What to Paint? The Real Deal On Enamel and Acrylic Paints

Beginning arts and crafts enthusiasts often have a hard time deciphering what kinds of paints work best when working with wood, glass, and other kinds of surfaces. The results of a wrong choice can often lead to frustration, disappointments, and even expensive setbacks in completing the project on-time and on-budget.

There are important differences between enamel and acrylic paints, including their chemical composition and also the types of surfaces that best accept their pigments and adherence, or "stickyness." Knowing which ones to buy for which projects will help you avoid trouble both during the project's execution and especially once it's completed.

Acrylic paint is water based

Acrylic paints are water-based, meaning they are essentially water with concentrations of a certain color's pigment. As the water evaporates, the pigment adheres to the painting surface.

Acrylic paints work best with relatively non-porous surfaces such as plastic and wood. It's also ideal when working on a project with children: its water base allows for easy clean up and removal with ordinary hot water and soap.

Primer goes on before acrylics

Acrylics almost always work best when the paint surface is prepared with one or more coats of primer. Primer is relatively cheap, typically available in white and gray shades, and can be found with the spray paint in both craft and hardware stores. Using darker color primer will give the acrylic paint coated atop it a darker hue, while white primer will give the paints a slightly brighter hue.

The right kind of Acrylic paint brands

There are four main brands of acrylic paint sold in crafts stores such as Michael's, Hobby Lobby, and A.C. Moore. These brands are Americana, Apple Barrel, Folk Art, and Delta Ceramcoat. Americana paints have probably the widest selection of colors, and their range of reds, browns, and yellows are the best in the industry. Ceramcoat has the best blues and greens, while Folk Art's slightly cheaper shelf price provides quality, especially with its broad line of metallic-finish enamel paints. Apple Barrel provides several hues of blue, red, and earth tones that the other lines do not.

Enamel paint is oil-based, sturdier, more tempermental

Enamel paint has oil as its main ingredient, typical of the kinds of paint used in fine arts painting and model-making alike. Enamel is more durable than acrylic paint, meaning it won't as easily chip or flake off. However, that virtue is also its greatest flaw.

Enamel paint works best with canvas and ceramic mediums, especially if treated with a glazing agent or sealant after the painting is completed. Enamel paint used on plastic sometimes never completely dries, remaining sticky to the touch long after the project's completion.

Painters working with enamel must use paint thinner (turpentine) to remove the paint from their skin and clothing. Finally, most brands of commercial nail polish are in fact the same kinds of enamel paints sold in hobby and craft stores.

Testors enamel paints are available in the model kit sections of most craft stores, as well as other brands in the fine arts sections. Prices vary, but enamel is typically more expensive per unit than acrylic.

Sealing acrylic paints

Hobbyists recommend using a fixatif, or sealant, to protect acrylic paints. The most popular brand, Testor's Dull-Cote, gives a matte finish and can be found in the model kit section near (ironically) the enamel paints. by Dylan Blue

Candles - why people are making their own

Candles are very cheap: you can get hundreds of small candles in a bag for the price of a Happy Meal, and the bigger ones aren’t much more expensive. When it’s so easy to just buy your candles in a shop, why on earth would you want to make candles yourself?

Well, that’s like asking why you’d want to do a painting yourself when you could buy a print and put it in a frame. Candle making is an art, with often beautiful results, not to mention the fun time you can have while you’re making the candles.

Candle making today belongs thoroughly in the arts and crafts category, which means that you can get all the equipment and waxes you’ll need from your local crafts shop.

To make a candle, all you really need to do is get some wax and melt it in a pan (you can even use wax from mass-produced candles if you can’t find any plain wax). Once the wax is melted, you can add dye if the wax isn’t already coloured. Then just put the wick (the string that burns) into a mould, pour in the wax and leave it to set. Again, if you can’t get a real candle mould, you can improvise with disposable household objects, such as half a milk carton or some other kind of bottle.

Of course, that basic method is just the beginning. Once you’ve got that down, you can start mixing different coloured waxes, and using more complicated moulds, and even adding things like glitter and other decoration. You can add small objects like shiny pebbles into the hot wax, or even cover larger objects in wax to make them into big candles. If you need more inspiration, the chances are that the craft shop (or the library) will have books about candle making, with more in-depth ‘recipes’ that you can either follow directly or incorporate in your own designs. by Gail DeMaria

Portland Maine Makes a Great Vacation Destination

Portland is located in Maine's southern coast is the state's largest city with plenty of things to do for the budget-conscious travelers. Portland is a compact city situated on a peninsula that just out into Casco Bay. If you want a great place to get away from your fast paced life, then Portland is the place to be. The downtown area has cobblestone streets and the arts and nightlife are very popular.

Visitors can take boat rides off the coast for a nominal fee, see a professional baseball game at a fraction of the coast to see a major league game, and enjoy the miles of white sandy beaches, absolutely free.

The coast of Maine is breathtaking. Maine has a rocky coast and what better way to see it than from the water. Portland has ferry service to the six islands in Casco Bay. There are many things to see and do. You will see lobster boats, oil tankers, yachts, sea birds, seals, historic island forts and rocky ledges. If you stop at Peaks Island you can enjoy lunch, visit craft shops, rent a bicycle, kayak or just take a walk.

A popular tourist destination is the town of Old Orchard Beach, which is an ocean side city twenty minutes south of Portland. It has carnival rides, food stands, water slides, arcades and unique shops. The seven mile wide sandy beach is the main attraction and it is free. A pier shoots out into the water roughly 500 feet, which dates back to 1898.

In Portland if you want to see a great view of the city and surrounding area then you want to visit the top of the historic Eastland Park Hotel. Here at the Top of the East Lounge you can enjoy a beverage and see a panoramic view of Portland Harbor, the downtown and suburbs and the countryside.

In the Portland area there is no shortage of lighthouses. Some of the nearby lighthouses are: Portland Head Light, Two Lights Lighthouses or the Portland Breakwater Lighthouse. The Portland Head Light Lighthouse is a museum and has tours for a nominal cost.

If you want to take a self-guided tour of Portland, there are four available with maps for free. The Greater Portland Landmarks organization offers paid walking tours as well. Information on these tours can be obtained for free by visiting the Greater Portland Landmarks office.

Portland has many great restaurants and here are a few of the favorites. DiMillo's Floating Restaurant is a popular spot in Portland for an excellent dining experience. The restaurant sits right on the water and was originally a ferry. Every table offers a spectacular view of Portland harbor. Famous for the freshest seafood, choice cuts of beef and Italian cuisine. Becky's Diner is another great place to eat. This waterfront eatery has typical breakfast and lunch cuisine, but there is also a selection of seafood including scallops, haddock, shrimp and lobster dishes. Another excellent waterfront diner is Gilbert's Chowder House. This restaurant is famous for its five different kinds of chowder that can be ordered in a bread bowl. Fresh seafood is also on the menu.

While visiting Portland you are going to need a place to stay. Portland has many choices from Victorian homes, bed & breakfast inns, hotels & motels with lodgings right on the water. And, price ranges for every budget.

Portland makes for a nice sightseeing family vacation on a budget. You will treasure your trip to Portland and one thing you want to make sure to do, take plenty of pictures!. by Doug Maxwell

Arts & Crafts to Improve Your Childs Learning

Making a craft of any particular form is the way an individual can show creativity in what they are doing. Often you will find that when crafts are made there is a specific purpose in mind, perhaps Christmas or Birthday presents, or just a simple thank you to a friend or relative. Many arts can be inexpensive and the real purpose behind the craft regardless of whether it is practical or for display is to offer something you have created by hand to a person who you think will appreciate the receiving of said craft.

A simple definition of crafts is a project that requires a step by step process to reach the required result. There are a multitude of forms of arts and crafts from paper folding, knitting, sewing, crocheting, beading or painting, the end result is the vision the creator had from the outset. There are many more different forms than these but this gives you an idea on what a craft can be considered. Crafts can give to children great assistance with creative skills allowing the children to learn from something they do and use their own creativity in producing a desired result.

Many crafts of course will require the initial purpose of the items involved, whether you are knitting and require knitting needles, wool and a pattern, or whether you are creating a collage requiring a base board, glue and materials for the collage. Some types of crafts of course will be more expensive to create than others but again this all depends on the purpose of creating the item and the intended recipient for which the craft is made.

You will find that there are many places you can purchase items for craft making, almost all malls or shopping centers will have a craft store of some sort where you can purchase most of the required items you will need. This does of course depending on the project you have in mind. The best way to start out is to use as much of your home materials as you can perhaps starting with a collage or similar and then lead on to further more creative and complex crafts as you see your children becoming more competent. There are many inexpensive options such as cutting up old magazines and perhaps the purchase of glue, beads and glitter etc that you can use for your initial projects and then your child will probably give you ideas on what form of craft they might want to proceed to next.

When you have the opportunity perhaps to work on crafts with your children you will find that while the event itself is fulfilling your children also improve their interaction skills and their creativity can begin to flourish. You may even discover your child is very artistic in one field or another. Add to that the sense of accomplishment your child will feel at completion of a task and you are on to a win-win situation.

Not only do you get to spend more time with your child but you find you will open avenues for discussion of every day events and you may find that you yourself enjoy the process just as much as it is benefiting your child. Not to mention the desired craft at the end of your endeavors.

When creating craft items this will improve the thinking and problem solving skills of your children as they themselves think of perhaps alternative crafts for your next project as well as ways to make your current project more eye catching or even more useful to your intended recipient. Making items also allows them to make small decisions of their own in the artistic content of whatever it may be you are creating which in turn gives them confidence and the ability to feel they have the ability to perhaps master larger tasks.

Building the self esteem and confidence in a child is a process learned over time and using crafts as a tool for your child to take part in the entire process and see the results is a great step in assisting in this area of your Childs growth. Make sure that your child is involved in the entire process from what the craft will be or how it will eventually look and give them the freedom to express their creativity. You will only reap benefits in time spent with your children and their opportunities to learn. by Michiel Van Kets

Make Your Next Family Vacation a Cruise

Taking a cruise vacation is different from your usual vacation destinations. Are your kids tired of going to water parks or amusement parks? If this is the case then maybe your family is ready for a cruise. There are many family cruises available with all the major cruise lines and your entire family will be sure to find things they enjoy. A cruise represents a floating hotel, with fun activities, meals, entertainment, and nightlife all aboard and have become more and more popular over the past few years.

Cruise ships offer hassle-free and easy on the budget family vacations. As families look to more kid-friendly budget vacations, taking a cruise fits the criteria perfectly. Included in what you pay for the cruise are your accommodations, meals, entertainment and activities. You will encounter few out-of-pocket expenses, which makes it easy on the budget. When planning for your cruise vacation you will need to decide on the options you would like included, which may have an affect on your choice of cruise line. In the planning stages of your vacation make sure to include your children's ideas to ensure there are activities they enjoy. Family cruises will allow you to spend quality time with your children away from your daily life pressures. Cruise ships will have age structured children activities with trained youth counselors and plenty of space dedicated to kids' areas. Most of the ships hold one or more activities in the evening, which would free up the parents for a romantic dinner, dancing, movies, and a trip to the casino if there is one onboard or just a stroll around the deck. Some of the cruise lines have pagers they hand out so they can be contacted if needed.

Here are 5 popular cruise lines highlighting some of the activities and creative elements for younger children and captivate restless tweens and teens.

On the Holland America Line they have a youth program called Club Hal that divides the youth activities into three age groups. For the age group from 3 - 7 they have story telling, arts and crafts, ice cream parties, and pirate treasure hunts to name a few. For the 8 -12 age group will compete in on-deck sports events, scavenger hunts, disco parties and golf putting and much more. For the teens 13 - 17 are treated special in two spaces created especially for them. From The Loft they will enjoy teen disco, karaoke sessions, video games, teen sports tournaments, card games, trivia contests, bingo, movies and videos. The Oasis is a teen's only sundeck. Here they can cool off in a 9-foot waterfall or wading pool, lounge in the hammocks or relax in deck chairs. (The Oasis is not available on all Vista-class ships).

On the "fun ships" of Carnival, the Camp Carnival program is divided into three specific age groups: Toddlers 2 - 5, Juniors 6 - 8 & Intermediates 9 - 11.Activities include story telling, finger painting, board games, outdoor fun, kids' dance parties, make-your-own-pizza parties and much more.

Circle "C" is the ultimate spot for kids 12 - 14. Cool activities, awesome facilities and lots of great new friends to add to their text-mail lists. The activities (think games, dance parties, outdoor movies and more) are supervised and created just for them.

For the 15 - 17 year old teens the place to be is Club 02. Teens can hangout with their friends and watch a movie, listen to the latest music, play video games or join karaoke jam sessions. They even set up teen-only shore excursions so your young adults can enjoy the sites and sounds of our beautiful ports with their peers.

Disney Cruise Line passengers ages 3 - 7 they will interact with Disney characters at the Oceaneer Club. Here they may dance with Snow White, play some of Peter Pan's favorite games, test your sleuthing savvy with Goofy's Gum Shoe Investigators, join Professor Goo to create a squishy green substance that looks like "Flubber!"

The Oceaneer Lab is for 8 - 12 year-olds. Discover a giant video wall with wireless controllers, private listening rooms with state-of-the-art equipment, flat-screen computers loaded with "family-rated" software, animation programs and activities you won't find anywhere else.

The Aloft is the ultimate hangout for 13 - 17 year olds on the Disney Wonder. Here is a place you can relax by yourself or with friends, escape with music or a movie, sing and dance, or talk and play. Teen-only spaces on Disney vessels have big-screen plasma TVs, video games, a lounge area, Internet cafe and more.

Princess Cruises offers youth and teen centers on nearly all of their ships. The exceptions would be the Tahitian princess and the Pacific Princess. Princess Pelicans is for ages 3 - 7 with activities that include arts and crafts, movies and cartoons, scavenger hunts, disco parties, pajama parties and so much more.

Shockwaves is for 8 - 12 year olds and the attendees are kept busy with arts and craft, talent shows, backstage tours, shipboard Olympics, scavenger hunts, kids dance parties, pizza and ice cream parties and more.

Remix is designed for teens 13 - 17 and offer a wide range of activities. Activities include sports competition, karaoke and lip-sync competitions, casino nights, late night movies, dance parties, hot tub parties and much more.

Royal Caribbean offers a five-tiered Adventure Ocean program that is geared to children ages 3 - 17. Aquanauts ages 3 - 5 take part in activities like story time, face painting, games and theater. They can even play with bubbling potions and become Certified Jr. Adventure Scientists!

The Explorers program is for ages 6 - 8 and is designed to blend educational activities with fun. Kids can join parties, make kites and masks, learn about local customs and even learn to make gummy candies.

The Voyagers program is designed for kids 9 - 11. Your favorite tweens can check out a range of activities that are cool and educational. They can take a backstage tour, play List-o-Rama, and even learn a new sport called gaga ball.

Teens ages 12 - 14 and 15 - 17 can check out allot of cool things onboard including games, sports, parties, and contests. And they have lots of places where you can go just to hang out, like there teen-only clubs and lounges.

Cruising has become very popular for families and as you see the cruise lines are cater to those demographics. Enjoy a family cruise on your next vacation!. by Doug Maxwell