Have professional business cards to leave at other art shows, coffee shops, book stores, or wherever art aficionados may go. On your business card have a link to your personal website that displays your work. If you get your name out to the public at least more than two weeks in advance of advertising your auction, your work will be fresh in people's minds.

3. Find a space to hold your auction. You can contact a place that often holds art auctions or exhibitions or you can consider contacting a community hall center, a restaurant, a hotel conference room, or public library. There are many options, but you'll want to consider whether the place you hold your auction has the date you want to book the auction and space to show the various artwork you have.

4. Promote the auction and make sure that will people will come by having more popular artist open the auction. This could be a professor you've worked in the past or a friend that you have a connection with. Use such resources to help bring people into coming to your auction. Also, consider contacting an organization that you care about to hold the auction as a fundraiser. If you decide to do a fundraiser you will have more people helping you to set up the event and more bidders will be interested in purchasing your art to benefit a charitable cause.

5. Set opening bid if you refuse to sell your art below a specific price (See References). Tell the auctioneers that your work must meet a specific price to be sold but that they can start it a lower price as long as it reaches the price you want. Don't insist on too high of a price. Consider how much your art would normally go for on the market.

Paint On Glass

Paint on Glass

Create a beautiful design on a glass vase or jar with glass paint. You can create a design of your choice or use a pattern. Follow these tips to paint on glass and turn plain glass into a beautiful project.

Instructions

1. Design your picture on a piece of paper before you start painting. Follow the sketch or pattern when you begin painting.

2. Choose your paint colors. Glass paint comes in a variety of colors. Choose a medium thick paintbrush so you can make medium sized strokes.

3. Get enough paint on the paint brush so that you can make thick line of paint. You don't want to use too much paint or it will drip.

4. Paint in thick even strokes starting at the top of the glass. Follow your pattern around the glass before moving down the glass.

5. Change colors to create a beautiful design. Wash the brush with water when you switch to another color or use a different brush for each color of paint. You can also mix colors together and create your own colors.

6. Use different brushes for different effects. Use a flat brush to make thick strokes and a small brush for delicate lines.

7. Wipe off the paint with a damp cloth or cotton swab. You can remove dry paint with a razor blade but do it slowly and carefully.

Help Children Make A Fireworks Celebration On Paper

This year the kids won't have to wait until dark for the fireworks to start. At your Fourth of July celebration, help your children make a fireworks celebration on paper with a few simple supplies and some flowers from the yard.

Instructions

1. Assemble the materials you'll need: a painting smock, black kraft paper, aluminum foil, washable acrylic paints, flowers and/or sponge dish scrubbers.

2. Let the kids choose the paint colors they want to use, and make each child his or her own "palette" on a piece of doubled aluminum foil. Gold, silver, red, blue and green metallic show up well on black paper.

3. Give each child a flower or a dish scrubber for each color and show them load it with paint.

4. Show the kids dab their black paper with the flower to make fireworks bursts. One quick dab on the paper will do it; no need to drag the flower or press too hard against the paper - you don't want to smear your fireworks.

5. Fill the black "sky" with fireworks and then set the paper aside to dry.

6. Wash up, sit back and marvel at the kids' artistic abilities. Hang the pictures up for everyone at your Fourth of July celebration to see.

Help Children Learn To Swallow Pills

Many of us remember the first time we swallowed a pill as a child because it was a difficult experience for both ourselves and our parents. Today, the process hasn't gotten easier, but pharmaceutical companies have developed medicine that caters to children and their fear of swallowing pills. Chewables and liquids have become popular, but there are small steps you can take as a parent to help your children become more comfortable with medicine as well. Remember, they're going to learn at their own pace.

Instructions

Using Cake Decoration Candy

1. Explain to your child why medicine is important and necessary to help them feel better and stay healthy. It's crucial to eliminate as much fear as possible before beginning the exercise.

2. Take a piece of the cake decorating candy and demonstrate the proportion of the candy on your finger. Emphasize its small size, and swallow a piece of it yourself to show how easy and harmlessly it can be done.

3. Present the glass of flavored beverage to the child, and show them place the decorative candy on their tongue. Ease them into using the drink to wash the candy down. It's important to be patient during this time (as they gag, spit up), and use positive reinforcement to keep them from quitting.

4. Allow them to try with as many decorative cake candies as they like until they become comfortable with the swallowing process. Once they are swallowing the candy without hesitation, you can move on to the next trial.

Using Tic-Tacs, Bigger Candy

5. Show the container of Tic-Tacs to the child before you propose the swallowing exercise. Allow them to try eating one on their own if they display any fear toward working with the candy.

6. Swallow a Tic-Tac with a glass of flavored beverage to demonstrate how simple it is to the child, and how it's just a step up from swallowing the decorative candy used before.

7. Allow your child to drink a beverage before beginning the process to avoid a dry throat. Pill-like, Tic-Tacs are more difficult to swallow than smaller decorative candies.

8. Help the child place the Tic-Tac on the tongue, and ease them into washing it down with a flavored beverage. Once again, be patient and encouraging with positive reinforcement.

Have Proper Diction In Female Voice Training

Have Proper Diction in Female Voice Training

You might like to expand your vocal horizons by improving your diction. Proper diction in the female voice requires some vocal training. Here are some things to keep in mind when you practice your diction and some special things to keep in mind when training a female voice.

Instructions

1. Make consonance a priority and think about each consonant as you sing it. This helps make the words much clearer to your audience. This is especially true when you sing the falsetto range, which tends to have less control and is more breathy.

2. Pay special attention to letters L, P, S and T, especially at the end of words. The consonant sound at the end of words, even in the higher female voice, tends to get lost. Crisp T and S sounds, as well as other consonants, keep the feeling and understanding of the words of the song alive as well.

3. Practice your diction by speaking the words of a song as well as singing them. Say the words of a song, as if you're reading poetry, to get more of an understanding of the meaning and to help you concentrate on the communication held in each phrase.

4. Have someone listen to you practice and tell you what they hear. If they cannot understand the words you sing in a certain range, focus on your consonance in that range in an effort to communicate the words.

5. Balance emotion and word formation. Overly emotional singing sometimes looses the control needed to maintain proper diction, especially in the female voice.

Have A Successful Silent Auction

A silent auction is an effective way to raise money for a charitable cause.

An auction is a proven method to raise money for a charity organization or an individual in need. Items are offered for sale to the highest bidder, and organizers hope the group setting will create competition for the items. While a typical auction is a stand-alone event and involves an auctioneer, a silent auction can be part of a full night of entertainment. In a silent auction, guests place their bids into a container near the prize display. At the end of the auction, the person whose bid was highest for a particular prize wins that item.

Instructions

Planning

1. Before you decide to hold a silent auction as a fundraising event, make sure you can provide the elements considered important to making it a success. According to stepbystepfundraising.com, a successful auction should have a goal, bidders, attractive auction items at a variety of prices, and an adequate number of volunteers.

2. Set goals for the number of attendees as well as amount to be raised. Form a committee or designate one person to generate publicity for your auction. Recruit volunteers to solicit and pick up the items prior to the auction.

3. Make your auction items appeal to the interests -- and the pocketbooks -- of those who will attend. Offer a wide variety of items, from sporting event tickets to mini-vacation getaways. Seek items from a wide price range, and your guests are more likely to find something they like and can afford.

Event Night

4. While the proper pre-planning is essential to the success of your silent auction, make sure things run smoothly during the event. Provide enough pens and paper to accommodate all of the bids.

5. Ask your emcee or director to motivate people to bid on the items. Set up a table to solicit direct donations to offset the costs of the organization, as this will give guests the chance to help your cause even when they are out-bid for an item.

6. Close out the bidding by section, starting with the lowest-priced items. Set up a station for winners to collect the items, and use multiple lines, perhaps one for those paying with cash or check and several lines for credit cards.

7. Have a process in place for checkout, and either post it by the checkout table or have your emcee announce it. Have volunteers check bid sheets for irregularities, such as a minimum bid amount not being met, and have them ready to collect the items for the winners. To ease the process, call winners up in groups; for instance, start with those whose last names begin with A to G.

It may take some time to process bids, so keep your guests entertained while they collect their winnings. Have auction winners bring their bid sheets to the checkout table. As they pay for the prizes, give them a copy marked PAID and keep a copy for yourself. Send them to the auction runners to collect their prizes.

Paint Over Tile

Believe it or not, you don't have to rip out that tile to get a fresh new look and color in your kitchen. Painting your tile can be a simple solution to a drab room with outdated tile. After following these simple steps, your room can look up to date in no time.

Instructions

1. Clean the tile and grout well. Use a strong detergent solution on the tile surface. Use bleach or hydrogen peroxide on the grout to remove any mold or mildew. Rinse thoroughly.

2. Sand the tile. The paint won't stick if you skip this step. Use a fine grit sandpaper. Feel free to use an electric sander on large areas. Remove all dust from tile area.

3. Prime your tile with a product suggested for glossy surfaces. After the second coat of primer has dried, lightly sand the area again. Remember to remove all dust from the tile.

4. Paint your tile. Oil-based paints are suggested. If you are painting tile on walls, around fireplaces or countertops, it is best to use a semi-gloss or high gloss paint. For floors you will need to use a polyurethane paint or specific satin finish floor paint.

5. Wait two to three days for the paint to dry. Then apply a coat of urethane to the tile. This is highly recommended for tile floors and protects your newly painted tile.

Hang A Canvas Painting

Canvas paintings are a great way to accent your home and personality. They can be more personable than just regular posters or framed pictures. Canvas paintings need a secure anchor to the wall in order for their weight to be held up.

Instructions

1. Decide where to hang the canvas painting. This depends upon the size of the canvas and where you feel the color scheme or design will match best in the house. Also, make sure that you pick a wall space that is not curved because the canvas painting will not be able to be secured. If you choose a wall space high up on a wall, you will need a ladder.

2. Use the tape measure to measure the dimensions of the canvas painting. You will need to know the exact measurements of the width of the canvas. Record the measurements.

3. Use the level to set the canvas painting measurements on the wall. Mark where each side of the canvas edge will end with the pencil. This will be where the nails will go into the wall and hold up the canvas painting. Place one circle marking on the far left edge, one directly in the center and one at the far right. Make sure the level measures straight across so the painting will appear straight.

4. Use the hammer to securely pound a nail into each of the three markings on the wall space. The nail should be at least an inch into the wall and at least a 1/2 inch out of the wall so the canvas painting can hang comfortably and securely.

5. Place the canvas painting onto the three nails once they are secured. Before letting go, make sure that the canvas is secured to the wall and will not fall. Step back and examine your work. The painting should be straight across and even. If you decide you don't like the location, you can change it to another wall space using the same process.

Mix Brown Acrylic Paint

Red, blue, and yellow are the primary colors.

Artists have known for a long time that the color brown can be mixed using other colors, and that an even mixture of the primary colors will produce a brown shade. Achieve richer browns like sSienna or umber by matching different color combinations. Acrylics are not like oil paint or tempera; it's base is a plastic or latex. Understanding the ratios of pigments will let you think like an artist. With practice, you can get the color brown that you are looking for in an instant.

Instructions

Mixing Brown

1. Use the same brand of acrylic paints. Make sure you have solid hues and not transparent base paint. There are different types of colors and different shades of the primary colors. The colors should be evenly saturated. Put out 1 tsp. of each color on one side of your palette. Give them a little room toward the bottom. Put them in a row all next to each other with red first, blue second and yellow third.

2. Make sure you have your cup of water and rag handy. Dip the paint brush in water to loosen up the hairs. Pull down a little of the red creating a little puddle of paint and work it into the brush. Pull in some blue. Mix them together until you have a deep purple. Take your clean brush and dip it in the water. Mix some of the blue and pull it down into a little pile with some yellow. Mix even amounts until you have a solid green.

3. Use the same brush and pull down a little pile of the purple into the green. The test here is brush control. Keep it neat and mix even amounts. The color brown should appear like magic.

4. Mix deeper browns by adding more red and/or blue. Lighter browns will have a lot more yellow.

5. Clean up with water. Use the cup of water to swish the brush around until it comes out clean. Clean the palette with the rag.

Honor A Mother'S Life In Letters Or Poems

Show your mother how much you appreciate her care.

Mothers take on the difficult task of raising children, molding them from innocent babies to the adults they will one day become. Many people, forever grateful for the efforts their mothers put into bringing them up, choose to honor the women who were so pivotal in their lives. If seeking a way to honor your mother's life and all that she accomplished, consider putting pen to paper and celebrating her with letters or poetry.

Instructions

1. Ask loved ones to write letters about the mother you wish to honor. Instead of just composing a letter yourself, get others involved by asking them to pen letters and creating a letter collection. Tell friends and family members who care for your mother about your desire to honor her. Ask them to write letters in which they recount good times they have had with your mother or wonderful things she has done for them.

2. Deliver one letter a day for a week. Collect the letters and choreograph their delivery. Place them each in the mail one day apart, allowing her to receive a different letter each day. Or, if she lives nearby, stop by her mailbox each day and deliver the letters, one at a time, by hand.

3. Compose an original poem about your mother. Dust off your poetry skills and write an ode to mom. Compose a free verse poem, allowing yourself to craft a poetic piece that is reflective of your mom without the constraint of rhyming. When seeking inspiration for your poem, look back at old photo albums and seek a picture of you and mom together, perhaps one in which she is holding you as a baby. Look at this picture as you write your piece, trying to capture the emotions present in the image in your poem.

4. Place a polished copy of the finished poem, along with the photo that inspired it --- if you used an image for inspiration --- in a frame. Present the framed writing to your mother to show her how much she means to you.

Hand Paint Oriental Designs On Furniture

Hand Paint Oriental Designs on Furniture

Oriental designs have a boldness and beautiful simplicity to their nature that many people enjoy. However, many Oriental furniture pieces bought from the store can carry massive price tags. One way to get all of the beauty of having Oriental design without the cost is to create your own piece of Oriental furniture by painting an Oriental design over an existing piece of furniture that you already own or bought second hand.

Instructions

1. Sand the piece of furniture you are painting. This will prep the area so that it can receive the paint more easily. Paint the main panels of the furniture with black lacquer. Let the paint dry.

2. Paint the trim and molding of the piece with your gold paint. Select only the molding that frames the piece of furniture. Do not go overboard with the gold paint. While this is a traditional color in Oriental design it can look garish if overdone. A good rule of thumb is to never apply gold paint to and area that is wider than 4 inches. If the molding is wider than 4 inches paint an 1/2 inch line of gold along the top and the bottom of the molding. This will allow the gold to accent the molding without dominating the color scheme.

3. Trace out the Oriental pattern onto the furniture. It's best to apply the pattern centered in the section of the furniture that has the most black lacquer. For the purposes here this would apply to all for door sections of the cabinet. A classic Oriental pattern is provided here as an example.

4. Paint the pattern with very neat brush strokes of red lacquer. Take your time and follow the pattern exactly. Neatness counts most at this point. Let the lacquer dry.

Hand Paint Furniture

A key factor to remember when painting a piece of furniture is to follow the grain of the wood. It will help the paint flow easily. Good brushes are another key to success. Chip brushes are inexpensive, but the hairs often fall out during painting, which can be detrimental to a good finish. Anyone can paint furniture using the following basic skills.

Instructions

1. Wipe down the piece of furniture. If the piece has paint on it all ready, you will need to sand it with a medium grit sandpaper to scuff the surface so the new application of paint will adhere to it. After sanding it, wipe it again to make sure the sanding dust is gone.

2. Read the instructions on the paint container. Temperatures affect the way the paint will react to the surface and may inhibit the drying process, so make sure the area you will use to paint in is the within the temperature guidelines.

3. Mix the paint well by stirring it. The paint should be smooth and creamy in texture with no separation in color. You can use the paint straight from the container if you wish instead of using a palette or paint tray.

4. Apply the paint to the undersides of the piece first. For instance, if you are painting an Adirondack chair, paint the underneath of the chair first before applying paint to the top side of it. Follow the grain of the wood so the paint distributes evenly. Move the brush in a forward and backward motion to retain the smoothness and quality of the paint flow.

5. Tape off any section of the furniture that will be painted a different color. The tape will need to be secure so the paint doesn't sneak underneath it. If that happens, use a small paint brush with a fine edge to smooth the paint where it has left a ragged edge.

6. Paint any indented places first. For example, if you are painting a piece of furniture with recessed sides, doors or lids, paint those before anything else. It is harder to paint the furniture if you start at the outer edges and move inward. Keep an eye on any paint that may have collected in puddles or dribbles and wipe them away with the brush immediately before they dry.

7. Allow the paint to dry overnight before applying a second coat. Remove any tape that is left on the piece and reapply it if needed when you are ready to add more color. Sometimes the paint under the tape will pull away if the tape is left on too long.

8. Keep the paint brushes clean by washing them in water. Should any color remain in the brush, use a mild detergent and water to remove it. Blot the water from the brush. Set the brush so it is lying flat. This will maintain the shape of the brush and keep water from entering the ferrule (the metal part that holds the brush hairs together).

Handle A Motherinlaw

It's said that you don't marry a person, you marry a family. Just as your own family has its complexities and uniqueness, so will your spouses. The challenge is getting to know handle each member in your spouse's family, including your mother-in-law.

Instructions

1. Listen. Be open to getting to really know who your mother-in-law is. The more you get to know her, the more you'll understand her likes and dislikes, where the two of you are likely to mesh well, and where you may tend to have differences of opinion.

2. Reach out to your mother-in-law from the very beginning. Show her how much you love your spouse, and how happy you are to be a part of the family. Your interest will emit a friendly, welcoming attitude.

3. Be careful complaining about your mother-in-law to your spouse. Remember that it's difficult to hear negative things about your own parents, and what may only seem like venting to you may be very hurtful to your spouse. You do not want to come between your spouse and your mother-in-law.

4. Establish yourself as part of the family and not an outsider. For some people, accepting someone new can be difficult. Make your mother-in-law feel comfortable around you by asking her personal questions and showing genuine interest in your shared family.

5. Demand respect. You should never feel the need to take disrespect from someone, including someone in your family. Stand up for yourself if you feel this is the case.

6. Accept your mother-in-law as a part of your life and family, whether or not you have a close personal relationship.

Make Aqua Blue Color

Aqua blue color is often used to paint landscapes and oceans.

Mixing colors to form new color shades is a common occurrence in painting. The term "color theory" refers to a set of rules of color mixing. On a color scheme, the colors red, blue and green can be used to mix and create most color. White is often needed to lighten the color to create a pastel form. Colors are mixed on a pallet or paint can to form what is known as a color "wash."

Instructions

1. Determine the amount or volume of paint needed for your project. Use an empty paint or coffee can to pour and mix the paint.

2. Pour a decent amount of sky blue paint into the empty paint or coffee can. Pour a small amount of leaf green paint into the can. Use a ratio of 5-to-1 with five parts sky blue and one part leaf green.

3. Mix the colors of paint in the can using a wooden stir stick to swirl the paint and mix the colors together. Thoroughly mix the colors until it has developed into an aqua blue color. Mix a small amount of white paint into the mixture to lighten the color as needed.

Get A Big Acting Role

For would-be screen actors, breaking into Hollywood can be a challenge.

Acting can be a difficult business in which to gain a foothold and get one's "break." However, one big role can open the door to many more. Putting in the work is essential to securing your big break, as rarely will it simply fall into your lap. By working hard and pursuing your dreams of acting, you increase your chances of finding the ideal role for you that will likewise catapult you into the realm of established and well known actors.

Instructions

1. Hone your skills as an actor by reading literature on the various fundamentals and techniques in acting. To land a big role you must be prepared, and that includes doing the research and the homework involved.

2. Practice your acting skills and build your acting credentials. Join a local theater group or drama club. Volunteer for non-profit performances. All performances will gain you exposure as well as experience, both of which can help your chances at landing a big role.

3. Find a good studio photographer and get head shots taken. Pursue an agent to represent you. Agents will have access to many more connections than you will typically be able to get on your own. Check into an agent's background before signing with him by researching the Better Business Bureau. Look for an agent who is part of a union. Union membership is a generally an indication of legitimacy.

4. Attend any auditions you are granted, and always arrive well prepared for the role. Research the part, the production and those involved in producing and directing the production. Knowledge about the role, about those involved with the role, and about the production itself can help improve your audition. Having some basic awareness of the situation also helps you to impress those casting it, if you get an interview or if you have the opportunity to engage in simple small talk.

5. Network with the acting community. Whether the individuals are local members of the community theater, theater majors or drama majors in college, or just people you meet in passing in auditions, anyone has potential to help advance you or connect you to your big break. Be friendly and courteous to everyone you meet in the business and exchange contact information with as many people as you can.

Go To College Online

Choosing to go to college online is a tough decision. You have to make sure that going to college online works for you....because it's great for some people, but not for others. You need to be disciplined and ready to earn your degree.

Instructions

1. First, choose an online school, or think about colleges that you might like to attend. Make sure it works for you. There's the University of Phoenix, Excelsior, Thomas Edison State College, and more. Also, trycollege.com is a great resource to earn credits. Whether you want an undergraduate degree or a graduate degree, this stuff can be tough!

2. Research the online college or colleges that you would like to attend. Consider the length of each term, the structure of the classes and the availability of academic advising.

3. Make sure that the online college that you choose is accredited. An accredited institution will offer more future opportunities for you than a non-accredited one.

4. If necessary, obtain financial aid. Before you begin classes, make sure you have the means to afford them. If possible, apply for scholarships. Scholarships can make college much more affordable.

5. Choose a course of study which works for you. If you think you can get your online degree in English successfully, but not in math, stick to your English degree. If you choose a course of study that requires face-to-face teaching, you may not be as successful.

6. Next, create a schedule. Since you'll be managing your own time and coursework, you'll need to designate time each week to log on and do work. Pick one day a week to do work, and don't make excuses - if you want that degree, you've got to work for it! So, let's say you choose Thursdays. Every Thursday, sit down and get all of your weekly work done if you can. Think of it this way: if you don't, you'll be late on your assignments, and you're not paying all of that money to fail! (Or, if your job reimburses you, you want to work for that full reimbursement!)

7. Make sure to stay disciplined. If possible, keep in touch with a friend in your program in order to stay on track. You can motivate each other, and you won't want to fall behind as your friend progresses. Also, you and your friend can stick together and proofread each other's work.

8. Plan your courses for the future. You don't want to miss an important class or double up when you don't need to. Decide when you can handle two classes at once or you need a break. After all, online classes are great for busy schedules because of flexibility, but you have to make it work for yourself.

9. Take your classes and complete the program. It'll be worth it in the end, plus you didn't sit through any boring classes!

Go To College For Free

Go to College for Free

As college costs continue to skyrocket, more and more people are looking for ways to save money on college tuition, textbooks and fees. There are many ways to cut corners when it comes to college costs and even some ways to go to college absolutely free of charge. Read on for a list of tips on go to college for free.

Instructions

1. Enlist in the military. There are many military scholarships available in every branch of service through their Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC). ROTC allows students to get scholarship money for college now and pay it back through service in the U.S. military.

2. Research grants and scholarships based on financial need. There are many grants and scholarships available to students from poor economic backgrounds. The federal and state government can provide these grants as well as employers, private institutions and the college or university itself. The Federal Pell Grant is an example of a college award based on financial need.

3. Investigate scholarships based on minority background. There are many scholarships available for members of various minority groups, such as African-Americans, Native Americans, women, gays and lesbians.

4. Look for scholarships based on academic achievement. Federal, state and individual school scholarships and grants exist for those who excel in academics. These awards are based on the applicants' ACT or SAT scores, admissions essay or overall high school career.

5. Research scholarships based on special abilities or achievements, such as sports. A large number of student athletes go to school for little or no money based on their athletic achievements in high school.

6. Attend the college or university where you work. Many colleges and universities have programs that allow full time (and sometimes part time) staff to attend college at that institution for free. The only prerequisite is usually to put in a certain amount of hours on staff before free tuition is available.

7. Check with the college or university to find out if the children of full time staff can also attend for free. Many colleges allow the children and spouses of full time staff members to attend for free as well as the staff themselves.

Go To Clown College

Go to Clown College

It has been said, "To be a clown, you have to be a clown." If you are interested in clowning around for a living, you may want to attend a clown college. While you may be naturally funny and make the best balloon animals around, a little higher education in the art of clowning can give you marketable skills you might not get on your own. Read on to learn go to clown college.

Instructions

1. Determine if you have what it takes to be a clown. If you are known for your sense of humor, love making people smile and laugh, and don't mind working hard, you will have a good chance of becoming a great clown.

2. Research various clown schools and colleges online, particularly locations, programs and costs. You can fund your schooling in various ways. If you are taking a few classes in general skills, you may be able to work out a barter arrangement. If you are looking at a degree program, financial aid is available if you qualify.

3. Decide what kind of clown you want to be, based on your interests. You can work with children, start a clown ministry, specialize in magic, hire out for corporate events, become a rodeo clown or an acrobatic clown, or explore countless other opportunities.

4. Take an inventory of skills you already have before entering clown college. Things like face painting, story telling, singing, silly dances and telling jokes are all things you may already know do.

5. Learn organize, promote and establish yourself in your own business after completion of your formal instruction--if you would prefer not to work for someone else, that is. If your program doesn't include them, enroll in a few non-clown courses, such as child psychology, advertising, marketing and bookkeeping.

Glue Styrofoam

Styrofoam Adhesive from 3M

Want to know glue Styrofoam for a project? Read on to learn just how easy gluing Styrofoam for any of your Styrofoam projects can be!

Instructions

1. Styrofoam glue or Styrofoam adhesive is best for any project involving Styrofoam. While normal white glue can work, it's often easier and more effective to use Styrofoam glue instead of regular glue.

2. Have your Styrofoam project plans drawn up ahead of time. Styrofoam glue is very effective, so you want to make sure you know what you're doing before you glue the wrong pieces together.

3. Have your plans, and use the Styrofoam glue to attach the various Styrofoam pieces as needed.

4. Let sit for a few minutes to let the glue dry. If you are not using Styrofoam glue and the glue won't dry, consider using tooth picks to help the process.

5. Follow your project specs to completion, preferably using Styrofoam glue for maximum efficiency and effectiveness.

Glaze Clay Flower Pots

You can make a custom flower pot by painting a clay pot with ceramic glaze.

If you enjoy planting flowers in clay pots, you can make your pots look more beautiful and elegant by glazing them with ceramic glaze. You can purchase ceramic glaze from an art supply store, which can be painted or sponged onto a plain terra cotta pot that has been single fired. A single-fired terra cotta pot has been fired in a kiln only once and can be identified in stores by its unglazed appearance. Once your pot has been glazed, you can plant your flowers and plants in it to show off your creativity.

Instructions

1. Place a terra cotta flower pot onto a flat surface.

2. Paint ceramic glaze onto the pot using a paintbrush. Painting on ceramic glaze allows you to add on wispy strokes and to cover large areas on the pot.

3. Paint ceramic glaze onto the pot using a sponge. Sponging on ceramic glaze allows the pot to look speckled and spotted.

4. Dip a wooden craft stick into ceramic glaze, and use it to draw lines and shapes onto the pot.

5. Fire the terra cotta pot in a kiln for a few hours until the glaze is baked on.

Glaze A Clay Planter

Glazing is a protective coating over clay pots.

If you like to make your own clay planters, you can take your craft one step further by painting the surface of the pot with ceramic glaze. It's also possible to glaze premanufactured clay pots that you purchase from a store. To harden the glaze, you'll need access to a kiln. Kilns heat clay to very high temperatures and cook the clay and paint to create a permanent bond between the two media.

Instructions

1. Place the clay pot on a metal sheet.

2. Paint the surface of the clay pot with a ceramic glaze. Use a paintbrush to create a completely sealed surface. Use a painting sponge for a speckled look with bits of clay showing through. Or dip the paintbrush into the glaze and splatter the glaze onto the surface of the pot for a different look.

3. Place the clay pot inside the firing kiln. Set the temperature to the suggested temperature on the packaging for the glaze. The firing temperature depends on the brand and type of glaze you choose to use. Using too low a temperature could cause a failure to bond and too hot a temperature could cause the glaze to melt off.

4. Cook the glaze for the specified amount of time listed on the glaze packaging. As with the temperature, the length of time depends on the brand and type of glaze you use. Heating the glaze for too short or too long a time could have a negative effect. In addition, review the glaze packaging to determine the cool-down period or the amount of time the glaze needs to rest inside the kiln to allow for cooling down. If the glaze cools too quickly, it could crack.

Give A Memorable Audition

Visit the location of the audition first to become comfortable with the space.

Whether you are auditioning for a role in a feature film, Broadway musical or high school play, there are a few ways to give a memorable audition. Auditors, the people judging the auditions, may see as many as 200 auditions in one casting call. Making yourself stand out may be the only way to be chosen for the part you'd like to play. Demonstrating your best skills, choosing appropriate performance materials and confident delivery are the keys to a success audition.

Instructions

1. Act politely during the whole auditioning process, including while waiting with other performers. The CCM Musical Theatre Program says that bad behavior will get back to the auditors, even if you think no one will notice. Avoid choosing performance materials that rely on foul language or behavior to get attention.

2. Wear well-fitting, plain clothing. Catherine Fitzlanders, a professional actress, says that dressing too conservatively or wearing a costume can prevent the auditors from seeing you in the role for which you are auditioning. If the audition will include a dance performance, wear high-quality dance wear and have a change of clothes for the rest of the audition.

3. Choose a performance piece that fits your age and shows your range of skills, if the audition calls for a prepared piece. The experts at the CCM Musical Theatre Program recommends finding an uncommon piece that is not from the show for which you are auditioning. Delivering a simple but effective piece properly is more memorable than making mistakes on a complicated piece.

4. Arrive at the audition early, especially if it involves cold reading from a script. Twenty minutes should give you enough time to practice reading the performance piece or getting comfortable with the audition space, according to MusicalTheatreAuditions.com. The auditors will notice that you came early and prepared, and your performance will be more natural than performers who arrived only a few minutes before the auditions began.

5. Write a basic, one- to two-minute monologue that highlights some details about your experience or interests in performing arts, to be prepared for auditions where you are asked about yourself. The experts at MusicalTheatreAuditions.com say that performers who open or close their audition with a well-crafted, interesting personal story about their background are much more memorable than those who stammer or outline their entire lives.

Give An Introduction Speech For A Guest Speaker

Set Speakers Up for Success

Many speeches are wounded before they even begin. The most common damage done to a guest speaker happens in the introduction speech. Whether it is a boring introduction, a long litany of unimportant details, or the deadly mistake of giving away a guest speaker's point, introductions are notorious for doing the opposite of what they are supposed to do: set the guest speaker up for success. Here is do it well.

Instructions

1. Research the guest speaker ahead of time.

Get basic bibliographic information long before you have to give the introduction. As you do your research don't look for just any bit of information. There is a reason this person is speaking. Perhaps they are a professional keynote speaker, a celebrity guest speaker, or a motivational speaker par excellence. Your job is highlight the expertise and authority of the guest speaker. Look for key accomplishments, awards, and marks of success that the speaker herself shouldn't mention or it would be self-promotional. If you know the guest speaker be sure that your relationship doesn't overshadow the introduction. Often it is best to simply leave out that 'this is a good friend of mine.'

This information should be accurate but not overly detailed. An introduction speech is by nature short and inspiring. Avoid the 'let me take a few moments...' syndrome. If you feel the need to say that, your speech is going to be too long.

2. Decide what elements of the speaker's character and success are most significant to the audience.

You don't need to mention to a gathering of veterans that this speaker is an active leading member of Mothers of PreSchoolers. What character traits are most important to this group? For some groups humility in a public speaker is more important than success. For others entrepreneurial gifts are more important than the number of children a guest speaker has. Give your guest speaker an introduction speech tailored to the audience.

3. Spend the most time on the first and last two sentences of your introduction speech.

To begin with 'Friends, you may never get a chance like this again' is much better than 'It is my privilege to introduce our speaker for the evening.' Yawn.

To end with 'Since I can barely wait to join you by sitting on the edge of my seat for a while, allow me to introduce...' is a better introduction speech than 'let's give a warm welcome to...' ZZZZZZZ.

The first sentence of your introduction speech for a guest speaker should grab attention and raise expectations. The last sentence should heighten the energy and attention in the room and end with a cadence that invites applause. The speaker's name should be the last two words you speak in an upbeat, elevated, and excited tone. The last thing motivational speakers or celebrity guest speakers need is an awkward silence after you invite them up. Bring them up in a storm of applause.

4. Here is a sample introduction speech for a guest speaker:

'I have been eagerly anticipating this evening for months. Like many of you, I recognize that the opportunity to hear our speaker in person tonight is a rare and extremely valuable opportunity. She is the best selling author of numerous award winning books including Millionaires On Every Corner and A Life on Fire. What you may not know is she is an avid philanthropist and activist for the rights of enslaved children world wide and the end of malaria in our lifetime. Even though she might not admit it to you, her speaking calendar is filling up seven years out with an ever growing waiting list. Prepare to be inspired, motivated, and more importantly equipped to live the life you always wanted. I don't want to waste another moment of her time, so please give an energetic welcome to our speaker for the evening, Sheza Fakename!'

* See more tips below on introduction speeches for guest speakers.

Make Your Own Stereograms From Pictures

The invention of photography brought a sudden surge in the demand for stereographic images.

Stereograms are 3D images comprised of two slightly different images. Certain software programs can make one single image into a stereogram that requires the viewer to look at the image in a certain way to reveal the "hidden" 3D image. Photographers began producing stereograms almost immediately after photography was invented. Two images from slightly different angles make up a photographic stereogram. The distance between the photos, the center focal point of the photos, and the motion of the subject of the photo all affect the quality of a photographic stereogram.

Instructions

Taking the Photograph

1. Find the subject for your photograph. It must be a stationary object, if you wish to use a portrait the subject must remain absolutely still or it will not work.

2. Place your camera on a sturdy surface or tripod. Do not try to hold the camera; any motion at all will cause the image not to work for a stereogram.

3. Make sure the subject/object is centered in the image. You will have to reference this center point for a second picture to create the stereogram, so make sure you know where the center of the photo is.

4. Take the photograph.

5. Move the camera left or right no more than about 2-1/2 inches. Note which direction you've moved the camera. If you move to the right, this will become the image for the right eye. If you move to the left, this will become the image for the left eye. It is also important to center this second photograph on the same spot the first photograph was centered on.

Printing and Viewing the Image

6. Transfer the images to an image editing program on your computer.

7. Place both images on one page next to each other. Make sure you have the left photograph on the left side of the page and the right photograph on the right side of the page.

8. Save the image and print it (landscape format works best) full page.

9. Restrict the view from each eye seeing the image on the opposite side. The right eye must only see the right image and the left eye the left image. You can try using an empty paper towel roll cut in two, one for each eye, or two toilet paper rolls like binoculars, to restrict the view of each eye.

10. Adjust the distance from the photographs to your eye by moving closer or further away to focus the images into a converged 3D image.

Paint Vine Flowers

Certain vines have vibrant blooms along their length.

If you are painting a picture of a vine onto canvas, wood or furniture, you can make the vine more appealing by adding on a few vine flowers, which are found in nature in a wide variety of colors. In order to paint the vine flowers onto the material, like canvas, it is important to prepare the canvas properly and to follow a few guidelines to make the flowers look as they would on an actual vine.

Instructions

1. Paint the entire surface of the canvas with white acrylic paint. Allow the paint to dry. This will prepare the canvas for painting by creating a smooth surface.

2. Cover a size 3 round brush with dark green acrylic paint, and paint a long, winding vine onto the canvas.

3. Cover a size 4 filbert brush with magenta acrylic paint, and paint a 3-inch filled circle onto the vine. Repeat this for as many vine flowers as you would like in your painting.

4. Paint three filled triangles onto one side of each circle using the size 3 round brush.

5. Flick the tip of the round brush against the tip of each triangular top to make the petals of the flowers look more wispy and delicate. Allow the painting to dry.

Get Your Kids Into Acting

It's tough to break into the world of acting, especially if you don't know where to begin. Parents who feel their child has talent often run around in circles trying to get him or her started in a career. Since children can't do this on their own, they need parental guidance and help to point them in the right direction. As a parent, you're job is to give them that guidance. You'll need to be both parent and manager of your child's career. Learn how you can get your child into acting early on and manage them along the way.

Instructions

1. Encourage your child at an early age to participate in any acting endeavor available. This includes school plays and local theater. Consider enrolling your child in acting classes if they are available to you locally.

2. Build a portfolio for your child as soon as possible. It should include glossy headshots, both color and black and white. The photos do not need to be taken by a professional. Many talent agents prefer to see more natural photographs. The portfolio should also contain a resume of any acting or modeling work your child has accomplished. This portfolio will be the calling card you use to attract people who can help you get your child into a career in acting.

3. Secure representation for your child as quickly as possible. There are online talent directories that specialize in representing children (see Resources section below). Most agencies state their guidelines for representation on their websites. You should use the contact method an agency provides in their policy. If there is no policy for contact, write a query letter to the company or send one by e-mail. The letter should tell the agency a little about your child and what your intentions are. Keep it brief. Point out a few relevant acting credits, if your child has any, then end the letter by thanking the agency and stating that you look forward to working with them. Be sure to include two photographs of your child. Give the agency at least two months to respond before you follow up with a phone call.

4. Consider entering your child in national talent contests (see Resources). Many of these competitions offer cash prizes and sometimes professional agent representation. Any competition your child wins is also a good credit for their portfolio.

5. Contact the Screen Actors Guild for information on protecting and guiding your child in the acting business (see Resources). They offer solid advice in this area. They also have resources available to help you understand the intricate details of the business end of acting.

Post A Casting Call

Widely distributed casting calls are crucial to ensuring that you have the best possible talent when the curtain goes up on your production.

While many young, emerging and aspiring actors are constantly on the lookout for new projects and work, casting directors, producers and directors sometimes struggle to fill an audition with potential cast members. Fortunately, a number of websites have emerged in recent years that specialize in acting, model and extra classified ads and have quickly become popular among both producers and actors. Of course, in order to find the most promising actors, you may need to be somewhat more aggressive in finding talent and consider a number of avenues for finding actors.

Instructions

1. Run a quick Internet search for local casting call websites. Although a number of national and international options exist, local websites are often more popular among actors, particularly for minor parts that may not justify extensive travel or relocation.

A quick search for "post casting call" and the name of your city or area should return a good list of results for most major cities.

2. Post your casting call through local websites. Be sure to include the filming location, the duration and exact dates of filming, a brief description of the part and a complete description of the kind of actor you are looking for, including physical characteristics and acting skills.

3. Post your casting call to national casting websites. Most such sites include local subsections to make sure that your add is reaching the local pool of talent. Some of them require some time to review and post your add, so be sure you are posting your call with enough notice for actors to respond.

4. Post your casting call to general employment classifieds. Start with local sources such as the local on-line newspaper classifieds and move on to national websites, many of which provide local subsections and special sections for temporary or artistic work.

5. Send your casting call information to local organizations like amateur theatres, acting schools or modeling schools that may have members interested in the audition. Many of these groups will have websites where they can post the information or mailing lists to distribute job opportunities. Lastly, consider sending or delivering fliers to these organizations with information about the call and contact details. Simple paper methods are still surprisingly effective when placed in the right areas.

6. Launch your own actor search. If you are looking for very specialized profiles, browse websites where actors and models post their profiles and contact information. You can then contact actors directly and offer them an audition.

Some of these websites are included in the resource section.

Get Your Child Into Modeling And Acting Business

Child modeling and acting is probably the most competitive segment of the modeling and entertainment industry. Among a group of children, a high proportion of them will naturally be considered cute -- far more than in a similar group of adults. Consequently, bookers have a huge selection of children to choose from when casting a job, and model and acting agencies have hundreds of submissions each week from parents looking to break their child into modeling. Even if you manage to get your child in the door, be prepared to attend numerous casting calls before booking a job.

Instructions

1. Evaluate if your child has the look and personality to be a child model and actor. Child models should be an age-appropriate clothing size and have no unusual facial features, protruding ears or bad teeth. Even more important than looks is that your child has the personality to break into the entertainment industry. Child models and actors must be prepared to perform in front of numerous strangers at casting calls and will need an outgoing, extroverted personality. Children only have a few seconds to stand out from the crowd, so a shy child is unlikely to succeed.

2. Research the agency you plan to apply to. Ideally your child can sign with a Screen Actors Guild (SAG) affiliated agency that deals with both modeling and acting jobs. The agency should have a specific kids division and be experienced in marketing both child models and actors. Check the Better Business Bureau ratings to make sure the agency is legitimate and has no complaints.

3. Submit photographs to the agency according to its specific submission requirements, usually found on the company website. Most agencies require one or two headshots and two or three full-body pictures. You do not need professional photographs -- any reputable agency will be able to determine if it is interested in your child from casual home snapshots. If the agency is interested, you will typically be required to bring your child for a personal meeting before the agency decides to represent him.

4. Print your composite cards. Sometimes known as zed cards, or headshots, these are used to pass out on casting calls and are supplied to clients by the agency to help them decide who to book. The card usually consists of a headshot on the front, with additional pictures, statistics, resume and contact information on the reverse. Because children's looks change so frequently, professional pictures are not necessary -- particularly when starting out. Your agency should be able to use your home shots to create the initial card. You will be responsible for the costs of printing.

5. Obtain a child entertainment work permit from the state department of labor. If your child will be working in New York, California, New Mexico or Louisiana, you will also need a blocked trust account or "Coogan" account -- a protected bank account to safeguard 15 percent of the child's earnings until she reaches the age of 18. Depending on your state, you either need the account when applying for the permit, or if not, you must provide proof of the trust to accompany the work permit when you accept a job. If you cannot do this, your permit will be void.

6. Attend casting calls until your child gets hired for a position. As he performs more professional jobs, update his resume with new information and replace his pictures with professional images from his tearsheet -- the pictures taken on the job.

Get Your Child Into Acting

Get Your Child into Acting

There simply is no guarantee that your child will "make it" in show business no matter what you do. There are some things you can do to increase their chances, but the competition is endless. If you have a child who appears to have a talent for performing and enjoys it, do not rush them out to Hollywood; start with a local class.

Instructions

1. Explore your city or state for acting classes that will accept children. An acting class is vital to teach the child the craft and make contacts. Check local universities for summer acting programs, as well as any local professional theaters. If you live in a city with a youth theater, most of them offer acting classes as part of their mission.

2. Take a high-quality head shot of the child and prepare a resume. The photo must be a head-and-shoulder's shot with the child looking directly into the camera. The child must not be dressed in low-cut clothes or wear heavy makeup. Add any classes or performances the child participants in to the resume.

3. Seek an agent once the child has some valid resume credits. Agents must be licensed. Always research the background of any agent you encounter. You could also enlist a manager. An agent usually charges 10 to 15 percent of anything the child makes; an agent does not charge upfront fees.

4. Have the child take auditions whenever possible. Even unsuccessful auditions will give the child some experience. If you live near a university with a film department, make a habit of checking its casting calls for children. Student films are a good way for the child to get used to working in front of cameras.

5. Find an acting coach and have your child take weekly lessons to build his confidence and ability.

6. Once you have an agent, you could have auditions several times a week after school. It is up to you to help the child memorize the lines and read them comfortably.