Play Banjo

The banjo is a fun, up-tempo instrument found frequently in bluegrass and country music, and even used in slapstick comedy music skits. There are several kinds of banjos, but the playing techniques for them are all basically the same as the popular tenor or plectrum banjo. Learning to play the banjo isn't difficult, but it does take patience and practice to become proficient.

Instructions

1. Familiarize yourself with your banjo. There are a number of types. The most frequently played is the tenor banjo. Your banjo will have five strings, or four if it is a plectrum banjo. There are many tunings for these five strings. The most popular is an open G tuning, which means the strings will be tuned to G-D-G-B-D and will sound a G chord when played without pressing down on any frets. A beginning banjo book will offer you other tunings, but the open G is a good place to start. You also can find various tunings online free of charge.

2. Learn a few basic banjo chords. You will find simple beginning chords in your banjo instruction book. You can also find banjo chords online free of charge (see Resources). If you're using an open G tuning, you already know you can play the G chord without fretting. Add a basic C chord. To make a C chord, place your first finger on the first fret of the second string, your second finger on the fourth string at the second fret, and your third finger on the second fret of the first string. Strum the chords with your right hand, using the pick. Once you've mastered smoothly switching between them, add a couple of new chords. A chord diagram book is essential. It will show you where to place your fingers on the frets and on which strings.

3. Practice fingerpicking techniques. This technique is essential to the feel and sound of banjo playing. With the chords you've mastered, work on your picking technique by using your fingers to pluck the individual strings. Pluck the strings individually, from the thickest banjo string to the thinnest, ensuring that each note rings clearly. If you hear a note that's muffled, make sure you are pressing your fingers down on the frets (the spaces in between the fret bars on the neck of your banjo).

4. Combine left- and right-hand playing techniques to get a full playing sound. Your left hand is typically the one forming chords, and your right is either strumming (running your pick over the strings from thickest to thinnest or vice versa) or picking your banjo strings. Practice forming each new chord you learn and holding it while you pick the notes of the chord individually (as described above) or strum them.

5. Play simple banjo sheet music to start. You can purchase banjo music at a sheet music retailer or online. Most beginning banjo books include simple tunes, in some cases for free (see Resources). Learn to read banjo tablature, also referred to as tab. Banjo tab is written on a four- or five-line graph that represents your banjo strings. The notes you need to play are written on the graph, with a number on the string where the note you should play is located. The number represents the fret you'll play. Most banjo players prefer reading and writing music this way.

Play A Tenor Banjo

To play a tenor banjo requires a lot of practice and dedication. The tenor banjo is a lovely instrument traditionally used for Irish music. New Orleans jazz also frequently features the tenor banjo. It has a short neck and four strings and is always strummed with a pick. A resonator is often used to help amplify the tenor banjo's sound.

Instructions

1. Learn to tune the tenor banjo and tune it every time you play. A tuning fork or electronic tuner can be helpful in maintaining proper pitch.

2. Sit comfortably with the tenor banjo in your lap. Use a pick that fits comfortably between the thumb and forefinger. Try out different grades of picks before you purchase. Direct the pointy end of the pick toward the banjo.

3. Learn banjo chords. These are the building blocks of any song. Visit Banjolin's homepage for a good basic knowledge of traditional banjo chords (see Resources below).

4. Practice the chords and strumming daily until you develop a callus on your fingers from holding down the strings.

5. Hum the song you want to play. Strum the banjo changing chords to the right notes. Use the melody of the song as a guide. Play and strum specific chords until you match the melody to the song.

6. Attend a local gathering of other banjo players. Listen to banjo music often. Become acquainted with popular and traditional banjo songs to learn. Add these to the repertoire of banjo songs you want to eventually play.

Paint Landscapes With Acrylic Paint

Landscape painting provides a variety of subject matter and affords beginning and seasoned artists alike with enough inspiration to create masterpieces. Acrylic paints are excellent for creating landscapes due to their versatility and the vibrancy of acrylic colors. Acrylic landscape paintings are popular fare in museums across the country and you can find them for sale at many online artists' websites. Learn how you can paint your own landscapes with acrylic paint and even put them on display for others to enjoy.

Instructions

1. Decide on the landscape you want to paint. You could use a reference photo, or better yet, sit outside and work from an actual landscape. Use a pencil and lightly sketch in the landscape you want to paint. Don't worry about getting details in the sketch. The primary goal is to set the composition and get the perspective outlined. Sketching is not necessary, but it can be helpful if you're just starting.

2. Paint the sky first. Use wide strokes to apply the acrylic paint, letting the colors trail from dark to light. Continue to do this until the colors blend and give the sky a natural appearance. Keep the brush strokes going in the same direction, allowing the colors to disperse naturally. Apply additional strokes of paint to darken where needed. You can use water if you need to lighten the paint application. Add dabs of white and use curved, drawn-out strokes to form the clouds. Thin out selected spots to give your clouds realistic color and dab at the paint to add texture.

3. Paint the elements of your landscaping. Use various shades of green for trees and foliage. Paint tree trunks dark brown, then wet your brush and drag thin lines through the paint to lighten it, which will lend a more realistic look to your bark. Paint the grass with different shades of green and then apply light strokes of brown to enhance the definition. Even if you're working from a reference, don't be afraid to experiment and add your own elements, whether it's a tree stump or even an animal. Try changing colors to suit your tastes.

4. Apply acrylic varnish to your painting. You can purchase the varnish at any hobby shop of art supply store. Apply the varnish when the painting is dry. Not only will varnish protect your painting, it brings out the vibrancy of the colors and the type of varnish you choose will give different types of finishes to your painting, such as glossy or matte. Read the instructions on the can before you purchase the varnish.

Make A Toy Sword

Let's face it, kids love swords. A sword looks cool on the swashbuckling movie hero, and so it can only look cooler on your child. However, we all know that handing your child a real sword is probably a very bad idea. Even some toy swords have sharp points on the ends, and inevitably, someone ends up getting hurt. Don't worry, though, you can make a reasonably safe toy sword for your child, much like the "boffers" that re-enactors use, just by assembling a few items you have around your home. Make several, and let your kids take turns whacking at each other!

Instructions

Make a Toy Sword

1. Cut a length of PVC pipe to the length of the sword. Use your saw. For younger children, you'll want to keep this length around 24 - 30 inches. If you have an older child, or one who is tall for his age, you could go up as long as 36 inches. Cut a length of foam pool noodle about six inches shorter than the PVC pipe. Slide the PVC pipe into the pool noodle. You should have about six inches of PVC sticking out of one end of the foam noodle.

2. Cut a piece of PVC pipe six inches long. This will be your hand-guard. Cut a notch in one side of this piece, in the center, and place it over the exposed length of PVC that is sticking out of the noodle. You should have a long, cross-shaped item in your hand, with the pool noodle covering the long piece of the cross. Cut a short piece of noodle and stick it on the short end of the cross, so that the entire vertical length is covered in foam noodle, and the short horizontal piece of PVC (the hand-guard) is visible.

3. Use the duct tape to secure the hand-guard to the pommel. Cover the entire sword in as much duct tape as you can possibly use. Do it neatly, wrapping everything tightly. When you get to the end of the sword -- the part that may make contact with a child's body -- cut a strip of bubble wrap and wrap it around the end of the sword. Secure this in place with duct tape as well. Don't squash the bubble wrap down -- if it goes flat, it's going to hurt a lot more when someone gets hit.

4. Use a pin to poke a few holes in the tape over the bubble wrap. This will allow air to escape when there's impact, and makes the tip of the sword a little softer.

Plan A Silent Auction

There is no need for an auctioneer at a silent auction.

Silent auctions provide an opportunity to make money for a school, event or charity without the need for many volunteers. In a silent auction, items are displayed and participants write their bids on a sheet of paper. A silent auction usually lasts around two hours and participants can continue to out-bid each other until the auction is over. At the end of the auction, you collect the sheets and announce the winners, who then pay you for their items.

Instructions

1. Request donations from local businesses and volunteers from your organization. Some examples of donations are gift certificates, crafted items, jewelry and event tickets, but can include anything you think your participants would be interested in buying.

2. Create an auction sheet for each item donated. Include a description of the item, starting price and bid increment.

3. Create fliers for the silent auction. Include a short explanation of a silent auction, a list of what you believe will be your most popular items and the date, time and location.

4. Advertise the silent auction. If the silent auction is for a school or business, post fliers on bulletin boards and send them home with employees or students. If the silent auction is a part of a larger charity program, include a flier announcing the silent auction with rest of the charity's advertisements.

5. Display your items so that similar items are grouped together. For example, if you have gift certificates from local businesses, place them all on the same table.

Plan A Sculpture Studio

Plan a Sculpture Studio

Before you actually construct your sculpture studio, having it planned out ahead of time will make it so that the creation and moving in materials becomes an enjoyable experience as opposed to a haphazard mishmash of tools and equipment.

Instructions

1. Measure the space using a tape measure. Draw a scaled down version of the space your studio will go in. Brainstorm where you would like to set up work stations and as a guide for how much space you have.

2. Decide on and measure your equipment. You will need one or more work tables for your construction of your sculptures. Consider work tables with wheels that lock in case you need to move your sculpture around the room without fear of it breaking once you pick it up. Use a tape measure to accurately measure your equipment, storage shelves, and any surfaces. Include these measurements in your original drawing of the space itself so you know exactly where each item will fit, or if you have something that cannot fit into the space.

3. Determine the function. If you are a sculptor that works primarily with metal, you need to consider the amount of space needed for welding. Making your space fireproof will be of major importance if you consistently work with high heat. If you work with clay you will need enough room for drying racks, work tables, a kiln, and tool storage.

4. Organize work stations. Build storage units within each area of the room that pertain to its necessity. Keep buckets by the sink, and wire and sculpting tools near the work table. If you work with metals, keep all materials within a comfortable distance of the work table. Storage will be a main component, and organization will become more important after you realize the amount of materials needed for any given project. The last thing you want is to be tripping over materials and equipment at any given time.

5. Make it safe. Make sure your kiln isn't near anything plastic in your space, and set apart from the rest of the room. Do the same for your welding center. Use a metal table to work with, keeping flammable materials like wood, chemicals, or paint away from the open flame of welding.

6. Ventilate your space. If you work with any kind of heat, dry materials of any sort, or paint you will need to make sure there is a ventilation system in place before you start bring in your equipment. A sculpture studio is meant for construction and finishing, so it'd bound to be dirty, but it is also prone to filling with fumes, dangerous dust, and many other normally harmful fumes if not properly ventilated.

Pick Paint For Window Mural Painting

Window murals impart intriguing illusion to a home's decor. They coax "window shoppers" to come inside businesses. Children and teens enjoy painting windows of rooms and cars. Picking window paints from an array of innovative products allows adult and youth muralists alike to fashion expressive window tableaux that are far more pleasing to the eye than traditional posters tacked on walls. Add personal spark to your home or business by picking window paints to create the perfect window murals.

Instructions

1. Choose Jazz Gloss Temperas instead of regular glossy enamels to achieve brilliant coloration and superior coverage of windows. Unlike regular enamels, Jazz Gloss Temperas wash off with water.

2. Mix and match Jazz Gloss Metallic and Fluorescent Temperas to create a shimmer and glimmer all your own on windows.

3. Rely on Rich Art Window Paint, which is water-resistant, to stick to most glass surfaces. Clean up paints or remove painted designs from windows with soapy water and ammonia.

4. Break out the Crayola Window FX Markers no matter your age to embellish an amazing array of surfaces--windows, mirrors, glass, tile, rock and plastic.

5. Choose special glass markers to make temporary designs on glass, plastic and poster board. Children may use glass markers to customize windows and mirrors in the bed and and bath, especially during the holidays.

6. Pick Rainbow Liquid Chalk Markers to create traditional chalkboard effects on non-porous surfaces, like glass, cardboard or metal--without the muss, fuss and dust of regular chalk. Indoors, liquid chalk designs glow in UV light. Outdoors, liquid chalk stays put even in the rain.

7. Employ Pebeo Arti Stick Window Color when ordinary paints don't work. Muralists pick a pattern, cover it with plastic, paint over it with tubes of stick window color, then peel and attach the entire design to glass, tile and metal surfaces.

Paint A Peacock

Among the many possible models for a painting, the peacock stands out as a superb choice. Its brilliant colors and interesting form make it a natural for artistic use. In today's art world, tattoo artists experiment with intricate peacock designs over their canvas (the body), and graphic designers use the peacock for an array of conceptual icons (such as the NBC logo). Using a peacock in visual arts design can be a winning idea for a young artist looking for the right visual hook.

Instructions

1. Sketch out your form. The peacock is actually a great icon, and a clever contour drawing can either demonstrate or conceal the bird's unique form. Draw out the overall shape of the bird's plumage to be able to plan colors.

2. Get the right hues on your palette. The brilliant green of the peacock's primary coloration might be really hard to imitate. Try your best to get a really vivid green into your toolbox. A bright red doesn't hurt, either.

3. Find a technique for "dabbing" colors to paint plumage. The head and eyes of the peacock can be plain grey, but the colorful feathers of the bird beg for strong, extreme use of color. Find a way to fill specific feather portions with your colors to bring a semi-realistic impression to the canvas.

4. Use a "layering" technique to add texture. Many classical painting techniques use "undercolors" and layers of paint to provide a more complex representation of an object or landscape. A practiced artist will probably have his/her own established technique; if not, use a little trial and error to see what techniques result in the best-looking paintings.

5. Go high concept. Concept-driven painting substitutes visually interesting shapes for realism and makes the field of painting more diverse. Making the feathers of a peacock into triangular slivers or experimenting with "cubism" (abstracting into other polygons) will have interesting and original results.

Paint Clouds With Water Colors

Study clouds before you paint.

The colors used to paint the sky can evoke powerful responses in the viewer. A dark sky filled with ominous clouds that loom in the horizon can make the painting look gloomy and mysterious. A crystal blue sky that has fluffy white clouds can create a sense of well-being without a care in the world. The sky is one of the most important elements in a painting because it frames the rest of the painting. Knowing paint clouds with water colors can make your artwork stunning and bring the scene to life.

Instructions

1. Gather photographs of different clouds during different hours of the day. Study these clouds carefully. Watch clouds in real life and note how they move and their different form. Note their colors and try to recreate these colors as you mix paints.

2. Select a paint color that reflects the mood of your painting. For example, if you are painting a happy beach scene, opt for a cobalt or sky blue color for the sky. You can use more than one color for the sky. Always prepare the colors that you want to use in the sky because watercolors dry quickly as you work. Once they are dried, they became difficult to work with.

3. Set the foundation for your clouds. Tilt your paper at an angle so the watery paint mix kind of runs. Apply the paint to the paper using horizontal brush strokes across the entire width of the sky. At the end of your strokes, you will notice a small bead of paint at the bottom of the previous stroke. Dip your brush into the paint again and carry the bead to the next stroke. Continue this technique until the sky is painted.

4. Crumple up a paper towel so it forms a loose ball. Make sure that you crumple the paper towel enough because you don't want your clouds to look like squares with sharp edges.

5. Dab the crumpled paper towel in the area where you want the cloud. Dabbing will lift the watercolor paint. Turn the paper towel often as it becomes soaked with paint. Make the cloud as small or as large as you want. Another technique that you could use to make clouds is to use the sides of a slightly wet brush and rolling it on the paper to make the cloud formation.

6. Wipe your brush on a paper towel to remove paint that you have lifted from the paper before you start on the next cloud. Repeat step 4 until you create all the clouds that you like.

7. Paint the the top and the side of the cloud with a medium shade of watercolor to highlight its shape. Consider the way the sun strikes the side of the cloud and make that edge sharp and defined. The rest of the cloud should be soft and feathered.

8. Paint the bottom of the cloud with a deep color to give the cloud depth and shadows.

Get Into Acting In Hollywood

It is not necessary to have an acting background to make it as an actor in Hollywood.

Breaking into Hollywood as an actor is not as difficult as you think. It takes hard work and patience, but many actors do find steady work. Before you make the big move, save as much money as you can. Find a flexible job, such as waiting on tables, in the Los Angeles area, where you can earn income while going out on auditions. Also, ideally you need to have your own car because Los Angeles is geographically a large area, and auditions are all over town.

Instructions

1. Move to Los Angeles if you are not living there already. Most of the film production companies and agencies are based in Los Angeles, so more work is available.

2. Attend a local acting class. An evening class at a reputable school is fine. Choose a class that only asks for fees for the class itself. Avoid a class that wants money up front for photos and helping you meet agents. Those may be scams. In a class you meet other actors and teachers which have good advice for novice actors.

3. Pay for head shots, which are an actor's calling card. Ask around your acting class for a good photographer to take photographs of you. A head shot should be only your face and shoulders. On the back you attach your acting resume with personal information, such as your name, telephone, height, weight, hair color and eye color.

4. Audition for unpaid acting work by looking in local classified ads. In Los Angeles, film students, aspiring directors and non-union productions are plentiful. Many are looking for actors willing to work for very little or nothing. It will build up your resume and experience, and some of these low-paid jobs lead to higher paid acting jobs.

5. Sign up for extra work with specialized casting agencies such as Central Casting or Cast Extras. No experience is needed for extra work or background artists. You are paid minimum wage, but you receive invaluable education in how film and TV productions work. You get free meals. Brad Pitt and Eva Longoria Parker began their careers as extras, according to Jodie Burke of "The LA Times." Some extras can also join the Screen Actors Guild union from their extra work, which bumps up their pay.

6. Submit your head shots to agencies and manager who handle actors. An agent or a manager takes a percentage of your income when you get a paying job. Be wary of agents or manager who ask for money up front.

7. Prepare yourself for rejection while maintaining a positive attitude. Enroll in more classes and meet other actors like yourself in your classes and auditions. Join a theatre group or comedy class.

Perform The Ace Party

Four random piles are made from a shuffled and cut deck. When each pile is turned over, the top card is revealed to be an Ace. This is a very easy trick to perform. This can be performed with a regular deck of cards, though it is much easier to do with a Stripper Deck. This tutorial is for using a stripper deck.

Instructions

1. Learn how Stripper Decks work by reading my tutorial on them from this website. The basic gist is that whenever a card is rotated 180 degrees and placed back in the deck, it will slightly protrude, making it easy to locate and control.

2. Reverse the orientations of the four Aces before the trick starts. This will allow you to feel them protruding throughout the deck.

3. Shuffle and cut the deck, being sure to end up with an Ace on top of the deck.

4. Starting with the top card (Ace), place the first thirteen cards in a face down pile.

5. Repeat Steps #3 and #4 three more times until you have four piles of thirteen.

6. Turn each pile over to reveal the aces on top. It will seem as if you randomly made four piles of cards from a very shuffled deck, but somehow an ace ended up on top of each pile.

Hand Print Tile

Tiles can be painted with patterns and colors.

Making your own hand-painted and printed tiles is an exciting way to add a unique touch to your home and garden. Hand-printed tiles also make special gifts for friends and family. Hand-printing and painting tiles can be a fun and rewarding art project that adds value to your home. Whether printing a single tile for a gift or an entire mosaic for a floor, once you begin to experiment with making your own custom printed tiles, you're sure to find more places and ways to use hand printed tiles.

Instructions

Preparation

1. Contact local craft or hobby shops to see if they have a firing kiln available for customers to use for firing individual projects. Ask their prices for firing, along with scheduling instructions.

2. Draw or use the craft stamps with regular ink to print the tile pattern that you want to make on a regular full-sized sheet of paper. Lay the tiles under the pattern you have drawn out to see where each individual tile fits. Add corner and end tile sections as needed. If painting a larger-sized mosaic, tape more than one piece of paper together. Give each tile section a grid number and name by drawing thin guide lines across the design with a ruler. Using a pencil, label each tile on the bottom, giving it a location designation. Your design is also your tile grid map.

3. Clean each tile with rubbing alcohol before starting to paint or print on it with the low-fire glaze paints.

Printing

4. Paint on each tile with brushes or by dipping the craft stamps in the low-fire glaze paints.

5. Apply a second or third coat of paint as needed to bring out vibrant colors in the hand-printed tiles.

6. Take the tiles to the craft or hobby shop for firing in the kiln.

Perform Houdini Escapes

Perform Houdini Escapes

Harry Houdini was a master of escapes whose name still resonates today. One of the things that made Houdini stand out was his showmanship. He knew capture an audience and make them come back for more. Read this elearn perform Houdini escapes.

Instructions

Learn to Perform Houdini Escapes

1. Create an interesting persona. Harry Houdini understood this, and excelled as a showman and charismatic figure. By creating an interesting persona, you create someone an audience will want to watch.

2. Watch the master at work. There are plenty of videos of Houdini's escapes on video or online.

3. Buy Houdini-style mailbags, shackles and neck collars, and learn to escape from them like Houdini. This takes years of practice to develop the master's level of skill.

4. Learn unobtrusive places to hide keys to handcuffs, chains, and the like. This was one of the secrets of Houdini's success.

5. Practice escaping from restraints, including handcuffs, chains, leg irons, straightjackets, ropes, prison cells, and the like.

6. Hold your breath for underwater escapes. Kirsten Johnson, a noted escape artist, has been filmed holding her breath up to 3:15 minutes while in a full-view torture cell. Learn to slow your metabolism and remain calm to extend the time you can hold your breath.

7. Allow your audience members the choice of things from which you must escape, or have the audience members bring their own devices. Remember the golden rule, as stated by Pro Magic: "Never attempt to perform an escape that you aren't certain to achieve."

Perform the Metamorhosis

8. Try the "Metamorphosis" trick with a partner. You will need a mailbag with a false bottom, handcuffs that open via a key and a safety catch accessible by the wearer, and a box with a false back.

9. Lock the wrists of either your partner, have the partner step into the trunk and into the mailbag. Tie the mailbag securely closed.

10. Stand on top of the box, and raise a curtain so you are hidden from view. The moment the lid of the box is closed, the partner should work his way out of the mailbag and exit through the false side or back of the box. He should then hold the curtain up for you.

11. Climb off the box, and crawl inside the box. Get into the mail bag, and fasten the cuffs. Your partner will drop the curtain, and then open the box, revealing that you are now the one imprisoned inside.

Perform Better In Auditions

Every audition is an opportunity to book an acting job. Some people find they audition poorly, despite the fact that they are talented actors. If you wish to be a working actor, you must learn to audition well. Often, poor auditions can be attributed to lack of preparation and nerves. Thankfully, you can perform better in auditions with some simple mental and physical preparation. Look at every audition as a chance to perform and simply have fun.

Instructions

1. Print the audition material as soon as it is available. Usually, you'll have a few days' notice, giving you adequate time to work on the material. If you are unclear on what material to work on, ask your agent or the project's casting director.

2. Read the material several times. Make sure you fully understand what is happening in the scene, and particularly what your character is doing in it. If you are unclear on something, ask a friend to read the material and give his opinion.

3. Establish a game plan for what you want to do with the material. Even if you don't stick to the plan in the audition room, it will give you direction.

4. Rehearse the material several times. Ask a friend to rehearse with you. Try the material several different ways and see which works best for you. It may help to act out the entire audition process, having your friend act as the casting director. Continue rehearsing until you feel comfortable with the material.

5. Get plenty of rest before your audition. If you are hungover or tired, you won't be at your best.

6. Leave early. Rushing to an audition will only exacerbate your nerves and potentially hurt your audition. Give yourself more than enough time to get to the location, park and get into the building.

7. Take a few moments to center yourself before entering the audition location. Close your eyes and breathe deeply. Visualize yourself doing well in the audition.

8. Enter the audition room with confidence. First impressions are crucial, so simply let your personality shine through. Make eye contact with the people in the room. This will help to ground you and keep you relaxed.

9. Listen closely. Many actors blow auditions by simply not listening, particularly when nervous. Remain present and engaged with those in the room. If you are unclear on anything that is said, ask for clarification.

10. Let it go. Once you leave the audition, don't replay it over and over again in your mind. Remember that the more auditions you go on, the more comfortable you will get with them.

Pay A Speeding Ticket Online

Pay a Speeding Ticket Online

Speeding tickets are an inevitable fact of life for many people. They can be costly and quite inconvenient, but are not the end of the world. Many courts now allow a defendant to pay speeding tickets online, which makes the entire citation process much easier and less stressful.

Instructions

1. Contact the court in question to see if paying your ticket online is an option. Many courts now offer the online payment method, so ask for a link or website that will allow you to access the court’s online payment system.

2. Open an Internet browser and put in the website that the court gave you. Hit the Enter key and wait for the site to load. You should see information regarding the court come up on the screen and a place to pay your ticket online.

3. Read over the website and observe what it states about speeding tickets. It may give you information about any additional processing fees that may apply or how the points associated with your speeding ticket will affect your driver’s license. If it does not state this, or you have any questions, then contact the court and discuss this before paying your fine.

4. Input all of the information from your ticket into the online system. It will most likely ask you for your name, ticket number, birth date, address, driver’s license number and Social Security Number. Click on the button that will allow you to process the information.

5. Wait for the payment screen to load, and put in your credit card or checking account information. Be sure that you put in all of the correct information and payment amount, and click the button to process the payment.

6. Look for a confirmation number. Most online court payment systems will give you a receipt or confirmation code to prove that your payment was correctly processed. If you have been asked for an email address, the payment confirmation will most likely be emailed to you as well.

7. Contact the courts approximately a week after you’ve made your payment to verify that your ticket was processed correctly. You can follow up with the courts at this time with any final questions or concerns that you might have.

Pass Out Convincingly

When the play you're performing in calls for your character to pass out in a scene, learn to "faint" convincingly so you'll wilt and hit the stage realistically. As you're acting out the scene night after night, you also want to keep your falls injury free.

Instructions

1. Show signs that you're going to pass out before you actually fall. Blink your eyes as if you're feeling dizzy, breathe heavily, place your hand on your forehead or slow your movements and speech, for example.

2. Fall to the side so you can subtly roll your ankles, bend your knees, bend at the waist, "sit" on the floor and then let your body collapse onto the ground. With practice, you'll be able to perfect a fluid movement that also prevents your head from hitting the stage. If your character is sitting in a chair, simply go limp and slide onto the floor.

3. Ask a fellow cast member who will be standing next to you on stage to brace your fall. Even if the fainting spell is supposed to be a shock to the other characters, most people would have the reflexes to try to catch someone as they fall. Having someone grab your arm as you pass out can smooth your landing significantly. Perhaps you can improve the scene by passing out "onto" another actor so he'll react with genuine surprise.

4. Consult the wardrobe department about adding a little padding to your costume on the side of your body that bears the brunt of the fall. Talk to the stage manager about placing a rug or mat in the spot where your head will hit so you won't have to be obvious about holding it up a little as you faint.

Party In New Orleans

Bourbon Street--one of the top party spots in the French Quarter!

New Orleans, simply put, is a party town. There is always some type of celebration going on in the Big Easy. Tourists will immediately notice that the atmosphere is one of contagious fun and will be drawn to it.

Instructions

1. Feel the excitement in the air the moment you arrive in New Orleans! There are many party places to experience. You can find them either by getting a local tour guide or newspaper such as "The Times Picayune" or by doing an online search for information at Experience New Orleans or Planet New Orleans (see Resources below).

2. Apply diversity to your overall partying during your stay because New Orleans is all about diversity. Enjoy both the day life and the nightlife. Some examples of day-life places include Mardi Gras World, Musee Conti Wax Museum and Royal Carriage rides through the French Quarter. Nightlife in New Orleans includes bars, clubs and music venues of all sorts. One famous bar is Pat O'Brien's, and popular clubs include Tipatina's and House of Blues.

3. Be armed and ready before you go out partying. If you are going to be up all night, getting some sleep is highly advised. In addition, if you are going to drink, make sure you get some food in your stomach first. These are simple essentials to ensure you have a good time while partying.

4. Use common sense when out a night. Do not walk the streets alone. Catch a taxi, have a fellow tourist with you or drive around in your group. Do not accept any offers from strangers to take you back to your hotel or to their homes.

5. Be determined to have all the enjoyment that you can. Do party hearty. New Orleans is home to many seasonal events such as Mardi Gras, French Quarter Fest and Jazz Fest. Every day you have chances to party in the form of Harrah's Casino, Steamboat Natchez Riverboat cruises and Cookin' Cajun Cooking School, to name a few. In addition, you'll find tons of nightclubs, restaurants, famous bars such as Cooter Brown's and Coyote Ugly and, if you like to dance, the Cat's Meow, Razzoo's and Utopia.

Paint Your Own Graphic On A Blank Skateboard

Put some pizazz into your hobby by painting your own graphics on your skateboard.

A new skateboard is an artist's canvas for talented boarders who want to express themselves with their own graphic art. With proper board preparation and finishing you can make a one-of-a-kind board that will set you apart as a wheel artist and primo painter.

Instructions

1. Use medium and then fine grain sandpaper until you have a satin finish that leaves a nice smooth wood grain.

2. If you want to see some of the wood grain after your art is on the board, apply several coats of acrylic gesso, drying thoroughly between coats. You can turn the board into a light or dark canvas instead. Use a white or black primer paint first and then apply the gesso. Lightly sand the last coat of gesso before beginning your graphic art work.

3. Apply your graphic using an art pencil in either black or white, depending upon the base color of the board. If you are copying existing art, make sure it will fit onto the width of the board by copying the art onto tracing paper.

4. The best way to keep the edges of your artwork crisp is to work from the outside edge of the graphic into the center. Let each color dry before moving on. When everything is completely dry, add lines in and around the graphic art with either a fine-haired liner brush or a permanent black marking pen.

5. The final finish for the skateboard is several coats of clear epoxy resin applied with a soft-bristled brush. Wear safety goggles and a long-sleeve shirt and use rubber gloves to protect your eyes and skin. Epoxy resin is toxic and highly flammable so work outside away from anything that might spark and cause flames. It is always wise to keep a small fire extinguisher ready whenever you work with flammable material.

6. Pour some resin in a small bowl and paint some onto the bottom of the board. If there are too many bubbles in the resin use a small amount of turpentine to thin it slightly. Apply several light coats with a soft bristled brush and dry thoroughly before applying the next coat. Build up 1/4 inch of finish for an indestructible shell over the artwork.

7. When the resin is dry on the board you can attach skateboard wheels or use the board top as artwork on the wall.

Hook Up A Davinci Theater System

A DaVinci home theater system is designed to work with just about any audio/video device, including a television, DVD player or cable/satellite receiver. Although many stores that sell the DaVinci equipment provide home installation, it is far cheaper to hook up and perform the installment yourself. Doing so allows you to work on your own time and not pay any additional setup fees associated with this service.

Instructions

1. Place two speakers of the DaVinci home theater system to the left and right of the speaker. Plug the wires running out of the speakers into the "Front Left" and "Front Right" speaker connection ports.

2. Set a single speaker directly underneath the television. This is the center channel. Plug the wires from the speaker into the "Center" connection port.

3. Position the final two speakers directly behind the seating area. Insert the wires into the "Rear Left" and "Rear Right" speakers ports on the receiver.

4. Insert the digital optical audio cable into the "Digital Out" port on the audio/video device you want connected to the DaVinci theater system. Plug the free end into one of the "Digital In" ports on the receiver. Power on the equipment and you are ready to begin using the receiver with the connected equipment.

Get Into A Top College Or University

You've got a blistering GPA, your SAT scores are off the charts, you're

captain of your sports team and you still find time to volunteer. But is

it enough to grant you admittance to your dream school? While there's

no sure-fire recipe to getting into the country's coveted universities,

there are things you can do to make yourself an attractive candidate

in the eyes of admissions directors.

Instructions

1. Work closely with your high-school guidance office. The counselors can help you get into the right classes, pick colleges and chart your course of action. They also write recommendations and communicate with colleges about applications. See also 149 Decide Which College Is Right for You and 152 Organize Your College Applications.

2. Hire a private college admissions counselor if you feel you need extra guidance. Applying to college is a lot of work with a bewildering number of options. An expert helps both students and parents sort through it all, something that over-extended highschool counselors may not have the time or resources to do. He or she will make qualified recommendations based your interests, grades and test scores. Contact the Independent Educational Consultants Association (educationalconsulting.org) to find one in your area. If you hire an adviser, be aware that colleges will still direct their questions to your high-school guidance office.

3. Plan out your classes. Ask your guidance counselor to recommend required and elective courses, and the order in which you should take them. For instance, you may need to take geometry as a freshman if you want to advance to calculus by your senior year.

4. Attend summer school to get prerequisite classes if you didn't plan early enough. Admissions officers like students who work hard to catch up. See 280 Choose a Summer Study Program.

5. Take the most challenging course work you can, including advanced placement classes (for which you get college credits). Many admissions officers would rather see you tackle a harder class than settle for an easy one just to get a high grade, and they look for trends in grades, as well as class rank. At the same time, don't set yourself up for failure by signing up for too many tough classes.

6. Nail your PSATs, SATs and ACT exams. See 151 Ace the College Admissions Tests.

7. Explain yourself if you've scored low on the tests but have a high GPA. Ask your teachers to address the issue in their letters of recommendation. They should stress that your grades are well deserved, and you should do the same in your admissions essay.

8. Get involved in extracurricular activities in your school and community. The number of activities isn't important--admissions committees look for depth rather than breadth.

9. Stay committed to your activities. Begin as a Cub Scout, for instance, and progress on to Eagle Scout. If you can, work your way up to a leadership role--become the editor of the school paper, head church projects or run for class office.

10. Develop a theme that runs through your high-school activities. For instance, if you love art, take painting classes, become a museum docent and volunteer to teach art at an elementary school. Refer to this theme in your application's essay.

11. Plan your summer with college in mind. It looks good to be active and constructive even when you're not in school. Find a camp or college class that fits in with your theme. If you have to pump gas over the summer, turn it into something creative-- help improve customer service, for example.

12. Get to know key people at the college you want to attend. Follow through with the college representative who comes to your high school, introduce yourself to a coach or professor and meet an admissions officer.

Paint Like Salvador Dali

Spanish Surrealist Salvador Dali has created some of the world's most memorable works of art. Although he was also well versed in other artistic disciplines, such as sculpting and writing, most people probably best remember Salvador Dali for his dream-like paintings. As Salvador Dali himself once said, "The two greatest strokes of luck that can happen to a painter are (1) to be Spanish, (2) to be called Dali."

Instructions

1. Get a different perspective on your surroundings. Dali was known to actually stand on his head for periods of time in order to induce hallucinations that would inspire his paintings.

2. Embrace chaos. Dali believed that chaos was integral to creativity. He once said, "You have to systematically create confusion--it sets creativity free. Everything that is contradictory creates life."

3. Study Sigmund Freud. Much of Dali's artwork (and that of the surrealist movement as a whole) reflect Sigmund Freud's psychoanalysis of dreams, the unconscious and symbolism.

4. Use symbolism. One of Dali's most famous paintings, "The Persistence of Memory," features images of clocks draped over tree branches, as though they were the consistency of pizza dough. This symbolized Dali's perception of time as something flexible rather than rigid. Other symbols that appeared in Dali's paintings include fried eggs, which symbolized his supposed pre-birth memories from the womb, and crutches, which he said symbolized "a support for inadequacy."

5. Alternate between smooth and choppy brush strokes within the same painting. Dali would use long brush strokes on certain objects in his paintings to give them the appearance of a smooth surface. In contrast, he would also paint certain objects in the same painting with short, distinct brush strokes to create a rough or hard surface.

Oil Paint A Farm Scene

Farm scenes in paintings have been a part of American culture for decades. Farm settings are ideal for paintings because farm life offers a wealth of subject matter suitable for creating paintings that give off the warmth and charm intrinsic to many paintings created in oil. Farm settings also make a good starting point for beginning painters since they offer familiar subject matter and an array of stylistic possibilities. Learn how you can oil paint on your own and create paintings that you can display with pride in your home.

Instructions

1. Sketch your subject matter first. It isn't necessary, but many painters will do a rough sketch just to lay out the painting. You can work from a reference photo and reproduce it on your canvas, or just use the photo to give you compositional ideas.

2. Start at the top of the canvas with light blue oil paint and layer the paint on the canvas to create the base for your sky. Bring the sky all the way down to where your horizon will be.

3. Clean your brush and pick up some white oil paint. Brush this paint onto the blue to create puffball clouds. Your blue paint will still be wet, so dabbing white paint onto the canvas will bring the two colors together and lighten the area for your clouds.

4. Use a medium brush dipped in green oil paint. Layer the green onto your canvas at your horizon and bring it across the canvas and all the way down to the bottom edge. While the green is still wet, use a smaller brush to work in strokes of brown. This will give your grass a more realistic coloring and help give it definition.

5. Use black oil paint to to add a well to lower left portion of your canvas. Form just the rough shape of the well with a medium brush, leaving the edges jagged to create a stone well look, then use a smaller brush to highlight the black with touches of gray and white paint. These touches layered on top of the black paint will create shadow and texture on your well.

6. Add a barn to the right side of your canvas. A few strokes are all you need to shape the barn. Two strokes down to create the borders for the front of the barn and one horizontal stroke for the roof are all you need. Paint the barn red, then add strokes of brown to darken the red and bring out the look of a worn-with-age barn. Use a thin brush to add bales of hay in the loft. You can do this with yellow paint, but add a few light strokes of black to bring out definition.

7. Add an old tractor to the scene to complete it. Don't worry about detail. Use a couple of big circles in black paint for wheels and brush the general shape of a tractor around the wheels. The definition won't be there close up, but stepping back to look at the painting will give the illusion of a well-defined piece that comes together.

Paint With Watercolor Aquarelle Pencils

If you're feeling the creative urge to start painting, consider trying out Aquarelle watercolor pencils. Aquarelle is the French word that describes watercolor painting. Aquarelle pencils allow you to complete your drawing and then add water. The pencils are a great alternative to traditional watercolor, offering more control than a brush, which can be especially helpful for artists in training.

Instructions

1. Trace your desired drawing onto watercolor paper by holding it up to a window or by using a light box.

2. Tape down your watercolor paper with masking tape so that the watercolor paper doesn't buckle when you apply the water.

3. Travel horizontally across the paper with the Aquarelle pencil, just as you would color with a regular colored pencil.

4. Remember to reserve the white places on your painting when you are sketching in the design.

5. Use a variety of paintbrush sizes when you apply the water. Use a larger brush for areas of background and a smaller brush for detail areas.

6. Dab your paintbrush on a wet sponge instead of a glass of water to limit the amount of water added to the painting. Add water to give your painting the watercolor effect.

7. Use a variety of mediums within your Aquarelle painting to add interest. For example, if you want to call out the crisp edge of a boat's sail, you may want to use a thin-line permanent marker to define the lines. Don't be afraid to show pencil marks or use traditional watercolor paints.

Paint Brass Fireplace Doors

Brass fireplace doors can be painted in almost any color you wish.

Whether your brass fireplace doors have become dingy and tarnished, or you're just ready for a change, painting them is a fairly simple weekend project. Your doors may be solid brass or brass-plated steel -- a magnet will not stick to solid brass -- but in either case the process is the same. Taking the doors off will probably be a longer task than doing the actual painting, and aerosol spray cans will make quick work of the painting.

Instructions

1. Remove the doors and frame. Most fireplace doors are mounted on a metal bracket; you may need a wrench or screwdriver to remove the doors and frame from the bracket.

2. Disassemble the doors as much as possible. If they have black chain or mesh curtains, these will probably be attached to a single bracket to the frame.

3. Clean the fireplace doors well with acetone and a fine sanding sponge. This removes sooty buildup and oil; using the sanding sponge to clean the doors will scuff the surface at the same time so the paint will adhere well. Wipe the surfaces with a clean, dry rag.

4. Mask off what you can't remove, such as the glass fronts. Use masking tape and newspaper to precisely cover the glass on both sides.

5. Lay the fireplace doors on clean dropcloths or cardboard.

6. Spray the doors with metal aerosol primer. There are several types of primer; the paint and the primer you're using must be compatible. Apply several light coats instead of one or two heavy coats, until the brass finish is obscured.

7. Apply several coats of paint in the same way you applied the primer.

8. Apply a coat of clear protective sealant for a glossy, scratch-resistant finish. Not all spray paints require this step.

9. Reassemble and install the fireplace doors after they've dried for 24 hours.

Paint With Pointillism

Pointillism involves applying small dots of color in order to create artistic images.

Pointillism is a painting technique where small dots of color are used to create an artistic image. Pointillism relies on the idea that two colors placed closely together or just overlapping will, from a distance, create the illusion of a single blended color. Georges Seraut popularized pointillism in the 19th century with his post-Impressionistic paintings full of light and vibrancy. While pointillism is a time consuming method of painting, the results can be rewarding for subjects best captured in luminous, pure colors. Any painting medium can be utilized in pointillism including oil, acrylic, watercolor and gouache.

Instructions

1. Sketch the subject of your painting on your prepared canvas, panel or board. Use pencil or charcoal sharpened to a fine point and a very light touch. Do not shade or indicate value, only outline and place crucial details.

2. Arrange paint on your palette in color wheel order: Permanent Violet, Ultramarine Blue, Viridian, Cadmium Yellow, Yellow Ochre, Cadmium Red and Alizarin Crimson. Place colors far enough apart that they will not mix on your palette.

3. Load a round point bristle brush with medium and mix it into one of your paint colors. Begin applying this single color where appropriate, using uniform-sized dots of paint. Densely apply the dots if this color represents the primary hue of an object. Sparsely apply the dots if the color is only a minor component in that portion of the image.

4. Continue with a clean brush as you move on to the next color. Use color wheel theory in selecting which color dots to place next to each other in order to create the illusion of a blended color. Cadmium Red and Ultramarine Blue dots will create the impression of purple when viewed from a distance. Place dots close to or barely touching each other but do not layer the paint or allow it to mix on the canvas.

5. Create dynamic shadows by placing complementary color dots next to each other, such as Viridian and Cadmium Red or Cadmium Yellow and Permanent Violet. Utilize Ultramarine Blue, Permanent Violet and Alizarin Crimson for dark passages. Continue working until the entire surface of the painting is evenly covered with dots of paint except for areas of bright light or highlights, where the white of the clean painting surface should show through.

Paint With Encaustics

Use a small, non-steam travel iron to create simple fantasy encaustic paintings.

Painting with encaustic wax gives hours of creative entertainment to both adults and children. The most basic method of painting on card with molten wax is simple to learn, and more advanced techniques can quickly be learned in order to paint more complex works of art. Modern encaustic painting methods can be used to not only create works of art intended for display on a wall, but also for scrapbook pages, greeting card toppers or bookmarks.

Instructions

1. Set your iron on the low setting and allow it to heat up.

2. Place a painting card on a layer of protective paper, such as a sheet of newspaper or any other waste paper.

3. Melt wax on the plate of the iron. If you're using two or more colors, melt the wax in parallel stripes to cover the base plate of the iron.

4. Smooth the melted wax onto the painting card. Start from one edge of the card and swipe the iron across the surface of the card in one fluid movement. The wax will dry almost immediately and be ready for any further decoration you may wish to add.

5. Make abstract patterns in the wax by dabbing the hot iron on the surface of the waxed painting card. Each time you touch the card with the iron, the wax will melt and leave a different effect.

Paint With Oil Colors

Create your own masterpiece with oil colors.

The oil painting techniques by 15th century painters from the Netherlands, such as Jan van Eyck and Rogier van der Weyden, were so brilliant with color and realism that the medium soon spread to the rest of Europe. Thin layers of glazes and oils made light pigments translucent and dark colors rich. Oil painting is a versatile medium because of its slow drying times. Oil colors are made by mixing dry pigments, such as burnt sienna, and adding linseed oil. To paint your own masterpiece, start with a set of oil colors and canvas.

Instructions

1. Draw with vine charcoal on a prepared canvas, which is stretched canvas with a layer of gesso. You may purchase a prepared canvas in various sizes or make your own, using canvas, stretcher bars, and gesso. Create a drawing for the blueprint of your painting. You may use a photograph or a still life as a reference.

2. Pour paint thinner into a glass jar, about halfway. You will use this to thin your tubed oil paints. Pour glaze medium into another glass jar halfway for creating glazes with your oil colors.

3. Squeeze a little oil paint from your tube onto your palette. Dip a medium-sized stiff brush into a glass jar of paint thinner. Mix it with the paint on the palette and brush a thin layer of paint over your canvas. Choose colors for each area of your painting and paint a thin layer. Allow your first layer to dry for 24 hours before painting the next layers.

4. Mix colors from your tubes of oil paint together to achieve new colors. A color wheel may guide you in mixing colors. For example, red and yellow make orange, and blue and red make purple. To darken a paint color, add blue or black to the paint. To lighten a paint color, add white or yellow to the paint. Add more layers to your painting to create more details.

5. Dip a clean soft brush into your glaze medium, that your poured into a glass jar, and mix it with your desired color to add a layer of glaze to an area of your painting. Typically you use a glaze for a second or third layer. You may use lighter colors over dark colors with your glaze to create a luminous color.

6. Add tones to your oil painting, which are shadows and highlights. Use blue, brown or black for shadows, and use white or yellow for highlights. Be sure to allow at least two days of drying time between your layers.

Get Donations For A Silent Auction

Silent auctions can be successful fundraisers with the right donations.

Silent auctions can draw large sums for charity events. Properly requesting items for your silent auction will ensure you get valuable goods and services that will bring in big bucks; it will also prompt businesses to support your future endeavors.

Instructions

1. Create a solicitation letter that includes the name of your organization and the details of the event; highlight the promotional activities that will surround the auction. Businesses will be more likely to contribute goods and services if they believe they are getting marketing value from the donation. Also, suggest some ways or packages businesses can donate.

2. Make a list of vendors, local businesses and national organizations that have goods and services befitting a silent auction. Brainstorm with your team to find out who you know at various businesses. Another approach is to find businesses that have contributed to other silent auctions in your community since they are already predisposed to donate.

3. Ask your own staff, customers or constituents if they have items they'd like to contribute. Use social media to communicate the opportunity for donations across your network.

4. Send your request letter to everyone on your list. Follow up with a phone call or quick visit to an establishment if you don't get a response.

5. Decide on a time when businesses can bring the items to you, or schedule times to pick up the items.

Paint With Layering Effects

The oil painting technique was invented in Europe by Jan van Eyck.

The layered painting technique is when you mix pure colors to create a realistic painting. It is used to give your oil painting more reflections and greater depth. You can create your own layered abstract oil painting. All you need is the right tools to create a unique design. For a layering effect, you will have to layer multiple colors on top of each other using creative techniques.

Instructions

1. Cover a stretch canvas with base layer titanium white color paint. Then use Paynes gray paint to layer on top of the white layer using a pallet knife. Start at the edge of the canvas and slide your tool with the Paynes gray paint over the white paint. Do this gently to create an edgy design. Apply gray to gray when you add the paint.

2. Add a layer of Naples yellow over the gray using the same technique as before. Quickly tap on the yellow layer using gentle sliding strokes to add it on top of the gray layer. You don't have to cover the whole canvas with the yellow paint, and do not mix or blend colors. The yellow color keeps the next colors from mixing in with the yellow. Once you're done with this step, clean off your pallet knife.

3. Apply colors to the canvas. Keep each color pure when you apply the paint over the gray. Apply a "Cadmium Yellow Deep" to your canvas, creating three rectangle shapes on top of the layers of paint in the center of the canvas. This will create balance for the colors within your paint. Apply "Diox Purple" paint to create rectangle shapes onto the layer of paint. Add whatever color you desire that are pure in color.

4. Apply a layer of Alizart crimson paint on top of all the layers of paint you created using gentle, sliding strokes. Start at the edge around the canvas and work your way to the middle. The whole canvas should be covered with Alizart crimson paint, or whatever paint that you desire. Then clean off your pallet knife with a paper towel.

5. Add another layer with Phthalo blue paint using your pallet knife tool. Use the same method that you used in step 4, using gentle strokes. Then smooth out the layer very gently using your pallet knife tool in one direction. Do this for each side of the canvas. For this next step, you will need great patience.

6. Create very light strokes using your pallet tool. Gently, remove the top layer of paint to reveal the colors underneath, as if you were skimming over water according to the painter John Robert Jurisich. For every stroke you create, wipe your knife. Make sure that you create gentle strokes. Do not go too deep. If you do, you will remove a great amount of paint. You want to blend the pure colors as you create your stokes. Slide from one edge to another edge of paint. Tap the knife in any direction that you desire to create a unique design and multiple colors on your canvas -- and then you're done.

Paint A Mural On Tile

A kitchen backsplash can give you a view worth seeing all the time, even without a window. Oil paints make nice scenes with flowing contours and fine details. Planning the oil painting takes good vision for your living space. After the design is done, just paint square by square.

Instructions

Design and layout

1. Choose a design from a favorite picture, painting or pattern, or design your own to create a mural that's tailored to your needs and interests. These instructions are designed for previously installed tiles, but you can just as easily paint an individual, loose tile by following these steps.

2. Draw the forms for the entire scene in a paper that's the same size as the mural, and draw in a grid that matches the tiles' size.

3. Label the grid squares with numbers according to the order you will paint them and make a list of the colors in the square.

Preparation

4. Clear the area for painting. Remove any furniture and appliances.

5. Put down a drop cloth and mask off the area to be painted.

6. Use a sponge to clean the tiles with soap and warm water. The tiles should be free of any oil, grime or residue.

Painting

7. Place the drawn scene on top of a piece of transfer paper, and put that on top of the wall. Keep it in place with tape, and one grid square at a time, use a pencil to follow the lines of the drawing and transfer them to the tile.

8. Paint the scene with permanent enamel colors. Square by square, paint each section by referring to the drawing and the list of each tile's colors. Occasionally, stand back and look at the whole scene to make sure everything's coming together. Let each layer dry for at least 24 hours.

9. Add additional layers if needed to brighten the colors.

10. Glaze the painting with two layers of glaze enamel, waiting 24 hours between each layer. Wait 14 days for the scene to cure.

Paint With Gouache

Gouache is a favorite medium among designers and illustrators due to its quick drying time. It can be used thin or thick to achieve many different painting styles. Follow the tips below for painting with gouache.

Instructions

1. Purchase some gouache paint. It can be found for a reasonable price at most craft and art stores. If just beginning, don't invest too much money on a bunch of different colors or the best quality. The difference between low and high quality paints is that the cheaper paint doesn't flow quite as well because it had chalk in it.

2. Use the right paper. Watercolor paper is probably the best. Thick paper like cardstock will work also. Gouache may be painted on colored paper, but works best with light colors or white.

3. Mix the gouache with much water to use thinly for a wash. This is how watercolors are used, but the difference is that gouache is opaque and not transparent like watercolors. Unlike watercolors, gouache comes with a white paint that will need to be mixed to achieve lighter shades.

4. Use gouache as an under-layer for pastels. After sketching a picture lightly with pencil, fill in blocks of gouache for the undertones for chalk or oil pastels.

5. Mix gouache with minimal amounts of water to use like a thick impasto. A small amount of water still needs to be used to allow the gouache to move, but a certain amount of texture may be achieved by using it thickly.

6. Fix mistakes by wetting the area of the mistake on the paper. Wait for a few seconds, and then dab with a paper towel.

Make A Tiger Costume

Go wild with a tiger costume.

For a wild costume party style, consider making your own tiger costume. Easy to sew with the right materials, this costume will unleash your wild side. Perfect for Halloween, fancy dress parties, and dramatic productions, you can make a tiger costume for any body size.

Instructions

1. Choose a sewing pattern for a very basic pajama pants and shirt, or a sweatshirt and sweat pants outfit. Cut out the pieces of the pattern for one or two sizes up of the person who intends to wear the tiger costume. This will ensure a proper fit of the bulky fake fur pieces and give a more impressive tiger silhouette.

2. Lay the tiger striped fake fur fabric fur side down and use the pattern pieces to cut out the parts you need for both the shirt and the pants. Make the shirt longer than the pattern calls for. It should reach past the hips of the person who will wear it. Also cut out a long strip approximately five inches wide for the tiger's tail. Also cut out four rounded shapes to make the ears.

3. Sew the shirt and pants of the tiger costume by following the directions for the sewing pattern. Run the elastic through the waistband pocket or use a drawstring made from cord. Fold the tail fabric in half length-wise with the furry sides to the center. Stitch all the way up the side and across the bottom. Do the same with the tiger costume ears. Put the furry sides together and sew around the outside. Clip the curves before you try to turn them. Turn everything right side out when you are done sewing.

4. Cut a large rounded rectangle of white fur fabric. White tiger-striped fur fabric would be ideal. This shape should mimic the chest and belly of a real tiger as closely as possible. Use your sewing machine or a needle and thread to stitch the white shape onto the front of the tiger costume shirt to make the belly. Fluff up the edges of the fur fabrics to hide the separation in the fabric types.

5. Thread strong black thread onto the sewing needle. Tie it securely around a black plastic headband and then stitch the tiger costume ears to it at appropriate positions. Be sure the ears are evenly spaced. To make the ears stand up better and appear cupped like real tiger ears, make a few stitches to draw the sides slightly together at the base.

6. Use the same needle and thread to sew the tail to the appropriate region of the back of the tiger costume pants. The best way to do this is to have the person put the costume on to see where the pants lie before picking a spot for the tail. A tail that is too high or too low will look ridiculous.

7. Complete the tiger costume look by donning a store-bought tiger mask or painting your face. Make orange and black tiger strips across your face, draw on black whiskers, or make dark eye spots and a cat-style mouth.

Paint Designs On Ceramic Tile

Paint Designs on Ceramic Tile

Unless you are an artist or possess a very steady hand, you will probably find it difficult to paint freehand designs on ceramic tile. Fortunately, you can create sharp, professional looking designs and patterns on your tile by using stencils. Before you begin, you should understand a critical point. Ceramic tile is ill-suited for any type of paint adhesion and will reject new finishes unless it is properly conditioned using friction-based abrasion techniques.

Instructions

1. Wash the ceramic tile with dish soap, using a coarse sponge. Rinse the tile with wet rags. Wait two to four hours for the tile to completely dry.

2. Lay the stencil face down on a protective cloth. Coat the back of the stencil with stencil spray adhesive.

3. Stick the stencil on the tile where you want the design to appear. Tape the edges of the stencil in place with painter's tape.

4. Sand to abrade the exposed ceramic tile within the stencil to promote primer and paint adhesion. Scour the tile until it feels slightly gritty. Use scissors to trim the sandpaper into smaller pieces if necessary.

5. Coat the exposed ceramic tile within the stencil with acrylic latex spray primer. Hold the can eight inches from the tile as you apply. Wait three hours for the primed tile to dry.

6. Coat the primed ceramic tile within the stencil with satin or semigloss latex spray paint. Hold the can eight inches from the tile as you apply. Use an acrylic floor spray paint if you are working with floor tile. Carefully remove the stencil while the paint is still wet. Let the paint dry.

Learn Hypnosis Online For Free

Hypnosis is a lot more complicated than looking at a pattern and using a soothing voice.

Anybody interested in learning hypnosis may be easily put off by the large price tag attached to many courses found online. Hypnosis is the art of unconscious suggestion, and a good hypnotist can put people into a trance and make suggestions to them that they will then carry out after being awakened from the trance. Hypnosis is often used for self-help and teaching people useful traits such as assertiveness. Learning find hypnotism lessons online for free is a good way to test if you have what it takes to be a good hypnotist.

Instructions

1. Sign up for some online courses. There are many lessons that you can sign up to receive by email, such as the ones offered by Hypnosis Downloads, British Hypnosis and Your First Induction (see Resources). These courses have lessons in hypnosis delivered through text, images and audio that can teach you the basic principles of hypnosis. Sign up by entering your name and your email address. After clicking on the link in the confirmation email you will receive your course by email, or even be able to access it online.

2. Learn the basics of hypnosis. Understanding the basic principles of hypnosis is vital to learning hypnotize people. There is a good chapter on the basics of hypnosis on The Forbidden Knowledge (see Resources). Hypnosis is essentially the art of inducing a dissociative trance, and then implanting suggestions into the subject's subconscious.

3. Start to think about different language patterns that can be used in hypnosis. There are many hypnosis scripts available online (see Resources), and these focus all of the knowledge of the linguistic aspects of hypnosis into a clear script. The pattern and pacing of your speech is vital to inducing a trance in others, and looking over scripts is a good way to learn about the different aspects that make up a good hypnosis script.

4. Learn about Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP). There are many courses and practitioners of NLP online, most of which will charge a fee. There are still some snippets of information about NLP online for free that can be useful to a trainee hypnotist, such as a lesson on "Anchoring" on Self Improvement Mentor (see Resources). Many hypnotists use NLP, so learning any techniques you can is beneficial.

5. Maintain a healthy skepticism. Hypnotism is attractive to people because of the fantastic possibilities it could present if you were to master it. As a result, there are many people trying to capitalize on people's interest in the subject by making ridiculous promises to get you hooked in. If the service is free, by all means try it out, but remember that hypnotism isn't something that can be learned overnight. You will have to work hard and practice on people if you want to get good. Start small, and then work up to bigger feats as you get more experienced.

Paint With Encaustic Paint

Fayum portraits on mummy cases were painted in encaustic by Hellenistic artists in Egypt.

The word "encaustic" comes from the Greek word "enkaustikos," meaning "to heat." It refers to a method of painting with melted hot wax colored with pigments. Most classical-period Greek and Roman panel paintings were executed with encaustics. A Greek vase from the 4th century B.C. depicts artists working in encaustics. The technique fell out of favor from the Middle Ages until the 18th century. Modern artists revived the ancient painting method during the 20th century.

Instructions

1. Place a muffin tin, or individual tin containers, one for each color, on a hot plate. If you can afford to use them, melt some premade encaustic cakes at about 200 degrees Faherenheit. Prepare your own encaustics by melting beeswax in a pan. Filter the natural wax with cheesecloth until it's a translucent white color or buy cosmetic-grade beeswax. Add damar resin crystals at a ratio of one part damar to eight parts wax.

2. Pour the liquid wax mixture into the containers. Add pigment to the molten wax or let it harden into cakes for later use. Use artist's oil paints to color the wax. Mix in 15 percent paint to the wax and stir it well. Experiment with different ratios of paint to wax for various tints and saturation of hues.

3. Prepare a support panel of wood or Masonite with encaustic gesso. Brush on several coats of gesso, sanding between layers.

4. Cover your support surface evenly with a thin layer of unpigmented wax, using a large, flat brush. Pass a heat gun back and forth over the wax to fuse it to the support.

5. Draw your composition onto the base layer of hardened wax, using a small bristle brush dipped in pigmented molten wax. Keep your support panel horizontal so the wax won't run. Block in the basic shapes and forms of your design with your larger brushes.

6. Work out a color scheme and establish the tonal structure of your painting with the first layers of encaustic. Have a good idea of what you want to do ahead of time, as the wax cools quickly. Paint swiftly with a sure hand.

7. Bond each layer of encaustic you finish to the previous layer, using the heat gun. Build up your picture with layers of wax for a luminous, jewel-like effect.

8. Create various effects in your picture. Form a textured three-dimensional surface by using encaustic impasto or modeling wax. Create an overall harmony by relating the colors of your picture to one another. Mix colors by glazing patches of pure hues one over another. Take advantage of the wax's textural qualities by painting with thick, heavy strokes. Work the wax around with your brush to get different effects. Add leaves, paper or twigs into thick layers of encaustic to create a collage effect.

9. Use your brightest, most fully saturated colors for the final layer. Finish the picture by adding accented highlights with your smallest brushes.

Paint With Pastels

Pastels are quickly becoming the favorite media of many artists. You can draw or paint with soft pastels and you don't have to invest in a large, expensive set since you get great results from cheap 12 stick sets. They are small, portable, and you need few tools. Best of all, learning to use pastels is simple. Read on to learn work with pastels.

Instructions

1. Plan well. Make a thumbnail sketch. Pre-design your work of art using a sketchbook.

2. Work in a well ventilated area using a fan or an air filter, or wear a mask. The most toxic pigments like lead aren't used to make pastels but they still contain some pigments you don't want to inhale. Don't blow flakes off your canvas. Tap the canvas gently onto a piece of newspaper and throw the newspaper away when you're done.

3. Use the tip of the pastel for lines and paint with the side of a hard pastel or a broken piece if you want to cover a large area.

4. Work with light colors first, then work your way to dark.

5. Blend the first layer with alcohol or water.

6. Avoid too much pigment build-up by working with harder to softer pressure.

7. Blend in earlier layers by layering and smudging. Lay a color on your paper and lay another color on top of it. This gives your painting rich, vivid colors. Smudge by putting two colors next to each other and rubbing them gently with Styrofoam pellets, a stub of paper, or your fingers for a softer look. Don't rub extensively with your fingers or a rag.

8. Vary your strokes. Combine long angular strokes with swirling, dabbing, or stippling with dots or dashes.

9. Keep your most interesting textures, finest detail and bolder contrasts as the focal point of your painting. Take risks. Don't be afraid to go dark enough, light enough or bright enough.

10. Enroll in a class. Someone with more experience with pastels can give you all kinds of tips.

Paint With Dyes On Silk Scarves

You can paint silk scarves with dye.

You can create your own painted silk scarf with silk fabric dye, which can be found at craft stores. Aim for an abstract effect with your favorite colors and use 100 percent white silk scarves, which will absorb the fabric dye to the maximum. Alternately, use the paint dying technique on lengths of plain white silk fabric. The raw fabric edges can be hemmed or trimmed with lace edging. The hand-painted scarves make great gifts.

Instructions

1. Iron the waxy side of a long length of freezer paper to the silk.

2. Mix the silk fabric dyes in the plastic bowls according to the manufacturer's directions.

3. Fill the spray bottle with the fabric dye. Spray the fabric without completely saturating the silk.

4. Fill the spray bottle with a complementary color. Spray the fabric, making sure the silk is completely saturated.

5. Dip the sable artist brush into another color of dye. Paint long lines or any sort of design you like on the saturated silk. The second color will bleed into the background color, creating an attractive effect.

6. Allow the silk to dry on a flat surface for 24 hours and pull the freezer paper from the silk. Heat set the dye by ironing the silk at the iron's silk heat setting for 10 minutes.

Paint With Blackboard Paint

Chalkboard paint has endless possibilities.

Blackboard paint makes it possible to turn just about any surface into a chalkboard. You can paint signs, menus, calendars, toy chests, walls or cupboards; the uses are endless. Children like to draw on the paint, and adults like to use it for message boards or labels that can be easily updated. Blackboard paint can be found in craft stores and hardware stores, and it comes in a variety of colors. Blackboard paint can be applied to most surfaces, including: wood, metal, unglazed ceramics, plaster and glass.

Instructions

1. Prepare the surface for painting: Wipe with a damp cloth to remove all dust and dirt. If you're painting a rough surface, sand it first if possible, then wash with a sponge, soap and water. Let dry completely.

2. Use painter's tape to section off the area you want to paint. Use a ruler or straightedge to make sure your tape lines are even and straight. If the surface is uneven or porous, apply a coat of primer.

3. Paint the surface. Sponge paintbrushes are very good for creating a smooth surface, but any quality paintbrush is fine. You will most likely want to apply two or three coats of paint. Allow the surface to dry at least one day between coats.

4. Allow the paint 72 hours to dry completely before using the chalkboard surface. Remove the painter's tape.

5. Season the surface to make the chalkboard easier to write on. Holding a piece of chalk lengthwise, rub gently and thinly cover the entire surface of the board. Wipe off the chalk with a chalkboard eraser or a piece of felt, and your chalkboard is now ready for use. Clean the surface whenever needed with soap and water.

Make Frames For Ceramic Tiles

You can easily build a simple frame for your decorative ceramic tiles.

Ceramic tiles make excellent flooring and countertop options, but handmade ceramic tiles can also make wonderful decorations or works of art, suitable for framing. A hand-painted or glazed ceramic tile is essentially a painting on ceramic, and it deserves to be displayed as such. Fortunately, you don't have to spend a lot of money to frame your ceramic tile artworks. With the right materials and preparation---and a little care---you can easily frame your ceramic tiles at home.

Instructions

1. Cut a piece of thin plywood or luan to make the backing of the frame. Wear safety glasses while operating the miter saw. Add half the width of the quarter-round to the dimensions of the ceramic tile to determine the dimensions for the plywood backing.

2. Cut a length of hanging wire to span the width of the frame. Screw two shallow wood screws into the back of the plywood backing, but do not screw them in all the way. Each screw should be a third of the distance from the top of the frame, and an inch from the side edge of the frame. Twist the hanging wire around each screw several times, and tighten the screw to secure the wire. The hanging wire should not be taut, but it should not be so loose that it appears above the top of the frame when tensioned.

3. Cut four strips of quarter-round to fit the front edges of the frame. Cut each piece of quarter-round at a 45-degree angle so that the pieces will fit snugly together at the corners. Cut the quarter-round so that the curved edge will curve toward the face of the tile when installed.

4. Cut four strips of thin cardboard shim to outline the edge of the plywood backing. The cardboard shims should be the same thickness as the tile and half the width of the quarter-round. Glue the cardboard shims in place along the perimeter of the plywood backing. Test-fit the tile into the frame: the tile should fit snugly inside the cardboard shims.

5. Nail three of the quarter-round pieces in place along the perimeter of the tile. Take care to nail the quarter-round along the outside edge, into the cardboard shim. Slide the tile into place between the cardboard shims and under the overhanging lips of the three installed pieces of quarter-round. Carefully nail the final piece of quarter-round into place.

Identify Different Types Of Fireworks

You can find several types of fireworks available for consumers and many more varieties sold to professional pyrotechnic experts worldwide. First invented by the Chinese over two thousand years ago, fireworks are a staple addition to many celebrated events across the globe. Read through the steps found here to better identify different types of fireworks.

Instructions

1. Look at the size of the firework to identify the type. The largest fireworks are available only to professionals and require a pyrotechnic license to obtain.

2. Read the label on the firework's packaging. All information about the firework's weight, colors and other technical data should be printed clearly somewhere on the item or its package.

3. Identify rocket type fireworks by their long cylindrical shape an aerodynamic tips. These types of fireworks fly and can travel to great heights.

4. Note the fountain type fireworks produce a shower effect display. These are common and are a favorite for younger firework watchers.

5. Watch for artillery shell type fireworks that are loaded into tubes and launched into the air. These fireworks are round in shape like a cannon ball and are professional-grade fireworks.

6. Notice the colors of the different fireworks. Differing colored explosions will help to identify their particular chemical make up. Red explosions contain strontium or lithium whereas blue displays have a copper base.

Paint With A Gravityfeed Paint Gun

Paint guns provide a smooth, professional touch to projects.

A paint gun offers one of the fastest and most efficient ways to apply paint to surfaces for common home improvement projects like refinishing cabinets or repainting lawn furniture. A gravity-fed paint gun has a container filled with paint which is connected to an air compressor. The compressor generates air pressure which pushes the paint through the nozzle. Properly used, a paint gun provides a smooth finish on most surfaces and gives a professional look to any project.

Instructions

1. Stir or shake the paint to be used in the spray gun.

2. Turn on the air compressor and set the pressure regulator to the level recommended for your model of spray gun. Most units require a level of about 45 psi.

3. Put on safety goggles and a respirator or other work mask to protect from airborne paint particles. You should also wear a painter's cap or head covering.

4. Pour the paint into the reserve cup on the spray gun, and secure the lid or cap.

5. Hold the spray gun about seven inches away from the surface to be painted.

6. Pull the trigger while sweeping back and forth along the surface. Use only short bursts of paint.

7. Continue to pull the trigger in short bursts until the entire surface is coated in paint.

8. Add paint to the reservoir as needed.