Not everyone likes the holiday of love, but I love Valentine’s Day. I know it’s more of a Hallmark holiday, but I’m cheesy like that. I’ve been lucky enough to have my valentine for seven years now and only many more years to look forward to. A few years ago when we were in college we decided not to buy each other Valentine’s gifts, but instead we had to get creative. There are so many easy Valentine crafts to make out there. I was so proud of what I made.

There is no specific name for what I made, but I’m going to call it a CD ornament. It’s so easy to make even your kids can help make it. Here’s what you need:

* A blank CD or an old recycled CD

* Pink, Purple and Red Tissue Paper

* Glitter

* Glue

* A photo of you and your valentine

* Magazine cutouts- letters like x and o, hearts, etc.

* Stickers- hearts, kisses, x’s and o’s

* String

This really does sound like a lot of materials for such a little craft, but you can pick and choose what you want to use and how you want to make it. Easy Valentine crafts to make always involve short and easy steps:

1. Cut or tear tissue paper into little pieces.

2. Roll each piece of tissue paper into a ball.

3. Put a dab of glue on either side of the CD. Make sure you only do this around the edges.

4. Glue the rolled pieces of tissue paper onto the CD creating a circle around the whole thing.

5. You can then glue your picture in the middle of the CD or on the other side with a cute little message.

6. Take you magazine cutouts and glue them on CD.

7. Place stickers anywhere you wish.

8. Dab glue in any spot to apply the glitter.

9. Once it’s all dry you can then thread the string through the middle of CD and tie for a loop

10. Hang anywhere you wish.

Keep in mind you can add whatever embellishments you wish. You can use the magazine letters to write little notes like I love you or Be Mine. I loved making this craft because not only was it super cheap, but it had meaning behind it. Handcrafting is always the most precious gift you can give. If you have a better idea or something even craftier let me know!

You can also try some of these easy Valentine crafts to make:
Ultra Frost Heart Votives
Kids’ Valentine Box
Candy Bouquet
Crepe Paper Rose Bouquet

Online woodworking plans involve a subscription or a one-off purchase.

A great way to get instant access to thousands of plans at once, all in the easily printable PDF format, is to opt for a downloadable package such as Woodworking4Home. This will provide you with loads of different types of projects, from tables and chairs, bookcases, desks, cabinets, beds and sheds, to squirrel dens, and even boats if you’re feeling ambitious.

Beware any sites which offer only a few dozen plans for a high price. If you want a lot of plans at once, some have around fourteen thousand.

Some sites also offer plans on CD-ROM or DVD, though online downloadable packages will allow you to get started quickly.

Be careful when paying for individual plans when you could buy a package, as the per plan cost for woodworking plan packages is usually much better.

With packages, you’ll also have a choice of many types of each project and should therefore find a quality plan that suits your requirements, tools and skill level.

There are websites which specialise in selling books containing plans and woodworking tutorials and these stock all sorts of guides which you can use to create walking sticks, drawers, furniture and much more.

Although books typically come with fewer projects than packages, many offer step by step instructions with lots of pictures which make things easy for the beginner.

Amazon.com, as you would expect, also stock a wide range of illustrated guidance books.

WoodWorker @ http://www.allwoodworkprojects.com

When Lionel Cowen designed the first model train he meant for it to be a marketing tool to gain attention for real trains. Instead, this train inspired the creativity of thousands of railroad enthusiasts that while, they could not afford to own a real working railroad, imagined themselves as owners, operators and conductors of their own miniature railroads. What started out as purchasing a simple Lionel Model Train, became for many a life long hobby.

Throughout the years enthusiasm for model railroad building has surged and waned but has never completely died out. Other companies seeing the success of these toys would soon jump on the band wagon offering their own competing versions of these miniature railroads. Some of these companies succeeded and others have failed but none has ever surpassed the product that started it all.

Why are Lionel Model Trains so Popular?

There are two main reasons why these trains are so popular. The first is simply people themselves. For some reason trains have always fired our imagination. There is a something slightly nostalgic, exciting and even romantic about trains. They hold a fascination for people that is hard to explain. Lionel combines that fascination with a realistic detailed railroad set and tracks. From the smallest lantern to the station houses themselves and every inch of every car in every set, these models offer the finest and most realistic details to be found.

For example, one of the earliest of these train sets had an actual outhouse with the half moon cut into the door, just like many outhouses of olden days, this outhouse, even looked as though it was made from aged scrap lumber. Somehow, this company was able to take a small somewhat insignificant piece of American history and with its fine detail, bring to life a part of early rural America.

Today that fine detail in these miniature railroad products are even better than ever before if such a thing is indeed possible. It is this detail that makes these models remain the leader generation after generation.

Many serious train hobbyist and builder of scale railroads can tell you how much this eye for detail adds to the enjoyment of this hobby. And how endless are the opportunities to add to their railroads.

Many of these hobbyist began their hobby as young children when they received their first Lionel set for Christmas and have continued it into adulthood and even into retirement. They have passed on their love for this hobby to their own children and even grandchild passing on their miniature railroads to be added to by continuing generations of scale railroad enthusiasts.

Lionel Cowen may have not intended to create a toy or hobby with that first miniature train, but seeing the direction that that creation was headed he and those that followed have made sure that they created a product that could make everyone a railroad tycoon, by creating the finest, most realistic cars, tracks, locomotives and other accessories possible. The Lionel name will live on for generations of railroad enthusiasts to come.

Brad Miller, is a model train enthusiast, and enjoys others to get started in this amazing hobby. His newest book, Model Train Guide, teaches model train railroader’s everything they need to know about starting and maintaining a thriving model train setup. Act Now to Get this Free Mini-Course at: http://www.modeltrain-guide.com

Rock engraving is one of the earliest methods of recording history, found in caves thousands of years old. Carved with basic tools, engraved rocks and headstones have been used for centuries as memorials to commemorate the passing of loved ones. Engraved rocks are often used to honor special occasions to be long remembered.

carving rocks and stones are personalized to create a lasting memorial for a loved one and custom carved rocks are also ideal for pet memorials to remember your loving pet.

Chinese symbols engraved in stone make peaceful settings in Zen rock gardens or to accent your garden and walkways. Personalized engraved rocks make perfect enduring keepsakes and unique gifts to give to friends and loved ones. Engraved rocks are treasured gifts gathered from nature are given as gifts of love and friendship during all kinds of holidays and special events.

Both men and women love to receive engraved rocks expressing loving sentiments on Valentine’s Day or as spontaneous loving messages that are given on a whim. Receiving a love note on an engraved rock is always cherished any time of the year.

Engraved stone memorials for loved ones are a time-honored tribute to friends and family. Engraved stone memorials have been used for hundreds of years to memorialize and pay tribute to departed loved ones. Although we may be inclined to write volumes on their special qualities, choosing succinct memorial quotes for loved ones helps us focus on our most precious thoughts and feelings and are perfect as stone engravings.

Heartfelt quotes engraved in stone are thoughtful memorials for the ones who have passed from this world but will always remain in our hearts and minds. Commemorative plaques are lasting stone memorials and permanent reminders of those who will always be with us in spirit. 

Bob Burrows is a expert at making rock carving for all occasions.
If you would like to look at some samples of his work go to http://www.engraved-rock.com/.

Learning how to knit a scarf isn’t hard, and guess what? Once you know the basics, it’s just as easy to learn how to knit a striped, patterned, or fringed scarf, too. Really, simply understand one basic pattern, and make any variations you like from there.

The basics of scarf knitting

Knitting a basic scarf is very simple — all you really have to do is cast on ten to fourteen stitches and knit straight down. It’s a good idea, if you’re learning how to knit a scarf for beginners, to check out some of the common mistakes people make when knitting scarves.

From there, learn how to knit a scarf with these embellishments.

How to knit a striped scarf

If you can knit a solid scarf, you can knit a striped scarf, no problem. The only thing you need to know in order to know how to knit a striped scarf is how to join yarn.

Knit your scarf as you normally would. When it comes time to start the stripe, simply cut your working yarn and join in the new color. Knit several more rows until you’re satisfied with the length, and then switch back to the original.

The only thing to watch out for is that you make sure you join new colors on corresponding rows (for example, join only on odd rows, or only on even). Otherwise, you see the joins on the finished scarf.

How to knit a scarf fringe

If you can learn how to knit a scarf, a fringe should be no problem. Simply take a long strand of your yarn (if you used two colors for a striped scarf, double up so you’re holding one strand of each color) and wrap it around your hand six or seven times, depending on the thickness of the fringe you want.

Cut the ends. Use a crochet hook to pull one side of the loops through the bottom row of your knitted scarf. With that same crochet hook, reach through the loops that have come through the scarf, hook the bottom loops, and pull them through to secure your fringe. Now just cut through the bottom pieces so they hang free, and you have the first part of your fringe. Repeat to your heart’s content.

It’s just as easy to learn how to knit a scarf with bells and whistles as it is to knit something plain and boring!

Looking for free knitting patterns for scarves? Then look no further than KnittingforCharity.org. We’re your one stop source for all things knitting.