Two Easy-to-Make Hats

Here are two easy to make hats: a starched lace hat and a crownless brim hat. Both are attractive and will be a pleasure to wear.

Starched lace hat

Material Required:

Buckram Frame
2 yds. 5″ lace applique
1 yd. velvet tubing

Method Used

Fit lace to frame, clipping where necessary. Pin lace all around brim edge. When lace is perfectly fitted to frame, sew lace where it has been clipped using an overcast stitch. Be careful not to sew through frame.

Remove lace from frame and dip into liquid starch (direction for making starch below). Squeeze starch through lace thoroughly. Wring out extra starch. Lace should be damp with starch, but leave none in spaces. Place lace back on frame and stretch lace to fit frame. Pin lace around edge of brim. Allow lace to dry on frame, then remove lace from frame. Slip wire through velvet tubing. Fit around brim edge, join wire. Pull velvet tubing tight over wire and sew ends together. Pin tubing to facing and carefully slip stitch to lace.

Finish with ribbon band inside crown, pulling ends of ribbon through lace in back for trim.

Directions For Making Starch

Dissolve 1/4 cup starch in 1/2 cup cold water. Boil 1 1/4 cups of water, remove from flame, and then slowly stir the starch mixture into boiling water –stirring constantly. Place back on flame until it thickens. As soon as starch is cool enough to handle, dip lace into starch.

Crownless Brim hat made of chicken wire net

Material Required:

3 yds chicken wire (wide width)
4 1/2 yds. velvet tubing
2 bunches lilacs
1 velvet head size clip
1 pkg. glue on rhinestones
3 yds. 1″ satin back velvet ribbon
Sizing and narrow head band ribbon

Method Used

Cut chicken wire into two 11/2 yard lengths. Match diamond openings in net - for brim. Pin chicken wire with push pins to flat side of brim block edge, lapping ends of net over. Match diamond openings and tie-tack. Steam net while pulling into headsize. Smooth out all wrinkles and pin net around headsize. When net on brim is dry, size net with a light coat of sizing and let dry on block.

Wiring Brim

Put 3 wires on under side of brim. Run wire through velvet tubing - measure wires to fit brim, starting 1″ from brim edge. Join wires with wire joiners, and join and finish ends of velvet tubing. Remove net brim from block - pin net to headsize clip, and sew to clip. Cut off some of the excess net around headsize. Then, pin velvet-covered wires on net facing about 2″ apart, and slip stitch wires to facing.

Trimming And Finishing

Measure top of head from side to side and from back to front. Cut 2 pieces of velvet ribbon and sew ribbon to velvet head band. One piece from back to front, and one piece from side to side. Tack velvet pieces together on top of crown, and finish with a small cluster of lilacs.

Arrange sprays of lilacs on brim top, pulling some of the buds through openings in net to facing side and tack. Draw several strips of velvet ribbon on brim and finish with velvet bows. Sew head band around headsize to finish raw edge of net. Glue rhinestones on lilac flowers and buds.

Either of these two hats will enhance the beauty of the clothes you wear.

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Make Your Furniture Shine

There are two general types of finishes for furniture, classified according to whether they are transparent or opaque. The transparent finishes, designed to bring out the natural beauty of the wood are oil, water, and spirit stains, rubbed oil and wax finishes, shellacs, varnishes, and clear lacquer. The opaque coatings include paint and lacquer enamels.

The most vital step in the finishing of furniture is the preparation of the wood surfaces. The wood is the foundation of the finish, and whether the finish is opaque or transparent, what lies under it will affect its character and reflect the degree of skill and care bestowed upon it.

In all newly made furniture, whether a copy of an old piece or the latest modern design, the basic treatment is the same. The wood must be smooth and free from rough grain, and all dust carefully wiped off before any finish is applied. The first stage in finishing any piece is the smoothing of the surface, and for this operation steel scrapers, sandpaper, and steel wool may be used.

Scraping

On certain woods, such as soft pines and cedar, it is sometimes advisable to smooth the surface after planing by scraping. The tool used is a flat piece of steel such as a piece, 5″ x 2 1/2 “, cut from a hand saw blade. The edge must be perfectly straight, and filed to a slight bevel, say 30 degrees, and smoothed on an oilstone. Then a cutting edge is formed on it by rubbing a piece of hard steel along the edge so that a burr is formed on one or both edges. The scraper is used by holding it firmly with both hands, bowing it slightly outward in the center and pushing (and sometimes pulling) it along parallel to the grain of the wood.

Sanding

The best type of sandpaper for fine cabinet work is the garnet paper, and the most useful grits are (in order of increasing coarseness) the 4/0, 3/0, 00, and 1/2. The 6/0, wet-or-dry paper, dipped in water, is often used for smoothing between finish coats. Sandpaper is always applied along the grain in a straight forward and back motion.

Working with Steel Wool

Pads of steel wool can be used to finish any wood surface, though flecks of metal are apt to become imbedded. It is, however, better reserved for smoothing after the application of filler or the first coating. The coarsest wool used for these purposes is the No. 1; and Nos. 0 and 00 are generally better for fine work. In all cases the steel wool is applied in the direction of the grain. If a coating of any kind has been applied it is necessary to use long, sweeping, light strokes so as not to generate appreciable heat in any one spot.

Stains

Of the three types of stain available, the oil stain is much the best in the hands of a novice. The water stains raise the grain, and both they and the spirit stains are quite difficult to apply without streaking.
The oil stain should be applied with a clean varnish brush, after testing the color on a piece of scrap wood of the kind used in the furniture. If a light finish is required, the stain can be wiped off after a minute or so. The longer it is left, the darker it will become, within limits. If the stain is too dark to begin with, it may be thinned with turpentine. Since end grain absorbs more stain it normally finishes darker. This can be checked by dampening it with clear turpentine before staining.

In staining horizontal grains it is usual to begin in the center and work toward the ends. For vertical grain, as in cabinet ends, start at the top and work down. Any recesses or inside angles should be done first, but do not let any part dry before completing the whole surface.

Once the furniture has been finished, you can enjoy the work you have created.

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Oil Painting for Beginners

Once you have selected your canvas or panel and set your palette, you have only to pick up some color on your brush or knife and begin to paint. It’s as simple as that. Of course, how you hold your brush or knife and the manner in which you apply paint to canvas can make a very great difference in the kind of picture you will paint. But there is no one approved way and artists tend to be even more individual in their painting habits than in their handwriting.

You will, of course, eventually find the way of working that suits you best. In the meantime, it is well to beware of one especially bad habit that painters sometimes fall into at the beginning and later find very hard to break: staying too close to your painting as you execute it.

When you work too close, your eye tends to focus on a few square inches at a time, with the result that you may be tempted to overdevelop this limited area, and then the next such area, thus losing the bigness of conception and boldness of execution without which a painting is usually doomed to failure.

As a preliminary to painting a picture, it may be helpful to experiment with your brushes and knives to find out what kinds of lines, tones and textures you can produce with each one. Squeeze out four or five colors on your palette. Use the paint just as it comes from the tube for these exercises unless you find it unworkable, in which case you can add a minimum of medium.

You might choose White, Burnt Umber, Ultramarine, Cadmium Yellow and Alizarin Crimson for these experiments; such an assortment will give you a wide range of hue and value, but any colors will do. The important thing here is not the way the colors combine,but the way you can use your tools to achieve particular tones and textures.

Exercise 1: Lines - With each of your brushes, in turn, carry some single strokes across your canvas. Use paint generously. Don’t be disturbed by the ridges of paint which may squeeze out along the edges of a stroke, or by the way the line breaks and lets some canvas show through as the brushful of paint becomes exhausted, giving the result known as “dry brush.” These effects are characteristic of oil painting and often are created intentionally.

Do some lines with the flat sides of your brushes, others with the thinner edges. Try light paint, medium paint, dark paint. Tip the bristles at different angles to the canvas. Vary your pressure. Make wavy lines, broken lines, zigzag lines. Invent lines of your own. Ultimately, you will need them all. As you work with your brush, you may find that you will want to turn it over, or up on edge, every little while in order to use the paint which accumulates. That’s all right, too.

Exercise 2: Broken Color - Now dip your brush into two or more colors at a time and draw a number of lines again. As you paint, these colors will automatically blend somewhat, yet each will remain visible in places. Accidental effects obtained this way can be telling at times.

After you have experimented with elementary exercises like these, you will be well on your way to starting a real painting. Good luck!

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Do What You Love And Get Paid For It!

How many people can wake up in the morning and, instead of joining the flood of traffic headed into the corporate world, focus on doing just what they love? If you’re not already rich enough to enjoy your hobbies, you might consider a way to let your hobbies make you rich!

It’s amazing how many people stumbled on their dreams just by accidentally profiting from their hobbies. You may need to do a little bit of research to see where the profits lie in regards to your particular hobby.

With some hobbies, the way to make money might be obvious. Crafts can be sold for a profit if they’re unique and the public is willing to pay for it. But what if your hobby is knitting? Will anyone actually pay for the sweaters and scarves you create?

You have to start your quest for information by going to the king of all search engines ‘ Google. When you get to Google, type in the name of your hobby. If I enter knitting, I find a list of results form Google, but on the right side of the screen is a list of ads.

Click on those ads to find out other people are profiting from that hobby. When I do this, I see several results. Some are for online magazines people sell subscriptions to, or newsletters where they can read knitting tips and stories.

Other results in the ad section are for dyes to dye the yarn, or the yarn itself. Supplies people buy for their knitting hobby can be a goldmine of profits for you. You may not be selling the results of your hobby directly, but your expertise plays an important role because the buying public trusts you to sell them quality materials.

You can go to a keyword tool to find out what people are searching for within your hobby, and then create a business out of those searches. Download a free keyword tool like Good Keywords and use it to see how the public searches within that niche.

When I do this and search for knitting, I find out many people are seeking knitting instructions, knitting machines, knitting supplies, knitting books, and knitting stores on the ‘net.

You could open an online store that sells knitting patterns, knitting needles, yarn, dyes, and projects and even make money teaching your hobby to others with the same interests but less skill than you possess. Making money from your hobby isn’t hard. You just have to find out how the masses need your expertise and then charge for it to consumers willing to pay.

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Can Hobbies Really Bring in Hordes of Money?

Have you ever wished you could turn your hobby into a fulltime money making career? If you’re passionate about something, it’s very rewarding when you find a way to get paid for what you love to do.

Hobbies of all kinds are turning ordinary people into profitable business home business owners. You may start out painting, quilting, or stamp collecting for fun, but as you’ll quickly realize, there’s money to be made form hobbies.

How much have you personally spent towards your hobby in the last year? For some people, it’s a huge investment because hobbies provide entertainment and relaxation.

For others, the cost of dabbling in their hobby is quite expensive, so they limit their spending and splurge every now and then. What if you were to learn a way to turn that hobby into a cash cow? It’s not only possible, but millions of men and women around the world are launching full-scale companies based on what they love to do.

You might have a hobby that you enjoy doing as a family, or with your spouse. Wouldn’t it be great to start earning money from home with it and be able to do it fulltime instead of just when you have a little bit of extra time?

There are many ways to profit from your hobbies. Some people are into arts and crafts. They create special, unique items and then sell them on eBay. Others launch their own website that sells items such as scented candles and other self-made products.

You might profit from your hobby by selling services, or promoting your items offline at a trading event. The possibilities are endless. One thing to keep in mind as well is that if you enjoy participating in this hobby, chances are others do, too.

That opens up an entire new avenue for profits because you might enjoy getting into the business of selling the items other people need to enjoy the hobby. For instance, if you love painting, you might love selling paint supplies to the public and being an authority figure they can go to when they have questions about it.

Many people start out seeing a little bit of money trickle in from turning their hobby into a business, but in the end, they realize it’s much more profitable than they had expected, taking in six figures from the very thing that brings them so much joy. Make time to investigate the possibility that your passion can bring you mounds of wealth in addition to a lot of satisfaction.

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Scissors and Shears for the Cutting Fool

A typical pair of scissors measures from the tip of the blades to the finger ring. The sizes vary by what the scissors are made for. The smaller scissors are usually around 4.5 inches long and the longer ones are about 8 inches long. Children’s scissors are almost always dull blades incased in plastic. Kitchen scissors are usually made of durable, black plastic and have a fulcrum - the pivoting point - higher up, near the blades. Regular scissors do and are usually sharp for cutting a wide variety of items such as bags of snacks or carrots and other vegetables or pizza.

The smaller scissors work well for intricate, detailed efforts such as sewing and needle work or cutting out bits of tiny papers. The longer scissors do well for tougher, stronger jobs such as cutting fabrics and cutting heavy paper, stock board or cardboard.

Dissimilar to a knife, the scissors has two blades that pivot and are usually not that sharp. It’s the shearing or crossing action between the two blades that manufactures the sharpened cut.

Scissor History -

It can’t be proven but scissors were probably prepared in 1500 BC by the Egyptians and in 100 AD. Cross-blade scissors were invented by the Romans. Robert Hinchliffe, of London perfected the scissors in 1761 when he made the first scissors similar to what they look like in today’s world.

Scissor Blades -

The blades of some of the scissors are made of stainless alloy, or a composite of various alloys including a non-magnetic cobalt base alloy, which includes carbon, tungsten and chrome. Suitable for blades, cobalt based alloy does not require a heating process, for it already has hardness to it. It is also rust resistant and chemical resistant. The rust and chemical resistors are built into the materials the blades are made of.

Comparing cobalt and stainless: cobalt has a longer wear resistance and stainless has a greater hardness to it. For that reason, based on this evidence, cobalt is the better based material to make scissors blades. To tell the two materials apart, simply place a magnet over the blade, the cobalt is non-magnetic and the stainless alloy is magnetic.

Scissor Handles -

Some companies use the same materials or composites of various materials for the handles of their scissors. Another possibility for the handle could be less than 1 percent nickel or stainless to ensure against allergic reactions people may have.

Beautiful Scissors -

Most barbers and beauticians prefer the longer scissors because more hair can be cut from the more powerful, longer blades. They also prefer the non-symmetrical pair of scissors because it allows them flexibility while cutting. Besides people who work with hair, fabric workers use scissors on daily basis. There are specially made fabric scissors, usually with a plastic handle so the blade can shear the material at a better angle.

How Scissors Work -

One can exploit the lever’s mechanical benefits by placing the material to be cut as close to the fulcrum as possible The hand is the applied force and if that is twice as far away from the fulcrum as the cutting location, say the piece of paper, then the force at the cutting location is twice that at the applied location.

Left Handed Scissors -

Many scissors are built to be used in the right hand, but for those of you who are left-handed, they make a left-handed scissors; however, because scissors have overlapping blades, they are not symmetrical. Asymmetry is factual regardless of the placement or the figure of the handles.

When closing the hand, the thumb and fingers do not close because the thumb pushes outwards and the fingers pull inward, however the hand is asymmetrical as well. For right-handed people, the thumb blade of the scissors is held close to the body; therefore the pressure is naturally to force the blades together. So if you were to hold a right-handed scissors in your left hand, you would literally be forcing the blades apart as you moved or forced you hand to move.

There are some manufacturers that make ambidextrous scissors which can be used in either hand. Their handles are symmetrical and so there is no distinction for the thumb and finger holes or handles. They come with strong pivot blades that rotate and do not contain any lateral give. Although true ambidextrous scissors would have the hand in an almost 360 degree flip so the bottom blade becomes the cutting edge, for the ambidextrous scissors that are marketed today are really right handed scissors because they block the cutting angle view for the left handed person.

William “Cole” Doggett is a knife expert and owns an Internet knifeWilliam “Cole” Doggett is a knife expert and owns an Internet knife shop, Knife & Supply Company, LLC at http://www.KnifeSupplyCompany.com. Stop by and pick up a pair of Scissors from our selection of premium brands!

Easy, Fun Games With Numbers

Games with numbers can be great fun and excercise the mind! Below are a few number games with directions on how to play:

Who Can Reach 100 First? This game is easy to understand, and many people can tQ taken in by it. The game may be played several times without the opponent guessing the trick of winning. Two players are needed. The winner is the one who reaches 100 first.

The person who starts - let’s call him George - chooses a number. His partner - say, Ken - adds any number between i and 10. Now it’s George’s turn. The two players take turns in adding a number between 1 and 10 to the previous total. Who will win? Who will get to 100 first?

The winner is the one who can make his opponent reach 99. If Ken reaches 89, then he has already won, because the largest number George can reach is 99. In order that Ken can reach 89 first, he must also reach 78 first. If we continue along these lines, Ken must also reach 67, 56, 45, 34, 23, and 12 first. If George does not know the game and he starts with any number other than 1, then Ken replies with a number which gives a total of 12. Already the winner has been decided, because George can increase this total by 10 at the most, giving a total of 22. Ken makes it 23, and so on, until the total of 100 is reached.

Different rules can also be used. It is possible to fix a target figure different from 100; the upper and lower limits for the numbers to be added can also be changed. We can win all the games if the sum of the largest and smallest number is subtracted from the target figure. In this way we get a series of numbers that ensures victory. If, for instance, the target is 80 and the numbers added must lie between 2 and 7, then the winning series will be 82-9 = 71, 71-9 = 62, then 53, 44, 35, 26, 17, and 8.

The same game has an even more exciting variation. Count out 40 matches. The two players take turns, removing at least 2 and not more than 5 at a time. The player removing the last match is the winner.

This problem is easy to solve: the winner is the one who leaves 7 on the table. Since his opponent must remove at least 2 and not more than 5, in the first case 5 and in the second 2 would be left. So that 7 matches will be left, the winner must also leave 14 previously. Similarly, this applies when the number left on the table is 21, 28 and 35. These are multiples of 5 + 2 = 7 - therefore, if the person who starts knows the game, he simply removes 5 matches and the game is as good as won.

If, however, the person who knows the game does not start, he may not be able to win. Suppose that Ken knows the game, but George insists on starting. George takes 4 matches, leaving 36. In this case Ken cannot reach 35. It is possible that George will play into Ken’s hands on the next move, but if George thinks about it logically, then whatever Ken’s second move is, George can prevent Ken reaching 28. Therefore, Ken has lost the game.

If the rules are changed so that the loser removes the last two matches, the one who starts must try to leave two matches after his last move. This he can achieve if the number left after his next-to-last move is 2 + 2 + 5 = 9. We get this number by adding, to the last number to be left, the smallest and the largest number that can be taken away. The number 9 can be reached if the previous total is 9 + 7 = 16. Then, the previous totals are 23, 30, and 37. The person who starts must, therefore, remove 3 matches. Naturally, only the one who starts can be certain of winning.

Think of a Number. This is a well-known game with many variations. Let’s have a closer look at some of the more interesting ones. Katie says to Valerie, “Take a piece of paper and a pencil, think of a number, and write it down. Multiply it by 10 and take away the number you first thought of. Add 36 and cross out one of the figures in the final number (except the last one, if it is o). Tell me the figures that make up the final number, in any order, and I will tell you the figure you crossed out”. Valerie writes down 312. She multiplies it by 10: 3,120. 3,120 - 312 = 2,808. 2,808 + 36 = 2,844. She crosses out the 8 and rearranges the remaining numbers: 4, 2, 4.

Katie adds these together, 4 + 2 + 4 = 10. She subtracts the sum from the nearest number larger than 10 that is divisible by 9, that is, 1 8. The remainder is the number Valerie crossed out.

Why does this work? Valerie, when she had finished the sum set, arrived at a number divisible by 9. If any number is multiplied by 10 and the original is subtracted, then the remainder is 9 times the original number. If we add to this 36, that is, 4X9, then the sum will also be divisible by 9. We know that if the figures of a number divisible by 9 are added together, the sum will also be divisible by 9. So the missing figure, with the sum of the other figures, gives a number divisible by 9.

Valerie did not want to be outdone and asked Katie to think of a number. Then she said, “Double it, add 4, divide by 2, add 7, multiply by 8, subtract 12, divide the remainder by 4, subtract n, and tell me the result. I’ll tell you the number you thought of”.

Katie thought of n. n X 2 = 22, 22 + 4 = 26, half of 26 = 13. 13 + 7 = 20, 20 x 8 = 160, 160 - 12 = 148, 148 /4 = 37. 37 - 11 = 26. Katie tells Valerie the result: 26.

Valerie subtracts 4 (22), halves that, and says, “The number you thought of was n”. Naturally, Katie is very curious. Valerie explains, “You take four from the final result, halve that, and you have the original number”. They try it several times, with different numbers, and the answer is always right.

Malcolm Blake has written articles on all manner of games, including popular flash PSP games.

Cashing In On Your Spare-Time Interests

Have you ever thought about earning a full time living from your hobbies? It doesn’t matter if it’s sports, crafts, or even trading merchandise - it’s more than possible to earn a living with your hobbies - it’s the major source of income for millions of people all over the world!

Sometimes what seems like a career actually begins as a hobby for someone. Many couples that are adept at home repairs have a hobby of investing property, fixing it up, and flipping it into a profit.

The key to making mounds of money from your hobby is to pick something that makes you happy. You may not enjoy home repairs like your neighbor. Maybe you have a passion for taking everyday things and making an extraordinary piece of art from them.

The best thing about profiting from your hobbies is that you’re doing something that relaxes you and gives you joy in life. Not many people can say that about their jobs. In fact, most people in surveys would love to trade in their 9-5 corporate gigs for something more rewarding.

You don’t have to be a degreed expert in a particular field to take advantage of what your hobbies have to offer. Your expertise is simply the time you’ve invested learning your craft.

If you’d love to turn your hobby into a money-maker, then you have to treat it like a business of sorts. You can’t rely on people to just come up to you and hand over their money.

One way you can make money from your hobby is to simply sell the work that you do, if it’s applicable to what your hobby is. If you make jewelry, then you can create a website where you sell it on the Net. If you write as a hobby, then you can launch a business ghostwriting for others.

But there’s another way you can cash in on your hobbies - by teaching others what you know about it. You see, if you’re interested in something as a relaxing, enjoyable pastime, then chances are there are thousands, if not millions, of other people who have the exact same interests as you do - and are willing to pay for more information!

Think back to when you first started dabbling in your hobby. Did you read books about it or visit websites to learn from others? From knitting to golfing, people pay for information that helps them enjoy their hobbies even more - and you can be the resource they need to make their dreams happen!

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How to Use a Paper Cone in Cake Decoration

Cake decorating is well known as one of the great edible arts. One of the most important tools of any cake decorator is the paper cone. The paper cone, in many ways, is the ideal baker’s tool because it is cheap, efficient and easy to work with. This tool can be a great way to work with several different colors without accidentally mixing up your different colored icings.

Other Reasons Why You May Want to Consider Paper Cones

There are other reasons why paper cones have become widely used in cake decoration. Many professional bakers and pastry chefs actually prefer cones because they can often be much easier to use than a pastry bag. They can be made in almost all sizes, including very small, and they are much easier to control. This means that they make it much easier to use when the chef is working on a small scale or when doing very delicate work.

Important Factors When Working with a Paper Cone

There are some important things to consider when you are working with a paper cone. One of the most important factors is to make sure that the icing you are using has a good consistency. In order to work with a facile hand during cake decorating, you must be able to achieve a consistency in which the icing is neither too thin nor too thick. The icing must be soft and thin enough to flow through the cone opening. However, if the icing is too stiff, it will be difficult for it to flow easily through the cone opening. However, in some cases, you will want stiff icing so that the designs hold their weight and shape, especially when forming large decorations such as flowers.

Exacting the Correct Pressure On Your Paper Cone

Finding just the right pressure is one of the biggest tricks to making neat and exact decorations using a paper cone. When you are working with one, it is important that you keep a steady pressure on the paper cone so that the icing flows out evenly. When you are working with specific kinds of decorations, such as when you are doing certain borders, you will want to move between a light and heavy pressure. This takes practice, as you have to know how to regulate the pressure from the cone at just the right momentum. It takes a lot of practice, but once you have got the hang of it, using this tool for cake decoration can be a pleasure.

Tips for Decorating with a Paper Cone

There are many tips that can help you learn how to control cake decorating using a paper cone. Here are some simple guidelines on learning to use a one for cake decorating. First, you can begin by filling your cone half full with icing. If it becomes too full, you will find it difficult to squeeze out the icing, and the icing make squeeze out of the top of the cone! Avoid this by not overfilling your paper cone. Once you have half-filled the cone, fold down the top of it to close it off at the top. Use scissors to cut off the tip of the cone. It is always better to snip off to little than too much. Once you have snipped out the bottom, practice on a paper towel before you get to decorate your dessert. If the bottom is too small, snip off a little more. When you hold the paper cone, try to position your fingers so that you can apply pressure with all of you palm at the same time.

Josephine Gauttier is the author of the popular eBook “The Art of Cake Decorating”. You can find more information about cake decorating at http://www.artofcakedecorating.com

General Hints On The Teaching of Games

Group games can prove extremely theraputic for children of all ages and following are some hints and advice for the smooth teaching of games. The following advice is to ensure all children in a group benefit from the playing of games and that maximum gain is made by all.

SOME GENERAL HINTS ON THE TEACHING OF GAMES:

1. Always have players in a straight line, with their attention focused, before explaining a game.
2. In cold weather teach active games that need only short explanations, or else explain the game before going to the playground.
3. Whenever possible, reward good sportsmen or those who merit some special consideration, by making them leaders or by placing them in prominent positions.
4. Remember that children want to be leaders and to hold the conspicuous places.
5. Stress the moral development possible in every game.

a. Notice what possibilities there are for unfair play, and eliminate or overcome them.
b. Endeavor to bring out any elements which develop a sense of good sportsmanship and fair play. The players should take pride in playing the game in the right way and feel contempt for unfairness.
c. In relays, be sure to have players wait on the line to be tagged befn^ starting to run.
d. Emphasize the fact that not only does the individual who plays unfairly suffer, but the whole team.
e. Encourage friendly competition, but watch for any spirit of spitefulness or antagonism and take measures to prevent it.
f. Teach absolute respect for the decisions of the umpire.
g. Teach self-control never allow a player to start before the signal is given.

METHODS OF CHOOSING SIDES:

1. Racing for first choice. If there is a large group of children and the play space is out-of-doors, in order to determine who shall be choosers for sides, have them all race to a designated spot. The first and second ones to reach there may be the two choosers.
2. Counting off. A quick method is to have all participants placed in a straight line. Then let them number off by twos, threes, or fours, as the special game may require.
3. Teams on opposite sides of field. When it is necessary to have one team facing another on opposite sides of the field, have all players form a long line and march to where the teacher stands; then alternate ones turn to left or right and form two separate lines along the sides.
4. For forming a circle. This may be accomplished informally as a result of a simple command to form a circle, or the players may march in single file, the leader describing a curve so as to join hands with the person at the end of the line, all then facing inward. This same procedure with two lines marching side by side may be used to form concentric circles, or the players in one large circle may count by twos and the alternate numbers take one or two steps toward the center of the circle.

RELATED SUGGESTIONS:

The method of allowing children to choose is not recommended for frequent use, since it wastes a good deal of tune and is apt to result in the same group’s being chosen every time on a side. It also makes the unpopular children more conspicuous, as the same ones will always be left until the end, while on the other hand it makes a few very popular ones too conspicuous.

It is suggested that wherever the same group of children play together day after day, it is often a good plan to divide them into three or four permanent teams, of equal strength, give each team a name or color or some mark of distinction, and encourage a friendly spirit of competition. This would save time in choosing sides each day.

It is also a good plan to keep a chart with the results of each day’s games on it. This is a good method for acquainting the child with the principles of team play and of good sportsmanship, the fundamentals of which cannot be taught too early. To encourage the spirit of sportsmanship, post a list of names, every month or two, of those children who are conspicuous as being “good sportsmen.” This will influence others to try to become eligible for that title.

FOUR RULES FOR A GOOD SPORTSMAN:

1. When you play a game always wish and try to win, otherwise your opponent will have no fun; but never wish to win so much that you cannot be happy without whining.
2. Seek to win only by fair and lawful means according to the rules of the game, and this will leave you without bitterness toward your opponent or shame before others.
3. Take pleasure in the game even though you do not obtain the victory; for the purpose of the game is not merely to win, but to find joy and strength in trying.
4. If you obtain the victory which you have so desired, think more of your good fortune than of your skill. This will make you grateful and ready to share with others the pleasure bestowed upon you; and truly this is both reasonable and profitable, for it is but little that any of us would win in this world were our fortunes not better than our deserts.

Malcolm Blake has researched the field of games extensively and has also looked into the popular field of cheap PSP games.

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