Make Your Sim Paint A Photo

"The Sims" series is considered the best-selling PC game franchise of all time.

"The Sims" is a highly popular video game series with a large amount of installments centered around three main games: "The Sims," "The Sims 2" and "The Sims 3." In "The Sims," players control the day-to-day lives of one or more characters, called Sims. "The Sims" is a customizable game, as many details of each character's life can be changed to the player's whim, but getting your Sim to paint from a photograph requires a little outside work.

Instructions

"The Sims 2"

1. Play "The Sims 2," focusing your character on painting until its painting skill has reached at least level 5.

2. Exit "The Sims 2."

3. Find the folder for Paintings in your "The Sims 2" directory. For Windows, this is at "My Documents\EA Games\The Sims 2\Paintings." For Macintosh, it is usually in "Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 2\Paintings." If there is not a "Paintings" folder in the "The Sims 2" folder, create one.

4. Save the photo you want your Sim to paint in the "Paintings" folder.

5. Return to "The Sims 2." Buy an easel and tell your Sim to paint on it. Select "Paint Custom Painting" and choose your photo from the list. If your photo is not there, try refreshing the list. If you do not have an option to "Paint Custom Painting," you need to upgrade your "The Sims 2" version to a later version or purchase an expansion pack.

"The Sims 3"

6. Download Tyger's "Neighborhood Workshop" for Sims 3, currently available only for Windows.

7. Install the "Neighborhood Workshop" and point it to the neighborhood you are playing by finding the save file for the neighborhood. Click "File," "Open for Edit" and then select "My Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\Saves\" and select the save file for your neighborhood.

8. Open the "Still Life Workshop." Select "File," "Import" and find the photo you wish your Sim to paint. The photo will load into the selection of paintings, replacing one of the original paintings. Save the neighborhood.

9. Open "The Sims 3."

10. Tell your Sim to paint a still life. Which still life it paints will depend on many in-game factors, including skill level, so you may have to try a few times until you get your Sim to paint your photo.

Improve Your Spoken English

Improve your spoken English through observation and practice.

Speaking the English language is easy for native people in English-speaking countries. But what about for people who come from other countries who are not well-versed in this global language? If you are such a person, you may be thinking that it can be quite a challenge to learn the rules to improve your spoken English. But it is always possible. With practice and a few tips, you can learn to improve your spoken English.

Instructions

1. Study the English language. There are certain rules in grammar and sentence construction with which you must be familiar. The written and the spoken English language have similarities and differences. Learn the pronunciation rules and accent tips.

2. Be attentive to how English-speaking people hold conversations. Listen to the words they use, what words they stress, how they express their thoughts through the language and the common expressions they make. Keep a small notebook with you and write down words and phrases you hear so you can recall them and practice speaking them later.

3. Enroll in an English class. You can find English as a second language (ESL) classes at some community organizations and schools. These classes might be free, or you might have to pay, but these classes will help you improve your spoken English skills.

4. Watch news programs, talk shows and movies in English. The more you immerse yourself in the language, the more you will familiarize yourself with the language and expressions used. Turn on the closed captioning so you can read the words in English and hear them being spoken at the same time. This will help strengthen your association to the written words that you likely already know with the sound and inflection of the spoken words.

5. Listen to the radio and audiobooks in English. Listen to something that you enjoy, that way it will be easier to absorb what you are hearing. This can help you recall the pronunciation and intonation better later.

6. Visualize speaking good English and make it happen. Construct English sentences in your mind and practice speaking them silently at first, then orally. The best place to do this is in front of the mirror. Listen to how you say the words and correct yourself for any mistakes. Having someone with you who knows the English language well is even more helpful because he or she can steer you in the right direction.

7. Practice speaking English everyday. Talk to someone in English. Look for English-speaking people who will practice conversing with you.

8. Keep learning. Even though you may encounter difficulties, always remember that practice makes perfect. Improving your spoken English takes time, but with diligence and patience, you will get better.

Install Travertine Tile

If you're looking for a classic yet innovative way to tile a wall, consider travertine. These stone tiles are full of intricate holes and pockmarks that occur naturally and give it an interesting look. The stone is naturally light in color, and the holes usually are filled with dark grout during installation, so the hole patterns are still visible but the holes themselves won't collect dirt and moisture. Travertine is an absorbent stone, so it has to be sealed before and after grouting.

Instructions

1. Measure up from the floor by the height of one of your travertine tiles, using a tape measure, and mark the wall there. For example, if the tiles are 8 inches tall, make the mark at 8 1/4 inches up from the floor. Draw a horizontal line along the base of the wall at that mark, from end to end.

2. Measure the horizontal line and mark the middle. Use your level and pencil to draw a vertical line up the wall, from bottom to top, at the middle.

3. Spread tile mastic along the base of the wall, from the floor up past the horizontal line, using a notched trowel. The lines should still be visible through the mastic.

4. Set a travertine wall tile into the mastic to one side of the vertical line, with the top edge of the tile under the horizontal line. This will create a ¼-inch space between the tile and the floor. Hang the rest of the bottom row of tiles under the line, side by side, putting spacers between them. Cut the ends tiles on a tile saw as needed.

5. Install the next course up in the same manner, starting at the middle and working to the sides with spacers between them. Continue up the wall course by course, covering the whole thing. Let the mastic set overnight and remove the spacers.

6. Coat the tile surface with stone tile sealant, using a foam brush. Don't put sealant in the holes or spaces, just on the flat surface of the tiles. Let it set for four to six hours.

7. Spread grout over the wall from the top down, using a grout float. Scrape the long edge of the float over the surface to force the grout into the spaces and holes, while scraping it off the surface.

8. Wipe up the excess grout from the surface with a damp sponge, leaving it in the spaces and holes. Let the grout set for a week or more.

9. Coat the whole wall in another layer of stone tile sealant, covering the grout as well.

Give An Award Speech While Presenting

Give your award speech with confidence.

Awards presentations are often filled with glitz and glamour, but they can also be stuffed with boring speeches. Giving an award speech while presenting requires a bit of preparation before the ceremony. Researching the history of the award and/or the award recipient is just one way to make a charming and personal connection during your speech. Rehearse your dialogue to ensure you make it sing when it really counts.

Instructions

1. Log online. Scan the Internet or examine provided documentation to search for history, facts and/or trivia on the award you are presenting. Learn about the recipient of the award through Internet research or by asking family, colleagues and friends to elaborate on the person. Know a few pieces of information about both the award and recipient to give a successful and memorable award-presentation speech.

2. Make your speech brief. Introduce yourself, if necessary, and the history of the award in less than one or two minutes. Mention why the award is significant and what it means to the organization or group of people to whom you are speaking.

3. Tell the audience about the award recipient in less than two or three minutes. Identify a special quality or two that you learned about the recipient and how those qualities relate to the award. Include a personal anecdote if possible to add a deeper touch of charm and sentimentality.

4. Maintain eye-contact with the audience and present positive body language. Smile often. Keep the speech peppered with energy and enthusiasm at all times.

Make Airbrush Flexible Stencils

Flexible airbrush stencils allow a design to be painted onto a curved surface. This is ideal for airbrushing hats, mugs and other objects that are not easily painted when using a hard stencil. The majority of stencil creation is the artistic process of drawing a design, and that process is up to you. Turning your design into a physical stencil is the easy part and can be accomplished with glossy photo paper and a craft knife.

Instructions

1. Scan your design into a computer with image-editing software to prepare the image for the cleanest stencil output--or simply create the design with image creation software. Be sure the image size is correct for your application and sized to work with the object you will be airbrushing.

2. Print the design onto glossy photo paper. This paper will provide a flexible, yet resilient surface that can be cleaned and reused. You may want to do a quick test print on regular paper to check that the alignment and size of the image works with the object to be airbrushed.

3. Use a hobby knife to cut out the stencil by following its outlines. More complicated images may require clever cutting, so plan out how you will cut out the stencil before putting the knife to the paper.

4. Apply a spray adhesive to the back of the stencil. Allow the adhesive to dry and bond with the stencil for at least two minutes. This creates a tacky backing that will allow the stencil to be mounted on a surface without leaving any residue.

5. Use painter's tape or masking tape to secure your stencil to the surface to be painted.

Make Your Own Moon Sand

Make Your Own Moon Sand

Moon sand is a special kind of sand that children enjoy playing with because they can mold it into different shapes. Children use their imaginations to create many things with moon sand, such as castles, characters, cars, and towns. Moon sand does not stick, stain, or dry out, so it can be used over and over again. Making your own moon sand is cheap and easy.

Instructions

Making Moon Sand

1. Mix the water and corn starch together in a large bowl with either your hands or a spoon. When the mixture is very smooth with no lumps you are ready for the next step.

2. Add one cup of sand to the mixture. Work the sand into the mixture with your hands. Add another cup of sand. Work that into the mixture as well. Continue adding sand into the mixture one cup at a time until all the sand is worked into the mixture.

3. Add a few drops of food coloring to the mixture and work it in until the desired color is achieved.

4. Store the moon sand in airtight containers at room temperature.

Make Your Own Mime Costume

Make Your Own Mime Costume

A mime costume is perhaps one of the simplest costumes to create. You can usually use items that you have at home, and all you will need to purchase is the face makeup. However, you can embellish the mime costume with things like suspenders, a beret and colorful ties or shoes, if you desire.

Instructions

Makeup

1. Use clown white for the base color on your face. Cover your entire face with the clown white, using a makeup sponge to apply it evenly. Remember that the mime face is supposed to look like a mask, so you should make the edges of the makeup sharp around the face.

2. Use a loose translucent powder and powder puff to apply powder over the clown white base and set the makeup. Use a makeup brush to gently remove any excess powder.

3. Outline and color in the lips with a makeup brush. You can use either red or black lip color for the lips, but keep in mind that a dash of red in an otherwise black and white costume will really stand out.

4. Use black creme makeup and a thin makeup brush to paint on eyebrows over existing eyebrows.

5. Use the black creme makeup and a thin brush for eyeliner under the bottom eyelids. Many mime artists also use the same tools to draw teardrops or other decorations below one or both eyes.

Costume

6. Use black slacks or jeans that you already have on hand, or purchase them. You can also use black tuxedo pants, if desired.

7. Get a black turtleneck shirt, a black and white striped shirt, or a white shirt with a black vest. If you want to really dress up your mime costume, try using a tuxedo shirt and jacket with a black bow tie.

8. Purchase white gloves, if you do not already have them. These should be solid white.

9. Use solid black shoes, black and white shoes, or black jazz shoes for your mime costume.

10. Add embellishments, such as a black beret or top hat, a tie, suspenders or striped socks. If you want to create a scary mime--for Halloween, for example--create a visible wound with stage makeup and stage blood.

Make Your Own Magic Sets With Silk Scarves

Entertain friends and family members with your very own silk scarf magic trick.

People of all ages love magic tricks, and now you can be a magician as well. You don't need to spend a fortune on expensive magic props; you can make your own sleight of hand displays with a little imagination and ingenuity. The magic scarf trick is a classic. Wow your audience by pulling a silk scarf out of an empty tube. With a few household items and a magic silk scarf, you can recreate this trick at home.

Instructions

1. Cut a circle from a piece of cardboard that is the same size as the inside of a large cardboard tube.

2. Measure the circumference of your wand with a tape measure then measure the length of the long tube. Cut a rectangle from the second piece of cardboard 2 inches shorter than the long tube and 1/2-inch wider than the circumference of your wand. Roll the rectangle into a tube and overlap it by 1/4-inch. Glue it down to form a small tube.

3. Cut a hole on the edge of the cardboard circle that is the same size as the small tube. Paint the inside and outside of both tubes and both sides of the circle you made in Step 1 with black poster paint.

4. Glue the small tube to the inside of the large tube. The small tube should be placed in the middle of the large tube, 1 inch from both sides. Wait for the glue to dry.

5. Glue the circle on the inside end of the large tube. Make sure that the hole in the circle is aligned with the small tube. The circle should be touching the small tube and will, therefore, be 1 inch from the end of the large tube.

6. Stick the scarf inside the large tube prior to the performance. Show your audience the side of the tube with the cardboard circle. Since everything is painted black, it will seem as though the tube is empty. Reinforce this illusion by placing your wand through the small hole in the cardboard circle and into the small tube. Move your wand in a circle while rotating the large tube in your other hand. It will look as though you are swirling your wand around the inside of an empty tube.

7. Turn the large tube around and pull the scarf out. It will look as though you have pulled the scarf out of an empty tube.

Paint Impressionism

Renoir made paintings that captured nature in full flow.

Impressionism is a style of painting that flourished in Paris, France during the late 18th century. The movement rebelled against Romantic style paintings, which typically depicted scenes of exotic subjects which most people would never see in their lifetime. The Impressionist painters, including Cezanne, Renoir and Picasso, favored everyday scenes and the immediate impressions they made on the artist.

Instructions

1. Find an area of natural beauty such as a lake, river, flower garden, field or forest. Most Impressionist paintings were drawn outdoors. In addition to the myriad of colors changes caused by a setting or rising sun, painting outdoors freed Impressionist paintings from the confines of the studio.

2. Consider the time of day at which you want to start painting. Study areas to see how they appear in different lights, such as during sunrise or sunset or just before stormy weather. Impressionist painters were interested in how light and shadow could imbue seemingly normal scenes with vivid life.

3. Think about movement before painting and capture the effect of movement when painting. Impressionist artists often did this by making vivid, swirling motions to create a sense of nature alive and in flux.

4. Make sure the scenes you choose are not out of the ordinary, such as a grand castle or a well-kept ornamental garden. Impressionists were more interested in ordinary everyday scenes which took on renewed life at specific times of day.

5. Set up your easel, ensuring that it's securely positioned on the ground. Bring a chair, canvas and a selection of paints.

6. Paint the scene as you see it, without putting too much time or effort into making it perfect. Impressionist painters painted quickly, from feeling and instinct, in stark contrast to many studio painters.

7. Use brief, short strokes when painting. Don't worry about embossed residue in areas of the canvas, either. This was a common trait of the Impressionist style, with imperfections essential to creating an immediate impression of a scene.

8. Avoid the use of black paint and clearly defined lines. Impressionist paintings were usually full of vivid color. Suggest lines, by placing brighter colors next to darker ones, rather than clearly defining them.

9. Remember to paint what you see and what you feel. Impressionism is a highly subjective art form, so artists were encouraged to pursue their own visions rather than render a template that could be accepted by everyone.

Make Your Own Camera Dolly

Professional dollies can cost up to $2,000.

A dolly is a mount for a camera on a track that enables the camera to move smoothly. Dollies are necessary for tracking shots so that the camera can move along with the action. Dollies are used extensively in major motion pictures, and the dolly tracks can be quite elaborate, extending for several hundred feet. You can make your own 10-foot dolly that moves from left to right.

Instructions

1. Screw the roller skate wheels onto the four corners of the wood plank using screws and a screwdriver. Make sure all the wheels face the same direction, so that the wood plank resembles a crude skateboard.

2. Coat the bottom of the tripod legs in superglue. Carefully place the tripod in the center of the dolly and firmly press down on the tripod to ensure that the glue adheres to the wood. Wait until the glue is dry, per the drying time indicated on the glue's packaging.

3. Place the wood plank on top of the two PVC pipes so that the wheels on each side line up on top of the PVC pipes. The pipes will act as a track; the roller skate wheels should fit perfectly on top of the PVC pipes. The PVC pipe should rest perfectly in the gap between the roller skate wheels.

4. Place one 2-by-4 piece of wood against the ends of the PVC pipe while the wood plank dolly rests on top of the PVC pipes. With a pencil, trace the ends of the PVC pipe onto the 2-by-4 wood. Drill holes onto the 2-by-4 using the pencil trace as a guideline. The ends of the PVC pipe will fit into this newly drilled space. Once the holes are drilled in one piece of wood, drill the exact same holes into the second 2-by-4. Coat the inside of the wood holes with superglue and insert the ends of the PVC pipe into them. Do this with both ends of the PVC pipe.

5. Test the dolly to make sure it can easily slide back and forth on the track. Then attach a camera to the tripod and do a test shoot.

Make Yourself Look Better In Photoshop

Get the perfect face with Photoshop.

Some people cringe at the thought of having a photo taken. But those who worry about revealing their imperfections can end their worries by using Photoshop. The software is perfect for retouching photos. Professional photographers do it all the time. A Photoshop pro can erase freckles, age spots and other imperfections from photos.

Instructions

Get Perfect Skin

1. Open Photoshop and the photo you want to retouch.

2. Choose the "Healing Brush Tool" from the toolbar (hover the mouse pointer over the tools if you're not sure of their functions. A description will pop up). A small options window appears at the top of the screen. Set the brush size to 24 pixels in the "Brush" drop-down menu.

3. Use the Healing Brush Tool to erase blemishes from the photo. With the Brush Tool selected, press "alt" on the keyboard and left-click with the mouse on an unmarked area of skin. Move your cursor to an area with blemished skin.

4. Press "alt" on the keyboard and left-click with your mouse on the area with blemished skin. You should see a circle and a plus sign. The plus sign indicates the area being copied. The circle indicates where the clear skin will be pasted.

Drag the circle over the area you want to retouch. Keep dragging until the blemish is gone. The blemish is replaced with clear skin. Use this method to correct any skin imperfections.

Fix Red Eye

5. Open a photo in which you're afflicted with "red eye." Make sure the layers window is open. If it isn't, go to the Photoshop menu and select "Window" then "Layers."

6. Locate the adjustment layer symbol, which is indicated by a black and white circle. The symbol is at the bottom of the layers window. Click the symbol and open the "Channel Mixer."

The Channel Mixer controls the amount of red, blue and green color that appears in an image. You need to get rid of red eye, so set the amount of red in the image to 0%. Leave the blue and green alone for now.

7. Go to the Photoshop toolbar and set your foreground color to black.

Go back to the layers window. You will now see a Channel Mixer adjustment layer. It was added when you made changes using the mixer. Look to the right of the Channel Mixer layer. Click the white box you see there. Clicking the box activates a Photoshop mask.

8. Select a soft-edge paintbrush from the Photoshop paintbrush menu. Click the white mask box again, and paint the parts of the eye that were red. The eyes will appear red again. You'll fix that in the next step when you invert the mask.

9. Go to the Photoshop menu, choose "image," "adjustments" and "invert." The red-eye image should now have normal looking eyes. If you still see the red color, click the layer mask box again and paint where the red color appears. You can also return to the Channel Mixer and repeat Step 2 from this section.

Get Paint Out Of Fabric

Get Paint Out of Fabric

Even the most careful painter sometimes splatters paint onto a fabric-covered couch or a favorite pair of jeans. Luckily, it is possible to remove the paint, even if you don't find the stain until it has dried. Paint is either oil-based or water-based (latex), so the steps for removing the stain differ, depending on which type of paint has stained the fabric.

Instructions

1. Use a butter knife to scrape off as much of the paint as you can. This goes for both types of paint. You could use a razor blade, but be careful not to damage the fabric.

2. Soften the stain. If it is oil-based, use a paint thinner to soften the stain before proceeding to the next step. Latex paint stains do not need to be softened.

3. Soak the stain in warm water, if it is latex-based paint. Hold it under warm, running water. If the stain is on a piece of furniture, saturate it in warm water, using a cloth or sponge. For oil-based paint, first blot the stain with cool water, then rinse it with cool water. Do not let either type of paint stain dry before you complete the next step.

4. Mix together a combination of liquid dishwashing soap with equal parts warm water. Set aside. Blot the oil-based stain with a bit of turpentine. Saturate both types of stains with the dishwashing soap and water combination. For best results, let it sit overnight.

5. Rinse the stains thoroughly. If some of the latex paint is still remaining, try dabbing it with acetone and rinsing again. If some of the oil-based paint is still remaining, treat it again with turpentine, then rinse.

Paint A Canvas Without Gesso

Many find the raw color of canvas an appealing feature in paintings.

Painters frequently prime stretched canvas with several layers of gesso, a chalk-based paint that seals cotton and linen fibers from the damaging effects of oil paint and oxidation. Without a proper sealing agent, canvas fibers will begin to rot within several years after oil paint is applied to them. Artists may prefer to mix their own specially textured primer for canvas, or opt to keep the canvas they paint on its natural color by using a transparent coating. Either way, alternatives to applying a gesso ground to canvas can offer options that will enhance your paintings.

Instructions

Paint With Acrylics

1. Brush paint directly on unprimed -- no gesso applied -- canvas with acrylic artist's colors. While oil paint will have a detrimental effect on raw canvas, acrylic paint, which is plastic-based, will not cause cotton and linen fibers to rot.

2. Apply artist's varnish to your finished acrylic painting to prevent dirt and mildew from working their way into the fibers.

3. Apply a coat of gloss or matte medium to the painting to give it a protective shield.

Rabbit Skin Glue

4. Prepare a batch of rabbit skin glue by placing the glue pellets in hot water and allowing them to dissolve into a jelly-like state. Made from rabbit hides, rabbit skin glue is a centuries-old sizing material used by artists. It protects cotton and linen from the oxidizing effects caused by the linseed oil found in oil paints and grounds.

5. Cover the rabbit skin glue-sized canvas with two or three thin coats of flake white oil paint. Lightly sand each coat after it has dried for a smoother painting surface.

6. Paint on your dried surface with oil paint. For acrylic painting, cover the surface with flake or titanium white acrylic paint. You can also paint in oils on top of an acrylic white ground, but you cannot paint in acrylic over an oil covering because the paint will not adhere.

Stain Painting

7. Lay a piece of wood on the floor the size of the painting you intend to create. Staple or tack a piece of unprimed, unsized canvas to the board with a row of staples or tacks about 1 1/2 inches apart along the four outer edges of the canvas. Soak the canvas with water. The water will make the canvas shrink to a tight fit against the wood.

8. Dilute acrylic paint with water to make your colors thin and pourable. Use brushes and sponges to apply the liquid colors to your canvas.

9. Wait for each layer of color to dry before applying another, or work directly on top of a wet layer of paint for a different effect. The unsized fiber will absorb the paint like watercolors on paper.

Make White In Acrylic Paint

There are many varieties of white.

Acrylic paint is made by combining a pigment (finely ground powders derived from minerals), a binder (a latex-based liquid) and water. There are many varieties of white that are derived from different minerals, such as titanium, zinc and lead. It is not possible to create white using other colors of acrylic paint, but it is possible to create varying tints of white by mixing existing white paint. Experiment with different varieties to create a white paint that suits your needs.

Instructions

1. Paint with the most popular white by using titanium white, made from titanium dioxide. This mineral in its natural form reflects 97.2 percent of incident light, making this variety the most opaque variety of white.

2. Use zinc white, made from zinc oxide, for a more translucent tint. It is slightly blue in cast and is slower drying than other whites.

3. Be aware that lead white, also called flake white, does contain lead and is considered toxic. Some acrylic paint manufacturers have developed a substitute that has the same properties as lead white (high opacity and buttery consistency) without the health risks.

4. Experiment with whites by mixing two or more together until you have a paint that suits your aesthetic. Make notes about the proportions that you use so that you can replicate the results.

Make Water Bubbles In Fireworks Cs3

Digital water bubbles are easier to paint than you might think, even in applications like Fireworks that have more primitive paint tools. Fireworks' blend modes, opacity and quick duplication options can turn simple dots into a fountain of dimensional bubbles.

Instructions

1. Open your water source image (water bottle, water glass, fish bowl). Lock the bitmap layer with your base image in the Layer palette. You don't want to paint on it accidentally.

2. Create a new paint layer above your bitmap layer. Click on the "New Bitmap Image" layer in the Layer palette options bar.

3. Paint a dozen or more bubble shadows in a vertical row over your water area. The bubbles don't have to be in a perfectly straight line. Set the color to dark gray, the brush width to 12 to 15 pixels, the brush edge to 5 and the blend mode to "Hard Light."

4. Add bubble highlights on top of the shadows. Don't paint them in dead center; consider your light source and paint them from one of the shadow corners. Set the color to white, reduce the brush width by 3 pixels, and soften the brush edge to 15.

5. Choose the Pointer tool and click on any of the bubbles. They will be selected as a group. Option + drag the bubbles to duplicate the row. Continue until the bubbles fill the water.

6. Set the bubble layer blend mode to "Soft Light." The bubbles will begin to blend into the water. Reduce the layer opacity as necessary to improve the final blend.

Mix Acrylic Paints For Jean Color

Mixing the right colors will help you find the shade of jeans you are looking for.

Mixing acrylics to make the color of blue jeans depends on what kind of jeans you are painting. An easy technique is to make a line of blue paint, starting light, and mixing in black until the end of the strip is dark blue. You can use lighter shades to paint your jeans where the jeans capture light and darker colors to accent natural shadows. Acrylic paint dries moderately quickly when compared to oils or some watercolors, so keep this in mind while mixing your paint.

Instructions

Mixing Paint for Light-colored Jeans

1. Put a sizable amount of light blue acrylic paint in a line on your palette, using a palette knife.

2. Put a little bit of medium blue paint halfway down the line of light blue paint with the palette knife.

3. Drag the light blue paint into the dark blue paint slowly, using the palette knife. You are making a strip of paint fading light color into dark color. Mix the strip so that it fades from a faded blue jeans color to a dark blue jeans color. One side should be your lightest color and the other side of the strip, your darkest color.

4. Use the light blue to medium light blue for painting the jeans, and use the darker color for the shadows on the jeans.

Mixing Paint for Dark-colored Jeans

5. Put a sizable amount of medium blue acrylic paint in a line on your palette with a palette knife.

6. Put a small amount of black paint at the other end of the line you will mix with a palette knife.

7. Mix the black into the medium blue slowly. A little bit of black goes a long way. You are doing the same thing you did with the faded jeans. Make a color strip where one end is the lightest color you will use and the other end is the darkest color . A palette knife will allow you to measure more accurately than a paintbrush, so use the palette knife to add and blend darker and lighter colors together. At the end of the paint line mixture, you should have a midnight blue.

8. Paint the jeans with the medium blue mixture and shade with the midnight blue mixture.

Make Clay Pots Look Old

Many people enjoy the serenity and vintage appearance of an English or cottage garden. Clay flower pots with an antique or old appearance are graceful accents in these settings, but you do not have to wait years for them. Aging and making your clay pots look old is easy and can be achieved using simple painting techniques.

Instructions

Antiqued Stained Clay Pots

1. Dip an old rag into wood stain and work it into the surface of the clay pot, using a circular movement. The stain will soak in quickly---start rubbing as soon as the stain touches the pot or you may have noticeable marks where you started. Continue until the whole pot has been covered with the stain.

2. Dip a sea sponge in the wood stain and randomly dab onto the pot to simulate areas of deterioration and age. This can be done as heavily as you would like. Allow the stain to soak in and dry.

3. Spray a matte finish sealer over the surface.

Moss Painted Clay Pots

4. Repeat Step 1 of the Antiqued Stained Clay Pots.

5. Dip an old rag into green acrylic paint and wipe randomly on the surface of the clay pot. This will give it a mossy patina of age. Dip another rag into white acrylic and apply like the green paint. While the paint is still wet, wipe a clean wet rag over the surface to smudge. This paint finish will add a hard water look to make your clay pot look old. You can also do this same paint technique with only white paint for a more cottage garden feel.

6. Spray a matte finish sealer over the surface.

Verdigris Painted Clay Pots

7. Paint the entire pot, using black acrylic paint. Allow the paint to dry.

8. Dip your brush into aqua paint and rub off the excess onto a paper towel until the brush is almost dry. Brush the aqua lightly and randomly over the black surface of the pot.

9. Dip your brush into brown acrylic paint and rub off the excess onto a paper towel until the brush is almost dry. Brush the brown lightly and randomly over the aqua.

10. Spray a matte finish sealer over the surface.

Make Large Pictures

Make an enlarged picture by printing smaller sections and mounting as a single piece.

Large pictures can make a strong statement on the wall of a room. There are two basic ways to create a large picture. You can send your digital photo image to a copy store and allow the store to enlarge and print your image on its largest paper. This will give you a seamless large image. You can also use an online enlargement tool to enlarge your image. This type of tool allows you to print out the image on standard-size paper. Your final picture has a collage effect when the individual prints are grouped to reveal the large picture.

Instructions

1. Select the image you want to enlarge. Save the image in as large a size as possible. This will keep the enlargement from looking too choppy when you enlarge the image. For the best quality enlargement, when possible, provide the copy or photo store with a conventional photo negative. This type of enlargement is often expensive.

2. Send your digital image to your photo copy store for enlargement. Often the copy stores will have an email address where you can send jobs. Many copy stores have large-scale printers designed to produce poster-size reproductions.

3. Cut foam core to the finished size of your poster. Spray the surface of the foam core with a spray adhesive. Align the edges of your enlarged poster to match the foam core and carefully smooth the poster from the center out to remove all air bubbles. When you're mounting large images, it is often helpful to have two people working together so that one can hold the poster away from the board while the other person smooths and adheres the image.

4. Select an online enlargement service that enlarges your image to fit standard paper printing. Choose the number of pages or finished size of your large picture. Download the .pdf file. Print out the image on a quality photo paper.

5. Spray a foam core board with glue. You can either glue each sheet to its own board to mount for a more deconstructed look, or you can glue one large sheet and mount each image in order. You will see the seams, but it will look like a cohesive collage. When you're gluing a large group, use scrap newspaper and tape to create a glue window. Use this glue window to protect your images and to glue just enough of the foam to mount one image at a time.

Paint Watercolor Farm Scene

Watercolor painting is attractive to most with the soft tones and misty effects available in this medium. It takes relatively few supplies to begin painting in watercolor. Small paint sets make working outdoors easy and enjoyable. A farm is a simple and familiar scene to paint with watercolor.

Instructions

1. Select a source as a guide to follow. It can be a farm from real life, use a photo or picture in a book. If you are a beginner, edit out things to simplify the picture.

2. Choose an emphasis for your painting and give these major elements more space in the painting.

3. Run a horizon line across the paper lightly in pencil. This determines the amount of foreground and background in the painting. To feature a large field in the foreground, for example, have a high horizon line.

4. Consider the placement of any structures such as a barn. Position any structures or additional images, such as trees, in the foreground or background based upon your emphasis. Sketch them lightly in pencil.

5. Paint large areas first with washes. Float in a highly diluted mixture of paint with a flat brush. Choose a brush large enough to cover the paper from side to side in a few strokes. Wash in the sky area as well as the foreground in this way.

6. Let the washes dry. Then begin to add details. Use the paint without diluting as you fill in details such as the color of the barn or the dark shadows that separate rows of crops. Paint details with the #2 brush. Match the color from your source with your paint colors.

7. Continue to add details until you are satisfied. Wash areas out with extra water to lighten if necessary. Make adjustments as you paint until the painting pleases you.

Paint Lamps

Painting a lamp is best done with spray paint.

Paint can give your lamp a new look. Unsightly spots can be covered, or you can simply change the color to match the lamp's surroundings. Spray paint is the easiest and quickest way to paint. It is available in various blends that suit the surface you are painting. You can find virtually any color of spray paint. Spray paint can be purchased at craft stores, online and at home improvement stores.

Instructions

Brass Lamps

1. Unplug your lamp and remove the lampshade from its base. Clean the lamp to remove dust and grease. Wipe your lamp with a soft clean cloth and Liquid TSP. Let it completely dry.

2. Put masking tape over the areas you don't want to paint.

3. Put the lamp inside a large cardboard box to stop the primer and paint from getting on other items.

4. Spray paint the lamp with primer in four thin coats. Thick coats are more likely to have uneven paint and drip spots. Allow it to dry.

5. Spray your lamp with paint designed for metal surfaces. Put an initial coat on and let it dry. Spray on three additional coats, or until you reach your desired look.

Ceramic Lamps

6. Unplug your lamp and remove the lampshade from its base. Put masking tape over the areas you don't want to paint. Put the lamp inside a large cardboard box to stop the primer and paint from getting on other items.

7. Sand the lamp vase with a fine-grain sandpaper. This will allow the paint to adhere to the surface. Clean the base with vinegar and a cloth to remove all the debris. Let it thoroughly dry.

8. Spray paint the lamp with primer in four thin coats. Thick coats are more likely to have uneven paint and drip spots. Allow it to dry.

9. Spray your lamp with paint. Let it dry. Spray on three additional coats, or until you reach your desired look.

Make Street Music

Learn make street music.

Musicians are always looking for new venues to play -- perhaps the most overlooked venue is the street. Making street music is a good opportunity to gain public performing experience and to hone your act in a low-pressure situation. You can also test your set-list by playing in the streets and get your name out. Most importantly, making street music is a fun way to enjoy music in a pure, informal way.

Instructions

1. Choose the street setting based on your instrumentation and style of music. Decide what kind of music you want to make and how it will sound in an open-air setting. If you are using acoustic instruments, consider a street setting that is quieter and allows sound to travel without being drowned out by noise. Electrified instruments can cut through outside noise more easily; however, electrified instruments require amplification, which can limit your mobility and location selection.

2. Practice before heading out to play. You may be playing in the street in a relaxed setting, but you will still have to have your songs rehearsed . Make sure that all of the musicians are on the same page regarding the set-list, solos and breaks.

3. Go out and play.The only way to get used to making street music is to actually do it. After several performances, you will get over nervousness and making street music will become a fun experience.

Make Street Art At Kinkos

Create street art at Kinko's.

Street art, also known as poster art, is art developed for public spaces. It is used for activism and to raise awareness about certain social and political issues. Street art can include traditional graffiti art in addition to sticker art and stencil graffiti. According to Faith Campos, a Kinko's employee, customers should have an idea of the kind of street art they want before they come to Kinko's. In order to make street art at Kinko's, it is best to create art on paper before proceeding.

Instructions

1. Determine what kind of image you want to incorporate into your street art. Your image can contain graffiti-styled letters, bubble letters, shapes, etc. Use a pencil to sketch your image on your paper or poster board and use a marker to darken your outline.

2. Finalize your outline and color your street art image with colored pencils, markers, paint or chalk.

3. Take your finished, colored street art image to Kinko's and give it to an employee. The employee will then scan your image and create a digital PDF file. He will then transfer the digital file to a large poster board. This simply involves printing the digital file on a poster board of your choice. You can have multiple poster boards created so that you can hang them in several places.

Make Sticky Spray Paint Harden

A spray paint finish can be sticky with the wrong preparation.

Spray paint may be somewhat synonymous with vandalism and teenage rebellion, but such stereotypes become insignificant compared to the real uses for spray paint. From small art projects to automobiles, this small can can be used to create a terrific visual effect with a minimum of fuss. However, one danger is that you may be left with a sticky finish, meaning issues like high humidity and over-application should always be considered.

Instructions

1. Apply a coat of primer to the surface you are planning to spray paint. This stops the spray paint interacting with any substance that has previously been used on this surface. Such interactions can often result in a sticky finish.

2. Shake the can of spray paint vigorously before application. This should ensure a smooth, even application of the spray paint.

3. Allow the primer from step one to dry and spray the paint evenly over the surface. Ensure that you give each area the same attention, and be sure not to over-apply the spray paint. Too much paint -- thus not being able to dry properly -- is often the cause of a sticky finish.

4. Allow the painted surface to dry outside, or at least with a fan nearby to allow fresh, cool air to help the drying process.

Make Really Good Homemade Thank You Cards

Making your own thank-you card can add a personalized touch, letting the recipient know you put thought and effort into the creation. Proper etiquette says that you should send a thank-you card as soon as possible and definitely before two weeks, with some exceptions being made for things such as being on a honeymoon or being ill. Thank-you cards are commonly sent after receiving a gift, having a job interview or being invited to a party.

Instructions

1. Choose a basic design. You can select colors you know the recipient likes or create a theme, such as using pink if the card is thanking someone for a baby shower gift.

2. Fold a piece of paper in half to make a template.

3. Write "Thank You" on the front of the card. Make it look nice by using block letters, stencils, graffiti print or calligraphy.

4. Write a message on the inside of the card. Be as specific as possible and let the recipient know exactly what you're thankful for and how much it means to you. Explain how her actions helped you or changed your life.

5. Include a quote inside the card. If possible, make it a phrase that means something to both of you -- maybe something he said to you in the past or a quote from his favorite author or musician.

6. Decorate the card. Color the card with markers or paint, filling in the text and adding images. If there are no images that would relate directly to the thank you note, you can draw something generic, such as flowers or smiley faces. You can also use stickers or cut-out images from magazines. Just be creative and have fun. Decorate even further by adding glitter, ribbon, or beads. Keep in mind that the decorations don't all have to be pretty. If the recipient is an outdoor enthusiast, you can glue rocks or leaves onto the card.

7. Sign and date the card.

Make Stereograms

Some stereograms require a stereogram viewer.

Stereograms are optical illusions that trick your brain into seeing two one-dimensional images as a single three-dimensional object. Stereograms are easy to create using either text or graphics. Using text is the easiest way for a beginner to make a stereogram. You can use any word processing application to create your own text stereogram in a matter of minutes.

Instructions

1. Open your favorite word processing program and create a new document. Find the text alignment options and click on the "Center" option so the text is automatically aligned in the center of the page. If your processor doesn't have "Center" press the space bar until your cursor is located in the middle of the screen.

2. Press the asterisk button. On most keyboards it is located on the "8" key and is represented with the asterisks symbol, "*." Hit the space bar 10 times and press the asterisk button a second time.

3. Press the "Enter" or "Return" button on your keyboard two times so there is a blank line between the asterisks and the cursor.

4. Press the "Left Align" text button so any new text will be left-justified. It is important for the asterisk to remain center aligned. However, all text following the asterisks will be left-aligned.

5. Type a simple word such as "Have." Press the space bar 10 times and type the word again. Follow it with 10 more spaces and repeat this process five times or until the word is written across the width of the page without starting a new line. It is important that there are 10 spaces following each word. Press the "Enter" or "Return" key twice to skip a line before starting the next line.

6. Type a second simple word "Take." Press the space bar eight times and type the word again. Follow it with eight more spaces and repeat this process five times or until the word is written across the width of the page without starting a new line. It is important that there are eight spaces following each word.

7. Move your face close to your computer screen so the two asterisks appear to be three asterisks. The first row of words should appear closer while the second row of words should appear set back.

Make Stained Glass Pictures

1947 Stained Glass Peacock

Stained Glass Pictures are beautiful to look at. Modern stained glass uses stained glass paint or glass chips to create the colorful designs. Stained glass from the 1940's is a forgotten art. This style was the original home stained glass project for crafters and was made with watercolor paint and aluminum foil in a kit. This project will use the old style but with the more modern stained glass paint. These beautiful pictures can become family heirlooms like the one below. Go ahead and resurrect this unique forgotten stained glass.

Instructions

1. Lay the pattern on the glass and tape down. This will eventually be the back of the glass. Be sure that when you turn the glass over, that the pattern is showing through the glass in the correct image format or, in other words, not backwards. It will be preferable to carry your pattern to the edges of the glass.

2. With the glass marker or washable marker, trace the pattern design onto the front of the glass. Be sure you mark all the lines.

3. Turn the glass back over and remove the pattern and tape.

4. Paint the pattern in desired colors with the stained glass paint or watercolors on the opposite side of the marked pattern. Make sure your paint will be thin enough to dry opaque, or the ability to see through the paint. Allow to dry. Remove the marked lines on the front of the glass.

5. Measure aluminum foil to the correct size of the glass. Crinkle the foil so that the surface is wrinkled. Place the foil over the paint and tape the edges down. This is the back of the picture.

6. Place the painted glass with the image showing in front and the foil in the back into the picture frame. Replace the picture cardboard over the foil to protect the print. When you view the picture you will see the design in stained glass colors that was created by the clear paint and foil.

Mix Automotive Paint With Reducer & Hardener

Refer to technical data sheets supplied with paint mixing schemes to find correct ratios.

Modern automotive paints are activated with hardeners to promote faster drying times. Reducer is added to help the material flow through the spray gun easily. The mixing process is a vitally important aspect of automotive refinishing work. Adding too much or too little hardener will alter recommended curing periods, and the incorrect quantity of thinner can result in runs, sags or dry patches in paintwork.

Instructions

1. Wipe out the paint mixing pot with a clean piece of cloth to remove traces of dust and other foreign contaminants. Place the paint mixing pot on a flat, even surface. Stand the paint measuring stick against the inside wall so it rests in a vertical position.

2. Stir the automotive paint thoroughly with a disposable stirring stick before mixing begins. Make sure the separate pigments mix together. Check the paint against the vehicle to make sure the color is accurate.

3. Refer to the technical data sheet supplied with the automotive paint to establish the correct mixing ratio. Remember that the mixing ratio is written sequentially. So figures of 2:1:1, for example, will relate to two parts of automotive paint, 1 part of hardener and 1 part of reducer. Check the markings on the paint measuring stick to ensure the correct ratio markings are available.

4. Determine how much unmixed material is needed for painting. Refer to the left-hand side of the paint stirring stick to view the different volume measurements. Note that each numbered vertical marking represents one-tenth of a liter of automotive paint. Add paint up to marking number 1 on the left-hand side of the stick if 100ml of unmixed paint is required. Add up to the number 2 if 200ml of unmixed paint is needed. Add up to any other number that represents the correct volume of material necessary to complete the job.

5. Take a tin of compatible hardener and look at the markings on the center of the paint measuring stick, which represent the second part of the mixing ratio. Fill the paint mixing pot to the same number on the center of the stick as you used when adding unmixed paint. Add to the number 1 if the paint was added to number 1 on the left-hand side; 2 if the paint was added to 2 on the left-hand side; or any other relevant number that matched your original paint quantity.

6. Repeat the process on the right-hand side of the stick with compatible reducer, making sure the pot is filled to the same number on the paint measuring stick so it matches the number used for the unmixed paint and hardener. Allow the material to settle for a few seconds before stirring the three components together and adding the mixed product to a spray gun.

Make Someone Miss Me

Make Someone Miss Me

Sometimes, you just want to make sure someone's thinking of you when you're not around. But making somebody miss you is difficult--push too hard and you risk coming off as needy or desperate. Here are some tips for staying on someone's mind, in a good way.

Instructions

1. The first step might seem counterintuitive at first, but it works: Stay away for awhile! As the old saying goes, "I can't miss you if you won't go away." If you're always around, you can't be missed. So, even if it's difficult, make sure you give the person you want to miss you (we'll call them Person X) enough time and space to wish you were there.

2. Stay busy. The next time you talk to Person X and they ask what you've been up to, the last thing you want to say is "Nothing." Instead, you want to be able to tell them all the fun things you've been doing with your time. You want to show that you're an interesting person with lots going on in your life, so Person X thinks, "Hmm, this person knows have fun, we should get together," rather than "This person is boring, and there's no need to make plans -- they'll always be around if I want them."

3. When you are together, ask about memories. "Remember that time we went to the grocery store and you juggled the kiwis?" or "Remember when we went to the beach and had that cookout?" Obviously, you don't want to bludgeon the person with do-you-remembers, but do bring them up from time to time. Doing this reminds the person of how much fun you have together, and it gives them something to think about when you're not there.

4. Finally, just plain be good company. It's easy to miss someone who's funny, thoughtful, and enjoyable to be around. If you and Person X consistently have a wonderful time together, they'll miss you no matter what.

Make Someone Have Freckles In Photos

Add a childish, cute touch to pictures with digital freckles.

Though some freckled individuals curse the small, brown dots that line their face, others adore the look of freckled skin. Often, photo retouching that smooths and illuminates an image erases the appearance of freckles. However, Photoshop's brushes and layers allow you to add a few freckles to any face. Though faux-freckle photos often appear realistic from afar, they typically fail to stand up when compared to those of a naturally freckled face.

Instructions

1. Open the image in Photoshop.

2. Navigate to the "Layers" window and press the "Add Layer" button. Highlight the new layer.

3. Click on the "Color Wheel" icon. Move the cursor over the wheel until it displays a light-brown color. Left-click.

4. Open the "Brush" drop-down menu and scroll to a 2 pixel to 5 pixel brush, with soft edges.

5. Navigate to the "Layers" window and press the "Brush" tab. Open the "Brush Presets" drop-down menu. Check the boxes next to "Shape Dynamics" and "Scattering".

6. Drag the "Spacing" and "Scatter" sliders until the sample image displays a freckle pattern. Drag the "Diameter" slider until the freckles appear an appropriate width. The appropriate diameter varies, depending on the size of the image. Use a diameter between 10 and 50 pixels.

7. Click on the "Lasso" tool. Drag a selection around the area of the face you want to contain freckles. For example, drag a soft box around the forehead.

8. Color the selection with freckles, using the "Brush" tool.

9. Drag the "Opacity" slider for the filter toward 50. Lower the opacity until the freckles appear natural.

10. Open the "File" menu and scroll to "Save As". Enter a new file name, such as "JaneFreckles," and press the "OK" button.

Make Someone Float As A Magic Trick

You can levitate in a magic show without the need for expensive equipment.

Most illusions to levitate a person require expensive stage equipment that you must buy or build. The self-levitation trick, however, can be done with no equipment at all. Once you master it, you can perform it anywhere at any time.

Instructions

The Setup

1. Gather your audience in a tight cluster about eight feet away from you. Tell them you want to show them something, but don't tell them exactly what. An audience of three or four is ideal. This trick requires you to control the angle from which the audience is viewing you, so make sure you have them right where they should be.

2. Turn your back on your audience. Standing with your feet touching each other, angle your stance slightly to the left, so that the audience can see the full profile of your right foot but only the heel of your left. As you are doing this, keep glancing over your shoulder to keep a strong connection with the audience.

3. Build suspense through body language and by delaying the trick. Spread your arms straight out to the sides, like a tightrope walker. This will give the audience the sense that you're doing something that involves height and danger. Wobble back and forth a little. This will heighten the sense of instability, while simultaneously drawing the audience's eyes down toward your feet.

The Trick

4. Raise yourself into the air on the toe of your left foot. Keep flat your right foot, the only one the audience can fully see. Your left foot will bend until you're standing tip-toe only on that foot. However, because your heels are firmly together, it will appear to the audience as if both feet are rising. As you stand up on your left toes, simultaneously lift your arms and shoulders. This will heighten the illusion that you're floating.

5. Stand on your left toes for only a second or two. Any longer will allow the surprise to wear off, giving audience members time to bend down and look under your feet or otherwise change their vantage point.

6. Lower yourself to the ground until both feet are flat. Bend a little at the shoulders and hips, as if to absorb the shock of coming back to the floor. Raise and lower yourself at the same smooth pace, but avoid jerky movements. The trick will take only four or five seconds.

7. Turn around and take a bow.

Make Shadow Tones With Acrylic Paint

Shadows are the dark tones created by an obstruction of light.

The introduction of acrylic paints revolutionized the visual arts world. According to

Rachel Mustalish of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, acrylic paints developed in the mid-20th century were highly pigmented and first used by artists, such as Andy Warhol and Helen Frankenthaler. Acrylic paints are fast drying and able to be thinned by water, rather than turpentine. To make shadow tones with acrylic paint, observe whether the tone is warm or cool and mix the appropriate paint color to the chosen background or scenery color. Paint the object first and then add its shadow.

Instructions

1. Consider the tone of the shadow you are planning on painting. Most shadows are cool tones, which have blue in them, rather than warm tones, which contain reds and oranges. Cool tones move back into space, while warm tones are popped forward on paintings.

2. Paint your object and the area where your object's shadow should go. For example, if it is a vase on a wooden table, apply paint for the vase. Squeeze a walnut-sized amount of brown paint onto your palette for the first thin layer of the wooden table. Dip your medium-sized brush into the brown paint and paint the table.

3. Squeeze an almond-sized amount of blue paint onto your palette. Mix it with a small amount of the brown with the same brush. Paint the part of the shadow closest to the object. If you are adding a shadow to a vase on a wooden table, paint the bottom edge of the vase where the shadow should go with this color. The shadow should be added opposite to the light source in the painting.

4. Mix a small amount of brown to the first mixture of blue and brown for the lighter area of the shadow, which should move away from the object, or vase in this case. Add more brown to the mixture as you move away from the object; the shadow should be lighter as it is farther away from the object.

5. Dip the paintbrush into the blue again. Paint the shadow area closest to the vase and the edges of the shadow. Step back from your painting and mix more brown and blue to any other areas of the shadow tone that needs more paint.

Fix Synthetic Rifle Stocks

For rifles that get used a lot, toughness is critical. In the modern gun world, that means that the first choice in stocks tends to be synthetics. While they are far tougher than traditional wood stocks, synthetics are not completely indestructible. They can be cracked and even broken. The most common failure point in a synthetic rifle stock tends to be a crack across the thinnest portion, directly between the receiver and the butt stock. This hand-grip area, called the "wrist," can be broken in a number of ways. Fortunately, repairing it is a simple procedure.

Instructions

1. Unload and clear your weapon. Double-check the chamber both physically and visually, to ensure that the weapon is clear.

2. Place the weapon in a padded-jaw vise and tighten the vise around the stock of the weapon, just in front of the trigger group assembly. If you do not have a gunsmith's padded jaw vise, a normal vise can be used, as long as the jaws are padded to prevent damage to the stock.

3. Use a small piece of 40-grit sandpaper to sand the rough spots of the inside of the damaged areas of the crack. While the inner portions of the stock crack do not have to be perfectly smooth, they do need to be cleaned up and roughened slightly to ensure the repair will stay in place. Clean the crack afterward with a clean, damp cloth.

4. Use a small piece of fiberglass gauze and soak it thoroughly in liquid fiberglass resin filler, like the type often used in automotive body repair work. Roll the wet fiberglass gauze tightly.

5. Use the head of a flat-head screwdriver to shove the rolled gauze tightly into the crack on the rifle stock wrist. The rolled gauze needs to be fitted as tight as possible into the bottom of the crack, to ensure that the crack is repaired permanently.

6. Fill any additional space remaining in the crack of the stock using more of the liquid fiberglass resin filler, until it bulges slightly over the level of the surrounding stock.

7. Allow the liquid fiberglass resin filler to dry. The duration of time needed to dry completely will vary depending on the particular brand used. Typically, in order to allow the resin to dry completely at the bottom of the crack, it is a good idea to allow the repaired stock to dry for at least 24 to 48 hours longer than the time recommendations listed for the product.

8. Sand the bulge of the dry fiberglass resin filler with a 40-grit sandpaper until it is level with the material of the original surrounding rifle stock.

9. Paint the entire rifle stock, including the repaired spot, with a simple primer spray paint or the commercial stock finish of your choice.

Make Seashells

A press mold allows you to create detailed work without the need for sculpting.

A simple technique allows you to make exact copies of shells in very little time, with very little effort. To save yourself the time and effort of actually sculpting a shell in all its detail, simply make a mold of some real shells. Then you can easily duplicate as many as you wish. Self-hardening clay is an ideal substance from which to create not only the mold, but the duplicate copies of the shells as well. You can use this method to create copies of other detailed objects as well.

Instructions

1. Gather the best shells you have for which you want to make a mold. Knead some clay like bread dough to until it has a nice and even consistency. Use a small shell for your first mold.

2. Create a small ball of clay by rolling it your hands. Place it on the table and flatten it with a roller. Keep it about two or three times the thickness of the actual shell.

3. Press the detailed side of the shell into the clay. Apply enough pressure to embed the shell to the half-way point. Avoid going too deep and creating undercuts which will ruin the mold. Press in just enough to see the outline of the shell in the clay.

4. Release the shell using the tip of a knife, revealing the impression of the shell in the clay. Let the mold dry for a day or two until it has hardened. Using it when wet will distort and destroy the mold.

5. Create your first copy using a small piece of clay large enough to fill the mold. Roll the clay into a ball and press it into the mold with the palm of you hand. Press the clay into every crevice in the mold with your thumb.

6. Cut the excess clay from the mold with a wire. Keep the wire taught as you pull it across the top of the mold. This will remove all the clay except for what is in the mold.

7. Make another small ball of clay and press it onto the clay that is inside the mold. Lift out the clay and you have a perfect copy of the shell from the mold. Separate the clay from the shell copy and let the clay shell dry.

8. Repeat the same procedure to create more press molds of other shells.

Paint Cut Glass In Watercolor

Paint Cut Glass in Watercolor

Transparent objects, such as cut glass, are among the most difficult to render in watercolor. Painting them correctly requires careful observation and planning. The nature of watercolor paints doesn't allow erasing or covering mistakes. The process of painting cut glass can be broken down into a few simple steps. Work slowly and carefully, and you'll be able to render beautiful glass in watercolor media.

Instructions

1. Draw the cut glass. Use light pencil strokes to render an accurate line drawing of the crystal object you wish to paint. Don't press hard, or you'll risk the drawing showing through in the finished painting. You can also use an opaque projector to project a photograph of cut glass onto your paper, then trace the lines. Remember to include the reflections, as well as the shape of the glass itself.

2. Examine the colors. Clear cut glass has no color of its own. All the colors in your painting will come from reflected light bouncing off other objects in the image. Even colored cut glass will acquire some color from nearby objects. Choose which watercolors to use based on the colors of the reflections you see. Plan out what you'll paint before you touch brush to paper.

3. Create washes. Add water to your colors to create thin solutions. Don't use colors at full strength - they can overpower your image.

4. Begin painting. Use very dilute washes to lay in the lightest colors in the glass. Leave plenty of white spaces to preserve a bright look. Use smooth patches of color to represent reflections in the facets of the glass. Keep your plan in mind as you paint.

5. Add stronger washes. Once you've laid the lightest colors into your painting, you can strengthen some areas with less dilute paint. Be careful not to overdo it - start with very small areas in the shadows, and check against your subject frequently. Continue darkening small areas until you have produced the desired effect. Allow the painting to dry completely before framing.

Mix Primary Colors To Make Others

Using primary colors, you can create every color of the rainbow.

The foundation for every color imaginable is found in just three basic colors--red, blue and yellow. These are called the primary colors. These three primaries, when mixed in different proportions, make every other hue of paint.

Instructions

Secondary Colors

1. Place a sample of each primary color on your palette.

2. Use your brush to pick up a sample of red.

3. Place your sample on a clean part of your palette.

4. Rinse all traces of paint from your brush.

5. Pick up an equal sample of yellow.

6. Mix the yellow with the red. You now have orange.

7. Rinse all traces of paint from your brush again.

8. Repeat these steps to mix equal parts red and blue. You now have purple.

9. Mix equal parts blue and yellow. You now have green. Orange, purple and green are the secondary colors.

Tertiary Colors

10. Place a sample of each primary color on your palette.

11. Use your brush to pick up a sample of red.

12. Place your sample on a clean part of your palette.

13. Rinse all traces of paint from your brush.

14. Pick up an sample of yellow that is half the size of your red sample.

15. Mix the yellow and the red. The resulting color is called red-orange.

16. Repeat these steps to mix two parts yellow with one part red. This is yellow-orange.

17.Mix two parts yellow with one part blue. This is yellow-green.

18. Mix two parts blue with one part yellow. This is blue-green.

19. Mix two parts blue with one part red. This is blue-purple.

20. Mix two parts red with one part blue. This is red-purple, and you have now created all of the tertiary colors.

Other Colors

21. Select any size sample of any primary color

22. Place your sample on a clean part of your palette.

23. Rinse all traces of paint from your brush.

24. Mix in different quantities of any other color or color combination to make variations of the secondary and tertiary hues.

Make Stereograms With Photoshop

A stereogram is a chaotic pattern image in which a secondary image is nestled. When you stare at a stereogram for an extended period of time, the secondary image appears to rise from the stereogram, allowing you to both make out its shape and perceive a 3D effect. You can create your own stereograms using Photoshop's various tools and features, then upload the image to your social networking account or use it in a project.

Instructions

1. Open Photoshop.

2. Press "Ctrl" and "N" to open the New Canvas window. Enter the dimensions you want for the stereogram. For example, enter "600" in "Height" and "800" in "Width" if you want the image to be 600 by 800 pixels. Press "Enter."

3. Click "Edit," then "Fill." Choose "Pattern." A window opens with a list of patterns. Choose a pattern you like and click "OK." A pattern with very small items that are placed close together, such as a stone or water pattern, is ideal.

4. Select the "Rectangular Marquee" tool. Draw a small rectangle in the middle of the stereogram. Press "Ctrl" and "C" to copy the pattern inside the selection. Click the "New Layer" button on the "Layers" window, then press "Ctrl" and "V" to paste the copied pattern. Press the right-arrow key on your keyboard 10 times to move the selection 10 pixels.

5. Click "File" and "Save" to save the image.

Make Purple Acrylic Paint Darker With More Black

Experiment with mixing varying amounts of black paint into purple acrylic paint.

Purple acrylic paint can be purchased in a tube or created on a palette by mixing blue and red paints. While adding white paint to the mixture will lighten the color, adding black paint will darken it. Since black paint may flatten the vibrancy of the purple color, some artists prefer to use another dark color, such as a dark green, to darken purple. To see the effects of mixing purple and black paints, create a chart that shows the progression from the original purple color to the darkest value of purple.

Instructions

1. Purchase a small canvas panel on which to test your purple and black mixtures. Open a container of white acrylic gesso. Dampen a foam brush and use it to apply an even coat of gesso to the canvas panel. Replace the lid on the gesso container. Clean the foam brush in water. Allow the canvas panel to dry completely.

2. Open a tube of purple acrylic paint. Squeeze a nickel-sized amount of the paint on a plastic disposable plate. Replace the lid on the paint tube. Spritz the paint with water and stir with a round bristle brush. Clean the brush in water.

3. Open a tube of black acrylic paint. Squeeze out a dime-sized amount of the paint on a plastic disposable plate. Replace the lid on the paint tube. Spritz the paint with water and stir with the round brush. Clean the brush in water.

4. Dampen the bristles of the round brush in water. Load the brush with purple paint and paint a 1-by-2-inch area in the top left corner the canvas panel. Rinse the brush in water. Load the tip of the brush with black paint and apply it to a 1-by-2-inch area in the top right corner of the canvas panel. Rinse the brush in water. These two rectangular areas will serve as a reference for your future paint mixing samples.

5. Pick up a small dab of the black paint on the round brush and mix it into the purple paint. With the brush, paint a sample of this mixture in a 1-inch square area of the canvas panel starting on the left side of the canvas panel. Dip the brush into the black paint again and mix it into the purple/black paint on the plate. Paint a sample of this mixture in a 1-inch square next to the last sample. Repeat this process by progressively adding more black paint to the mixture and creating a series of square samples on the canvas panel. Stop when the sample appears black. Use this value guide in your future painting projects to determine how much black to add to purple to darken it for your purposes.

Install Houdini On Ubuntu

Produced by a company called Side Effects Software, Houdini 3D Animation Tools is a program that you can use for 3D character mapping, rendering and other computer graphics applications. It has been used in feature films such as "Toy Story 3," "Battle: Los Angeles" and "Clash of the Titans," and in video game programming, including popular games such as "Halo Reach." Unlike many other computer graphics software packages, Houdini runs on the Windows, Macintosh and Linux operating systems, so long as certain system requirements are met.

Instructions

1. Navigate your browser to the Side Effects Software's website (see References). If you don't have an account, create one now -- it's free -- and log in to the site.

2. Download the installation archive appropriate to your Linux distribution, located in the Download section of the Support page on the main site. Make note of where you download the archive.

3. Open a terminal and navigate to the directory where you downloaded the archive. Unpack the archive by typing "tar -xvzf xxx.tar.gz" -- without the quotes -- where "xxx" is the name of the archive. This process creates a directory named, for instance, "houdini-10.0.249-linux_x86_64_gcc4.1" or another version if you have downloaded a different version.

4. Navigate to the new folder in the terminal. If you are installing the License server, you must run the installation program as root. Type "sudo ./houdini.install" -- without the quotes -- and give the root password when prompted.

5. Follow the installer's instructions. The installer installs Houdini into "/opt/hfs10.0.249" or another version number. You can now access Houdini through "Applications," "Side Effects Software" and "Houdini 10.0.249" from the desktop menu.

Make Portable Wood Decking

Living in a rental property does not allow you to make permanent improvements. Building a deck is one of those things. You can, however, build portable decking, which you can pick up and move to a new home when your lease is up. Making portable squares of decking allows you to make your deck as large or as small as you like.

Instructions

1. Take the two-by-six pine and measure and mark off with the pencil at 43 inches long. Use the saw to cut three lengths of the two-by-six pine to this measurement.

2. Measure and cut two lengths of the two-by-six pine to 46 inches.

3. Set the two short sides on edge, on the ground, across from each other. Set the longer lengths of pine on the other two sides to form a square base for your portable decking.

4. Screw in two of the 3 1/2--inch wood screws at each joint to secure in place.

5. Insert the third short piece of pine in the middle of the square frame. Screw in place for a support for the frame.

6. Cut eight 46-inch lengths from the pine decking.

7. Lay the decking on top of the frame. Space out the boards evenly from one end of the frame to another. Use two of the screws on both ends of all the boards to fasten in place. Use one screw in the middle of each board to secure the decking to the middle support of the frame.

8. Make four legs for the portable decking section by cutting 4 inch by 4 inch pine to 8-inch lengths.

9. Flip the decking upside down. Set a leg in each of the four corners of the frame. Use two screws on either side of the leg to secure in place and finish one section of your portable decking.

10. Stain or paint your portable decking as desired.

11. Repeat all of the above Steps to make additional pieces until you have enough to make the desired size of your portable deck.

Make People Cry

President Bush summons some tears.

It is important to know make people cry in case you ever put in a variety of off-the-wall circumstances. Perhaps you really need this person to cry in order to turn the attention of some sinister guards away, or maybe you have to make someone cry to draw attention to the both of you as a distraction. There is also the possibility that you are a heartless, cruel person who feeds on the tears of others. Whatever your story, here is a step-by-step approach that you may follow to see some tears. If you would like to stop on the step that causes people to cry, you may, but following through with the other steps will only intensify the crying.

Instructions

1. Let the person know that you are reading this article called "Make People Cry" for the sole purpose of bringing them to tears. This may hurt the person's feelings enough to cause them to begin crying.

2. Tell the person that their mother and father are both overweight and/or profoundly stupid in a witty or obnoxious way. This may either bring the person into a defensive mood that is optimal for tears, or you may just end up coming off as a stupid jerk. The risk is yours to take.

3. Whip out your onion and knife. Begin chopping up the onion just below the person's nose and eyes. Be warned that this sort of drastic behavior may bring you to tears as well, but it is a risk you have to take if you are serious about making this person cry.

4. If the onion fails, it is time to put the chopped onion in a tubberware container and put the knife safely into the sink. It is important that the person believes you have given up.

5. When the victim is considerably comfortable again, lunge towards them and begin tickling like a maniac. You may walk away with a black eye from one of their flailing limbs, but if you keep up the tickling for long enough then you are sure to see some crying. This is a question of dedication.

6. If the person in question is not ticklish, then it is time to bring out the big guns. Write a letter to the White House posing as your local Republican nominee for Congress requesting President Bush to come campaign on your behalf. Due to the complete lack of Republicans wanting to be seen with the President during this election cycle, you are sure to get a response.

7. Bring the person that you want to see cry with you to President Bush's local campaign event and force them to listen to his speech. The closer you can get, the better. If this doesn't produce tears, then you may have a person lacking the ability to cry on your hands, and therapy should be sought as soon as possible.

Make Packing Peanuts

Most of us hate the traditional Styrofoam packing peanuts, but we think we’re stuck with them. Guess what? You’re not stuck with one particular type of packing peanut. You can actually make your own cornstarch packing peanuts utilizing common household ingredients. That means you can say goodbye to those white Styrofoam pieces that seem to get stuck on everything and say hello to something that is better for your items and better for the environment.

Instructions

1. Let your frozen bag of corn thaw until it’s nice and soft. You can either leave it sitting out overnight or put it in the microwave for a few minutes. You’ll want it soft, but not completely cooked.

2. Take a potato masher or fork to the corn and mash it until it looks like baby food. Alternatively you can toss the corn into a blender or food processor until it’s completely mashed. Place your corn in a large bowl, making sure to get out everything. Pour water into the bowl until the corn is completely covered and place it in a cool, dry spot for at least 24 hours.

3. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the corn pieces from the bowl to a cookie sheet lined with wax paper. You can also run the mixture through a strainer as long as you remember to reserve the liquid. The liquid from the corn should sit for at least 15-20 minutes.

4. Run the water mixture through a piece of cheesecloth, which will trap the starch from the corn inside. Leave your mixture sitting in the cheesecloth overnight so it will dry. You can place an empty bowl underneath the cheesecloth to trap any liquid that might still remain.

5. Measure out one tablespoon of your cornstarch powder and mix it with teaspoon of a water in a small cup. As you mix the starch and water it will start to turn into a paste. Place your entire cup into a microwave on high for 15 seconds. When you remove the mixture you’ll have a small cornstarch packing peanut. Repeat the process to make as many peanuts as you need.

Make Old White Wooden Cabinets Look New

Revitalize old, white kitchen cabinets with a fresh coat of paint.

Sometimes, all a kitchen needs is an updated set of cabinets. Unfortunately, kitchen cabinets can run into the tens of thousands of dollars, leaving the homeowner with empty pockets. A cheap alternative that will achieve the same results is refinishing those old, battered cabinets and applying a fresh coat of paint. Old, wooden cabinets can also have nicks, dents and gouges from years of use. Revitalize those old, white, wooden cabinets and make any kitchen look like new.

Instructions

1. Remove the cabinets from the hinges, using a screwdriver. Then, remove any hardware such as knobs, handles or decorative elements. Place the cabinets on a dropcloth in a well-ventilated area.

2. Clean the surface of the cabinets with diluted dish soap in water. Make sure to remove grease, dirt or other grime. Rinse and wipe dry with a towel. Make sure the cabinets are completely dry before sanding.

3. Sand the surface of the cabinet while wearing a face mask. Sanding the cabinets will create a "toothed" surface that will make any primer or paint layers adhere better. Wipe off any sanding dust with the tackcloth.

4. Apply wood filler to any dents, gouges or scratches in the cabinet surface, using a small putty knife. The wood filler can rise slightly above the surface of the cabinet. Let dry completely.

5. Sand the dried wood filler so that it is flat against the surface of the cabinet. Remove the sanding dust with the tackcloth.

6. Brush on one or two coats of primer, allowing it to dry between coats. If using an oil-based paint, use an oil or alkyd primer. For water-based latex paint, use an acrylic or latex primer. Let dry.

7. Apply one or two coats of the desired color of paint to the cabinet surface. Let the paint dry in between coats, then reattach hardware. Finally, attach the cabinets to the hinges.

Paint Window Murals

As a window mural painter, you mirror other mural artists throughout the centuries like Claude Monet, Michelangelo, Diego Rivera and Leonardo da Vinci. Murals--a very ancient art form--are large-scale pictures created on flat surfaces such as walls, ceilings, buildings and now, windows. Whether you paint these designs for fun or professionally, they're great for home and office decoration, business advertising and urban area enhancement.

Instructions

Prepare for Painting the Mural

1. Determine the different criteria for the mural such as size, design, purpose and deadline before you begin. Also, decide which side of the window to use--exterior or interior--and when is the best time to complete the work. If you create the mural for compensation, consult with the project director, store manager or homeowner about these items.

2. Tailor the mural to the desired specifications. For example, a craft store supervisor hires you to paint a Halloween design on the front window to attract customers. In this instance, you use temporary materials to allow for easier removal after the holiday and work during off-peak hours so you don't disturb business flow. In addition, the manager probably prefers you to leave at least part of the window free so people can still see in and out.

3. Plan the design and color scheme ahead of time. If you're creating the mural for others, show them your plans and get their input. Many mural artists bring their preliminary sketches with them.

4. Prepare your work site before you begin. First, spread out newspapers underneath the window. Then clean the glass with warm water and a washcloth. If the surface has leftover paint from a previous mural, use a razor blade to remove the more stubborn parts.

5. Use masking tape to cover any areas around the window that need protection. Then, set out your supplies on top of the newspapers including a basin filled halfway with water, trash bag and paper towels.

Paint the Mural

6. Pour each color from the bottle into individual plastic containers or styrofoam plates. Then, add the desired amount of medium to each color. Mediums control paint flow and consistency. For temporary murals, use acrylic paints with a floating medium, but for more permanent designs, use enamel colors with a clear medium.

7. Switch to different sized brushes to create specific images as you're painting the mural. For example, work with a 1/2 inch or 3/4 inch brush for detailing and outlining as opposed to a 1 inch brush, which works best for covering wider areas. Each time you change colors, first wipe the excess paint off your brush with a paper towel and then rinse it in the basin.

8. Step back and examine your work when you're about halfway through the project. Decide if any areas warrant a second coat or other touch-ups. Use a paper towel to get rid of unnecessary paint.

9. Repeat the same process outlined in the previous step at the end of your project. Once you're satisfied with your creation, get your client's feedback--if applicable--and make any necessary adjustments.

10. Leave the work site in the same condition as you found it. Rinse out your brushes, empty the water basin in an appropriate place and clean up any spills. Finally, remove the masking tape that protected the window borders and throw away the paper towels and newspapers in your trash bag.

Make Oil Paint Colors

Mixing your own oil paint can save you money.

Oil paint is a popular artist's medium because of its ease of use, depth and ability to hold its vibrancy. Oil paint is very versatile as well and can be used to paint thin layers or to add sculpture-like qualities to an art piece. Making your own oil paints will teach the artist more about tone, depth and chemical reactions within the paint. Artists can use that knowledge to improve their artistic abilities and choose materials that best suit their unique style.

Instructions

1. Put a chunk of compressed pigment or mica in a grinding bowl or mortar and pestle. Grind the pigment or mica into a very fine powder, with no lumps, clumps or solid pieces. To be positive you have no chunks, you can sift the powder through a fine-grate sifter.

2. Place a pile of pigment on a piece of clean glass or a clean palette. With the tip of the handle of a large brush, push a small hole into the center of the pigment pile.

3. Add a few drops of linseed oil to the hole in the pigment pile. Using a spatula or paint knife, mix the oil with the pigment until the mixture is the consistency of butter. If it is too thick for your liking, add more oil and mix again. When mixing your oil paint, keep in mind that the oil will darken the pigments. Add white pigment to lighten the color, if desired.

4. Store extra paint in airtight containers and keep them in a cool, dry place. Even in a sealed container, oil paints will dry up or thicken beyond use after a few weeks so they should be used as quickly as possible.

Make Oil Paintings Shiny

Enhancing the gloss of an oil painting by applying varnish will help to preserve the painting and keep it glossy for a long time. The process for varnishing an oil painting requires the patience to wait for the oil to dry and then carefully applying the right amount of varnish to the top layer of paint. When completed correctly, you will be left with an oil painting that shines with a brilliant luster.

Instructions

1. Allow the oil painting to dry for an extended period of time. To be safe, store the painting in a safe location where it will not be subject to dust or debris. Cover the painting with a cloth that is set above the painting for one year. The minimum you should wait is six months. Consider framing the painting for this process.

2. Place the painting on a flat table and remove the covering. If there is any dust, lightly dust the painting using a feather duster.

3. Apply a thin layer of varnish to the top of the painting using a soft bristled paintbrush. Allow the painting to sit for 24 hours and then frame your painting.

Make Offwhite Using Paint

Off-white has different shades, as seen in this image of the girl's pants and shirt, and the paper and wall.

Off-white is a color with a slight undertone of another color, such as blue or yellow. When making off-white using paint, always mix carefully by adding small parts of another color to the white, then make adjustments if needed. Mix the colors on a palette, in a container, or on wax paper. If painting a large area, it is best to create a large quantity for consistency in the color. The paint may be stored in an airtight jar for future use.

Instructions

Yellowish Off-white

1. Add 24 parts white paint, such as titanium white.

2. Add one part blue, such as cobalt blue, and two parts yellow, such as cadmium yellow, to the white paint. Blend thoroughly using a palette knife or paintbrush.

3. Adjust the paints until you achieve the yellowish off-white color desired.

Bluish Off-white

4. Pour eight parts of white paint, such as titanium white.

5. Add three parts blue, such as cerulean, and a trace of yellow, such as cadmium color, to the white paint. Blend thoroughly using a palette knife or paintbrush.

6. Adjust the paints until you achieve the bluish off-white color desired.

Make Negative Leaf Art

Leaf rubbings are a seasonal craft that almost anyone can do. This craft, however, provides a very cool twist to the original leaf art. When you put the two pieces of art together, it shows a very cool effect.

Instructions

1. Lay the newspaper on the table or surface you intend to use. This is to protect the surface from any paint that may be splattered.

2. Set the white paper on the newspaper and the leaf in the middle of the white paper. At this point, use clear tape (preferably double sided) to tape the leaf to the paper. Make sure the tape is only between the leaf and the paper, not on top of the leaf.

3. Set the screen above the paper. This works best if the screen still has a frame on it because this will allow it to sit a few centimeters above the paper and leaf. It's important to not have the screen directly on top of the paper.

4. Dip the toothbrush in the paint and sweep your thumb across the bristles above the leaf, so the paint sprays around the leaf. Repeat this process until the area around the leaf is pretty thoroughly covered in specs of paint.

5. Remove the screen and allow the painting to dry. Once the painting is dry, peel the leaf and tape off the paper. You're left with a picture of the shape of the leaf surrounded by specs of paint.

Make Music With A Leaf

With patience and blowing techniques, you can make beautiful music from leaves like these.

The leaf is one of the earliest-known musical instruments, played in many cultures on many continents. The leaves of eucalyptus, walnut and lemon trees are among the favorites of skilled players; however, most of them simply find a leaf that suits them and play it beautifully. While finding leaves may be easy, learning to play this free instrument takes much time and patience. If you have a genuine interest -- and with constant practice -- you can make music out of a simple leaf.

Instructions

1. Find a leaf that is large enough to be held in both hands and pressed to your lips. An ideal leaf will have a smooth, waxy surface. It should be firm while remaining flexible enough to bend.

2. Stretch the top edge of the leaf tightly across your mouth. Purse your lips in a natural position for blowing air. Rest the leaf on your bottom lip, bending it slightly to match the contour of your lip. This should mean the bulk of the leaf is hanging downward upon your face while the leaf is held taut against your bottom lip.

3. Blow firmly upon the leaf. With your lips pursed, the controlled stream of air should create a high pitch noise akin to a violin. If no sound is created, then adjustments must be made. Try blowing softer and harder, as well as changing the angle of the leaf. Once a sound is achieved, maintain this note.

4. Alter the amount of air flow from your mouth to change the note you are playing on the leaf. This is how all notes on a leaf are created. It takes a great amount of practice and breath control to be able to play music accurately on a leaf. Once you can play a few notes, try playing a simple melody such as "Row, Row, Row your Boat" or "Mary Had a Little Lamb." Once basic melodies are mastered, try more challenging songs.